Tag Archives: South Middle School

The Joplin School District is expanding its robotics program

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JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin School District has expanded what’s become a popular program.

A new robotics program is now offered at all three middle schools.

It’s an introductory course that teaches students how to code.

“It’s a pretty complex class for a middle school aged student. It’s very upper level thinking and thinking outside of the box,” said Laurel Cook, Project Lead the Way Automation and Robotics Teacher.

This was the first semester the “Project Lead the Way” Robotics and Automation Program was offered to seventh graders at South Middle School.

“They learn about gears and gear ratios. And then it progresses onto learning about what the different vex parts are. And then they will learn how to build simple machines with simple gears. Then we advance to the coding through the computer and then they have various tasks that they have to complete,” said Cook.

Students work in teams to build a robot and code it to perform tasks.

“I feel like the students learn different areas of engineering as well as problem solving. It sets them up for thinking outside the box and it has a lot of workforce qualities to it. Team work, manufacturing, a lot of different areas. Also we circle back to the stem and they learn a lot of science and mathematics using materials for this class,” said Cook.

This semester students put together a Mars Rover.

“It feels good to know that I helped make it because its cool,” said Hunter Perriman, robotics student.

“It felt great knowing all the hard work really paid off,” Ryanne Mckinney, robotics student.

“I think it’s very fun and you get to expand your imagination whenever you code,” said Eli Ahrizo, robotics student.

Students say this class taught them teamwork and patience.

“It’s a good class. what you learn in it is very interesting and it could help you in the future,” said Perriman.

South Middle School students are beautifying Joplin

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JOPLIN, Mo. — A group of middle school students are giving back to Joplin.

Saturday morning students volunteered their time to bring some color to downtown.

“It’s fun it helps beautify the city. It’s nice to have plants all around us,” said Orion Brewer, 8th grade volunteer.

Ten South Middle School students spent Saturday morning planting pansies on Main Street.

“It feels pretty good. It’s pretty cold outside, but its fun. We get to be with our friends and you know you’re doing a good thing and helping the community,” said Jacob Tatum, 8th grade volunteer.

The students were volunteering for National Honor Society community service hours.

“I thought it would be a fun time to hangout with my friends and serve the community,” said Tatum.

“It feels great. It was fun,” said Brewer.

Albert’s Greenhouse donated 260 six inch pots of pansies to fill the 55 planters downtown.

“This year we are doing the wave pansies downtown because the regular pansies don’t grow tall enough to grow out the edge of the planter. So we hope these will show up a little better and then about the end of May first of June the city will pull those out and we will put the summer planters,” said Albert Farris, Owner of Albert’s Greenhouse

Albert’s has been donating the potted plants over the last few years to beautify downtown.

“I grew up about six blocks from downtown Joplin so I’ve always kind of noticed it. It makes a big difference just driving down there. I drive down Main Street on my way to work every morning. It just kind of gives a little spark to you,” said Ferris.