Journalism Club commercials to air Monday, May 22

The three public service messages the SMS Journalism Club taped May 11 for Fox 14 will be shown between 5 and 6 p.m. Monday, May 22, during "Malcolm in the Middle" and "King of the Hill," according to Darren Dishman of Fox 14.
The messages will air all summer, Dishman said, but the May 22 date is one in which he can guarantee that all three will be shown in the same hour.
More information about the messages and photos can be found at this link.

Seventh graders visit Prairie State Park

By DYLAN PRAUSER
Room 210 Staff Writer
Seventh graders had the opportunity to see nature in its primitive state Wednesday when they took a field trip to Prairie State Park near Liberal.
In addition to wild grasses, and prairie that looks as it may have looked hundreds of years ago, the students had the chance to see some of the buffalo that roam the park and learn valuable lessons about science.
(Pictured: SMS seventh graders visited a home where the buffalo roams; students listen to one of the guides at Prairie State Park. Room 210 photos by Dylan Prauser)

Stehm to appear in local theater production

South Middle School eighth grader Clayton Stehm will appear in the Stained Glass Theatre production of "Cheaper by the Dozen," scheduled for 7:30 p.m. today and Friday and 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 26, and Saturday, May 27.
The play is based on the true story of a couple raising 12 children.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children aged 4 to 13 and free for children 3 and under. Reservations are required. For more information, call 417-624-1982.

Coach Burr's last day is Friday

By ALEX NEEDHAM
Room 210 Staff Writer
A familiar face will be missing from South Middle School next fall.
Coach Robert Burr's last day is Friday, then he will begin his retirement.
Coach Burr says he will miss South. "Absolutely, the teachers and principals are great; this is the best school I've been at in my 25 years at Joplin."
He also has positive things to say about the students. "Ninety-nine percent of them have been good." With the other one percent, he said, he handled them by "making them realize they are at school and they should behave while they are here."
Coach Burr got into teaching "so I could coach," he said. "I like teaching P. E. It is one of the true necessary subjects in school."
Coach Burr's role model is his dad. "I've always tried to be a good person just like him."
Though he will miss the people at South, Coach Burr says is time for him to retire. "I'm ready to move on and try something different, but I'm sure going to miss it."

SMS Guitar Club featured in Joplin Daily

The South Middle School Guitar Club, sponsored by Mrs. Karensue Hensley, counselor, was featured in a story in the Joplin Daily this week.
Eighth grader Blake Mills is shown in a Joplin Daily photo.

SMS Vocal Program scheduled for Thursday night

South Middle School students received a sampling of the vocal talents of their classmates Tuesday during TA as the sixth grade choir and the seventh and eighth grade choir performed numbers from the spring program.
The program will be held 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the school auditorium.
(Photos- Top: The seventh and eighth grade choir receives applause following a number. Eighth grader Lauren Bynum excelled during her solo. Choir members sing. Room 210 photos by Tiana Clemons)

TA Egg Drop held

By MADDISON BILLINGS
and TIANA CLEMONS
Room 210 Staff WritersStudents (and eggs) were left shell-shocked following the annual TA Egg Drop competition last week.
The students prepared boxes and containers to hold their eggs, hoping the eggs would not break after Mr. Jason Weaver dropped them off the school roof. Nearly a dozen eggs survived the deadly drop.
(Photos: Eighth grade Student Council member Garrett Dowell and council sponsor Mr. Rocky Biggers celebrate as their egg survives its crash landing. Mr. Jason Weaver launches another egg to its doom, proving that sometimes even in school Grade A is not the best. Photos by Maddison Billings)

TA Champ of Champs honored

A pizza party was held fourth hour Tuesday for 28 students who were named champ of champs for their TAs. Each month a champ has been named for each TA to honor a student who has worked hard in the TA. The champ of champ was chosen from that group.
In addition to the party, the students received certificates commemorating their accomplishments.
Those selected were:
Molly Baker, Joseph Bennett, Maddison Billings, Jessica Cashion, Mayra Castaneda, Tiana Clemons, Halie Endicott, Josh Frazier, MacKenzie Freeman, Bret Gibson, Christy Hernandez, Amanda Jones, Tera Knight, Kelley Leach, Sydney Long, Breanna Martin, Andrew Mays, Ian Mitchell, Amanda Needham, Cody Sadler, Mollie Sanders, Ashlie Shimmin, Alisha Shofner, Victoria Smith, Bayley Strella, Tevin Triplett, Dayton Whitehead, Ken Zhang.
(Photos: Molly Baker enjoys pizza. Groups of TA champs are shown during the party.)

Final rehearsal held for talent show

The final rehearsal for the annual South Middle School Talent Show was held after school Tuesday.
The combination talent show and awards assembly will begin at approximately 9:15 a.m. Friday and last until the end of the school, ending with 1 10-minute video covering events of the past school year.
(Photo: Eighth grader Mary White practices her flute solo.)

Peer tutors chosen for 2006-2007

Peer tutors for the 2006-2007 school year have been chosen at South Middle School.
The tutors work with students who need help with their classwork.
Those named were:
Hannah Doerge, Jacquelin Bogarin, Tylor Camden, Gina Casada, Jordan Chambers, Steven Denmark, Breanne Diles, James Hill, Amie Howard, Kylie Hurrell, William Ideker, Alex Karns, Sarah Kessler, Lauren Layne, Grant Lewis, Syndey Long, Mary Jean Miller, Amanda Needham, Anh Nguyen, Holly O'Dell, Allen Peterson, Cindy Pham, Chloe Potts, Mariah Sanders, Alex Smith, Victoria Smith, Shawn Spicer, Bayley Strella, Savanah Sweeton, Kyle Wentz, Dayton Whitehead, Katelynn Wood, Shandera Workman

Practice held for talent show

The second practice for the annual South Middle School Talent Show was held after school today. The show is scheduled to be held Friday, May 19, the last day of the 2005-2006 school year.
A dress rehearsal will be held after school Tuesday. The program is under the direction of Ms. Julie Yonkers and Mr. Rocky Biggers.
(Photo: Seventh graders Hannah Doerge and Taylor Tressler rehearse their number.)

Navarre wins SMS Short Story Contest

Eighth grader Fox Navarre made a clean sweep of the South Middle School writing contests, taking first place in the annual Short Story Contest.
Earlier, Miss Navarre won the Essay Contest and the Eighth Grade Poetry Contest. She will receive $15 for her short story, "And That's How." Other winners were:
2. Tiffani Gilbert $10
3. Mary White $5
4. Ashton White $3
5. MacKenszee Roberts $2
6. Madison Pollack $1
7. Jessica Erwin $1
8. Garrett Dowell $1
9. Paco Gonzalez $1
10. Steven Denmark $10 (top seventh grader
Also placing in the top 20 were: Sierra Hutchinson $1,Danielle Kleeman $1, Alivia Sherrick $1, Amanda Jones $1, Shawn Spicer $1 Rachelle Hughbank $1, Alex Kangethe $10 (top sixth grader).
The students will receive their money next week, according to Mr. Randy Turner, chairman of the SMS Writing Improvement Committee.

Teachers, staff honored during assembly

By MADDISON BILLINGS and
TIANA CLEMONS
Room 210 Staff Writers
Mrs. Joyce Hale, Mr. Jason Weaver, and Mr. Mike Wallace were named teachers of the year during the first Teacher Appreciation Ceremony, sponsored by the SMS Student Council this morning.
The teachers were chosen by students during a vote in TA last week.
The program featured a video tribute to faculty, administrators, and staff. The idea for the assembly came from Student Council President Garrett Dowell and eighth grade council members Tamera Zajac. Miss Zajac and eighth grade council member Lauren Bynum came up with the idea of presenting the winning teachers with gift certificates.
The following awards were presented:
Best dancing duo- Mrs. Angela Mense, Mrs. Maribel Chairez
Best/worst jokes- Mr. Randy Turner
Disco Ball Head- Mr. Ron Mitchell
Best under your breath language- Ms. Julie Yonkers
Special Education Department award- Mrs. Kathy Weaver, Mrs. Brenda Fenix, Mrs. Linda Fisher
Sixth Grade teacher of the year- Mrs. Joyce Hale
Seventh Grade teacher of the year- Mr. Jason Weaver
Eighth grade teacher of the year- Mr. Mike Wallace
The Student Council plans to make the awards assembly an annual event.
(Photos: From top: Mr. Jason Weaver, social studies teacher receives his award as seventh grade teacher of the year; Mrs. Angela Mense and Miss Maribel Chairez are honored as the "dancing duo." Mr. Mike Wallace was named eighth grade teacher of the year. Room 210 photos by Maddison Billings)

Journalism Club tapes public service messages

The importance of writing was emphasized by South Middle School Journalism Club members as they taped three public service messages for Fox 14 after school today. The messages are part of the station's "Think About It" campaign.
Eighth graders Maddison Billings and Fox Navarre read messages concerning the importance of writing, while eighth grader Alex Needham stressed how liberty means responsibility in a third message.
After each student read her message, Journalism Club members said, "Think about it." The messages will air throughout the summer, according to Darren Dishman of Fox 14.
(Photos- Darren Dishman of Fox 14 tapes Alex Needham's message. Journalism Club members say, "Think about it," following one of the messages. Front row, left to right, Chelsea Moore, Sabrina Rogers, Krystal Ford, Christy Hernandez; second row, Danielle Kleeman, Grace Randolph, Becca Mascher, Tiana Clemons, Rose Garduno, Roni Leonard, Christen Cool; third row, Kane McCaslin, Dylan Prauser, Jacob Oviedo, Ashton White, Gabby Londe; bottom photo, Maddison Billings tapes her message.)

Talent show set for last day of school

By KRYSTAL FORD
Room 210 Staff Writer
A South Middle School tradition will continue on Friday, March 19, the last day of school, when the annual talent show and awards assembly is held in the school auditorium.
The students who will perform were selected at tryouts recently. Eighth grader Mary White said she will play the flute, while Arlisa Arwood and Lauren Bynum will sing.
Other acts will be featured, involving sixth, seventh, and eighth grade performers and teachers. The school's band and vocal groups are also scheduled to entertain.
Awards are scheduled to be presented for citizenship, conservation, reading, and writing, among other things. At the end of the assembly, students will watch a video presentation of highlights of the 2005-2006 school year, then will be dismissed for the summer.
(Photo: Seventh grader Amanda Needham will be among those performing at the annual talent show Friday, May 19.)

New Expressions entertain during assembly

New Expressions, a Joplin High School singing group consisting of freshmen and sophomores, entertained SMS students during a fourth hour assembly Wednesday.
The group included many former South students.
(Photos: From top South alumni Nikki Burkett and Josh Thiele, right, were among the New Expressions performers. Male and female singers are shown in the other photos.)

Quiz Bowl team defeats teachers

By CHELSEA MOORE and
SABRINA ROGERS
Room 210 Staff Writers
The South Middle School Quiz Bowl team defeated the teachers 140-130 during TA Wednesday. It was the third straight year in which the student team beat the faculty.
"It feels great," said seventh grader Dylan Prauser, who teamed with eighth grader Jessica Cashion to answer most of the 14 questions handled correctly by the student team. "It's a surprise to beat the teachers. The team performed very well."
Though the students took an early lead, the contest was tied 70-70 at halftime.
The secret to the students' success was simple," Prauser said. "We practiced hard."
Despite the loss, Mr. Rocky Biggers, eighth grade social studies teacher, said, "I enjoyed it. We have a good quiz bowl team. I'm happy with the way the students performed and the teachers had a good time"
(Photos: Quiz Bowl members seated, from left, are: Jessica Cashion, MacKenszee Roberts, Dylan Prauser and Liz Hernandez. Other Quiz Bowl members participating included: Kane McCaslin, Mallory Fuller, Leif Larson, Steven Williams, Tiana Clemons, and Maddison Billings. At right, the teachers' team included Mr. Rocky Biggers, Mrs. Linda Weaver, Ms. Lara Stamper, Ms. Kathy Weaver, and Mr. Reed Barnes. Photos by Alex Needham)

Journalism Club to be featured on Fox 14

The SMS Journalism Club will tape a commercial for Fox 14 after school Thursday, according to Mr. Randy Turner, sponsor.
A crew from the station will be at the club's weekly meeting to tape a public service message for Fox 14's "Think About It" campaign.

Quiz bowl team to square off against faculty

Members of the South Middle School Quiz Bowl team will face a faculty team this morning during TA. It will be the last meet of the year for the team, which is under the direction of Mr. Jason Weaver and Mr. Randy Turner.

South, R-8 teachers receive 5.5 percent pay increases

The Joplin R-8 Board of Education gave pay increases averaging 5.5 percent to faculty members for the 2006-2007 school year. More information can be found in this Joplin Globe article and in this article from the Joplin Daily.