Mena School District

The Mena School Board met on Tuesday, May 19th. The meeting began with the Superintendents Report. Mr. Benny Weston updated the board on the multiple phases the leadership team is working on for reentry & the beginning of the 2020/2021 school year. Assistant Superintendent Paulette Sherrer added that a needs assesment is underway in anticipation of the award from federal COVID-19 CARES Act monies. Personnel was next on the agenda. RESIGNATIONS Traci Gray Malani Vega RESCIND CONTRACT Markie Blocker TRANSFER Amy Dollar - 6th grade social studies Justin Goodnight - Mena High School Agri Chelsea Johnson - 8th grade algebra Susan McKeever - LDE Special Education paraprofessional HIRE Dr. Lee Smith - Assistant Superintendent Cheyenne Burdess - HHE Lisa Falls - HHE LPN Alicia Farringer - MMS Special Education self contained Amy Martin - MMS Chase McCormick - MMS Agri Colby Singleton - Secondary MHS COACHING DUTIES Landon Dover - head sr. girls track Tia Fryer - assistant jr. boys basketball Ryan Luttmer - head jr. boys basketball & head jr. boys track Brad Lyle - assistant sr. boys basketball Heather Goss - head jr. girls track All were approved unanimously. The board then renewed the contract with Aramark Food Service & also renewed the agreement with Horizon Software. The board accepted the Freedom of Choice Applications of 9 students. Next was an update on the district's Five Year Plan to improve the FTE (Full-time equivalent). For the 20/21 school year the FTE has improved to 91.4% & is expected to jump to 95% once final calculations are made. Finally financial reports were approved & the meeting adjourned.

Mena Middle School now has bins available for students to return packets, library books, and teacher books. The bins are available from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Monday, May 11th through Thursday, May 14th and are located at the main entrance. Students' locker contents have been bagged and will be available for pickup during that time as well. MMS students will be able to return their Chrome Book device (and charger) May 18th &19th on the following schedule: 6th grade 9:00 - 10:30, 7th grade 10:30 - 12:00, 8th grade 1:00 - 2:30. The turn-in point for Chrome Books will in the bus loading area. If you have any questions, please call Mena Middle School at 394-2572."

Any work/papers/books can turned Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week. Also, there are Social Studies projects that can be picked up as well. There are filing cabinets set up to place work in by grade level.

Attention Mena High School Students!!! Want to change your schedule for the 2020/2021 school year??? Follow the link & fill out the form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8eU47a9KlnCnGlqZh5K5NZXOLS5bFdsGYhfMzGmbD5-8R0Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

ATTENTION MMS PARENTS / STUDENTS: Just a reminder that all student locker contents have been bagged and labeled. All bags need to be picked up by Thursday, May 21st. After that date, all usable items will be donated to local charitable organizations. If you're not sure if your child has items to be picked up, please call Mena Middle School at 479-394-2572.

Mena High School Chromebook, textbook & library book return. Follow the link to the MHS Website for dates & times. https://www.menaschools.org/o/mena-high-school

Exciting news to pass along! Next week we will offer a Zoom meeting with both our JH and and incoming 7th grade football players. Information will be passed along on each "Remind" group. We will get information out early next week. Until then if you have an athlete in that group it would be good to familiarize with Zoom. We can't wait to see those Bearcats! https://www.facebook.com/Mena-Bearcat-Football-453541635192334/

Mena Middle School has 10 Yearbooks left for purchase. Come to the school NOW if you want to buy one while supplies last.

May 11, 2020 Dear Seniors of the Class of 2020, We would have had this meeting in person had we been fortunate enough to have had a normal fourth quarter. Senior Exit Procedure List: 1. Turn in textbooks, library books, etc. 2. Turn in Chromebooks once finished with all class requirements including AP assessments or last minute assignments to raise a grade. 3. Settle all debts with the school. Mrs. McCauley has a list and I would recommend each of you to check with her. 4. Settle all responsibilities with extra curricular including uniforms, instruments, costumes, etc. 5. Send official transcript requests to Mrs. Lauren Frost (​Lauren.frost@menaschools.org​). Once we have finalized each transcript and reviewed, we will send them electronically to the institution(s) of your choice. 6. Most importantly, start moving any items from your school Google account to your personal accounts that you feel you would benefit from by keeping. Start using your personal, professional email account now, because your school account will no longer be in use after May. Make sure your ACT, college, scholarship and employment correspondence have your personal account. Change any website usernames from your school account to your personal account if you have not already done so. This includes ACT, NCAA, FAFSA, etc. Take care of your business as early as possible, then you will not have this hanging over your celebrations of graduation.

Students: Please use the link below to select your course for next year. Link for Middle School Course Requests. https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSfiPXurZ4kFtf6EML…/viewform This link has also been sent to the student's email as well.

MHS Girls Soccer will be handing out Fan Cloth orders on Wednesday, May 20th at 11:00am at the Middle School bus loop.

Subiaco Academy has recently decided to drop to "8 Man Football" which removes them from our conference. This left us a hole in our Senior High Schedule. We are excited to announce that we will now play Booneville week 3 of the 2020 season and have a bye during week 9. We will go to Booneville in 2020 and they will come to Mena in 2021. It will be a great series!

Mena Middle School now has bins available for students to return packets, library books, and teacher books. The bins are available from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Monday, May 11th through Thursday, May 14th and are located at the main entrance. Students' locker contents have been bagged and will be available for pickup during that time as well. MMS students will be able to return their Chrome Book device (and charger) May 18th &19th on the following schedule: 6th grade 9:00 - 10:30, 7th grade 10:30 - 12:00, 8th grade 1:00 - 2:30. The turn-in point for Chrome Books will in the bus loading area. If you have any questions, please call Mena Middle School at 394-2572."

Meal pick up Monday Mena Public Schools is be able to provide one more week of meals & distribution is tomorrow, Monday, May 11th...

ATTENTION PARENTS! Please make sure your MHS & MMS student is checking their school Email. Important information is being communicated to them through Email..

HHE Yearbook Distribution Date Change! Now THURSDAY, MAY 14th! 3rd grade: 9:00-11:00 4th grade: 11:00-1:00 5th grade: 1:00-3:00 Yearbook distribution will be in drive-through fashion thru the car rider line loop in front of the building.

May 18th, 19th, and 20th There will be filing cabinets set up to place work in by grade level. Also, there will be project boards and book projects displayed from Social Studies classes. IF your name is on a board or book, you may take it home,

Want to know more about the Polk County Virtual Academy? Just click the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2PzxYOwJi4&feature=youtu.be

Mena Public Schools Would like to express our appreciation for today's donation by one of our patrons to the Feed a Bearcat Program. This donation will help those students who are behind on meal charges. If you would like to help Feed a Bearcat you can make a donation at the Administration Building located at 501 Hickory in Mena or call 479-394-1710...

ATTENTION PARENTS!! Middle School holds a lot of new and exciting choices for your child, one of those being an elective. Your child will have to pick one of the following electives. A description is included. Your child's homeroom teacher will be in contact this week to get your child's elective choice. Elective Choices for 6th Grade 1.) Beginning Band- This is a beginning class for all those who are interested in playing a woodwind, brass or percussion instruments. Students in this class will learn the basic skills needed to progress to the Junior Band Level. Students will perform in one concert during the Fall Semester and one concert during the Spring Semester. Students in grades 6-8 are allowed to join this class based on proficiency and placement by the band directors. (Depending on instrument assignment there MAY be an instrument rental or purchase required.) 2.) Beginning Choir-This is a beginning class for any sixth-grade student. Students in this class will learn basic singing skills and vocal technique needed to progress to the middle school choir. Students will learn to sight-sing and read choral music. Choir members will sing unison and 2-part music in a variety of styles and genres. Students will perform at least two concerts during the school year. 3.) Skills for Learning- This is an elective course open to any 6th grader. The course is designed to allow students to work on emerging skills related to technology and academics. It allows students an opportunity to have additional interventions in courses that they may be struggling with as well as helping students develop organizational skills related to effective learning.