Dexter, Missouri - Fourth and fifth grade students at Central Elementary recently participated in the Katherine Hinchey Cochran Writing Achievement Awards sponsored by Southeast Missouri State University.
Central teachers evaluated writing submitted by students and chose two building winners from each division of the competition - Narrative Writing, Essay, and Poetry.
The winning writing samples from Central will go on to compete with the work of other fourth through sixth grade students in the area.
Pictured are Central's winning writers. From left to right: Addie Medley and Alexis Bennett, - Essay winners; Kate Churchill and Brooklyn Link, - Narrative Writing; Marie Fees and Kelbey Rodgers for Poetry.
Dexter, Missouri - Each year the Dexter High School Future Business Leaders of America organize a Mac & Cheese Drive for the Stoddard County Gospel Mission.
The club sponsored a competition among DHS first period classes to see which could donate the most boxes of Macaroni and Cheese.
Teachers started the competition by donating two cases each and earning the privilege to wear jeans before Thanksgiving.
Mr. James Myers' classroom collected the most boxes based on an average of the number of students in each teacher's first period class and were awarded a special Doughnut party!
In total, 1,623 boxes were collected and will join the other high school donations for the Dexter School "Stuff a Bus" campaign.
This was Sharon Guy's first year as the sponsor of the FBLA.
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter High School Sr. Beta Club will host an Old-Fashioned Chili Supper on Thursday, December 15, 2016 in the high school cafeteria prior to the freshman boys basketball game against Poplar Bluff, junior varsity boys basketball game against Richland and varsity boys basketball game against Richland.
Tickets are $7.00 which includes chili, cinnamon roll, and a drink as well as admission to the Dexter vs Richland JV/V basketball games. Serving times are from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. and carry-outs are available! Sr. Beta members are selling tickets, but you can still get a ticket at the door!
The games and Old Fashioned Chili Supper will be at the high school cafeteria/gym and not at the Bearcat Event Center. Tickets will be available at the door. Children 5 and under are FREE!
Public is invited and encouraged to attend.
Just a reminder: Only popcorn, candy and soda will be served at the concession stand!
Dexter, Missouri - Each year the Stuff A Bus campaign brings joy and much needed foods for the elderly and those who are struggling to pay bills and buy food. The students love collecting the non-perishable foods and delivering a "bus" full to the Stoddard County Gospel Mission.
Last year nearly 18,000 canned and non-perishable food items were collected at Dexter Schools. They set a new record and it is their hope to set another new record this year.
While shopping this week, please pick up an extra case or a few cans of vegetables and send them with your student by Friday, December 9, 2016. Each building is competing to see who collects the most food. Williams Moving will provide the truck to haul the food to the Mission and hopefully there will be a cookie party for the winning school building.
"This is our 5th year of collecting for the Stoddard County Gospel Mission," stated Judy Patterson, freshman/junior high school counselor. "It's my last one as I am retiring at the end of the 2017 school year. I just hope we break another record."
The High School initiated the competition between the schools five years ago to help the local Mission with food for the holidays.
Southwest Elementary, Central Elementary, T.S. Hill Middle School and the Dexter Senior High School will all be competing for delicious treats! The school that brings in the most cans will receive home-made cookies from OPAA, their food service company!
Items needed for the Stoddard County Gospel Mission are dry goods and canned goods such as pasta, spaghetti, canned vegetables and fruits, mac & cheese, cookies, crackers, peanut butter, and any item that is non-perishable.
Throughout the Christmas Season people come together and realize how fortunate they are and also how some families are in great need this time of year. The Stuff A Bus event was such a great hit the past four years they hope to continue to participate for many years to come to help those in Stoddard County.
We should feel very proud to live in such a community that is always willing to give back any chance we can. We hope to see the Stuff A Bus event continue to positively affect many families for as long as possible.
Shown in the photo representing Central Elementary are from left to right: Jake Pain, Ryan Goode, Maddi Sutton, and Avery Ackman.
Columbia, Missouri - Emily Johns had the honors of earning 4th Chair French Horn at the 2016 - 2017 Missouri All-State Concert Band auditions in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday, December 3, 2016.
Only 8 French Horns and 2 alternates were accepted to this prestigious ensemble. The Missouri Music Educators Association in cooperation with the Missouri Bandmasters Association, Missouri Association for Jazz Education, American String Teachers Association, and the American Choral Directors Association will present an All-Festival Concert at Tan-Tar-A Resort in January 2017.
Emily is the daughter of Kevin and Janet Johns and is a senior at Dexter High School.
She earned Honorable Mention at State her sophomore and junior years in high school.
"It has been a goal of mine to finally make the All-State Band," commented Johns. "I have been playing the French Horn for about 6 1/2 years now and I practice about 1 to 1 1/2 hours a day."
