Joplin High School

History of JHS

In 1885, Joplin Senior High School began with just a few students, and in three years diplomas were awarded for the first graduating class. Soon thereafter, as the population of Joplin grew at the turn of the century, so did the number of students graduating annually.

In the early days of public secondary education, not everyone attended high school. However, with the comprehensive high school movement and expanded curriculum offerings in the early 1900s many students persisted with their education.

Following the inception of Joplin Senior High School in 1885, there was one public high school until 1933. However, from 1934 to 1956 Joplin had two public high schools. In addition to the program offered at Joplin Senior High School, Lincoln High School offered African-American students a high school education. In the late 1950s, Lincoln High School students joined up with Joplin Senior High School students and attended school together at the 2104 Indiana Avenue location.

Later, in 1968, Joplin Senior High School split into two high schools, one named Parkwood High School, at 2104 Indiana Avenue, and the other was named Memorial High School, at 310 W. 8th Street. Joplin had two public high schools for the next 17 years until the two schools came back together to form Joplin High School for the 1985-1986 school year and until the present time.

May 22, 2011 Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center were hit by an F5 tornado, which left both buildings in disrepair. JHS grades 11 and 12 attended the converted Shopko building at the mall, grades 9 and 10 went to the previous Memorial High School at 310 West 8th Street, and Franklin Technology Center occupied a converted warehouse at 420 Grand Street.

In September 2014, all three facilities moved back to the new state-of-the art Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center at 2104 Indiana Avenue and 2220 Indiana Avenue.

JHS ALMA MATER

Joplin High, So Dear To Me

by Joshua Hudson, Class of 2013

Truth, Honor, Loyalty; Joplin High, how dear is she!

Red, Silver, and Navy; Joplin High School, Hail toThee!

Alma Mater, Home of friends, Truth and honor we'll defend

Eagles triumph to the end, Joplin High so dear to me!

Joplin Senior High School at 4th St. & Byers Ave. (photo from 1902)
Joplin Senior High School at 8th St & Wall Ave. (photo from 1920)
Joplin High School at 20th St. & Indiana Ave. (photo from 1958)
Joplin High School 11/12 Campus at the mall. (Photo from 2012)
New Joplin High School, opened 2014 at 20th and Indiana Ave. (Photo from 2014)

Joplin Fight Song

Here we are, all as one

We're the Eagles from Joplin High

Give a cheer, loud and clear
Joplin Eagles will soar the sky

On the court, and on the field
Watch to see just how high we fly

So stand, cheer, be loud and clear
We're the Eagles of Joplin High
J - H - S - JHS

Joplin Eagles are the best!

Fight Song

JHS, Past & Present

CURRENT TRADITIONS

ROSE GARDEN PEP ASSEMBLY
This event kicks off the fall sports seasons at Joplin High School in Kaminsky Gym. Students from all fall sports are present alongside the band, cheerleaders, and dance team. Parents and community members are invited to this evening assembly where they are introduced to the teams with special highlights being made of each team’s seniors and their upcoming competition schedules.

FALL HOMECOMING
This event is scheduled during Football Season. Candidates for Homecoming King, Queen and attendants are elected by the student body. The candidates and attendants are introduced during a pre-game ceremony at the Friday night football game, and the King and Queen are crowned. The former queen is invited back to crown the new Homecoming Queen. A Homecoming dance is held at JHS the following Saturday night for all students.

7 couples of students sit and stand on a makeshift platform at Junge field at the annual Football Homecoming game. The girls wear formal gowns and homecoming sashes, the boys wear formal suits or their football uniforms.

JROTC FALL DANCE
Each year JROTC sponsors a Fall Dance. All JROTC cadets and their dates may attend.

JUNIOR-SENIOR PROM
The Junior-Senior Prom is a a farewell dance planned by the juniors class. The Junior-Senior Prom committee is in charge of preparations for the prom and each year works on a number of projects to raise money for decorations, a professional band, refreshments, and more. Prom is usually held in April.

MILITARY BALL
Each spring the JROTC department sponsors the annual Military Ball. All JROTC cadets and their dates may attend as well as certain other invited guests. A queen is chosen from among the girls attending.

WINTER HOMECOMING
This event takes place during Basketball Season. Candidates for Homecoming King, Queen and attendants are elected by the student body. The candidates and attendants are introduced during halftime of the basketball game and the King and Queen are crowned. The former queen has the honor of crowning the Homecoming Queen. A Winter Homecoming dance is usually planned that same weekend.

PAST TRADITIONS

BASKETBALL QUEEN
During the basketball season each year the "A" team elects a girl to represent them as Basketball Queen. She is honored at the last game of the year.

HOMECOMINGS
Homecoming is one of Joplin High School's established traditions, in which JHS alumni are honored every year with a football game and dance. This event takes place in the fall, usually in October. Candidates for Homecoming Queen are introduced in the Homecoming Parade held on the afternoon before the game. The identity is always a carefully guarded secret until the moment she is announced during half-time at the game. The president of the student council has the honor of crowning the Homecoming Queen. After the game the Homecoming dance is held. All JHS students and alumni are invited.

JOPLIMO QUEEN CORONATION
The student body elects the Joplimo Queen from among several candidates. All sophomore, junior, and senior home rooms nominate three senior girls. The names of all these nominees are compiled and given to each home room to be voted upon. The three senior girls with the greatest number of votes are the candidates for Joplimo Queen. Eligibility for the final vote depends upon the purchase of contract to purchase a Joplimo, according to the following system:

Voting is carried on for one week after the three candidates are introduced in an assembly by their respective managers. The successful candidate is revealed at the impressive coronation assembly, usually in early February, with the other two candidates honored as attendant to the queen. The Joplimo staff goes all out to make this coronation the most beautiful and thrilling events of the year.

JUNIOR-SENIOR PROM
The Junior-Senior Prom is a a farewell dance which the juniors give for the seniors. The Junior-Senior Prom committee (made up of junior class members) is in charge of preparation for the prom and each year works on a number of projects to raise money for decorations, a professional band, refreshments, etc.

MILITARY BALL
Each spring the ROTC department sponsors the annual Military Ball. All ROTC cadets and their dates may attend as well as certain other invited guests. A queen is chosen from among the girls attending by three capable adult judges.

ROSE ASSEMBLY AND DANCE
The Rose Assembly, which takes place in the spring at the end of basketball season, is held in honor of the football and basketball players. The cheerleaders are in charge of this beautiful assembly and spare no effort in making the decorations. During the assembly, cheerleaders present each player with a rose, which he, in turn, will later give to his favorite girl or his mother.

The Rose Dance is also in honor of the football and basketball players, and is held on the night of the Rose Assembly. Any student of JHS may attend. The Student Council make the necessary arrangements.

ROTC CHRISTMAS DANCE
Just before Christmas each year, the Diamond and Disc Club sponsors the Christmas Dance. All ROTC cadets and their dates may attend.

SENIOR WEEK
Senior Week comes at the end of the school year. The week gets off to a roaring start with Twirp day. From then on there are activities every night. The week culminates with Class Day, when, after the annual Class Day Assembly the seniors are permanently dismissed from Joplin High School's portals of learning.

SNOWBALL DANCE
During the Christmas season each year the Y-Teens elect the Snowball Queen. She is then honored at the Snowball Dance, which all Y-Teens and their dates may attend.

TWIRP DAY
TWIRP Day was established by Mr. Greer in 1954 and continued at least through the late 1960’s. Although there were certain limitations, on this day, seniors were allowed to wear Bermuda shorts or "clam diggers" and the weird outfits that turned up were often amusing. TWIRP Day is the day when Joplimos are distributed.

TWIRP means "The woman is required to pay.” The girls paid for the boys' lunches, carried their books, and did all the things that social etiquette normally require boys do for girls. A dance in honor of the seniors was held that evening, to which seniors, juniors, and sophomores were all invited - provided the girls agree to escort the boys.