C. J. Huff: Focused on the Future

Much of the accompanying video, which was posted by Pittsburg State University, features PSU graduate, Dr. C. J. Huff, Joplin Schools superintendent. Quite a bit of the video was shot at East Middle School.

Video: Pittsburg State holds Technolympics at East

Journalism Club videos will be posted soon for Thursday's Technolympics at East Middle School, but here is the video posted by Pittsburg State University.

East students participate in Technolympics

Pittsburg State University students provided a fun learning experience for East Middle School today when the Technolympics were held in the gym.

A complete story on the Technolympics will be featured later on East Middle School Roundabout.

EMS production of Disney's Cinderella tonight at 7 p.m.

By JENNIFER NGUYEN
EMS Roundabout Editor

The East Middle School Drama Department's production of Disney's Cinderella is scheduled for 7 p.m. today in the South Middle School Auditorium.

EMS students had the opportunity to see some of the production during Encore Tuesday.

The complete cast list and more information can be found at this link.

Orchestra students receive I ratings at NEO

Four East Middle School orchestra studnnts received I ratings at the annual NEO Festival Thursday.

Those earning the top ratings were Katelynne Yonkers, Shae Hogan, Bridget Ingham, and Amy Walser.

Candidates for Student Council elections announced

Candidates for Student Council for the 2012-2013 school year have been announced.

Eighth grade (for Joplin High School)- Mason Finnell, Megan Hickey, Ethan Holz, Alize Iverson, Jennifer Nguyen, Austen Still, Tyler Viles, Shelby Welton.

Seventh grade- Elizabeth Dulinsky, Alley Genser, Bridget Ingham, Annie Le, Alexis Maturino, Macie Smith, Kendra Sparrow, Alexandra Stelts, Amy Walser

Sixth grade- Sydney Alejandro, Ambie Armstrong, Kathryn Brown, Erin Garcia, Ginger Gormely, Brianna Hickey, Landon Moore, Anna Nguyen, Lucy Nordyke, Breanna Pace, Ethan Yang, Emma Willerton, Jake Yarnall

At East Middle School- We Love Joplin

In this photo, taken earlier this year, all of the students at East gathered outside the building and we had our picture taken by Mrs KarenSue Hensley, counselor, who was far above us in a crane.

We spelled out some words that really mean something to us.

East Middle School captures three awards at Joplin Schools Technology Fair

East Middle School had its best showing ever at the Joplin Schools Technology Fair Monday night, winning two first places and one second place, in competition with the other two Joplin middle schools and Joplin High School.

The East Middle School Journalism Club took first place in the communications category with this website, East Middle School Roundabout, as well as the club's Facebook page, YouTube channel, and the book the club is putting together about the Joplin Tornado and our first year attending school in a warehouse.

The Journalism Club was represented by co-editors Jennifer Nguyen and Amy Koch, eighth graders Karly Weber, Darin Clark, Alize Iverson, and Megan Hickey, and sixth grader Katy Brown.

The other first place came in the collaboration category, thanks to the work done by eighth graders in Mr. Randy Turner's eighth grade communication arts class on the third quarter civil rights research project. Keisha Grunden, Stella Ndauwa, Jamie Sullivan, Megan Hickey, and Jennifer Nguyen represented the class, showing the internet research, e-mail contact with those connected with the divil rights movement, and their work on the website Room 210 Civil Rights, which features research papers and videos from the project. The technology aspect of the project was also represented by Stella Ndauwa's power point on Brown v. Board of Education.

East took second place in the creativity category, thanks to Ms. Lara Stamper's first semester drama class, with its horror movie "From the Pond." The movie was initially shown to the student body at an assembly in the commons area Nov. 4. Cassie Williams represented the cast of "From the Pond," at the show.

The winners are listed below:

Elementary:

Communication: 

1st Place: The Eagle by Wes Brownfield's class at Stapleton

2nd Place: Colonial American Prezis by Wendee Hughes' Primary Gifted Class 

Creativity:

1st Place: The Hammer iMovie by Abbie Durr's class at Columbia

2nd Place: eBooks by Shelly Tarter and Alana Bell's class at Irving

Collaboration:

1st Place: Edmodo and Class Wiki by Jaime Lorimer's Class at Columbia

2nd Place: Edmodo by John Wilcox's class at West Central

Critical Thinking:

1st Place: Bill Nye the Science Guy Spoof by Heather Asbell's Class at Cecil Floyd

2nd Place: Journalism Club by Jamie Lorimer's class at Columbia

Secondary:

Communication:

1st Place: East Middle School Roundabout by Randy Turner's class at East Middle School

2nd Place: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Janet Myers' class at JHS

Creativity:

1st Place: French Revolution by Tammy Arteaga's class at JHS

2nd Place: Student Created iMovies by Lara Stamper's class at East Middle School

Collaboration:

1st Place: Civil Rights Era Project by Randy Turner's class at East Middle School

2nd Place: Dracula Prezis by Kathleen Reiboldt's class at JHS

Critical Thinking:

1st Place: Inspiration Mind Map by Danielle Yen's class at JHS

2nd Place: Student Response Systems by Jody Williams' class at North Middle School

All first place winners received a $20 iTunes card for their class and second place winners received a $10 iTunes card.

Winners of the random drawing for a Flip Video Camera were Danielle Yen of JHS and Jamie Lorimer of Columbia.

Congratulations to all who participated!  It was a great night!

New Bus System Introduced at EMS

By JENNIFER NGUYEN and
MEGAN HICKEY
Staff Writers


EMS Journalism staff members interviewed Mr. Jason Weaver about the new bus loading system. The new system is supposed to quicken the speed of the bus loading process and help with the crowding of the commons area. Look into the video to find out more information.

Live at the Joplin Schools Tech Fair

By AMY KOCH
Journalism Club Editor

We have interviewed Mr. Cook, former vice principal of East Middle, who is now the principal of Jefferson Elementary. He shared with us some of the new ideas for the new schools and how his new school has expanded in enrolling students.
Mr. Weaver has also talked to us about the new change in how the buses will be loaded. The video will be on our Facebook page soon!

Virtual tour provided for new Joplin High School

Jennifer Nguyen speaks at celebration breakfast

East Middle School eighth grader Jennifer Nguyen spoke to more than 100 area business and community leaders and parents during a celebration breakfast Thursday morning at the Holiday Inn.

In addition to her presentation, those attending heard updates on rebuilding efforts from Dr. C. J. Huff, superintendent; and Dr. Angie Besendorfer, assistant superintendent.

The breakfast concluded with words of support for the upcoming bond issue from Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce President Rob O'Brian and Mayor Mike Woolsten.

The text of Jennifer Nguyen's speech is provided below:

                 Hello, my name is Jennifer Nguyen.  I am an eighth grader from East Middle School, and today, I came to talk to you about why I think the bond request should be passed. 

                  I remember coming to East Middle School for the first time when I was in the sixth grade.  I remember seeing the huge hallways and thinking to myself that I would never make it out alive.  After a few weeks, though, the building became home, and I could easily navigate my way around.  I was one of the lucky people that got to go to the new school.  East soon became home to many others, as well: the students and staff.  When the tornado came by last year, no one expected to find East as it is now.  Nobody expected to find a pile of rubble in place of our beloved school.

                  Luckily, we found a building to use as a temporary school.  As many of you know, we are now located on East 26^th Street. Everybody is very thankful to have a place to go to continue learning, but those that went to the old East, miss it dearly.  The warehouse provides a place to learn, but it just isn’t the same as the old East. 

The building we are in now is much smaller and crowded, and getting from class to class can be hard some days when you are trying to beat the crowd.  At the old East, we had a beautiful auditorium where we held all our assemblies.  Now, we are crowded into the cafeteria for any assemblies or pep rallies, and we have no space in the current building for an auditorium.  Instead of a gym, we have a blown up, tent-like structure beside the warehouse.  We are restricted from having any home games at our school, whether the sport is volleyball or basketball.  Replacing our outside basketball court and field is a parking lot.  Now, whenever students go outside for some fresh air after lunch, they are kept inside the boundaries of the parking lot, and even that is not much space.  After school, students waiting in the parent pick-up line have to wait quite a while because of the slow progression in the small area of the back parking lot. 

These are just a few of the many disadvantages that occur at the warehouse.  The largest disadvantage of all, though, is the lack of spirit in our school.  In the minds of many, the building we are in now is not truly East; it is just a temporary building, a warehouse.  And even though East is now at a new location, to me and many others, the old East will always be home.  The old East will be remembered as our true middle school, not the warehouse.  Hopefully, East will soon be returning home.  Thank you.

Eight EMS students selected for New Expressions

Eight East Middle School vocal students will perform with Joplin High School's freshman/sophomore show choir New Expressions during the 2012-2013 school year.

 The list was posted outside the door of EMS choir teacher Ms. Julie Yonkers this afternoon.

 The following students were chosen for New Expressions: Maggie Baker, Amy Koch, Kiah Poulson, Miranda Sanders, Amelia Street, Ethan Fannon, Ethan Holz, and Casey Stewart.

 Nashya Shindin, a former East student who transferred to South earlier this year, was also chosen, as were former Joplin High School and former East students Alex Nguyen, Alex Capehart, Jeremiah Martin, and Connor Barnett.

Costumes arrive for EMS production of Disney's Cinderella

Cast members of the East Middle School Drama Department production of Disney's Cinderella, had their first opportunity to try on their costumes Thursday night.

The production is scheduled for Thursday, April 19, in the South Middle School Auditorium.

(Pictured: Bottom row, from left, Ginger Gormley, mouse; Emma Willterton, mouse; Anna Nguyen, mouse; top row, Audrey Kanan, Cinderella; Ashley Koch, mouse; Amelia Street, Fairy Godmother

Beginner's Band concert set for May 17

By BRIAN MURRAY

EMS Journalism Staff Writer

Mr. Nicholas Moore’s Beginner’s Band classes 3^rd 6^th 7^th hours are going to have a Spring Concert Thursday, May 17, at South Middle School. They will be playing

1.   Prehistoric Suite

2.   Dark Adventure

3.   Regal March

4.   Montego Bay

5^. Celebration Overture 

 The students have been working on the Spring Concert since the end of February. They will have South Middle School & East Middle School 7 & 8^th  & South Middle Beginners. Mr. Moore has woodwind, percussion, brass.

Take a virtual tour of the proposed new East Middle School

Nationally-known author Neal Shusterman speaks to NJHS, advanced reading students

By JENNIFER NGUYEN
EMS Journalism Editor
 Well known author Neal Shusterman spoke to Joplin students, including EMS National Junior Honor Society and eighth grade advanced reading class Feb. 28 at South Middle School.

 The students, who were accompanied by Mrs. Kathy Howerton, Mrs. Tina Guiles, Ms. Julie Yonkers, and Mrs. Bonnie Turner, had the opportunity to listen to Mr Shusterman talk about his career and how it came to be. He gave information about his novels and what made a good writer, including tips for the students and his many inspirations for writing. Students had the chance to ask questions and have their copies of his books signed.

 Mr. Shusterman's novels include Unwind, Everlost, and The Schwa Was Here. In one of his books, Unwind, he actually mentions the city of Joplin. This was one of his mamy reasons for coming to visitthe students at our town. For both South and East middle schools, the experience was truly unforgettable and inspiring to future authors.
(Video by Amy Koch)

Third Quarter Civil Rights Research Project to be featured at Joplin Schools Technology Fair

Mr. Randy Turner's third quarter civil rights research project at Joplin East Middle School will be featured at the Joplin School District's Technology Fair Monday, April 2, at the Joplin High School's 11'12th Grade Center at Northpark Mall. Eighth graders Stella Ndauwa, Amy Koch, Jamie Sullivan, Megan Hickey, Keisha Grunden( all featured in the accompanying video) and Jennifer Nguyen (who did the camerawork), will represent the class at the show.

Eighth graders compete in Text Talk Slam

Eighth graders in Mr. Randy Turner's eighth grade communication arts class competed in a Text Talk Slam earlier this month.

The students wrote papers using either text talk or language that only teens would use. They performed the papers for the class in the format of a poetry slam. Eight finalists were chosen- Maggie Baker, second hour; Lexie Ruddick, third hour; Jennifer Nguyen and Maddie Thorne (pictured in video), fourth hour; Kaley Moser, fifth hour; Alize Iverson, sixth hour; and Ashton McGehee and Stella Ndauwa.

Videos of the finalists' performances will be placed on a new website, where they will be judged by Mrs. Angel Mense's seventh grade communicatino arts classes. The winning entry will receive $10.

Eighth grade boys track team takes second at McDonald County

The East Middle School eighth grade boys track team captured second place at a meet at McDonald County Tuesday night.

Bailey Gardner took first in the pole vault. John Myers broke the school record in the mile, shattering the old record by eight seconds. He finished third. This is the first time Myers has competed in track. James Tupper also beat the old record.

Jayden Hetiback took the silver in the 200, while Colton Harbin finished third in the 100 meter dash, and Taran Augustosky was third in the 100 meter hurdles.

The boys also dominated the relay events with the 400 and 800 teams taking gold. Members for those events included Jayden Hetiback, Dantee' Figueroa, Allejandro Santillan, Junior Lewis, and Colton Harbin.

Taking third place was the mile relay team, consisting of John Myers, Taran Augustosky, James Tupper, and Dantee" Figueroa.

Ashlyn Griffberg had two gold medals and a silver medal, winning the 100 and 200 meter races and taking second in the long jump. She missed a school record in the 200 by 1/10th of a second. And she was only six inches away from a school record in the long jump, where she went 13 feet.

Brittan Dutton and Emma Hudson took gold and silver in the pole vault.

In the seventh grade boys division, Ryan Ball placed second in the pole vault.

The track team will compete Friday at Webb City.