Written by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Essex, Missouri - Today marked the end of the third quarter and students’ report cards will be mailed out next Friday. They will most likely be available on or after March 24th. Elementary report cards will be sent home with each student.
Elementary News from Principal Mrs. Cara Merritt:
Despite the snow, ice, and frigid temperatures, the end of Third Quarter has finally arrived! As we move forward into Fourth Quarter, and hopefully warmer weather, it is important that we bring the same energy and enthusiasm that we brought with us at the beginning of the school year. Fourth Quarter plans to be a busy time here at Richland Elementary. Students and teachers are gearing up for the spring assessments, our volleyball players are preparing for an exciting season, and we are all counting down the days until we can enjoy our new playground in the springtime weather and participate in the end of the year activities.
The elementary student of the month for March is Shelby Mayabb. Shelby is in the fifth grade and is eleven years old and she has displayed excellent acts of kindness towards her classmates and has made very good grades throughout the year! Congratulations to Shelby and all the other contestants!
Kindergarten and Preschool Screening:
Our kindergarten and preschool screening will be held on March 27th. Children residing in our school district that will be five years of age before August 1st, 2014 will be able to enroll in the 2014-2015 Kindergarten Class. Children that will turn three or four years of age before August 1st, 2014 will be eligible for screening and possible placement in our new Preschool Program. Preschool enrollment will be based on age and screening results. Children who turn four years of age before August 1st, 2014 will be enrolled first, and depending on how many openings are available, three year olds will then be considered based on screening results. Students who will be placed in the preschool will be contacted by telephone by the elementary office no later than July 1st. Please call the elementary office if you have any questions and to schedule a screening appointment. We are very excited about this new program and are looking forward to welcoming our young students to Richland!
Dates to remember:
Monday, March 17th marks the beginning of third quarter
March 18th is the Essex Development Chicken Dumpling Dinner
March 21st is Elementary Class Picture Day
March 27th is Kindergarten/Preschool Screening
March 28th school will NOT be in session
April 4th is the school talent show
Photo taken by Rebel Yearbook Staff Member
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - To celebrate “Music in Our Schools Month,” Three Rivers College will host a High School Band Festival on March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the college’s Tinnin Fine Arts Center in Poplar Bluff. The Festival will feature performances from high school bands from across the region. Admission is $2, $1 for students.
“This is a great opportunity for young musicians from across Southeast Missouri to both learn and perform the music they love,” said William “Buddy” White, Instructor of Music at Three Rivers. “Having music in our schools at all ages is so important, and it’s always a pleasure to get to celebrate that.”
In addition to the 6:30 performance, participating bands will get special instruction from guest clinician Gary Brandes. Brandes is an instructor of music at the University of Missouri St. Louis and conducts the university’s Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. He also serves as the Missouri Chairman of the National Band Association.
Performers will include high school bands from Bloomfield, Caruthersville, Clearwater, Dexter, Doniphan, Greenville, Poplar Bluff, and Puxico.
Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Dexter, Missouri – The Dexter Honor Society held their annual induction of new members on Tuesday evening at the Dexter Senior High School.
The DHS Honor Society was founded in 2004 and is for Juniors and Seniors who have earned academic achievement and have displayed leadership, character, and honor during their high school career.
Mr. Dan Pollock, DHS Principal began the evening with a few short words and introduced Jacob Robinson, President of the DHS Honor Society. Jacob spoke and performed the introduction of the Honor Code along with introducing each Senior. The officers spoke and lit candles as part of the Honor Society Ceremony.
Officers for the 2013 – 2014 school year are Jacob Robinson (President), Honey Patel (Vice President), Kelsey Holder (Secretary), and Kendra Stevenson (Treasurer).
The returning members of the Honor Society who were sitting in the audience were asked to stand to be acknowledged. They were Will Baker, Cora Bradley, Morgan Cliff, Erika Cobb, Reale Cook, Baylee Cooper, Kathleen Dixon, John Durham, Sarah Durham, Shelby Edwards, Seleana Flannigan, Jon Foels, Hunter Frampton, Kayla Hester, Kelsey Holder, Alison Jarrell, Katie Justice, Zach Kester, Randi Lacy, Sophie Lebel, Michaela Lesley, Ashley Long, Emily Long, Brianna Madigan, Tesa Martin, Andrew Mason, Nicholas McCollough, McGowan Madison, Jacob Mier, Jacob Miler, Sarah Mouser, Cody Neldon, Nick Noble, Paige Patterson, Hannah Petty, Sarah Richardson, Riley Rickman, Jacob Robinson, Zach Sims, Kendra Stevenson, Kasity Twaddell, Kali Watson, Mollie Whitehead, Krysta Winstead, and MacKenzie Young.
After each officer lit their candle, the proposed junior class students were asked to stand, come to the stage, and take a candle from the table. While Dan Pollock read each name, Jacob Robinson shook his or her hand and congratulated each student.
The students formed a giant circle around the auditorium and one by one the students passed the flame from one candle to another until all were lit. The students recited the pledge lead by Robinson, “I pledge myself to strive toward higher academic achievement, exemplify good character in both school and community and retain a standard of integrity while exhibiting leadership and service to the school and community.”
Parents, grandparents, relatives and friends of each student clapped and cheered in support of the students. The Dexter community is extremely proud of their accomplishments. We know they were very hard to earn their place in the Dexter Honor Society. Some students work after school and on weekend, some students compete in multiple sports and have lots of practice and games to attend and others help with their church or community organizations. Juggling so many commitments shows their ability to succeed and we wish them well in their future endeavors.
The following students were inducted for the 2013-2014 school year: Anderson Brooke, Alexa Ash, Dylan Bazarian, Brandon Berry, Callie Bradley, Holden Bruce, Hayley Chapman, Cheyenne Courter, Katie Dewitt, Jordan Dodson, Diana Gilliam, Justin Godwin, Jessica Gott, Afton Harris, Jake Hindman, Jackson Hubbard, Keasha Hubbert, Shyann Jines, Noah Kronk, Jessica Ladd, Jessica Lindsey, Dalton Manuel, Lacey Midgett, Hannah Noe, Honey Patel, Hayli Petty, Peyton Pollock, Courtney Potts, Brooks Propst, Rachel Putnam, Caleb Rea, Kathryn Reiker, Destiny Robertson, MacKinlee Rogers, Dakota Sillman, Rebecca Singh, Alexis Smith, Dakota Southerland, Drew Thompson, Emily Triplett, Katie Williams, and Kelsi Wood.
Following the induction everyone was treated to a delicious dinner. You could not have asked for a better-catered meal.
Congratulations to all of the students and their parents on their academic achievements!!
Written by
Beth Farrar, SMT Writer
Branson, Missouri - Richland R-1 Schools Sophomore Makala “Skie” Pinkley shows off her plaque she received after winning second place in the National Beta Club Convention state Acrylic Painting Contest in Branson on Saturday. Pinkley will be representing Richland R-1 and the state of Missouri as she competes in the national Beta competition in June in Richmond, Virginia. This is the second time she has won this award at the State level, once last year as a freshman and again this year as a sophomore.
Photo taken by Rebel Yearbook Staff member Ashley Lane.
Written by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Branson, Missouri – The 75th annual Missouri State Beta Convention was held at the Moon River Theater in Branson, Missouri over the weekend and the local high schools in the bootheel represented their towns and schools very well over the course of the two day convention. This year’s theme was “Making History with Beta”, in honor of celebrating Beta Club’s eighty years of service after being founded in 1934 by Dr. John W. Harris. Missouri was introduced to Beta five years after it was first founded and was originated in Fredericktown.
The bootheel has been represented at the state and even national convention. Last year, all three officers elected into office at the state convention were from this area and we are very proud of that accomplishment! Sadly enough, Darren Green (Malden), Kannon Qualls (Richland), and Kendra Elder (Secretary) had to retire from their positions as they prepare to graduate from high school in May and pass the torch to the younger generation of upcoming senior students.
There were a total of thirteen skits, campaigns, and candidates for this year’s convention. There were two candidates for state secretary: Molly French (Malden) and Drake Nilges (Bourbon). For Vice President there were six candidates: Cord Cooper (Leopold), Mason Douglas (Twin Rivers), Brenna Hancock (Puxico), Haley Holiday (Fredericktown), Chase Johnson (Van Buren), and Teanna Simpson (Koshkonong). For President, there were five candidates: Emma Cook (Meadow Heights), Ethan Cooper (Portageville), Alex Eggert (West Plains), Abby G. Shembra (Clearwater), and Lindsey Young (Bloomfield).
After the skits were performed on the first night at first session, the question and answer session was presented the next morning in the second session, and a lot of campaigning being done outside of session, the votes were finally in. The 2014-2015 Missouri State Secretary is Drake Nilges, the Vice President is Mason Douglas, and the President is Lindsey Young. Each candidate has a chance to attend the National Beta Convention held in June at Richmond, Virginia and represent Missouri by running for office at the National level. The convention will be hosted by our Missouri and National Beta President Darren Green.
Aside from the candidates and their campaigns, there were a lot of other things going on at this year’s convention. There were multiple tests being taken during the first day before session. There were academic tests in each subject along with different forms of art, writing, and of course, Quiz Bowl. During the second session, there was also a musical performance competition that was divided into two categories. The first category consisted of Special Talent which was either a solo performance or a group of four or less. The winners for Special Talent were: Ash Grove High School (1st), Leopold High School (2nd), and Greenville High School (3rd). The second on-stage competition was Group Talent, which was a group performance to a medley of songs. The winners were Malden High School “Beta Night Live” (1st), Bloomfield High School “The South” (2nd), and Neelyville High School “Wizard of Oz Medley” (3rd).
Since Beta is known for their motto “Lead by Serving Others”, there are awards known as the John W. Harris Awards that are handed out each year. Across the country, there are only twenty-five given to Beta members each year. Bell City was given this award for their outstanding leadership throughout the year. Bell City raised over $2,000 out of the $6,000 that Missouri State Beta Club raised and donated to their yearly charity of St. Jude Childrens’ Hospital.
Missouri is the proud home of our National Beta President, Darren Green, and will be sending numerous Beta members to Nationals this summer to compete in academic testing, art, web design, Quiz Bowl, and even run for office. Congratulations to all of the new officers!
