The dangers of PDA at Joplin High School

During their visit to East Middle School Wednesday, Joplin High School freshmen Ashton McGehee, Stella Ndauwa, Jamie Sullivan, Alyssa Wescoat, and Desiree Hawkins warned about some of the things the eighth graders will see next year, including a certain hallway where PDA occurs on a regular basis.

JHS graduates speak about high school, college activities

High school, college students return to EMS for special project

Former East Middle School students returned Wednesday to deliver lessons on preparing for high school and college to eighth graders.

For two and a half hours, the students attended five half hour seminars on topics including "The Freshman Year," "How to Prepare for High School," "How to Prepare for College While You Are in High School, "Technology," and "High School Activities and Volunteerism."

Those presenting included students from Missouri Southern State University, Drury, Missouri State University, and Joplin High School.

Talon ticket parties set for next week

By MASON CORL,
TRINITY HAWKINS and
BROOKLYN ROBERTSON
EMS Roundabout Staff Writers

East Middle School students will hold second quarter talon ticket parties next week in the commona area.

"It's to celebrate the students who showed Eagle pride by following duty, honor, peace, and pride, said eighth grade PBIS (Positive Behavior in Schools) member Tyler Shifkowski.

The time of the talon ticket parties will be first hour Monday for sixth graders, first hour Tuesday for eighth graders, and second hour Tuesday for seventh graders.

Junior National Honor Society delivers canned food to Souls Harbor

By NICK SHELLENBARGER
EMS Roundabout Editor

Members of the East Middle School National Junior Honor Society delivered canned foot items to Souls Harbor in Joplin this morning.

Fourth hour classes have been collecting the cans for the past two weeks.

EMS Roundabout will have more information later.

JHS graduates perform at benefit show

Keith and Mason's Sixth Grade Report

By KEITH LOGAN and
MASON CORL
Staff Writers

Math points for the pizza party at the end of the quarter- First Hour, 27; 2nd hour, 34; 4th hour, 13; 5th hour, 26; 7th hour, 37 points.

A Christmas dance was held last Friday.

The Sixth Grade Band is held its first concert at South Middle School this week.

The sixth grade communication arts class is learning about argumentative writing.

That wraps up this week's sixth grade report.

Winter Wonderland Dance scheduled for Friday night

By DESIRAE ORLASKI
EMS Roundabout Editor

East Middle School Student Council will be hosting another EMS dance on Friday, December 7th from 6:30 - 9 p.m. in the Commons area.
Admission is 5 dollars.

Joplin, Missouri schools ready for computerized standardized testing

(From the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)

A new report shows that a majority of Missouri's public schools (including East Middle School) have the technology necessary to conduct computer-based achievement testing set to begin during the 2014-15 school year. 

Missouri schools reported in a survey that about 95 percent of their computer devices provide the level of technology necessary to handle the testing.

"We were pleased to see that most schools in the state have been able to invest in the technology they need to help prepare students for the future," said Commissioner of Education Chris L. Nicastro.

The new tests will be given to students in grades 3-8 and grade 11 and are aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English language arts and mathematics, adopted by the State Board of Education in 2010.

The report, Smarter Balanced Technology Strategy Framework and System Requirements Specifications <http://www.smarterbalanced.org/smarter-balanced-assessments/technology/#specifications>, will help states and school districts across the country determine if their current computer technology - including desktop, laptop and tablet computers - meets the requirements needed for the new tests. 

Online assessments offer states and school districts clear advantages, including more types of questions, timely feedback to inform instruction and improved accommodations for students with special needs.

Nearly 98 percent of schools in Missouri provided information about their computer technology prior to the October 2012 cutoff date for the report. However, schools can continue to submit their technology information to determine their ability to administer the tests.

The Department is currently working with schools across Missouri as they prepare to implement the state's new academic standards. The new standards, which will be assessed beginning with the 2014-15 school year, are designed to better prepare students for college, other postsecondary training and careers.

College and career readiness is a primary goal of Missouri's Top 10 by 20 initiative, which calls for education in Missouri to rank among the top 10 states in the country by 2020.

More information about the Smarter Balanced Assessment can be found at <http://www.dese.mo.gov/divimprove/assess/sbac.html>.

Mr. Turner, Natural Disaster perform at benefit talent show

MIchaela West at the benefit show

Some Christmas cheer from the benefit show

Audrey Hampton performs "Santa Baby" at benefit show

Show Choir performs at benefit talent show

Time approaching for Benefit Talent Show

In about 20 minutes, the Benefit Talent Show will begin in the East Middle School commons area. The JEMS Show Choir, shown preparing moments ago, will lead off the program.

We will be here until 8 p.m. Join in the fun. Concessions are available and there will be a silent auction. All proceeds go for toys for the Joplin Fire Department's Toys for Tots program.

Things looking up for Climbing Club

By TYLER SHIFKOWSKI and CHRIS WEST
 Staff Writers

 Now kids aren’t just climbing the walls in school and now they’re climbing the walls after school.

 Climbing Club is a way for kids to have a fun activity, climbing the rock wall in the commons area.

 After a long hard day of work. Climbing Club helps our students by getting stronger and exercise in a fun way.

 (Photo by Tyler Shifkowski)

Next year's eighth graders get iPads

By ANNA NGUYEN 
Staff Writer
East Middle School eighth graders get iPads next year.

 The recommendation came from the Joplin School District Tech Department and is for all Joplin seventh grade students  moving on to the eighth grade during the 2013-2014 school year. All three Joplin middle schools will be participating in this experiment.

 Just like the high school students who get to keep their laptops, we also get to keep our iPads “24/7” according to our principal, Mr. Bud Sexson. This idea came from another program called “Project Red,” which is an abbreviation for “Revolution Education."

The iPads will be mostly only used for schoolwork at school, but we will find out more later about how we will be able to use them. Now that we have the idea of personal iPads for each individual student we won’t be using laptops anymore, because there will be no need! So hopefully, this all works out and the responsibility kicks in to keep the brand new iPads shining for the next set of eighth graders.

 (Seventh grader Anna Nguyen holding an iPad similar to the one she will receive as an eighth grader. Photo by Bailey Merriman)

EMS Benefit Talent Show to raise money for Joplin Fire Department toy project

(From East Middle School Roundabout)

A full afternoon and evening of entertainment are on tap 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, December 1, when the East Middle School Student Council presents a benefit talent show to raise money to buy toys for the Joplin Fire Department's annual Christmas for Kids project.

Holiday gift baskets, including the ones in the accompanying photos, will be up for silent auction throughout the day. A concession stand will be open.

The entertainment is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. with a performance by the JEMS Show Choir, under the direction of Ms. Julie Yonkers, followed by EMS teacher Randy French showing rope tricks, and then the crowd will receive a welcome blast of holiday spirit, courtesy of the EMS cheerleaders.

Other acts that are set for definite times at this point include the Cady family, including Joplin High School senior Hannah Cady, which will perform at 5 p.m., EMS counselor Karensue Hensley at 5:30 p.m. and the evening will end with one-hour shows from the nationally-known gospel group, the Victorymen, featuring eighth
 grade history teacher and Student Council sponsor Mr. Rocky Biggers at 6 p.m. and oldies/country/rock group Natural Disaster, featuring eighth grade communication arts teacher Mr. Randy Turner at 7 p.m.

Other acts scheduled to entertain between 4:30 and 6 p.m. include EMS students Audrey Hampton, Desirae Orlaski and Melinda Adams, Alley Gemser, Michaela West, Carly Ball, and Abigail Russell, Joplin High School students Kenya Schmidt, Mason Finnell (doing his famous unicycle routine), Taryn Parker, and Brooklyn Vickers, and Joplin High School graduates Sarah Kessler, Mary Jean Miller, and Skye Smith.

A complete schedule will be posted tonight on East Middle School Roundabout.

Cost of admission is $1.

(Top photo- Melanee Day and Taylor Goff show one of the gift baskets containing items collected by seventh and eighth grade students. The other photos show baskets created by classes, teachers, organizations, and employees at East Middle School.)

Complete video- Academic All-Star celebration

This Jet 14 video features the complete Academic All-Star celebration held Nov. 15 at College Heights Christian School. Students from East Middle School and Duquesne/Duenweg, Eastmorland, Kelsey Norman, and McKinley elementary schools were recognized for receiving advanced and proficient scores on the 2012 MAP tests.

Academic All-Stars honored

Students who performed in the top two categories of the MAP test were honored during the annual Academic All-Stars ceremony held Thursday night at College Heights Christian School. (A photo album from the ceremony can be found at the Journalism Club's Facebook page.)

The program included speeches from Superintendent Dr. C. J. Huff and Joplin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rob O'Brian.

Also honored during the ceremony were Academic All-Stars from Eastmorland, Kelsey Norman, and McKinley elementary schools.

East Middle School students who were eligible for the honors are listed below:

 Sixth grade- Megan Andrews, Lauren Ball, Zachary Barnett, Kaley Belcher, Bryant Beehler, Joshua Bennett, Adam Berray, Mya Bewley, Mary Biastock, Kareesha Boyington, Gavin Briddle, Vincent Brownlee, Jaqueline Castruita, Delevan Chambers, Kya Chaplin, John Coates, Brayden Connett, Cameron Copher, Dylan Copher, Mason Corl, Cameron Danley, Deondre Davis, Gabrielle Emmert, Raymond England, Nevaeh Gilstrap, Tayler Gore, Logan Hankins, Trinity Hawkins, Isaac Hubbard, Kaitlin Hininger, Matthew Holmes, Bryce Howell, Elisabeth Huffman, Shaylyn Hurley, Alexis Hurrell, Ethan Hutchins, Presley Jacobson, Peterson Johannes, Steven Johnson, Stran Johnston, Abigail Keith, Addison Koch, Sophia Kralik, Samantha Kraner, Nakiya Lamb, Adyn Lamberth, Keith Logan, Melissa Mancipe, Jonathan Manuel, Jeremiah Martin, Joshua Martin, Cole Mauldin, Dyllon McIntosh, Riley Mitchell,. Kenden Moore, Lyle Moran, Sean Moran, Allisyn Moser, Zavier Neal, Grayson Neidholdt, Jessica Nguyen, Abbiegale Nielson, Julianna Pal, Preston Parksr, Rachel Patterson, Jaxmine Peck, Mercedes Peeples, Sheridan Perkins, Maxwell Persson, Austin Phillips, Aidan Potter-Chaligoj, Stephanie Reed, Claire Richins, Brooklynn Robertson, Kathyrn Roush, Presley Ruch, Braeden Sanders, Julia Sease, Graycie Sexton, Ethan Shaw, Anna Shofler, Kiana Smith, Kian Stahl, Hailey Stamper, Parker Sullivan, Linda Switzer, Madison Thorne, Allison Tillman, Erin Tyler, Keagan Vermillion, Kayden Vickers, Emma Weber, Rily Welch, Maggie White, Logan Yates

 Seventh grade- Jack Adams, Sydney Alejandro, Logan Allen, Kelsey Anderson, Donald Archer, James Ardrey, Ambie Armstrong, Madyson Barber, Kristian Bethel, Brooke Biastock, Jerrod Bivens, Sarah Brott, Kathryn Brown, William Burden, Mariah Burleson, Corbin Chaffin, Christal Comstock, Sydni Cornman, McKenzie Crouch, Elijah Curtis, Lucas Danner, McKinley Davis, My'Journie Fantroy-Slaughter, Gabriel Faul, James Freed, Ashtyn Friend, Katelyn Gilbreth, Virginia Gormely Heater, Bailey Greninger, Kayley Hall, Brianna Hickey, Chad Hudspeth, Sara Iseli, Drake Johnston, Ashley King, Elizabeth Kingery, Corbin Leeper, Daniel Miller, Landon Moore, Seth Moore, Trace Myers, Anna Nguyen, Jordan Nguyen, Breanna Pace, Kiara Patton, Elizabeth Peterson, Mason Peth, Noah Pinjuy, Gage Schemet, Carson Smith, Mikayla Soard, Isabelle Sparlin, Taylor Stewart, Nicole Tate, Amber Thornton, Cydney Vickers, Amber White, Emma Willerton, Cian Wilson-Keeler, Jacob Yarnell

 Eighth Grade- Cameron Adams, Melinda Adams, Ryan Ball, Lisa Boykin, Austin Brand, Michaela Brewer, Mykah Campbell, Angelea Capehart, Jordan Case, Kaitlyn Collins, Elijah Conner, Korbin Copher, Chayton Crout, Emmalea Dailey, Brittany Davis, Melanee Day, Taylor Detter, Samantha Dorsey, Elizabeth Dulinsky, MacKenzie Dunn, Brittany Dutton, Jackson Earll, Amber Fleming, Elizabeth Fowler, Joseph Fry, Alexandra Genser, Justin Gray, Tyler Green, Lydia Greenwood, Zane Grimss, Audrey Hampton, Sean Harrison, Shae Hogan, Carrson Hopper, Emmilia Hudson, Katelynn Hurrell, Bridget Ingham, Caeli Johnson, Faith Jones, Makayla Keene, Chloe Konwinski, Cierra Kosilla, Annie Le, Bailee Lewis, Ashton Logan, Quincy Logan, Kateri Mace-Canterbury, Alexis Maturion, Aubrey McIntosh, Alexandra Monasco, Malcolmsly Nason, Desirae Orlaski, Jessica Pal, Brooke Parker, Benjamin Perkins, Sarah Peterson, Madison Riddle, Taylor Robinson, Grace Roush, Lydia Routledge, Macie Routledge-Smith, Abigail Russell, Devin Sales, Camden Sanders, Carissa Scalia, William Schwarzenberger, Justin Serrano, Nicholas Shellenbarger, Kerry Stadler, Justine Staten, Victoria Stehm, Alexandra Stelts, Jade Sterken, Taylor Sullivan, Drew Thompson, Ilah Wallace, Amy Walser, Jacy Welch, Michaela West, Kaitlin Wilcox, Andrielle Wilson, Morgan Wilson, Garrett Wilson, Nathaniel Workman, Jacob Young, Jared Zumwalt

Eighth grade girls basketball playing well

Academic All-Stars to be honored tonight

 (Photo by Bailey Merriman)

East Middle School Academic All-Stars will be honored tonight during 6:30 p.m. ceremonies in the College Heights Christian School Auditorium.

 Sixth grade- Megan Andrews, Lauren Ball, Zachary Barnett, Kaley Belcher, Bryant Beehler, Joshua Bennett, Adam Berray, Mya Bewley, Mary Biastock, Kareesha Boyington, Gavin Briddle, Vincent Brownlee, Jaqueline Castruita, Delevan Chambers, Kya Chaplin, John Coates, Brayden Connett, Cameron Copher, Dylan Copher, Mason Corl, Cameron Danley, Deondre Davis, Gabrielle Emmert, Raymond England, Nevaeh Gilstrap, Tayler Gore, Logan Hankins, Trinity Hawkins, Isaac Hubbard, Kaitlin Hininger, Matthew Holmes, Bryce Howell, Elisabeth Huffman, Shaylyn Hurley, Alexis Hurrell, Ethan Hutchins, Presley Jacobson, Peterson Johannes, Steven Johnson, Stran Johnston, Abigail Keith, Addison Koch, Sophia Kralik, Samantha Kraner, Nakiya Lamb, Adyn Lamberth, Keith Logan, Melissa Mancipe, Jonathan Manuel, Jeremiah Martin, Joshua Martin, Cole Mauldin, Dyllon McIntosh, Riley Mitchell,. Kenden Moore, Lyle Moran, Sean Moran, Allisyn Moser, Zavier Neal, Grayson Neidholdt, Jessica Nguyen, Abbiegale Nielson, Julianna Pal, Preston Parksr, Rachel Patterson, Jaxmine Peck, Mercedes Peeples, Sheridan Perkins, Maxwell Persson, Austin Phillips, Aidan Potter-Chaligoj, Stephanie Reed, Claire Richins, Brooklynn Robertson, Kathyrn Roush, Presley Ruch, Braeden Sanders, Julia Sease, Graycie Sexton, Ethan Shaw, Anna Shofler, Kiana Smith, Kian Stahl, Hailey Stamper, Parker Sullivan, Linda Switzer, Madison Thorne, Allison Tillman, Erin Tyler, Keagan Vermillion, Kayden Vickers, Emma Weber, Rily Welch, Maggie White, Logan Yates

 Seventh grade- Jack Adams, Sydney Alejandro, Logan Allen, Kelsey Anderson, Donald Archer, James Ardrey, Ambie Armstrong, Madyson Barber, Kristian Bethel, Brooke Biastock, Jerrod Bivens, Sarah Brott, Kathryn Brown, William Burden, Mariah Burleson, Corbin Chaffin, Christal Comstock, Sydni Cornman, McKenzie Crouch, Elijah Curtis, Lucas Danner, McKinley Davis, My'Journie Fantroy-Slaughter, Gabriel Faul, James Freed, Ashtyn Friend, Katelyn Gilbreth, Virginia Gormely Heater, Bailey Greninger, Kayley Hall, Brianna Hickey, Chad Hudspeth, Sara Iseli, Drake Johnston, Ashley King, Elizabeth Kingery, Corbin Leeper, Daniel Miller, Landon Moore, Seth Moore, Trace Myers, Anna Nguyen, Jordan Nguyen, Breanna Pace, Kiara Patton, Elizabeth Peterson, Mason Peth, Noah Pinjuy, Gage Schemet, Carson Smith, Mikayla Soard, Isabelle Sparlin, Taylor Stewart, Nicole Tate, Amber Thornton, Cydney Vickers, Amber White, Emma Willerton, Cian Wilson-Keeler, Jacob Yarnell

 Eighth Grade- Cameron Adams, Melinda Adams, Ryan Ball, Lisa Boykin, Austin Brand, Michaela Brewer, Mykah Campbell, Angelea Capehart, Jordan Case, Kaitlyn Collins, Elijah Conner, Korbin Copher, Chayton Crout, Emmalea Dailey, Brittany Davis, Melanee Day, Taylor Detter, Samantha Dorsey, Elizabeth Dulinsky, MacKenzie Dunn, Brittany Dutton, Jackson Earll, Amber Fleming, Elizabeth Fowler, Joseph Fry, Alexandra Genser, Justin Gray, Tyler Green, Lydia Greenwood, Zane Grimss, Audrey Hampton, Sean Harrison, Shae Hogan, Carrson Hopper, Emmilia Hudson, Katelynn Hurrell, Bridget Ingham, Caeli Johnson, Faith Jones, Makayla Keene, Chloe Konwinski, Cierra Kosilla, Annie Le, Bailee Lewis, Ashton Logan, Quincy Logan, Kateri Mace-Canterbury, Alexis Maturion, Aubrey McIntosh, Alexandra Monasco, Malcolmsly Nason, Desirae Orlaski, Jessica Pal, Brooke Parker, Benjamin Perkins, Sarah Peterson, Madison Riddle, Taylor Robinson, Grace Roush, Lydia Routledge, Macie Routledge-Smith, Abigail Russell, Devin Sales, Camden Sanders, Carissa Scalia, William Schwarzenberger, Justin Serrano, Nicholas Shellenbarger, Kerry Stadler, Justine Staten, Victoria Stehm, Alexandra Stelts, Jade Sterken, Taylor Sullivan, Drew Thompson, Ilah Wallace, Amy Walser, Jacy Welch, Michaela West, Kaitlin Wilcox, Andrielle Wilson, Morgan Wilson, Garrett Wilson, Nathaniel Workman, Jacob Young, Jared Zumwalt

(Photo- Principal Mr. Bud Sexson explains to EMS students what will happen tonight during the Academic All-Star ceremonies at College Heights Christian School.)

Seventh graders take their math skills to the halls

By MELINDA ADAMS
Staff Writer

Seventh grade math students showed off their math skills in the Duty Drive Hallway at East Middle School.

The teacher, Mrs. Megan Jones, laminated math problems and put them on the floor. The students worked their problems on separate sheets of paper.

(More of Melinda Adams' photos of the math project can be seen on the East Middle School Facebook page.)

Science class learns muscles and bones

Students in Mr. Mike Wallace's eighth grade science class have been learning about muscles and bones this week.

The students traced each other on paper, then drew in the muscles and bones in the correct places, working from an internet model.

Obama, Nixon, McCaskill win EMS election

East Middle School students went with a straight Democratic ticket at the top of their ballots today, with majorities voting for President Barack Obama, Sen. Claire McCaskill, and Gov. Jay Nixon.

President Obama received 226 votes to 191 for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and 11 votes for Libertarian Gary Johnson.

Gov. Nixon polled 183 votes to 168 to businessman Dave Spence in the closest race, while Sen. Claire McCaskill defeated Congressman Todd Akin 205 to 179.

Eighth graders debate the electoral college

As part of the eighth grade election unit Friday, students debated whether the electoral college should be abolished.

The team of Audrey Hampton, captain, Ryan Ball, Quincy Logan, and Morgan Wilson advocated eliminating the electoral college and replacing it with direct popular vote for the president, while the team consisting of Ilah Wallace, captain, Sarah Peterson, Taylor Robinson, and Amy Walser, favored keeping the electoral college.

EMS students cast ballots in 2012 election

East Middle School students are voting for president, U. S. senattor, governor, and other positions this morning.

Students are being taken down during their social studies classes and some other classes are also being taken to make sure the votes can be counted by this afternoon. The students are voting in booths used previously in Jasper County elections.

The election has been organized by the Election Club, under the supervision of Mrs. Karensue Hensley. On Friday, Jasper County Clerk Bonnie Earl and Deputy County Clerk Mary Lou Teel helped the students prepare for the election.

All Joplin eighth graders to receive IPads next year

All East Middle School eighth graders will receive IPad tablets next year.

The Joplin Board of Education approved spending $174,744 to buy the computers Tuesday night. Currently, all Joplin High School students have laptops.

More video from EMS Halloween Dance

More photos from the Halloween Dance

Photos by Serenity Pietrzak and Carissa Scalia

Savannah Goad, Joey Braun crowned Halloween Dance royalty

By SERYNITY PIETRZAK and CARISSA SCALIA
Staff Writers

Sixth graders Savannah Goad and Joey Braun were crowned East Middle School Halloween Dance king and queen during ceremonies held a few moments ago in the commons area.

The two were chosen by a vote held earlier today.

Candidates for king and queen are listed below:

6^th grade queen: Jackie Castruita, Savannah Goad, Tayler Gore,  Addie Koch, Jessica Nguyen, Mercedes Peoples, Emile taylor

6^th grade king: Joey Braun, Gabe Carter, Julian High, Adyn Lambert, Braeden Sanders, Nick Soria, Lee Wilson

7^th grade queen: Catherine Bogan, Katie Brown, Sydni Cornman, Ashtyn Friend, Jennifer Villa

7^th grade king: Jamie Ardrey, Stoney Burleson, Trace Myers, Franklin Queen, Garret Severs, Carson Smith, Jake Yarnall

8th grade queen: Angel Capehart, Brittany Davis, Gina Rosales, Alexandra Stelts, Michaela West, Andi Wilson

8^th grade king:Lucas Jobes, Braden Land, Tyler Shifkowski, Chris West, Pavin Winkle

Halloween dance set for Friday night

By DESIRAE ORLASKI and SERYNITY PIETRZAK
Staff Writers

East Middle School Student Council is sponsoring a Halloween Dance on Friday, October 26th, from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. in the Commons.

The cost is three dollars, and costumes are optional, but they must be school appropriate.

Iing and queen candidates are listed below:

6th grade queen: Jackie Castruita, Savannah Goad, Tayler Gore,  Addie Koch, Jessica Nguyen, Mercedes Peoples, Emile taylor




6th grade king: Joey Braun, Gabe Carter, Julian High, Adyn Lambert, Braeden Sanders, Nick Soria, Lee Wilson




7th grade queen: Catherine Bogan, Katie Brown, Sydni Cornman, Ashtyn Friend, Jennifer Villa




7th grade king: Jamie Ardrey, Stoney Burleson, Trace Myers, Franklin Queen, Garret Severs, Carson Smith, Jake Yarnall




8th grade queen: Angel Capehart, Brittany Davis, Gina Rosales, Alexandra Stelts, Michaela West, Andi Wilson




8th grade king:Lucas Jobes, Braden Land, Tyler Shifkowski, Chris West, Pavin Winkle

A quarter of art and Ms. Hardee

By JESSICA NGUYEN
Staff Writer
(Note: The following is a column written by sixth grade Journalism Club member Jennifer Nguyen during the last week of the first quarter.)
It’s been a long 4 weeks and sadly we all have to face that it’s the end of the quarter. Students will be switching electives except if they have gym. But I’m not going to talk about that, what I really want to talk about is Art. 
Everybody loves art and if they don’t, they will now after they have a whole quarter of art with the loving Mrs. Hardee. I currently am in her class and sadly I, and her other students, will soon have to say goodbye. But before all of that happens something fun and phenomenal is happening, we are having an end of the quarter party!! It’s not just an ordinary party, no. We party Hardee!! We don’t party Hardee one day, we party two days! What we are currently doing is we are watching a movie and anybody can bring in snacks and drinks. It’s super fun! I promise you that Mrs. Hardee is an excellent teacher! She’s funny and loveable.

Parent-teacher conferences continue today

Parent-teacher conferences began after school Thursday at East Middle School and will continue this morning from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. The conferences offer parents an opportunity to talk with teachers about how their children did during the first quarter.

Eighth grade carnival ends shortened week of school

Photos by Mackenzie Collins East Middle School eighth graders ended a shortened week with a reward for their work during the first quarter. A Talon Ticket Carnival was held sixth hour Thursday in the commons area. Students participated in a number of fun activities. The rewards program, which is run by PBIS, will continue with one celebration being held each quarter. Sixth grade and eighth grade held their carnivals this week. The seventh grade carnival is scheduled for October 26.

Sixth graders enjoy Talon Ticket Carnival

Photos by Mackenzie Collins Sixth graders received a break from classes Monday when they participated in the first ever Talon Ticket Carnival. The carnival, held in the commons area, was a reward for the hard work the students did during the first quarter.

Eighth Grade carnival set for today

By BROOKE PARKER
Staff Writer

East Middle School students are attending Talon Ticket Big Top Carnivals this year, courtesy of the PBIS team.

The eighth grade carnival is being held today during sixth hour.

Students are able to get out of class for one hour and play games, including the rock wall, card games, balloon pop, and games selected by the teachers.

Students bring the talon tickets they have earned and buy snacks, drinks, and fun school supplies.

The sixth grade carnival was held first and second hour Tuesday. Seventh grade carnival will be held sixth hour Friday, October 26.

Picture Day held

By GINA ROSALES
Staff Writer

East Middle School students had their pictures taken Oct. 17. The pictures were taken in the science lab  during their science classes.

Most of the girls wore dresses or skirts. The girls appeared to be more excited about it than the boys, but everyone looked nice.

New Student Council members added

New members of the East Middle School Student Council were elected earlier this month.

Eighth Grade- Ilah Wallace

Sevnnth Grade- Breanna Pace

Sixth Grade- Alexis Allender, Mary Leigh Biastok, Kayden Vickers, Riley Welch

Social studies students learn about economics

Students in Mr. Rocky Biggers' eighth grade social studies classes recently had the opportunity to learn some of the basics of economics, which they then explained to their fellow students in a series of skits.

See You at the Pole set for Wednesday, Sept. 26

By TRINITY HAWKINS
Staff Writer

See You at the Pole was held Wednesday, September 26, 45 minutes before classes started at East Middle School.

Students gathered at the flag pole and prayed.

A See You at the Pole rally was held that evening at Ignite Church, sponsored by St. Paul's Methodist Church.

Mrs. Mehrens is new sixth grade communication arts teacher

By MASON CORL and KEITH LOGAN 
Staff Writers

New sixth grade communication arts teacher Mrs. Amanda Mehrens says the first few weeks at East Middle School have gone by fast "and every day was very different.

 "The students at East are awesome," Mrs. Mehrens said, "and the staff is fantastic. Mrs. Mehrens decided she wanted to teach her senior year in high school, however her parents had said for a long time that she would end up teaching.teach for a long time.

(Photo by Emma Hudson)

Color Guard performs at EMS Pep Rally

The East Middle Color Guard recently performed at the pep rally. The video was taken by Alley Gemser.

Eighth grade football team still undefeated

(Photos by Desirae Orlaski)

Social Studies Students Learn Supply and Demand

Photos and Story by
DESIRAE ORLASKI
Mr. Rocky Biggers' social studies classes do skits to represent certain scenarios of supply and demand. The students were split up into groups, one per table, and then split in to two groups per table. Biggers gave each table a different scenario, and one group at a table had to act out that scenario in a market economy, and the other group had to act it out in a command economy.

Paint ball

Paintball Every other Friday East Middle School gym students play paint ball. East Middle School gym students play with dodge balls. There are two teams. One team wears green vests and the other team wears their regular shirts. You can only have one ball before you can start the game. One team has to try to get the cone and take it to your teams side. You have green team and shirts team. They have to set up barriers to hide behind them. There are both boys and girls. In the game you can’t throw, catch, or block or you are out. If you get out then you stay out until your team gets the other teams cone. This game is played in gym at East Middle School.

Video provided for August 28 Joplin School Board meeting

Art classes working on major projects

By JEREMIAH MARTIN

Staff Writer

Mrs. Rachel Hardee is making a successful art year in East Middle School by taking it one step at a time.

For a first major project, she is making sixth grade make clay coil pots. Seventh grade is making clay jewelry. Eighth grade is making piggy banks, slab boxes and potter wheel. She plans to rap clay up for sixth grade next week, Seventh that next week and eighth at the end of quarter. She says, “The students think clay is very fun and love doing it!”

(Photo: Hayley Stamper working on the beginning stages of her piggy bank for Art Club)

First dance scheduled for Friday, September 21

Art by Thomas Reynolds

Sixth graders Ship Wrecked

By KALEY BELCHER
and BROOKLYNN ROBERTSON
Staff Writers

Gordon Korman’s first non-comedy work, Ship Wreck is a story of six troubled kids forced to participate in a character building experience learning after a tragic ship wreck to work together in order to survive.

Mrs. Kim Frencken's sixth grade reading classes are studying the book.

     Characters in Ship Wreck are Luke, Lyssa, Will, Ian, and J.J., Charla, all sent on the Phoenix for different reason. Luke is in trouble for possessing a firearm found in his locker. Will and Lyssa fight way too much, even for brother and sister, put in the hospital and were sent to the Phoenix. Ian watched way too much television, instead of spending time with real people. Charla suffers a stress related nervous breakdown. J.J. is a spoiled, troublesome brat.

 To learn more go to www.gordankorman.com/shipwreck.htm  or http://www.scholastic.com/titles/island/quiz.htm