Week 24: Milestones to Celebrate

Happy Friday!

Thank you for all you have done this week! Week 24 encapsulates a week filled with remarkable achievements across our school community, from the collective pride in our Special Olympics heroes and the recognition of our innovative Alternative Education program to the joyous celebration of a dedicated volunteer's 90th birthday and the steadfast journey of our bus drivers ensuring every student’s safe passage. Also, we can now retrieve data from COGNOS again, so our performance targets have been updated.

Special Olympics

This week, our Special Olympics athletes showcased their incredible talents, determination, and sportsmanship in a series of inspiring competitions. Their hard work and dedication were truly a sight to behold, bringing immense pride to our Bearcat family. It is a testament to their spirit and the unwavering support of their teachers and volunteers that these events were not just competitions, but celebrations of ability, courage, and community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to every educator and volunteer who organized and supported these games. Your commitment to creating inclusive, empowering experiences for all our athletes does not go unnoticed. Together, you have made this week not just successful, but memorable for every participant and spectator. Thank you for your dedication, and enthusiasm, and for championing the spirit of inclusivity and excellence in our Special Olympics athletes.

AE Showcase

On Wednesday, February 13th, the Arkansas Association of Alternative Educators held its annual Alternative Education Leadership Day at the state capitol building in Little Rock. This year, Mena School District was presented with the Highest Achievement Award for the Math ACT Aspire Scores in the district AE program. Every year our district AE program serves 75-100 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The AE program is a Tier 3 intervention program that offers smaller class sizes and an environment that works to eliminate traditional barriers to learning for students experiencing academic and social challenges. Students in our AE programs work hard on academics every day while also learning to serve their community and engage in activities that help them find their own strengths. Oftentimes the struggles that students face cause them to have difficulty focusing in traditional classrooms, learning how to manage their time, controlling their emotions, and attending school consistently. Alternative education staff provides intervention services that still meet the student’s academic needs but also include social-emotional learning, behavior intervention services, career counseling, and service learning. For the last several years, our program has been seen as a model program in the state and has graduates who are working, in college, and living healthy productive lives in the community. We congratulate the students in the program as well as the staff. Director Celeste Ashcraft has an excellent team that includes Chantel Barrett and Lori Glover working with Little Cats K-5 at Holly Harshman, Lynn Ashley leads the Middle School program with support from Scott Wright and Tanner Womack, and Mandy Jakobitz, Ryan Luttmer, Aaron O'Brien, and Dianne Hunter have the largest program in the district at high school. Shanda Craig assists Ms. Ashcraft as well as working as a behavior interventionist along with Ashlyn Watts. Thank you all for the work that you do with students. 

Love the Bus Month

February is Love the Bus month, a special time dedicated to recognizing the invaluable role that school buses, and more importantly, their drivers, play in ensuring the safe transportation of students to and from school. This month, we celebrate the dedication and hard work of our bus drivers, who, come rain or shine, are committed to the safety and well-being of our students. Their unwavering dedication goes beyond just driving; they are the first to greet our students in the morning and the last to say goodbye, making sure every child is transported safely. Let's take a moment to appreciate their contribution to our educational community, acknowledging the pivotal role they play in our daily operations and the lives of our students. To all our bus drivers, thank you for your service and for keeping our Bearcats safe every day!

Happy Birthday!

This week, we are thrilled to celebrate the milestone birthday of a cherished member of our Bearcat family at Louise Durham Elementary, Sarah Carrell, who turns 90! A former employee who retired and is now volunteering, Sarah's remarkable dedication and vibrant spirit have been a cornerstone of our community, touching the lives of staff and students alike with her endless enthusiasm and commitment. As she celebrates this significant birthday, we acknowledge the profound impact Sarah has had on our school, embodying the essence of volunteerism and positive influence. Please join us in wishing Sarah a joyful and heartwarming 90th Birthday. Sarah, your presence is a gift, and we are grateful for every moment you have shared with us. Happy Birthday, and here's to many more years of inspiration and joy within our Bearcat family!

Next Year’s Calendar

Due to a significant number of districts requesting waivers for the school start date and the transition to alternate calendars, the State Board is convening a special board meeting before the end of February. This meeting is specifically organized to consider these waiver requests. Any request submitted by the close of business on February 15 will be addressed during this special meeting. Any submissions made after this deadline will be deferred to the next regularly scheduled board meeting on March 14 or later. Our request was submitted last week.

Given this timeline, it is likely that decisions regarding our calendar, including any potential changes or adjustments, will not be finalized until after the special meeting. Consequently, we anticipate that our school calendar proposals will be available for review following this meeting, which suggests that our calendar decisions may extend into next month since our next board meeting is happening on Tuesday.

I understand that the timing and uncertainty may pose challenges as we plan for the year ahead. Please know that our aim is to keep you informed and supported throughout this process. We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we navigate these requirements and work towards finalizing our calendar. Should you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Closing

Congratulations to Coach Lyle and our Ladycat Basketball team for clinching a berth in the regional tournament by beating Pottsville earlier this week! We also have our wrestling team continuing to perform very well on the mat. Our boys wrestling team’s regional tournament is this weekend and the girls had theirs last weekend. Good luck to all of our athletes as they enter the postseason!

Our FFA Career Development Teams performed very well this week. Career Development contests are competitive events that allow students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world scenarios, enhancing their skills in various agricultural and leadership fields. These contests are designed to foster practical abilities and professional growth, preparing students for success in future careers within the broad spectrum of agriculture. You can see their results on our Facebook page.

It was a really good week at Mena Public Schools and we look forward to more!

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

Have a nice weekend!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bearcatwrap.substack.com