Katlyn Hall has been awarded the annual Poplar Bluff School Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship, valued at $1,000, is designated for a past or present graduate of PBHS entering the field of education.

 

Hall plans to begin her college career at Three Rivers taking general education classes, and then transfer to Southeast Missouri State University where she will obtain her teaching degree. She wishes to one day teach at an elementary school in her hometown of Poplar Bluff, according to her scholarship essay.

 

In addition to holding an office with the Future Teachers of America, Hall serves with the Chionia Volunteer Fire Department.

 

Since 2001, the Foundation Scholarship has awarded $21,000 to 21 students, several of whom went on to become teachers for the Poplar Bluff School District.

 

Pictured presenting Katlyn Hall the Foundation Scholarship on Thursday, April 2, is R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill.

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

The multimedia class at Poplar Bluff High School is producing an official safety video for Gates Corporation in Industrial Park.

 

The audiovisual students, under the instruction of business teacher Heather Pullam, conducted interviews with company officials earlier this month, and then captured B-roll footage at the manufacturing plant.

 

The end product will be designed to provide an overview of the company, which produces 70,000 rubber and plastic parts per day for hoses and tubing. The video will be shown to visitors so they can learn proper safety protocol before entering the factory.

 

The connection was made with industry officials during a tour of Gates in February through the Missouri Career Pathways state grant initiative secured by Director Charles Kinsey of the Technical Career Center to connect schools with real world applications. PBHS Principal Mike Owen was able to attend the tour and volunteered the service to Gates in order to provide students with a project to help build their resumes.

 

The multimedia program moved from the English department to practical arts this school year and received a major equipment upgrade with federal enhancement funding available for career technical education programming. The number of students signed up for the class next school year has quadrupled, Pullam noted.

 

Pictured: (Front to back) Corey Floyd and Jack Rogers, students in Heather Pullam’s multimedia class, edit video on Wednesday, April 17, using Adobe Premiere Pro software.

 

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

The Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center was able to significantly expand its playground last week with equipment designed for gross motor skill development through fundraising efforts.

 

Three sets of monkey bars have been added to the outdoor play space east of the facility, with height gauged by students of varying sizes, and a balance beam was added along with other pods. Longtime supporter of the district, Greg West, completed the installation of the equipment at a heavily-discounted price, according to education officials.

 

“It’s more purposeful play, and we’re super excited,” Principal Jessica Thurston said. “Our pre-enrollment numbers are up for next year, and we’ve outgrown our playground.”

 

Money was generated over the course of a couple years through events including the annual Fall Festival and Stonie Sausage fundraiser. T-shirts, yearbooks and classroom parties are also financed through the fundraisers, as parents of kindergartners are asked to pay for very little throughout the year, according to Thurston. She said the Kindergarten Center is “blessed” to be a part of such a supportive school community.

 

Pictured: Kindergartners test out the newly installed playground equipment on Tuesday, April 16, during physical education class.

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

Dozens of Poplar Bluff High School band and choir students received exemplary ratings at the Three Rivers MSHSAA District Musical Festival held Saturday, March 9, at the Tinnin Center, earning spots at next month’s state festival in Columbia.

 

Receiving one ratings were choir members Eva Bedell, Molly Berry, Ross Dare, Jayvon Holloway and Allison Knowlton for their vocal solos; Isaac Reid, Jayvon Holloway, Jacob Joseph, Michael Joseph, Michael Thom and Michael Allen Ward Jr. in the TTB sextet category; and Eva Bedell, Ross Dare, Jayvon Holloway, Jenna Isom, Michael Joseph, Allison Knowlton, Kerrigan Moore and Michael Thom for SATV double quartet.

 

One rating band performances included Emma Harris, Bailey Odom, Michael Thom and Michael Tiffany for percussion quartet; Adam Black, Cody Daughertee, Blake Millner and Christian Redden for trumpet quartet; Cody Daughertee for his French horn solo; and Samantha Nelson, Layton Sanders and Michael Allen Ward Jr. in the saxophone trio category.

Pictured: Top band students included (back row, left to right) Blake Millner, Michael Tiffany, Cody Daughertee and Michael Allen Ward Jr.; and (front row, from left) Adam Black, Christian Redden, Emma Harris, Bailey Odom and Michael Thom. Not present for the photo were Samantha Nelson and Layton Sanders.

Photo and article Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District

The Shakespeare Festival St. Louis performed the tragedy “Macbeth” for almost 400 Poplar Bluff High School English students on Thursday, March 14, in the Tinnin Center at Three Rivers College.

 

Directed and adapted by Joanna Battles, the free William Shakespeare play was part of the acting company’s 2019 education tour made possible through a Monsanto Fund grant.

 

Following the condensed hour-long performance, the five-person acting team held a Q&A with the students in attendance. Asked about ad-lib, actor Ted Drury responded: “The only real mistakes in theater are the ones you admit to. Theater is a team sport.”

 

The field trip was arranged by communication arts teacher Jennie Randolph, who reached out to tour management after learning that the traveling production is open to underserved rural parts of the state, in addition to the greater St. Louis area. The last time the Shakespeare Festival came to Poplar Bluff was six years ago, according to tour manager Emily Clinger.

 

Pictured: Actors (left to right) Craig Ester, Ted Drury, Karl Hawkins, Jeanitta Perkins and Frankie Ferrari take a bow after performing “Macbeth” in the Tinnin Center.

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