Two hundred attend East Middle School PTO get-together at MSSU

The East Middle School family held its first meeting since an EF-5 tornado cut a swath through the heart of the area May 22.

Principal Mr. Bud Sexson showed plans for the temporary East Middle School, which will open its doors when school begins Wednesday, Aug. 17.

Though the warehouse facility was originally designed as a spec building by the Joplin Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Sexson stressed, "This will not be a warehouse, this will be a school."

Mr. Sexson gave a brief overview of the facility, showing a diagram of where classes will be held. Among the information presented at the get-together:

-The classes will be about 700 square feet, a couple of hundred feet less than at East, but considerably more than in the old South Middle School.

-The building will not have computer labs, but more mobile I-carts with classroom sets of computers will be available.

-The gym/physical education facility will be in a building outside of the school, but will a canopy available to keep students from being exposed to the elements.

-Basketball and volleyball practices will be held at East, but basketball games will be scheduled at the other middle schools. Mr. Sexson said he did not know yet whether volleyball matches will be held at East. Football games and practices will be held at other Joplin middle schools.

-The district will provide busing for students attending after-school activities. The students will be dropped off at their elementary feeder schools. Adjustments will likely be made for those who have had to move because of the tornado.

-Certified FEMA safe rooms will be available in case of tornadic activity. When East is rebuilt or repaired, Mr. Sexson said, the facility will have a safe area.

-More after-school activities will be added this year, depending on the students' interest.

-The lockers used at East Middle School will be removed and transplanted to the new facility.

Among other items brought up at the meeting:

-A picnic will be held Aug. 11 at Landreth Park for the East Middle School family.

-Mr. Sexson introduced new Assistant Principal Mr. Jason Weaver. Mr. Weaver has taught seventh grade history at South and East for the past decade.

School surveillance camera shows tornado hitting East Middle School

JEMS gives final performance in East Middle School Auditorium

The two songs performed by the JEMS Show Choir in the accompanying video, "Lipstick on Your Collar," and "Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair," were the last two ever performed in the East Middle School Auditorium, which was destroyed in the May 22 tornado. The show choir is under the direction of Ms. Julie Yonkers.

The final band concert in the EMS Auditorium

School year ends differently for East students

The last goodbye: East students meet at 4th Street Bowl

Deprived of the last two weeks of school by the tornado that ripped through Joplin May 22, East Middle School students picked up their belongings and said goodbye to each other Thursday, June 9.

Seventh and eighth graders met at the 4th Street Bowl, while sixth graders met at the bowling alley on Rangeline.

East Middle School cheerleaders excel at camp

East Middle School cheerleaders excelled at the Universal Cheerleader Association (UCA) summer camp this week.

The seventh and eighth graders won the Camp Champ trophy for dance and won blue ribbons each day. They also won the spirit stick each day and captured a superior trophy for overall excellence.

Five East cheerleaders, eighth graders Abi Killinger, Maggie Baker, Logan Whitehead, and Annie Strickling and seventh grader Amy Walser were selected All American Cheerleaders.

The life of Zach Williams, killed in tornado, will be celebrated Sunday on his 13th birthday

A celebration of East Middle School seventh grader Zach Williams' life will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, June 19, with services at Rocketdyne Church of Christ, 1111 Rocketdyne Road, Neosho.

The service will be held on the day that Zach, who was killed in the May 22 tornado, would have turned 13.

Obituary information for Zach can be found at this link.

Operation Rising Eagle: Locations announced for Joplin schools for this fall

(From the Joplin R-8 School District)

Temporary School Locations Announced

Joplin Schools' Board of Education approved temporary facility location moves today at a special board meeting for all schools affected by the May 22 tornado. The Operation Rising Eagle facilities plan will be effective immediately with the leasing of facilities, remodeling and necessary preparations to begin the 2011-12 school year on August 17, 69 days from now.

As previously announced, incoming 9th and 10th grade students will attend Memorial Education Center. Memorial Education Center was built in 1896 and has been used continuously since then as a school. In 2009, Memorial Education Center underwent a renovation to upgrade the existing building. Memorial is currently a home for district programs and support services.

Shopko Campus at Northpark Mall will transform into the upper high school location for incoming 11th and 12th grade students.

Franklin Technology Center students will begin the school year at the 4th and Grand Campus.

East Middle School students (incoming grades 6th to 8th) will begin the school year at the Crossroads Industrial Park, located at Highway FF (32nd Street) and Jasper County Road 190 (Prigmore Avenue).

Irving Elementary students (incoming kindergarten to 5th grade) will move to the Washington Campus, 1112 East Second Street.

Duquesne Elementary School students will join the students at Duenweg Elementary School for the 2011-12 school year. School administrators made this decision because the separate cafeteria and gym location will enable ease in scheduling. In addition, the Duenweg property, which includes nearly six acres, can accommodate modular classrooms if needed.

Emerson Elementary students will begin the school year at the current Duquesne Campus, 1301 South Duquesne Road.

Early Childhood and Pre-K students will move to the McKinley Campus, 610 South Forest Street.

The current Roi S. Wood Campus (Administration Building) located at 1717 East 15th Street will be renovated for students currently attending Beacon and the FLEX program.

Administration, Technology, Parents as Teachers and the Copy Center will move to the former Missouri Department of Transportation Campus at East 32nd Street.

All locations are current facilities that will be remodeled and ready for students to begin the 2011-12 school year on August 17.

The May 22 tornado damaged or destroyed 10 facilities and caused roughly $151 million in damage to Joplin Schools' facilities.

EMS eighth grader's family's tornado story featured in Springfield News-Leader

The story of East Middle School eighth grader Kate Stauffer and her family rode out the May 22 tornado is featured in today's Springfield News-Leader.

Kate's older sister, Ali, is a swimmer on the Missouri State University team, so the story is featured in the newspaper's sports section:

Stauffer's mother, father and sister rode out the storm in the bathroom as the tornado ripped the house near the corner of 20th and Massachusetts apart.


"My husband said, 'Oh, my god, this is it. We're gone,' " Stauffer's mother, Nancy Challberg, said. "We were scared at this time. We just knew it would suck us up. We were saying our I-love-yous and goodbyes."

The storm passed after about two minutes, but hail started to pour through a hole in the roof over the bathtub, where Kate Stauffer, 14, was huddled under a pillow.

When father Gavin Stauffer finally emerged several minutes after the storm passed, he turned to his family and said, "It's all gone."

The roof was gone, and a layer of insulation, wood beams and shingles covered possessions.

Challberg made a quick phone call to Ali, who lives in an apartment in Springfield, to tell her they were alive and warn her about the storm. The family then walked more than a mile to a relative's house, where they have been staying ever since.

Rylee Hartwell: The first East Middle School will continue to live on

By RYLEE HARTWELL

(Rylee Hartwell was an eighth grader at East Middle School during the 2010-2011 school  year.)

It was May 22, 2011, the summer fever had set in, we were ready to get out of school, or I certainly was, I was ready for high school. Things had been jam-packed that past week we were tying things up in the majority of our classes and lts just say things were starting to go hay-wire.

 When I left East Middle School little did I know this would be the last time I would see it in the state it always has been. To say East was a good and enjoyable place was an .I loved the teachers, students, and building that we had all liked together. School was enjoyable, we had numerous clubs such as Quiz Bowl, Color Guard, Journalism, Newspaper, Show Choir and quite a few others. These were all very prestigious things for a prestigious school.

 Last evening was the first time I could visually see the complete damage, that wrecked havoc on East Middle School. It was a sight of complete astonishment to me, East was gone.


Lessons of hard work, integrity have always been taught to me at home. All of these things were also taught at East Middle School throughout our days there. Even though our building may not be there, our ideas and lessons will last us all through life, and this is what makes East Middle School great not our buildings or posessions but the lessons that will make the first East Middle School continue to live on.

Humphreys family gives $250,000 to Joplin schools, issues challenge for matching grants

Add caption

(The following news release was issued by the Joplin R-8 School District)
This afternoon, Joplin Schools announced that Joplin residents David and
Debra Humphreys contributed a personal gift of $250,000 to Joplin Schools for their tornado rebuilding and recovery efforts. The announcement was made at a press conference at Joplin School’s Administration Building.

“As we work to rebuild and reunite our Joplin Schools family, days like today continue to give us hope,” said Joplin Superintendent C.J. Huff. “The damage to our school community has been devastating, but we are so grateful to the Humphreys for their generosity and commitment to joining us as we rebuild our Joplin Schools family.”

The Humphreys also issued a Matching Challenge Grant that brings with it the potential of an additional $250,000 in donations, for a total of up to $500,000 from the Humphreys. Starting today, any business, organization or individual can participate in the challenge by indicating “Matching Challenge Grant” on any donation sent to Joplin Schools Tornado Relief Fund.

“We’re doing this to support the rebuilding of the infrastructure of the school system which is vital to our community,” said David Humphreys, president and CEO of Joplin-based TAMKO Building Products, Inc.,
one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of building products. He added, “We would also like to encourageother individuals and businesses to give to Joplin Schools’ efforts to support the rebuilding of Joplin. Inaddition, this gift is made in memory of my grandfather John E. Humphreys who served for 50 years as the superintendent of schools in Ashland, Kansas and who always emphasized the importance of a good education.”

“The future of our community depends on the education of our children,” said Debra Humphreys, who also serves as the Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School board chair. “We want to support efforts that will rebuild our community and enable its future growth and success.”

Joplin Schools Board President Ashley Micklethwaite recognized the Humphreys for their support of the Joplin community that has spanned many years. “On behalf of Joplin School and the Board of Education thank you so much for this contribution and initiating this challenge to help rebuild our schools,” said
Micklenthwaite.

Any business, organization or individual can participate in the challenge by indicating “Matching Challenge Grant” on any donation sent to:

Joplin Schools Tornado Relief Fund
Joplin Schools, Attn Kim Vann
102 N. Gray Ave. / Joplin, MO 64801

Press Conference Remarks from Superintendent C. J. Huff
Thank you for coming out this afternoon. As we work to rebuild and reunite our Joplin schools family, it’s days like today that continue to give us hope. The damage to our school community has been devastating …yet we work to overcome. Our administration building, the nerve center of our school district, sits inoperable behind me … Yet we continue to operate, albeit from an emergency operations center at North Middle School. Our lives were turned completely upside down 11 days ago … yet we will start summer school in just 11 days, on June 13.

Over the past year, many people have heard me speak about the needs of our students. One year ago, our Joplin Schools Family had students who had never slept on a mattress. Some of our students did not have meals between lunch on Friday and breakfast on Monday … Others had no shoes to wear to school. Our
needs were significant then. They are monumental now. Roughly half of our students were in the path of an EF5 tornado.

We have a commitment to start school on August 17. However, our commitment isn’t just that our students start school. We aim to see that they finish school as well. As we rebuild our schools, we need to be mindful of the fact that schools aren’t just facilities … that we can’t rebuild just for our students … we must rebuild for our graduates.

It is now my privilege to introduce a family who have made their commitment to helping rebuild and reunite our Joplin school family … a family who’s actions continue to bring hope to our school community …

Please help me welcome David and Debra Humphreys.

Press Conference Remarks from Board President Ashley MicklethwaiteThank you David, and thank you to the Humphreys family. Your support of the Joplin community has spanned many years. On behalf of Joplin School and the Board of Education thank you so much for this contribution and initiating this challenge to help rebuild our schools. We too honor your grandfather in
accepting this gift for the benefit of the Joplin Community.

Rebuilt East Middle School will have FEMA-approved tornado shelter

KSN/KODE is reporting that the rebuilt East Middle SChool and other schools in the Joplin R-8 School District will have FEMA-approved tornado shelters:

In addition, East Middle School is already being re-built. Construction is set to be complete by August. Dr. Huff wants to build a FEMA approved shelter on every site of the school district.

Huff also met with the superintendent of Kiowa County Schools in Greensburg, Kansas today. In 2007, an EF5 tornado destroyed 95% of their town. Superintendent Darin Headrick gave some insight and advice to school officials. "I was really impressed with the board and the administration team. They're asking the right questions. They are understanding what the issues are and what they're going to be. All they can do is identify what every kid at every grade level is going to need and how they can best meet those needs come August."

Duquesne teacher tells tornado story

Annie Yost, a second grade teacher from Duquesne Elementary, tells her story of surviving the Joplin tornado in the accompanying video:

Teachers move belongings out of tornado-stricken East

East Middle School teachers put on their hardhats and returned to their classrooms today for the first time since a tornado destroyed part of the school May 22.

Teachers were allowed to remove their personal belongings, so construction can begin to get East ready to go by Aug. 17, when classes are scheduled to begin.

Students' belongings were removed from lockers and will be returned to them June 9 during get-togethers at the two Joplin bowling alleys. More information about those gathering can be found on earlier posts on East Middle School Roundabout.

(Photos: Teachers take stuff outside, all textbooks were destroyed,Mr. Cook salvages a photo, and a look at Mrs. Mense's room. In the video, workers and teachers remove items from the seventh grade hallway.)

Chanci McGowen: It's horrible, it's just devastating to see the destruction of my school, my home

Chanci McGowen, one of the first group of eighth graders at East Middle School during the 2009-2010 school year, lost her home and her high school in the tornado. She is featured in the latest CNN Student News interview.

Also interviewed is former South Middle School student Katie Wood, who graduated from JHS May 22 hours before the tornado hit.

The Joplin portion of the video starts about halfway through it.

The transcript of the Joplin part of the accompanying video is printed below:

Tornado Recovery


AZUZ: Recovery efforts are getting started in Joplin, Missouri, and help is coming from some unexpected places. For example, a group of homeless volunteers from Kentucky. They collected donations for the tornado victims and then drove to Joplin to distribute them. Another unique source of help: an elephant from a circus that was supposed to perform in the area. The show, of course, couldn't happen. But the animal was able to use its strength to help workers clear heavy debris from some areas. Many residents of Joplin are still coming to grips with the devastation that hit their hometown. Morgan Schutters of affiliate KODE reports on the tornado's impact on the Joplin High School community.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

MORGAN SCHUTTERS, KODE REPORTER: Katie Wood graduated from Joplin High School just an hour before the tornado hit.

KATIE WOOD, JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI: Even looking at it, it's still really hard to believe it.

SCHUTTERS: Now, she's singing the national anthem at a memorial service for her classmates and the community.

WOOD: It's so hard singing it right in front of my school that just blew away.

SCHUTTERS: But Joplin High School sophomore Chanci McGowen still has the rest of her high school career ahead of her, as she looks at what is left in shambles.

CHANCI MCGOWEN, JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE: It's indescribable. It's horrible, just devastating to see all the destruction of my school, my home.

SCHUTTERS: McGowen is one of many students who lost both.

MCGOWEN: It was heartbreaking. My whole neighborhood is gone, but everyone's OK.

SCHUTTERS: It was a somber afternoon as they gathered outside the school. A moment of silence honoring military and tornado victims. Eight people in the Joplin R-8 School District are confirmed dead: seven students and one staff member.

WOOD: Wondering who is still alive and who's not.

SCHUTTERS: Superintendent Dr. CJ Huff said last Friday, when he got word, his world stopped. Sorrow for the lost and relief for the living.

CJ HUFF, SUPERINTENDENT, JOPLIN R-8 SCHOOL DISTRICT: As a result of your diligence and unwavering fortitude in the face of insurmountable challenges, 100 percent of our family are accounted for.

SCHUTTERS: Summer classes will begin as scheduled in less than three weeks, on June 13th.

Huff: 100 percent of Joplin School family is accounted for

The search for members of the Joplin R-8 family ended Friday, with eight members killed in the May 22 tornado, Superintendent Dr. C. J. Huff said this afternoon at a gathering of the district employees, parents, and students, held in the parking lot at Joplin High School, which was destroyed during the tornado May 22.

"At 3:16 last Friday, I received a text message that indicated that mission was complete. As a result of your diligence and unlaboring fortitude in the face of insurmountable challenges, 100 percent of our family are accounted for," Superintendent Dr. C. J. Huff said.

"Today we grieve the loss of eight members of our family. We lost seven children and one educator and today we celebrate that we are all together again in body and eternal spirit," Dr. Huff said.

"Schools are at the heart of every community," Huff said, and pointed that the schools are helping lead the charge in rebuilding the community.

Huff also reassured staff that the loss of buildings would not also result in the loss of jobs.

"We need you now more than ever," Huff said.

School will be back in session June 13 when summer school starts, Huff said. Construction began at East Middle School Thursday and all students will be back in class when August 17 arrives, Huff said.

Seven students, one teacher killed in tornado

From the Joplin School District:
We have been able to account for the status of 100% of our students and staff. We grieve the loss of 8 members of our family - 7 children and 1 educator.

Joplin Schools Operation Center

Joplin North Middle School

102 N. Gray Avenue

Joplin, MO 64801

(417) 625-5270
Recontruction

We are committed to beginning the 2011-2012 school year on time, 79 days from now on Aug. 17. We are partnering with Crossland Construction, R. E. Smith, and PLJBD Architects to meet this goal.

Demolition of the damaged portion of East Middle School began May 26, 2011. The affected areas of East are being removed and reconstruction will begin as soon as possible. Governor Jay Nixon provided assistance in expediting this process. Reconstruction efforts have also begun at Cecil Floyd Elementary and the administration building.

We received an initial $5,000,000 from Traveler’s Insurance to begin our reconstruction efforts.

The damage to our district's schools was devastating.

• Three school buildings were destroyed, including our high school.

• Three schools were severely damaged.

• Two schools have possible roof damage.

• Several district support facilities sustained some damage.

• The remaining 11 buildings were not damaged.
Donations

Monetary donations for the district are also being accepted. Checks can be made out to -

Joplin Schools Tornado Relief Fund

Attn. Kim Vann
102 N. Gray Avenue
Joplin, MO 64801

US Bank has also set up the ability for anyone across the country to donate to Joplin Schools by dropping off their donation by any US Bank.
Rebuildjoplin.org

Rebuildjoplin.org is live. This site provides a master list of resources available for those affected or those wanting to help. Its an initiative by Bright Futures to serve those affected by the May 22 tornado
Summer Send-Off Events

Each building will host a summer send-off event for staff and students. Students will be able to pick up personal belongings, turn in books and reconnect with classmates and teachers.

South Middle School - Wednesday, June 1, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at South MS. Pizza will be served.

Jefferson Elementary – Wednesday, June 1, 1-3 p.m. in the cafeteria at Jefferson.

Irving Elementary - Thursday, June 2, 3-5 p.m. at South Middle School.

Kelsey Norman Elementary– Friday, June 3 from 9-11 a.m. at Kelsey Norman.


Additional dates will be announced at a later time.

Summer School

Open enrollment for summer school will begin on Tuesday, May 31 and will take place until Friday, June 10. Families may enroll students in person at Stapleton Elementary School or Memorial Education Center from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, or by phone at 417-625-5290.

Students previously enrolled in middle school or high school summer school must re-enroll. Families with elementary students who previously enrolled need to contact the district only if their enrollment status has changed. Please call us at 417-625-5290 with any changes.

Elementary summer school will take place from June 13 to July 29 at West Central, Stapleton and McKinley. Students enrolled in summer school at Cecil Floyd will attend Stapleton and students enrolled at Emerson will attend McKinley. Hours will be 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Summer school for middle school students will take place at South Middle School from June 13 to July 1. Hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Summer school for high school credit recovery students will take place at South Middle School from June 13 to July 1. Hours will be 9:00 to 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 to 3:00 p.m.

All students will receive free breakfast and lunch and transportation will be provided. Pick-up and drop-off locations will be determined by enrollment.

Video: Joplin High School will be rebuilt

In this reel of coverage offered by Columbia KOMU reporter Hillary Mullin of her coverage of the Joplin tornado, the reporter concentrates on Joplin High School, noting the vow made by Superintendent C. J. Huff that the school will be rebuilt.

The clips also include an interview with high school senior Emma Meek.

East Middle School seventh grader Zach Williams, 12, killed in tornado

Death struck East Middle School one week ago as the tornado that ripped through Joplin took the life of seventh grader Zach Williams.
The obituary information below is taken from the Bradford Funeral Home website.

Zachary Allen Williams was born June 19, 1998 at Fort Leonard Wood Memorial Community Hospital in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to Franklin Eugene Williams and Tammy Renee Clark Niederhelman. He lost his life in the tornado at Joplin, Missouri, Sunday evening, May 22, 2011 making his age 12 years 11 months and 3 days.

Zach was a student at East Middle School in Joplin where he attended the 7th grade. He attended the Calvary Baptist Church in Joplin. Zach was a happy person who would strike up a conservation with anyone. He enjoyed hot wheel cars, legos, riding his bike, and spending time with his friends. He was looking forward to his summer vacation, so he could spend more time with family and read more of his favorite books.

He is preceded in death by his great grandpa’s, Howard Jackson and R.L. Clark, great great grandfather Pearl Jaco, great grandmother Maxine Clark, great great grandmother Gladys Jaco.

Zach is survived by his mother Tammy Niederhelman and husband Tony of Joplin, Missouri; his father Frank Williams and wife Valerie of Mayesville, North Carolina, brother Andy Williams of Mayesville, North Carolina, grandparents Earnest and Kathy Clark of Summersville, Missouri; grandparents Jim and Kathleen Williams of Summersville, Missouri, Helen and Frank Jones of Terre Haute, Indiana; great grandmother Lillie Jackson of Summersville, MO, uncle’s and aunt’s, Chad and Billie Clark and children, Austin and Brittani and future son-in-law Levi of Nesho, MO, Jim Williams of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Warren Williams and wife Vicki of St. Louis, Missouri, Cindy Heller Springfield, Missouri, several great uncles and aunts, cousins and friends.

Memorial Services will be held Monday, May 30, 2011 at 1 Pm at Bradford Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gary Jackson officiating. Visitation will begin at 11 AM on Monday until service time at 1PM. Arrangements under the care of Bradford Funeral Home of Summersville.

Joplin schools work toward opening on time

Efforts made by the Joplin R-8 School District to start the school year on time at East Middle School and all other schools despite Sunday's tornado were discussed by school officials during a news conference at North Friday:

The Joplin school district took a critical step Thursday by seeking a permit to demolish and remove sections of the damaged East Middle School.


Superintendent C.J. Huff said East, one of three middle schools, is the largest school building that can be repaired. It can serve up to 750 students.

He said nearly all classrooms at East were deemed structurally sound by an engineer, and the others, along with common spaces such as the gym and cafeteria, will be rebuilt.

The district took a symbolic step this week by hanging a large flag -- one of 20 donated by Ozark Flag Company in Springfield -- at Joplin High. Others will be flown at other schools.


"That was a proud moment for us," Huff said. "We need to fly that flag high in the part of town hit hardest."


After the tornado struck Sunday, just after the high school graduation, the district started to track down students and staff.

During a Thursday news conference at North Middle School, Huff said the district finally knew the status of all 1,100 employees and 90 percent of the nearly 7,800 students.

"This is our top priority," he said. "We're not going to give up until our family is back together."

(Springfield News-Leader photo: Superintendent C. J. Huff prepares to raise an American flag at Joplin High School, which was destroyed by the tornado.)

A message from our principal: We will meet June 9

The following message was sent from East Middle School Principal Mr. Bud Sexson to faculty and staff today. He asked that the information be shared with students:

SAVE THIS DATE PLEASE - JUNE 9TH 2 - 4 PM


This is the time we will meet with all of our students who can make it to the east and west bowling alleys. I have reserved both the alleys on 4th and the one on Rangeline for the purpose of meeting up with the kids and having some type of closure of the school year. I intend to hand out grade cards, yearbooks and the contents of their lockers during this time. It would be wonderful of you could plan to be there. We have been through a lot and we need to get together with these guys and let them laugh and play and smile again. The 7th and 8th grades will meet at the 4th street alley and the sixth at the east one. See you then.

Joplin teachers search for students after tornado

 

Joplin Globe provides video footage of East Middle School after tornado

State Department of Education starts tornado relief program for Joplin students

From a State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education news release:


“Missouri kids helping Missouri kids” is the theme of a statewide relief effort launched today by state education officials. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is inviting school personnel and students to quickly raise funds to aid the students in Joplin Public Schools who are severely affected by the tornado disaster.

Commissioner of Education Chris L. Nicastro visited the Joplin area on Tuesday to extend support and assistance to officials at the Joplin Public Schools. Despite the gravity of the long-term recovery situation, the immediate safety and well-being of their students are the top priorities.

Local school officials said the greatest need is cash donations to provide assistance to their students.

“I cannot even tell you how much we need that,” said Kim Vann, communications director for Joplin Public Schools. The school district has a total enrollment of nearly 8,000 students, and nearly half of its student body lives in the affected area.

With money raised through the “Kids for Kids—Missouri Kids Helping Missouri Kids” fundraising campaign, Joplin school officials can facilitate the appropriate use of funds for their students’ needs, such as clothing, shoes, blankets, pillows and other personal items.

In January 2010, the Department organized a similar campaign that provided over 40,000 hygiene kits to kids in Haiti following a devastating earthquake.

“Now, it is time to help school kids in Joplin,” said Nicastro of the present humanitarian effort, which is much simpler and more direct. “If every student would donate $1, just imagine the amount of relief our nearly one million students across the state could provide.”

There is a great deal of interest within the educational community in helping Joplin, Nicastro said. She sent a message to school administrators late Tuesday afternoon encouraging their participation in this urgent relief effort. Many schools are still in session for a few more days. Others school officials may contact their patrons encouraging an organized or a direct way for students to lend support.

Monetary donations can be made directly to the school district. A special fund has been set up for tornado relief. Schools or families can make checks payable to Joplin Schools Tornado Relief Fund and mail to the attention of Kim Vann, Joplin Public Schools, North Middle School, 102 N. Gray Ave., Joplin, Mo. 64801.

For more information, visit dese.mo.gov or Joplin Public Schools’ website at http://joplin.schoolfusion.us/.

Superintendent Huff: Tornado-damaged East will open on time

The auditorium, gymnasium, and commons area were destroyed by Sunday's tornado, but when Aug. 17 rolls around, just 84 days from now, East Middle School will be open for business.


During an ongoing press conference at North Middle School, Superintendent C. J. Huff said, "Our class rooms are sound. Our intentions are to have East ready to go."

Huff said engineers are on the EMS campus today making sure the biulding is structurally sound.

Any East sixth and seventh graders who were displaced will be able to return to East in August.

Tornado ends school year for Most Inspirational Teacher

“She’s racist.”

I blinked twice and reread the beginning paragraph of a two-page paper one of my eighth grade students had written about the teacher across the hall from me.

That word did not describe the Andrea Thomas I know, my colleague and friend for the past four years.

Eighth grade reading teachers have a short shelf life at the school where I teach. The first one I taught beside, eight years ago, a tiny young woman with the look and voice of a teenager, became the first teacher at the school to have the embarrassment of having students throw furniture out of her second story window.

I didn’t expect anything different when Andrea took the job. She, too, looked like she would have fit in easily with a high school class. That was where the resemblance ended. Of all of the young teachers I have worked with over the past dozen years, I have never met one who was so prepared to be in a classroom.

She knew what she wanted to accomplish and constructed a plan that would enable her to achieve that goal. I was designated her mentor for that first year, but it would be no understatement to say that I learned far more from her than she did from me.

Over the course of the next four years, I had the privilege of watching her thrive as one of those teachers who goes the extra step for her students, no matter what their race or social status.

This was a woman who put her stock in her God, her family, and her students. By no stretch of the word could she be labeled a racist.

So I kept reading. It did not take long for the student, an African American girl, to get to the point.” She initially considered Andrea to be racist, but it wasn’t the teacher who was the problem.

The problem, she wrote, was not with the teacher. “I was the one who needed to grow up.”

The student changed her attitude and work habits and reading became her favorite class. “Mrs. Thomas wanted to make sure I didn’t fail,” the girl wrote.

“That is why Mrs. Thomas should be named the Most Inspirational Teacher at East Middle School.”

Each year, my eighth graders write a paper declaring their choice for Most Inspirational Teacher. The students vote on the winning paper, not their favorite teacher, but for the essay, the one that does the best job of extolling the virtues of a teacher who has made a difference.

And for this young woman, that teacher was Andrea Thomas.

That award would have been presented a week from this Friday, June 3, on our last day of school. Mrs. Thomas would have received a certificate and a copy of the winning essay.

The auditorium in which that ceremony was to take place is no longer standing. The winning essay, which was on the desk in my classroom, may no longer exist,, and if it does, it is highly unlikely it is in a presentable condition. From what I have been told, my room and Mrs. Thomas’ room were hit the hardest by the tornado that caused extensive damage to the building, which had only been standing for two years.

In the grand scheme of things, an essay and a certificate do not mean much, especially compared to the horrible devastation that Joplin has suffered from the tornado that tore the heart out of the city and has cost at least 116 people their lives and countless others their homes and property.

But it would have been nice for Andrea Thomas to have been named the Most Inspirational Teacher…on her last day at East Middle School.

It would have marked the perfect ending for a frustrating year for Andrea, who reluctantly came to her decision after she realized her long, exhausting hours of work before and after school were taking away from her time for family and church.

Andrea has bigger problems to worry about. She and her husband lost their home to the deadly tornado, but even that never caused her to waver in her faith.

After the tornado hit Sunday night, she did not ask her Facebook friends to pray for her, “Please continue to pray for our city,” she wrote. As for her and her husband, she brushed off their new homeless state. They can stay with family. “Our needs are being met.”

With so many suffering, I can’t help but think I am being selfish, but it would have been great to have taught alongside Andrea Thomas for nine more days and for her students to have another two weeks with this young teacher with the tough exterior and the marshmallow heart.

It would have been nice to have had a chance to say goodbye.

Jason Weaver named East Middle School assistant principal

By CAMERON BALL
Staff Writer

It has been announced that Mr. Jarrett Cook's replacement as vice-principal at East Middle School is going to be Mr. Jason Weaver.

Mr. Weaver has been a seventh grade social studies teacher at East/South for the last nine years, and he's moving up in the school to become Mr. Sexton's aide, replacing Mr. Cook, who is the new principal at Jefferson Elementary. 
Mr.Cook had been assistant principal at East Middle School for the past three years.


Mr. Weaver was selected following interviews Friday, May 13. The panel that interviewed the assistant principal candidates included Mr. Sexson and EMS teachers Mr. Michael Wallace and Mrs. Lisa Simmons.
Last week, Mr. Sexson perfectly described our new assistant principal  when he told EMS Roundabout the qualities he wanted from the person who was hired.

"He must be caring, a good communicator with the kids and must be able to do a good job of having fun with students and educating them at the same time," Mr. Sexson said.

(Photo: Mr. Jason Weaver and his wife, Stephanie)

Orchestra concert set for tonight

By JESSICA CRABB
Staff Writer

The EMS Orchestra, under the direction of Ms. Kylee Tripoli,  will mix newer and older music when it performs at 7 p.m. tonight in the school auditorium.

The orchestra will play nine songs- "California Dreaming," "Dance Scenario," "Stairway to Heaven," (featuring an Anna Tillman solo) "Bad Romance," "All Star, "Tangerine Rag," "You'll Be in My Heart," "Ships of Ireland," and "Russian Sailors Dance," with the last song being played by the eighth graders, Anna Tillman, first violin; Jessica Crabb, sccond violin; Alyvia Warstler, viola; and Alex Guenzel, cello.

The orchestra will perform at an assembly today during seventh hour.

Mr. Cook hired as Jefferson Elementary principal; interviews for new assistant principal scheduled for Friday

 By CAMERON BALL
Staff Writer

Mr. Jarrett Cook, who has been assistant principal at East Middle School for the past three years, is leaving to become principal at Jefferson Elementary.  

Interviews with candidates for the assistant principal job are scheduled to take place Friday, May 13.

Principal Mr. Bud Sexson told EMS Roundabout his expectations for the new assistant principal are pretty standard.

"He must be caring, a good communicator with the kids and must be able to do a good job of having fun with students and educating them at the same time."



Teachers will play a role in choosing Mr. Cook's replacement. Mr. Sexson said eighth grade science teacher Mr. Michael Wallace and sixth grade social studies teacher Mrs. Lisa Simmons will help him and district officials with the job interviews.

Band concert scheduled for Monday

By CAMERON BALL
Staff Writer

The East Middle School Band, under the direction of Mr. Nicholas Moore, will present its spring concert  6:30 p.m. Monday, May 16, in the school auditorium.

Band members are listed below:

Justin Armstrong, Julia Ayala, Cameron Bailey, Dakoda Ballard, Tanner Bartholomew, Whitney Bass, Adrianna Bland, Evan Blue, Alonzo Byers, Reed Campbell, Elizabeth Carney, Harry Carpenter, Darin Clark, Trevor Conrad, Zach Consier, Mckinsey Cottle, Shana Cover, Ethan Crider, Ailan Eldred, Sevrin Eldred, Zack Figueroa, Delshaun Garth, Alex Garton, Chris Geier, Anthony Grubb, Tess Harmon, Amy Hembree, Dalton Hill, Tristen Howell, Hannah Huffman, Kayla Johnson, Cannon Jones, Blake Lewis, Maddie Martin, Christian Owens, Ashton Parker, Toku Platt, Devin Puckett, Austin Reynolds, Tyauna Robinson, Valerie Royer, Jennifer Schulze, Alexis Shields, Jakob Simrell, Austen Still, Steven Townsend, Tyler Viles, Erica Ward, Alec Welch, Hannah West, Adam White, Jimmy Willerton, Denton Williams

Searching for Mrs. Frencken

By VALERIE ROYER and
WHITNEY BASS
Staff Writers

Eighth grade reporters Whitney Bass and Valerie Royer's spirits were shot down by the discouraging words of two anonoious teachers. Whith the simple question "Do you know where Mr. Frencken is?" our spirits were crushed.

Crushed by the smashing words, "She's in her room and you shouldn't bother her! She obviously doesn't want you to talk to her if the lights are off and the door is locked." (Or she could simply be somewhere else.) Those words sunk into our hearts like a stone in a pond.

The interview will just have to wait. Where could Ms. Frencken be?

(Interview to be completed at a later date)

Quiz Bowl to compete in Battle of the Brains

By JONAH ELLMAN
Staff Writer


    During the five competitions that the Quiz Bowl team participated in, they were against kids their same age, fire against fire.

    But on May 19, we’ll see how they perform against adults!  Yes, finally, Quiz Bowl might actually be outnumbered!

    This competition will be held at East, so anybody can come to this brawl.  This will consist of seven different teams, three of which have already had Quiz Bowl experience.  6th, 7th, and 8th graders will all be separated to different teams, while the other four teams have Alumni Quiz Bowl members (high-schoolers that joined Quiz Bowl in middle school), parents, business partners (those of which help sponsor the school), and teachers from East.

    Several rounds will be run, pairing different groups of two teams, until all but one team is eliminated. 

    The winning team will be given the Nobel East Prize, a trophy meant for a winner.

EMS Student Council announced for 2011-2012

The following students have been elected to the East Middle School Student Council for the 2011-2012 school year:

 Eighth Grade- Jennifer Nguyen, Tyler Viles, Shelby Welton, Amy Koch, Ethan Holz, Megan Hickey, Cara Marshall, Jimmy Willerton

Seventh Grade- Taylor Robinson, Ashlynn Griffberg, Amy Walser, Kendra Sparrow, Lydia Routledge, Annie Le, Bridget Ingham

EMS students offer President Obama opinions on standardized testing

After hearing President Barack Obama tell those attending a town hall meeting that he thought students are taking too many standardized tests, students in Mr. Randy Turner's eighth grade communication classes wrote letters to the president telling them how they felt about the topic.

The students selected the following 21 letters to be sent to the president:

Julia Ayala, Dakoda Ballard, Alec Welch, Jaxon Santiel, Alex Capehart, Evan Blue, Alex Nguyen, Zhenjia Yuan, Mari Santillan, Trevor Conrad, Bethany Martin, Alyvia Warstler, Ronnie Herron, Melissa Danner, Taylor Corp, Paige Earl, Trace Neidholdt, Duane Carpenter, Denton Williams, Tess Harmon, and Rylee Hartwell

Talent show applications available

Applications for the annual East Middle School Talent Show are available in the office.

They must be returned not later than Friday, April 29. A copy of all lyrics must accompany the applications.

The talent show will be held the last day of school.

Student Council elected for 2011-2012 school year

East Middle School and ninth grade Student Council members were elected last week.

For ninth grade- Jessica Crabb, Paige Earl, Rylee Hartwell

For eighth grade- Jennifer Nguyen, Tyler Viles, Shelby Welton, Amy Koch, Ethan Holz, Megan Hickey, Cara Marshall, Jimmy Willerton

For seventh grade- Taylor Robinson, Ashlynn Griffberg, Amy Walser, Kendra Sparrow, Lydia Routledge, Annie Le, Bridget Ingham

MAP testing concludes today

The annual MAP (Missouri Assessment Program) tests conclude today with eighth graders taking science exams.

Sixth and seventh graders, who do not take the science test, finished last week, when testing was held Tuesday, Wedndesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Quiz Bowl ends most successful year ever in Academic Challenge

The East Middle School Quiz Bowl team ended the traveling Academic Challenge competition earlier this month, with Team 2 tying for third place with a 6-3 record and Team One finishing 5-4.

The last competition was in the humanities, following earlier competitions in math, social studies, science, and communication arts.

Team 2, led by Captain Evan Blue and Tess Harper, finished in fourth place out of 10 teams for the entire year. During the humanities competition at Carl Junction, Harmon answered 20 questions correctly, with Blue answering 19.

Team 1 was led by Captain Rylee Hartwell, who answered 19 questions correctly.

The teams will be involved in a Quiz Bowl Spectacular May 19, which will feature teams consisting of sixth graders, seventh graders, eighth graders, parents, faculty members, and high school students who were involved in Quiz Bowl when they were in middle school.

East Middle School Band receives 1 rating at festival

The East Middle School band under the direction of Nicholas Moore, received a 1 rating at the Nevada High School Music Festival Saturday.

An interview with Mrs. Linda Weaver, Golden Eagle winner

In the accompanying video, seventh grade reading teacher Mrs. Linda Weaver, one of two Golden Eagle winners, (the other was Ms. Lara Stamper) is interviewed by Bonnie Ardrey and Annie Suskey:

Are You Smarter than a Map Tester continues

More candid shots from Alexis Gifford and Annie Suskey at the third annual Are You Smarter than a Map Tester at East Middle School:

Live blogging Are You Smarter than a Map Tester

 By ALEXIS GIFFORD and
ANNIE SUSKEY

East Middle School Roundabout co-editor Alexis Gifford and staff writer Annie Suskey will be providing live coverage tonight during the third annual Are You Smarter Than a MAP Tester.

The meal has finished and students are playing games. Parents are meeting in the library and will be taking the type of tests our students will be taking beginning April 12.

Faculty awards Golden Eagles to Mrs Weaver, Ms. Stamper

Two veteran East Middle School teachers, seventh grade reading instructor Mrs. Linda Weaver and drama and science teacher Ms. Lara Stamper were named 2011 recipients of the prestigious Golden Eagle awards this week.

The honor, which is presented to two teachers each year, is voted on by the entire faculty.

Annual Book Fair is a success

Assembly promotes Are You Smarter Than a MAP tester

By JESSICA CRABB
Staff Photographer
East Middle School students were treated to all kinds of spaghetti during an assembly Monday to promote tonight's Are You Smarter than a Map Tester activity.

Mrs. Linda Weaver, Mrs. Clara Ervin and Mr Jarrett Cook entertained the assembly with a skit.

Coverage from Are You Smarter than a Map Tester will be posted later on East Middle School Roundabout.

East Middle School Site Council formed

The first meeting of the newly-formed East Middle School Site Council was held Thursday night in the library.

The Council, which features a combination of parents, school employees and East's Bright Futures business partners, will be involved in a number of activities including tutoring, mentoring, helping with school activities, and providing leadership, fundraising, speakers, and anything else that will help improve the education and lives of the children who attend East Middle School

The meeting, which was attended by more than 50 people, began with an introduction by principal Mr. Bud Sexson, and included a brainstorming session, in which ideas to help get the Site Council off to a successful start were shared.

The Site Council will meet the first Monday that school is in session each month.

Encore classes discuss censorship

Each week, Encore classes at East Middle School discuss a different issue as part of the Word Generation program. This week, the issue was book banning and censorship In the accompanying video, students in Coach Kasey Pliler's eighth grade class debate the topic, ranging into areas such as the dress code, enlarging the topic to things that adults will not let children do. (Video by Jessica Crabb)

EMS Roundabout interview: Rylee Hartwell and the East Middle School Dispatch

In this interview, East Middle School Roundabout Staff Writer/Photographer Jessica Crabb interviews eighth grader Rylee Hartwell about the school newspaper he started, the East Middle School Dispatch:

Mrs. Simmons' class does reports on foreign countries

By JORDAN JENSEN
Staff Writer

Mrs. Lisa Simmons'sixth grade social studies class is taking a trip around the world today, through the courtesy of the internet.

The students have been in the computer lab for the past couple of days, doing research and reports on foreign countries.

Beast comes out on top in second annual Dodgeball Tournament

The Beast from East clawed its way to the top during the second annual East Middle School Dodgeball Tournament Feb. 18.

Beast, Laffy Taffy Crew, Ghetto Smurfs,and Pretty Girl Swag were the top four teams and will compete in the citywide tournament in May.

)From left, Jace Braker, Zac Figueroa, Jamie Rhoades, Delshaun Garth, Tamerik Branham, and Corey Ball)

Now playing in Mrs. Weaver's classroom: The Outsiders

By ALEXIS GIFFORD
Staff Writer
A fond tradition at East Middle School, and before that at the old South Middle School, continued today as students in Mrs. Linda Weaver's seventh grade reading class celebrated their reading of S. E. Hinton's classic, The Outsiders.

The students read the book, which is set in the 1950s and dress like one of the characters. A group picture of students in all of Mrs. Weaver's classes who participated today will be posted later at the East Middle School Roundabout.

(Photo: Mrs. Weaver's second hour class)

Spelling bee rescheduled

The sixth grade spelling bee, postponed due to weather, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 22, after school.

Parents can pick up their children at 4;15.

For more information, see Mrs. Nina English.

Tryouts held for Disney's "The Aristocats"

Tryouts for the first East Middle School musical production, "Disney's The Aristocats" were held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, after being postponed for two weeks due to weather conditions.

East Middle School Roundabout will print the cast list when it is available.

Neugebauer explains end-of-course exams

Tryouts for Disney's "The Aristocats" begin today

By VALERIE ROYER

Editor

Tryouts for the first East Middle School musical, "Disney's The Aristocats" begin today after school in the auditorium and will be held each day this week.

Seventh grade boys basketball sweeps Seneca

The seventh grade boys basketball teams defeated Seneca Tuesday night.

The B team won 59-10, led by Donovan Graham with 10 points, followed by Keenan Robinson 8, Dante Figueroa 8, and Justin Armstrong 6.

The A team rolled to a 51-25 victory led by Zach Hall with 17 points and Natal Bay with 13.

The team will conclude its season at home next Tuesday night.

Auditions for "Aristocats' scheduled

Auditions for the East Middle School production of the musical "Disney's The Aristocats" will be held after school (3:45 to 5 p.m.) Monday, January 31, through Friday, February 4, in the auditorium.

The EMS Roundabout interview with director Ms. Lara Stamper will be featured soon on this website.

Dodgeball tournament set for Feb. 18

The second annual East Middle School Dodgeball Tournament is set for Friday, Feb. 18, in the gymnasium.

Six people make up a team. The cost is just $30 per team or $5 per individual to play. The top four teams advance to the finals.

Those interested should contact Coach Kasey Pliler.

Eighth Grade A team beats Seneca 42-35

Antuan Jackson led a balanced scoring attack with 10 points as the East Middle School eighth grade basketball team defeated Seneca 42-35 Tuesday night.

The Eagles led by only two points, 14-12, at the end of the first quarter, but increased the advantage to 20-13 at halftime, and 32-24 after three quarters.

Others scoring for East were Jace Braker 8, Tamerik Branham 7, DeVaughn Simmons 7, Delshaun Garth 6, and Cameron Ball and Cory Ball with two points apiece.

Final scoring given for East 8th Grade B win

Final scoring for the eighth grade B game for Joplin East was

Jacob Crane 18
Zac Figueroa 13
Tyler Parker 6
Cory Ball 5
Cameron Ball 4
Harrison Marshall 2

Final score in eighth grade B game- 48-13

The eighth grade B team just polished off Seneca 48-13. We will have complete scoring for the game in a few moments.

Seventh grade up 45-6 after three quarters

The seventh grade has pulled out to a 39-point lead, 45-6, after three quarters.

Eighth grade is up 33-9.

Sariya Jones is standing in front of me

Sariya Jones is standing in front of me. She just moved.

Eighth grade leads 29-6 at halftime

Eighth grade leads 29-6 at halftime. Third quarter will start will start in another minute and a half.

Seventh grade leads 37-6 at halfitme

The seventh grade team has taken a 37-6 lead at halftime over Seneca. Vidoes of the game will be posted soon.

Eighth grade leads 17-2

East has taken a 17-2 lead at the end of the first quarter and started the second quarter with a bang, scoring the first three points.

The B games are starting

The team is in the final huddle before tipoff of the eighth grade B game with Seneca.

Starters for East are Jacob Crane, Tyler Parker, Ethan Crider, Zac Figueroa, and Cory Ball.

A free throw gives Seneca the initial lead 1-0. Cory Ball gave East its first lead with a two pointer. After a defensive rebond, Figueroa hit a two-pointer, followed by a steal and layup by Figueroa.
East leads 6-1.

Live blogging begins for East-Seneca basketball game

The EMS Journalism Club is live-blogging tonight's boys basketball games with Seneca. The B game will begin in about 10 minutes.

We will have live stories, updates, videos, and photos, as well as interviews and stories about some non-basketball stories that are happening at East.

Pep rally held for winter sports

By ALEXIS GIFFORD,  JORDAN JENSEN,
and JESSICA CRABB
EMS Roundabout Staff

Athletes who participated in the boys basketball, girls basketball, and wrestling programs were honored during a pep rally seventh hour Friday.

After an introduction from Principal Mr. Bud Sexson, the program featured performances by the seventh grade cheerleaders, eighth grade cheerleaders, and flag squad.

The pep rally concluded with the traditional awarding of the spirit stick. Those cheering the loudest and receiving the spirit stick were the eighth graders.

Photos will be posted shortly.