Mr. Benny Weston announces the addition of "Flex Fridays" to the Mena Public School's Ready for Learning Plan! To watch the video click on the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgKktdNJiGE&t=10s
If you would like to read the adjusted Ready for Learning Plan in it's entirety click on the link below.
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/802963/Mena_Public_Schools_COVID_Plan_Ready_for_Learning.pdf
The Mena School Board met for their October meeting on Tuesday the 20th in the Mena High School Library. It was a brief meeting but included significant topics on the agenda.
The board began by approving the closing documents on a bond issue. The closing date is November 5th, 2020. This will reduce the current interest rate from 4% to a new rate of 2.55%. This change will save the district $250,000 per year for the first four years and $2.2 million over the life of the bond.
Superintendent Benny Weston reported that a part of the new facility near Holly Harshman Elementary will carry a Bearcat theme. The facility is owned by the Rich Mountain Nursing & Rehabilitation Center & they will be naming one of the homes Bearcat House & another the Ladycat House.
Next on the agenda was discussion on adding “Flex Friday” to the district’s Ready for Learning Plan. The addition was approved & the first Flex Friday will be October 30th. A video explaining this adjustment will be released on Mena Public School’s social media & website.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lee Smith reported to the board that this year’s Annual Report to the Public will be virtual & available to patrons of the district online.
The board was then made aware of upcoming training dates available to them & the meeting was adjourned.
Tomorrow is picture day for our Heroes! This is the picture that will be in our yearbook, we can't wait for all of their gorgeous pictures!
Click the link for the meal order form for the week of October 26th-30th. PIck up is Friday from 1pm-2pm at Louise Durham & Mena High School.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdmGfEKqUNExBm6xVWgERoOFam3F0NLUD7DYmHwz6BSjUPiyw/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2QKQBTf5xjq3dq8q7iuL3RWoGW_ZByMnuJn6UZPes8r3n2ywZLzgJ-qgA
To: All ESS Staff serving Mena School District
From: Benny Weston
Re: Your Safety
We want to assure our substitute teachers that Mena Public Schools is making sincere efforts to reduce everyone’s risk of exposure to COVID-19. Although we cannot guarantee that exposure will not happen, we are doing these things to maintain a safe environment:
1. Reducing the interactions between teachers and other students not in their classrooms through scheduling and student pods.
2. Requiring masks to be worn by all people in the buildings ages 10 and older.
3. Reducing exchange of materials such as food trays and books.
4. Disinfecting surfaces daily and providing hand sanitizing in every room throughout the district.
5. Maintaining social distancing protocols in classrooms and commons areas when possible and maintaining students pods when it is not.
6. Not allowing large assemblies.
7. Restricting outside guests from entering the buildings to maintain a controlled environment.
8. Quarantining infected individuals and their close contacts using Arkansas Department of Health standards, which are strictly adhered to.
We feel that our school buildings are as safe as any other facility which hosts large numbers of people and would invite all substitute teachers to return to the classrooms. Our cases at Mena Public Schools have been very few and we feel that our attention to the standards and protocols are why we have been successful at controlling the spread of COVID-19.
Please remember that Mena Public Schools will be closed on Friday 10/16. That means that Virtual & Blended meal pick up will be today from 1pm-2pm at Louise Durham Elementary & Mena High School. These are meals for 10/19 thru 10/23...
On October 9, USDA approved waivers for school districts to operate SSO (Covid-19 Response #59) until June 30, 2021. This will allow districts to serve all meals at the free rate.
All on-site students attending school on Thursday, October 15th will have a free breakfast and lunch (no refrigeration needed) sent home with them at the end of the day for our virtual day Monday, October 19th – NO NEED TO REGISTER
Blended and PCVA students – please continue filling out the online
meal form each week to receive your free breakfasts and lunches –
NOTE – this week’s online form closes Wednesday, October 14th and pick up is Thursday, October 15th between 1:00 – 2:00p.m.
Click the link for the meal order form for the week of October 19th-23rd. PIck up is THURSDAY 10/15 from 1pm-2pm at Louise Durham & Mena High School.
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSebK70jKyy.../viewform...
Just a reminder that Mena Public Schools will be closed on Friday, October 16th. This is a vacation day for students & teachers.
Mena Public Schools will be closed on Monday, October 19th. This is a virtual day for students. Meaning they will have assignments from their teacher to complete that day at home. This will be a day of professional development for teachers..
All on-site students attending school on Thursday, October 15 th will have a free breakfast and lunch (no refrigeration needed) sent home with them at the end of the day for our virtual day Monday, October 19th – NO NEED TO REGISTER
Blended and PCVA students – please continue filling out the online
meal form each week to receive your free breakfasts and lunches –
NOTE – this week’s online form closes tomorrow, Wednesday,
October 14th and pick up is Thursday, October 15 th between 1:00 – 2:00p.m.
Click the link for the meal order form for the week of October 19th-23rd. PIck up is THURSDAY 10/15 from 1pm-2pm at Louise Durham & Mena High School.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebK70jKyyhhIk9HArpxkStPuuv_sBdkMIyiTCwg9MfltQQHQ/viewform?gxids=7757
Mena Bearcat Seniors & Homecoming Court are zooming with classes at Holly Harshman & Louise Durham Elementary this week in celebration of Spirit Week. The high school students are reading books, answering questions, & visiting with the elementary students via zoom.
Click the link for the meal order form for the week of October 12th-15th. PIck up is Friday from 1pm-2pm at Louise Durham & Mena High School.
https://forms.gle/fZxSi3ZCx8ueXm4f9
Click the link for the meal order form for the week of October 12th-15th.
https://forms.gle/fZxSi3ZCx8ueXm4f9
Today is National School Custodian Day & at the Mena Public Schools we have the best. Thanks for all your hard work.
Rodney Dominguez
Mitch Milne
Leo Barge
Brent Tibbs
Keri Duer
Cheryl Goodner
Diane Barber
Maddie Fletcher
Virtual, blended, or non-enrolled students have to sign up for meals every week. Meals may be picked up at Louise Durham Elementary or Mena High School on Fridays between 1 and 2pm. The form will need to be filled out by 2 pm Thursday for meal pick up on Friday. Follow the link to fill out the form for October 5th-9th.
https://forms.gle/98bmtEwb1ijmCDmD8
Download the Mena Public Schools App !!!
LDE & HHE teachers took advantage of a visit by staff from the DeQueen Mena Educational Service Cooperative to boost their technology game today. Improving skills is a continuous goal for Mena teachers.
Virtual, blended, or non-enrolled students have to sign up for meals every week. Meals may be picked up at Louise Durham Elementary or Mena High School on Fridays between 1 and 2pm. The form will need to be filled out by 2 pm Thursday for meal pick up on Friday. Follow the link to fill out the form for October 5th-9th.
https://forms.gle/98bmtEwb1ijmCDmD8
Blended & virtual student meals for September 28th-October 2nd may be picked up today at Louise Durham Elementary or Mena High School between 1 and 2 pm.
