Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Middle School Band performed in the middle school gym on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. The members of both the Dexter Middle School seventh and eighth grade bands were excited to perform as this music brought some songs the parents would know and brought Spring along with them.

The first song, conducted by Mr. Wade was "Y.M.C.A.". As the crowd shuffled in their seats eager to move, but too embarrassed to try YMCA with their hands.   The concert had an enjoyable start which was quite prominent.

Following the "Y.M.C.A.", Mr. Wade directed "Locomotion".   Mr. Jinkerson, the new Middle School band director for next year, was excited to conduct his first piece of pop music. He started off by saying how excited he was to have received the job for next year and to work with all the children with music in the future. He conducted "Takin' Care of Business" as well as the always popular "Smoke on the Water".

He then let Miss Shupbach take the stand. She is a student teacher from Southeast Missouri State University, who much like Mr. Jinkerson has a job ready for her at the end of this year at Bell City taking the place of Mrs. Wade.  She directed "Radioactive", a newer piece in this set. 

Mr. Rybolt took the stand. For the first song, he chose "Low Rider". For the final song explained his love of Bon Jovi music when announcing "You Give Love a Bad Name". 

Several of the 8th grade students were not on hand for the concert as they were attending the annual Science Fair competition on the Southeast Missouri State University campus in Cape Girardeau.

All in all the concert was a blast and the students really enjoyed performing for their parents and friends.  We look forward to listening to their spring concert as well.

Shown in the photo above are the 7th grade concert students.  Below are the 8th grade concert students.

Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor

Dexter, Missouri - The purpose of the Mark Twain Award is to provide children of Missouri with a recommended reading list of literature that will enrich their lives.  The winner of the Mark Twain Readers Award is selected annually by students in grades four through six throughout Missouri.

Shown in the photo above are the 4th grade students who read at least 4 of the 12 book nominees.  There are 26 students.  They also attended the party and voted for their favorite book.

Students will be casting their votes at the Mark Twain, Truman, and Gateway Voting Parties. Each of these Voting Parties is divided into different age groups. The Gateway books are focused on the high school students (9-12^th grade), while the Truman books are more associated with the junior high readers (6-8^th grade), and the Mark Twain books are more open to the elementary readers.

Central Elementary students just celebrated their Voting Party.  To be able to attend the party and cast their vote, the students were required to read at least four of the twelve books on this year’s Mark Twain Award Nominees. 

The winning book and author of each of the Award Nominee categories will be announced in April at a Missouri Association of School Librarians conference that will take place in Tan-Tar-A.

Close to Famous, by Joan Bauer.  Viking Juvenile.

Missing on Superstition Mountain, by Elise Broach.  Henry Holt and Co.

Will at the Battle of Gettysburg, by Laurie Calkhoven.  Dutton Juvenile.

Barn Boot Blues, by Catherine Friend.  Amazon Children's Publishing.

Hidden, by Helen Frost.  Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

The Underdogs, by Mike Lupica.  Philomel.

13 Gifts, by Wendy Mass.  Scholastic Press.

In Front of God and Everybody, by K.D. McCrite.  Thomas Nelson.

The Unwanteds, by Lisa McMann.  Aladdin.

Sparrow Road, by Sheila O'Connor.  Putnam Juvenile.

Wonderstruck, by Brian Selznick.  Scholastic Press.

Pie, by Sarah Weeks.  Scholastic Press.

"I had a total of 60 students that were eligible to vote this year, and 19 that read all 12," stated Camie Richard, Central Elementary Librarian.  "That is a record number of voting students."

Congratulations to all of the students who read their books.  Reading can be fun!!

Thank you Camie Richard for the awesome photos!

Dexter, Missouri - Student Body President, Zach Sims, was awarded the Certified Student Leader Award by the Missouri Association of Student Councils. 

"This is the most prestigious award given by the association," Miller said of the award to Sims, "and is based on the student's leadership and involvement in school and community activities throughout their four years of high school."

Student Council Advisor, Jennifer Miller, was also honored and received the Southeast District of the Missouri Association of Student Councils Advisor of the Year Award. 

The Southeast District encompasses Student Councils from 18 counties from the bootheel to just south of St. Louis County.

Congratulations to both of you for your continued support of Dexter Student Council and for all of your hard work throughout the year.

Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Senior High School Band performed in the auditorium at Dexter Senior High School on Thursday, March 13, 2014. The group, filled with high school students and middle school students alike, entered in on the stage with a full set of music ready to play.

The Concert Band played all the pieces they will be playing for contest on March 22, 2014. These pieces include "Simple Gifts" directed by Miss Shupbach, and "Seal Lullaby", and "March from Somerset" directed by Mr. Rybolt. After playing these pieces, the middle schoolers exited the stage, and the high school prepared to perform their last concert band piece, "Andrew Lloyd Webber" directed by Mr. Jinkerson. He was as excited as he could be while directing this piece, which was a mashup of several Broadway musicals.

The Jazz Cats took the stage soon after and began their set with "Groovin' Hard". They followed that with "Malagueña","I Remember Clifford", and "St. Louis Blues".

After that they then commemorated the Beatles by playing "Norwegian Wood", which the crowd seemed to love.

Photo is from a recent basketball game with the Jazz 'Cats performing between the JV and Varsity games.

Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor

Dexter, Missouri – Dexter High School’s Student Council has been awarded the Missouri Association of Student Councils Gold Honor Council Award by the Honor Council Committee of the Missouri Association of Student Councils.  The award was presented at the annual MASC Convention recently held in Windsor High School in Imperial, Missouri.

“Dexter High School met the criteria as established by the Honor Council Committee and the MASC Advisory Board,” stated MASC Chairman Karen Haak.

The criteria established honors those who have a comprehensive program established to promote student activities and student leadership.  These activities include school service, spirit, community service, student and teacher recognition, and leadership training activities.

“Missouri Association of Student Councils recognizes the advisorship of Advisor Jennifer Miller who certainly played a large part in the acquisition of this award,” said Haak, of Moberly, Missouri.  “Dexter High School Principal Dan Pollock should also be commended for supporting the young leaders of Dexter Senior High School.”

Photo provided by Jennifer Miller, DHS Counselor.