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Students, grades K-6, put on a series of skits for the community on Friday, July 31, showcasing all they learned this summer in Super Kids Camp at Wheatley School. Keynote speaker Dr. Kevin Harris, Lincoln University chief information officer, advised students to “ask, listen and think.” A tradition of five years, Super Kids is a summer school enrichment program run by volunteers, offered to Butler County elementary students. A total of 31 signed up this year, with 24 reportedly maintaining perfect attendance.

Poplar Bluff R-I hosted a special luncheon for 65 custodians and maintenance workers on Friday, Aug. 7, as a small token of appreciation for their flexibility with construction taking place at the district’s three largest schools this summer. Chartwells served the food, which was purchased at The Deep-Freeze.

Poplar Bluff school board members, administrators and teachers welcomed nearly 50 new certified and classified staff members to the R-I district to kick off three days of training beginning on Monday, Aug. 3, in the Administrative Building. Poplar Bluff Schools is among the largest employers in Butler County, with a staff of 737.

The Poplar Bluff High School Academic Team had a strong showing during ACE Quizbowl camp last month at Lincoln College in Illinois. Jackson Rideout, the PBHS senior captain, took first place in the history tournament; sophomore Alyssa Cook, the JV captain, won second in a team contest; and Christian Cmehil-Warn, a senior starter, consistently qualified to compete with the top performing students from multiple states. PBHS has been making its mark in Academic Competition Enterprises-sponsored camps for several years, according to their coach, science teacher Gail Karlish. The Academic Team ended the 2014/15 season with a 30-14 Scholar Bowl record, the Missouri State High School Activity Association has reported.  

Computer-savvy students entering Three Rivers College this fall will have a new option to choose from if they’re looking to turn their love of technology into a career.  The college’s Network Administration degree track has been upgraded into a new IT Specialist program, which trains students for careers in IT more effectively than ever before. “We’ve worked very hard to design the program so that it develops all the skills that our students will need to jump straight into jobs in the field,” said Heather Carlton, Instructor of Information Systems Technology at Three Rivers, and one of the architects of the redesign. “We’ve updated the curriculum, brought it into line with industry standards, and provided more opportunities for students to