Poplar Bluff, Missouri - More than 100 area business associates, educators, pastors, social service workers, legislators and media members participated in the fourth annual Leadership Day at Eugene Field on Friday, April 7, at the elementary school.
The student-led program featured speeches and performances showcasing why Eugene Field has the honor of being classified a Lighthouse school under The Leader in Me program. There are currently 25 schools that have reached the prestigious milestone in Missouri and less than 300 worldwide.
“In my estimate, this is the best thing happening,” commented Greg Gilberto, pastor of Northpoint Nazarene Church. “Scripture says, ‘And a child shall lead them.’ That’s what’s going on here. It inspires me.”
Gilberto, husband of long-time Eugene Field third grade teacher Jackie, observed how the community leaders in attendance were witnessing the young people, grades 1-3, who will be driving Poplar Bluff in the future.
Another church partner in attendance, David Meyes – youth pastor of Westwood Baptist, was just learning about the program for the first time. He said he wanted to test out the seven habits on his young children at home. The initiative is based on Dr. Stephen Covey’s best-seller, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”
During the event, students discussed their leadership notebooks, which they use to track their own progress that they review with their parents during teacher conferences. Since the school began the program four years ago, behavioral referrals have decreased annually, and attendance and MAP scores have increased, according to Eugene Field Principal Jennifer Taylor.
The student service team reported that they have raised thousands of dollars for charities such as Relay for Life, John 3:16 Ministries and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, plus donated socks for homeless veterans.
The yearbook team talked about how the students themselves design the school’s yearbook in collaboration with the photography team, who could be spotted taking pictures throughout the event. The broadcast team also discussed their morning announcement program, which can now be viewed on their new YouTube channel: EFTV Leadership Productions.
Members of the lighthouse team reflected on their recent participation in the Missouri School Boards’ Association’s legislative forum in Jefferson City during which students toured the Capitol and got to visit with local legislators, including House Speaker Todd Richardson and Sen. Doug Libla, who were in the audience.
Principals from the Jackson R-II School District also visited Poplar Bluff to explore implementation of The Leader in Me program at their respective elementary schools. North Elementary Principal Dr. Lance McClard said Jackson is engaged in the Positive Behavior Interventions Supports process, which is where Eugene Field’s journey toward improvement began.
Before the Gleeders closed the show with a performance of “The Climb,” this year’s theme, Taylor honored broker Nathan Maurer of Poplar Bluff Realty for supporting Leadership Day for the past three years, contributing more than $9,000 toward the program.
Shown in the photo: Third graders (from left) Kailen Skinner, Kenyon Johnson, Gracie Ruhl and Julia Scott perform “Leader on that Beat.”
Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Carissa Patridge, a chef representative for Sullivan University in Kentucky, talked to Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center students Wednesday, March 8, about higher education opportunities at the National Center for Hospitality Studies. TCC culinary instructor Brandon Moon received his associate degree from Sullivan University, majoring in baking and pastry arts.
Patridge, who visited the district last year as well, additionally guest taught for the day, showing culinary students how to make bacon brittle, French macarons and divinity Southern candy.
Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Southern Bank has donated a large boardroom table to Poplar Bluff High School that is being used to furnish the conference room of the Oak Grove Road facility.
“The bank chose to donate to the school to help furnish the new facilities to benefit the district and enhance the learning environment for the students,” said Mel Jackson, community bank president.
Shown in the photo: High School students pictured are the children of Southern Bank personnel. (Clockwise, beginning in forefront) Audrey Cisne, Cassidy Steffens, Jason Brittingham, Lexi Hafford, Madison Decker, Dylan Cisne, Mel Jackson, Superintendent Scott Dill, Colton Jackson, Colton Sheppard, Luke Johnson and Megan Adams.
Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The Mules Booster Club has named wrestler Josh Lewis and swimmer Taylor Norwood the Poplar Bluff High School Athletes of the Month for February.
Taylor, a junior, was the first in Southeast Missouri to hit a state cut in every swimming event last school year, according to her coach Beth Lewis. A three-time conference MVP, she has gone undefeated in all her individual swims. She was the 2016 Semoball award winner for female swimming. She holds eight school records and numerous meet records. She has been named All State in the 200 individual medley and the 100 fly all three seasons of her high school career. She was part of the 2015 Medley Relay All State Team. In addition, Taylor maintains an 11.057 GPA in the classroom and is ranked 17 out of 364, her coach continued.
Josh, a senior, has a season record of 40-4 and a career record of 116 wins and 47 losses. This year he was the SEMO Conference champion; Class 4, District 1 champ; Tiger Classic champ for the past two years; and a three-time state qualifier, according to his coach, David Sievers. He is a four-year varsity letterman, and a two-sport standout, also playing football at defensive line.
Pictured presenting the awards on Tuesday, March 7, to Josh Lewis and Taylor Norwood is Booster Club member Brian Taylor.
Photo and article submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Poplar Bluff R-I’s newest school resource officer, Kenny Carpenter, completed his introductory presentations with the sixth grade last week at the Middle School.
Carpenter, who celebrated his 22nd anniversary with the Poplar Bluff Police Department on Monday, March 6, took the opportunity to further open the lines of communication with students.
“I depend on information from you,” Carpenter said to instructor Kelly Moore’s homeroom, the 16th class of his month-long tour. “Anything you know that protects safety—as far as faculty, staff and students are concerned—I expect you to come to me.”
He cited two incidents that he has been able to prevent this school year upon receiving information. Two weeks ago Carpenter, along with other emergency responders – both current and former, reportedly were able to help save a life as they resuscitated a victim who suffered a heart attack in her vehicle after dropping a student off at school.
Last week the woman, now with a pacemaker, exited her vehicle and hugged Carpenter while he was on morning traffic duty. “It was a touching moment yesterday,” Carpenter said to the students.
Carpenter, the father of two PBHS alumni and one current student, worked in the patrol division his entire tenure until he transferred to the SRO post in November, when the school board approved his position. He graduated in 1994 from the Law Enforcement Academy at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.
He received 40 hours of training for his school certification, which included topics such as youth mental health first aid. Missouri is one of 13 states to require additional training for SROs, according to Carpenter’s presentation.
The district employs two other SROs: Officer Jason Courtney at Junior High and Cpl. Richard Knapp at the High School. In addition to law enforcement duties, their job is to serve as informal counselors/mentors for the student body. The first such school post in the United States was created in 1958 in Flint, Mich. According to a report from the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 28,550 SROs in 2015.
Pictured: Officer Kenny Carpenter is pictured in his centrally located office on the Middle School campus.
Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
