Week 14: Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Friday!

Fridays before long breaks are even better Fridays and I hope yours has been good. Thank you for all you have done this week. Our academic updates for our performance targets will be done next month but our other trends continue on the same trajectory, which is good for attendance but bad for discipline. The district PLC team has started looking deeper into the discipline data for insights in hopes of finding ways we might reverse the trend. But as we head into this well-deserved break, we will carry with us a sense of accomplishment and the optimism to turn our challenges into opportunities for growth and improvement.

This is a Thanksgiving Wrap-up so I want to express my gratitude to all of you for the wonderful things that happened this week.

Project Lead The Way

This week began with the November school board meeting and our academic report was provided by students and teachers from Mena Middle School’s Project Lead The Way (PLTW) program. This is for 7th and 8th graders to engage in hands-on programs designed to introduce middle school students to the fundamentals of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This program focuses on developing critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills through real-world challenges.

The students presented robotics projects including a car and conveyor system showing their programming and demonstrating the actual work that programming intended. Also on display were prototypes of ankle fracture boots that met the standard medical criteria and guidelines only they were made from everyday materials such as cardboard.

This program will be very valuable to our community in the future by inspiring more scientists and engineers. Also, we learned yesterday that science will have more influence on our school report cards in the future. This is because STEM jobs are expected to grow over two times faster than the total for all jobs in the next decade. Science ATLAS results will be more heavily weighted in the formula and better elevated in the weighted achievement and growth indicators.

Thanksgiving Lunches

Our cafeterias served nearly 2,500 lunches to students and guests on Wednesday and Thursday. Serving that many meals in a limited amount of time took a lot of effort and extra help so I want to express our gratitude to our cafeteria staff, the adult volunteers, and our student volunteers, especially the Project Prevent Team, who helped to deliver one of our treasured traditions. Such an accomplishment underscores the invaluable contribution of each individual involved in making this happen.

Closing

Wrestling season will begin this evening at 6:00 with an intrasquad scrimmage in Rackley Gym. This marks a significant milestone for our wrestling team, now in its second year and going strong with 35 dedicated students. The growth and development of the team in such a short time are commendable and we thank the coaches and volunteers responsible for that. This scrimmage not only serves as the season's opener but also showcases the hard work and commitment of our wrestlers. It is a great opportunity for the school community to come together and support these athletes and cheer them on as they set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling wrestling season.

Congratulations to the impressive list of Bearcat musicians who made the Junior High and High School All Region Jazz Band this week! Their success is a source of pride for our entire school community. We look forward to hearing their wonderful Christmas performances soon and seeing how they continue to grow and excel in their talent.

Congratulations to our FCCLA Star Events participants and winners. Having judged these myself before, I know they are vital for student development, offering opportunities to hone skills in areas like leadership, teamwork, and career preparation. These events challenge students with real-world problems, encouraging creative problem-solving and critical thinking. Participation not only enhances practical skills but also builds confidence and fosters a sense of community responsibility. These events are a key component in preparing our students for successful futures.

On a somber note, the holiday season can be difficult at times; so, please remember our staff members who have lost loved ones and those who are dealing with illness at this time. Work family often helps those who are suffering through grief and illness.

At Mena Public Schools our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!!

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