Bloomfield, Missouri - The Bloomfield Public School system received a total of $3,000 to cover the cost of archery equipment for their National Archery in Schools Program that was recently implemented.

The Missouri Department of Conservation granted the district $1,000 along with $1,500 that was awarded by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Superfund.    The local chapter of the NWTF, the Crowley's Ridge Limbhangers also donated an additional $500.

“The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) was developed to serve these specific educational and conservation purposes. NASP® was co-created by the Kentucky Departments of Fish & Wildlife Resources and Department of Education and Mathews Archery in the late summer and fall of 2001. The program was launched in 21 Kentucky middle schools on March 3, 2002.”

"Wildlife Conservation agencies are concerned too many young people are forgoing learning outdoor skills that will inspire them to spend more time with wild things in wild places. Natural resource professionals are convinced learning target shooting skills will result in character and self-reliance development that will serve the future of wildlife conservation well," according to NASP.

Shown in the photo are from left to right:  Austin Bond, Cameron Pulley, Coach Jason Karnes, Conservation Agent Mark Reed, and Nathan Newell.

Dexter, Missouri - T.S. Hill Middle School students accompanied by Asst. Principal Angie Duncan and Middle School Counselor Nancy Langley traveled to the Jr. Beta Club's National Convention in Richmond, Virginia on Friday.

The students are competing, performing and exhibiting their work throughout the week and will return on Wednesday.  They earned this honor by competing earlier in the year at the State level convention held at Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

These 16 students will be competing in arts, crafts, banners, scrapbooking, poetry, living literature, photography, watercolor, sketching, cross-stitch, quilting, sculptures, science, social studies, woodworking, spelling, music, and essay contest.

Congratulations on a well deserved honor!

Dexter, Missouri - Three Rivers College has announced that it will offer Certified Med Tech (CMT) and Insulin Administration courses at its Center at Dexter this summer for qualified Certified Nursing Assistants wishing to improve their qualifications.

The college’s CMT course is available to Certified Nursing Assistants who have worked at least six months in a long-term care facility. The course is fully funded through the “MOHealthWins” grant and is free to qualifying applicants.

“It’s a great opportunity for experienced CNAs to add to their skills and become qualified for better positions with increased pay scales,” said Deb Avery, Instructional Supervisor for Three Rivers’ MOHealthWins-funded programs. “Since the course only takes a month to complete, it’s a quick and cost-effective way for local professionals to increase their skills.”

Avery urged interested applicants to act quickly, as registration for the CMT course ends on June 24, and the course has a 10-student limit. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have proof of six months of employment as a CNA in a long-term care facility, and submit a letter of recommendation from the administrator or Director of Nursing at their facility. They must also present proof of high school graduation or the equivalent, and complete a “WorkKeys” assessment. For more information or to apply, please contact Deb Avery at 573-840-9681

Registration continues for Fall classes at all Three Rivers College locations. To search for classes, visit trcc.edu or call 573-840-9605.

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

Dexter, Missouri -  It's always fun learning in Mrs. Putnam's classroom!  Krystal and Jayden Duncan brought their Lion Head Bunny named Pistol to summer school.  The students learned all bout caring for a pet bunny and even got to pet him.

Lion Head Bunnies are extremely smart.  They can learn simple commands like come, play and eat.  They are very gentle, well-mannered and friendly creatures.

According to Wikipedia, "The Lionhead rabbit originated in Belgium. It is reported to have been produced by breeders trying to breed a long coated dwarf rabbit by crossing a miniature Swiss Fox and a Netherland dwarf. This resulted in a genetic mutation causing wool to appear around the head and on the flanks. This gene has come to be known as the "mane" gene. There are many other reports similar to this, for example that the lionhead has been bred from a Netherland Dwarf and a Jersey Wooly, but none have been substantiated, since the mane gene is separate from the gene that creates wool coats in wooled rabbits. The Lionhead rabbit continued to gain popularity in Europe, and Lionheads found their way to the United States in the late 1990s." 

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Dexter, Missouri – A special Retirement Tea was held in the lobby of the Bearcat Event Center at the end of the school year.  Honored were nine retiring members of the Dexter Public Schools. 

Dexter Board of Education President Kevin Bishop presented three honorees who were able to attend the event with honorary resolutions from the board.  In all a total of 230 years of educational experience with 154 years spent at Dexter. 

The retiring teachers were Kristie Hook, Dennis Keith, Jane Robertson, Rhonda Lowery, Debbie Wilson, Terry Temples, James Wade, Kathy Wooten, and Vicki Windham.

Rhonda Lowery taught elementary and high school students for 14 years prior to her employment with Dexter Public Schools.  She began here in August of 2000. She was employed as an elementary school librarian, splitting her days between Southwest and Central Elementary. In August 2008, she transferred to the position of high school librarian and continued there until her retirement. She has 14 years of service to Dexter Schools and a total of 28 years in the field of education.

Kristi Hook taught 12 years at Richland Elementary before her employment with Dexter schools in August of 1997. She was employed to teach seventh grade science at T.S. Hill Middle School and remained in that position for the past 17 years. She concludes this school year with a total of 29 years in education.

Terry Temples was employed in August of1987 as a Parents As Teachers educator. She conducted this program for six years from her office at Southwest Elementary. In August of 1993, she accepted a classroom teaching assignment at Central Elementary and taught grades three, four and five for the next 16 years. In August of 2009, she added Mild/Moderate Cross Categorical to her teaching certificate and transferred to teaching special education at Central Elementary. After two years, she transferred again to the high school, where she completed her 27-year career. 

Dennis Keith had five years as an elementary counselor and 10 years of teaching high school Social Studies prior to his employment as counselor at Central Elementary School in August of 2002. He has remained in that position for the past 12 years and is retiring with 27 total years in the field of education.

James Wade spent 16 years at Richland Schools before coming to T.S. Hill Middle School. He has been the Instrumental Band Instructor at Middle School and co-teacher for the Dexter High School Band for the past nine years. Mr. Wade was in his 25th year of providing educational instruction, but was unable to complete the school year due deteriorating health.  With this being his final year as an educator, he was honored for his contribution to Dexter Schools and for his longstanding career in education.

Jane Robertson was employed in August of 1990 as an aide in Kindergarten. The following year she became a first grade classroom teacher, where she remained for 14 year. She then transferred to a Title 1 Resource position at Southwest, where she remained instructing first and second grade students in the Title 1 program for the past eight years. She is retiring with a total of 22 years of educational experience.

Debbie Wilson retired from T.S. Hill Middle School at the beginning of the current school year. She was employed in August 1992 as a Learning Disabilities classroom aide at T.S. Hill Middle School, and in August of 1993, she was assigned a special education position there. She remained in that position until her retirement last August. Her 21-year teaching career was dedicated to Dexter's middle school.

Kathy Wooten began her teaching career in Illinois before coming to Central Elementary in August of 2003. She has devoted 11 years teaching grades four and five and Remedial Reading in that building. She has 22 career years in the field of education.

Vicki Windham had eight years of prior teaching experience in the area of Special Education prior to her employment at Central Elementary School in August of 1993. She taught Special Education for 10 years at Central Elementary, seven years at T.S. Hill Middle School, and the last four years have been devoted to the high school. Twenty-one of her 29 years in the educational field was spent providing instruction to special needs students attending Dexter Schools.

Shown in the photo are honorees who were present:  Jim Wade, Jane Robertson, and Vicki Windham.