Week 19: Springing Into 2024

Happy First Friday of 2024!

Welcome back! I hope you all had a festive yet restful Christmas Break and are ready to continue our progress for this school year. The Spring Semester is an intense time bringing a heightened sense of intensity compared to the fall. This period is marked by a rapid acceleration in academic rigor, as students delve deeper into their curricula, building upon the foundational knowledge established in the previous months. Academically, it's a crucial time for ATLAS testing preparations, where we determine what level of impact we had on our students. The semester is also packed with various extracurricular activities and events keeping our students and community engaged adding to the dynamic and demanding nature of this period. With your sincere dedication to our mission, vision, and values, I am confident that all of us at Mena Public Schools will lead our students to a successful and enriching spring semester.

School Board Member Appreciation Month

The Arkansas School Boards Association (ASBA) and Governor Sarah Sanders announced that January is School Board Member Recognition Month in Arkansas. School board members play an essential role in their community and this is a time of reflection and gratitude for the unwavering dedication and service of our board members. Our esteemed board, led by President Kyle Cannon, Vice President Susan Rowell, and Secretary Robert Hines, along with the committed members Phillip Wilson, Todd Aynes, Edd Puckett, and Clint Montgomery, exemplifies a collective passion for educational excellence in Mena Public Schools. Their tireless efforts and decision-making have continuously steered our district towards a brighter future, ensuring every decision aligns with our mission to enrich the lives of our students and staff. This month, we extend our deepest appreciation to each of our board members for their visionary leadership and enduring commitment to our school community. Their work lays the foundation for our students' success, and for that, we are profoundly thankful.

Right to Read

The documentary film, Right to Read, is being made available for free viewing at home on February 1, 2024, in honor of Black History Month. The link in the title will take you to a Google Form to order your streaming link. Right to Read is a documentary film that explores the critical issue of literacy in the United States. It focuses on the challenges faced by students who struggle with reading, the impact of these struggles on their overall education and life opportunities, and the importance of effective reading instruction. The film typically highlights the science of reading and examines the gaps and controversies in the education system related to reading instruction.

Substitute Teachers

In the vibrant halls and classrooms of Mena Public Schools, our substitute teachers play a pivotal role in sustaining the continuity and quality of education. They are the unsung heroes who seamlessly step into various classrooms, adapting to diverse teaching environments with grace and expertise. A good substitute teacher not only maintains the educational momentum but also brings a fresh perspective and energy to the learning process. They are flexible, resourceful, and deeply committed to our students' success, often going above and beyond to ensure that every class is an opportunity for growth and discovery. Speaking from experience, being absent from your classroom is always hard but when you have a great sub, it makes our jobs a little easier when we return.

As we celebrate the dedication and impact of these invaluable educators, we invite you to nominate a substitute teacher from our school for the esteemed "ESS Employee of the Month" award. This is your chance to acknowledge their hard work, resilience, and the positive influence they have on our students' lives. ESS will honor their contributions and qualify them for an Employee of the Year Impact Award. Nominate a substitute teacher today and let their story of dedication and excellence be an inspiration to us all!

Please remember their Refer a Friend program as we continuously need good substitute teachers.

Closing

Weather forecasts predict some winter weather that may impact us next week. As of now, the forecast predicts very cold temperatures and for snow to start Sunday afternoon or evening. We will try to announce the decision about school on Sunday evening if the weather goes as forecast. Please pay attention to social media and email. Keep in mind that we have 5.7 days in the current calendar in which we could cancel classes without having to make them up at a later date. If we go beyond the 5.7 days of closure, we will make up those days with the Mondays we already have scheduled to close schools.

Draft rules governing tutoring grants and professional development have been released for public comment. See COM-24-060 regarding tutoring grants and COM-24-059 for PD rules.

Congratulations to Holly Harshman’s Avori Gortemiller for her winning entry into the Economics Arkansas Art Contest!

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

Have a nice weekend and stay warm!

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