It's was a night for dreams, making memories and friendships.

Dexter High School students celebrated the friendships and the winding down or another school year Saturday with the annual Junior-Senior Prom. Presented annual by the DHS Junior Class, it is a gift from the juniors to the graduating senior class at DHS.

The theme Saturday evening was "Rendezvous in Paris." There was the Arc de Triomphe, sidewalk cafes, the Eiffel Tower - all "transported" from Paris to make the evening complete.

Students filed in and out of the high school throughout Saturday afternoon to pose for their portraits with Dexter master photographer Joe Craig. After portraits were done, they headed out in their shiny trucks, cars and even a limousine for dinner before the Grand March. Many students went to Dexter's First Baptist Church for a formal prom-night dinner by candlelight.

Parents, family and friends gathered Saturday evening in the DHS Auditorium long before the 7:30 Grand March. Students filed in to find a place in line for the Grand March, to mingle with friends, and pose for photographs.

During the Grand March each couple was introduced by Junior Class President,Jenny Blatman. Blatman also recognized school counselor Judy Patterson for her hard work and dedication in helping the Junior Class with this year's Prom. Blatman also noted that this year's event was the 10th prom that Patterson has advised at DHS.

Couples walked onto a stage that featured a large replica of the Arc de Triomphe and through the magnificent archway off in the distance with the Eiffel Tower light with small white lights. Music for the Grand March was provided on the piano by DHS choral music teacher MaryRuth Boone.

As students left Grand March, they followed into the gymnasium, that had been transformed for the evening into an evening in Paris. Refreshments for the students were set up by parents in the school cafeteria, complete with small table umbrellas and decorations.

The prom continued until 11:30 Saturday night, followed by Project Prom, also hosted by the First Baptist Church.

Photos: Photo #1: Kaitlyn Jarrell and Kendra Stevenson smile for the camera!
Sam Ward and Lauren Powers finish the Grand March and are ready to enjoy the 2011 Junior-Senior Prom!

Editor's Note: The ShowMe Times has prepared three photo galleries of photos from Saturday evening's Prom at Dexter High School. We invite you to visit the galleries; prints and other photo products are available for purchase!

ShowMe Times Prom Gallery #1

ShowMe Times Prom Gallery #2

ShowMe Times Prom Gallery #3

BREAKING NEWS.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for Stoddard and surrounding counties in Southeast Missouri. The Tornado Watch will be in effect 9 p.m., Friday, April 15.

Missouri counties included include Stoddard, Bollinger, Cutler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Mississippi, New Madrid, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, and Wayne. .

The weather server report that as the line of storms moves close east closer to the Mississippi River they are expected to increase in intensity and coverage. The storms should reach the river by 5 p.m., and several of the storms will likely be severe. .

A Tornado Watch is issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in and close to the watch area. Their size can vary depending on the weather situation. They are usually issued for a duration of 4 to 8 hours. They normally are issued well in advance of the actual occurrence of severe weather. .

During the watch, people should review tornado safety rules and be prepared to move a place of safety if threatening weather approaches.

By Annabeth Miller
ShowMe Times Editor

Paris has a reputation for its stunning beauty in the spring, and the junior class at Dexter High School has worked diligently all spring to recreate a touch of Paris for this year's Prom.

Junior class members were busy all day Friday in transforming the auditorium, lobby and gymnasium for Saturday night's prom. A replica of the famous icons of Paris - the Arc du Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower - now rest in the auditorium. A garden gateway leads visitors into the gymnasium, where another lit Eiffel Tower graces the center.

The Grand March for 2011 prom will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, and couples will be introduced to parents and friends. The dance will continue until 11:30 p.m. in the gymnasium.

A Project Prom party is being held after the dance at First Baptist Church in Dexter.

Photo Above: The 2011 prom at Dexter High School is set for Saturday evening. The Junior Class has been busy for weeks preparing, and spent Friday putting things together and creating a Paris setting for prom. Among those working in the lobby Friday afternoon were (from left) Hannah Sandage, Dalton Putnam, Daniel Fitts, Jessica Snider and Shannon Gard. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)

By Annabeth Miller, ShowMe Times Editor

A long-serving educator in the Dexter Schools will retire next month at the end of the academic year.

Kaye Blankenship will retire next month after 39 years in education. The board approved her retirement.

A Dexter native and graduate of Dexter High School, Blankenship taught in the Parma and Dexter district as well as four years in Nebraska. She has taught EMH at T.S. Hill Middle School in Dexter for the last 26 years

The board approved the appointment of two of its members to the Dexter Public School Foundation board.

Betty Keirsey will continue on the Foundation’s board of directors for a three-year term, and Herman Morse will continue serving in a one-year term. Both school board members were appointed last year when the school foundation was revived.

The Foundation’s bylaws state that three members of the Board of Education and two members from the community will serve. The third board member is Rick Williams and community members are County Clerk Joe Watson and local banker Mark Becker.

CTA representative Jeannie Cato reported that a group from Dexter Schools attended the March 17 Southeast Regional Teachers Association meeting in Cape Girardeau.

“We attended the Southeast regional teachers meeting on March 17 where MaryRuth Boone was honored for meritorious service to education,” Cato said. “It was a very nice evening and we were very proud that MaryRuth received that honor.”

In addition, Cato reported she was elected vice president of the Southeast Region at the meeting last month.

Cato also announced that a group of Dexter students will soon be traveling to St. Louis to perform at a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.

The Songmakers choral group at Central Elementary will travel on Saturday, April 23 and will be singing “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” during the seventh inning stretch at the Cardinals-Reds game.

The group was originally set to sing at a 12:30 p.m. game. However the game time has been changed to accommodate broadcast of the game. The first pitch will be thrown at 3:10 that afternoon.

Tickets for the game are available by contacting Central Elementary at 614-1020.

The board approved the admission fees to be charged next year for athletic events at the middle school and high school. The fees will remain the same that they have been for the last two years.

Dr. Bobby Jibben of Dexter has been providing his volunteer services as athletic physician for the last five years. Jibben has agreed to continue his service as athletic physician at events when he is in attendance, and the Board unanimously agreed.

“I think we are fortunate to have Dr. Jibben,” Herman Morse said.

Morse was elected board president at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting. He and other board members recalled how the Dr. Tom Henderson and late Dr. Ron Hill, as well as Dr. Jibben’s late father, Dr. Robert Jibben, used to serve the district in the same capacity.

Assistant Supt. Bryce Matthews reported the district bus fleet passed inspection from the Missouri State Highway Patrol recently. The only infraction found was a very small brake fluid leak in one bus.

Matthews had high praise for Bus Supervisor Larry McKay for the success of the state inspection.

“I give him the credit,” Matthews said. He noted that McKay had all the buses ready for a pre-inspection inspection for the patrol officers arrived. Every part of every bus was reviewed with a fine-tooth comb. But Matthews noted that the patrol inspectors are equally “picky.”

“This year they inspected the first aid kits,” he said. “They even opened brand-new first aid kits that still had the plastic packaging to make sure everything required was there.” Board committees established for the next year include:

· Activities Committee: Mark Nea and Kenny Pope
· Public Relations Committee: Nancy Mayer and Kevin Bishop
· Building and Grounds Committee: Betty Keirsey and Rick Williams

During Executive Session the board accepted the resignation of several from the district:

• Christin Stone resigned effective the 2010-2011 academic year. Stone teaches English, history and personal finance at DHS;
• Corey Bennett resigned as a paraprofessional and assistant freshman football coast effect at the conclusion of the school year;
• Linda Mitchell and Penny Hall resigned as kitchen assistants.

In other Executive Session action, the board re-employed all classified staff and adopted the 20112012 certified staff salary schedule.

Upcoming Dates:

Saturday, April 23: Songmakers from Central Elementary will sing at the St. Louis Cardinals baseball game in St. Louis·
May 12: CTA Retirement Tea
· Friday, May 20: DHS Commencement Ceremonies at the Bearcat Event Center ·
Monday, May 27: Next regular meeting of the Board of Education.

By Annabeth Miller
ShowMe Times Editor

There’s a bit of a routine that school boards must follow after an election.

• The “old” board certifies the election results from the election.
• Board members vote to adjourn the board
• The board secretary administers the oath of office to newly-elected and reelected members
• With the superintendent presiding, the board reconvenes and a new Board President is elected
• With the new president presiding, other new officers are elected – including vice president, secretary and treasurer.
• The new president calls the newly-reorganized board to order.

It’s a necessary “dance” that signifies the board is ready for business and the Dexter Board of Education proceeded through the steps Tuesday evening, welcoming a new member.

Newly elected board member Kevin Bishop and Betty Keirsey and Kevin Nea, who were reelected in last week’s election, were sworn into office by acting secretary Peggy Currie.

Following the swearing-in, the board elected Herman Morse as president and the “dean” of the local school board, Betty Kiersey, was elected vice president.

Keirsey has served on the Dexter board since 1993 and was reelected last week to her seventh term on the board. She has twice served as president (in 1999 and 2002) and was once before elected vice president (in 1998).

Nea was reelected to the board April 5, and is beginning his second term on the local school board. He was first elected in 2008.

Bishop had praise for the board members and the district’s administration following Tuesday evening’s meeting.

“I look forward to serving on the board and with all the members and administrators,” Bishop said. “The biggest thing I want to do is to thank all the Dexter citizens that voted for me. Without their support I know I couldn’t serve in this capacity. I hope to serve to the best of my ability.”

Bishop had praise for the other board members and for Supt. Dr. Tom Sharp and the administration.

“Their experience and knowledge will make it an easier transition for me onto the board,” he said. “Dr. Sharp is really proactive, and that will help as we address issues. There’s going to be challenges, and I hope that with my banking background and the experience of the board we will be able to address these challenges.”