South Middle School's Asia'h performs on American Idol

Following are a few comments from other websites and blogs about tonight's performance by Joplin's Asia'h Epperson on American Idol. Asia'h attended South Middle School from 2000 to 2003:

Idol Chatter on Austin 360- Asia’h delivers the first fashion head-scratcher of the night. Are those footie pajamas she’s wearing? Eek. An interesting take on a song that’s familiar to most, but it just didn’t work for us. She needed more energy — more something — to stand out from a surprisingly talented pack. Randy: “It was a tall order for you to take on but, you know, that’s the reason that we got you here. … You showed and proved tonight that you deserve to be here.” Our grade: C+

Michael Giltz, Huffington Post- She set the standard for the night with a competent, at best, version of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)." (Boy, the Eighties loved using parantheses in song titles, didn't they?) Asia'h had a cute outfit, continuing this season's very positive trend of the contestants dressing their age in a fun, sexy, but not slutty manner. The lower register is definitely easier for her and she sounded rough on the high notes early on. But this is one of the easier Whitney songs to tackle and it's right in her comfort range. Which makes it all the more notable that she was only ok at best. "I'll take second-rate Whitney" ain't exactly fighting words, Asia'h.

Entertainment Weekly- Second-rate Whitney. That's what Simon called her performance of I Wanna Dance With Somebody, which Randy couldn't help but mention he recorded with the Mistress of Crack back in the 1980s. I thought she sounded okay, but Randy and Paula were gushing over it. Still, good enough for the Top 12.

Rocky Mountain News- Asia'h Epperson, 19, kicked things off with I Wanna Dance with Somebody. She's no Whitney Houston (well, at least no pre-Bobby Brown Whitney), but she brought her own bubblegum sensibility. She had fun.

Blend Television- She was a roller skating extra in a movie (was it Goldmember?) and she slammed into something. She sings “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” She is so focused on getting down the stairs of the set that her first notes are really shaky, and not every note is hitting 100%. I think her voice is a little too smoky for this song, and by the end of it, she’s not strong enough to have a big finish. Randy admits he recorded the song with Whitney, and he thought it was hot, Paula thinks she pulled off and nailed it, and Simon is not is as enthusiastic, and that she’s a second rate impersonator. It was not even close to being her best performance, but it should be enough for her to avoid the cut.

Roanoke Times- Asia'H Epperson came out with a bang singing Whitney's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." At first I was nervous because anyone who tries to tackle Whitney, especially a fast song, usually fails. But Asia'H hit the nail on the head and it's mostly because of the emotion behind her voice.
Mom said she was one of the best she's heard sing a Whitney song. Simon compared her to a second-rate Whitney, to which Asia'H said she'd take that anyday.

Nancy Sluder, Asheville Citizen-Times- Coming down the stairs, Asia’s starts the show with the upbeat “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” It was ok, but once again, I think she picked a song that was too big for her voice, just as she did last week. Also, she added nothing new to the original, which, when you don’t change up Whitney Houston, you get compared to Whitney Houston. It wasn’t that her performance was bad, it just wasn’t anything special for me. 7 out of 10.

TMZ- The best performance was Asia'h Epperson, who sang "I Want to Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston.

Reality Check, Baltimore Sun- Asia'h Epperson says her most embarrassing moment (that's the question of the week) was being an extra on a movie about roller skating and totally falling in front of everyone. On stage, she sings Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." The song really suits her voice, and she's having a good time, but she's definitely not doing anything new with it. Randy Jackson says he recorded that song with the great Whitney Houston and that even though it was a tall order for her to take on that song, "It was hot." Paula Abdul says she wondered whether she could pull it off, and, "You nailed it." Simon Cowell says he isn't quite as enthusiastic and that "at best it was second-rate Whitney Houston." But, with Ryan's prodding, Simon says he thinks it was good enough to get her through to next week.

New South will be bigger and better

By TARYN PARKER
Room 210 Staff Writer

As we know we are going to have three Joplin Middle Schools built. We are going to have a new South, East, and North.
"March 3, there was a bid on how much it cost to build the new South," South Middle School Principal Ron Mitchell said.
"The estimate was seventeen million dollars, maybe a little lower." There will be 235 parking spots for the new South building, Mr. Mitchell said.

"For 600 kids to go to a school that was built a long time ago, it's good that we will get to have new bigger rooms like that cafeteria. It will be five times bigger at the new South.
"We won't have to share a gymnasium and auditorium like we have to do now."

Plans are uncertain for what will be done with the old South Middle School building, Mr. Mitchell said. There may be a Regional Professional Development Center for teachers from all over Joplin and some teachers from cities close to Joplin."

The new South Middle School will hold 700 students, Mr. Mitchell said. He explained some of the differences students will see at the new school.

"We will have a baseball field for P.E. Since we have a small cafeteria we have three lunches, but at the new South, we will only have two lunches because about 300 kids will be able to fit in the cafeteria." Autistic centers will be in all 3 new schools.

The new building will also have a safety precaution that is not in place at the current South Middle School.

"Sixty-one total cameras will be in the new South, everywhere except the bathrooms and locker rooms."

Another change will be the addition of extra faculty. "Since the new South will be bigger," Mr. Mitchell said, "it is going to need new teachers for the second floor."

South will be bigger and better once it is built because everything in it will be new!

Fourth Hour class shines at state Project Citizen competition

By RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Editor

Mr. Rocky Biggers' eighth grade history classes all worked on Project Citizen, but only one class was able to go to Jefferson City to compete with other schools around the state Monday.

Project Citizen is where the class takes a problem that it would like to solve and researches it. Then it looks at all of its options of how it can solve the problem and picks the one it believes works best and then creates a policy to implement it. Lastly, the class comes up with an action plan on how to get the policy implemented.

On March 3rd at 5:15 a.m., Mr. Biggers' fourth hour class began its journey to Jefferson City for Project Citizen. It was a long trip, but once we got their it was definitely worth it.
At about 11 a.m., we presented our suicide prevention project for Project Citizen to the judges. After that, we ate lunch and then went back to listen to the awards ceremony. Mr. Biggers' fourth hour class was presented with an Excellent award. Once the ceremony was over, we were able to get a tour of the Capital Building. Once our long day was over, we headed home at about 3 pm.
This was a learning experience that many of us will always remember with precise detail. Our class is even going to try and carry on with this program since it is doable, which would be great to change something in our school that could possibly save a life. I'm really just glad that Mr. Biggers gave us the opportunity to work on Project Citizen.

(Note: The class is hoping to take its suicide prevention program before the Joplin R-8 Board of Education.)

South Middle School's Asia'h rocks American Idol

By TARYN PARKER
Room 210 Staff Writer
Asia'h Epperson went to South Middle School during her sixth through eighth grade years. Now she is on one of the most watched shows in America, which is American Idol! Asia'h’s audition song in Atlanta was “How Do I Live?” by Leann Rimes, a tribute to her father because he passed away two days before her audition. Hollywood week, Asia'h sang “I'm Going Down”. When it was down to the top 12 girls, Asia'h sang “Piece Of My Heart” by Janis Joplin. After she sang her song, Randy Jackson (American Idol judge) said, “I love that you brought a little you to it and a little Janis Joplin to it. You did your thing to it, I was impressed”. Paula Abdul (American Idol judge) said, “You had fun up there. You could tell you had some really good moments”. Simon Cowell (American Idol judge) said, “For me it was my favorite of the night. You let go. You’re fun, you’re likable, you’ve got a good voice, you’re not taking yourself too seriously. That is what it is all about”.

Wednesday was the ladies turn to sing for the judges and for America. It was down to the top ten contestants. Asia'h Epperson was one of the top ten contestants. Asia'h sang, “All By Myself” and was contestant number ten. Randy Jackson said, “I know you've been sick in all week and it was a difficult song with the highest degree of difficulty. Paula said, “You did have some problems on the low parts but the ending is what counts”. Simon had to say, “ It is one of the diva songs and you got to be incredible to sing that song. You almost pulled it off. I think the song it too big for you”.

Here are some facts about Asia'h Epperson. Asia'h is 19 years old and was born and raised in Joplin Missouri. She has two brothers, Stratton and Donovan. Stratton is 22 years old and Donovan is a Senior at Webb City High School. Asia’h attended Joplin Schools through ninth grade. She finished high school in Atlanta where she lived with her father. She attends Villa Heights Christian Church and did plays and musical things. When she was around 9 or 10 Asia’h and her incredible young voice saved the Church Christmas program when all the other main characters came down with the flu the day of the program. Something America doesn't know about Asia'h is that she was a cheerleader for several years. She loved doing it, making up some moves and getting into it. There are large groups on Facebook that support Asia'h.

Asia'h auditioned in Atlanta where her father and some of her friends lived. Asia'h’s mom and grandmother went to Los Angeles last week to visit her. They got to meet the three judges, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. Simon had huge bodyguards around him everywhere he went. Asia'h’s grandmother said that the American Idol people were hard on the contestants and the work they do is not easy. They are expected to do things when first asked. They rehearse everyday. Her grandmother said that Asia'h has matured and is having the time of her life. She also said to be aware that you only see what the show producers want you to see. Asia'h wants to be the next American Idol. Good Luck Asia'h!

Eagle Time coming to South Middle School

By RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Editor


The teachers at South Middle School and Mr. Ron Mitchell, principal, have noticed that there are a lot of kids not doing well in school. So the teachers and Mr. Mitchell have decided to create a guided study hall time beginning on the first day of 4th quarter.
Monday will be the normal T.A., Tuesday-Thursday will be a guided study hall, and Friday will be a read day like normal. Students with good grades will just read or work on other homework on Tuesday-Thursday. Students with lower grades will work on their missing work and if they need extra help then they will go to the class in which they need help in.
Tuesdays are Eagle Time for the sixth graders, Wednesday is Eagle Time for the seventh graders, and Thursdays are Eagle Time for the eighth graders. Eagle Time is where students with good grades are able to go play in the gym and auditorium or go to a classroom designated for reading. At mid-quarter, the teachers will evaluate the students' grades and if they improved then they will be able to go to Eagle Time and work on other work. This system also works the other way, if a students grade isn't passing anymore then the student will have to work on their missing work to get their grade up.
The teachers and Mr. Mitchell have decided to create this guided study time to help cut down on ZAPs and ASDs, as well as get grades up. This program will be implemented in the new school. They will even have more time for this guided study hall since the cafeteria will be bigger. And there will be no need for a third lunch period, Mr. Mitchell said.

"We just want to help students get their grades up and help them succeed."

Former SMS student Asia'h Epperson shines on American Idol

Former South Middle School student Asiah Epperson (2000 to 2003) performed on American Idol tonight. The following passage comes from The Turner Report, the blog written by SMS eighth grade communications arts teacher Mr. Randy Turner. Mr. Turner liveblogged the program:


Asia'h Epperson told more than 30 million people just now that she loved her time as a middle school cheerleader, saying "Go Eagles, and did a Joplin Eagles cheer, which should raise the roof at the Joplin American Idol watch party.

Asia'h is performing Eric Carmen's "All By Myself," which I have to admit I have never liked, and it does not appear to be her best performance and she has missed a couple of notes, but she is putting on a show at the end and getting the crowd back into it. And her arrangement of the song is different and powerful. What an ending! She nailed it!

Now for the judges:

Randy Jackson said that Asia'h has been sick. "You did a really good job with it."

Paula Abdul said, "It was great, but the ending is where it counts on this song. You brought it home."

Simon Cowell said, "You have to be one heck of a singer to pull it off and you didn't. You almost got away with it, but the song was too big for you."

The voters are not going to see it that way. Besides, it has been a weak night. Asia'h will be back next week.

Teen suicide project headed for state

Mr. Rocky Biggers' fourth hour social studies class is headed to Jefferson City Monday, March 3, to participate in the annual Project Citizen competition.
The students earned the trip with their work on a plan for a teen suicide prevention program. All of Mr. Biggers' classes submitted plans for public service projects, which were judged by Mrs. Karensue Hensley, guidance counselor, and Mr. Randy Turner, communication arts teacher.

Students scheduled to go to Jefferson City are:

Tozia Burris, Cecil Cornish, Natasha Coursey, Breanne Diles, Zachary Dorris, Chance Ewing, Shawn Fronce, Devyn Hale, Levina Hayzlett, Erica Hinojosa, Icesus Holland, Amie Howard, Tori Mitchell, Katie Phelps, Mariah Sanders, Adam Schilling, Adrienne Self, Adam Snearly, Brett Stearnes, Raycee Thompson.

Communication arts students study civil rights

By SARAH KESSLER
Room 210 Editor

Every year, Mr. Randy Turner's eighth grade communication arts students are required to do a project on the Civil Rights Movement. Students are required to write a 1,000 word essay, give an oral presentation, and create a multimedia project on their topic. Some of the student's favorite topics include the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the murder of Emmett Till, the 1964 Mississippi murders, and the Brown vs. Board of Education case.

When Mr. Turner was asked why he chooses to have his students research the Civil Rights movements every year, he promptly answered, "We always have our project on the Civil Rights because it's so important in American History."

This project also opens the students eyes to some of America's not-so-glamorous history. Most students were amazed at how badly people used to, and still do, treat each other. This research project has even made some students ashamed of what has happened in the country that is said to be the "land of the free."

Even though this project takes place every year in South Middle School's eighth grade communication arts class, this year students are adding some new twists. This year, eighth graders will be talking to sixth grade classrooms about their topics. This has never been done in previous years, and students are very excited to share their hard work. Posters that have been made on the Civil Rights are also being hung up in the school's hallways. Some of the student's papers are being posted on www.room210civilrights.blogspot.com so for more information, check it out!

Former SMS student in top 20 of American Idol

Asia' Epperson, a student at South Middle School from 2000 to 2003, has made the top 20 in the American Idol competition, seen locally 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays on Fox 14.

The following item is taken from Mr. Turner's liveblogging of the event on his blog, The Turner Report:


It's time for Asia'h Epperson. "I'm 19, I'm from Joplin, MO, and I work as a waitress," she said, opening her interview.
A few of the highlights of her past performances, including her heartbreaking performance in Atlanta, were featured. "I'm living his dream," she said, referring to her father, who died in an accident shortly after Asia'h learned about her audition.

She is singing Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart." Her stage presence and performance are outstanding, though I am betting she is going to get grilled by at least one of the judges.

The crowd appears to love it and Miss Epperson was definitely enjoying herself.

Judge Randy Jackson said, "You did your thing with (the song). I was impressed."


Judge Paula Abdul added, "You had some fun up there. You had some really good moments

The judge all of the contestants fear, sharp-tongued Simon Cowell, added, "To me, it was my favorite song of the night. It was fun, you are likable and you have a good voice. I liked it.

That comment clearly bowled over the Joplin teenager. "I was waiting to hear that," she said.

Host Ryan Sechrest asked Miss Epperson how she has been able to keep it together with all she has been through and continue to show the type of bubbly personality she has shown onstage.

"It's just me," she answered.

Mitchell, Gates, Reddell win poetry contest

Christina Gates, Tori Mitchell, and Cady Reddell, have been named winners in the fifth annual South Middle School Eighth Grade Poetry Contest.
The three will have their works published in a national book, "Teacher Select: Anthology of Eighth Grade Poetry.'
Miss Gates had two poems in 10 finalists. Others making the finals were Merisha Alderman, Jamie Walters, Amanda Uselton, Sarah Stephens, Katie Kemmery, and Raycee Thompson.
The winning poems will be published later on Room 210 News.

Show must go on for SMS Band

By SARAH KESSLER
Room 210 Editor

After two failed attempts, South Middle School's holiday band concert has finally taken place on February 7. It may be a little late for a Christmas concert, but Mr. Reed Barnes was determined to show his band students off. The previous concerts were cancelled do to winter weather.

The beginning band started the concert by playing a familiar Christmas carol, Jingle Bells. It ended its performance by playing two songs entitled Sawmill Creek, and Eagle Crest March. Then the Concert Band was led on stage by Mr. Barnes. This band, consisting of seventh and eighth graders, played three songs. The first, On Holiday, is a fast paced Christmas song. The concert was concluded by two intense pieces, The Forge of Vulcan, and Rites of Tamburo. Even though the concert was rescheduled two times, the SMS band proved that the show must go on.

(Photos by Raycee Thompson, Room 210 Editor)

Seventh grade honor students take Lazer City by storm

Honor students who took the trip were:
Torri Ackerson, John Alumbaugh, Dalton Anderson, Jodi Anderson, Mallory Augustosky, Victoria Baker, Sierra Bartholomew, Abigail Bass, Austin Boyd, Lisa Bromley, Casey Burkhart, Austin Burns, Hannah Cady, Joseph Capehart, Ronald Darby, Shaney Delzell, Danielle Doerr, Karissa Dowell, Caroline Dutton, Preston Eafrati, Wesley Estes, Judith Fausto, Caleb Garton, Danielle Gideon, Kelsey Gould, Dalton Hackworth, Olivia Hampton, Hannah Hare, Christopher Harpole, Shanice Hazley, Elisabeth Heimberg, Alex Hill, Esteban Hinojosa, Kevin Justus, Brandon Laub, Nicholas Laub, Kylie Lewsader, Tianna McCarthy, Hunter Mills, Damon Monasco, Alexander Musgrave, Mackenzie Owen, Hailey Oxford, Spencer Peterson, Devin Plessman, Stefon Rich, Thomas Richins, Alexandra Ritter, Gabriel Sachetta, Krystal Schulze, Bryson Sexton, Victoria Thompson, Emma Thornberry, Theodora Voutiritsas, Elaina Warren, Ethan Warstler, Andrew Welch, Ashley Wescoat, Allison White, Storm Whittington, Emilee Woods, Alexis Woods, Emily Yarbrough

Sixth grade honor students rewarded

Sixth grade honor students were recently rewarded with a trip to Lazer City recently. Students who took the trip were:

Tiffanie Allender, Desirae Anaya, Mason Atwood, Forrest Bernard, Trinity Bennett, Keenen Beverlin, Kennyan Beverlin, Alex Bryant, Brendyn Burns, Meagan Camden, Preston Carpenter, Easton Carver, Kasen Chew, India Coleman, Heather Copeland, Drew Cox, Leigh Craig, Gavin DePaul, Shelbie DeWitt, Abigail Dial, Aaron Dunaway, Katelyn Earl, Bain Edens, Jordyn Gaines, Johnathon Gibson, Oswaldo Gomez, Kenny Gonzales, Kaci Gowen, Kyle Gradwahl, Oswaldo Gomez, Kenny Gonzales, Kaci Gowen, Kyle Gradwahl, Khaled Graham, Lane Grims, Bailey Hale, Chase Hall, Erica Handy, Aleecia Hardin, Cayley Hardison, Haleigh Hawkins, December Hedge, Sarah Heimberg, Chandlar Hendrix, Stesha Hiebert, Wesley Hooks, Courtney Huggins, Brittnie Hunter, Colton Johnson, Janessa Jones, Keaton Jones, Spencer Layne, Lauren Leibee, Joanna Lopez, Amanda Marvin, Chanci McGowen, Nick McKay, Bethany Meehl, Emily Merritt, Robert Metsker, Preston Miller, Jacie Mitchell, Micheal Munalem, Hayden Ottendorf, Alexandra Oviedo, Austin Oxford, Taryn Parker, Hailee Peek, Amara Pendergraft, Micheal Peterson, Alivia Plassman
Also, Malachai Poling, Stormi Potts, Gannon Purdy, Cole Putney, Kahla Quinn, Luke Randolph, David Reed, Kymbre Resler, Kenneth Ricketson, Austin Romano, Shania Saylor, Amanda Schilling, Kenya Schmidt, Kinsey Sexton, MacKenzie Shamblin, Marissa Shofner, Scott Simmons, Erika Smith, Eric Spicer, Devon Stahl, Matthew Stevens, Shaffer Stevens, Christian Still, Alexander Tanner, Stephen Tatum, Ashley Taylor, Cheyenne Thomason, Kristen Tyler, Zachary VanLoon, Michael VanSlyke, Brooklyn Vickers, Nicole Walker, Trevor Walker, Lesley Wallace, Megan Walls, Rebekah Walters, Robert Walters, Jonah Ward, Justice Ward, Alexia Westfall, Martianna Westfall, Caleb Willis, Hunter Winkle

Stauffer qualifies for state swim meet

Joplin High School senior Ali Stauffer, a former South Middle School student, qualified for the state swim meet during a quadrangular meet Jan. 29 at Missouri Southern State University.
She qualified in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2 minutes, 8.56 seconds and she won the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:12.55.

Anorexia is topic for winning sixth grade essay

By INDIA COLEMAN
(Note: The following essay took first place in the South Midde School Sixth Grade Essay Contest.)
Anorexia is the biggest problem facing today's youth. Anorexia is where you stop eating or after you eat, you make yourself throw it up. They do this because they think they are fat> Half the time they are too skinny to begin with.
I know from experience. Last year, I tried to starve myself.
I lost a lot of weight. I go to a psychologist now so I'm better, but not much. I still almost have to force myself to eat. I'm still not crazy about the way I look.
Anorexia can lead to many horrible things. It can lead to a deep depression, death, or even suicide. Thankfully, I only suffer from depression, but it feels awful. I feel like I'm always in a bad mood. I get made fun of a lot, too.
Barbie has something to do with this. They make her so perfect. All girls think all women should look like her. Girls as young as four years old have problems.
I believe anorexia is the biggest problem facing youth. We can't let it keep happening. More children are dying. They need our help. Make them eat! They do not want to be so thin it's deadly.

India Coleman wins first Sixth Grade Essay Contest

India Coleman won the $10 first prize in the first South Middle School Essay Contest.
Others in the top 10 and the amounts they won were:

2. Emily Merritt $5, 3. Kahla Quinn $3, 4. Shelbie DeWitt $2, 5. Alex Bryant $1, 6. Kristen Tyler $1, 7. Stesha Hiebert $1, 8. Jawni Lemmons $1, 9. Kenya Schmidt $1, 10. Trece Tinder $1

The topic for this year's contest was "What is the biggest problem facing today's youth?" The contest was judged by top students in Mr. Randy Turner's eighth grade communication arts classes.

Water fountains shut down due to boil order

By ALEX KANGETHE
Room 210 Staff Writer
Starting on Saturday January 12, a boil order was issued for Joplin, including South Middle School.
On the first day of school after the boil order, the Missouri American Water Company donated water bottles to the schools in the Joplin district, because it was primarily the company's fault.
On the second and third day, it was Wal-Mart who donated the water.
The reason for the boil order was that the rain caused a flood and mud that clogged up the company's system.
The students reported no problems. Surprisingly with 600 kids, there were no spills,” Principal Ron Mitchell said.

Eighth grade science fair is Feb. 28

By RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Editor
The science fair is coming up again and it seems pointless right?
Well, it actually isn't. We have science fairs so we can learn the scientific method first hand. The scientific method consists of: Question/Problem, Hypothesis, Experimental Design, Data, and Conclusion. Practice makes perfect. Sometimes it can be hard to find a topic on which you can practice these steps. Mr. Turner has links for science fair ideas on www.room210.com if you need help.

The eighth grade science fair will be on Thursday Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. The judges usually expect more advanced topics from eighth graders. For example, Sarah Phillips will be testing what makes teeth decay faster, Coke or Pepsi? Adam Schilling will be testing which element to a plant is most important, soil, water, or sunlight? And Shalea Purdy will test the effects of iodine.

Hale TA wins free throw contest

Story and Photo
by RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Editor
Mrs. Joyce Hale's TA
took first place in the annual TA Free Throw Shooting Contest. Joselyn Irizarry is shown sinking a free throw while Aleena Gonzales waits to shoot for Mr. Brian Neugebauer's second place TA.
Each Freethrow was worth 1 point. Here are the winners:

6th Grade:

1st: Norris
2nd:Hedrick, Valenti, Wallace

7th Grade:

1st: Martin
2nd: Ryan, Worku, Daniels

8th Grade:

1st: Hale
2nd: Neugubauer
3rd: Turner

Quiz Bowl finishes 5-4 at College Heights; Alumbaugh sets school record

Seventh grader Calvin Alumbaugh set a school record by answering 40 questions correctly at the South Middle School Quiz Bowl team finished 5-4 during the Math Academic Challenge at College Heights Christian School Monday.
South Team One, consisting of Alumbaugh, Sarah Kessler, Joey Capehart, and Mary Jean Miller defeated teams from Lamar, Monett, and Diamond. Miss Kessler answered eight questions correctly.
Team Two, consisting of Alex Kangethe, Matt Cruzan, Danielle Doerr, Nicol McDonald, and Elaina Warren finished 3-6. Kangethe correctly answered 10 questions.
For the season, South Team One has a record of 18 wins and nine losses. The next academic challenge, in history, is scheduled for February 18 at Lamar.

Eighth graders win spirit stick during pep assembly

Photos by
RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Editor
The eighth grade won the spirit stick during the winter sports pep assembly held Monday in the SMS auditorium.
The accomplishments of basketball players, wrestlers, and cheerleaders were recognized, and the seventh and eighth grade cheerleaders performed dance routines.

Sixth grade science fair set for Feb. 25

By TARYN PARKER
Room 210 Staff Writer

The sixth grade science fair will be held Monday, Feb. 25, in the South Middle School cafeteria.
The purpose of the Science Fair, Ms. Lara Stamper, sixth grade science teacher, said, is to prepare kids for the M.A.P test, which has the performance event, that includes the Science Fair.
All of the science teachers judge the Science Fair. These teachers are: Ms. Stamper, Mr. Mike Wallace, Mr. Brent Thompson, and Mrs. Joyce Hale. The judges evaluate the Science Fair according to the rubric, which has guidelines for grading.
The top three who have the best projects get medals. Ms. Stamper says that Anh Nguyen, an eighth grader, had one of the most spectacular Science Fair projects when she was in sixth grade.

Politics is important to students, too

By RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Editor

Most of us think, "I'm just a teenager, I can't vote till I'm 18 so why should I care?"
Well, you should, because you need to inform yourselves and get into the habit of it. We also learn things at school that have to deal with voting that our parents should know. As well as the fact that we can influence our parents.
As you know there are two major parties Democrat and Republican and some are independent.
They all have different points of view on different topics. Just because you are Republican doesn't mean that you can't vote for a Democratic or Independent candidate. Being with a certain party just means you usually agree with their beliefs.
In the upcoming election the big educational issue is the No Child Left Behind act. It's a law that states that all the schools have to get students to score at a certain level or the schools don't get funding. It's a really great idea, but not every kid is going to be able to score in that range. Therefore some of the candidates for president want to get rid of it.
You may not be able to vote now, but it'll be important in future. Like Mr. Rocky Biggers, eighth grade social studies teacher, advised:

"Kids need to start watching or reading the news, because this election could end up affect their jobs in the future or their education."

Choir presents holiday concert

By RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Editor
The South Middle School Vocal Music Department, under the direction of Ms. Julie Yonkers, presented its annual holiday concert, "Merrily Sing Noel!" Tuesday in the auditorium. A performance was also given during an assembly Tuesday morning.

The program opened with the sixth grade choir performing six numbers, including solos by Kenya Schmidt and Amanda Schilling.
The Concert Choir performed eight songs, with solos by Sarah Painter, Tanner Crawford, Adam Schilling, Mariah Sanders, and Katie Uttley.
The Southern Belles, South's show choir, performed "A Jingle Bell Christmas."

Sixth Grade Cholr- Tiffanie Alexander, Joceline Bogarin, Keantavious Burns, Heather Copeland, Leigh Ann Craig, Laura Crews, Khristopher Dailey, Shelbie DeWitt, Abby Dial, Kenny Gonzalez, Summer Hall, Erica Handy, Cayley Hardison, Haleigh Hawkins, Sarah Heimberg, Wesley Hooks, Bradley Kennedy, Jawni Lemmons, Cassie Lloyd, Amanda Marvin, Shea Mazur, Emily Merritt, Austin Oxford, Hailee Peek, Amara Pendergraft, Salena Perez, Alivia Plassman, Kenneth Ricketson, Kortnie Roberts, Shaina Saylor, Amanda Schilling, Kenya Schmidt, Dominic Searle, Mackenzie Shamblin, Erika Smith, Shaffer Stevens, Alex Still, Stephen Tatum, Trece Tinder, Georgina Velazquez, Brook Vickers, Nicole Walker, Megan Walls, Rebekah Walters, Alexia Westfall, Marti Westfall, Olivia Wills, Rachelle Wilson.

Concert Choir- Torri Ackerson, Kayla Alexander-Norris, Jodi Anderson, Sierra Bartholomew, Kendra Bauersfield, Lindsey Beall, Haley Bowers, Madison Briggs, Charlee Brown, Clayton Brown, Lexi Brown, Ethan Bryan, Courtney Burns, Tozia Burris, Hannah Cady, Hollis Cady, Taylor Camden, Jordan Chambers, Marcus Clark, Cheslie Cook, Cecil Cornish, Tracie Cottrill, Tanner Crawford, Shaney Delzell, Felisha Derrick, Laila Douglas, Caroline Dutton, Shane Ellis, Calisha England, Tara Fleming, Jared Fuller, Christina Gates, Eleena Gonzales, Kelsey Gould, Jordan Hamilton, Allison Hankins, Taylor Harris, Erika Hinojosa, Rachelle Hughbank, Shelby Ingram, Anna Johnson, Carson Jones, Heather Jones, Kevin Justus, Katie Kemmery, Shani Knight, Tera Knight, Lauren Layne, Itzell Lopez, Elisha Mansour, Sarah Matthews, Dominique Michael, Tori Mitchell, Ghenessa Moore, Jade Moore, Holly O'Dell, Brianna Oxford, Sarah Painter, Bethani Patterson, Katie Phelps, Mackenzy Pierce, Kayla Pinkerton, Justice Pullam, Cady Reddell, Emma Rice, Barbara Rodriguez, Abby Sadler, Mariah Sanders, Adam Schilling, Krystal Schulze, Adrienne Self, Shelby Shumaker, Taylor Shutte, Mindy Sirichok, Candace Smith, C. D. Smith, Amanda Uselton, Brittany Utley, Katie Uttley, Hannah Ward, Storm Whittington, Nichole Yeoman.

Southern Belles- Jodi Anderson, Haley Bowers, Lexi Brown, Courtney Burns, Tozia Burris, Hannah Cady, Taylor Camden, Jordan Chambers, Shaney Delzell, Tara Fleming, Carson Jones, Tera Knight, Lauren Layne, Sarah Matthews, Tori Mitchell, Holly O'Dell, Sarah Painter, Mariah Sanders, Krystal Schulze.

(From top: Southern Belles, Sarah Painter performs solo, Tanner Crawford performs solo, Concert Choir, Sixth Grade Choir)

8th and 7th Grade Basketball Tryouts

Raycee Thompson Room 210 Editors

8th and 7th grade boy's basketball tryouts were wrapped up on the 5th of Dec. The basketball tryouts consisted of conditioning and teh coaches also took the students' grades into consideration. The 7th grade boy's basketball coach is Coach Wallace and the 8th grade boy's basketball coach is Coach Vieselmayer.

8th grade boy's basketball team: Nathan Cox, Beau Scroggins, Nathan Stripling, Nick McIntosh, Gareth Evans, Gill Randolph, Blake Putnam, Desean Triplett, Paden Lacey, Preston Ryser, Payton Pollock, Robert Braum, and Jeffrey Terry.

7th grade boy's basketball team: Hunter Mills, Kaleb Owens, CD Smith, Stefon Rich, Michael Oyler, Nate Brummer, Caleb Garton, Gabe Scchetta, Chelslie Cook, Jordan Buxton, Dalton Anderson, Joey Ryser, Axel Vene, and Calvin Halumbaugh.

The End Of Clubs

Raycee Thompson Room 210 Editor

The last club day was on the 29th of Nov. We would have club days every Fridays for a month. The reason we had the clubs all in one week at the end of the month was because the other schools did and Mr. Cook and thought it would be a good idea. As well as the fact that it would be easier for students and teachers to remember when it was club day.

Can you even imagine having to sort through nearly 600 names and make sure that the kids got what they wanted? Mr. Cookhad to do that. He actually went through all the names 3 or 4 times. Luckily he was willing to do that so we could have clubs.

Morning homework center starts

By SARAH KESSLER
Room 210 Editor
"We're trying to open up availability for students to come in and get extra help." This is what the counselor at South Middle School, Mrs. KarenSue Hensley, says about the new morning homework center.
This early session takes place from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. (this is when school starts) Tuesday- Friday. On Monday, homework center starts at 7:30 a.m. At the 7:30 meeting, sixth graders meet in room 108, seventh graders in room 205, and eighth graders in room 206.
Not only does this group meet in the morning, it also meets in the afternoon. Students can meet in room 109 Monday through Wednesday and Friday and in the the computer lab on Thursday. The afternoon session starts after school and ends at 4 p.m.

Seventh grade super students take skate trip

Story and Photos
By ELAINA WARREN
Room 210 Staff Writer

On Nov. 28, the seventh grade students went on an honor roll field trip. They went to the mall food court to eat and then they went to the Webb City Skateland and skated for about two and a half hours.
Those who were eligible for the honor roll field trip were:

Seventh Grade- Torri Ackerson, John Alumbaugh, Dalton Anderson, Mallory Augustosky, Victoria Baker, Sierra Bartholomew, Abigail Bass, Austin Boyd, Lisa Bromley, Casey Burkhart, Austin Burns, Hannah Cody, Joshua Cochran, Ronald Darby, Aaron Daum, Danielle Doerr, Karissa Dowell, Caroline Dutton, Preston Eafrati, Judith Fausto, Danielle Gideon, Kelsey Gould, Olivia Hampton, Hannah Hare, Christopher Harpole, Taylor Harris, Shanice Hazley, Elisabeth Heimberg, Alex Hill, Esteban Hinojosa, Brittany Hudson, Anna Johnson, Kevin Justus, Brandon Laub, Nicholas Laub, Kylie Lewsader, Shyann Lutes, Tianna McCarthy, Dominique Michael, Hunter Mills, Damon Monasco, Alexander Musgrave, Hailey Oxford, Spencer Peterson, Devin Plassman, Blake Price, Thomas Richins, Alexandra Ritter, Gabriel Sachetta, Krystal Schulze, Bryan Sexton, Victoria Thompson, Theodora Voutiritsas, Elaina Warren, Ethan Warstler, Andrew Welch, Ashley Wescoat, Allison White, Storm Whittington, Emilee Wills, Alexis Woods, Emily Yarbrough

Photos:Ms.Mense goes crazy at the skating rink.
Allie has ten dollars.
The students train skate.
Soulja Boy
Chicken Dance
Cha Cha Slide

Eighth grade science students explore "butterfly effect"

By ALEX KANGETHE
Room 210 News Writer
On the walls, in the halls, they're everywhere. have you seen them?
They're the butterflies done by the class of Mr.Mike Wallace, eighth grade science teacher. IT was an assignment made to teach about natural selection and how if an animal has a better chance of surviving if it is more accustomed to its surroundings. such as the birds of the Galapagos Islands. on one island, there were birds with strong beaks to break through nuts which was the only food there. on another island there were birds with slim beaks that resemble tweezers that are used to catch insects. but while in Uganda, there are tuskless elephants. while their population is beginning to slowly increase, the tusk elephant population is beginning to slowly decrease because of the ivory in their tusks. so it all goes down to the way animals accommodate themselves to their environment with evolution.

Thanksgiving in Russia

(Note: Miss Sheri Medlock, former eighth grade reading teacher at South, is in her first year of teaching in Russia and has agreed to provide us with weekly updates.)

You never really consider traditions until you are away from people who celebrate them. Of course Thanksgiving is an American holiday, but the truth of that never really dawned on me until Thursday last week. I got, prepared for my normal lessons, ate a hot dog, then went to work. I taught from 4 o'clock until almost 10. Then I called my family.
I spent the day Thanksgiving discussing traditions with my students. My students were curious about the food we eat on this day. They had tasted turkey and mashed potatoes, but most had never tried pumpkin pie, and few had heard of stuffing.
"So everyone has this dinner on Thanksgiving?" they asked me.
"Well, some families may change some of the dishes, but mostly, yes," I replied. "Aren't their Russian holidays with traditional food?"
They told me about a holiday that celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring. You can image, after five months of winter, this is a big deal. The holiday, which name I can't pronounce, dates back to pre-Christian days in Russia. Families build a doll of straw that symbolizes winter. They burn it in the streets. And what is the traditional food they eat? Pancakes. There's nothing quite as Russian as pancakes. They eat pancakes rolled up like burritos. Inside the pancakes they put everything from fruit and cream to mushrooms and meat.
I hear the Russian word for "pancake" a hundred times a day. "Bleen" sounds like a very obscene Russian curse word. They substitute this word the way Americans substitute the word "shoot" or "dang."
Oh, I need to finish planning my lessons. Bleen. I better go now.
Blessings,
Sheri Medlock

LAST WEEK

My first year at South Middle School I experienced the normal struggles of a new teacher. After teaching 3 years, I thought some of those struggles were behind me. However, I have discovered a new difficulty as a teacher. Can you imagine your entire class knowing a language you don't? It is a bit unrealistic to ask my students to speak in English the entire 2 hours of my class periods. However, when they aren't speaking English, I have no idea what is being said. I've had to learn Russian curse words fairly quickly.
I teach all ages and all levels of English proficiency. I have students that are adults who want to improve their English and children and teenagers whose parents are forcing them to take the class. On Saturdays I teach a class of 8-10 year olds. The class is meant to be "conversational English." In other words, I have to try to get them to talk for 80 minutes in English. However, this has been a little bit difficult. The first day of this class a girl walked in and I said, "How are you?" She replied, "Ten years old." Last weekend I asked the class, "What did you do last summer?" They replied, "Yes."
Sheri Medlock

SMS Quiz Bowl takes second in science meet

South Middle School Quiz Bowl Number one team took second place in a science competition at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School Tuesday night and missed by one question forcing a playoff for first place.
Team One, consisting of eighth graders Sarah Kessler and Mary Jean Miller and seventh graders Calvin Alumbaugh, Joey Capeheart, and Elaina Warren, won seven matches and lost two, the best finish ever for a South team in the traveling academic challenge.
Alumbaugh correctly answered 30 questions and Capeheart eighth to lead South.
South's Number Two team, consisting of eighth graders Alex Kangethe, Amanda Jones, Nicol McDonald, Matt Cruzan and Andrew Ideker, and seventh grader Danielle Doerr won two games, with Kangethe correctly answering 15 questions.
In the overall competition, after the science meet and a communication arts meet at Carl Junction in October, South Team 1 is in third place out of nine teams, one half-point behind second place College Heights. The team that won both the communication arts and science competitions, Carl Junction 1, is in first place.

The next competition, math, will be held Monday, Jan. 28, at College Heights.

Students reach reading goal; principals get legs waxed

Story and Photo Essay
By SARAH KESSLER and RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Editors

South Middle School students were able to read 1,439 books by Nov 20, far surpassing the goal of 1,200. Therefore, Mr. Ron Mitchell, principal, and Mr. Jarrett Cook, assistant principal, had to wax their legs. Then Mr. Cook buffed Mr. Mitchell's head with his sock. While this was going on the top readers were able to get a close up look on the event. The top readers were:

Mary Jean Miller, Sarah Kessler, Amie Howard, Molly Baker, Anh Nguyen, Ian Mitchell, Chance Ewing, Shalea Purdy, Megan Walls Alexandra Owens, Marissa Shofner, Cayley Hardison, Caleb Wills, Rebekah Walters, Mackenzie Shamblin, Cassie Lloyd, Stesha Hiebert, Aaron Dunaway, Damon Monasco, Emily Yarbbowugh, Thomas Richins, Paiton Anderson, Aaron Daum, Jacob Wyrick, Elaina Warren, Victoria Baker, Anna Johnson, Abby Boss, Ricky Hutchinson, Brandon Coub, and Storm Whittington

Students honored for academic accomplishments

South Middle School students who scored at the advanced or proficient levels on the annual MAP tests last year were honored Monday night at the annual Academic All Stars celebration held in the Joplin High School Auditorium.
The students were introduced by Mr. Ron Mitchell, principal, had their photos taken, and then later received gifts and had refreshments.
Those who were named Academic All Stars were:

Sixth Grade- Desirae Anaya, Mason Atwood, Forrest Barnard, Keenan Beverlin, Joceline Bogarin, Gram Booth, Kenneth Braun, Brendyn Burns, Preston Carpenter, Luis Cepeda, India Coleman, Heather Copeland, David Cox, Drew Cox, Leigh Ann Craig, Lavinia Cure, Khristopher Dailey, Summer Dean, Gavin DePaul, Shelbie DeWitt, Abigail Dial, Aaron Dunaway, Katelyn Earl, Bain Edens, Sammatha Eshom, Johnathon Gibson, Oswaldo Gomez, Kaci Gowen, Kyle Gradwohl, Khaled Graham, Lane Grims, Bailey Hale, Chase Hall, Erica Handy, Cayley Hardison, December Hedge, Sarah Helmberg, Chandler Hendrix, Wesley Hooks, Courtney Huggins, Brittnie Hunter, Colton Johnson, Miranda Kemmery, Spencer Layne, Lauren Leibee, Jawni Lemmons, Jessica Little, Cassandra Lloyd, Joanna Lopez, Amanda Marvin, Chanci McGowen, Nicholas McKay, Bethany Meehl, Robert Metsker, Preston Miller, Michael Munalem, Michael O’Dell, Taryn Parker, Hailee Peek, Amara Pendergraft, Salena Perez, Michael Peterson, Dakota Pilgrim, Dakota Pliler, Malachai Poling, Gannon Purdy, Kahla Quinn, Luke Randolph, David Reed, Kymbre Resler, Austin Romano, Levi Russell, William Rust, Amanda Schilling, Kenya Schmidt, Dominic Searle, Mackenzie Shamblin, Marissa Shofner, Erika Smith, Eric Spicer, Devon Stahl, Matthew Stevens, Christian Still, Alexander Taylor, Ashley Taylor, Cheyenne Thomason, Zachary VanLoon, Brooklyn Vickers, Nicole Walker, Megan Walls, Rebekah Walters, Justice Ward, Alexia Westfall, Martianna Westfall, Sterling White, Caleb Willis, Olivia Willis

Seventh Grade- Torri Ackerson, Calvin Alumbaugh, Jodi Anderson, Victoria Baker, Sierra Bartholomew, Abigail Bass, Eric Bauersfield, Austin Boyd, Lisa Bromley, Alexis Brown, Clayton Brown, Nathan Brummer, Casey Burkhart, Tyler Burkhart, Courtney Burns, Hollis Cady, Dylan Caldwell, Joseph Capeheart, Cole Darby, Aaron Daum, Felisha Derrick, Danielle Doerr, Laila Douglas, Karissa Dowell, Caroline Dutton, Shelby Eaton, Calisha England, Wesley Estes, Eliza Fausto, Trevor Garrett, Caleb Garton, Kelsey Gould, Olivia Hampton, Allison Hankins, Hannah Hare, Alex Hill, Esteban Hinojosa, Brittany Holden, Anna Johnson, Carson Jones, Paula Jones, Kevin Justus, Brandon Laub, Nicholas Laub, Kylie Lewsader, Elisha Mansour, Sherry Marlett, Dustin Martin, Tianna McCarthy, Dominique Michael, Blake Miller, Hunter Mills, Damien Mitchell, Damon Monasco, Chip Munalem, Alexander Musgrave, Curtis Nollner, Morgan Osburn, Michael Oyler, Bethani Patterson, Spencer Patterson, Blake Price, Orlon Quintana, Dakota Reasoner, Rachel Redwine, Stefon Rich, Thomas Richins, Alexandra Ritter, Gabriel Sachetta, Bryson Sexton, Benjamin Story, Logan Terry, Victoria Thompson, Kristin Tippett, Axle Vene, Theodora Voutiritas, Elaina Warren, Ethan Warstler, Andrew Welch, Ashley Wescoat, Allison White, Alex Whittington, Andrew Williams, Emilee Willis, Alexis Woods, Jacob Wyrick, Emily Yarbrough

Eighth Grade- Merisha Alderman, Monica Anderson, Omar Arreola, Stephen Austin, Molly Baker, Nathan Baker, Jonathan Ballard, Kirsti Banning, Abby Bartow, Cody Borgstede, Emylee Brown, Sara Buck, Sara Burns, Taylor Camden, Jordan Chambers, Marcus Clark, Cecil Cornish, Tanner Crawford, Matthew Cruzan, Britteny DeMasters, Breanne Diles, Derek Dillon, Zachary Dorris, Mallory East, Shane Ellis, Gareth Evans, Taylor Fetterman, Brittany Frisbie, Shawn Fronce, Christina Gates, Devyn Hale, Gage Haskew, Levina Hayzlett, Chelsea Hernandez, Zachary Hibbard, Brandon Holman, Amie Howard, Cody Jenkins, Jacob Johnson, Amanda Jones, Heather Jones, Alex Kangethe, Alexander Karns, Katherine Kemmery, Amanda Kennedy, Sarah Kessler, Tera Knight, Allie Lacey, Luke Lenhart, Amanda Liontas, Sydney Long, Itzel Lopez, Hunter Lynn, Richie Lyons, Wade Mathis, Sarah Matthews, Ian McPherson, Mary Jean Miller, Brittany Mitchell, Ian Mitchell, Tori Mitchell, Travis Morris, Kelli Newberry, Anh Nguyen, Billy Nguyen, Holly O’Dell, Olivyah Parker, Logan Perry, Christopher Perry, Sarah Phillips, Caitlyn Pilgrim, Chloe Potts, Shalea Purdy, Blake Putnam, Gilbert Randolph, Sabra Reddell, Andrew Roberts, Bryan Ross, Mariah Sanders, Adam Schilling, Robert Scott, Beau Scroggins, Adrienne Self, Dylan Shaner, Braden Showers, Dalton Smith, Sydney Snider, Shawn Spicer, Sarah Stephens, Bayley Strella, Nathan Stripling, Jeffrey Terry, Raycee Thompson, Brittany Utley, Katherine Uttley, Greggory VanLoon, Kyle Vene, Jamie Walters, Hannah Ward, Dillon Warlaumont, Casee Wheeler, Nichole Yeoman

Wrestling season begins

By SARAH PHILLIPS
Room 210 Staff Writer

Wrestling season began Nov. 8 for South Middle School.
"It makes me feel like a million bucks when I wrestler," eighth grader Yainer Oviedo said. His teammates are: Adam Schilling, Beau Scroggins, Blake Putnam, Logan Terry, Jeffery Terry, and Ian McPherson. The team is coached by David Myers.
The team's next meet will be Nov. 29 against Carl Junction at Memorial, followed by the Seneca Tournament Dec. 1, a match at Lebanon Dec. 6, and the season-ending city championship meet at Memorial.

Kessler, Thompson named Room 210 News Editors

Eighth graders Raycee Thompson and Sarah Kessler have been named Room 210 News editors and will head the 2007-2008 South Middle School Journalism Club, according to sponsor Mr. Randy Turner

"Raycee and Sarah have worked hard this year and have helped this to make this one of our most productive years ever," Mr. Turner said. "They have earned the editing positions and I look forward to seeing what they will accomplish the rest of this year."

SMS observes Veterans Day

By SARAH KESSLER
Room 210 News Editor
South Middle School students learned the true meaning of Veterans Day last week during a brief assembly.
The Joplin High School ROTC Honor Guard posted the colors, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, and a video prepared by Mr. Rocky Biggers, eighth grade social studies teacher honoring veterans from the beginning of the United States to the present.

(Photo by Sarah Kessler)

Mr. Mitchell celebrates birthday

Faculty and staff at South helped Mr. Ron Mitchell, principal, celebrate his birthday last week,, providing him with a cake, card, and gift.

Students collect cans for needy families

South Middle School TAs have been collecting cans to help needy families during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. The collections ended last week. The cans will be used for families of SMS students, according to school officials.

(Joey Capeheart, Elaina Warren, and Alex Kangethe, help sort cans. Room 210 News photo by Tanner Crawford)

Assistant principal completes first round of teacher evaluations

By RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 News Editor

"I love to watch and make sure the teachers are teaching and the students are
learning, said South Middle School Assistant Principal Mr. Jarrett Cook, who just completed his first round of teacher evaluations.

Mr. Cook and Mr. Ron Mitchell, principal, evaluate teachers randomly, formatively (formally, during the fall semester) and summatively (a whole year's summary after a spring observation).
Teachers are evaluated to make sure that students are learning and teachers are teaching.
Mr. Cook doesn't put the teachers down. He is there to help the teachers teach
the students better and encourage them to keep up the good work. The principals
are required to evaulate the teachers. .

On the other hand, teachers don't do anything out of the norm to prepare for
teacher evauations. Teachers are just required to fill out some paperwork for
the principal, which states what the lesson plan is and what objectives they
will be covering. They can also leave special notices in the paperwork as well
for things they want the principal to notice.

Sixty-three SMS students record perfect 4.0 grade point averages

Sixty-three South Middle School students recorded perfect 4.0 grade point averages during the first quarter.
Those who received no grades lower than an A were:

Sixth Grade- Jalen Carter, Heather Copeland, Drew Cox, Leigh Ann Craig, Shelbie DeWitt, Katelyn Earl, Bailey Hale, Cayley Hardison, Chandlar Hendrix, Wesley Hooks, Chanci McGowen, Preston Miller, Michael Munalem, Taryn Parker, Hailee Peek, Stormi Potts, Gannon Purdy, Kymbre Resler, Amanda Schilling, Kenya Schmidt, Mackenzie Shamblin, Marissa Shofner, Scott Simmons, Eric Spicer, Kristen Tyler, Megan Walls.

Seventh Grade- Calvin Alumbaugh, Victoria Baker, Abigail Bass, Lisa Bromley, Ronald Darby, Aaron Daum, Danielle Doerr, Victoria Thompson, Ethan Warstler

Eighth Grade- Molly Baker, Taylor Camden, Brittany Frisbie, Devyn Hale, Amie Howard, Alex Karns, Sarah Kessler, Tera Knight, Lauren Layne, Thomas Loucks, Wade Mathis, Mary Jean Miller, Holly O'Dell, Olivyah Parker, Logan Perry, Shalea Purdy, Sabra Reddell, Mariah Sanders, Adam Schilling, Adrienne Self, Candace Smith, Bayley Strella, Nathan Stripling, Jeffrey Terry, Raycee Thompson, Brittany Utley, Greg VanLoon, Casee Wheeler

First quarter honor rolls trips to be held week after Thanksgiving

First quarter honor roll trips for South Middle School students will be held the week after Thanksgiving, beginning with the sixth grade trip Tuesday, Nov. 27, followed by the seventh grade and eighth grade trips the following two days.

Students who qualified for the trip are:

Eighth Grade- Spencer Abts, Stephen Austin, Molly Baker, Nathan Baker, Kirsti Banning, Abby Bartow, Emylee Brown, Sara Buck, Sara Burns, Tozia Burris, Taylor Camden, Jordan Chambers, Marcus Clark, Cecil Cornish, Matthew Cruzan, Brittney DeMasters, Breanne Diles, Zachary Dorris, Shane Ellis, Dermott Evans, Taylor Fetterman, Tara Fleming, Brittany Frisbie, Shawn Fronce, Taylir Gudgen, Devyn Hale, Dustin Hall, Gage Haskew, Jeffrey Haynes, Aron Hembree, Zach Hibbard, Jessica Highley, Icesus Holland, Brandon Holman, Amie Howard, Ashley Howe, Rachelle Hughbank, Joselyn Irrizary, Jacob Johnson, Amanda Jones, Alex Kangethe, Alex Karns, Amanda Kennedy, Sarah Kessler, Tera Knight, Allie Lacey, Blake Lamb, Lauren Layne, Luke Lenhart, Sydney Long, Thomas Loucks, Hunter Lynn, Jacob Lyons, Austin Mallory, Wade Mathis, Candace McGillvray, Mary Jean Miller, Brittany Mitchell, Ian Mitchell, Tori Mitchell, Travis Morris, Anh Nguyen, Billy Nguyen, Holly O'Dell, Olivyah Parker, Logan Perry, Sarah Phillips, MacKenzy Pierce, William Potter, Chloe Potts, Shalea Purdy, Blake Putnam, Tyra Raby, Gilbert Randolph, Sabra Reddell, Chelci Reed, Andrew Roberts, Bryan Ross, Joshua Ruiz, Mariah Sanders, Adam Schilling, Adrienne Self, Unyajit Sirichok, Candace Smith, Adam Snearly, Shawn Spicer, Brett Stearnes, Bayley Strella, Nathan Stripling, Rebecca Tanner, Raven Taylor, Jeffrey Terry, Raycee Thompson, Latosha Treat, Christian Underwood, Amanda Uselton, Brittany Utley, Katherine Uttley, Greg VanLoon, Kyle Vene, Jamie Walters, Hannah Ward, Michael Webb, Casee Wheeler, Nichole Yeoman

Seventh Grade- Torri Ackerson, John Alumbaugh, Dalton Anderson, Mallory Augustosky, Victoria Baker, Sierra Bartholomew, Abigail Bass, Austin Boyd, Lisa Bromley, Casey Burkhart, Austin Burns, Hannah Cody, Joshua Cochran, Ronald Darby, Aaron Daum, Danielle Doerr, Karissa Dowell, Caroline Dutton, Preston Eafrati, Judith Fausto, Danielle Gideon, Kelsey Gould, Olivia Hampton, Hannah Hare, Christopher Harpole, Taylor Harris, Shanice Hazley, Elisabeth Heimberg, Alex Hill, Esteban Hinojosa, Brittany Hudson, Anna Johnson, Kevin Justus, Brandon Laub, Nicholas Laub, Kylie Lewsader, Shyann Lutes, Tianna McCarthy, Dominique Michael, Hunter Mills, Damon Monasco, Alexander Musgrave, Hailey Oxford, Spencer Peterson, Devin Plassman, Blake Price, Thomas Richins, Alexandra Ritter, Gabriel Sachetta, Krystal Schulze, Bryan Sexton, Victoria Thompson, Theodora Voutiritsas, Elaina Warren, Ethan Warstler, Andrew Welch, Ashley Wescoat, Allison White, Storm Whittington, Emilee Wills, Alexis Woods, Emily Yarbrough

Sixth graders' names will be added when the list is available.

Cheerleaders to perform at wrestling matches

By JORDAN CHAMBERS
Room 210 Staff Writer
This year in South Middle School eighth graders have combined the fall and winter squads, for cheerleading. The squad has eight new cheerleaders. Our eighth grade cheerleaders this year are: Emylee Brown, Sara Buck, Taylor Camden, Jordan Chambers, Lauren Layne, Candace McGillvray, Bayley Strella, and Nichole Yeoman.

Nichole Yeoman says, “ I’m a cheerleader to support my school.”
Emylee Brown says, “ I just love cheerleading.”
Lauren Layne says, “South cheerleaders are looking forward to supporting South wrestlers.”
Their first wresting match will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Middle School.

Seventh graders attended motivational session at high school

By ELAINA WARREN
Room 210 Staff Writer
On November 2nd, the 7th grade students at South Middle School went to Joplin High School and saw a motivational movie that took six months to create. There were many sponsors that helped create this movie,including McDonald’s, MoDot, MSSU, Roper Honda, KOAM, and Fox 14. There were many movie clips involved such as Over the Hedge, How to Eat Fried Worms, Dreamer, Barnyard, Ice Age, Click, Akila and the Bee, Stick It, Monster House, Pirates of the Caribbean 1, 2, and 3, Curious George, Spider Man 1, 2, and 3, and Open Season.
There were also many music artists and musicians involved in this movie, including Destiny’s Child, Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson, Dixie Chicks, Keith Urban, High School Musical Soundtrack, Jack Johnson, Ice Age Soundtrack, Cheetah Girls Soundtrack, and Bethany Dillion.

Sub fills in during Mr. Barnes' absence

By BRITTANY FRISBIE
Room 210 Staff Writer

Mr. Reed Barnes, the South Middle School band teacher, took a three-week leave Monday, Oct. 29. His sub is Mr. Bob Estes, who taught here at South for eight years. Now that he is subbing, the 7th and 8th grade band have a new marching routine.
The band had to relearn the Top Gun Theme. Mr. Estes rewrote the music as a shorter version. The new version will be performed for the first time at the Veterans Day Parade, 10th and Main, Joplin, 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Mr. Estes told the band, "You guys are looking really sharp!"

Unsats to be mailed Friday, Nov. 16

By RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 News Editor

The dreaded unsats (unsatisfactory notices) will be sent out again next week.
Mid-quarter is Nov. 12 and the unsatisfactory notices will be sent out Nov.
16 to people with D's and F's.
The unsats are designed to warn parents of their children's grade.

Basketball teams split with College Heights

South Middle School girls basketball teams split with College Heights Tuesday night with the seventh grade team winning 29-15 and the eighth grade falling 19-17.
Casee Wheeler led the eighth grade with five points, while Holly O'Dell, Mariah Sanders, and Molly Baker added four apiece.

(Photo: Mariah Sanders yanks down an offensive rebound. Also shown for South are Casee Wheeler and Brittany Mitchell.)

Update from Miss Medlock

(Note: Former SMS eighth grade reading teacher Miss Sheri Medlock is providing weekly updates from Russia where she has taken a teaching job.)

Greetings Friends!
Big events this past week:

* After I wrote last week about my new class, it didn't happen. No one showed up. Apparently there was a Halloween party the children all went to, and the director forgot to tell me. However, in 30 minutes my class should start. Maybe.
* Last Saturday home group was again John, Masha, and me.
* Sunday after church I went with the Wolfes to a party for EF. It was quite an experience. The restaurant had Georgian food. Not like the Georgian food I was born with, though.

Struggles this past week:

* I have had a sinus infection all week. Because of this I haven't really done much. I am starting to feel a little better.

Victories this week:

* Despite feeling horrible from the sinus infection, I was able to teach all week. God always gives me the strength to do what I need to do.
* I received my first care package from my friends in Joplin. This was an amazing encouragement all week.

Family:

* Please continue to pray for my grandfather's health.

Daily Walk:

* Though still memorizing 1 Peter, I have also been reading Mark. I'm falling more in love with Jesus.

Ahead this week:

* Home group meets after my English lesson today. Today I expect John and Egor. Masha is out of town. Egor came to our first meeting but hasn't made it since then. I'm encouraged that he is coming today.

Prayer Requests:

* Please pray for my health. I'm not over the sinus infection.
* Pray that I will develop more relationships with those I work with.
* Pray for the home group that God will lead and direct us.

It's been a quiet week. I've slept late then gone to work, not feeling really prepared. But in this time I have felt how completely I am in God's hand. I heard a song this week that said of God "Warm is Your hand." I like that. We often think of God's hand as strong and mighty. But warm has the idea of a hand that strokes your cheek with compassion and love. His hand has been warm.
Sheri

Ervin TA sponsoring Read-A-Thon to help annual promotion

By RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Editor
South Middle School students have two weeks left to reach their reading promotion goal of 1,200 books and they are still quite a few books short. Mrs. Ervin's T.A. has decided to help students reach the goal by sponsoring a read-a-thon, as well as challenging all the other T.A.'s to see which one can have the most people come.
It will be held in the library after school Tuesday, Nov. 13.
Students can bring a blanket and pillow if they wish since they will be there until 8 p.. unless their parents come to get them earlier. During school hours, the blanket and pillow must be kept in the locker.
Mrs. Ervin's T.A. will also provide pizza for anyone who attends.