Photos from the Halloween Dance

Breanna Pace, Jimmie Willerton crowned Pumpkin King and Queen

Sixth grader Breanna Pace and eighth grader Jimmie Willerton were named Pumpkin King and Queen during a ceremony held at the East Middle School Halloween Dance Friday night.

Students voted during lunch time the past two weeks, dropping money in jars for the candidates. According to Mr. Rocky Biggers, Student Council sponsor, the voters contributed enough money to pay for the dance.

East seventh grader Zach Williams, Joplin tornado victim, featured in KOAM segment

Eighth graders win first Talon Ticket battle

By AMY KOCH
Staff Writer

Halloween 2011 was not just candy and trick-or-treating; it was also ice cream and fun at school. The students of East had a Talon Ticket contest where everybody won.
Students get Talon Tickets when they show duty, honor, peace, and pride in their school. When they earn one they put it in a bucket for their grade. The 8th graders came in first with the 6th grade close behind and the 7th grade coming in third. But they all won something.

8th grade got to have a social hour during their second and third hour. During that hour (the class periods were shortened so it really was only an hour) the students got to have ice cream and play outside.

The 7th grade also got ice cream and were allowed to hang out for half and hour.

Sixth grade got to have an hour for a social.

During these socials people hung out, played around, turned in their candy grams for candy, and had to do no work for that class period. The students continue to receive Talon Tickets and they continue to fulfill their duty, to show pride, to share peace, and display honor.

Sixth graders go to Wildcat Glades

By MADISON DURHAM
Staff Writer

The sixth graders went on a field trip to Wild Cat Glades at 201 W. Riviera Rd. Joplin. The sixth graders got to go on the field trip because people gave the school money for us to go.

Here is what Katie Brown had to say “Thanks!” here is some thing Allyson Holtz wanted to say “Thanks. It was the best field trip ever!”

We went on the field trip to learn about water, and pollution. We learned about point source pollution, water cycle, and about how insect can tell you about water pollution.

Brian Murray adds, “It was really fun!”

South Middle School after the May 22 tornado

A video look at an eerie Joplin South Middle School five months after it eas extensively damaged in the Joplin Tornado. More photos will be added later:

EMS band performs at Joplin High School football game

Band members from East, North, and South middle schools performed during pre-game ceremonies Friday night at the Joplin High School football game.

Barry Manilow donates $300,000 of band instruments to Joplin Schools

East Middle School received a truckload of band instruments today to replace those destroyed in the May 22 Joplin Tornado.

The instruments were donated by singer Barry Manilow. East Middle School Roundabout will have photos and information about Mr. Manilow's visit to Joplin today.

The following news release comes from Mr. Manilow's website:

After the most devastating Tornado in the United States in more than fifty years hit Joplin, Missouri this May, bringing hope and joy back to the community became vital. Legendary singer-songwriter Barry Manilow’s non-profit organization, the Manilow Music Project is donating over $300,000 in musical instruments in addition to sponsoring an instrument drive to get even more instruments into the hands of the Joplin High School students. The Manilow Music Project is partnering with local community business Fitterling Dentistry, who will host the drive location in Joplin which will culminate with Barry Manilow onsite for an incredible celebratory delivery and distribution event in Joplin, MO on Thursday, October 27th.

“I know firsthand how invaluable music can be to get you through life’s tough times. It is an honor and a privilege to help these kids after such a disaster,” says Manilow.

New and gently used instruments can be dropped off at the Manilow Music Project donation truck at Fitterling Dentistry, located at 4402 East 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804, Monday – Thursday from 8AM – 5PM and on Friday from 8AM – 11AM through October 26th.

Due to the High School’s additional loss of all sheet music in the tornado, monetary donations are also encouraged and will be accepted to help re-build the music department’s library by purchasing new sheet music for the band, orchestra and vocal students. Checks can be made out to the JHS Music Department and dropped off or mailed to Fitterling Dentistry.

“As a lifelong fan of Barry Manilow’s music and humanitarian efforts, my husband and I are thrilled to work with the Manilow Music Project to help our community,” stated Margie Fitterling of Fitterling Dentistry.

Rick Castor, Music Director for Joplin High School concludes, “We feel very blessed to have an artist of Barry Manilow’s stature committed to helping our students.”

Manilow credits his own secondary school music program as the foundation for a legendary career in music, and considers the Manilow Music Project his chance to share that love of music with thousands of aspiring young musicians. Formed in response to the needs of the local public schools and their severely depleted music programs, the Manilow Music Project highlights the importance of music programs in our schools and has donated millions in instruments and materials to school music programs across the country.

EMS Orchestra performs at Creepy Concert

By BRIAN MURRAY
Staff Writer
The 6th, 7th, and 8th grade East Middle School Orchestra performed at South Middle School Monday in what was called a "Creepy Concert."

Under the direction of Kylee Tripoli it played "Popcorn Prelude," "The Addams Family," "Mysterioso," "SpongeBob Square Pants Theme Song," "Cripple Creek," "Salute To Michel Jackson," an"Rite At Stonehenge."

Playing were: First Violin: Katelynne Yonkers, Amy Walser, Madison Fichtner, James Tupper, Megan Hickey, Shae Hogan Second Violin: MacKenzie Dunn, Bridget Ingham, Quincy Logan, Jade Sterken, Maddison Riddle Third Violin: Bailee Lewis, Lizzy Fowler, Elizabeth Dulinsky, Madison Durham, Shakaylah Rogers Viola: Jessica Pal, Kathryn Brown Cello: Mackenzie Gunderson, Daniel Miller, Austin Tallent

Halloween Dance scheduled for Nov. 4

By EMMA SIMON
Staff Writer


Most East Middle School students are a little confused on the date of the Halloween dance. This year the dance is put on by Student Council on November 4th.

Nominees for the king and queen of the dance are:

6th grade- Breanna Pace, Garret Severs, Stoney Burleson, and Payton Layne

7th grade- Angelea Capehart, Jacy Welch, Kendra Sparrow, Maribel Sparrow, Carly Ball, Malcolm Nason, Ryan Ball, Pavin Winkle, Dante Foote, Aj Velasco, and Dusty Detherage

8th grade- Jennifer Nguyen, Tanner Bartholomew, Madison Nelson, Meggi Augustosky, Maggie Baker, Madison Meinhardt, Lexi Ruddick, Kagan Hoffman, Kaley Moser, Alex Garton, Alex Garton, Logan Springer, Chris Springer, Jimmy Willerton, Natal Bay, Ricky Hedrick, Harry Carpenter, and Taran Augustosky

Voting for king and queen of the Halloween dance ends November 4th.

First pep rally held at new East Middle School facility

An Emma Simon video

Students paint, sign mural

By AMY KOCH
Staff Writer

Students in Mrs. Rachel Hardee's arts classes have painted a mural for our building. Students and faculty members signed the mural during Encore earlier this month.

Kasey Kreager is new EMS sixth grade social studies teacher

By KATHRYN BROWN
Staff Writer

Miss Kathryn Kreager is the new sixth grade social studies teacher at East Middle School.

“I am enjoying my new job! I love interacting with students everyday. I am excited to share my passion for other cultures with students,” said Miss Kreager.

Already the students have learned continents, oceans, latitude and longitude, and much more. Over the course of the year, the students will learn maps and globes, other cultures, economics, and the geography and politics of the United States.

This is Miss K’s first teaching job. She was an intern in Northwest Arkansas last year.

Miss Kreager’s birthday is in July. And to celebrate, she goes swimming. She also lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas, which is 80 miles from Joplin. She says, “Sometimes I feel like I live in my car.”

Miss Kreager is excited to be part of East.

A little information about our new vice principal, Mister Weaver

By EMMA SIMON
Staff Writer
Mr. Jason Weaver, brand new vice principal, taught social studies last year at EMS and has been with the Joplin School District since 2002.

 Mr. Weaver said, “I like both teaching social studies and being the vice principal the same.”


A few other things you may not know about Mr. Weaver:

-“I like to hang out with my son, fencing, and rock climbing when I have free time," he said.

-He loves to eat at Japanese Steakhouse in Springfield.

-He doesn’t care much for pro football,  "but I like to watch the Joplin Eagles!" he said.

Eagle Code helps students for the rest of their lives

By JUSTIN GRAY and MACKENZIE DUNN
Staff Writers

Eagle code at East Middle School is Duty, Honor, Peace, and Pride

“Eagle Code is a good way for students to know what the teachers expect from the students,” said Mr. Jason Weaver, assistant principal.

“ Eagle Code will help the students behave not only in school but for the rest of their lives. “

Ms. Crystal Stokes, FACS teacher, believes that the Eagle Code is amazing and that it gives pride to our school and it gives the students a goal. It gives the teachers a way to recognize the students.

"Lean on Me" will be theme for Color Guard, Band

By SHYLA ALLENDER
Staff Writer
This year East Middle School Color Guard will be in four parades. They are the MSSU Homecoming, Maple Leaf Parade, Veterans Day Parade, and Christmas Parade.

The people who are in color guard this year are:

Annie Lee, Bonnie Johnson, Breanna Good, Carissa Scalia, Emmalea Dailey, Jade Sterkin, Keisha Grunden, Katelynne Yonkers, Lizzy Fowler, Marlee Lake, Michaela Brewerm Samantha Dorsey

Ms. Lara Stamper would like to thank the people who was very nice to give them new flags for this year. The song for this year is “Lean on Me.“

Band Director Mr. Nicholas Moore thought it was a fitting for this year.

Communication arts students to write book about first year at new East, Joplin Tornado

By EMMA SIMON, MADISON DURHAM, AND MACKENZIE DUNN
Staff Writer

East Middle School communication arts teachers Mr. Randy Turner, Mrs. Angel Mense, and Mrs. Nina English and their students are doing a big project this year.

Mr. Turner, eighth grade writing teacher said, “Our students will be writing a book about the first year at our new East Middle School since the tornado forced us to move to a warehouse."

Students will also write about their tornado experiences. The book will be published some time next summer.

Plans are also being made to make a movie about the first year at East Middle School.

Brooke Parker, former East students, featured in article

East Middle School student Brooke Parker and former East students DeVaughan Simmons and Bonnie Ardrey are featured in an article posted today on the St. Louis Jewish Light website:

Twelve-year-old Brooke Parker is one of many Joplin teenagers left without a place to go this semester. Her school, East Middle School, lost both its gym and roof. Its building is not structurally capable for the upcoming school year, so for now, Brooke attends seventh grade in a warehouse.

"I [didn't] know what to expect, especially with gym and choir and extracurricular activities," Brooke said.

While East Middle School suffered extreme damage, Joplin High School was destroyed completely. Bonnie Ardrey and DiVaughn Simmons, both 14-year-old freshmen, were eager to start high school there. But because of the deadly tornado, they now go to Memorial Middle School instead.

"I was excited to go to the new high school, but [now I'm] bummed about going back to middle school. I wanted to experience what my other family [members] did but I'm not going to be able to now," Bonnie said.

DiVaughn may not go to school in Joplin at all. His family is considering moving to Summer Creek, Texas, but no decision has been made.

Though DiVaughn's example is extreme, it is not uncommon for Joplin students to move where schools will better meet their needs.

"Most of my friends are moving to another school district," Bonnie said.

Forty-five playing football for East

Forty-five East Middle School seventh and eighth graders are playing football this year.

Seventh grade- Ethan Armstrong, Trinton Cole, Tony Consier, Dustin Detherage, Mark Duley, Matthew Dumas, Dante Foote, Carson Hopper, Joshua Hulsey, Colby Kimbrough, Walker Lutes, Contrae Rogers, Kerry Stadler, Joseph Thomas, Abraham Velasco, Colton Williams.

Eighth grade- Justin Armstrong, Taran Augustosky, Natal Bay, Nate Canales, Josh Cole, Marcus Damrill, Tajee Fantroy, Dantee Figueroa, Mason Finnell, Eddie Garcia, Josiah Garcia, Haden Garten, Alex Garton, Colton Harbin, Ricky Hedrick, Tristen Howell, Andrew Lara, Denver Lantz, Darius Lewis, Eli Lounis, Omar May, Zach Phillips, Kennan Robinson, Alejandro Santillan, Justin Schneikert, Austin Still, James Tupper, Jesse Walls, Ishman Wilson

School beginning accompanied by safety, disaster drills

School began last week at East and so did required safety and disaster drills.

Students toured the new tornado shelter building, then had an opportunity to try it out during a walk-through Monday. The first tornado drill will be held Friday during Encore.

The first combination fire drill/reverse evacuation drill, and lockdown drill was held Wednesday.

Ribbon cutting held at East Middle School

Eighth grader Maddie Fichtner: Tornado brought me a lot closer to my mom

An Associated Press article on the return to school in Joplin featured a quote from East Middle School eighth grader Maddie Fichtner:

At East Middle School, which was relocated to a converted warehouse on the outskirts of town, students agreed that some things were unchanged: Cafeteria food still tasted terrible. Kids got lost on their way to class. And the odor of pet food from the factory across the street was gross.

Younger students, too, said they relate differently to each other — and to their parents — after surviving the disaster.

"It brought me a lot closer to my mom," said Madeline Fichtner, 13, who described riding out the storm without initially knowing whether her mother was safe.

School officials brought in additional counselors and trauma workers to help students and families who may still be struggling in the storm's aftermath.

"We can build buildings, but the emotional damage that this storm has caused is of a very significant concern and something we're going to be watching closely for months, if not years," Superintendent C.J. Huff said.

Gov. Jay Nixon visits East Middle School on first day

In this photo, taken by the state photographer, Gov. Jay Nixon talks with East Middle School students as they held the first day of school in their temporary facility.

CNN program examines opening of school year in Joplin

This CNN Student News video examines the first day of school in the Joplin School District and includes an interview with Joplin High School, and former South Middle School, student Yainer Oviedo. The part about Joplin comes near the end of the video:



The transcript from CNN is featured below:


Sound Check

RACHEL NEFF, JOPLIN TORNADO SURVIVOR: You could hear the home shaking. Everything busting out. We got down. He was between me; Zach was hunched over us and we were just, you know, praying, screaming and, you know, it was very loud and it all happened so fast. It seemed like forever, but it happened very fast.

Learning in a Disaster Zone

AZUZ: Those folks were talking about this massive tornado that tore through the city of Joplin, Missouri in May. It was the deadliest single tornado in the United States in more than 60 years, and it left huge parts of the city in ruins. Joplin and its residents are still recovering, but life for some is slowly returning to normal. For example, today's the first day of school for Joplin's students. But even that -- going to school -- has changed drastically since the storm. Shannon Travis was in Joplin recently. He took a look at what it's like to learn in a disaster zone.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They hope to be typical kids again after an unimaginable hell. Children and teenagers coping after the country's single deadliest tornado.

LYDIA MCALLISTER, SENIOR, JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL: Every time I drive by it, it's still really sad. All the memories and all the friends that I made in these halllways.

YAINER OVIEDO, SENIOR, JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL: Sad knowing that you won't be able to spend your last year of high school here.

SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: School surveillance video shows the tornado reducing two schools to virtually nothing. In minutes, 10 school buildings were damaged or destroyed, including Joplin's only high school.

DR. C.J. HUFF, JOPLIN SCHOOLS, SUPERINTENDENT: That next morning we came to the realization we had 54 percent of our kids who had no place to go, about 4,200 out of 7,747.

TRAVIS: This new school year, high school students will split up. Ninth and 10th graders will go to an existing middle school. The upper-classmen will attend classes at this mall. Yes, it's a mall. Ninety-five thousand square feet, a cost of $5.5 million to convert an old retail store. Officials say it was the only place big enough. Rising seniors Yainer Oviedo and Lydia McAllister accompanied me to their new, 21st century school. It has open spaces, walls that move.

CHAD GREER, LEAD ARCHITECT, CGA ARCHITECTURE PLANNING DESIGN: The entire space can be opened up into one larger, collaborative space.

OVIEDO: That's really cool how they have it as a dry erase board as well.

TRAVIS: A fitness center, and a coffee shop run by the students. Every one of these kids will get laptops. But how will students focus on learning? Doctor Syed Husain is a professor at the University of Missouri. A child psychologist, he's been to over 80 disaster zones. He helps children learn, even when death and disaster surround them.

DR. SYED A. HUSAIN, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI HEALTH CARE: When that kid or person is saying, "I don't want to hear about it anymore," what is going on there? Avoidance! We are training teachers as therapists.

TRAVIS: Husain says children learning in any disaster zone can suffer declining grades, depression, flashbacks and nightmares. They will get help.

OVIEDO: I don't know how someone my age goes through something like this without having problems.

TRAVIS: And yet, this entire community wants the children to be children again.

So, this is it. This is the moment right here that a lot of these children have been waiting for. This is the freshman kickoff. A lot of these kids are right here; you'll hear them kind of rallying right now. They're excited and, basically, they want to put the memory of the storm behind them, although a lot of their personal lives may still be in turmoil. For Education Overtime, I'm Shannon Travis.

Former SMS student Amanda Holcombe tells Joplin Tornado story

Marcus Dupree, former NFL players speak to Joplin middle school football players

First East Middle School Family Reunion is a success

East Middle School students and parents received their first look at their temporary facility Thursday night during a family reunion held on the school grounds.

Student Council members provided tours, while food, entertainment, and carnival games were set up in the parking lot and across the street.

School is scheduled to begin Wednesday, August 17.

The temporary facility, located at 26th and Prigmore in an industrial park, is a spec building paid for by the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce to attract business to the city.

East Middle School prepares for new year in new facility

After the May 22 tornado destroyed much of our school, Joplin R-8 officials worked to secure new facilities for East. Beginning next Wednesday, we will have sachool in our temporary facility in the industrial park at 26th and Prigmore.

An open house will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Monday, August 15.

All of the East family is invited to a reunion 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, August 11, at the school. Tours of the school wiil be given, dinner will be served, and entertainment will include Mr. Turner's band, Natural Disaster.

East Middle School Picnic set for Thursday, August 11

(From East Middle School)

Spread the word! East Middle School will host the inaugural East Middle Family Reunion on August 11, from 6 to 9 pm. All East Middle School students and their families are invited to attend. The event will take place at the temporary East Middle School facility at 7501 E. 26th Street, Joplin, Mo.

The East Family Reunion will be an exciting kick-off to the 2011-2012 school year. With a theme like "Family Reunion" you can count on a great dinner, live music, (including Mr. Turner's group, Natural Disaster) fun and games for the whole family! You won't want to miss it!

Activities will include volleyball, dunk tank, pie eating contest, bounce house, sno-cones, popcorn, face painting and much more! Several informational booths will be available to parents and students to help with answers to questions about athletics, PTO, and more. Tours of the facility will be available if the keys to the building have been released to the Joplin R-8 School District.

Most family reunions are pot luck; however, we're fortunate enough to have our whole meal catered. So, for a little fun, we're having the world's first ever Food-Less Pot Luck. Please bring a recipe card with the ingredients and directions for the dishes you would have brought to a real pot luck! Include your East Middle School student's name and grade. You may very well see your recipes published later in the year.
Parking will be available at the school parking lots and in the streets around the school. Hampshire has been gracious enough to let us use some of their precious green space for the event.

For more information on the East Family Reunion, please e-mail EMS_PTO@hotmail.com or look up East Middle School PTO on Facebook.

Superintendent: Missing our August 17 deadline is not an option

(From the Joplin School District)

Sixty-two percent of Joplin Schools' students have been displaced due to the May 22 EF-5 tornado. Through partnerships with area architecture firms and construction companies, Joplin Schools will be ready for school on August 17.

"Missing our August 17 deadline is not an option," comments Dr. C.J. Huff, Superintendent of Joplin Schools. "Because of the dedication of the architects and construction companies working with us, we will be ready to welcome our students back to class 58 days from now."

The architecture and construction firms working with Joplin Schools on temporary facility projects are listed below:

•Cecil Floyd Elementary School - PLJBD Architects and R.E. Smith Construction Company are working to repair the damaged Cecil Floyd Elementary School to be ready for students by the beginning of school.

•East Middle School - The temporary facility for East Middle School is an empty 50,000 square foot warehouse located at Crossroads Industrial Park, 7501 East 26th Street. PLJBD Architects and Crossland Construction Company are working on renovating this facility to house approximately 550 students.

•Franklin Technology Center - SDA Architects and R.E. Smith Construction Company are transforming an empty warehouse at 402 South Grand into the new temporary Franklin Technology Center.

•Joplin High School - The Shopko facility is gearing up to temporarily house 11th and 12th grade students until the new Joplin High School is complete. Corner Greer & Associates in conjunction with DLR Group is responsible for the 21st century design of this 80,000 square foot facility. Crossland Construction Company is working to completely transform this space for students.

•Roi S. Wood Campus - The former Joplin Schools Roi S. Wood Administration Building, located at 1717 E 15th Street, will be transformed into classrooms for Beacon School and the Joplin High School FLEX Program thanks to PLJBD Architects and R.E. Smith Construction Company.

An examination of tornado damage at East Middle School

These photos were taken two days after the May 22 tornado which prematurely ended classes in the Joplin R-8 School District for the 2010-2011 school year:

Goodbye to Mr. Cook: former assistant principal takes over at Jefferson Elementary

Mr. Jarrett Cook, who has been assistant principal at first South Middle School and then East for the past three years, has left us to become principal at Jefferson Elementary.

A tribute to Mr. Cook had been planned for the final day assembly, which, of course, was canceled following the tornado.

This post features some of the photos that would have been included in that tribute. Good luck, Mr. Cook!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Among other items brought up at the meeting:

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

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

School surveillance camera shows tornado hitting East Middle School

JEMS gives final performance in East Middle School Auditorium

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

The final band concert in the EMS Auditorium

School year ends differently for East students

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

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

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

East Middle School cheerleaders excel at camp

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

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

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

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

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

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

Obituary information for Zach can be found at this link.

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

(From the Joplin R-8 School District)

Temporary School Locations Announced

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

By RYLEE HARTWELL

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please help me welcome David and Debra Humphreys.

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

Rebuilt East Middle School will have FEMA-approved tornado shelter

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

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

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

Duquesne teacher tells tornado story

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