Annual Peer Tutor Picnic held May 16

Photos by SARAH KESSLER
Room 210 Editor (with a little help)

Talent show set for last day of school

By MARY JEAN MILLER
Room 210 Staff Writer
Auditions for South Middle School's annual last-day-of-school Talent Show were held recently. The talents are scattered in between various awards, shows, and goodbyes. Many try out for the Talent Show, and this yearʼs acts and participants are as follows:
Elvis and Priscilla
Southside
Annie
Adam Schilling
Merisha Alderman
Christina Gates
Gil Randolph
Tozia Burris
Sarah Matthews
Ervinʼs TA

Dress Rehearsals are:
May 20, 3:10-4:50
May 22, 3:10-4:50
May 27, 3:10-4:50

(Christina Gates sings, Mr. Rocky Biggers helps eighth grader Adam Schilling with his act; Nichole Yeoman, Holly O'Dell, and Lauren Layne practice their dance routine. Photos by Alex Kangethe and Mr. Turner)

SMS cheerleaders selected for 2008-2009

By MARY JEAN MILLER
Room 210 Staff Writer

As you all probably know, the South Cheerleader Tryouts occurred recently. Congratulations to the girls that tried out. It takes a lot of courage to learn a cheer and a chant in just 3 days, and then perform it in front of many judges in the auditorium by yourself. I would know. Good job girls.

8th Grade
Torri Ackerson
Victoria Backer
Lexi Brown
Allison Hankins
Elisha Mansour
Jamilet Mendez
Thea Voutiritsas
Elaina Warren
Ashley Wescoat
Alexis Woods
Emily Yarbrough

7th Grade
Heather Copeland
Katie Earll
Jordyn Ganes
Kaci Gowen
Bailey Hale
Aleecia Hardin
Stormi Potts
Kahla Quinn
Marti Westfall
Adison Wright

South girls prepare for cheerleading tryouts

By ALEX KANGETHE
Room 210 Staff Writer

Practice for South Middle School Cheerleading squads are being held in the South Middle School gymnasium and cafeteria. 6th and 7th graders are practicing for May 9th, which is the night of the tryouts, which begin right after school.

Eighth graders tour high school

By SARAH KESSLER
Room 210 Editor

South Middle School eighth graders visited Joplin High School today, receiving an opportunity to tour the school where most of them will be attending during the 2009-2009 school year.

The visit began with lunch in the cafeteria, followed by a performance from the High School Jazz Band in the auditorium, and a tour guided by Student Council members.

(Pictured: The Jazz Band performs, Freshman Principal Joe Boyd speaks to South's eighth graders. The bus prepares to leave. Photos by Sarah Kessler)

SMS Band holds spring concert

The South Middle School Band Spring Concert was held tonight in the school auditorium.
The program began with three numbers from the Jazz Band, followed by four by the Beginning Band, and concluded with four from the Concert Band.

Jazz Band members are:

Saxophones- Tyler Terry, Cheyenne Howard
Trumpets- Sarah Kessler, Luke Lenhart, Calvin Alumbaugh, Jeff Terry, Drew Welch
Trombones- Corey Hounschell, Gabby Londe
Rhythm- Gil Randolph, Gareth Evans, Emilee Wills

Beginning Band members are:

Flutes- Elisabeth Heimberg, Tianna McCarthy,
Saxophones- Mac Owen, Eric Spicer
French Horn- December Hedge
Percussion- Mason Atwood, Victoria Baker, Eric Banfield, Tyler Price, David Reed
Clarinets- Shelly Carrier, Heather Cowan, Summer Dean, Lauren Leibee, Tori Thompson, Kylee Tipton
Trumpets- Dylan Castillo, Gavin DePaul, Kyle Gradwohl, Courtney Huggins, Nick McKay
Trombones- Aaron Dunaway, Tyler Dye, Preston Miller


Concert Band members are:

Flutes- Molly Baker, Abby Bass, Amber Chacon, Jessica Kennedy, LynnLee Shepherd
Alto Sax- Callum Eldred, Bryan Ross, Alex Vaughn
French Horn- Jeff Terry
Percussion- Dylan Caldwell, Zach Hibbard, Hunter Mills, Damien Mitchell, Billy Nguyen, Blake Putnam, Gil Randolph, Dalton Smith, Axle Vene, Ethan Warstler, Emilee Wills
Clarinets- Brittany Frisbie, Aron Hembree, Kylie Lewsader, Austin Mallory, Michael Oyler, Trey Randolph
Trumpets- Calvin Alumbaugh, Nathan Cox, Gareth Evans, Sarah Kessler, Luke Lenhart, Spencer Peterson, Orion Quintana, Brett Stearnes, Kyle Vene
Baritone- Nathan Baker, Drew Welch
Trombones- Geoff Aiken, J. J. Buxton, Dakota Reasoner, Desean Triplett, Dillon Warlaumont

Former SMS students shine in high school musical

Former South Middle School students shined during performances of the Joplin High School musical "Little Shop of Horrors" held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights in the T. Frank Coulter Auditorium.

The cast included former SMSer Hunter Dowell in the lead role of Seymour. Other SMS alumni included Skye Smith, Kaycie Trumbore, Becca Mascher, Mollie Sanders, Serena Bannasch, Zach Bradley, and Nikki Burkett.

Other SMS alumni involved in the production included Chase Neely, Lauren Bynum, Mariah Hibbard, Fox Navarre, Ashlee Stephens, Mary White, and Lainie Nicolas.

A special day for special athletes

By SARAH KESSLER
Room 210 Editor
"A race is on the way... please clear the track!!" The stadium speakers blared over the field for everyone to hear. When I heard these words, I directed my gaze over the field to the starting line where three athletes stood, crouched in a starting position. The gun sounded and they were off, running like the wind, at least two of them were. The third was running, but not like the wind. I felt compassion for the little boy who was lagging behind, but I also felt respect. Even though this athlete at the 2008 Special Olympics wasn't winning, he just kept going, running as fast as he could down the track.

Seeing this boy's perseverance made me realize how honorable people with mental disabilities really are. Even when all the odds are against them, they just keep going. They keep going until they reach the end. Despite the ridicule they face from their peers and the doubt they receive from the world, they never quit. Whether it's reaching the finish line in a race, or reaching high school graduation, these kids will persevere. No matter how much better we think our minds are, we can all learn a lesson or two from kids with mental disabilities.

In the past two years at South Middle School, I have had the amazing opportunity to be a peer tutor. Through this experience, I have really gotten to know some to the kids in the special needs class at my school, and I never cease to be amazed at how strong those kids are. I don't just mean physically strong, but strong in character and in heart.

Kids with Down's Syndrome and other similar disabilities are made fun of on a daily basis, yet they hold their heads high and continue to be some of the nicest kids in school. I can't even imagine how hard these kids work just to learn things like how to spell their name and how to count to ten. They have my respect for their amazing work, kindness, and perseverance.

The athlete finally crossed the finish line and the crowd went crazy! From my seat in the bleachers, I could see the boy smiling as the crowd applauded him. I smiled too. He had finished the race, and even though he didn't cross the finish line first, he was a winner.

Sixth grade honor roll students enjoy field trip

By TARYN PARKER
Room 210 Staff Writer
The sixth grader honor roll students ate at the Northpark Mall. After, the students ate they went to Rangeline Miniature Golf. Sixth grade honor roll is where students who achieved either an a or B get to skip 3 hours of an school day to go on a fieldtrip.

The following students are qualified for honor roll:

Tiffanie Alexander, Desirae Anaya, Mason Atwood, Trinity Bennett, Joceline Bogarin, Kenneth Braun, Alexander Bryant, Meagan Camden, Preston Carpenter, Kasen Chew, Damian Cochran, India Coleman, Heather Copeland, Drew Cox, Leigh Ann Craig, Khristopher Dailey, Gavin DePaul, Shelbie DeWitt, Abigail Dial, Aaron Dunaway, Katelyn Earl, Bain Edens, Sammatha Eshom, Oswaldo Gomez, Kenny Gonzalez, Kaci Gowen, Khaled Graham, Lane Grimes, Bailey Hale, Chase Hall, Erica Handy, Aleecia Hardin, Cayley Hardison, Haleigh Hawkins, December Hedge, Sarah Heimberg, Chandlar Hendrix, Stesha Hiebert, Wesley Hooks, Courtney Huggins, Colton Johnson, Keaton Jones, Bradley Kennedy, Spencer Layne, Jessica Little, Joanna Lopez, Amanda Marvin, Chanci McGowen, Nicholas McKay, Bethany Meehl, Emily Merritt, Robert Metsker, Preston Miller, Jacie Mitchell, Morgan Osburn, Alexandra Oviedo, Austin Oxford, Taryn Parker, Hailee Peek, Amara Pendergraft, Alivia Plassman, Stormi Potts, Gannon Purdy, Cole Putney, Kahla Quinn, Luke Randolph, Kymbre Resler, Amanda Schilling, Keyna Schmidt, MacKenzie Shamblin, Marissa Shofner, Scott Simmons, Eric Spicer, Devon Stahl, Shaffer Stevens, Christian Still, Alexander Tanner, Stephen Tatum, Ashley Taylor, Cheyenne Thomason, Kylee Tipton, Kristen Tyler, Zachary VanLoon, Michael VanSlyke, Georgina Velazquez, Brooklyn Vickers, Nicole Walker, Trevor Walker, Lesley Wallace, Megan Walls, Rebekah Walters, Robert Walters, Alexia Westfall, Caleb Willis, Dayza Winters

Seventh grade honor roll field trip held today

By ELAINA WARREN
Room 210 Staff Writer

The seventh grade honor roll field trip held today at Range Line Miniature Golf. The Students ate at Northpark Mall.

Those who qulifed for the trip were:
Torri Ackerson, Calvin Alumbaugh, Dalton Anderson, Jodi Anderson, Victoria Baker, Sierra Bartholomew, Abigail Bass, Eric Bauersfield, Lisa Bromley, Charlee Brown, Casey Burkhart, Austin Burns, Elmer Byrd, Joseph Capehart, Chelsea Clevenger, Alex Cole, Ronald Darby, Aaron Daum, Shaney Delzell, Danielle Doerr, Karissa Dowell, Caroline Dutton, Preston Eafrati, Callum Eldred, Wesley Estes, Judith Fausto, Caleb Garton, Danielle Gideon, Kelsey Gould, Tera Hall, Olivia Hampton, Allison Hankins, Hannah Hare, Shanice Hazley, Elisabeth Heimberg, Alex Hill, Esteban Hinijosa, Kevin Justus, Brandon Laub, Nicholas Laub, Kylie Lewsader, Hunter Mills, Damon Monasco, Alexander Musgrave, Hailey Oxford, Spencer Peterson, Devin Plassman, Thomas Richins, Alexandra Ritter, Bryson Sexton, Victoria Thompson, Theodora Voutiritsas, Elaina Warren, Ethan Warstler, Andrew Welch, Ashley Wescoat, Allison White, Storm Whittington, Alexis Woods, Emily Yarbrough

MacKenszee Roberts to attend Scholars Academy

Joplin High School sophomore Mackenszee Roberts, a former South Middle School student, has been selected to attend the annual Missouri Scholars Academy in Columbia. The following news release was issued by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education:

Three hundred and thirty gifted students from public and private high schools across the state have been selected to attend the 2008 Missouri Scholars Academy which will be held June 8-28 at the University of Missouri campus.

Established in 1985, the Scholars Academy is a unique and concentrated “summer school” for academically gifted rising juniors. Every public and private high school in Missouri may nominate at least one student for the annual state-funded program.

The Scholars Academy is sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, with support from the University of Missouri which has hosted the academy every year since its inception. Scholars live in university dorms for the duration of the academy.

Participants in the Scholars Academy do not earn grades or academic credit. They select one academic subject in math, science, social studies or the humanities as their “major” topic of study at the academy. The program also features a rich variety of lectures, workshops and guest speakers.

This year, students may choose courses that focus on architecture, religion, the Middle East, Japanese language and culture, marine biology, leadership skills, understanding modern art, understanding Socrates, and many others.

Third quarter honor roll released

Students making the third quarter honor roll at South Middle School are:

Eighth Grade- Spencer Abts, Molly Baker, Jonathan Ballard, Kirsti Banning, Lindsey Beall, Joseph Bennett, Emylee Brown, Sara Buck, Tozia Burress, Taylor Camden, Jordan Chambers, Marcus Clark, Cecil Cornish, Natasha Coursey, Matthew Cruzan, Brittney DeMasters, Breanne Diles, Derek Dillon, Gareth Evans, Taylor Fetterman, Brittany Frisbie, Devyn Hale, Dustin Hall, Gage Haskew, Jeffrey Haynes, Aron Hembree, Zach Hibbard, Icesus Holland, Brandon Holman, Amie Howard, Rebecca Huff, Josefina Irrizary, Joselyn Irrizary, Jacob Johnson, Amanda Jones, Alex Kangethe, Alex Karns, Sarah Kessler, Tera Knight, Allie Lacey, Blake Lamb, Lauren Layne, Sydney Long, Thomas Loucks, Hunter Lynn, Jacob Lyons, Wade Mathis, Candace McGillvray, Nicholas McIntosh, Ian McPherson, Mary Jean Miller, Brittany Mitchell, Ian Mitchell, Victoria Mitchell, Ann Nguyen, Billy Nguyen, Holly O'Dell, Olivyah Parker, Andrew Perry, Sarah Phillips, Chloe Potts, Justice Pulliam, Shalea Purdy, Blake Putnam, Gilbert Randolph, Bryan Ross, Joshua Ruiz, McKinzy Sadler, Mariah Sanders, Adam Schilling, Daniel Scott, Beau Scroggins, Adrienne Self, Unyajit Sirichok, Candace Smith, Adam Snearly, Shawn Spicer, Brett Stearnes, Bayley Strella, Nathan Stripling, Raven Taylor, Jeffrey Terry, Raycee Thompson, Christian Underwood, Brittany Utley, Greg VanLoon, Kyle Vene, Jamie Walters, Hannah Ward, Casee Wheeler, Nichole Yeoman

Seventh Grade- Torri Ackerson, Calvin Alumbaugh, Dalton Anderson, Jodi Anderson, Victoria Baker, Sierra Bartholomew, Abigail Bass, Eric Bauersfield, Lisa Bromley, Charlee Brown, Casey Burkhart, Austin Burns, Elmer Byrd, Joseph Capehart, Chelsea Clevenger, Alex Cole, Ronald Darby, Aaron Daum, Shaney Delzell, Danielle Doerr, Karissa Dowell, Caroline Dutton, Preston Eafrati, Callum Eldred, Wesley Estes, Judith Fausto, Caleb Garton, Danielle Gideon, Kelsey Gould, Tera Hall, Olivia Hampton, Allison Hankins, Hannah Hare, Shanice Hazley, Elisabeth Heimberg, Alex Hill, Esteban Hinijosa, Kevin Justus, Brandon Laub, Nicholas Laub, Kylie Lewsader, Hunter Mills, Damon Monasco, Alexander Musgrave, Hailey Oxford, Spencer Peterson, Devin Plassman, Thomas Richins, Alexandra Ritter, Bryson Sexton, Victoria Thompson, Theodora Voutiritsas, Elaina Warren, Ethan Warstler, Andrew Welch, Ashley Wescoat, Allison White, Storm Whittington, Alexis Woods, Emily Yarbrough

Sixth Grade- Tiffanie Alexander, Desirae Anaya, Mason Atwood, Trinity Bennett, Joceline Bogarin, Kenneth Braun, Alexander Bryant, Meagan Camden, Preston Carpenter, Kasen Chew, Damian Cochran, India Coleman, Heather Copeland, Drew Cox, Leigh Ann Craig, Khristopher Dailey, Gavin DePaul, Shelbie DeWitt, Abigail Dial, Aaron Dunaway, Katelyn Earl, Bain Edens, Sammatha Eshom, Oswaldo Gomez, Kenny Gonzalez, Kaci Gowen, Khaled Graham, Lane Grimes, Bailey Hale, Chase Hall, Erica Handy, Aleecia Hardin, Cayley Hardison, Haleigh Hawkins, December Hedge, Sarah Heimberg, Chandlar Hendrix, Stesha Hiebert, Wesley Hooks, Courtney Huggins, Colton Johnson, Keaton Jones, Bradley Kennedy, Spencer Layne, Jessica Little, Joanna Lopez, Amanda Marvin, Chanci McGowen, Nicholas McKay, Bethany Meehl, Emily Merritt, Robert Metsker, Preston Miller, Jacie Mitchell, Morgan Osburn, Alexandra Oviedo, Austin Oxford, Taryn Parker, Hailee Peek, Amara Pendergraft, Alivia Plassman, Stormi Potts, Gannon Purdy, Cole Putney, Kahla Quinn, Luke Randolph, Kymbre Resler, Amanda Schilling, Keyna Schmidt, MacKenzie Shamblin, Marissa Shofner, Scott Simmons, Eric Spicer, Devon Stahl, Shaffer Stevens, Christian Still, Alexander Tanner, Stephen Tatum, Ashley Taylor, Cheyenne Thomason, Kylee Tipton, Kristen Tyler, Zachary VanLoon, Michael VanSlyke, Georgina Velazquez, Brooklyn Vickers, Nicole Walker, Trevor Walker, Lesley Wallace, Megan Walls, Rebekah Walters, Robert Walters, Alexia Westfall, Caleb Willis, Dayza Winters

Final exams set in algebra

By RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 News Editor
On May 6, all eighth grade advanced math students will start taking the final exam for algebra, (the exam will last for about 2 class periods). The final exam for algebra is a test over everything the students have covered over the year. Mr. Brian Neugebauer, teacher, compared the exam to the MAP, except this test will cover what the advanced math students have been covering, because it was made for algebra students, not eighth grade math students.

The government recently decided that since algebra is a high school class middle schoolers taking algebra should be held to the same responsibilities of covering the material and knowing it. From here on out, if this works well with this year's students, all algebra students in middle school will be required to take the final exam for algebra.

This year, the exam will count for 15 percent of the eighth grade algebra students' grade for fourth quarter. Next year, the exam will count for 25 percent of the eighth grade algebra students' grade for fourth quarter. Whether a student does well on the exam or not will not affect his or her placement for next year, but this test will help teachers see if a student may need to retake the class again. This test now helps parents and teachers have a better idea of where a student should be, Mr. Neugebauer said.

Groundbreaking held for new South Middle School

By TARYN PARKER
Room 210 Staff Writer

Imagine yourself walking into the new South Middle School. Well, that vision
will soon become reality because in 2009 the South Middle School will be finished.
The groundbreaking, which was held March 27, was not just breaking ground, there is a lot more to it. Mr. Ron Mitchell, South Middle School principal, attended the groundbreaking ceremony.
"A lot of people went there," Mr. Mitchell said. "There was the superintendent, architects, R. E. Smith (the contractor), and the principals of all the district. Everybody had gold shovels who were doing the groundbreaking. They didn't really have to dig into the ground. R. E. Smith already dug up some dirt."

Dr. Jim Simpson, superintendent, Mr. Mitchell, the boss of R. E. Smith, and a school board member spoke at the groundbreaking. Mr. Mitchell is excited about the new
South because the rooms are going to be bigger, there is not going to be a
gravel playground anymore, and students will have a new school because the old
South is 87 years old and not very safe.

"It was built to last a long time, but we need more room." All the teachers at South and some new teachers are going to teach at the new South, Mr. Mitchell said.

Students from Cecil Floyd, Stapleton, and Irving will go to the new South Middle school.

(Joplin R-8 School District photos)

New Joplin R-8 superintendent hired

(From the Joplin R-8 School District website)

The Joplin Board of Education has named Dr. C.J. Huff as the new Superintendent of Joplin Schools. The selection follows a comprehensive search by the Missouri School Boards' Association, interviews of several top applicants, and a unanimous vote by Joplin's Board of Education. Dr. Huff will begin leading the district on July 1, 2008.

Dr. Huff is currently the Superintendent for Eldon R-I School District in Eldon, Missouri, where he has served for four years. He began his career as a third grade teacher in Pleasanton, Kansas, and began his administrative responsibilities as an assistant principal in Bolivar, Missouri. He is now completing his tenth year in school administration.

Dr. Huff received his Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University, his Masters and Specialist Degree from Missouri State University, and his Doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Kessler, Strella tops among eighth grade science fair contestants

By ALEX KANGETHE
Room 210 Staff Writer
The 8th grade winners for this year's science fair project were Sarah Kessler and Bayley Strella, both of Mr. Wallace's class.
Sarah Kessler's experiment was about the refraction of water with and without sugar. " First, I mixed up several water/sugar solutions and then I measured the differences of the index of refraction when a laser light was shone through a prism holding the solutions. I discovered that the more sugar there is dissolved in a liquid, the more the light refracts," Sarah said.
Sarah thought of this idea from an online site and her love for science, she said. Her favorite branch of science is physics. Sarah said, " No matter how complicated your science fair experiment is, you can always ace your project because it's all about presentation in a very scientific way.

Bayley Strella's experiment was about what diet affects earthworms' growth. It was eggshells and coffee grounds. She found the idea for this in a book. The experiment took about five weeks and she did so by taking a clear container and putting it next to a glass door so that they could receive sunlight.

Freshman cheerleaders selected

By MARY JEAN MILLER
Room 210 Staff Writer
Freshmen. In high school. To the 8th graders, this is a big step. But there are some who like to go higher than just the title of Freshman.
Some of these people are Sara Buck, Taylor Camden, Emylee Brown, Candace McGillvray, and Mary Jean Miller. These are the names of the new freshman cheerleaders at Joplin High School. Out of 25 girls, only 16 made it. Congratulations to the new Freshman Cheerleading Squad!