JHS singers featured in Joplin Daily

A photo and article on the Joplin High School singers, including several former South students, was posted today on the Joplin Daily website.
A Mixed Double quartet (pictured) including former South students Nikki Burkett, Daniel Burkett, Jordan Hudspeth, and Derek Rider, received a I rating.

Yearbook signing signals end of school year

Yearbooks for the 2005-2006 yearbook at South Middle School were handed out fifth hour Thursday. Students spent the afternoon signing their books and taking pictures of their last moments in middle school.
(Photos, from top: Danielle Kleeman prepares to sign a yearbook; Christian Young looks over his yearbook, as Derek Nolte watches; Felicia Spicer checks over her friends' photos; Roni Leonard, Rose Garduno, and Fox Navarre have their picture taken by a friend.)

South's second My Teacher Rocks winner featured

The May winner in the My Teacher Rocks contest, South Middle School counselor Mrs. Karensue Hensley's photo and information have been posted on the website. The page includes the photo of Mrs. Hensley and eighth grader Shelby Conrad that accompanies this article, plus the text of Miss Conrad's winning essay.

Bannasch selected for Missouri Scholars Academy

Joplin High School sophomore Serena Bannasch, a former SMS student, has been selected to attend the annual Missouri Scholars Academy, scheduled for June 11 to July 1 at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
The Academy, which is in its 22nd year, serves 330 academically gifted students who will be in 11th grade this fall.

School board to ask for more input on middle school issue

The Joplin R-8 Board of Education will ask residents for more input before making any decision on what kind of a middle school building issue to present to voters.
For more information check out the Joplin Globe article.

Awards presented during final assembly

The 2005-2006 school year concluded at South Middle School Friday with the annual Talent Show and Awards Assembly. Among the awards presented were:
Perfect Attendance- Kyle Graciano, Eli Moran, Steven Denmark, Christopher Diles, Cory Burton, Jared Fuller, Brittany Hulette, Sarah Kessler, Holly O'Dell, Tamara Tracy
Peer Tutor Awards- Brock Hunter, Grant Lewis, Steven Denmark, Kylie Hurrell, Allen Peterson, Amanda Needham, Cindy Pham, Arlissa Arwood, Lauren Bynum, James Hill, Loryn Ligon, Hannah Doerge, Dustin Hill, Shelby Conrad, Becca Mascher, Mattheu Smith, Jacquelin Bogarin, Shandera Workman, Gina Casada, Victoria Smith, Katelynn Wood
Science Fair Winners, Sixth Grade- Mollie Baker, gold; Holly O'Dell, gold; Nicole Yeoman, gold; Anh Nguyen, bronze; Taylor Camden, bronze; Bailey Strella, gold; Amie Howard, silver
Science Fair Winners, Seventh Grade- Corey Hounschell, gold; Craig Yeoman, gold; Taylor Munich, silver; Fisher Dowell, silver; Savanah Sweeton, bronze; Will Thrasher, bronze; Blake Ward, bronze
Better Water Week Poster Contest winners- Grand Prize, $150 gift certificate, Jessica Cashion; eighth grade winner, $100 gift certificate, Halie Endicott; seventh grade winner $100 gift certificate, James Michel; seventh grade runner-up, $50 gift certificate, Kelsey Pace; sixth grade winner, $100 gift certificate, Phillip Szulakiewicz; sixth grade runner-up, $50 gift certificate, Alex Deer. All gift certificates were from Northpark Mall.
Band Award- Corey Hounschell Junior High Honor Band participant.
Citizens of the Year- Eighth grade, Mary White and Brock Hunter; seventh grade, Mollie Sanders and Grant Ellis; sixth grade, Amy Howard and Richie Lyons
Journalism Club awards- Alex Needham, Dylan Prauser
Eighth Grade Communication Arts Awards- Best Writers- Jessica Cashion, Fox Navarre; top students- Jacob Brummer, Mayra Castaneda, Creative Writing- Mary White
More awards will be posted at a later date.
(Photos by Ashton White)

Hair today, gone tomorrow: no mo' 'fro

A fixture of South Middle School hit the stage floor during the talent show Friday when eighth grader Aaron Ebbs' signature Afro was shaved off, leaving him with a Mohawk.
The sacrifice came as a result of a bet between Ebbs and Mr. Mike Wallace, science teacher, on the outcome of the first eighth grade/faculty basketball game. If the faculty had lost, Wallace was going to shave his head, but the faculty won the game, which was held during seventh hour Thursday.
(Photos, from top, Mr. Wallace begins work on Aaron Ebbs' Afro; the finished product; the cheerleaders hard at work; a scene from the basketball game. Room 210 photos by Maddison Billings and Mr. Randy Turner)

Mr. Russell's father passes away

Mr. Hudson Monroe Randall, 91, Joplin, father of South Middle School sixth grade science teacher Mr. Mark Russell, died Thursday night.
The following information was in his obituary:

Hudson Monroe Russell, age 91, of Joplin, passed away at 11:40 p.m. Thursday, May 18, 2006, at Missouri Veterans’ Home in Mount Vernon, Mo.
Born Oct. 26, 1914, in rural Aurora, Mo., he was the son of the late Ora G. and Elsie Hudson Russell and had lived in Joplin since 1949. He was a graduate of Joplin Business College. He served a four year enlistment in the United States Navy beginning in 1934, and reenlisted at the beginning of World War II, serving until Dec. 7, 1945. For 23 years he worked at the former Joplin Furniture Co., retiring as credit manager. He was a member of the Presbyterian churches in Aurora and Sarcoxie and Bethany Presbyterian Church in Joplin.
On Aug. 24, 1947, he married Charlene Purviance at the Presbyterian Church in Sarcoxie. She survives.
Additional survivors include a son, Mark Monroe Russell and his wife, Suzanne McCune Russell, of Jasper, Mo.; two grandchildren, Caleb and Molly Russell; a brother, Dale Russell, of southern California; two nieces, Laurie Russell and Jo Anne Homuth, of Washington State. A brother, John E. Russell; and two sisters, Nell Russell Hamlin and Mary Russell, preceded him in death.
Funeral services were held Monday at Parker Mortuary Chapel with Rodney Peters, Minister and Rev. Brock Watson officiating. Interment followed in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The family served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Kum Dubl Sunday School Class and World War II Veterans of the family and church.

Middle school survey results released

Joplin R-8 voters appear to approve a plan to build two middle schools and keep the number at three. They also don't want to have a school built on property the district owns at 50th Street.
Those were among the results of a survey commissioned by the R-8 Board of Education, which held a work session Friday to go over the information.
Find out more at the following links:
Joplin Globe article
Second Joplin Globe article
Joplin Daily article

Middle school survey results to be discussed

In a special meeting scheduled for noon today in the administration building, Joplin R-8 Board of Education members will review results of the middle school survey that was recently sent to area patrons.
In the survey, patrons were asked whether they would support building a new middle school and remodeling North Middle School for an estimated $26 million, or if they would rather build two middle schools and remodel North for an estimated $42.5 million.
The results of the survey will be released following the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Jim Simpson told the Joplin Daily.

SMS Vocal Department spring program a smash hit

The South Middle School Vocal Department ended its 2005-2006 schedule on a high note Thursday night performing before a near-capacity crowd in the school auditorium.
The program included the five numbers from the sixth grade choir, with solos by Sarah Matthews, Jordan Chambers, and Alan Schilling; eight numbers by the Concert Choir, with solos by Becca Mascher, Arlisa Arwood, Grace Randolph, Lauren Bynum, and Spencer Moss, and four numbers by the Southern Belles with solos by Becca Mascher and Lauren Bynum.
The program concluded with the Mass Choir performing "God Bless the U.S.A. with soloist Spencer Moss.
Sixth Grade Choir members are: Merisha Alderman, Andrew Allen, Taylor Camden, Jordan Chambers, Tolby Clemons, Tanner Crawford, Kayra Dickey, Breanne Diles, Ariana Dudley, John Elick, Shane Ellis, Tara Fleming, Ashlee Ford, Jared Fuller, Christian Gates, Nicole Heese, Chelsea Hernandez, Jessica Highley, Erika Hinojosa, Rachelle Hughbank, William Ideker, Amanda Jones, Alex Karns, Katie Kemmery, Tera Knight, Jedidah Larson, Lauren Layne, Shelby-Nicole McDonald, Sarah Matthews, Holly O'Dell, Katie Phelps, Mackenzy Pierce-McCutcheon, Abby Sadler, Mariah Sanders, Adam Schilling, Beau Scroggins, Shelby Shumaker, Alex Smith, Adam Snearly, Sydney Snider, Molly VanSlyke, Cassie Wooldridge, Nichole Yeoman.
Concert Choir members are: Arlisa Arwood, Shakota Ball, John Beaman, Cheyenna Beck, Jaquelin Bogarin, Dakota Brigance, Aaron Brown, Lauren Bynum, Cameron Bryan, Gina Casada, Beau Carroll, Joanna Cole, Christen Cool, Samantha Cox, Mikaila Craig, Takada Davis, Hannah Doerge, Karly Dorland, Aaron Ebbs, Amber Ellis, Rachel Etheridge, Leah Forkner, Rachael Foster, Makenzie Freeman, Jacob Gammill, Justene Gowing, Paige Harmon, Jamie Hartje, Alexis Hawk, Colten Hawkins, Lacy Heiskell, Breanna Hendrix, Ashley Henson, Christy Hernandez, Jenny Hill, Joe Huddleston, Emily Houston, Alex Knapps, Kelley Leach, Breezy Leatherman, Roni Leonard, Grant Lewis, Loryn Ligon, Alyssa Loyd, Tessa Luper, Breanna Martin, Becca Mascher, Adriana Maturino, Kim McKeehan, Chelsea Moore, Amber Morris, Spencer Moss, Jessica Myers, Cheyla Navarre, Nayelli Ortiz, Jacob Oviedo, Kelsey Pace, Arlena Parks-Williams, Cindy Pham, Tymber Pope, Tiffany Porter, Dylan Prauser, Grace Randolph, Rachel Richins, Hannah Rosario, Jesse Rowe, Mollie Sanders, Cassey Schulze, Kaylee Sexton, Ashley Slaughterbeck, Abbi Smith, Amber Smith, Ashlea Smith, Hailey Smith, Matt Smith, Rochelle Stanley, Shanna Striegel, Briannetta Stringer, Kaitlin Sullivan, Shelby Sullivan, Dustin Trebbe, Taylor Tressler, Emily Tripoli, Christina Underwood, Wes Underwood, Miranda Veith, Sammy Warren, Caleb Wheeler, Ashley Whittington, Kendra Wilson, Tamera Wirick, Shandera Workman, Katie Wood, Jaclyn Wright, Tamara Zajac.
Members of the Southern Belles are: Arlisa Arwood, Lauren Bynum, Hannah Doerge, Leah Forkner, Christy Hernandez, Jenny Hill, Emily Houston, Breezy Leatherman, Tessa Luper, Becca Mascher, Amber Morris, Cindy Pham, Mollie Sanders, Abbi Smith, Ashlea Smith, Taylor Tressler, Kendra Wilson, Katie Wood, Jaclyn Wright, and Tamara Zajac.

Journalism Club commercials to air Monday, May 22

The three public service messages the SMS Journalism Club taped May 11 for Fox 14 will be shown between 5 and 6 p.m. Monday, May 22, during "Malcolm in the Middle" and "King of the Hill," according to Darren Dishman of Fox 14.
The messages will air all summer, Dishman said, but the May 22 date is one in which he can guarantee that all three will be shown in the same hour.
More information about the messages and photos can be found at this link.

Seventh graders visit Prairie State Park

By DYLAN PRAUSER
Room 210 Staff Writer
Seventh graders had the opportunity to see nature in its primitive state Wednesday when they took a field trip to Prairie State Park near Liberal.
In addition to wild grasses, and prairie that looks as it may have looked hundreds of years ago, the students had the chance to see some of the buffalo that roam the park and learn valuable lessons about science.
(Pictured: SMS seventh graders visited a home where the buffalo roams; students listen to one of the guides at Prairie State Park. Room 210 photos by Dylan Prauser)

Stehm to appear in local theater production

South Middle School eighth grader Clayton Stehm will appear in the Stained Glass Theatre production of "Cheaper by the Dozen," scheduled for 7:30 p.m. today and Friday and 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 26, and Saturday, May 27.
The play is based on the true story of a couple raising 12 children.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children aged 4 to 13 and free for children 3 and under. Reservations are required. For more information, call 417-624-1982.

Coach Burr's last day is Friday

By ALEX NEEDHAM
Room 210 Staff Writer
A familiar face will be missing from South Middle School next fall.
Coach Robert Burr's last day is Friday, then he will begin his retirement.
Coach Burr says he will miss South. "Absolutely, the teachers and principals are great; this is the best school I've been at in my 25 years at Joplin."
He also has positive things to say about the students. "Ninety-nine percent of them have been good." With the other one percent, he said, he handled them by "making them realize they are at school and they should behave while they are here."
Coach Burr got into teaching "so I could coach," he said. "I like teaching P. E. It is one of the true necessary subjects in school."
Coach Burr's role model is his dad. "I've always tried to be a good person just like him."
Though he will miss the people at South, Coach Burr says is time for him to retire. "I'm ready to move on and try something different, but I'm sure going to miss it."

SMS Guitar Club featured in Joplin Daily

The South Middle School Guitar Club, sponsored by Mrs. Karensue Hensley, counselor, was featured in a story in the Joplin Daily this week.
Eighth grader Blake Mills is shown in a Joplin Daily photo.

SMS Vocal Program scheduled for Thursday night

South Middle School students received a sampling of the vocal talents of their classmates Tuesday during TA as the sixth grade choir and the seventh and eighth grade choir performed numbers from the spring program.
The program will be held 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the school auditorium.
(Photos- Top: The seventh and eighth grade choir receives applause following a number. Eighth grader Lauren Bynum excelled during her solo. Choir members sing. Room 210 photos by Tiana Clemons)

TA Egg Drop held

By MADDISON BILLINGS
and TIANA CLEMONS
Room 210 Staff WritersStudents (and eggs) were left shell-shocked following the annual TA Egg Drop competition last week.
The students prepared boxes and containers to hold their eggs, hoping the eggs would not break after Mr. Jason Weaver dropped them off the school roof. Nearly a dozen eggs survived the deadly drop.
(Photos: Eighth grade Student Council member Garrett Dowell and council sponsor Mr. Rocky Biggers celebrate as their egg survives its crash landing. Mr. Jason Weaver launches another egg to its doom, proving that sometimes even in school Grade A is not the best. Photos by Maddison Billings)

TA Champ of Champs honored

A pizza party was held fourth hour Tuesday for 28 students who were named champ of champs for their TAs. Each month a champ has been named for each TA to honor a student who has worked hard in the TA. The champ of champ was chosen from that group.
In addition to the party, the students received certificates commemorating their accomplishments.
Those selected were:
Molly Baker, Joseph Bennett, Maddison Billings, Jessica Cashion, Mayra Castaneda, Tiana Clemons, Halie Endicott, Josh Frazier, MacKenzie Freeman, Bret Gibson, Christy Hernandez, Amanda Jones, Tera Knight, Kelley Leach, Sydney Long, Breanna Martin, Andrew Mays, Ian Mitchell, Amanda Needham, Cody Sadler, Mollie Sanders, Ashlie Shimmin, Alisha Shofner, Victoria Smith, Bayley Strella, Tevin Triplett, Dayton Whitehead, Ken Zhang.
(Photos: Molly Baker enjoys pizza. Groups of TA champs are shown during the party.)

Final rehearsal held for talent show

The final rehearsal for the annual South Middle School Talent Show was held after school Tuesday.
The combination talent show and awards assembly will begin at approximately 9:15 a.m. Friday and last until the end of the school, ending with 1 10-minute video covering events of the past school year.
(Photo: Eighth grader Mary White practices her flute solo.)

Peer tutors chosen for 2006-2007

Peer tutors for the 2006-2007 school year have been chosen at South Middle School.
The tutors work with students who need help with their classwork.
Those named were:
Hannah Doerge, Jacquelin Bogarin, Tylor Camden, Gina Casada, Jordan Chambers, Steven Denmark, Breanne Diles, James Hill, Amie Howard, Kylie Hurrell, William Ideker, Alex Karns, Sarah Kessler, Lauren Layne, Grant Lewis, Syndey Long, Mary Jean Miller, Amanda Needham, Anh Nguyen, Holly O'Dell, Allen Peterson, Cindy Pham, Chloe Potts, Mariah Sanders, Alex Smith, Victoria Smith, Shawn Spicer, Bayley Strella, Savanah Sweeton, Kyle Wentz, Dayton Whitehead, Katelynn Wood, Shandera Workman

Practice held for talent show

The second practice for the annual South Middle School Talent Show was held after school today. The show is scheduled to be held Friday, May 19, the last day of the 2005-2006 school year.
A dress rehearsal will be held after school Tuesday. The program is under the direction of Ms. Julie Yonkers and Mr. Rocky Biggers.
(Photo: Seventh graders Hannah Doerge and Taylor Tressler rehearse their number.)

Navarre wins SMS Short Story Contest

Eighth grader Fox Navarre made a clean sweep of the South Middle School writing contests, taking first place in the annual Short Story Contest.
Earlier, Miss Navarre won the Essay Contest and the Eighth Grade Poetry Contest. She will receive $15 for her short story, "And That's How." Other winners were:
2. Tiffani Gilbert $10
3. Mary White $5
4. Ashton White $3
5. MacKenszee Roberts $2
6. Madison Pollack $1
7. Jessica Erwin $1
8. Garrett Dowell $1
9. Paco Gonzalez $1
10. Steven Denmark $10 (top seventh grader
Also placing in the top 20 were: Sierra Hutchinson $1,Danielle Kleeman $1, Alivia Sherrick $1, Amanda Jones $1, Shawn Spicer $1 Rachelle Hughbank $1, Alex Kangethe $10 (top sixth grader).
The students will receive their money next week, according to Mr. Randy Turner, chairman of the SMS Writing Improvement Committee.

Teachers, staff honored during assembly

By MADDISON BILLINGS and
TIANA CLEMONS
Room 210 Staff Writers
Mrs. Joyce Hale, Mr. Jason Weaver, and Mr. Mike Wallace were named teachers of the year during the first Teacher Appreciation Ceremony, sponsored by the SMS Student Council this morning.
The teachers were chosen by students during a vote in TA last week.
The program featured a video tribute to faculty, administrators, and staff. The idea for the assembly came from Student Council President Garrett Dowell and eighth grade council members Tamera Zajac. Miss Zajac and eighth grade council member Lauren Bynum came up with the idea of presenting the winning teachers with gift certificates.
The following awards were presented:
Best dancing duo- Mrs. Angela Mense, Mrs. Maribel Chairez
Best/worst jokes- Mr. Randy Turner
Disco Ball Head- Mr. Ron Mitchell
Best under your breath language- Ms. Julie Yonkers
Special Education Department award- Mrs. Kathy Weaver, Mrs. Brenda Fenix, Mrs. Linda Fisher
Sixth Grade teacher of the year- Mrs. Joyce Hale
Seventh Grade teacher of the year- Mr. Jason Weaver
Eighth grade teacher of the year- Mr. Mike Wallace
The Student Council plans to make the awards assembly an annual event.
(Photos: From top: Mr. Jason Weaver, social studies teacher receives his award as seventh grade teacher of the year; Mrs. Angela Mense and Miss Maribel Chairez are honored as the "dancing duo." Mr. Mike Wallace was named eighth grade teacher of the year. Room 210 photos by Maddison Billings)

Journalism Club tapes public service messages

The importance of writing was emphasized by South Middle School Journalism Club members as they taped three public service messages for Fox 14 after school today. The messages are part of the station's "Think About It" campaign.
Eighth graders Maddison Billings and Fox Navarre read messages concerning the importance of writing, while eighth grader Alex Needham stressed how liberty means responsibility in a third message.
After each student read her message, Journalism Club members said, "Think about it." The messages will air throughout the summer, according to Darren Dishman of Fox 14.
(Photos- Darren Dishman of Fox 14 tapes Alex Needham's message. Journalism Club members say, "Think about it," following one of the messages. Front row, left to right, Chelsea Moore, Sabrina Rogers, Krystal Ford, Christy Hernandez; second row, Danielle Kleeman, Grace Randolph, Becca Mascher, Tiana Clemons, Rose Garduno, Roni Leonard, Christen Cool; third row, Kane McCaslin, Dylan Prauser, Jacob Oviedo, Ashton White, Gabby Londe; bottom photo, Maddison Billings tapes her message.)