Written by
Dee Loflin SMT Manager/Writer
Bloomfield, Missouri – The Wildcats Bands are gearing up for an awesome school season! To prepare for their spectacular performances they will be hosting a summer band camp. Under the direction of Audry Thompson, Band Director, the students will prepare themselves for a year to remember!
The 6th Grade beginning band students will meet on Tuesday, August 6th from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. for Instrument Rental Night in the band room with Collins Music. Then on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday they will have beginning band clinics.
Students will get a head start on the school year by learning to put their instruments together, keep them clean, play their first sounds, sit properly, and breathe correctly.
The schedule is as follows:
Trumpet 12:30 – 1:10 p.m.
Trombone 1:15 – 1:55 p.m.
Flute 2:00 – 2:40 p.m.
Saxophone 2:45 – 3:25 p.m.
Clarinet 3:30 – 4:10 p.m.
Percussion 4:15 – 5:00 p.m.
The Bloomfield High School marching camp will begin on Wednesday, August 7th from 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. for any new members, as well as the freshmen and the officers. On Thursday and Friday, Aug 8th and 9th from 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 .m. everyone is to attend the marching camp.
Thompson is also in the process of setting up new Facebook pages for students, parents and fans of the Wildcats Bands to “LIKE” and receive updates, concert notifications, and official happenings!
Bloomfield Wildcat Band Department Facebook page is still under construction; however it is ready for you to begin viewing. This page will be the official community page of the Bloomfield Wildcat Band Department! Please like them to stay updated on our concerts and happenings!
The other Facebook "groups" she is creating is for only the members and parents of students in that particular ensemble that will focus on day-to-day happenings and member-pertinent information:
Click here for the Bloomfield High School Band Facebook page.
Click here for the Bloomfield Jr. High Band Facebook page.
Click here for the Bloomfield 6th Grade Band Facebook page!
These three groups will be closed and you will have to REQUEST to be in the group.
"Please be on the lookout for page/group requests for your appropriate page/group. The Bloomfield Wildcat Bands Profile will ultimately be deleted once all its "friends" have been routed to the appropriate area." stated Thompson.
Next week might be hot!! Be prepared for the summer band camp and wear light colored t-shirts, shorts, tennis shoes, hats, sunscreen, sunglasses and have water, water, water to drink.
Written by
Dee Loflin SMT Manager/Writer
Stoddard County – The National Archery in the Schools Program(NASP) promotes international-style target archery as par of the in-school curriculum, to improve educational performance and participation in the shooting sports among students in grades 4 – 12.
Puxico was the first school in Stoddard County to offer NASP and they began their program in 2012.
Richland has signed up for NASP and will begin their program this fall when students return to school.
The Missouri Department of Conservation and the National Wild Turkey Federation hopes to see NASP in every Stoddard County School. With the Missouri Department of Conservation offering grants to pay for part of the equipment necessary for the program and the Crowley’s Ridge Limbhangers, a local chapter of the NWTF raising money to help offset the other costs involved, the program should be successful.
This weekend the Crowley’s Ridge Limbhangers will be selling smoked chickens for $8 each as one of their many fundraising ventures. You can purchase a ticket at American Outdoors, anytime between now and August 2nd.
On August 3rd the chickens, completely donated by Tyson Foods, Inc. will be smoked and ready for pick-up between 2 – 4 p.m. also American Outdoors. 100% of the proceeds will be used for NASP in Stoddard County Schools.
Tickets can also be purchased from any NWTF committee member or call 573-624-5421 between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. American Outdoors is located at 2104 N. Outer Road, Dexter.
“The National Archery in the Schools Program provides 4th - 12th grade students opportunity to experience success in school. No matter what their gender, size, background or ability, any student can participate in archery,” stated Mark Reed, Stoddard County, Missouri Department of Conservation Agent. “We are only half-way to our goal and we need the community’s support.
NASP facts
-94% of students enjoy the two-week NASP course
-66% like physical education class better because of NASP
-53% of students like themselves better after NASP lessons
-49% like school better on "archery days"
-37% of NASP schools start after school clubs
Teachers report the NASP improves student behavior, grades and attendance.
In Missouri more than 64,000 students participate each year in over 290 schools.
More than 1,400 students participated in the Missouri 2013 state tournament.
Since NASP began in March of 2002, 10 million students have participated -- 10,000 schools have joined -- 47 stated and 6 countries have adopted the program.
For more information about NASP click here or find them on Facebook by clicking here.
Pictured is Bobby Shipman, NWTF Limbhanger Committee Member teaching a young man at a recent JAKES Day Event held annually in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin SMT Manager/Writer
Jonesboro, Arkansas - Approximately 700 candidates representing 10 academic colleges are expected to receive degrees at Arkansas State University’s 2013 summer commencement ceremony, Friday, Aug. 2. The ceremony starts at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center, 217 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro.
Of the summer class, 37 students are graduating with honors including 23 cum laude, 10 magna cum laude, two magna cum laude/honors and two summa cum laude.
Dr. Lynita Cooksey, university Provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, will confer both undergraduate and graduate-level degrees upon the students. The colleges are Agriculture, Business, Media and Communications, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Nursing and Health Professions, Sciences and Mathematics and University College.
"Commencement is one of the greatest times in the life of our university,” said Dr. Cooksey. “It is also a very joyous time, not only for the graduate, but also for family and friends. It is gratifying to know that the education received by Arkansas State’s newest alumni has prepared them to enter a global society filled with opportunities and challenges. We look forward to their continuing accomplishments in the years ahead.”
Lauren Rowe of Paragould, who is receiving her bachelor of science degree in Exercise Science, is the featured student speaker. Rowe is graduating summa cum laude and is a member of the Chancellor’s List. She will enter ASU’s doctor’s program in Physical Therapy this fall.
Following the commencement ceremony, a reception will be held on the north mezzanine with refreshments of punch and cookies.
ASU’s commencement may be viewed online. A broadband connection (384k or greater) is required. To view the video stream, Windows users can open the file URL mms://streamer.astate.edu/asutv by using Windows Media Player.
Those using Macintosh computers can use Quicktime and open the file URL at mss://streamer.astate.edu/asutv. Windows Media Components for Quicktime (by Flip4Mac), located at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/wmcomponents.mspx, will need to be installed.
Written by
Dee Loflin SMT Manager/Writer
State of Missouri – The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is this weekend! By state law, the sales tax holiday begins on the first Friday in August and continues through the following Sunday.
According to Section 144.049, RSMo, the tree-day tax holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday, August 2nd and runs through Sunday, August 4th.
Certain back-to-school purchases, such as school supplies, computers, clothing, and other necessary items ad defined by the statute will be exempt from sales tax.
Not everyone will participate so smart and check with retailer prior to your purchase. The sales tax holiday applies to state and local sales taxes when a local jurisdiction chooses to participate in the holiday.
Stoddard County has elected not to participate this year. The City of Bloomfield has elected not to participate this year as well. The state’s portion of the tax rate (4.225%) will remain exempt for the sale.
Here is a link to the list of CITIES opting out: http://dor.mo.gov/business/sales/taxholiday/school/cities.php
Here is a link to the list of COUNTIES opting out: http://dor.mo.gov/business/sales/taxholiday/school/counties.php
Here is a link to the SPECIAL DISTRICTS opting out: http://dor.mo.gov/business/sales/taxholiday/school/districts.php
The sales tax exemption is limited in some cases. Clothing must have a taxable value of $100 or less, school supplies can not exceed $50 per purchase, computer software up to $350, personal computers not to exceed $3,500 and computer peripheral devices not to exceed $3,500.
Definition of Qualifying Items
Section 144.049, RSMo, defines items exempt during the sales tax holiday as:
“Clothing” - any article of wearing apparel, including footwear, intended to be worn on or about the human body. The term shall include but not be limited to cloth and other material used to make school uniforms or other school clothing. Items normally sold in pairs shall not be separated to qualify for the exemption. The term shall not include watches, watchbands, jewelry, handbags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, scarves, ties, headbands, or belt buckles.
“School supplies” - any item normally used by students in a standard classroom for educational purposes, including but not limited to, textbooks, notebooks, paper, writing instruments, crayons, art supplies, rulers, book bags, backpacks, handheld calculators, chalk, maps, and globes. The term shall not include watches, radios, CD players, headphones, sporting equipment, portable or desktop telephones, copiers or other office equipment, furniture, or fixtures. School supplies shall also include computer software having a taxable value of three hundred fifty dollars or less.
“Personal computers” - a laptop, desktop, or tower computer system which consists of a central processing unit, random access memory, a storage drive, a display monitor, and a keyboard and devices designed for use in conjunction with a personal computer, such as a disk drive, memory module, compact disk drive, daughterboard, digitalizer, microphone, modem, motherboard, mouse, multimedia speaker, printer, scanner, single-user hardware, single-user operating system, soundcard, or video card.
Written by
Dee Loflin SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – Summer break seemed to pass by rather quickly this year as it is time once again for the school year to begin.
The 2013 – 2014 Dexter School Registration Day will be held on Tuesday, August 6th from 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Bearcat Event Center.
Students and parents can register anytime during the day, no appointment is necessary.
If you are a returning student, a registration packet was mailed to your last known address. Parent and/or guardians are asked to update the information prior to attending Registration Day. Included are transportation information (bus information sheet), lunch applications, photo packet information, and medical information that will be kept confidential.
Clean up, dress up, wear your summertime t-shirt, or your favorite BEARCAT shirt! School pictures will be taken on Registration Day. Don’t worry if your photo is not perfect, picture re-take day has already been scheduled for Wednesday, October 2nd.
Are there any new students out there? If so, you need to register as well on August 6th. Students will need to show provide their immunization record, birth certificate, as well as a social security card. You will also need some type of proof of residency. Parents may bring a water bill, utility bill, or even your cable bill.
Can’t make it to registration, don’t despair. Just turn in your child’s Registration packet prior to the first day of school. If you did not receive a packet in the mail, please contact the Dexter Administration Office at 573-614-1000. School begins Friday, August 16th and students will dismiss at 11:30 a.m.
