Registration for classes at Three Rivers College continues through August 12 for the fall semester, which begins August 15.

Classes started for Three Rivers College on Monday, Aug. 15 and the college’s center in Dexter is a beehive of activity in preparation for the fall semester.

Crews were on hand Thursday to stripe the new college parking lot in preparation for a large number of students at the new education center.

Students needing information on classes at Three Rivers are advised to contact the college’s Welcome Center at 573-840-9605 or, toll-free, 877-879-8722 or visit trcc.edu, where visitors can find checklists for enrolling and applying for financial aid, search for classes, and view the college catalog and program offerings

. Classes begin Monday Aug. 15 and and Aug. 19 is the last day to drop a fall semester class with 100 percent credit is Aug. 19.

The Three Rivers Center at Dexter is located at 515 West Market; the center’s telephone number is 573-614-1081.

As the wheels of education begin to turn for the Dexter Public Schools, the First Christian Church and Montgomery Bank sponsored a Teachers appreciation Luncheon for all employees, teachers and administrators at the Dexter R-11 School District.

A large number of volunteers from the church were on hand to help coordinate the BBQ meal complete with the trimmings and desert. The event started at 11 a.m., and continued until 1 p..m. Thursday afternoon.

Montgomery Bank was on hand to help with the event to assist with the serving the large crowd of over 135 people. Lindsay Emillo, Dana Adams, Scott Nelson and Kyle Christian offered up a chance to win two school supply baskets.

Winners of the Montgomery Bank school baskets were April Aldridge and Chasity McLaughlin. The baskets were filled with those little extras that make a classroom a little more fun and the teachers just a little more special. Each basket was valued at more than $100.

"We had someone attend from every part of our school district," commented Dana Adams of Montgomery Bank. "And we are very pleased that all three our top administrators were there in support of the school staff ... Dr. Flowers, Dr. Alsup and Dr. Sharp."
The entire district was represented from coaches, to janitorial staff, to bus drivers as well as the teachers who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the their kids for the 2011-2012 school year.

This was an incredible undertaking during the workday when many of the Christian Church members are busy working at their jobs. The volunteers came from many sections of the Church with CWF Ladies group and the Evening Shade Ladies group providing the side dishes, the Christian Men's group providing the meat and preparation and the CYF Youth group lead by Tim Holder provided the serving for the event.

"It's always easy when you have good people that simply want to help to make an event work," said Gary Williams.

This is the simple joys of living in a small community and taking great pride in the school system that makes it all worthwhile.

Photos Above: #1 - Teacher Kara Lummukka registered for prizes offered by Montgomery Bank at the teacher luncheon on Thursday. Helping with registration were Lindsay Emillo and Dana Adams of Montgomery Bank. #2 - Lindsay and Dana talked to school district staff as their arrive for the luncheon. #3 - Members of the Christian Youth Fellowship were on hand to help serve at the luncheon. (SMT Photos by Annabeth Miller)

A SMT News Report

A new school year, new registration system, and a great new Bearcat shirt for 2011-2012!

The Dexter PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) has worked all summer in preparation for the kick-off for the new school year and in providing a great new PTO shirt.

The shirts are available at the new district registration on Tuesday at the Bearcat Event Center and they will be at Parent Night at Southwest, Central and T.S. Hill Middle School. The shirts are $9 each; 2X is $11 and a 3X is $13. If sizes are not available, re-orders are anticipated.

All parents are invited to join the PTO for the upcoming school year. PTO membership is $2.

PTO supports the schools and its programs and help sponsor National School Lunch Week, Reading Week, and other special events such as parties and events for students as well as help with community events like the Veterans Honor Tour Program this last spring.

Photo Above: On hand Monday for district registration at the BEC were a number of PTO officers for 2011 - 2012. Helping with registration were (front row, from left) Misty McBride, Secretary at Southwest; Suzanne Collier, City Council PTO; (back row, from left) Pam Laramore, Vice President at Southwest; Amy Worley, President at T.S. Hill Middle School; Leigh Ann Kincy, President at Central; Angie Dugan, President at Southwest; and Cindy Joy, City Council President. (SMT photo)

The Dexter Bearcat Booster Club has new t-shirts and headbands ready to build the spirit of "THE BEARCAT NATION". The board of the Dexter Booster Club has been busy this summer preparing for the good times to come.

"Gonna Be A Throw Down In D-Town" is the Fall Theme and the T-Shirts look great. Senior Bearcat Football standout, Nick Summers, shows off the new "T" with other Dexter students, Kendall Adams, Avery Riley, Camden Riley and Cole Gibson.

These are great looking shirts that be available by the booster club members at various Bearcat events throughout the fall. The cost of the T-Shirts will $15 and headbands will be $12.

The DBBC has been an incredible asset to our community and school district. Stay tuned for more information about the booster club and how you can get involved.

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

It's the first week of August! Time to begin thinking about heading back to school!

And this year, the Dexter Schools are ready with a new, streamlined method of registration.

Registration for all Dexter students – grades kindergarten through 12 – will be held from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 8 and 9, at the Bearcat Event Center on Grant Street.

This new concept of an “all-in-one" registration has been designed to be streamlined, more convenient and accessible to families in the Dexter school district.

“Basically the concept of having registration at the BEC came from administrative meetings where they were talking about how nice it would be to streamline the process,” said Dexter superintendent, Dr. Thomas Sharp. “One of the best things I can say about this is that it was a collective idea – it generated excitement. And then to the staff’s credit they didn’t just let the excitement die, they decided to go ahead to do something about it.”

Sharp gave credit to the two assistant superintendents, Dr. Kim Flowers and Dr. Roger Alsup, as well as the four building principals – Sherry Matthews, Cindy Bowman, Scott Kruse and Corey Mouser.

“We hope that we provide a better service and that at the end of the day we have more complete records and are better able to serve the students of this district,” he said.

Flowers said that part of the reason the new registration process developed is due to the district’s new technology upgrade.

“We will able to enroll families now instead of just individual students,” Flowers explained. When families go to registration, they will be asked to go the youngest child’s last name and receive a family information sheet that will include all the family’s information on file with the district. Flowers said corrections could be made to the information sheet to be sure the schools’ information is up-to-date.

Photographers will be on hand both days of registration to take student photos. Flowers said the district encourages families to have student photos taken, even if a photo package is not purchased.

This year for the first time parents will be able to visit the photographer’s website in advance of registration, view the package options available and even pre-order photos with the use of a credit/debit card.

“There will be computers available with online access for those parent who would like to use a credit/debit card to purchase online,” Flower said. Advance purchase can also be completed prior to registration, using the forms available for download at the end of this ShowMe Times article. After photos, families will move down the line for their school building, and the procedure will be similar to previous registrations.

“The nurse will be there, there will be an opportunity for parents to drop off lunch money in advance, pickup necessary handouts, get locker assignments and learn who their teachers are and get their schedules,” she said.

At the end of the line DHS athletic passes will be available for purchase and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) will be on hand to sell memberships and the group’s annual t-shirt.

“There will also be a complete section for new registrations,” Sharp said. “A staff member will help them through the process so they won’t have to be intimidated by the confusion and the process.”

Students registering in the district are encouraged to bring the following to registration:

• Birth Certificate (for verification only)
• Immunization/Shot Record
• Social Security Number
• Name of Last School Attended and Address
• Proof of Residency (must show parent/guardian name and address on the document, ex. utility bill, phone bill, cable bill, rent receipt, mortgage payment, property deed, legal description, etc.).

Inter-state Photography Information

Southwest Elementary

Central Elementary

T.S. Hill Middle School

Dexter High School