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.)

Talent show set for last day of school

By KRYSTAL FORD
Room 210 Staff Writer
A South Middle School tradition will continue on Friday, March 19, the last day of school, when the annual talent show and awards assembly is held in the school auditorium.
The students who will perform were selected at tryouts recently. Eighth grader Mary White said she will play the flute, while Arlisa Arwood and Lauren Bynum will sing.
Other acts will be featured, involving sixth, seventh, and eighth grade performers and teachers. The school's band and vocal groups are also scheduled to entertain.
Awards are scheduled to be presented for citizenship, conservation, reading, and writing, among other things. At the end of the assembly, students will watch a video presentation of highlights of the 2005-2006 school year, then will be dismissed for the summer.
(Photo: Seventh grader Amanda Needham will be among those performing at the annual talent show Friday, May 19.)

New Expressions entertain during assembly

New Expressions, a Joplin High School singing group consisting of freshmen and sophomores, entertained SMS students during a fourth hour assembly Wednesday.
The group included many former South students.
(Photos: From top South alumni Nikki Burkett and Josh Thiele, right, were among the New Expressions performers. Male and female singers are shown in the other photos.)

Quiz Bowl team defeats teachers

By CHELSEA MOORE and
SABRINA ROGERS
Room 210 Staff Writers
The South Middle School Quiz Bowl team defeated the teachers 140-130 during TA Wednesday. It was the third straight year in which the student team beat the faculty.
"It feels great," said seventh grader Dylan Prauser, who teamed with eighth grader Jessica Cashion to answer most of the 14 questions handled correctly by the student team. "It's a surprise to beat the teachers. The team performed very well."
Though the students took an early lead, the contest was tied 70-70 at halftime.
The secret to the students' success was simple," Prauser said. "We practiced hard."
Despite the loss, Mr. Rocky Biggers, eighth grade social studies teacher, said, "I enjoyed it. We have a good quiz bowl team. I'm happy with the way the students performed and the teachers had a good time"
(Photos: Quiz Bowl members seated, from left, are: Jessica Cashion, MacKenszee Roberts, Dylan Prauser and Liz Hernandez. Other Quiz Bowl members participating included: Kane McCaslin, Mallory Fuller, Leif Larson, Steven Williams, Tiana Clemons, and Maddison Billings. At right, the teachers' team included Mr. Rocky Biggers, Mrs. Linda Weaver, Ms. Lara Stamper, Ms. Kathy Weaver, and Mr. Reed Barnes. Photos by Alex Needham)

Journalism Club to be featured on Fox 14

The SMS Journalism Club will tape a commercial for Fox 14 after school Thursday, according to Mr. Randy Turner, sponsor.
A crew from the station will be at the club's weekly meeting to tape a public service message for Fox 14's "Think About It" campaign.

Quiz bowl team to square off against faculty

Members of the South Middle School Quiz Bowl team will face a faculty team this morning during TA. It will be the last meet of the year for the team, which is under the direction of Mr. Jason Weaver and Mr. Randy Turner.

South, R-8 teachers receive 5.5 percent pay increases

The Joplin R-8 Board of Education gave pay increases averaging 5.5 percent to faculty members for the 2006-2007 school year. More information can be found in this Joplin Globe article and in this article from the Joplin Daily.

Cruzan lawyer featured in Post-Dispatch column

Each year, students in Mr. Randy Turner's eighth grade communication arts class at South Middle School discuss the Nancy Cruzan case, in which a Carterville couple fought for the right to disconnect the feeding tubes that kept their daughter alive after she ended up in a persistent vegetative state following an auto accident near Carthage in 1983.
The Cruzan family's lawyer, Bill Colby, pictured, spoke in St. Louis Monday about the right-to-die, in cases ranging from the Cruzan case to Terri Schaivo. You can read more in this St. Louis Post-Dispatch column.

Students enjoy third quarter honor roll trip

Seventh graders had to wait an extra day, but they were able to go on the third quarter honor roll trip, joining the eighth graders at Rangeline Golf. Students who qualified to attend were:
Seventh graders- Dalton Anderson, Breanna Baker, Tyler Beall, Jacob Bennett, Austin Bolt, Blanca Castaneda, Kovan Chew, Christen Cool, Rebecca Cooper, Mikaila Craig, Candace Curtis, Michael Daugherty, Chelsea Dawson, Steven Denmark, Christopher Diles, Tiffany Douglas, Michael Dowell, Marina Dudley, David Evans, Leah Forkner, Rachael Foster, Devin Freeman, Brian Geier, Dakota Gilmore, Zachary Grimes, Lane Hampton, Paige Harmon, Alexis Hawk, Christy Hernandez, Dustin Hill, James Hill, Corey Hounschell, Cheyenne Howard, Spencer Hunt, Kylie Hurrell, Alexander Johnson, William Kessler, Jessica Knight, Leif Larson, Grant Lewis, Carl Long, Jessica Lumpkins, Breanna Martin, Andrew Mays, Kane McCaslin, Matthew McCoy, Nathan Morris, Faith Mowry, Taylor Mulik, Amanda Needham, Melaina Nicolas, Kelsey Pace, Allen Peterson, Cindy Pham, Dylan Prauser, Jesse Rowe, Jeane Ruvalcaba, Mollie Sanders, Cassey Schulze, Timothy Scroggins, Kaylee Sexton, Latasha Sherrick, Alicia Shofner, Victoria Smith, Grant Stewart, Daniel Story, Shanna Striegel, Kaitlin Sullivan, Savanah Sweeton, Tyler Walker, Blake Ward, Ana Warner, Amanda Webster, Kendra Wilson, Shandera Workman, Craig Yeoman, Ken Zhang

Eighth graders- Ashley Anderson, Arlisa Arwood, Shakota Ball, Brittany Banta, Jocelyn Benham, Maddison Billings, William Braun, Zac Brower, Aaron Brown, Lauren Bynum, Jessica Cashion, Mayra Castaneda, Tiana Clemons, Joanna Cole, Shelby Conrad, Chase Cox, Garrett Dowell, Amber Ellis, Halie Endicott, Mallory Fuller, Tiffani Gilbert, Zac Goad, Kyle Graciano, David Greene, Dakota Hackworth, Jenny Hill, Tyler Hodges, Michelle Holden, Tyler Holesapple, Cassidy Holland, Emily Houston, Tylor Hudson, Brock Hunter, Sierra Hutchinson, Josh Iglesias, Brenna Jamerson, Danielle Kleeman, Alec Lane, Charles Laramore, Michael Lujan, Becca Mascher, Yuriy Meadows, Blake Mills, Sally Mix, Chelsea Moore, Eli Moran, Zoe' Mowry, Jacob Murdock, Jessica Myers, Cheyla Navarre, Alex Needham, Myles Nothnagel, Chelsey Osburn, Alyssa Park, Madison Pollack, Tiffany Porter, Doug Pumphrey, Silma Ramos, Grace Randolph, Colby Ritter, Tabitha Robbins, MacKenszee Roberts, Sheriddan Robinson, Ashlie Shimmin, Breonna Shockley, Abbi Smith, Matt Smith, Felicia Spicer, Clayton Stehm, Phillip Szulakiewicz, Jeff Taylor, Caleb Wheeler, Cody Wheeler, Mary White
(Photos: From top, Felicia Spicer and Madison Pollack find a new way to entertain the eighth graders; Christian Young and Clayton Stehm at the pool, Zac Goad and Zach Brower at a tense moment at video games; Halie Endicott takes a brief break from the game; Garrett Dowell prepares to hit the fairway; Clayton Stehm and MacKenszee Roberts at the Northpark Mall foodcourt, and Alex Needham and Sheriddan Robinson relax on the ride back to South. Room 210 photos, except the last one, by Alex Needham)

New secretary hired

Mrs. Jennifer Wallace, who has been filling in as secretary for the assistant principal at South has been hired on a full-time basis. The announcement was made late last week.

Two straight My Teacher Rocks winners for SMS

South Middle School counselor Mrs. Karensue Hensley has been named the May winner in the "My Teacher Rocks" contest, sponsored by Continental Auto Mall, KSN, and the Joplin Globe. She will be featured on the 6 p.m. news Tuesday on KSN.
Mrs. Hensley was nominated by eighth grader Shelby Conrad, who wrote the following essay:
"Mrs. Hensley has developed a special program called, Special Investigations; in this program students get the chance to help other students and make a difference. The students who help have enjoyed this program, Mrs. Hensley has certainly made a difference in my life, and this is why I chose Mrs. Hensley!"
Mrs. Hensley marks the second straight winner for South. Mr. Reed Barnes, band teacher, was the winner in April, after being nominated by eighth grader Shelby McMillen. More information about the April winner can be found at this link.

South a perfect fit for new assistant principal

By ALEX NEEDHAM
Room 210 Staff Writer
Being the new assistant principal at South Middle School is a "perfect fit," Mr. Gregg Klinginsmith, who was hired for the job this week, told Room 210 News during a telephone interview this morning.
It's a perfect fit for two reasons. Mr. Klinginsmith grew up next door to Joplin in Carthage, and he comes here after five years of teaching math and social studies at Pattonville Wright Middle School. "South is about the same size as my other middle school here," he said.
Mr. Klinginsmith was chosen after interviews held recently in the district administration office, with many of the questions concerning whether he would be a team player and work to keep the school successful, he said. Among those interviewing him were Mr. Ron Mitchell, principal, Mr. Mark Russell, sixth grade science teacher, and Mrs. Kim Frencken, sixth grade block teacher.
Though his duties do not begin officially until August, Mr. Klinginsmith already has a few words of encouragement for South Middle School students. "Continue doing your best, setting the bar high, and strive for the best."

Middle school football camp scheduled for July 17-20

Football camp for Joplin middle school students will be held July 17-20 on the high school practice football field. More information will be released at a later date.

Navarre to perform in 'Brighton Beach Memoirs"

Eighth grader Fox Navarre will play the role of Laurie in the Joplin Little Theatre production of "Brighton Beach Memoirs," scheduled for May 17-21.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 17-20, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21.
For reservations, call 417-623-3638.

Cheerleaders named for 2006-2007 school year

South Middle School cheerleaders for the 2006-2007 school year were selected following tryouts Thursday in the school auditorium.
Those selected were:
Eighth Grade Winter Cheerleaders- Cindy Pham, Becky Cooper, Amber Morris, Amanda Needham, Hannah Doerge, Samantha Warren
Eighth Grade Fall- Tessa Luper, Kendra Wilson, Lauren Ligon, Alicia Shofner, Lacy Heiskell, Kaylee Sexton, Justine Gowing
Seventh Grade Winter- Emilee Brown, Mackenzy Pierce, Nicole Yeoman, Taylor Camden, Jordan Chambers, Shelby Shumaker
Seventh Grade Fall- Olivyah Parker, Mary Jean Miller, Lauren Layne, Rochelle Hughbank, Sara Buck
Prior to the tryouts, Joplin High School cheerleaders Britany Meehl, Jordyn McCutcheon, Kelsey Graves and Marissa Dewane, all former SMS cheerleaders, worked the two students for two days after school helping them learn their routines.

Osborne hired at Carthage Junior High School

By DYLAN PRAUSER
Room 210 Staff Writer
Mr. Jacob Osborne, who is student teaching this year at South Middle School, will be close to home when he begins his new teaching job next year. He has been hired to teach social studies at Carthage Junior High School.
Mr. Osborne has been student teaching with Mr. Jason Weaver in seventh grade social studies. He decided to go into teaching after taking a cadet teaching class during his senior year at Carthage High School.

Pop decision will affect Joplin schools

A decision announced this week by major soft drink distributors to remove non-diet soft drinks from public schools will affect Joplin students beginning this fall. The decision was arrived at following concerns that the availability of soft drinks was contributing to obesity and poor health in young people.
Room 210 Staff Writer Roni Leonard will have an article soon on student reaction. The need for the decision was expressed by seventh grader Savanah Sweeton in her SMS Essay Contest entry, which won her $10 for having the top entry in her grade. It is reprinted below:

The Problem of Obesity
By SAVANAH SWEETON
Forty-eight percent of all children and adolescents are obese. Thirty-two percent of Missouri students grades six through eighth are considered overweight or obese. Obesity is definitely a problem our society is facing right now, mostly common in children and adolescents. They spend most of their time in school, therefore, the school should be more conscious of what they serve and how they serve it.
Children eat and eat and eat and eat. That's how we live; that's how we grow up. And now, since we eat so much and are overweight it will carry on into our adult years making us even more obese unless it can be stopped now. Did you know that any additional food served at schools should be based on the five major food groups? I know most are not, at least not in my school.
Most vending machines supply candy, chips, and cakes, other than pop machines, mostly vending Cokes, and Pepsis. Most kids would reach for a soda, instead of milk or water. Well, unlike most kids, I usually reach for two percent white milk. So when the school took that two percent milk out I was furious. They said, "Too many people were getting obese, so we took it out." As far as I could see, most kids drink chocolate milk so that's what you should take out, and if two percent milk is fattening, then chocolate milk is twice as fattening. Chocolate milk is ultimately white milk with chocolate syrup and sugar added, and that's fat!
What we can also do is to take vending and soda machines and "trim" them up. Vending machines should serve less fattening, sugary things. If kids are going to get an extra snack, at least make it a healthy one. Soda machines should serve juices, water or diet drinks, and vending machines serve fruit, cereal bars or baked chips. These are better foods to be eating than salty, fatty chips or candy.
Another thing we can do is to make sure kids get outside for recess and take a gym class. Exercise is crucial to losing weight or staying trim. But what you eat also is important. So the cooks should watch what they serve and how they serve it. They should serve less foods like hamburgers and nachos and more foods like sandwiches and salads. They also need to give water and white milk the option of being served as a free drink with your meal instead of chocolate and strawberry milk and milkshakes.
So, in all, schools should watch what they serve and sell, and how they sell it. It is also important to make sure each child gets a physical education class as they need it, and later in life they will appreciate what you've done. You might just save someone's life by changing a few small things. But then again, it is the little things that make a big difference.
(Photo: Eighth grader Tiffani Gilbert buys a pop after school. Next year, pop will most likely not be available at South. Room 210 Photo by Ashton White)

SMS Essay Contest winners receive cash prizes

Cash prizes are being given this week to those who placed in the recently concluded third annual South Middle School Essay Contest. The contest was won by eighth grader Fox Navarre, who received $15. (Note: Her essay can be found at this link.) Receiving $10 prizes were second place finisher Jessica Cashion, seventh grade winner Savanah Sweeton, and sixth grade winner Christian Allen.
Third place winner Doug Pumphrey, who was the winner his seventh grade year, received $5, with fourth place winner Michelle Holden receiving $3 and fifth place winner MacKenszee Roberts receiving $2. Receiving one dollar were: Andrew Allen, Vone' Britt, Mayra Castaneda, Halie Endicott, Jessica Erwin, Corey Hounschell, Zoe' Mowry, Melaina Nicolas, Bobby Roland, Mollie Sanders, Mary White, Craig Yeoman and Tamara Zajac.

Dr. Cryer ready for new challenges

By FOX NAVARRE
Room 210 Staff Writer
Dr. Jenifer Cryer, SMS assistant middle school principal, will no longer have the assistant in front of her title next year, but she will no longer be at South either.
Dr. Cryer was recently offered the position of junior high principal at Neosho.
Don't worry, those of you who treated her with disrespect. "It's just part of the job," said Dr. Cryer, when asked if she takes the attitude of students being punished by her to heart. Instead, she speaks only the good, preferring to emphasize the students' academic achievements.
"Actually, both the schools, Memorial and South, that I've worked at scored really high on the MAP testing and I'm proud of both of them."

Klinginsmith tabbed for SMS assistant principal position

By ALEX NEEDHAM
Room 210 Staff Writer
Mr. Gregg Klinginsmith, a math and social studies teacher in the Pattonville School District near St. Louis, will be South Middle School assistant principal this fall.
"He is a career middle school teacher; he has some quality experience, although he is new to being a principal," said Mr. Ron Mitchell, principal.
Mr. Klinginsmith, who is originally from Carthage, was picked after going through a search process that included interviews with a group of teachers and administrators, including Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Mark Russell, sixth grade science teacher, and Mrs. Kim Frencken, sixth grade block teacher.
"He has a lot of qualities that will benefit South and he will bring fresh ideas to our school," Mrs. Frencken said. "He understands middle school students and is very approachable."
Mr. Klinginsmith replaces Dr. Jenifer Cryer, who has been hired as principal at Neosho Junior High School.

Russell, Frencken participate in assistant principal candidate questioning

By ALEX NEEDHAM
Room 210 Staff Writer
Mr. Mark Russell, sixth grade science teacher, and Mrs. Kim Frencken, sixth grade block teacher, participated in the questioning of six candidates for the position of South Middle School assistant principal.
"It was enlightening," Mr. Russell said.
Mrs Frencken agreed, adding, "I felt that there was a lot of responsibility to try to make a decision for the good of the school. It was also interesting to hear what all the candidates had to say."
The two SMS teachers, were joined by SMS Principal Mr. Ron Mitchell, the principal and two teachers from Memorial Middle School and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Steven Doerr. Memorial is also looking for an assistant principal.
The main thing, Mr. Russell said, was to find "the best candidate for South Middle School." To do that, he added, "We asked them about their strengths and weaknesses and their personal reflections on themselves."
The principal candidates were also given hypothetical situations to see how they would react, Mrs. Frencken said.
The new principal should be someone who is "consistent, strong in discipline, approachable and supportive of everybody," Mrs. Frencken said.
The assistant principal will take the place of Dr. Jenifer Cryer, who is leaving at the end of the current school year to take a position as principal at Neosho Junior High School.

MIddle school survey featured on district website

Joplin R-8 School officials are surveying area residents to determine what should be done to ease crowding at middle schools, as well as concerns about aging buildings. The surveys were mailed to residents, but a copy is available at the R-8 website.

Will pop machine offerings be changed at South?

Bans on soft drinks currently available at American public schools, including South Middle School, will go into place soon, according to an article in today's Washington Post.
According to the article: "The agreement calls for eliminating sales of sodas, diet sodas, sports drinks, juice drinks, apple juice or grape juice in elementary schools. Water and more healthful juices such as orange juice could continue to be sold, but in only eight-ounce or smaller containers, according to sources who were briefed yesterday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan had not yet been announced." At the middle school level, the article said, students would be able to drink 10-ounce containers of the same types of drinks. High school students will be able to have diet soft drinks, and the healthful drinks in sizes up to 12 ounces, the article said.
The official announcement of the agreement, which has been signed off on by Coke, Pepsi, and other major soft drink manufacturers, is expected to be made today. Soft drinks have come under fire in recent years due to the negative effect experts say they have on children's health.

SMS Band spring concert presented

The South Middle School band, under the direction of Mr. Reed Barnes, presented its annual spring concert tonight. The program included performances from the Jazz Band, the Beginning Band, and the Concert Band. A list of the performers can be found on a post from earlier today.
(Photos: The concert band performs; the beginning band entertains.)

Talent show tryouts held

South Middle School Talent Show tryouts were held after school today, under the direction of Ms. Julie Yonkers. Teachers judged the students' talent during a session, which was closed to all students other than those who were trying out.
The annual show will be held, in conjunction with the awards assembly, in the school auditorium on Friday, May 19, the final day of school for 2005-2006.
(Photos from top: Seventh grader Amanda Needham sings; Ana Warner and Cory Burton dance and lip sync; eighth grader Jessica Cashion plays a guitar solo.)

Cheerleader tryouts next week

SMS sixth and seventh graders began practice for cheerleader tryouts today. The tryouts are scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday.
Today, sponsors checked to see if the potential cheerleaders had taken physicals and then former South cheerleaders, now Joplin High School cheerleaders, Kelsey Graves, Jordyn McCutcheon, and Brittany Meehl helped them learn the routines for the tryout session.
(Photos- Prospective cheerleaders await their tryouts; former SMS, now JHS, cheerleaders Kelsey Graves, Jordyn McCutcheon, and Brittany Meehl are helping the girls learn their routines.)

Spring band concert is tonight

The South Middle School Spring Band Concert will be held 6:30 p.m. today in the school auditorium.
The program will include four numbers, "The Pink Panther," "What A Wonderful World," "In the Mood," and "Chameleon," by the Jazz Band; followed by four numbers by the Beginning Band, including "When Dinosaurs Ruled the World," "An Irish Medley," "Pachyderm Peanut Posse," and "Drivin' that Drummin' Machine; and will conclude with four pieces by the Concert Band, "Aspen Overture," "Cedar Creek Sketches," "Call of Courage," and "Explorers of Orion.'
Jazz Band members are: Dakota Hackworth, Cheyenne Howard, Ty Hodges, Gabby Londe, Corey Hounschell, Leif Larson, Nathan Morris, Maddison Billings, and Brent Evans.
Beginning Band members are: Molly Baker, Amber Chacon, Quinton Erwin, Jessica Kennedy, Cory Burton, Tiffany Douglas, Brittany Frisbie, Aron Hembree, Ashley Keeton, Tiffany Martinez, Christian Allen, Cecil Cornish, Eric Nulph, Bryan Ross, Juran Bailey, Nathan Baker, Nathan Cox, Gareth Evans, Sarah Kessler, Luke Lenhart, Junior Ochoa, Casey Sharp, Bret Stearnes, Jeff Terry, Kyle Vene, Brian Geier, Geoff Aiken, Monica Anderson, Chance Ewing, Kelli Newberry, Desean Triplett, Tyler Anderson, Candace Curtis, Zack Hibbard, Billy Nguyen, Chloe Potts, Blake Putnam, Gil Randolph, Dalton Smith.
Concert Band members are: Breanna Baker, Becky Cooper, Steven Denmark, Michelle Holden, Shelby McMillen, Lynn Nichols, Breonna Shockley, Mary White, Maddison Billings, Cody Gilmore, Sierra Hutchinson, Danielle Kleeman, Lainie Nicolas, Savanah Sweeton, Kisha Adams, Matt Lemieux, Austin Bolt, Zack Cloven, Brent Eagles, Dakota Hackworth, Cheyenne Howard, Andrew Mays, Jeff Taylor, Amanda Webster, Jordan Adams, Dalton Anderson, Tyler Beall, Zac Dunnic, Corey Hounschell, Leif Larson, Gabby Londe, Nathan Morris, Amanda Needham, Doug Pumphrey, Will Kessler, Christian Miller, Sam Quinones, Tate Duley, Ty Hodges, Eric O'Hanlon, Kelsey Tippett, Tim Davis, Daniel Story, Jar'vious Britt, Jenny Brock, Fischer Dowell, Garrett Dowell, Grant Evans, Tyler Graves, Jessica Lumpkin, Allen Peterson, Colby Ritter, Tevin Triplett and Ashton White.
(The photo accompanying this article is from the band's Christmas program.)

Honor roll trips scheduled for this week

By ALEX NEEDHAM
Room 210 Staff Writer
South Middle School third quarter honor roll students will go to Rangeline Mini-Golf this week as a reward for their accomplishments. Sixth graders will go Wednesday, seventh graders Thursday, and eighth graders Friday.
Those eligible to attend are:
Sixth graders- Andrew Allen, Christian Allen, Monica Anderson, Molly Baker, Nathan Baker, Kirsti Banning, Lindsey Beall, Joseph Bennett, Alexandria Block-Silvers, Emylee Brown, Caleb Brummer, Sara Buck, Taylor Camden, Amber Chacon, Jordan Chambers, Marcus Clark, Tolby Clemons, Cecil Cornish, Matthew Cruzan, Kaylee Dawson, Alexandria Deer, Brittney DeMasters, Breanne Diles, Derek Dillon, Christine Dunn, Shane Ellis, Dermott Evans, Chance Ewing, Taylor Fetterman, Tara Fleming, Brittany Frisbie, Shawn Fronce, Jared Fuller, Christian Gates, Dylan Goad, Heidi Gomez, Devyn Hale, Gage Haskew, Nicole Heese, Chelsea Hernandez, Jessica Highley, Brandon Holman, Amie Howard, Brittany Hulette, Mariah Hutchinson, Alex Kangethe, Alexander Karns, Rodney Kelley, Amanda Kennedy, Jessica Kennedy, Sarah Kessler, Breanna Knapp, Tera Knight, Allie Lacey, Lauren Layne, Luke Lenhart, Amanda Liontas, Sydney Long, Hunter Lynn, Jacob Lyons, Austin Mallory, Wade Mathis, Candace McGillvray, Mary Jean Miller, Ian Mitchell, Victoria Mitchell, Anh Nguyen, Billy Nguyen, Dylan Nunn, Holly Odell, Andrew Perry, MacKenzy Pierce, Payton Pollack, Darwin Potter, Chloe Potts, Justice Pullum, Shalea Purdy, Blake Putnam, Gilbert Randolph, Chase Reeder, Stephanie Richardson, Bryan Ross, Mariah Sanders, Adam Schilling, Daniel Scott, Braden Showers, Shelby Showalter, Alexandria Smith, Tyretha Smith, Adam Snearly, Sydney Snider, Shawn Spicer, Brett Stearnes, Kayla Stewart, Bayley Strella, Kaleb Szulakiewicz, Raven Taylor, Jeffrey Terry, Christian Underwood, Brittany Utley, Greggory VanLoon, Kyle Vene, Jamie Walters, Billon Warlaumont, Kyle Wentz, Casee Wheeler, Dayton Whitehead, Johnna Yeoman

Seventh graders- Dalton Anderson, Breanna Baker, Tyler Beall, Jacob Bennett, Austin Bolt, Blanca Castaneda, Kovan Chew, Christen Cool, Rebecca Cooper, Mikaila Craig, Candace Curtis, Michael Daugherty, Chelsea Dawson, Steven Denmark, Christopher Diles, Tiffany Douglas, Michael Dowell, Marina Dudley, David Evans, Leah Forkner, Rachael Foster, Devin Freeman, Brian Geier, Dakota Gilmore, Zachary Grimes, Lane Hampton, Paige Harmon, Alexis Hawk, Christy Hernandez, Dustin Hill, James Hill, Corey Hounschell, Cheyenne Howard, Spencer Hunt, Kylie Hurrell, Alexander Johnson, William Kessler, Jessica Knight, Leif Larson, Grant Lewis, Carl Long, Jessica Lumpkins, Breanna Martin, Andrew Mays, Kane McCaslin, Matthew McCoy, Nathan Morris, Faith Mowry, Taylor Mulik, Amanda Needham, Melaina Nicolas, Kelsey Pace, Allen Peterson, Cindy Pham, Dylan Prauser, Jesse Rowe, Jeane Ruvalcaba, Mollie Sanders, Cassey Schulze, Timothy Scroggins, Kaylee Sexton, Latasha Sherrick, Alicia Shofner, Victoria Smith, Grant Stewart, Daniel Story, Shanna Striegel, Kaitlin Sullivan, Savanah Sweeton, Tyler Walker, Blake Ward, Ana Warner, Amanda Webster, Kendra Wilson, Shandera Workman, Craig Yeoman, Ken Zhang

Eighth graders- Ashley Anderson, Arlisa Arwood, Shakota Ball, Brittany Banta, Jocelyn Benham, Maddison Billings, William Braun, Zac Brower, Aaron Brown, Lauren Bynum, Jessica Cashion, Mayra Castaneda, Tiana Clemons, Joanna Cole, Shelby Conrad, Chase Cox, Garrett Dowell, Amber Ellis, Halie Endicott, Mallory Fuller, Tiffani Gilbert, Zac Goad, Kyle Graciano, David Greene, Dakota Hackworth, Jenny Hill, Tyler Hodges, Michelle Holden, Tyler Holesapple, Cassidy Holland, Emily Houston, Tylor Hudson, Brock Hunter, Sierra Hutchinson, Josh Iglesias, Brenna Jamerson, Danielle Kleeman, Alec Lane, Charles Laramore, Michael Lujan, Becca Mascher, Yuriy Meadows, Blake Mills, Sally Mix, Chelsea Moore, Eli Moran, Zoe' Mowry, Jacob Murdock, Jessica Myers, Cheyla Navarre, Alex Needham, Myles Nothnagel, Chelsey Osburn, Alyssa Park, Madison Pollack, Tiffany Porter, Doug Pumphrey, Silma Ramos, Grace Randolph, Colby Ritter, Tabitha Robbins, MacKenszee Roberts, Sheriddan Robinson, Ashlie Shimmin, Breonna Shockley, Abbi Smith, Matt Smith, Felicia Spicer, Clayton Stehm, Phillip Szulakiewicz, Jeff Taylor, Caleb Wheeler, Cody Wheeler, Mary White

Talent show auditions to be held Thursday after school

Auditions for the annual South Middle School Talent Show will be held after school Thursday in the school auditorium. The show will be held Friday, May 19, the last day of school.
As of this morning, 19 acts had signed up for the auditions. Those signing up include:
Kody Simpson, Alexandra Deer, Ana Warner and Cory Burton, Amanda Needham, Jessica Cashion, Lindsey Beall and Cassie Wooldridge, Arlisa Arwood and Lauren Bynum, "Speechless," Alyssa Loyd, "Gangsta-ettss; Alex Needham and Kelley Leach, Alex, Jessica, Mallory and MacKenszee; Taylor Tressler and Hannah Doerge, Mary Jean Miller, Arlena Parks-Williams, "Deja Vu," Ashlea Smith and Breezy Leatherman, "24:7 Worship Band," and "The Undecided."

CP Heart field trip is today

Students in Ms. Gayle Daniels' TA will visit the Cerebral Palsy Center in Joplin today.
The students earned the trip by selling the most CP hearts during last fall's competition, primarily due to the efforts of sixth grader Tara Fleming. The TA consists of sixth and seventh graders.
Students scheduled to take the trip are: Tate Duley, Gareth Evans, Tara Fleming, MaKenzie Freeman, Jonathan Gonzalez, Carl Long, Hunter Lynn, Gil Randolph, Hailey Smith, Brett Stearnes, Grant Stewart, Ryan White, Arlena Williams, Cassie Woolbridge.

Hensley finalist for May My Teacher Rocks

South Middle School has a chance to win the My Teacher Rocks competition for the second month in a row.
Mrs. Karensue Hensley, counselor, is a finalist this month. She was nominated by eighth grader Shelby Cooper. Last month's winner was Mr. Reed Barnes, band instructor, who was nominated by eighth grader Shelby McMillen.

SMS Choir sings at Worlds of Fun

By MELODY KETRON
Room 210 Staff Writer
South Middle School choir members, under the direction of Ms. Julie Yonkers, performed at Worlds of Fun Saturday.
Those performing included:
Christen Cool, Leah Forkner, Christy Hernandez, Kelley Leach, Adriana Maturino, Jessica Myers, Arlena Parks, Matt Smith, Shelby Sullivan, Sammy Warren, Takada Davis, Hannah Doerge, Rachael Foster, Joe Huddleston, Breezy Leatherman, Tessa Luper.
Also, Cindy Pham, Ashlea Smith, Shanna Striegel, Taylor Tressler, Arlisa Arwood, Lauren Bynum, Joanna Cole, Jenny Hill, Emily Houston, Grant Lewis, Becca Mascher, Abbi Smith, Wes Underwood, Kendra Wilson
Also, Shakota Ball, Beau Carroll, Mikaila Craig, Roni Leonard, Loryn Ligon, Fox Navarre, Dylan Prauser, Rochelle Stanley, Shandera Workman, Ashley Whittington, Jaclyn Wright, Aaron Brown, Makensie Freeman, Justine Gowing, Colten Hawkins, Melody Ketron
Also, Chelsea Moore, Spencer Moss, Dustin Trebbe, Caleb Wheeler, Tamara Zajac, Cameron Bryan, Paige Harmon, Alexis Hawk, Alyssa Loyd, Breanna Martin, Kelsey Pace, Rachel Richins, Mollie Sanders, Kaylee Sexton, and Katie Wood

Eighth graders prepare to move on

By KRYSTAL FORD
Room 210 Staff Writer
It won't be long before eighth graders start high school. Already, they are starting to think about next year and thinking back over their memories of South Middle School.
Sheriddan Robinson's favorite memories include people singing "Happy Birthday" to her in the hallway. She says she is excited about high school, prepared for new things, and she is ready to meet new people.
The best part of middle school for Felicia Spicer was meeting new friends. She is also looking forward to meeting more new friends in high school.
Ashton White's favorite SMS memories involve the band, while he is eagerly awaiting high school food.
Sam Godwin looks at his South days a bit differently. "I did some stupid things," he said. He looks forward to meeting new friends in high school.

R-8 patrons to be asked about middle school solutions

Joplin R-8 residents will be surveyed in the near future about potential solutions for the problem of aging, outdated middle school buildings, including South. Find out more in this Joplin Daily article.

May 3 deadline set for short story contest

By DYLAN PRAUSER
Room 210 Staff Writer
The third annual South Middle School Short Story contest is currently being held. All students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades are eligible to enter.
Topics can be about anything: slice of life, fantasy, science fiction, etc.
Mr. Randy Turner is the organizer of the contest, which is under the direction of South Middle School's Writing Improvement Committee, which consists of Mrs. Angela Mense, Mrs. Gala Moss, and Mr. Turner. The contest will be judged by high school students who won the contest in past years.
To enter write a short story and bring it to Mr. Turner’s classroom (Room 210) by the end of the school day Wednesday, May 3.
The story has to be original and fiction. There are no length requirements, but if it is too long, it will push the judges' patience, Mr. Turner said.
And yes, there will be cash prizes!!! The first place winner receives $15, second place $10, third place $5, fourth place $3, fifth place $2 and sixth through 20th places receive one dollar apiece. The writer of the top story in each grade is guaranteed to win at least $10.

Smith elected to District Key Club post

Joplin High School freshman Skye Smith, a former South student, was recently elected lieutenant governor for District 7 at the Missouri Key Club Convention in Jefferson City.
Miss Smith is the first Joplin student to hold a post in nearly a decade. Schools in the Seventh District include Joplin, Monett, Neosho, Springfield Hillcrest, and Springfield Parkview.

Seventh grader ready to work for Student Council

By ALEX NEEDHAM
Room 210 Staff Writer
Seventh graders at South Middle School elected a student who is ready to do her part to help this school when they chose Savanah Sweeton for Student Council this week.
"Being on student council definitely helps with your social skills," Savanah said. "You are known to many people and that helps you bond with other students and learn to be friends with them."
This will not be Savanah's first experience with student government. "I was on student council when I was in elementary school, but this is the first time in middle school. I think this time will be different because I'm not in elementary anymore; we don't sell candy every morning like we did at Irving. South student council cleans the school, and helps other businesses with whatever they need help with and that's very contributional to the society."
Savanah has some particular ideas about what she would like to see Student Council do during the 2006-2007 school year. "I think we need a new way to get fit. I saw in the Joplin School's newspaper something about Memorial finding ways for kids to get fit by doing Dance, Dance Revolution. That's something that kids definitely enjoy and that everyone would participate in and get a good workout from. That also helps with the growing factor of adolescent obesity."

Students rewarded for hard work on MAP tests

SMS students received a little free time on the playground this afternoon as a reward for their hard work on the annual MAP tests. Eighth graders stayed outside from 1:15 to 1:45, seventh graders from 1:45 to 2:15, and sixth graders from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. Each student received a can of pop and a candy bar.
Students completed MAP testing Wednesday.

Band members to perform at Worlds of Fun

The South Middle School Band, under the direction of Mr. Reed Barnes, will perform in a competition at Worlds of Fun Saturday, April 22. More information will be featured later on this website.

Library Advisory Board members named

The following 6th grade students have been selected to serve on the Library Advisory Board for the 2006-2007 school year, according to Mrs. Bonnie Turner, librarian:
Shawn Spicer, Richie Lyons, Gareth Evans, Jordan Hamilton, Kaleb Szulakiewicz, Brandon Holman, Shane Ellis, Brittany Frisbie,
Shalea Purdy, Bayley Strella, Lauren Layne, Molly Baker, Alexandria Deer, and Chloe Potts

Hamm chosen for St. Louis University Math, Science, honor

Former South Middle School student Lindsey Hamm has been selected to attend the Saint Louis University Mathematics and Science Regional Center this summer. While at the University she will take academically challenging classes while living on the college campus.
Before returning to Joplin High school, she will tour Boston MA on a social and cultural trip. All expenses for the trip and the schooling will be paid.
Lindsey is the daughter of Bob & Mary Hamm, Joplin. She is a sophomore at Joplin High School.

Seventh graders take reading tests

By DYLAN PRAUSER
Room 210 Staff Writer
Seventh graders are currently taking the Gates MacGinitie test.
"The test is important because it’s a method of determining comprehension and vocabulary reading levels for students" says Mrs. Linda Weaver. "It will also give the students their combined reading level because students should monitor how well they read and should continue to check their reading progress as they advance each grade level through their academic career.
"Students need this information because many newspapers are written in fifth grade reading level, but students are required to read textbooks that are written at their actual grade level," Mrs. Weaver said.
"The Gates MacGinitie test is also important because it determines a student’s reading level. Another important feature of the test is that it allows students to chart their reading level and they need to identify where they are in reading skills and set annual goals to achieve," said Mrs. Weaver. She also says that the data the administrators gather helps to determine which students can benefit from summer school and other special reading programs offered by the district.

Student Council members elected

By ALEX NEEDHAM
Room 210 Staff Writer
Student Council members for the 2006-2007 school year were elected today during TA.
In sixth grade the following students were elected for next year's student council: Amie Howard, and Nicole Yeoman
Savanah Sweeton will represent the seventh graders next year.
The following eighth graders will represent the freshman class at Joplin High School: Lauren Bynum, Garrett Dowell, and Brock Hunter.

Ingram, Biggers profiled in Joplin Daily

The Joplin Daily has turned its spotlight on eighth grader Tilly Ingram and eighth grade social studies teacher Mr. Rocky Biggers.

Frencken, Russell to serve on principal interview panel

South Middle School teachers selected Mrs. Kim Frencken, sixth grade block teacher; and Mr. Mark Russell, sixth grade science teacher, to participate in interviews with candidates for assistant principal positions at South and Memorial middle schools.
The interviews are scheduled for Thursday, April 27, at the District Administration Building. South Middle School Assistant Principal Dr. Jenifer Cryer is leaving the school at the end of this year to take a position as principal at Neosho Junior High School.

Navarre wins SMS Essay Contest

Eighth grader Fox Navarre's essay on the effect drunk driving has had on her life, was the winning entry in the third annual South Middle School Essay Contest. The winners were chosen this week by a three-member panel of past contest winners.
The remainder of the top 10, were: 2. Jessica Cashion, 3. defending champion Doug Pumphrey, 4. Michelle Holden, 5. Mackenszee Roberts, 6. Savanah Sweeton, 7. Corey Hounschell, 8. Zoe Mowry, 9. Vone' Britt and 10. Mayra Castaneda.
Miss Navarre will receive $15, Miss Cashion $10, Pumphrey $5, Miss Holden $3, Miss Roberts $2, Miss Sweeton $10 as the top seventh grade entrant; Hounschell $1, Miss Mowry $1, Miss Britt $1, and Miss Castaneda $1.
Miss Navarre's winning entry is printed below. That essay and the other nine finalists can be found at the original Room 210 website.

THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK AND DRIVE
By FOX NAVARRE

Have you ever looked back on memories of your childhood and finally realized what your parents were talking about; what you didn't understand then? It clicks in your mind and you think, "Oh, that's what they meant!" Most memories like these are fond to most people, but as I think back on my eight or nine-year-old self, the recollections aren't exactly full of sunshine and smiles.
It was during the summer that Allen, one of my father's employees, came to him asking for a place to stay when his mother had kicked him out. I remember being angry at his mother for being so cruel. It never occurred to me, then, that maybe there was a reason for it. In my eyes was a young man, wounded by a horrible parent, not a drunken 22-year-old working for my father, a restaurant manager. Naive as I was, I was open and eager to the possibility of adding a member to our family. I was even a bit depressed when they said he'd only stay for a week or two until he could get back on his feet. They graciously allowed him into our home.
Now that I sit and think about it, I quite clearly remember disliking him with a passion after the first week. He was a slob and having to share my bathroom with him, I found this out immediately. He was impersonal, indifferent and I never saw him out of his room or in the house at all for that matter. On the rare occasions that I did he was drinking a beer or eating our cereal. I was angry over the cereal, my fondest breakfast food at the time. I wished he was gone every day he was there. Those days grew into weeks and into months and every day I complained and whined. My parents used to think that I was extremely messy, but I was the neatest person in the world compared to him. I wanted him gone. Seven or eight months passed before the incident that scarred me...left haunting images pressed into my mind to this very day. It was yet another thing for me to blame on myself.
I'd had a bad dream one night nearing Christmas break and was asleep between my parents in their bed when the phone rang. My mother's movement was what woke me up but it was the phone ringing that caused me to stay alert. It's a habit of mine to listen in on conversations, or the side of it that I can hear.
I didn't know what had happened, but I'd managed to get back to bed, and snuggle against my father by the time Mom came back in to wake him.
"Allen's dead." The words were too much for me to handle. I wanted him gone, not dead. I wished him to leave our home, not his life. I cried. I remember the long drawn out sobs as the words repeated in my mind. "Allen's dead."
Allen had borrowed my dad's white truck (all the better to see the blood) claiming that he was going to visit his grandfather in the hospital. He had liked. He somehow managed to cram seven other people into a five-person cab of the truck, one of whom was a pregnant female. He had a lot to drink that night and passed out at the wheel. The truck swerved and slammed against the median where it slid along before spinning out into the middle of the road. By the time it was over, Allen was no longer in the truck. The seven others were unharmed other than a few scratches from the broken glass.
I didn't know the details of Allen's physical appearance afterward until I sat my mother down one day and said, "It can't be bad. It's not like his head came off." My mother had to regretfully inform me that it did, and so did his left arm, which had been hanging out of the window as he drove. This information is probably why I cringe every time my father rests his arm out of our open window when we travel. I yelled at him once for it. For a year afterward, images of Allen's mangled body and face haunted my dreams and I even developed a fear of closed doors, always amusing myself with thoughts of what was left of Allen hanging just on the other side. All because of a few beers and a set of wheels wrapped in a lie or two.
Before you get in a car with someone who has been drinking, think about a lot of the lives you could affect. I doubt that I was even on the list of who Allen would hurt when he died if he were to create that list. Even the most insignificant person to you cares, even if they want you gone. Care about them, too.

Interviews set for assistant principal position

A panel of administrators and teachers will interview candidates for assistant principal positions at South and Memorial middle schools Thursday, April 27, at the District Administration Building.
Dr. Stephen Doerr, assistant superintendent, told South teachers Tuesday afternoon, the interviewing panel will include two faculty members from both schools, the principals and himself. The faculty representatives will be selected by each school's faculty. The interviews will take the entire day, Dr. Doerr said.
Twenty-five candidates have applied for the positions.
The assistant principal will replace Dr. Jenifer Cryer, who will leave the district to become Neosho Junior High School principal.

MAP testing concludes today

By DYLAN PRAUSER
Room 210 Staff Writer
MAP testing is over. All in all, teachers were extremely happy with students' efforts and how they answered the questions. The school even received a visit from the "MAP Police" Thursday, April 13.
The "MAP Police" are really just representatives of the Missouri Board of Education here to make sure that principals and teachers administer the tests correctly and teachers and students don't cheat, according to Mr. Ron Mitchell, South Middle School principal.
"The first week of testing went awesome," Mr. Mitchell said. "Students worked hard and teachers kept students on task."
Mrs. Angela Mense, seventh grade communication arts teacher, said, "I think the students worked very hard and put forth 100 percent effort. I was very impressed with the students' performance on the essay in particular. The spelling section was challenging, but the DOL really paid off. I am confident my students scored really high."
Mrs.Linda Weaver, seventh grade reading teacher, said, "The students put forth 100 percent effort. I think the students struggled with spelling, but they tried their best. They were prepared to explain the constructed response questions and worked diligently to answer the essay. Mrs. St. Clair, who is a representative of the MAP testing, gave our students praise for their dedication and great work effort."

Barnes, McMillen photos on MyTeacherRocks.com site

The April winner in the MyTeacherrocks.com contest sponsored by Continental Auto Mall, KSN and the Joplin Globe has been posted on the website, complete with a photo of the winner, Mr. Reed Barnes, South band teacher, the student who nominated him, eighth grader Shelby McMillen, and Shelby's award-winning essay.

Parents given tips for MAP tests

The following tips for parents whose children are taking the MAP tests are taken from the Joplin R-8 School District website:

Joplin students will take Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) exams throughout the next few weeks. High school and middle school students will test during the week of April 10th, and elementary students will test during the weeks of April 17th and April 24th.

During MAP testing, Joplin parents can help students by keeping the following tips in mind:

Reduce your child’s anxieties:

* Remind your child that their class grades are not determined by standardized test scores.
* Let your child know that standardized tests help identify instructional needs.
* Assure your child that no child is expected to know all the answers.
* Explain that test taking is a skill to be developed. Students get better with practice.


Help your child do his or her best:

* Encourage your child to do well without pressuring him/her. It is important for your child to stay relaxed for a test.
* Make sure that your child gets enough sleep on the night before the test.
* Ensure that your child eats a healthy breakfast every day.
* Have your child wear comfortable clothing.
* Praise/reward your child for their hard work preparing for a test.

Teachers prepare for MAP testing

South Middle School faculty prepared for the annual MAP tests with meetings before and after school Thursday.
Mr. Ron Mitchell, principal, handed out schedules and information.
Students will be tested Tuesday, April 11, Wednesday, April 12, Thursday, April 13, Tuesday, April 20, and Wednesday, April 21.
The students will be rewarded Friday, April 22, by going on the playground and getting a can of pop.

SMS Choir, Show Choir sparkle at NEO

BY BECCA MASCHER
Room 210 Staff Writer
The South Middle School Choir and Show Choir sparkled during the annual NEO Music Festival held Wednesday in Miami, Okla.
Choir members sang numbers they have been working on for three months, receiving a I rating for their performance. First, they sang "Ave Maria," followed by "Glory Bound," with soloist Becca Mascher.
After the choir performed, Southern Belles, the show choir, prepared for its performance. The group started with "Stupid Cupid," with soloist Becca Mascher, then "Rockin" Robin," they they ended with "Girls Night Out," with soloist Lauren Bynum. The group also received a I rating.
Students who attended the festival included:
Soprano- Arlisa Arwood, Shakota Ball, Gina Casada, Beau Carroll, Hannah Doerge, Leah Forkner, Makenzie Freeman, Alexis Hawk, Emily Houston, Jenna Johnson, Breezy Leatherman, Loryn Ligon, Tessa Luper, Becca Mascher, Jessica Myers, Fox Navarre, Kelsey Pace, Cindy Pham, Tymber Pope, Rachel Richins, Hannah Rosario, Mollie Sanders, Kaylee Sexton, Shelby Sullivan, Taylor Tressler, Sammy Warren, Ashley Whittington, Shandera Workman, Katie Wood, Tamara Zajac
Alto- Lauren Bynum, Joanna Cole, Christen Cool, Mikaila Craig, Takada Davis, Racheal Foster, Justene Gowing, Paige Harmon, Christy Hernandez, Jenny Hill, Melody Ketron, Kelley Leach, Roni Leonard, Breanna Martin, Adriana Marturino, Chelsea Moore, Arlena Parks, Abbi Smith, Ashlea Smith, Rochelle Stanley, Shanna Striegel, Kendra Wilson, Jaclyn Wright
Baritone-Cameron Bryan, Aaron Brown, Jacob Gammill, Colten Hawkins, Joe Huddleston, Alex Johnson, Grant Lewis, Alyssa Loyd, Spencer Moss, Dylan Prauser, Jesse Rowe, Matt Smith, Dustin Trebbe, Wes Underwood, Caleb Wheeler
Individual I ratings will be posted on this website at a later date.

Opposition voiced to combining South, North football teams

The Joplin Daily reports that opposition was expressed during a Tuesday night meeting at North Middle School to a proposal to combine South and North's football teams.
The parent who spoke out at the North meeting was the only parent to do so to this point, the article said.

Weaver finalist for Golden Apple honors

By DYLAN PRAUSER
Room 210 Staff Writer
Mr. Jason Weaver, South Middle School seventh grade social studies teacher, is a finalist for the annual Golden Apple Award, sponsored by the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.
"It is a huge honor to me because it came from a student and while teachers and principals tell me I'm doing a good job, it means a lot more to me if a student likes what I am doing," Mr. Weaver said.
He was interviewed by the judges Thursday, March 30. This is the second straight year Mr. Weaver has been a finalist for this award.

Barnes enjoying use of car

Mr. Reed Barnes, SMS band teacher is shown with the car he will be using for the next month after being named the April winner in the My Teacher Rocks contest at www.myteacherrocks.com He was nominated for the award by eighth grader Shelby McMillen. Room 210 Staff Writer Grace Randolph is working on a story which will be featured later on this website. (Room 210 Photo by Tiana Clemons)

Navarre lands role in Joplin Little Theater production

SMS eighth grader Fox Navarre landed a key role in the Joplin Little Theater production of Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" following tryouts April 3 and 4.
Miss Navarre will play Laurie, the younger sister of the play's lead character. This is the second theatrical production she has appeared in during this school year. In December, Miss Navarre sang in a production at Stone's Throw Theater in Carthage.

Weaver-Gier engagement announced

Word spread like wildfire through South Middle School faculty today. Mr. Jason Weaver, seventh grade social studies, popped the question to Miss Stephanie Gier, a third grade teacher at Carl Junction. She said yes.
Watch this website for future developments.

Quiz bowl students do well at Neosho

SMS Quiz Bowl teams finished their series of academic challenges March 30 at Neosho Middle School. Two South teams have competed in five challenges this year, communication arts at Carl Junction, science at Lamar, math at Diamond, history at College Heights and general knowledge at Neosho. This is the first year South has competed in the challenge.
The eighth grade team posted a 5-4 record at Neosho, defeating both Carl Junction teams, the number one teams from Diamond and Monett and the South seventh grade team. Eighth graders competing were: Jessica Cashion, Matt Smith, Fox Navarre, Elizabeth Hernandez and Mallory Fuller.
The seventh grade team finished with a 3-6 record, defeating the Carl Junction teams and Monett's number two team. Seventh graders participating were: Dylan Prauser, Arthur Brown, Leif Larson and Steven Williams.
(Top photo- from left, Fox Navarre, Jessica Cashion, Liz Hernandez, Mallory Fuller. Bottom photo- Dylan Prauser, Leif Larson, Kane McCaslin, Steven Williams)

Meeting set to prepare for MAP testing

South Middle School teachers will meet after school Thursday to prepare for MAP tests. The tests are scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 11 and will continue April 12 and 13, then resume Tuesday and Wednesday, April 18 and 19.

More SMS yearbooks available

One hundred additional 2005-2006 South Middle School yearbooks are available, according to Ms. Yonika Powell, yearbook sponsor. They will be sold, on a first-come, first served basis.
For more information, see Ms. Powell in Room 108.

Tilly Ingram, Mr. Biggers to be profiled in Joplin Daily

Eighth grader Tilly Ingram and Mr. Rocky Biggers will be profiled this week on www.joplindaily.com. More information will be featured later on this website.
(Room 210 photo by Tiana Clemons)

Ten finalists named in SMS Essay Contest

The 10 finalists in the third annual South Middle School Essay Contest have been selected.
Their essays will be judged by high school students who are former essay contest winners. The results will be announced sometime in the next 10 to 14 days, according to Mr. Randy Turner, contest sponsor.
The finalists are: Zoe Mowry, Savanah Sweeton, Corey Hounschell, Fox Navarre, Doug Pumphrey, Michelle Holden, Von'e Britt, MacKenszee Roberts, Jessica Cashion and Mayra Castaneda.

Vocal music students headed to NEO

South Middle School vocal music students will perform at the annual NEO Music Festival today in Miami, Okla.
Those scheduled to perform are:
Soprano- Arlisa Arwood, Shakota Ball, Gina Casada, Beau Carroll, Hannah Doerge, Leah Forkner, Makenzie Freeman, Alexis Hawk, Emily Houston, Jenna Johnson, Breezy Leatherman, Loryn Ligon, Tessa Luper, Becca Mascher, Jessica Myers, Fox Navarre, Kelsey Pace, Cindy Pham, Tymber Pope, Rachel Richins, Hannah Rosario, Mollie Sanders, Kaylee Sexton, Shelby Sullivan, Taylor Tressler, Sammy Warren, Ashley Whittington, Shandera Workman, Katie Wood, Tamara Zajac
Alto- Lauren Bynum, Joanna Cole, Christen Cool, Mikaila Craig, Takada Davis, Racheal Foster, Justene Gowing, Paige Harmon, Christy Hernandez, Jenny Hill, Melody Ketron, Kelley Leach, Roni Leonard, Breanna Martin, Adriana Marturino, Chelsea Moore, Arlena Parks, Abbi Smith, Ashlea Smith, Rochelle Stanley, Shanna Striegel, Kendra Wilson, Jaclyn Wright
Baritone-Cameron Bryan, Aaron Brown, Jacob Gammill, Colten Hawkins, Joe Huddleston, Alex Johnson, Grant Lewis, Alyssa Loyd, Spencer Moss, Dylan Prauser, Jesse Rowe, Matt Smith, Dustin Trebbe, Wes Underwood, Caleb Wheeler

Southern Belles named for 2006-2007

By CHRISTY HERNANDEZ
Room 210 Staff Writer
Members of Southern Belles, the South Middle School show choir, have been chosen for the 2006-2007 school year, according to Ms. Julie Yonkers, vocal music teacher.
Those chosen were:
Soprano- Jordana Chambers, Taylor Camden, Hannah Doerge, Sarah Matthews, Cindy Pham, Hannah Rosario, Mollie Sanders, Katie Wood.
Second Soprano- Leah Forkner, Tera Knight, Lauren Layne, Tessa Luper, Tymber Pope, Taylor Tressler, Nichole Yeoman, Jordyn Wright
Alto- Tara Fleming, Christy Hernandez, Teri Mitchell, Amber Morris, Arlena Parks, Mariah Sanders, Shelby Shumaker, Kendra Wilson.
Tryouts were held March 30.

Track season begins at South

By KANE MCCASLIN
Room 210 Staff Writer
The 2006 South Middle School track season has begun with nearly 60 students participating.
Track and field for middle school consists of hurdles, relays from 400 to 1600 meters, 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter run, 800 meter run, 1600 meter run, shot put, discus, long jump, high jump, triple jump and pole vault. Students can be in four events each meet, as long as one is a field event.
The schedule began March 28 at Carthage, with another meet March 31 at Webb City. The next scheduled meet is Thursday, April 6, at Carthage, followed by April 11 Carl Junction, April 18 Lamar, April 20 Nevada, April 25 Joplin, April 27 McDonald County, and May 1 Webb City.
Seventh graders in track include: Breanna Baker, Austin Bolt, Jarvious Britt, Christen Cool, Rebecca Copper, Makhaila Craig, Candice Curtis, Michael Daugherty, Tiffany Douglas, Fischer Dowell, James Forcum, Devon Freeman, Christy Hernandez, Dusty Hill, Sechelle Jackson, Shaynee Johnson, Ethan Knapps, Kelly Leach, Breanna Martin, Matthew McCoy, James Michael, Casey Schultze, Kaylee Sexton, Dylan Smith, Anthony Woodworth
Eighth graders include: Arlisa Arwood, Maddison Billings, Brandon Box, Billy Braun, Vo'ne Britt, Tiana Clemons, Samantha Cox, Garrett Dowell, Mike Elliott, Jenny Hill, Tyler Hodges, Emily Houston, Tylor Hudson, Brock Hunter, Joshua Hutching, Brenna Jamerson, Alec Lane, Blake Mills, Spencer Moss, Jacob Murdock, Jessica Myers, Hailey Mytrofaniuk, Derek Nolte, Chelsey Osburn, Jacobo Oviedo, Alyssa Park, Dylan Rapp, Colby Ritter, MacKenszee Roberts, Olivia Sherrick, Ashlea Smith, Jeff Taylor, Kellen Taylor, Joey Verhaar, Amanda Welch, Caleb Wheeler, Cody Wheeler, Ashton White, Christian Young and Paige Young.

MAP tests scheduled for next week

By CHELSEA MOORE and
SABRINA ROGERS
Room 210 Staff Writers
MAP tests will take place Tuesday, April 11, through Thursday, April 13, and Tuesday and Wednesday, April 18 and 19, at South Middle School. Testing will take place 8:25 to 10:30 a.m. each of those days.
The testing is for sixth through eighth graders. In the past, seventh graders have been tested for communication arts and eighth graders for math. This year, thanks to the federal No Child Left Behind act, which requires all students be tested in math and reading each year, sixth, seventh and eighth graders will take the reading and communication arts tests.

Band students to attend NEO Festival Thursday

SMS Band students, under the direction of Mr. Reed Barnes, will attend the annual NEO Music Festival Thursday in Miami, Okla.
Students scheduled to attend are:
Jordan Adams, Kisha Adams, Dalton Anderson, Breanna Baker, Tyler Beal, Maddison Billings, Austin Bolt, Jar'Vious Britt, Jenny Brock, Zack Cloven, Becky Cooper, Tim Davis, Fischer Dowell, Garrett Dowell, Tate Duley, Zac Dunnic, Brent Eagles, Grant Evans, Cody Gilmore, Tyler Graves, Dakota Hackworth, Ty Hodges, Michelle Holden, Corey Hounschell, Cheyenne Howard, Sierra Hutchinson, Will Kessler, Danielle Kleeman, Leif Larson, Matt Lemieux, Gabby Londe, Jessica Lumpkins, Andrew Mays, Shelby McMillen, Christian Miller, Nathan Morris
Also, Amanda Needham, Lynn Nichols, Lainie Nicolas, Eric O'Hanlon, Allen Peterson, Doug Pumphrey, Sam Quinones, Colby Ritter, Breonna Shockley, Daniel Story, Savannah Sweeton, Jeff Taylor, Kelsey Tippett, Tevin Triplett, Amanda Webster, Ashton White, Mary White

Osborne student teaching at South

By DYLAN PRAUSER
Room 210 Staff Writer
Mr. Jacob Osborne, Carthage, a Missouri Southern State University student, is student teaching in Mr. Jason Weaver's seventh grade social studies class at South Middle School.
Student teachers are placed with teachers who have at least three years of classroom experience. While he is teaching, Mr. Osborne has to write weekly papers for Mr. Weaver.
Mr. Osborne decided to go into teaching after taking a cadet teaching class during his senior year at Carthage High School. He went into a classroom and helped with everyday stuff and taught a few lessons.
Mr. Osborne said he hopes to become a counselor. So far, he added, he has enjoyed working with students at South.

CA class completes civil rights project

BY RONI LEONARD
Mr. Randy Turner's eighth grade communication arts classes recently completed a research project on the civil rights movement.
The project consisted of a 1,000-word research paper, a multi-media presentation and an oral presentation over events that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement.
In the past. Mr. Turner has had his students do the third quarter project over the Holocaust, but since students were researching that in seventh grade, he changed the topic to the Civil Rights Movement last year.
"I hope the students understand the importance of the Civil Rights Movement and how the it has shaped the country that we have today," Mr. Turner said.

(Photo: Amanda Welch, Dylan Rapp and Paige Young answer questions about their topic, the Birmingham Church Bombing, during their oral presentation, part of the third quarter research project in Mr. Randy Turner's eighth grade communication arts classes.

Thirty-two students chosen for English awards

Thirty-two South Middle School eighth graders have been selected for National Merit Awards and inclusion in the annual yearbook published by the United States Achievement Academy Scholarship Foundation.
The school was allowed to send in the names of 16 boys and 16 girls for the honor. Those named were:
Arlisa Arwood, Lauren Bynum, Halie Endicott, Mallory Fuller, Danielle Kleeman, Becca Mascher, Fox Navarre, Sierra Hutchinson, Tamara Zajac, Jessica Cashion, Mayra Castaneda, MacKenszee Roberts, Mary White, Chelsey Osburn, Cassidy Holland, Ashlie Shimmin
Also, Jacob Brummer, Yuriy Meadows, Zac Brower, Colby Ritter, Clayton Stehm, Matt Smith, Dakota Hackworth, Zac Goad, Aaron Brown, Doug Pumphrey, Jacob Murdock, Blake Mills, Garrett Dowell, Eli Moran, Chase Cox, Austin Jones

All SMS teachers to receive smart boards, laptops

During a meeting Monday, the Joplin R-8 Board of Education voted to increase the school district's commitment to technology, authorizing an investment in laptops for all teachers and smart boards in all classrooms.
More information can be found in these articles printed in the Joplin Globe and the Joplin Daily.

Cashion essay was winner of Joplin Elks Contest

As reported earlier, eighth grader Jessica Cashion was the Joplin winner in the annual Elks Lodge Essay Contest. The text of her winning essay is printed below:


"What I See When I Look Up at the American Flag"
By Jessica Cashion

When most look up at the flag they only see pieces of colored cloth sewn together to make a pattern. Few take time to see the flag is a symbol for freedom; a reminder of all the nation has been through. When I look at the American flag, I remember it has been through tough times in history.
The Revolutionary War was about America gaining independence. The Civil War divided us, but after each war, America remained united and our flag has flown with pride.
So we should pause, remember and give America a renewed sense of pride. Our flag stands for freedom. It gives us opportunities that do not exist anywhere else in the world. It reminds us we have the freedoms of speech, assembly, religion, petition, and the press clearly stated under the First Amendment.
The flag stands for the sense of security that is the Armed Forces. Soldiers are trained to protect and serve. Those who lost their lives should be revered, and our veterans should be honored because they served under the American flag for a cause in which they believed. To them, it is not just a piece of cloth; it is the symbol of a great nation; one for which they have lived and died.
When we look at our flag, we should see it as our veterans do, not just as a piece of cloth, but as a symbol of our nation…one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

SMS Orchestra students to perform at NEO

South Middle School orchestra students, under the direction of Ms. Linda Kay Hailey, will perform at the annual NEO Music Festival Thursday, April 6.
Students scheduled to perform are:
Jessica Cashion, Mayra Castaneda, Michael Daugherty, Mallory Fuller, Amie Howard, Alex Kangethe, Sydney Long, Faith Mowry, Zoe Mowry, Alex Needham, Anh Nguyen, Chelsey Osburn, MacKenszee Roberts, Bayley Strella

Barnes is April winner for 'My Teacher Rocks'

Mr. Reed Barnes, SMS band teacher, is the April winner in the "My Teacher Rocks" contest, sponsored by Continental Auto Mall, KSNF and the Joplin Globe.
He was nominated for the honor by eighth grader Shelby McMillen. More information will be featured later on this website.

Twenty finalists named in SMS Essay Contest

Twenty finalists have been named in the third annual South Middle School Essay Contest.
The list includes 13 eighth graders, one of whom is defending champion Doug Pumphrey, five seventh graders and two sixth graders.
Finalists, in alphabetical order are: Andrew Allen, Christian Allen, Vone' Britt, Jessica Cashion, Mayra Castaneda, Halie Endicott, Jessica Erwin, Michelle Holden, Corey Hounschell, Zoe' Mowry, Fox Navarre, Melaina Nicholas, Doug Pumphrey, MacKenszee Roberts, Bobby Roland, Mollie Sanders, Savannah Sweeton, Mary White, Craig Yeoman and Tamara Zajac.

Kessler qualifies for state math competition

SMS sixth grader Sarah Kessler took third place at the resent Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics Competition by finishing third in concepts at a competition in Carl Junction.
She qualified for the state competition, which will be held Saturday, April 22.