Link provided to KSN coverage of Reading Assembly

KSN provided the following link to its coverage this morning of last Friday's East Middle School Reading Assembly.

Keeping in shape for teaching school

Many East Middle School teachers, including seventh grade communication arts teacher Mrs. Angel Mense and seventh grade math teacher Miss Areke Worku, work out after school to keep in shape to deal with teenagers every day.

EMS students provide more than $1,500 worth of toys to poor children

By DREW COX
Staff Writer
Using proceeds from Penny Wars, running a concession stand and other fundraisers East Middle School students bought more than $1,500 worth of toys to give to needy children. The toys were turned over to the Joplin Fire Department, which will handle the distribution.

Student Council members bought the toys Friday afternoon and they were displayed during an assembly seventh hour Friday in the EMS Auditorium.

Mr Mitchell, Coach Pliler don pink dresses as students reach reading goal

By LAELA ZAIDI and
CELESTE GRAVES
Staff Writers
East Middle School students had a rare sight Friday as Principal Ron Mitchell and Coach Kasey Pliler wore pink dresses during a seventh hour assembly.

The pink dresses were a reward to East students who read more than 1,600 books during a six-week period, shattering the goal of 1,200.

The promotion was sponsored by the EMS Reading Department, under the direction of Mrs. Linda Weaver.

Phillip MItchell, a former South Middle School student and host of KSN's Hometown Today, served as the host of the ceremony. Video will be shown during his show Monday from 5:30 to 7 a.m.

Auditorium packed for first EMS Winter Concert

Few seats were available Thursday night when East Middle School vocal groups under the direction of Ms. Julie Yonkers performed their first winter concert.

The concert choir opened with eight songs, including solos by Khristopher Dailey, Riley Ingram, Megan Jacobs, and Jordan Jensen.

The sixth grade choir performed five numbers with a solo from Annie Strickling.

The evening concluded with two numbers from the JEMS (Joplin East Middle School) Show Choir.

Sixth Grade Choir- Faith Allen, Triston Armer, Meggi Augostofsky, Jaylon Baert, Maggie Baker, Megan Belnap, Anna Blue, Kayla Brockitt, Brittany Buerge, Rachael Burns, Breanna Caldwell, Haley Cottrill, Ethan Fannan, Daykota Feezell, Mason Finnell, Abby Garcia, Bailey Gardner, Dakota Gray, Willshanique Griffen, Abbi Hendrix, Ashley Hicks, Ethan Holz, Destiny Horine, Kylie Howerton, Caitlyn Hubbard, Jordan Huggins, Alize' Iverson, Jarrod Jones, Ashley King, Nathan Kunce, Janet Lopez, Addison McAnally, Kaley Moser, Adrienne Myers, Renee Oviedo, Gary Patrick, April Pickett, Toby Profitt, Faith Reynolds, David Riker, Miranda Sanders, Taelor Stone, Amelia Street, Annie Strickling, Jamie Sullivan, Misha Tankersley, Marcus Taylor, Johanna Tiger, Karly Weber, Alyssa Wescoat, Logan Whitehead, Adam Whittington.

Concert Choir- Tiffanie Allender, Dezi Anaya, Conner Barnett, Joceline Bogarin, Savannah Burke, Alex Capehart, Deanna Cole, India Coleman, Shana Cover, Kaylah Dailey, Khristopher Dailey, Abby Dial, Michael Dietz, Lynsey Fitchtner, William Fuqua, Jordyn Ganes, Alexis Gifford, Kaci Gowen, Ashlie Green, Aleah Hardee, Cayley Hardison, Sarah Heimberg, Stesha Hiebert, Nicole Howe, Riley Ingram, Megan Jacobs, Jordan Jennings, Jordan Jensen, Matthew Jones, Tieshia Jones, Alicia Jordan, Kelly Jordan, Samantha Kliem, Jawni Lemmons, Joanna Lopez, Jamie Lovell, Hope Marbut, Ashley Mansour, Bethany Martin, Sadie McCash, Emily Merritt, Felisha Mitchell, A. J. Morrison, Christina Ochoa, Alexandra Oviedo, Corinna Padilla, Brittany Patterson, Courtney Paulk, Keisha Pennington, Miranda Richardson, Rochelle Ricketts, Corina Rodgers, Sierra Rosario, Megan Rowe, Kenya Schmidt, Mackenzie Shamblin, Laura Silva, Cheyenne Smith, Faith Smith, John Spencer, Rickelle Stafford, Madison Stripling, Avery Tanner, Autumn Tate, State Tatum, Aaron Tucker, Brooklyn Vickers, Kalli VanLoon, Nicole Walker, Megan Walls, Molly Wells, Marti Westfall, Azia Wheatley, Ashton Whittington, Adison Wright, J. T. Wright.

JEMS- Tiffanie Allender, Shana Cover, Abby Dial, Kaci Gowen, Ashlie Green, Cayley Hardison, Sarah Heimberg, Stesha Hiebert, Riley Ingram, Bethany Martin, Christina Ochoa, Alexandra Oviedo, Corinna Padilla, Brittany Patterson, Kenya Schmidt, , Mackenzie Shamblin, Avery Tanner, Brookyn Vickers, Nicole Walker, Megan Walls, Azia Wheatley, Adison Wright

It's war; Penny Wars, that is

BY LAELA ZAIDI
Staff Writer
Who knew pennies could make a difference? This Christmas, East Middle School is going to do just that! EMS Student Council has put together a Penny Wars fundraiser to help under privileged children get toys for Christmas through a program called Toys for Tots.
Penny Wars is a competition, or war, to see which grade can get the most pennies. Putting silver coins and dollars in anybody’s jar takes points away from them. In the end, the grade with the best score wins! The winner receives one amazing extra Eagle Time in the morning.
Mr. Rocky Biggers, Student Council sponsor, said South Middle School has been doing Penny Wars for over ten years; it was practically a tradition. Kids have always been giving money, but this year even with the economy in turmoil, kids have been giving more than ever.
In order to pick the families that receive the toys, EMS buys the toys from Wal-Mart, Target, or Toys ‘R’ Us, takes them to the fire department, and then the fire department takes the toys to the families. Mr. Biggers explained that STUCO does not take them directly to the families in order to keep confidentiality of the kids who receive the toys, since some of them might be from East.
Other school activities that help fund Toys for Tots are concession stand, candy grams, and the new 50/50 Raffle during girl’s basketball games. The winning grade will be announced Friday, December 18th.
East Middle School is definitely going to make this a new tradition! “Raising money for our community makes you feel like you’ve done something good,” said Drew Cox, member of Student Council.

Concert Band performs at assembly

Photos and Video by
LAELA ZAIDI and
CELESTE GRAVES

The East Middle School Concert Band, under the direction of Mr. Nicholas Moore, performed at an assembly Friday morning.

Eighth grade basketball season almost finished

Only three minutes remain in the first season for East Middle School eighth grade basketball team. The team is trailing 29-9 in the third place game of the annual Tri-State Tournament. A Mustang turnover with 2:30 left has given East the ball. A bounce pass from Leigh Ann Craig to Kristen Tyler resulted in a basket, putting East into double figures.

The score is 29-11 with less than a minute remaining. East has the ball with 37.1 seconds left. Corinna Padilla has just subbed in for Kristen Tyler, who received a round of applause. The final score- McDonald County 29, East Middle School 11.

Top scorer was Kristen Tyler with six points. Leigh Ann Craig had five. Others playing included Celeste Graves, Alexis White, Corinna Padilla, Shelbie DeWitt, Kelsey Johnson, Mikayela Richey, and Marissa Shofner.

Mac leads 25-9 after three periods

In the last game of the inaugural season for East Middle School eighth grade basketball, the home team is trailing McDonald County 25-9 beginning the fourth quarter. The winning team will capture third place in the Tri-State Tourney.

McDonald County leads 15-4 at halftime

Third quarter is just starting now with McDonald County holding a 15-4 advantage. Kristen Tyler banked in a 15-footer to trim the margin to 15-6 to open the period.

Scenes from the final EMS eighth grade girls basketball game

Craig scores as East cuts lead to 1-4

A Leigh Ann Craig basket from a Celeste Graves assist doubled East MIddle School's scoring output, but still left the Eagles trailing McDonald County 11-4 in the third place game of the Tri-County Tournament. A little over two minutes is left in the first half.

McDonald County leads

A highlight of the beginning of tonight's game against McDonald County was the singing of the National Anthem by Mr. Rocky Biggers, eighth grade social studies teacher. Sadly, we are such a new school that we do not have an American flag up yet, but I am certain that will be taken care of shortly.

The score at the end of the first quarter is McDonald County 9, East Middle School 2.

Live blogging final girls basketball game

For the first time ever, the East Middle School Journalism Club is live-blogging a school event.

McDonald County has taken a 6-0 lead over East with 2:15 left in the first quarter in the third place game of the Tri-County Trounament.

Celeste Graves scored underneath the cut the lead to four, 6-2.

Mrs. English: I want to put that tiara on Coach Pliler's head

By KAYLA JOHNSON
Staff Writer
"Slim to none, closest I’ve come to pink is someone wearing pink next to me." Coach Pliler said. All together East has read 425 books. Students at East Middle School have until the end of next Thursday to read a total of 1,200 books. If they do, Coach Pliler will wear a pink dress.
Most teachers think East can make the reading promotion. But gifted teacher Ms. Cheryl Mitchell thinks that the students are not going to be able to read the rest of the books needed by next Thursday.
Most of our teachers want to see Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Cook, and Coach Pliler in pink dresses.
"I want to personally put a tiara on each of them!" Mrs. Nina English said. In Mrs. English’s block classes, they are so excited they are trying to read The Giver and some holiday books. In her class, they are counting their pink slips everyday, also trying to read 400 books by next Thursday.
The reading assembly will be held Friday, Dec. 18.

Students prepare for science fair

By PRESTON CARPENTER
Staff Writer
With the East Middle School Science Fair coming up in the third quarter, there has been some stress on the students from the teachers to do better than before since, like everything else we do here, this is our first ever science fair.
Mr. Wallace, eighth grade science teacher, said, “The best science fair project I ever saw, was one about how a student saw how different densities of liquid affected light rays by shining a laser through different densities of liquid.”
To some people, it would seem better to turn in everything at once, but Mr. Wallace said that although that would make his job easier, eighth graders need to be reminded constantly that they need to turn stuff in at a certain deadline.
The science fair would be made a lot easier for students and teachers if students could use the computer. “That would be great for the teachers,” Mr. Wallace said, “but it would only be good for teachers to check and grade it, because on a public scale, it would be better for everybody to come and view the projects in the commons area than it would be to check it online.”
The first East Middle School Science Fair will be Feb. 23.

Band concert set for TA time Friday

The East Middle School Concert Band, under the direction of Mr. Nicholas Moore, will perform at an assembly Friday, December 11, during TA time.

Numbers will be performed that were done during last week's concert, plus some extra holiday songs.

Scenes from the recent EMS Benefit Show

A benefit variety show to raise money for books for the EMS library and supplies for Ms. Kathy Weaver's special education classroom was held Saturday, Nov 21, in the school auditorium. Performers included students, teachers, Joplin High School students, and supporters of the school.

Eagle Time continues

East Middle School sixth graders are shown enjoying Eagle Time. Students who did not make any D's or F's on their midquarter reports are allowed to participate in Eagle Time one day each week. Different activities are available, including basketball, volleyball and different Wii stations. (Staff photo by Kenny Braun)

East MIddle School students near reading promotion goals

Eighth graders Emily Merritt and Nicole Walker hang up forms outside of Mrs. Andrea Thomas' reading class showing books students have read. East Middle School students have one week left to reach the goal of reading 1,200 books during the annual reading promotion. If they achieve that goal, Principal Mr. Ron Mitchell, Assistant Principal Mr. Jarrett Cook, and Coach Kasey Pliler will have to wear pink dresses.

First-ever East Middle School dance held

EMS Holiday Band Concert held

By PRESTON CARPENTER
Staff Writer


The East Middle School Holiday Band Concert was held tonight. Some of the songs that the Beginning Band are "Jingle Bells", "Good King Wenceslas", "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," "O Tannenbaum", "Up on the Housetop." Some of the songs that the Concert Band are scheduled to play are "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," "Sounds of the Season", and "Holly Jolly Christmas." The Band members are as follows:

Beginning Band

Hannah West, Ethan Crider, Amy Hembree, Ryen Downing, Taylor Beaver, Dalton Hill, Tanner Bartholomew, Austin Lewis, Nathan Lewsader, Madelynn Martin, Bonnie Ardrey, Jakob Simrell, Justin Armstrong, Addie Bland, Cameron Bailey, McKinzie Cottle, Reed Campbell, Joshiah Garcia, Ethan Kraner, Courtney Hunt , Trace Neidholdt, Sherry Jordan, Stella Ndauwa, Darin Clark, Tokumatsu Platt, Blake Lewis, Tyauna Robinson, Blake Stearnes, Damian Abrams, Austin Still, Natal Bay, Angelica Suskey, Harrison Carpenter, Steven Townsend, Alex Garton, Erica Ward, Tristen Howell, Alex Hurrell, Cody Chollet, Malik Ore.

Concert Band

Heather Devore, Brittney Hamby, Mikayela Richey, Amber Swager, Tess Harmon, Whitney Bass, Abbie Reynolds, Justin Thomas, Dakota Ballard, Jordan Bond, Dajhana Porter, Jayson Brockett, Evan Blue, Alec Welch, Zach Consier, Hannah Huffman, Ashton Parker, Brandon Ruark, Allanf Eldred, Terrell Gilmore, Jesus Zuniga, Preston Inman, Adam White, Jordaan Nelson, Denton Williams, Tony Steppe, Zach Figueroa, Alonzo Byers, Severin Eldred, Anthony Grubb, Sam Belnap, Cannon Jones, Dylan Castillo, Valerie Royer, Courtney Huggins, Jennifer Schulze, Zach Anderson, Delshan Garth, Greg Lamp, Jeremiah Martin