New superintendent outlines future of Joplin R-8 School District

New superintendent Dr. C.J. Huff outlined his vision of the future of the Joplin R-8 School District during opening day ceremonies Thursday, Aug. 14, in the high school auditorium:

PTO buys t-shirts for every South student

The PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) of South Middle School bought t-shirts for every SMS student.
The shirts were handed out during TA Thursday.

Fox Navarre to appear in "Jake's Women" at Stone's Throw Dinner Theatre

Joplin High School junior Fox Navarre, a former SMS student, will appear in the Stone's Throw Dinner Theatre production of Jake's Women.

"The show is about a writer, Jake, who is going through his mid-life crisis and to deal with it he writes these scenes in his head with people that he actually knows," Fox said. "When the women in his mind begin to take over he realizes that he needs to stop living in the past and in his mind so that he'll move ahead and stop hurting the people around him. It's very touching."

The production begins Sept. 4, with performances scheduled for Sept. 5, 6, 12, 13, and 14. The cast also includes Fox's mother, Shanti Navarre.

The admission price is:
Ages 17-54: $20. Seniors (55 & over): $19. Youth (under 16): $17. Ages 5 and under: Free.
Groups of 10 or more: $1 discount per person

The theatre is located at 796 South Stone Lane, Carthage. For more information, call 417-358-9665, or e-mail info@stonesthrowdinnertheatre.org

(Photo: Fox Navarre in a rehearsal for the recent Stone's Throw Theatre production of Bus Stop- Joplin Globe)

Volleyball team to open play Sept. 11

South Middle School volleyball season will open Thursday, Sept. 11, with the seventh grade team playing Memorial at Memorial Hall and the eighth grade playing at Memorial Middle School. The remainder of the schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, Sept. 16- Seventh grade at Carthage Annex, Eighth grade at Carthage Junior High

Thursday, Sept. 18- College Heights 7th and 8th grade A teams at Joplin

Monday, Sept. 22- South 7th at Webb City Middle School, eighth grade at Webb City Junior High

Tuesday, Sept. 23- 7th/8th A and B teams at Carl Junction

Thursday, Sept. 25- 7th grade at Anderson Elementary gym, Eighth Grade at Anderson Middle School

Monday, Sept. 29- 7th grade against Memorial at Memorial Hall, 8th Grade against Memorial at Memorial Middle School

Thursday, Oct 2- Neosho seventh grade against South at Memorial Hall, 8th grade at Memorial Middle School

Saturday, Oct 4- Seneca Tournament

Monday, Oct. 6- Nevada 7th at Memorial Hall, 8th at Memorial Middle School

Monday, Oct. 13/Tuesday, Oct. 14- Tri-County Tournament, seventh grade at Carthage Junior High, eighth grade at Memorial Middle School

SMS/NMS football to open Sept. 16 at Carthage

The opening game of the 2008 season for the South/North Middle School team is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 16 at Carthage. The remainder of the schedule is as follows:

Thursday, Sept. 28- Columbus, Kan., at South/North (A squads only)
Tuesday, Sept. 30- Memorial 7th A/B at South/North
Thursday, Oct. 2- Memorial 8th A/B at South/North
Tuesday, Oct. 7- 7th A/B at Carl Junction
Thursday, Oct. 9- 8th A/B at Carl Junction
Tuesday, Oct. 14- 7th A/B at Nevada
Thursday, Oct. 16- 8th A/B at Nevada
Tuesday, Oct 21- McDonald County 7th A/B at Joplin
Thursday, Oct. 23- McDonald County 8th A/B at Joplin

All South/North home games are played at Junge Stadium.

Teacher of the Year speaks to R-8 employees

Joplin R-8 School District Teacher of the Year John Rutledge was one of the featured speakers Thursday morning when all R-8 school employees opened the 2008-2009 school year with a rally in the high school auditorium:

SMS teacher interviewed on Detroit radio program

Mr. Randy Turner, eighth grade communication arts at South Middle School, was interviewed about teachers communicating with students through MySpace and Facebook Thursday on the Mitch Albom Show on WJR Radio in Detroit. With Albom in China for the Olympics, Mr. Turner was interviewed by guest host Steve Courtney.

The seven-minute interview can be accessed through this podcast

Overlooked video from end-of-year talent show

While going through the archives, I came across this video of the SMS Choir eighth graders, taken by Mary Jean Miller, which was not included in the coverage of the end-of-the-year talent show:

Students, parents welcomed at annual Open House

The final beginning of the year open house at South Middle School is taking place as this is being written.
Parents and students are picking up packets and scheduled in the cafeteria and being served refreshments. At 7 p.m., Mr. Ron Mitchell, principal, will give the traditional welcome, and then parents and students will visit classrooms and talk with teachers until 8 p.m.

Library Activities Board helps with open house

South Middle School's Library Activities Board (LAB) is helping with tonight's Open House.

Moments ago, the students enjoyed pizza and refreshments. They are about to begin conducting tours and helping parents and students find their way around the school.

Former SMS student Jordyn McCutcheon leads Joplin High cheerleaders during back-to-school pep rally

Joplin High School senior cheerleading captain Jordyn McCutcheon led the cheers this morning as the squad welcomed Joplin R-8 staff back to work after summer vacation. The cheer squad also included former SMS student Ashlea Smith.

New teachers meet to prepare for first year at South

New teachers at South Middle School met this afternoon in the second floor conference room to go over plans for the 2008-2009 school year.
The meeting was under the direction of Mrs. Barb Rooker.
New teachers at South are: Stephanie Artinger, Kathy Baker, Stephen Garrett, Jeanetta Moss, and Bridgette Titus.

Teachers hold back-to-school meeting in art room

South Middle School faculty members returned to duty today, attending a pep rally for all Joplin R-8 personnel and departmental meetings in the morning.

The afternoon featured a back-to-school meeting at South with faculty gathering in the Mrs. Jamie Washburn's art room.

Another meeting will be held Friday morning.

Mrs. Williams receives Golden Wing award

Mrs. Jean Williams, secretary to the principal at South Middle School, received the Golden Wing Award during ceremonies this morning in the Joplin High School Auditorium.
Mrs. Williams has been at South for seven years.
The Golden Wing awards were presented to the top support staff person at each school in the Joplin R-8 School District.

South Middle School staff prepares for 2008-2009 school year

South Middle School staff members have been busy preparing the school for the opening of the 2008-2009 school year.

Teachers, though they officially report back to work Thursday, have been preparing their rooms since the beginning of August. Open house will be held 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, starting with parents and students picking up schedules and packets, followed by a welcome from Mr. Ron Mitchell, principal; and about 50 minutes when parents and students can meet with teachers in the classrooms.

(Photos- Ms. Areke Worku, seventh grade math, prepares her classroom; Mr. Mitchell, and Mr. Jarrett Cook, assistant principal, meet with new teachers Ms. Stephanie Artinger, special education; Ms. Kathy Baker, seventh grade reading/communication arts; Ms. Megan Jasper, seventh grade social studies; Bridgette Titus, special education. Not present for photo, Stephen Garrett, technology; Jeanetta Moss, computers)

A blast from the past

I just located the DVD of the public service messages the 2006-2007 South Middle School Journalism Club did for Fox 14's "Think About It" series. Enjoy!

Aron Hembree wins third place in Joplin Public Library writing contest

Former South Middle School student Aron Hembree, who will be a freshman at Joplin High School this fall, captured third place in the fiction category of the annual Joplin Public Library/Joplin Writers Guild Writing Contest. The awards were presented tonight in the library meeting room.

Another former SMS student, Mary White, received honorable mention in the high school division.

Neither was able to attend the ceremony.

Mr. Turner talks about writing Small Town News

I recently uncovered a 2006 television interview I did with Springfield journalist Ron Davis. The first half of the interview centered around the writing of my first book, Small Town News, and how it was inspired by students in my creative writing classes.

Former SMS students make Joplin High School honor roll

Dozens of former South Middle School students made the second semester honor roll at Joplin High School. Among those making the list were:

4.0 Honor Roll
Seniors- Kristin Carter, Lindsey Hamm, Mark Medlin, Paige Strella

Juniors- Haylee Coleman, Mariah Hibbard, Andrea Steere

Sophomores- Jessica Cashion, Chase Cox, Mallory Fuller, Gabby Londe, Madison Pollack, Colby Ritter, MacKenszee Roberts, Clayton Stehm

Freshmen- Leah Forkner, Dustin Hill, Corey Hounschell, Kylie Hurrell, Taylor Mulik, Cindy Pham, Ashlee Stephens, Savanah Sweeton, Ken Zhang

3.0-3.99 honor roll

Seniors- Serena Bannasch, Daniel Burkett, Paige Curry, Jordan Forste, Jordan Harmon, Christian Hernandez, Jessica Johnson, Amanda Kopriva, Jordan Lefevers, Lindsey Liontas, Sarah McDonough, Ashley Monroe, William Neely, Drew Pace, Kaitlin Prauser, Derek Rider, Rachel Ryan, Ali Stauffer, Kaycie Trumbore

Juniors- James Anderson, Elise Ashworth, Laree Blobaum, Zach Bradley, Chelsea Coombes, Samantha Cecil, Wes Clemons, Tyler Dobbins, Andrew Frost, Jennifer Holland, Austin Karns, Ashley Kissee, Noelle Kownslar, Brandon McCoy, Ethan Neely, Sam Nguyen, Taybor Parker, Bethany Reed, Kelsey Sanders, Skye Smith, Tyler Terry, Josh Thiele, Christine Vu, Megan Wawrzyniak

Sophomores- Brittany Banta, Lauren Bynum, Mayra Castaneda, Tiana Clemons, Garrett Dowell, Annie Finn, Tiffani Gilbert, Jennifer Hill, Brock Hunter, Sierra Hutchinson,Yuriy Meadows, Blake Mills, Jessica Myers, Cheyla Navarre, Chelsey Osburn, Tiffany Porter, Doug Pumphrey, Grace Randolph, Danielle Russell, Matt Smith, Felicia Spicer, Shelby Sullivan, Jeffrey Taylor, Wes Underwood, Caleb Wheeler, Christian Young, Tamara Zajac

Freshmen- Breanna Baker, Jacob Bennett, Austin Bolt, Jennifer Brock, Nikki Carter, Blanca Castaneda, Kovan Chew, Becky Cooper, Mikaila Craig, Hannah Doerge, Fischer Dowell, Marina Dudley, Rachael Foster, Brian Geier, Dakota Gilmore, Alexis Hawk, Lacy Heiskell, Christy Hernandez, Cheyenne Howard, Tessa Luper, Breanna Martin, Kane McCaslin, Matt McCoy, Nathan Morris, Faith Mowry, Amanda Needham, Lainie Nicolas, Samantha Oxford, Kelsey Pace, Allen Peterson, Dylan Prauser, Jesse Rowe, Mollie Sanders, Cassey Schulze, Tim Scroggins, Kaylee Sexton, Alicia Shofner, Hailey Smith, Victoria Smith, Catherine Stewart, Daniel Story, Blake Tune, Sequoah Wagner, Angela Wallander, Blake Ward, Ana Warner, Tamera Wirick, Katie Wood, Craig Yeoman

Communication arts teacher's band posts to YouTube

Many teachers use summer vacations as an opportunity to do some of the things they love doing.
Mr. Randy Turner, eighth grade communication arts teacher, is no different. During the past week, he has posted six videos of his band, Natural Disaster to You Tube, including the one with the song, "Secret Agent Man," which was included in this post.