Mena School District

Mena Middle School teachers were treated to breakfast in Mrs. Smith's Family & Consumer Science room before classes began this morning...

Austin Johnston was the runner up medalist at the 7-4A District Match at Degray Wednesday. Austin is All-conference. & has qualified for the state golf match.

Mark your calendars for the “Pack the Back” event with Southwest EMS! Let’s pack the ambulance with items for our Comfort Closet on Monday, September 23 from 5-6 at Holly Harshman Elementary!

7th and JR JV volleyball games for Thursday have been cancelled. Arkadelphia is unable to bring them. There will be a 7th grade intersquad scrimmage starting at 3:45 and JR V will start at 4:30.

Mena Homecoming Dance!

HIPPIE DAY on Friday at Holly Harshman Elementary to celebrate saying "No to Violence and Yes to Peace" for PEACE Day on Friday.

Announcements Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2019 Lunch Today: Cheese Ravioli, MTO Boneless Wings, MTO Deli, Rib Patty Sandwich, Chicken Sandwich We have Gatorade, Water, Chips, Beef Jerky and Rice Krispy Treats that are available for purchase if you have money in your lunch account. Students you must get a juice and/or fruit at breakfast. CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK Sept 18 - 20: Tuesday: UAFS College Representative - for seniors (rm 403) Wed: Sci-Fi, UCS Thurs: FBLA Fri: Robotics, Book Club, FCS Bearcat/Ladycat Sports Sept 16 - 21 Wed: Golf @ Arkadelphia Thurs: JrFootball vs Dardanelle; Volleyball vs Arkadelphia; Tennis @ Malvern Sat: Volleyball Jr. Ladycat Classic Library Lunch Closings this week: Wednesday, Lunch B closed Friday, Lunch A closed The Mena Bearcat Foundation and the Mena Band Boosters will be holding the annual BBQ Fundraiser @ Mena Middle School from 5:00-6:30 on Oct. 4th before homecoming. Tickets are $10 and are available through either band office or from any Bearcat Foundation member. To go plates are available also. If you would like to donate blood there is a sign up sheet in the nurse's office. The blood drive is Tuesday Oct 1. The Mena Band is hosting a zipline fundraiser at the Blue Zipline and Farm this Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. 50% of the money raised will be donated to the band. To schedule a tour you can go to https://blueziplinefarm.com/ Auditions for the Yellow Boat, which is the SCHOOL PLAY this year, will be TODAY from 3:30-5:30 and 7-8 pm in the PAC.Callbacks will be Thursday from 7-8 pm. Anyone is welcome to audition for the play, you do not have to be in Theatre. If you are interested, pick up audition material in Ms. Kropp's room 201. Make sure to bring your calendar with any conflicts through November. Students are not to be in the hallways during Lunch A or Lunch B. The library, cafeteria, or patio are available areas during lunch. Be sure to order your yearbook at the lowest price of $48 before October 1. You can also get four free icons when you personalize your cover with your name ($6 for name personalization). See Mr. Philpot to order or for more information in room 205.. Anyone who would like to join FBLA needs to bring their dues of $15 to Mrs. Lindsey in room 202 or Mrs. Torix in room 401 anytime. FBLA is open to anyone in grades 9-12 and we welcome all students! It’s not too late to go to FBLA Fall Conference (but it is too late to get a conference t-shirt). See Mrs. Lindsey for a permission slip today. The conference is on Monday, September 30. FBLA will hold our first meeting of the year on Thursday in the choir room (room 203) during Enrichment. This is for paid members but you can pay your $15 dues at the meeting. FCCLA dues of $15 may be paid to Mrs. Hobson (room 200) or Mrs. Wilson (room 412) anytime this week. The deadline to register for STAR Events is Friday, September 18. Girls can sign up for a Powder Puff Football Tournament in Ms.Hobson’s room. Each class will have a team and compete against each other on November 4th. The cost is $3 to play and all proceeds go to Relay for Life. Homecoming Shirts are available for preorder in Ms.Hobson’s room. The cost is $15 for size S-XL and $17 for size 2X-4X. You must pay when you order and the deadline is September 25th. Senior Picture Retakes and Make-Up Pictures will be on Monday, September 23 here at the Mena High School safe room. For anyone who missed Senior Pictures in July, we will need your pictures for the yearbook. Anyone who wishes to get retakes, it will be $10 for the session. School Day pictures with Lifetouch for students in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade, as well as faculty, will be on Tuesday, September 24 here at Mena High School. Picture order forms will be sent out next week. Even if you don’t plan to order pictures, we still need you to have your picture taken for the yearbook. Sci-Fi Club Meeting this Wednesday during Enrichment in the PAC. Book Club will meet Friday in the library. Dues are $10. Unified Champion Schools will meet Wednesday during Enrichment in Room 214. Come and see what is happening and get involved. Please let Mrs. Thacker know if you want to take the PSAT test. The cost of the test is $12 unless you are on free/reduced lunches--then, it is free. It is a pre-SAT and the only way to qualify to be a National Merit Scholar. Please let me know by this Friday. The test is Oct. 16. Recycle: Please place only cans and plastic bottles in the RED recycle containers and your paper in the BLUE containers in the hallways. ACT Registration in the counseling center today -Friday during enrichment.

Mena Tennis blanked Booneville on Tuesday 12-0. Winning all the singles & doubles matches. Those in action included Stephanie Lua, Marissa Ortiz, Will Davis, Austin Rose, Eli Cook, Wilson Hughes, Luke Montgomery & Brendon Brown.. Congratulations & GO BEARCATS!

Congratulations to Mena Golf athlete Chloe Rocha for competing in the 7-4A District Golf Tournament at Degray on Tuesday.

The Mena School Board conducted their annual Report to the Public meeting on Tuesday night. The evening began with a Facilities Meeting which included a one hour update on facilities, improvements & the five year plan. In total the district buildings include 430,000 square feet with a replacement cost of 71 million dollars. Improvements over the past year were reviewed as well as those on the horizon & additions to the five year plan. That was followed by the annual Report the the Public Meeting. Mr. Benny Weston began on the district financial status. The end of year balance was $4,185,544.06 which is set aside for emergencies & potential shortfalls. Weston went on to state that the district currently employs 229 people & that 67% of the districts students qualify for free or reduced meals. Paulette Sherrer spoke briefly on curriculum & testing. She shared a graph with those in attendance which show the students in the district are meeting or exceeding the national average. Louise Durham Principal Jimma Holder says that enrollment in kindergarten has increased to 170 students & that the number of students testing proficient & exceeding have increased. Principal Tamara Smart from Holly Harshman Elementary noted a gain in ACT Aspire scores in each grade. Mena Middle School Principal Cliff Sherrer reported a total of 400 students over the three grades. He is excited about the upcoming student council elections as MMS has not had a student council for a number of years. Sherrer also added that many improvements have been added to the science curriculum. 526 students are currently enrolled at Mena High School & Principal David Maxwell told the board that is an increase of 32 students. In addition he reported that students performed well above the state average on the Aspire testing & that he is planning to improve those scores even more. Maxwell also ran down a long list of concurrent courses which have been added at Mena High School. It was at this point in the meeting that a number of VIP's interrupted the meeting to award Superintendent Benny Weston with an award as the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators. (see photos & details on our social media & website) Mrs. Bridget Buckley, MHS Assistant Principal & PCVA Director, reported an enrollment of twenty nine in the Polk County Virtual Academy & a positive response to a change in curriculum. Finally Mrs. Paulette Sherrer announced an increase in federal funding & an increase of fifteen students to the schools gifted & talented program. After a short break the September School Board meeting was conducted. It was a very brief meeting that included an executive session. Afterwards the board approved a one time bonus of $1,000.00 for Mr. Weston in recognition of his well-deserved accomplishment of Arkansas 2020 Superintendent of the Year. The School Board meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Administration Building.

The Mena cross country team competed in the Tom Stuthard Stampede on Tuesday. The top finishers for Mena were: Chaniti Hall - 5th Jr. Girls Brody Brown - 6th Jr. Boys Danielle Hill - Sr. Girls Logan Myers - 3rd Sr. Boys See the complete results by clicking on the link https://ar.milesplit.com/meets/366573/results/666076/raw…

The Mena Ladycat volleyball teams played at Bauxite Tuesday night. The Jr. High JV won 2-1. The Jr. High Varsity won 2-0 & the Sr. Ladycats won 3-0.. Mena plays next host Arkadelphia on Thursday at the UBC. GO LADYCATS!

Mr. Benny Weston has been named the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators Superintendent of the Year. Richard Abernathy presented the award at the annual report to the public on Tuesday night at the administration building. A number present & former superintendents from around the state also attended. Congratulations to the Boss Bearcat!

EAST Students, Seth Fruen, 9th Grade, and Riley Bentley, 7th, created this website. https://sethfruen22.wixsite.com/dailydog They have partnered with the Mena Pound for their project. They did all the work. -- photographed, made notes about the animals and created this website. Please forward the link to your relatives and friends, through Social Media and text messages, etc., to get the word out. You can't search the Internet to find it because it cost to publish it. It can only be found by the direct link.

Announcements Date: Tuesday, September 17 2019 Lunch Today: Salisbury steak, Cheeseburger, Spicy Chicken Sand, Chicken Tenders, MTO Tortilla Line, Meat Lovers Pizza, MTO Deli, Cobb Salad We have Gatorade, Water, Chips, Beef Jerky and Rice Krispy Treats that are available for purchase if you have money in your lunch account. Students you must get a juice and/or fruit at breakfast. CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK Sept 18 - 20: Tuesday: UAFS College Representative - for seniors (rm 403) Wed: Sci-Fi, UCS Thurs: FBLA Fri: Robotics, Book Club, FCS Bearcat/Ladycat Sports Sept 16 - 21 Tues: Volleyball @ Bauxite; Golf@ Arkadelphia; Tennis @ Booneville; Cross Country @ Acorn Wed: Golf @ Arkadelphia Thurs: JrFootball vs Dardanelle; Volleyball vs Arkadelphia; Tennis @ Malvern Sat: Volleyball Jr. Ladycat Classic Library Lunch Closings this week: Monday, Lunch B closed Wednesday, Lunch B closed Friday, Lunch A closed Auditions for the Yellow Boat, which is the SCHOOL PLAY this year, will be TODAY from 3:30-5:30 and 7-8 pm in the PAC.Callbacks will be Thursday from 7-8 pm. Anyone is welcome to audition for the play, you do not have to be in Theatre. If you are interested, pick up audition material in Ms. Kropp's room 201. Make sure to bring your calendar with any conflicts through November. Students are not to be in the hallways during Lunch A or Lunch B. The library, cafeteria, or patio are available areas during lunch. Be sure to order your yearbook at the lowest price of $48 before October 1. You can also get four free icons when you personalize your cover with your name ($6 for name personalization). See Mr. Philpot to order or for more information in room 205.. Anyone who would like to join FBLA needs to bring their dues of $15 to Mrs. Lindsey in room 202 or Mrs. Torix in room 401 anytime. FBLA is open to anyone in grades 9-12 and we welcome all students! It’s not too late to go to FBLA Fall Conference (but it is too late to get a conference t-shirt). See Mrs. Lindsey for a permission slip today. The conference is on Monday, September 30. FBLA will hold our first meeting of the year on Thursday in the choir room (room 203) during Enrichment. This is for paid members but you can pay your $15 dues at the meeting. FCCLA dues of $15 may be paid to Mrs. Hobson (room 200) or Mrs. Wilson (room 412) anytime this week. The deadline to register for STAR Events is Wednesday, September 18. Girls can sign up for a Powder Puff Football Tournament in Ms.Hobson’s room. Each class will have a team and compete against each other on November 4th. The cost is $3 to play and all proceeds go to Relay for Life. Homecoming Shirts are available for preorder in Ms.Hobson’s room. The cost is $15 for size S-XL and $17 for size 2X-4X. You must pay when you order and the deadline is September 25th. Senior Picture Retakes and Make-Up Pictures will be on Monday, September 23 here at the Mena High School safe room. For anyone who missed Senior Pictures in July, we will need your pictures for the yearbook. Anyone who wishes to get retakes, it will be $10 for the session. School Day pictures with Lifetouch for students in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade, as well as faculty, will be on Tuesday, September 24 here at Mena High School. Picture order forms will be sent out next week. Even if you don’t plan to order pictures, we still need you to have your picture taken for the yearbook. Sci-Fi Club Meeting this Wednesday during Enrichment in the PAC. Book Club will meet Friday in the library. Dues are $10. ETS will meet with Freshmen and Sophomores this Tuesday during Enrichment. Unified Champion Schools will meet Wednesday during Enrichment in Room 214. Come and see what is happening and get involved. Please let me know if you want to take the PSAT test. The cost of the test is $12 unless you are on free/reduced lunches--then, it is free. It is a pre-SAT and the only way to qualify to be a National Merit Scholar. Please let me know by this Friday. The test is Oct. 16. Mrs. Thacker will be helping students register for the ACT today during enrichment in the counseling center.

Congratulations Taylor Thacker and Addie Dollar. They represented the Mena FFA at the Four States Fair today. Taylor won 1st in her class with a Charolais heifer. Addie took 2nd place with her Brahma bull.

The Mena Ladycats faced Lakeside at the UBC Monday night.. Mena won the Jr. High match 2-1... The Ladycats won the Sr. JV match 2-0 & Lakeside won the Senior Girls match 1-3... Mena will play at Bauxite Tuesday beginning at 4pm... GO LADYCATS!

Congratulations to Mrs. Williams, our teacher of the month! Mrs. Williams is our librarian and helps us establish a culture of reading and a love for books!! She works very hard for our HEROES. We love Mrs. Williams and are so blessed to have her at LD.

There are a lot of fun things happening at Holly Harshman Elementary!!! September 20th will be Peace Day. September 23rd will be the HHE Family Night-Tailgate Party. Southwest EMS is sponsoring a "Pack the Back" event to gather donations for the Comfort Closet. All information can be found on the fliers below!

Louise Durham had a great time this morning at our first Rise and Shine of the school year! Our Heroes loved it and it helps us all have an amazing start to our week!