East Middle School Academic All-Stars honored

East Middle School Academic All-Stars were honored Monday night during ceremonies at College Heights Christian School.

In the past, the ceremonies have been held at Joplin High School, which was destroyed by the May 22 tornado.

Students who received advanced or proficient scores during the MAP tests last spring were honored.

Highlights of the ceremony included the presentation of a $1,000 scholarship to eighth grader Casandra Williams, speeches by St. John's CEO Gary Pulsipher and Missouri Southern State University President Bruce Speck, and the presentation of certificatss to students from East Middle School and Duenweg/Duquesne, Eastmorland, Kelsey Norman, and McKinley elementary schools.

East students who qualified for Academic All-Stars are listed below:

Eighth Grade- Damian Abrams, Meggi Augustofsky, Taran Augustofsky, Jaylon Baert, Maggie Baker, Natal Bay, Anna Blue, Jonah Caldwell, Mercedes Cardenas, Caden Carlin, Harrison Carpenter, Adam Caveness, Zachary Cavaness, Darin Clark, Elijah Cornman, Michael Crouch, Lorenzo Dailey, Marcus Damrill, Jackson Divilbiss, Aubrie England, Ethan Fannan, Tajee Fantroy-Arrington, Madeline Fichtner, Mason Finnell, Willow Frazier-Crow, Edward Garcia, Bailey Gardner, Haden Garten, Christopher Geier, Donovan Graham, Keisha Grunden, Mackenzie Gunderson, Desiree Hawkins, Amy Hembree, Jayden Hetiback, Megan Hickey, Kagan Hoffman, Ethan Holz, Tristen Howell, Kylie Howerton, Kara Hulsey, Serena Hunt, Abigael Killinger, Amy Koch, Ethan Kraner, Gabrielle Logan-Downey, Shyann Long, Janet Lopez, Elimo Lounis, Cara Marshall, Ashton McGehee, Madison Meinhardt, Christi Montgomery, Kaley Moser, Stella Ndauwa, Jennifer Nguyen, Dakota Osborn, Kiah Poulson, Abigail Randall, Jillian Rentfro, Faith Reynolds, Callah Riff, Molly Ritter, Treyton Rowden, Alexa Ruddick, Miranda Sanders, Justin Schweickert, Bryce Schwarting, Alexis Shields, Evan Shofler, Courtney Shryock, Jakob Simrell, William Sinclair, Aiden Stahl, Casey stewart, Austen Still Amelia Street, Annie Strickling, Jamie Sullivan, Quionte Tidwell, James Tupper, Tyler Viles, Jesse Walls, Karly Weber, Shelby Welton, Alyssa wescoat, Logan Whitehead, James Willerton, Casandra Williams, Ishman Wilson, Kaitlynne Wilson, Katelynne Yonkers

Seventh Grade- Melinda Adams, Zohie Allgood, Ryan Ball, Megan Black, Jerry Bland, Lisa Boykin, Austin Brand, Michaela Brewer, Anthony Burton, Mykah Campbell, Angelea Capehart, Jordan Case, Anastasia Cline, Kaitlyn Collins, Elijah Conner, Nichole Cox, Chayton Crout, Lilli Curtsinger, Emmalea Dailey, Tristan Danielson, Brittany Davis, Melanee Day, Taylor Detter, Elizabeth Dulinsky, Matthew Dumas, MacKenzie Dunn, Brittany Dutton, Jackson Earll, Amber Fleming, Joseph Fry, Tyler Green, Lydia Greenwood, Ashlyn Griffberg, Zane Grimes, Audrey Hampton, Sean Harrison, Shae Hogan, Joshua Hulsey, Katelynn Hurrell, Dakotah Hutchens, Bridget Ingham, Lucas Jobes, Caeli Johnson, Faith Jones, Makayla Keene, Chloe Konwinski, Cierra Kosilla, Annie Le, Dorothy Lee, Bailee Lewis, Quincy Logan, Kateri Mace-Canterbury, Alexia Maturino, Aburey McIntosh, Alexandra Monasco, Desirae Orlaski, Jessica Pal, Brooke Parker, Mycah Parker, Benjamin Perkins, Thomas Reynolds, Madison Riddle, Taylor Robinson, Kendrick Rooker, Othellis Roper, Grace Roush, Lydia Routledge, Abigail Russell, Camden Sanders, Carissa Scalia, William Schwarzenberger, Sierra Schweitzer, Nicholas Shellenbarger, Kerry Stadler, Tyler Stanley, Justine Staten, Victoria Stehm, Alexandra Stelts, Jade Sterken, Taylor Sullivan, Ieane Suskey, Ilah Wallace, Amy Walser, Jacy Welch, Michaela West, Andrielle Wilson, Cory Wilson, Keithen Wolf

Sixth Grade- Nicholas Abrams, Harris Allen, Donald Archer, James Ardrey, Ambie Armstrong, Madyson Barber, Kristian Bethel, Jerrod Bivens, Lilliana Black, Matthew Black, Kody Blevins, Madison Boyer, Kathryn Brown, William Burden, Stoney Burleson, Corbin Chaffin, Christal Comstock, Sydni Cornman, Xavier Cottle, McKenzie Crouch, Elijah Curtis, Lucas Danner, McKinley Davis, James Freed, Ashtyn Friend, Eryn Garcia, Brandon Garten, Katelyn Gilbreth, Virginia Gormely Heater, Bailey Greninger, Kayley Hall, John Hardin, Brianna Hickey, Chad Hudspeth, Bobert Ingram, Sara Iseli, Drake Johnston, Zachary Kennedy, Miriam Kessinger, Ashley King, Elizabth Kingery, Abagail Lewis, Hailee Logan-Downey, Daniel Miller, Landon Moore, Bobby Murphy, Trace Myers, Anna Nguyen, Jordan Nguyen, Breanna Pace, Kiara Patton, Elizabeth Peterson, Noah Pinjuv, Chloe Poulson, Kimber Powell, Gage Schemer, Jarod Schwarzenberger, Alexander Seeman, Emma Simon, Carson Smith, Mikayla Soard, Landon Sturgis, Austin Tallent, Nicole Tate, Nicholas Taylor, Amber Thornton, Ethan Vang, Cydney Vickers, Amber White, Faithlyn Whitehead, Emma Willerton, Thomas Williams, Cian Wilson-Keeler, Jacob Yarnell

Casandra Williams receives $1,000 MSSU scholarship

Missouri Southern State University President Bruce Speck presented a $1,000 scholarship to East Middle School eighth grader Casandra Williams at the conclusion of the annual Academic All-Star celebration held Monday night at College Heights Christian School.

Miss Williams' name was randomly selected from the Academic All-Star list. To qualify for Academic All-Stars, students must had to score in either the advanced or proficient levels during the 2011 MAP tests.

St. John's CEO speaks to Academic All-Stars

Gary Pulsipher, CEO of St. John's Mercy Hospital in Joplin, was the featured speaker at the annual Academic All-Stars celebration Monday night at College Heights Christian School.

"It's a great place to work," Pulsipher said. "There's no better work in the world than taking care of people."

Pulsipher congratulated the students on their accomplishment. "You're just as smart as anyone out there."

Sound Dimension performs at Academic All-Stars celebration

Joplin High School Jazz Band performs at Academic All Stars

Halloween Dance frightfully entertaining

By EMMA SIMON
Staff Writer
This year's Halloween Dance was put on by the Student Council of East Middle School on Nov. 4. People dressed up as Alice in Wonderland, clowns, princesses, to aliens, gangsters, and frogs. The student council decorated the cafeteria with festive colors (black and orange) decked out on the windows and doors. There were hundreds of balloons scattered everywhere, by the end of the dance every single one was popped. Student Council did a wonderful job running the dance. The STUCO did concessions, poured punch, and took care of the money.

Eighth graders enjoy Eagle Time

Eagle Time is back for East Middle School students.

Each week, students who meet the criteria are allowed to enjoy a social time with games during the Encore period. This week, students who were not tardy for any classes will enjoy Eagle Time, while next week, students must have turned in all of the assignments for their core classes.

Eighth grade had Eagle Time today.

Quiz Bowl opens season at Carl Junction

The EMS Quiz Bowl teams opened the season with a communication arts tournament at Carl Junction October 24.

The A team, consisting of eighth grade quiz bowl members, defeated Thomas Jefferson, St. Peter, and Lamar, and lost in overtime to College Heights.

The seventh grade B team won four games, while the sixth grade team won two. The teams will compete in a science tournament at Thomas Jefferson in December.

East will play host to its first-ever tournament, a history meet, in January.

More photos from the Halloween Dance

Eighth grade wins Talon Ticket contest

By AMY KOCH
Staff Photographer

East Middle School eighth graders won the first quarter Talon Ticket competition and received two hours of social time (actually one hour since all classes were abbreviated during the half-day Monday) and ice cream.

Talon Tickets are provided to students who demonstrate the Eagle Code of Duty, Honor, Peace and Pride.

Gorilla Grudge Match entertains East student body

By AMY KOCH
Staff Photographer

A little touch of CO2 Nascar came to East Middle School Tuesday when Pittsburg State University students raced their CO2 cars against those built by East Middle School students.

During a seventh hour assembly that day, the speeds of the East cars were demonstrated with cars built by students in Mr. Brandon Teel's industrial arts class racing, as well as cars built by Mr. Teel and Principal Mr. Bud Sexson, who at one time taught industrial arts.

Long line assembles for picture retakes

(Photo by Alexis Shields)

Drama students terrify student body with "From the Pond"

By AMY KOCH
Staff Writer

East Middle School drama students, under the direction of Ms. Lara Stamper, entertained and terrified the student body during Encore Friday with the premiere of their annual scary Halloween movie, From the Pond.

The cast received a taste of Hollywood when they were introduced prior to the movie, led down the red carpet, and then were seated in a special section.

Photos from the Halloween Dance

Breanna Pace, Jimmie Willerton crowned Pumpkin King and Queen

Sixth grader Breanna Pace and eighth grader Jimmie Willerton were named Pumpkin King and Queen during a ceremony held at the East Middle School Halloween Dance Friday night.

Students voted during lunch time the past two weeks, dropping money in jars for the candidates. According to Mr. Rocky Biggers, Student Council sponsor, the voters contributed enough money to pay for the dance.

East seventh grader Zach Williams, Joplin tornado victim, featured in KOAM segment

Eighth graders win first Talon Ticket battle

By AMY KOCH
Staff Writer

Halloween 2011 was not just candy and trick-or-treating; it was also ice cream and fun at school. The students of East had a Talon Ticket contest where everybody won.
Students get Talon Tickets when they show duty, honor, peace, and pride in their school. When they earn one they put it in a bucket for their grade. The 8th graders came in first with the 6th grade close behind and the 7th grade coming in third. But they all won something.

8th grade got to have a social hour during their second and third hour. During that hour (the class periods were shortened so it really was only an hour) the students got to have ice cream and play outside.

The 7th grade also got ice cream and were allowed to hang out for half and hour.

Sixth grade got to have an hour for a social.

During these socials people hung out, played around, turned in their candy grams for candy, and had to do no work for that class period. The students continue to receive Talon Tickets and they continue to fulfill their duty, to show pride, to share peace, and display honor.

Sixth graders go to Wildcat Glades

By MADISON DURHAM
Staff Writer

The sixth graders went on a field trip to Wild Cat Glades at 201 W. Riviera Rd. Joplin. The sixth graders got to go on the field trip because people gave the school money for us to go.

Here is what Katie Brown had to say “Thanks!” here is some thing Allyson Holtz wanted to say “Thanks. It was the best field trip ever!”

We went on the field trip to learn about water, and pollution. We learned about point source pollution, water cycle, and about how insect can tell you about water pollution.

Brian Murray adds, “It was really fun!”