Good Afternoon Joplin High School Eagles Family!

We had a great first week to the second semester, culminating with our Joplin HS Boys Basketball Team winning the consolation championship in the Kaminsky Classic Tournament held this week at JHS. I hope you all have been able to spend some quality time with those you love this weekend.

If there is anything you ever need, please feel free to call me at 417.625.5230 or email me at randyoliver@joplinschools.org. As we start the second semester, I would like to remind our students to WORK HARD, BE KIND, and GO EAGLES!

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Oliver 

As it is everyone's responsibility to ensure safety expectations are maintained at JHS, I wanted to remind all students to never open the side doors of our school for anyone. All visitors must come through the main entrance in order to be properly checked in.

Along those lines, please ensure that you do not prop exterior doors open. I know it is easy to do, but we need to ensure anyone needing access to the building who does not have a fob for JHS goes through the main office.

One of the items we are tracking with The Academies of Joplin is Industry Engagement in our classrooms. Each time someone comes in to your classroom to present, please fill out the form below. For your convenience, It is also linked on the faculty resource guide / handbook.

We would like to shout out the following people:

Ms. Charity Goode for helping with parking lot duty after school, as she just wanted to have an understanding of how it all works. Thank you Ms. Goode for jumping in to assist.

Mr. Corbin Steinert for helping clean up the bleachers after our All-School Basketball Game. Thank you Mr. Steinert for your willingness to assist our custodians in cleaning up the area after such an important event.

This opportunity is open to students in grades 9 through 12.

 

The contest invites students to explore an ethical dilemma they have personally faced and apply the Rotary Four Way Test as a framework for decision making. As outlined in the attached manual, the speech should address each of the following questions:

 

• Is it the truth?

• Is it fair to all concerned?

• Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

• Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

 

Students will prepare a 5–7 minute speech, record it using a cell phone or school video resources, and submit the video link along with the required application and consent forms. Local Rotary members will review submissions using the standardized judging criteria included in the manual.

 

Cash prizes are awarded for the top three speeches at the local level in the following amounts:

1st place: $300.00

2nd place: $150.00

3rd place: $75.00

 

Following the local competition, the top three finalists will be invited to Joplin High School to have their speeches professionally recorded. These recordings will be submitted to the District 6110 Four Way Test Speech Contest, where a new panel of judges will review and score each entry. From this round of evaluation, the District will determine the top three grand prize recipients. The District Champion receives a $1,000 cash award, and each runner-up receives $350.

Detailed rules, instructions, and examples can be found in the attached Four Way Test Speech Contest General Information.

11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026

Videos and forms should be emailed to: 4WaySpeech@mssu.edu

If you or your students have any questions, I would be more than happy to assist. You’re welcome to contact me directly at Castell-B@mssu.edu or 417-434-7884.

 

Feb. 2-13, 2026 (Exact date TBD) at Joplin High School

Dear Students and Families, 

We’re excited to share that the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is now open at fafsa.gov. 

 

Completing the FAFSA form is a key to accessing federal, state, and institutional financial aid that can help cover the cost of college or career training. We strongly encourage all students to complete the form as soon as possible. 

 

Start your FAFSA form now: FAFSA.gov 

The earlier you apply, the better your chances of maximizing aid. 

 

If you need help or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your school counselor or college.

Students are assigned to counselors by the student’s last name:

A-Cr - Ms. Amanda Rich amandarich@joplinschools.org 

Cs-Hi - Ms. Julie Russell julierussell@joplinschools.org 

Hj-Mi - Ms. Jessica Holt jessicaholt@joplinschools.org 

Mj-Sh - Ms. Morgan Ramsey morganramsey@joplinschools.org 

Si-Z - Ms. Jennifer Hancock jenniferhancock@joplinschools.org 

A+, Dual Credit, and Associates Degree Coordinator - Ms. Kellie Bowman kelliebowman@joplinschools.org