Dexter, Missouri - The 2019 Miss DHS was announced Friday, September 13th at the Bearcat Event Center. Because of construction at Charles Bland Stadium each candidate was presented and escorted in front of the entire high school.
The fourth candidate was Margo Nea
Margo is the 18-year-old daughter of Mark and Amber Nea.
She is active in Beta Club, Student Council, FBLA, FCA, National Honor Society, Varsity Cross Country, and Varsity Track.
Her plans for the future include attending a four year university and becoming a Physician’s Assistant.
Margo is being escorted by Mr. Josiah Payne
Josiah is the 17-year-old son of Joseph and Melonie Payne.
Josiah’s three words to describe Margo are: Kind, Fun, and Dedicated.
Dexter, Missouri - The 2019 Miss DHS was announced Friday, September 13th at the Bearcat Event Center. Because of construction at Charles Bland Stadium each candidate was presented and escorted in front of the entire high school.
The third candidate was Miss Delaney Lemmon
Delaney is the 17-year-old daughter of Shannon and JJ Lemmon.
Her activities include FCA, FCCLA, FBLA, Student Council, Pep Club, Beta club, Football Cheerleader, Kicking Cats Dance Team, Beta Show Choir, and she has been cast as Sandy in the upcoming school musical “Grease”.
Delaney’s future plans are to attend Southwest Baptist University in the fall and get a degree in children’s ministry.
Delaney is being escorted by Mr. Jebidiah Hubbard.
Jebidiah is the 16-year old son of Brad and Christi Hubbard.
Jebidiah’s three words to describe Delaney are: kind, courageous, and outgoing
Dexter, Missouri - The 2019 Miss DHS was announced Friday, September 13th at the Bearcat Event Center. Because of construction at Charles Bland Stadium each candidate was presented and escorted in front of the entire high school.
The second candidate presented was Miss Shelby Haynes
Shelby is the 18-year-old daughter of Carrie and David Haynes.
She is active in the DHS Marching Band, Beta club, and National Honor Society.
Her plans for the future are to attend college to earn a Bachelor's and Master's degree in zoology. She hopes to eventually conduct animal research.
Shelby is being escorted by Mr. Ryder Foster.
Ryder is 17 years old and the son of Todd and Angie Foster.
Ryder describes Shelby with the following three words: smart, kind, and pretty.
Dexter, Missouri - The 2019 Miss DHS was announced Friday, September 13th at the Bearcat Event Center. Because of construction at Charles Bland Stadium each candidate was presented and escorted in front of the entire high school.
The first candidate was Taylor Babb-Ward.
Taylor is 18 years old and the daughter of Aaron and Brittany Mathis
Her activities include Tennis, Softball, FBLA, FCA, Beta, and is a delegate in the Model UN.
Her plans for the future are to get a Bachelors of Science degree in nursing with a specialty in neonatology.
Taylor was being escorted by Mr. Kenton Pope
Kenton is 15 years old and the son of Kenny and Angela Pope.
Kenton’s three words to describe Taylor are: smart, funny, and outgoing.
A focus on developing a sense of community at Poplar Bluff Junior High School has led students to seek out ways to contribute to the community at large.
Last year, each pod within the building’s ‘house system’ adopted a community organization to fundraise for including the Bread Shed, FosterAdopt Connect SEMO, Hearts for Rescue and St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, plus visits were made to area nursing homes.
The student-led efforts were so well-received that a dedicated elective was created this semester called Community Service Learning.
“It fits perfectly with what [Principal Candace Warren] is trying to do with houses—trying to build a community here at school—but also as a town,” social studies teacher Aaron Duncan explained. “The more unity you have in the community, the more energy there is, and the positive influence rubs off.”
Duncan, and his colleague Lyndsee Moon in the social studies department, approached Warren in the spring with the idea of introducing the elective and, upon receiving approval, the class quickly filled up. The course description reads in part: This experience will allow students not only to become familiar with the community in which they live but will also allow them to see themselves as active, powerful people who can make positive contributions through these efforts.
The participants are presently practicing their “elevator speeches” to effectively raise awareness as they learn about different societal issues, according to faculty. Guest speakers from the nonprofit sector may soon be invited to discuss their missions. The ultimate goal will be to select charitable causes to get involved with in the community, or to create their own philanthropic campaigns.
“I feel like a lot of students don’t think they can [make a difference], and we’re showing them that they’re capable of doing something productive,” Moon said. “We’re teaching how you can help make our community a better place no matter what your age is, no matter what is wrong.”
The house system modeled at PBJHS was originated by the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta to establish a family-like culture by providing students the opportunity to connect with peers across classes and grade levels that they may not otherwise have a chance to interact with.
“In order to give this age group of students a sense of empathy, we’re exposing them to different populations and organizations so they can play an active role in serving others, because we want to develop leaders,” Warren stated. “These students will be the leaders in our community one day, so we might as well start now.”
Pictured: Students Carley Brooks (forefront) and Makayla Schalk, now freshmen, help collect several bags of trash on a walk to Bacon Park during the annual PBJHS EdExpo in May.
Photo and article submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
