Dexter, Missouri - The 2017 Winter Sports Senior Night was held on Friday, February 10th at the Bearcat Event Center.

Kaylea Murdock is the daughter of Jimmy and Mandy Murdock.

She has been a member of the Kickin' Cats Dance Team for four years.  She is also a member of the FCCLA and DECA Clubs.

Her future plans are to attend the Sikeston Career and Technology Center and Southeast Health College of Nursing and major in Nursing.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Naturalists with the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center visited elementary schools in Ste. Genevieve and Bloomsdale recently to give nature programs. These visits are part of a large effort the naturalists make every year to take nature programs to students who might not otherwise get to visit the center.

“This time we did Lewis and Clark based programs, but we do other programs such as mammals,” said Sara Turner, manager of the nature center. “All of our nature programs teach about animal conservation, habitats, nature appreciation and connect to classroom science studies.”

Debbie Baker, a fourth grade teacher at Bloomsdale Elementary School, said she appreciates the programs coming into her classroom.

“The great thing about the classroom visits is that it brings a whole new level of learning into the classrooms,” Baker said. “Many of our students may never get the chance to visit the nature center, but they still got that hands-on experience because it came to them.”

Baker said her students learned about Lewis and Clark this year as part of their curriculum, and she appreciated how the naturalists went into depth about what life on the trail was like, and what contributions different members of Lewis and Clark’s crew made to the team.

“I was very impressed with the presentation, and the students loved it,” Baker said.

Turner said map and compass and other outdoor skills are included in the programs. Due to classroom time constraints and lack of school funding for gasoline and buses, it creates a need for the naturalists to travel to some schools, which saves field trip costs for the school, she said.

“We initiate the contact based on which schools haven’t been to the nature center in a while for a field trip and which schools we think might benefit from learning about our Discover Nature Schools (DNS) or Missouri National Archery in the Schools programs,” Turner said.

Turner said she hopes the programs help teachers see how they can tie nature as a theme into their current teaching strategies using DNS curriculum as the lesson or supplement to their lessons.

“We correlate with the current school standards, too,” Turner added.

For the students, the benefit is knowledge and appreciation of Missouri wildlife and the ability to see ways they can get outside and discover nature.

“We give them insight into how people had to be much more connected to the land in previous generations,” Turner said. “They will hopefully begin to see how their own survival connects to the survival of nature.”

Shown in the submitted photo: Naturalists from the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center recently brought Lewis and Clark themed nature programs to 133 elementary students in Ste. Genevieve and Bloomsdale.

Article submitted by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - A new group of student leaders has emerged at the Poplar Bluff Middle School this year with the relocation of the campus on Victory Lane.

A total of 25 sixth graders make up the Safety Patrol, an organization committed to directing walkers through Bacon Park before and after school.

“We never had walkers before, so we had to design an exit strategy,” said Principal Dr. Brad Owings, referring to the previous location of the school on Oak Grove Road. “It’s another way for students to show responsibility and leadership, and be role models.”

The teams of students work in shifts, from 6:50-7:20 in the morning and 2:20-2:45 p.m., lining the trail on the hill behind the school to the city park. Several students man a station, and there is one roamer with a cell phone in case of an emergency.

The students wear safety vests and are supplied with gear such as flashlights and hand warmers for the changing conditions. Following each shift, the Patrol debriefs with teacher sponsors, Kathy Pattillo and Kelly Lawson. They also meet as a group monthly, and have had guests including school Safety Resource Officer Kenny Carpenter.

“The students take the job very seriously, and it is an honor,” said Pattillo, noting that the group has a waiting list. Lawson added: “These are skills that can carry them through life.”

Shown in the photo: Lanie Robertson mans her station in the forefront, while Safety Patrol members line the asphalt trail behind her.

Photo and article submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District

Dexter, Missouri - The 2017 Winter Sports Senior Night was held on Friday, February 10th at the Bearcat Event Center.

Angel Maze is the daughter of Amanda Davison.

She has been a member of the honors choir for four years, chamber choir as a junior, women's choir as a senior, cross country team as a sophomore, DHS musical for four years, and also a member of the Kicking' Cats for three seasons.

She is an active member of DECA, Student Council, and is on the Executive Board for the Sr. Beta Club.

Her future plans are to attend Three Rivers College and then transfer to a four-year university to major in Music Education.

Dexter, Missouri - The 2017 Winter Sports Senior Night was held on Friday, February 10th at the Bearcat Event Center.

Jackie is the daughter of Jerry and Karen Kiger.

She has been a member of the rack team her freshman, sophomore, and juniors years, a football cheerleader for four years and a member of the Kickin' Cats Dance Team all four years of high school.

She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Teachers of America, DECA where she serves as the treasurer.  She is also active in Student Council, Sr. Beta, and the National Honor Society.

Her future plans are to attend Southeast Missouri State University - Cape Girardeau and major in early childhood and elementary education.