Dexter, Missouri - The first grade class of Mrs. Ridings earned the Southwest Elementary Positive Behavioral Support Reward Flag.

School Wide Positive Behavioral Support (SWPBS) award is presented at the start of each month at Southwest Elementary.  One classroom in each grade is recognized for exhibiting the high character with regard to observing the school's 3R's.

The 3R's stand for being Respectful, Ready to Learn and Responsible.  The class with the highest attendance average, combined with the fewest disciplinary measures and general good character are awarded a 3R red flag to be posted in their classroom for the next month.  The students are also awarded "superhero" capes to wear and parade around the gym before returning to class.

Pictured front row from left to right: Jack Smith, Brayden Tilley, Isaiah Torres, Aiden McClish, Tarryn Bridges, Tayton Williams, Kelsey Foster.

Middle Row: Mason Spencer, Kale Midgett, Bryson Barnes, Jaycie March, Bryce Burnett, Devyn Bennett, Vyvianne Pflasterer

Front Row: Liberty Ellis, Melody Jarrell, Kynnedi Yates, Taylinn Conn-Harris, Maddilyn Childers, Jozalyn Shepard, Shae Renfro

Dexter, Missouri - The Kindergarten class of Mrs. Cecil earned the Southwest Elementary Positive Behavioral Support Reward Flag.

School Wide Positive Behavioral Support (SWPBS) award is presented at the start of each month at Southwest Elementary.  One classroom in each grade is recognized for exhibiting the high character with regard to observing the school's 3R's.

The 3R's stand for being Respectful, Ready to Learn and Responsible.  The class with the highest attendance average, combined with the fewest disciplinary measures and general good character are awarded a 3R red flag to be posted in their classroom for the next month.  The students are also awarded "superhero" capes to wear and parade around the gym before returning to class.

Pictured are front row from left to right: Addilynn Gordon, Michael Pesina, Evan Sisk, Khloe Merritt, Trista Murphy, and Blake Pfeffer

Middle Row: Cooper Huddleston, Wyatt Brockway, Dixie Oliver, Makinley Crosby, Taran DeProw, Owen Reed, and Gunner Matney

Top Row: Eli Earnheart, Trystan Fischer, Cori Lovelady, Madyson Harris, Jazelle Horne, Ronie Taylor, Ashton DeBerry, and Kingston Banken

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The final touches are being made on the 38th house constructed by the Building Trades program of the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center.

The three-bedroom/two bath, 1,694-square-foot house including a two-car garage, is expected to go out for bid next month for opening by the school board during the July 20 meeting.

“Going over the bookwork, and then seeing that excitement when students do something and it works—it’s a good feeling,” program instructor Jody Cochran said. “Not all kids are college-bound. You need kids with skills to earn money so they can make a living.”

While some vocational schools teach students to build modular structures such as sheds, the TCC has maintained its tradition over the decades of constructing a full house that is up to code and completed under professional carpentry standards, according to TCC Director Charles Kinsey.

During the two-year program, students prep the site, dig the foundation, pour the concrete, lay the floor, frame the walls, wrap the structure, install windows and doors, place vinyl siding and put up a roof. Then they place drywall, paint, lay the carpet and flooring, install cabinets, hook up plumbing, perform electrical work, connect the appliances, et cetera. When designing the layout, Building Trades students subcontract the HVAC class to install the heating and cooling system.

“Like Mike Rowe (of ‘Dirty Jobs’ fame) says, the community would be lost without your technical people,” Cochran said. “Your lights would no longer work. The plumbing would shut down. Automobiles wouldn’t run without mechanics.”

While Cochran has been building houses in the field for over 20 years, this will mark the first house completed from start to finish under his supervision as an instructor. Having started his tenure at Poplar Bluff R-I during the 2014/15 school year, Cochran was named the TCC Teacher of the Year both in 2016 and ‘17.

Two open houses at the 108 Avery Street location will be scheduled this summer. Advertisements can be found in the Daily American Republic in the near future, or look for updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pbtcc.

Pictured are standing in the new kitchen are (back, left to right) Teddy Luttrull, Jody Cochran, Cody Buffington, Luke Cook, Matt Harwell and Ronald Anglin; and (front, from left) Austin Farley, Johnny Jaco, Nick Loyd and Ariana Burkhart.

Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Graduating Poplar Bluff High School senior Hamiz Mirza has been awarded the $1,300 Mary Lynn Wolpers Scholarship.

Mirza plans to study biology at St. Louis University and then transfer to medical school. He also has an interest in dentistry, he said, having volunteered over 200 hours to the Smiles of Hope Dental Clinic, among other nonprofit operations. Mirza was recently presented the Missouri Award for Outstanding Achievement in Citizenship.

The Wolpers scholarship, designated for a PBHS senior, was endowed in 2007 and has since bestowed a total of $13,300 to students.

Pictured: Foundation member Emily Wolpers, sister of the late Mary Lynn, presents Hamiz Mirza a scholarship on Wednesday, April 26.

Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District.

Dexter, Missouri - T.S. Hill Middle School announced their 2017 4th Quarter Honor Roll students for 6th grade.  Students must maintain a B average to be on the Honor Roll each quarter.

Making the honor roll is not as easy as one might think.  Middle School students who are high achievers acquire and develop excellent study habits and skills, especially in time management.  To manage time efficiently, students use a student calendar or planner.

Successful, lifelong learners set aside a time and a space every day to do their homework. Student who can manage their daily workload have a better chance of attaining academic success.

Below are the following 6th grade Honor Roll students in alphabetical order:

Addyson Aaron,Destiny Ahrens, Collin Anthony, Grant Ayers, Gaje Baran, Ciara Barber, Clayton Bell, Cassie Bess, Owen Bewley, Kaden Bias, Peyton Boles, Brooklyn Brown, Tristan Bryant, Keller Buck, David Carrillo, Draven Cato, Drew Chamberlain, Jackson Christian, Kasen Clark, Rachel Cobb, Isabella Cook, Aysia Corbin, Brooklyn Courter, Shelby Dawson, Makenna Dean, Makinsey Deuster, Ellen Dowdy, Ryan Duncan, Gabrielle Dunivan, Izaac Feather, Jaden Feece, Kamdyn Fortner. Makayla Fritch. Kenneth Frost, Cole Gibson, Caitlin Giles, Madison Glaus, Levi Grubbs, Hannah Guy, Isaac Hann, Eric Harmon, Nathaniel Harris, Kathryn Hawkins, Montana Hawkins, Emily Hester, Jayci Holcomb, Alexis Holden, Alise Howell, Braxton Huey, Logan Jones, Logan Josupait, Reece Justice, Myles Keena. Kaeden Kennedy. Truman Krapf, Owen Lacy, Alliye Lee, Richard Lin, Carly Long, Amber Madigan, Chaney Mansker, Grace Marvel, Kylan Moore, Shannon Moore, Cole Nichols, William Norris, Hayden Odell, Taylor Oliva, Hailey Pennebaker, Alyssa Pollard, Blaine Prance, Abigail Rash, Morgan Ryan, Abbie Sandage, Andrew Saylors, Grace, Sepulvado, Jasmine Silvey, Molly Simmons, Cheyenne Smith, Xzander Smith, Destiny Snell, Jimmy Stephens, Christopher Stone, Hannah Summers, Seth Teel, Seth Warren, Calysta Whitaker, Clayton Whitaker, Aslyn Wirz, and Brock Wyman.