East Middle School Roundabout was a publication of the East Middle School Journalism Club, formerly the South Middle School Journalism Club, which was sponsored by eighth grade communication arts teacher Mr. Randy Turner. Mr Turner taught in the Joplin School District from 2003-2013.
The East Middle School Band preformed at Junge stadium on Friday night with North and South Middle School, along with the Joplin High School.
Despite the pouring down rain, the band performed well. The band played "YMCA", "The Star Spangled Banner", and the "Joplin Fight Song." Led by drum majors Alec Welch and Whitney Bass, the band marched across the field with East Middle School Color Guard.
The band now prepares for the next mass band performance at MSSU on Saturday, during Homecoming Weekend.
Band and Color Guard members are:
Justin Armstrong, Julia Ayala, Cameron Bailey, Dakota Ballard, Tanner Bartholomew, Whitney Bass, Taylor Beaver, Adrianna Bland, Evan Blue, Alonzo Byers, Reed Campbell, Elizabeth Carney, Harry Carpenter, Cody Chollet, Darin Clark, Trevor Conrad, Zach Consier, Mckinsey Cottle, Matthew Coulston, Shana Cover, Ethan Crider, Ailan Eldred, Sevrin Eldred, Zack Figueroa, Delshawn Garth, Alex Garton, Chris Geier, Anthony Grubb, Keisha Grunden, Tess Harmon, Amy Hembree, Dalton Hill, Tristen Howell, Hannah Huffman, Bonnie Johnson, Kayla Johnson, Cannon Jones, Blake Lewis,Cara Marshall,Jeremiah Martin, Maddie Martin, Christian Owens, Ashton Parker, Kelly Parker, Toku Platt, Devin Puckett, Austin Reynolds, Tyauna Robinson, Valerie Royer, Jennifer Schulze,Alexis Shields, Jakob Simrell, Austen Still, Steven Townsend, Tyler Viles, Erica Ward, Madeline Webber, Alec Welch, Shelby Welton, Hannah West, Adam White, Jimmy Willerton, Denton Williams, Katelynne Yonkers, Ashlee Youngblood.
The East Middle School seventh grade football teams closed the season Tuesday night with a pair of wins at McDonald County.
Both teams had stellar defensive plays and some very hard hits, according to Coach William Hedrick. The B team finished 3-2 with an 18-6 win with a pair of touchdowns from Dantee Figueroa and one for Alejandro Santillian. The A team started off slowly, taking a 20-0 half time lead, but picked it up in the second half and finished with a 44-0 victory.
By DENTON WILLIAMS
Staff Writer
There have been recent rumors going around the Joplin Schools that the constructive response questions on the MAP test will be removed for the next few years. These rumors were recently confirmed, causing rejoice among many students, and disappointment to many teachers and staff members of East Middle School.
“I think that this will hurt the MAP tests, the constructive response questions show the true intelligence of the student,” eighth grader Ronnie Herron tells us.
A few teachers think this could be a positive move by removing the constructive response questions. “I think students struggle on the constructive response questions on the Math section, so that will help them out. Most students can get the answer right, but can’t explain how they got it, so I think it will help them,” seventh grade Math teacher Ms. Areke Worku tells us.
Eighth grade math teacher Mr. Brian Neugebauer has a different opinion. “I think that it’s a bad move, because it’s important to see what the students do to get the answer. With multiple choice questions, you can guess, and possibly get an answer correct. Showing work is important, especially in my class.”
Many teachers of East Middle School agree that the Communication Arts constructive response questions are even more important. “I think students are much more capable of expressing their thoughts and ideas for their answers when they have an opportunity to use their own words to answer a question. My concerns are that students will have a limited vocabulary words in which to select their best answer, this will lead to more students misunderstanding the question or answer, due to limited vocabulary. Rather than not knowing the answer, they need to use their own words to explain the correct answer,” seventh grade Reading and Communication Arts teacher Linda Weaver tells us.
Principal Mr. Bud Sexson sums it up with the statement: “I feel that the most important test a student takes is the next one. Next year, next month, next hour, this is the same for the MAP tests.”
The Joplin High School vocal group Sound Dimension, featuring several former South Middle School students, performed at the annual Academic All-Star celebration Tuesday night in the JHS Auditorium:
East Middle School Academic All-Stars were honored Tuesday night during ceremonies held in the Joplin High School Auditorium.
The program included performances by the Joplin High School Jazz Band, the JHS vocal group Sound Dimension, and a speech by U. S. Bank President Mr Clifford Wert.
The students received recognition after scoring advanced or proficient in at least one area of the annual MAP tests, which were given last spring.
Students receiving recognition:
Sixth Grade- Melinda Adams, Cole Allen, Luke Allen, Zohie Allgood, Dalton Allison, Zoe Anastosopolos, Malachi Aquino, Madison Artis, Ryan Ball, Megan Black, Jerry Bland, Nathaniel Bowers, Lisa Boykin, Dylan Boynton, Austin Bracker, Christian Bradford, Austin Brand, Michaela Brewer, Skyler Brewer, Alexis Bridges, Anthony Burton, Mykah Campbell, Angelea Capehart, Jordan Case, Kaitlyn Collins, Mackenzie Collins, Korbin Copher, Tori Corp, Jaci Cottle, Nichole Cox, Jesse Croney, Ryan Crouch, Clayton Crout, Lilli Curtsinger, Silvia Cutbirth, Emmalea Dailey, Tristan Danielson, Tanner Danley, Brittany Davis, Melanee Day, Savanna Dement, Taylor Detter, Justin Diles, Dawson Dorn, Elizabeth Dulinksy, Matthew Dumas, MacKenzie Dunn, Brittany Dutton, Jackson Earll, Amber Fleming, Clarissa Frazier, Joseph Fry, Marcus Garrison, Anna Graves, Tyler Green, Lydia Greenwood, Ashlyn Griffberg, Zane Grimes, Audrey Hampton, Sean Harrison, Crystal Henderson, Shae Hogan, Cole Howe, Joshua Hulsey, Katelynn Hurrell, Dakotah Hutchins, Bridget Ingham, Lucas Jobes, Cameron Jones, Faith Jones, Josie Jordan, Vesta Kangethe, Colby Kimbrough, Chloe Konwinski, Cierra Kosilla, Brayden Land, Annie Le, Bailee Lewis, Walker Lutes, Natasha Mabin, Kateri Mace-Canterbury, Alexis Maturino, Dakota McCash, Christopher Moffett, Alexandra Monasco, Chloe Moore, Unique Moore, Desirae Olaski, Jessica Pal, Brooke Parker, Benjamin Perkins, Nikqueta Reno, Thomas Reynolds, Madison Riddle, Taylor Robinson, Miranda Roche, Othellis Roper, Grace Roush, Lydia Routledge, Abigail Russell, Camden Sanders, Carissa Scalia, William Schwarzenberger, Sierra Schweitzer, Nicholas Shellenbarger, Cloey Smith, Kerry Stadler, Tyler Stanley, Justine Staten, Victoria Stehm, Alexandra Stelts, Jade Sterken, Taylor Sullivan, Irene Suskey, Logan Swadner, Joseph Thomas, Anastasia Todd, Amy Walser, Jacy Welch, Gage Welton, Dakota West, Michaela West, JeanLuc Wilkins, Andrielle Wilson, Cory Wilson, Pavin Winkle, Keithen Wolf
Seventh Grade- Damian Abrams, Faith Allen, Taran Augustofsky, Jaylon Baert, Maggie Baker, Natal Bay, Taylor Beaver, Anna Blue, David Boynton, Kayla Brockitt, Jonah Caldwell, Adam Cantrell, Mercedes Cardenas, Hannah Carey, Tasha Carey, Harrison Carpenter, Jade Carter, Adam Cavaness, Zachary Cavaness, Darin Clark, Isabella Corp, Michael Crippin, Michael Crouch, Cheyenne Crout, Zachary Cusick, Lorenzo Dailey, Alejandro Del Toro, Jackson Divilbiss, Tristin Emmett, Aubrie England, Ethan Fannan, Daykota Feezell, Madeline Fitchner, Mason Finnell, Haley Forest, Willow Frazier-Crow, Ethan Fredricks, Edward Garcia, Johnathan Gardner, Christopher Geier, Donovan Graham, Keisha Grunden, Mackenzie Gunderson, Desiree Hawkins, Amy Hembree, Abbigail Hendrix, Megan Hickey, Kagan Hoffman, Ethan Holz, Destiny Horine, Kylie Howerton, Caitln Hubbard, Kara Hulsey, Serena Hunt, Kayla Johnson, Joseph Jones, Tristan Kelley, Abigael Killinger, Amy Koch, Ethan Kraner, Darius Lewis, Shyann Long, Elimo Lounis, Cara Marshall, Madison Meinhardt, Christian Montgomery, Kaley Moser, Stella Ndauwa, Jared Neal, Jennifer Nguyen, Dakota Osborn, Solomon Parker, Michael Pearson, April Pickett, Kiah Poulson, Devin Puckett, Joshua Quinn, Abigail Randall, Callah Riff, Molly Ritter, Treyton Rowden, Alexa Ruddick, Miranda Sanders, Bryce Schwarting, Nashya Shiwdin, Jakob Simrell, William Sinclair, Jonathan Sparlin, Aiden Stahl, Casey Stewart, Austen Still, Amelia Street, Annie Strickling, Jamie Sullivan, Donna Tomlinson, David Triplett, James Tupper, Tyler Viles, Breanna Wallace, Taylor Walling, Madeline Webber, Karly Weber, Shelby Welton, Cortlan West, Logan Whitehead, James Willerton, Casandra Williams
More than $6,000 was raised during the first East Middle School magazine sales fundraiser, PTO members were told during a Sept. 30 meeting.
The amount will continue to grow since magazines can still be ordered online.
The meeting also included a discussion on elections for the PTO Board. the introduction of a new e-mail address, eastmidschoolpto@gmail.com and a look at spirit wear that is going to be on sale as a PTO fundraiser.
Principal Mr. Bud Sexson provided a brief overview of the first few weeks of school and upcoming activities.
The eighth grade football team continues its undefeated season, beating South Middle School recently.
The A team won 21-8 with big plays from Tamerik Branham, great blocking from Cameron Bailey, Cory Ball, Tyler Forrest, Zach Figueroa, Antuan Jackson, Dakota Ballard, and Jarrett Buxton.
The B Team dominated its game in just two quarters, winning 31-0, receiving big plays from Jamie Rhoades, Cory Myers, Jace Braker, Jeremiah Martin, Anthony Grubb, DeVaughn Simmons, Clay Connett, and Jacob Crane. The game ended with a 31-yard field goal by Jamie Rhoades.
The second school year at East Middle School is different from the first in that we no longer have TA and have replaced it with Encore.
TA (Teacher Advisory) was held before normal classes from 8:30 to 8:50 a.m., but Encore is held right after fourth hour/lunch period from 12:22 to 12:54 p.m.
Encore is used to provide enrichment activities for students, with some students received guided study in math, communication arts, or reading. In TA, students were able to catch up on homework or read.
There has been much confusion in the beginning of Encore with switching classes.
"Encore will take a while to work out, but in the long run, it will benefit all of our students," eighth grade communication arts teacher Mr. Randy Turner said.
Megan Hickey, a seventh grader, disagrees, "Encore is boring and I wish TA was back."
This week in Mr. Jason Weaver’s encore class, the students participated in a small classroom competition involving school subject questions.
eMINTS teachers are taught how to use Apple Mac computers, and the school provides the classroom with computers for the students to use. Mr. Weaver uses his eMINTS ability to its full potential.
The encore students worked together at freerice.com, to learn while they feed people. “Freerice.com is a website that donates rice to poor countries. Every time you choose the correct answer to a question involving math, science, and vocabulary, the website will donate ten grains of rice,” Mr. Weaver explains. Ten grains of rice may not sound like a lot, but every grain counts.
“Our class estimated that it takes one thousand grains of rice to feed one person. So, if they get one hundred questions right, they will have fed one person.” Mr. Weaver tells us.
“It felt pretty good, knowing that you were actually helping people, not just playing games. It was really exciting tallying up the scores,” Michael Crippen tells us.
After tallying the scores, the students of Mr. Weaver’s encore class raised about thirty-nine thousand grains of rice! In this one classroom, these students fed about thirty-nine people. Although there are over two million people that are hungry, the class knows that they made a difference in thirty-nine people’s lives.
For more information, contact Mr. Weaver at East Middle School.
Just graduated from college, Miss Kylee Tripoli is loving her first year of teaching orchestra. She is teaching at East Middle School, South Middle School, and Joplin High School. She loves teaching; she has lots of great friends and amazing students. She says she has never had a bad day at work.
This decorating party was because her room was to boring and she is a very colorful person. Students are adding colorful music notes and other stuff all around her room.
Her students are doing very well, she says. Their first concert is their Halloween/Fall Concert. It will be October 26th at 7 p.m. in the East Middle School auditorium. Their songs will include Harry Potter, Pink Panther, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more. Miss Tripoli is very excited. She said, “I’m like a kid in a candy store. I’m overjoyed.”
Some of their other concerts will include their winter concert, and two big ones at the end of the year with all of the orchestra students in Joplin Schools. There are only about thirty orchestra students at East Middle.
