Thompson, Douglas, Jones win annual Eighth Grade Poetry Contest

Poems by Laila Douglas, Morgan Jones, and Victoria Thompson have been selected for inclusion in the annual

The poems were selected as the winners in the annual South Middle School Poetry Contest. The poems are printed below:

MOVING ON
By VICTORIA THOMPSON
Finding out isn't the hardest part,
Moving on will break my heart.

I have to ignore the jokes about getting high,
and no matter how bad it hurts, I don't cry.

I ignore the idiots who want to hurt me,
I walk away, and they let me be.

The whole time I have one question on my mind,
and the answer is hard to find.

Do you want me to forget what you've done,
or are you sick of me trying to run?

Trying to move on is driving me insane,
because I know you'll never be the same.

Finding out wasn't the hardest part,
moving on is breaking my heart.

TRANSITION
By LAILA DOUGLAS

The old her is gone, completely abolished.
The new her, stripped and polished.
She got off track;
given another chance she'd take it all back.

Her old skin is shed,
tired of the life she's led,
sick of being uncontent,
finding unhealthier ways to vent.

Her addictions led to desperation
and then to separation, aggravation,
sin just won't release its hold.
She just kept going despite what she was told.

She knows what she wants; this isn't it.
She doesn't know how to fix it.

I AM
By MORGAN JONES
I am a girl who has been put through a lot.
I wonder will things ever be the same.
I hear my parents yelling back and forth.
I see them throwing punches and screaming cuss words at each other,
I want them to just be nice when they're around me.
I am a girl who has been put through a lot.

I pretend I can't hear and just don't belong,
I feel the sadness deep down inside.
I touch my heart to make sure it's still there,
I worry why they bothered to even have me,
I cry because I think they don't love me,
I am a girl who has been put through a lot.

I understand things always go bad,
I say to God, "Please help me through this."
I dream I had better parents,
I try to help them work things out,
I hope that God can help us out.
I am a girl who has been put through a lot.

SMS staff tours East Middle School

I am still having trouble getting used to the idea that in less than three months I will no longer be a South Middle School teacher.

That title has been a huge part of my identity for the past six years, and it is a title I carry with pride. But that will all come to an end June 1 when the 2008-2009 school year comes to a close. On that day, I will turn in my key, and make sure my belongings are all boxed and ready to be moved to East Middle School.

After parent-teacher conferences Friday, the SMS staff toured East Middle School, the first time we had been there since the lion's share of the construction was completed.

There is no other way to say it- We were stunned. We knew things were going to be far bigger and better than in our little school, but we had no idea how much better.

When Lara Stamper, our sixth grade science and drama teacher saw her science room for the first time, the tears began to flow. If she hadn't already seen the science room, the same thing would have happened when she saw her drama classroom a few moments later. "My science room was a little overwhelming," she said.

We began our tour in the office, then we looked at an ISS room that is not located in what we lovingly call "the dungeon." The thoroughly modern lockers that line the hallways will be a vast improvement over the haphazard collection we have now. It will be a welcome change to have lockers that work.

The classrooms are far bigger and have room for all of our books, though they will be in cabinets and not on shelves. (Believe me, I am not complaining.)

For the first time, our students will have a gymnasium and it is gargantuan, compared to the combination gym/stage we have now. There is enough room to hold two physical education classes, and we will actually be able to have volleyball and basketball games here.

The auditorium is state of the art with speakers galore. No longer we will have to suffer all summer with the muddy audio when the end-of-school talent show is aired repeatedly on Jet 14.

My favorite part of the tour was watching my fellow staff members react to each new revelation. Lara had exactly the right word; it was overwhelming. Joyce Wall pretty much said it for everyone:

"I never believed in my life that I would be working in a brand-new school like this."

(The video shows construction taking place in the auditorium as the tour continues.)

SMS science fair held

The annual Science Fair was held for South Middle School students Feb. 23, 24, and 26, in the cafeteria.

Students worked on their projects during third quarter and presented them to the public on those evenings.

Sixth grade winners were:

Bronze- Anna Tillman, Alyvia Warstler

Silver- Jace Braker, Lexi Nollner

Gold- Ethan Crider, Ashton Parker

Seventh grade winners were:

Bronze- Alex Bryant, Chanci McGowen
Silver- Emily Merritt, Amara Pendergraft
Gold- Amanda Shilling, Ilham Bodal

Eighth grade winners were:

Bronze- Tanner Heritage, Gabe Sachetta
Silver- Drew Welch, Hannah Cody
Gold- Damon Monasco, Ethan Warstler

(Photos: Science teachers Mr. Mike Wallace, Mrs. Joyce Hale, and Mr. Brent Thompson are shown judging sixth grade science fair entries.)

Book Fair concludes

The annual Book Fair concluded today at the Parent-Teacher Conferences.

The fair was open in Room 109 every day this week, with students going during their reading classes and buying books and other items provided by Scholastic.

Proceeds go to the South Middle School reading program.

(Photos by Jordyn Pierce)

Principals' Day observed at South Middle School

South Middle School staff showed their appreciation for Principal Ron Mitchell and Assistant Principal Jarrett Cook recently on Principals' Day.

Staff helps Mrs. Williams celebrate birthday

South Middle School staff members helped Mrs. Jean Wiliiams celebrate her brithday March 3 with a cake and gifts.

First "Are You Smarter Than a Map Tester?" held

The first "Are You Smarter Than a Map Tester?" a community outreach effort of South Middle School, was held Feb. 27.

Parents and students were treated to a chili supper, followed by games for the students and informational sessions on the MAP test for adults.

The evening concluded with drawings for prizes.

A second "Are You Smarter Than a Map Tester?" is scheduled for Thursday, March 26. The event will include a spaghetti fund.

SMS Track Begins!

By THOMAS RICHINS
Room 210 Staff Writer
SMS Track practice has exploded into life among young athletes! Under the supervision of Coach Rocky Biggers, the South Middle School Track Team prepares for its first meet on Tuesday, March 31, in Carthage.

Practices start right after school in the auditorium, then at Junge Stadium.

Retirement reception held for Dave Guilford

Dave Guilford, who has been building engiineer at South Middle School for years and has been in the Joplin R-8 School District for three decades, retired Friday. A surprise reception was held in his honor in the SMS cafeteria, which was packed for the occasion.

The room was filled with all of the trimmings that are usually featured with retirement receptions- the cake, the punch, the plaque, and of course, the rocking chair.

What made this reception stand out was the five-minute speech Dave gave. Though, of course, it will hold interest to those who know Dave and have been fortunate enough to have worked with him, he also says some important truths about education.

He opened the speech by noting that after starting out thinking it was just another job, one day he realized, "No, you're not just a custodian because you deal with children."

After that revelation, Dave devoted himself to doing what he could to help children, especially as he noted, "children who might be in need or have problems," and helping teachers and administrators to do whatever they could to help the children.

Dave has played a key role in educating the children at South Middle School. it is not going to be the same without him.

Teachers attend TLA training

Joplin R-8 teachers, including SMS teachers, including Mrs. Andrea Thomas and Mrs. Nina English (pictured) attended a Technology Leadership Academy this week at Joplin High School.

Cooking hot dogs is "current" event in seventh grade science class

By ELISABETH HEIMBERG
Room 210 Staff Writer

In Mr. Brent Thompson’s seventh grade science classes made electrical hot dogs on Monday Feb. 9.

To make electrical hot dogs, you need electrical plug-ins, hot dogs, and forks. What they are learning in Mr. Thompson’s class is how electricity goes through the hot dogs.
Also the sodium and the water go through the hot dogs, Mr. Thompson said. “The class got to eat them and they were hot.”

Mr. Thompson has done this project for 10 years.

Do not try this at home!

Next round of Acuity Tests set for Friday

The next round of ACUITY testing is scheduled for Friday morning at South Middle School.

The tests are designed to prepare students for the annual MAP tests, which are scheduled to begin March 31.

SMS students receive extended break

South Middle School students will attend a half-day Friday, with teacher meeting scheduled for Friday afternoon.

Students will also be out of school Monday for Presidents' Day.

South alumni named JHS Key Club officers

Four of the five Joplin High School Key Club officers for the 2009 convention year are South Middle School alumni:

Caleb Wheeler, president
Jessica Cashion, vice president
Sarah Kessler, secretary
Mackenszee Roberts, editor

Miss Roberts is running for Key Club lieutenant governor at the state convention next month.

JHS Personal Finance students among tops in nation

Nineteen Joplin High School personal finance students, including a number of SMS alumni, made the top 25 percentile in the National Financial Literacy Challenge recently.

Among the SMS alumni were Mayra Castaneda, Andrea Steere, Abbi Smith, and Josh Wise.

Pictured: (Front Row) Ericka Mickus, Mayra Castaneda, Brittany Thurman, Andrea Steere, Caleb Friend, Christa Perry, Eli Welch, Lauren Johnson, and Abbi Smith. (Back Row) Michael Fussell, Shawan Moore, Joshua Wise, Brandon Kelley, Alyssa Griffith, and Ryan Howard

JHS Constitution team fares well at state

The Joplin High School Constitution team fared well in state competition recently, almost winning the championship.

Among the former South Middle School students competing were Haylee Coleman, Mariah Hibbard, Brandon McCoy, and Taybor Parker.

Second quarter honor roll field trips scheduled

Second quarter honor roll field trips will be held Feb. 17, 18, and 20.

Those who qualified for the trips are:

Sixth Grade- Caleb Adams, Zach Anderson, Chance Baker, Cameron Ball, Dakota Ballard, Macximina Barron, Grace Bass, Ryan Beall, William Blankenship, Shania Blevins, Evan Blue, Tamerik Branham, Jennifer Brewer, Andrew C. Brown, Tyler Buchanan, Jessica Bunce, Payton Burkhart, Sameria Burris, Jarrett Buxton, Destiny Cackley, Morgan Caldwell, Reed Campbell, Duane Carpenter, Gloria Castruita, Cheyenne Christiansen, Trevor Conrad, Zachariah Consier, Taylor Corp, Ashley Corum, Ethan Crider, Isaac Cunningham, Kaylah Dailey, Killian Darden, Keylee Davis, Paige Earl, Ailan Eldred, Jonah Ellman, Happy Ernest, Savannah Fields, Toby Finn, Abigail Fisher, Kyle Fowler, Delshaun Garth, Alexis Gifford, Ashlie Green, Austin Green, Nalyn Gurley, Tristin Hall, Aleah Hardee, Tess Harmon, Chelsey Harris, Jordan Hetiback, Veronica Herron, Colton Hill, Jaylnn Hood, Courtney Hopgood, Nicole Howe, Hannah Huffman, Preston Inmon, Tony Isley, Colt Jackson, Megan Jacobs, Sharon Jennings, Veronica Johnson, Cannon Jones, Rachel Jones, Alicia Jordan, Bailey Kleeman, Austin Lewis, Nathan Lewsader, Elijah Little, Ashley Mansour, Bethany Martin, Calyn Mazur, Anna McCain, Sadie McCash, Desirae McDonald, Zachary McGuire, Tori Merriam, Keondre Morrison, Miranda Murphy, Cory Myers, Alexis Nollner, Haily Ousley, Jeffery Owens, Ashton Parker, Jennifer Peak, Keisha Pennington, Asia Pinyan, Keysha Porter, Levi Puckett, Ethan Putney, Colton Redmon, Josh Richardson, Corina Rodgers, Fabian Rodriguez, Lora Roofener, Megan Rowe, Zane Sanchez, Sarina Shofner, Jennifer Shulze, Elijah Seay, Jaetea Smith, Amanda Snearly, Kate Stauffer, Madison Stripling, Savannah Stripling, Avery Tanner, Summer Tate, Anna Tillman, Kalli VanLoon, Erica Warner, Alyvia Warstler, Alec Welch, Azia Wheatley, Adam White, Dakota Whitten, Ashton Whittington, Dalton Wickman, Denton Williams, Karin Willis, Madison Wilson, Mycah Wisner-German, Mitchell Woods, Corinne Worley, L. T. Wright.

Seventh Grade- Mason Atwood, Eric Banfield, Trinity Bennett, Kennyan Beverlin, Ilham Boda, Joceline Bogarin, John Brewer, Brittney Brinkman, Charlie Brown, Christian Brown, Quantal Brown, Alexander Bryant, Brendyn Burns, Meagan Camden, Preston Carpenter, Mayra Ceja, Kasen Chew, India Coleman, Jaired Collins, Heather Copeland, Drew Cox, Leigh Ann Craig, Fabberetta Damrill, Summer Dean, Gavin DePaul, Shelbie DeWitt, Abby Dial, Dallas Doucette, Aaron Dunaway, Katie Earll, Bain Edens, Samantha Eshom, Dallas Feezell, Christina Garcia, Johnathan Gibson, Oswaldo Gomez, Kaci Gowen, Kahled Graham, Lane Grimes, Bailey Hale, Chase Hall, Erica Handy, Tyson Hardee, Aleecia Hardin, Cayley Hardison, Chandler Hendrix, Stesha Herbert, Wesley Hooks, Breanna Hoosier, Courtney Huggins, Colton Johnson, Kelsey Johnson, Janessa Jones, Joanna Lopez, Brandon Marney, Amanda Marvin, Chanci McGovern, Dillon McVay, Bethany Meehl, Emily Merritt, Preston Miller, Felisha Mitchell, Christina Ochoa, Hayden Ottendorf, Alexander Oviedo, Austin Oxford, Taryn Parker, Amara Pendergraft, Alivia Plassman, Stormi Potts, Gannon Purdy, Cole Putney, Kahla Quinn, Kymbre Resler, Mikayela Richey, Austin Romano, Amanda Schilling, Kenya Schmidt, Tyler Severns, Mackenzie Shamblin, Marissa Shofner, Richard Smith, Stephanie Sommer, Eric Spicer, Devon Stahl, Shaffer Stevens, Alexander Tanner, Steve Tatum, Ashley Taylor, Kylee Tipton, Kristen Tyler, Zachary Vanloon, Salena Velazquez, Brooklyn Vickers, Nicole Walker, Trevor Walker, Lesley Wallace, Megan Wallis, Rebekah Walters, Justice Ward, Alexia Westfall, Caleb Willis, Dayza Winters, Adison Wright

Eighth Grade- Torri Ackerson, John Alumbaugh, Dalton Anderson, Jodi Anderson, Sierra Bartholomew, Abigail Bass, Austin Boyd, Lisa Bromley, Nathan Brummer, Austin Burns, Jordan Buxton, Hannah Cady, Joey Capehart, Chris Carrier, Alex Cole, Ronald Darby, Aaron Daum, Shaney Delzell, Felisha Derrick, Danielle Doerr, Karissa Dowell, Preston Eafrati, Wesley Estes, Eliza Fausto, Michael Fetterly, Caleb Garton, Danielle Gideon, Elizabeth Gordan, Kelsey Gould, Tera Hall, Allison Hankins, Hannah Hare, Chris Harpole, Shanice Hazley, Elisabeth Heimberg, Alex Hill, Esteban Hinojosa, Brittney Hudson, Anna Johnson, Jayda Johnson, Morgan Jones, Kevin Justus, Karissa Kibllinger, Kylie Lewsader, Elisha Mansour, Tianna McCarthy, Hunter Mills, Damon Monasco, Tyler Nonemaker, Curtis Nollner, Mac Owen, Christian Padilla, Spencer Peterson, Devin Plassman, Ronny Reddell, Rachel Reed, Stefon Rich, Thomas Richins, Benjamin Roush, Gabe Sachetta, Krystal Schulze, Darren Scott, Bryson Sexton, Ben Story, Shane Striegel, Logan Terry, Victoria Thompson, Zack Thornton, Julia Tucker, Danielle Turner, Thea Voutiritsas, Elaina Warren, Ethan Warstler, Andrew Welch, Ashley Wescoat, Allison White, Storm Whittington, Emilee Wills, Devin Winstead, Tommy Winstead, Alexis Woods, Jacob Wirick, Emily Yarbrough

Eighth grade boys close out slate with win over College Heights

South Middle School eighth grade boys basketball team ended its season with a 46-16 win over College Heights Tuesday night.

Nate Brummer and Cheslie Cook topped the scoring with 10 points apiece, while Stefon Rich had 10 points and 17 rebounds. Brummer and Kaleb Owens each had four steals, with Caleb Garten adding three and Gabe Sachetta and Cook chipping in with two apiece.

Sachetta had three assists, with Garten and Brummer each collecting two.

Five finalists named in SMS Sixth Grade Essay Contest

The five finalists have been announced in the second annual South Middle School Sixth Grade Essay Contest.

Those still eligible for the top $10 prize are: Ethan Crider, Bailey Kleeman, Miranda Murphy, Kate Stauffer, and Alyvia Warstler.

Others who made the Top 10 were: Jonah Ellman, Savanah Fields, Hannah Huffman, Jennifer Salt, and Anna Tillman. Each person who is in the Top 10 will receive at least $1.

The winner will be announced either Friday or Monday.

SMS students raise more than $1,200 in annual Christmas project

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of South Middle School students, led by the Student Council, underprivileged Joplin children received a merry Christmas.

Students raised money through Penny Wars and numerous other projects during December. On the final day before the Christmas break, Student Council members shopped at Wal-Mart for toys and gifts for the children.

The gifts were unveiled during an assembly during seventh hour that day.