School News

Clara Wilkerson embraces her mother, Carey.
Oak Grove students vie against each other in elementary Spelling Bee
03/05/2024
An Oak Grove student ended up facing off against a schoolmate in the final round of the 12th annual Spelling Bee for third graders, sponsored by the Butler County Community Resource Council.
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Isabella Ellis
Smoothie-making bike tested out at elementary schools
02/27/2024
Elementary students across the district enjoyed sampling fruit smoothies, many for the first time, but had to burn some calories beforehand in order to help mix the refreshment.
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Jasper Bennett and Easton Hampton.
Oak Grove’s ‘Jingle Jog’ continues to grow
12/19/2023
Vehicles ranged from a Lamborghini to a Trident spray rig in the ceremony that served to kick off Oak Grove’s 19th annual Jingle Jog, featuring 36 parade entries on the elementary school campus.
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An outdoor classroom opened on Friday, Sept. 1, at Oak Grove.
Oak Grove opens first of series of outdoor classrooms across district
09/26/2023
The first of a series of outdoor classrooms has opened to students in a fresh air movement that is taking place at school sites across the district where space allows.
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Bridget Epps, Jennie Randolph, Staci Barker and Marc Roderick.
DAR honors its first teacher as Difference Maker of the Year
08/29/2023
Jennie Randolph of Poplar Bluff High School recently became the first educator to be named Difference Maker of the Year by the Daily American Republic newspaper.
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Davis Bader
Oak Grove third graders exhibit their research, acting skills
04/25/2023
Oak Grove Elementary hosted its annual Famous Missourians Living Museum on Friday, April 21, featuring athletes, authors, aviators, entertainers, explorers, inventors, war heroes and other trailblazers with ties to the Show-Me State.
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Tony Seabaugh and Ashley Blume.
Poplar Bluff faculty members named McDonald’s Outstanding Educators
12/05/2022
Two Poplar Bluff elementary teachers have been named 2022 McDonald’s Outstanding Educators across a multi-state service area.
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Patty Robertson, Brooke Weaver, Tabitha Parsons, Kali Dawes, Gabe Thompson, Abby Hanner, Bryson Merriott, Rebeca Pacheco, Leslie Maples, Mariah Long, Judy Moss, Darla Nunn and Allison Austill.
CRC underwrites new curriculum for elementary school counselors
10/25/2022
Poplar Bluff counselors, grades K-3, have their own curriculum for the first time in recent memory supplied along with a $500 implementation stipend per school building by the Butler County Community Resource Council.
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Kristie Robinson
Long-time Oak Grove teacher selected to lead elementary school
08/22/2022
Before Jenifer Richardson retired as principal of Oak Grove, the elementary school was named one of Poplar Bluff’s National Blue Ribbon schools, and rated the No. 9 ‘Best Elementary School’ in Missouri by U.S. News & World Report last year.
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An initial group of elementary teachers practice classroom activities during their two-day Project Lead the Way Launch certification in June.
Project Lead the Way expands to elementary schools with grant ​
08/22/2022
Poplar Bluff R-I has been awarded over $55,000 to help expand Project Lead the Way’s premier science, technology, engineering and math curriculum to its elementary schools.
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Jenifer Richardson and Kristie Robinson
Event founder leads her final Jingle Jog
12/21/2021
The annual Jingle Jog, an Oak Grove tradition of 17 years, combines charity, physical fitness and goal-setting, as well as community involvement during a Christmas-themed parade.
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Oak Grove celebrates its first Gold Award of Excellence with Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports representatives in May.
Three R-I schools listed in top 15 of new statewide ranking ​
11/09/2021
Each of Poplar Bluff’s lower elementary buildings have been named ‘Best Elementary Schools’ by U.S. News & World Report, with three R-I campuses placing among the top 15 schools in Missouri.
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Jan Brett
Bestselling children’s author spends day at Oak Grove
05/26/2021
Prolific children’s book author and illustrator, Jan Brett, visited Oak Grove last week and read one of her favorite titles, sharing some insights with the elementary students, as part of her 10th annual contest.
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Michele Webb
Elementary students connect with local author
03/23/2021
Second graders were overjoyed to meet a local author for the first time in their lives in most cases after reading the recently published book as a class assignment.
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Lauren Chronister's abstract drawing.
Oak Grove student named finalist in multi-state art contest
03/16/2021
An Oak Grove first grader has been selected among 100 students to have her artwork featured as part of the 31st annual Picture the Music competition presented by the St. Louis Symphony Volunteer Association.
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Jenifer Richardson and Christy Young
Seventh annual PB Connect has virtual learning focus
01/26/2021
The seventh annual PB Connect took place virtually across campus on Tuesday, Jan. 19, with a digital learning focus.
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Jenifer Richardson, Jenny Dennis, Aubrey Rider, Gael Arredondo and Jake Fickert.
Oak Grove recycling project inspires creativity
11/23/2020
About 40 elementary students at Oak Grove recently participated in a home project, creating a piece of art using nothing but recyclables, besides adhesive material.
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Jenifer Richardson, John and Anne Moyer, Becky Ingle, and Dr. Scott Dill
MRTF awards Poplar Bluff teachers $1,000 in grants
09/15/2020
The Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation recently financed two grants valued at $500 apiece for Poplar Bluff educators.
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Journey Warren
Oak Grove proves that spelling is not a lost art
03/03/2020
Oak Grove Elementary won the 11th annual Butler County Community Resource Council Spelling Bee Championship with two classmates vying for the top spot on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Fox Radio Network.
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Oak Grove Principal Jenifer Richardson accepts the National ESEA award.
Poplar Bluff earns national ESEA award for third year in row
02/25/2020
A Poplar Bluff elementary school has been nationally recognized for its exceptional student achievement for the third year in a row.
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Students gather on the buddy bench.
First of four elementary schools to add Buddy Bench
11/21/2019
Oak Grove has installed the first buddy bench of Poplar Bluff’s lower elementary schools upon successfully collecting over 250 pounds of plastic lids and caps in a student-led effort.
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Blue Ribbon eagle
Oak Grove Elementary named 2019 National Blue Ribbon School
09/26/2019
For the second consecutive year, a school within the Poplar Bluff R-I District has earned the highest honor achievable for an educational institution in America.
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Gabby Bullock engages in a guided reading exercise with outgoing first grader Carmen McCrary.
Commissioner: Oak Grove a ‘Gold Star’ of success in Missouri’s schools
08/12/2019
Oak Grove Elementary School was the only educational institution in the region to be named a 2019 Missouri Gold Star School for its high academic performance.
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Audrey Davis (left) and Kelsey Dunlap are presented the championship trophy by Kathern Harris of the CRC.
10th annual Fox Spelling Bee Championship
03/06/2019
Third graders from Oak Grove and Lake Road Elementary tied during the 10th annual Spelling Bee Championship on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Fox Radio Network, completing the entire word list.
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Professional Therapy Dog introduced at Oak Grove
Professional Therapy Dog introduced at Oak Grove
09/11/2018
A 150-pound Great Dane standing 3 feet tall made an equally big impression on Oak Grove students last week.
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‘Suspenseful’ spell-off ends in tie
‘Suspenseful’ spell-off ends in tie
03/06/2018
The annual Spelling Bee Championship ended in a tie as third grade finalists went back and forth for over 40 minutes live on SAM 96.7 FM on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Fox Radio Network.
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Oak Grove Elementary receives national recognition
Oak Grove Elementary receives national recognition
02/27/2018
Oak Grove earned national recognition for achieving the largest gains in the state for closing the achievement gap among student groups, according to Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education officials.
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Music teacher performs with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
02/13/2018
Elementary school music teacher Daniel Cox had the honor of performing alongside the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, promoting music in education, and representing the Poplar Bluff R-I District.
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Behavioral incentive program leads to student success
06/19/2017
The Poplar Bluff School District has recently earned a string of national and state honors for carrying out multiple character-building initiatives in an effort to improve academic performance.
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Famous Missourians Living Museum
03/27/2017
Athletes, authors, educators, entertainers, entrepreneurs, explorers, Native Americans and outlaws were portrayed on Friday, March 25, at Oak Grove.
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Chef 2 School
01/25/2017
Many Oak Grove Elementary students tried spinach for the first time through the Chef 2 School program hosted Thursday, Jan. 19, by Chartwells School Dining Services, with dark green leafy vegetables serving as their monthly food focus.
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Oak Grove recognizes STARS
10/19/2016
Oak Grove Elementary has joined Lake Road and Eugene Field in implementing the Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support program designed to reward students who are meeting and exceeding building expectations.
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Little Red Bookshelf project launches
09/30/2015
Oak Grove Elementary is initiating a community program to put more books in the hands of children for free.
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Rubik’s Cube whiz kid
01/27/2015
Fourth grader Ethan Hudlow of Oak Grove Elementary School received media attention last week when news broke that the 9-year-old was registering to vie in a World Cube Association sanctioned Rubik’s Cube competition April 25 in Texas.
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