The history of Mena Public Schools!
Part 2:
In 1901 the schools were under the supervision of S. H. Allen a graduate of Ouachita College. Mena had made such rapid progress by this time that they had built and furnished three buildings containing eight large rooms of the common school grades. Central School was built in 1904. This two story red brick building was erected on the site where the First Baptist Church is now located. There were eight classrooms and one teacher for each grade first through eighth. There were times when enrollment in each room might reach 55 or 60 students for each teacher. A high wire fence was stretched from the front porch to Port Arthur Avenue to separate the girls on one side toward the library and the boys on the ninth street side. In each room was a large stove. The custodian really had to get up early to start eight separate fires and keep two full coal buckets in each of the rooms. He would go around sometimes three times a day to put the coal in the stoves. Only occasionally did the teacher have to perform this task. All the school children were suppose to bring a cup from home since the Janssen Park Spring was the only source of drinking water. Paper cups had not been introduced as yet. Teachers had spring duty in those days. The children went by rooms to the park to get water three times a day. The children did not take the drinking cups home. It was thought that the construction of the Central School would accommodate the school population for some time to come, but by 1905 it was necessary to provide other facilities as those housing the school population of the new boom-town of Mena were greatly over-worked. The first buildings that had been erected for school purposes were bulging with children. To provide further housing facilities, the Southside Ward School was built. This was a neat frame building of two rooms. At this time the late and much beloved Prof. W. T. Adams had supervision of the schools. He was untiring in his efforts to build up the city schools. Mrs. Ruby Grant was the first principal of the new school. Miss Mable Adams, now Mrs. John Mershon, was the primary teacher. Mrs. John Mershon had a room enrollment of 113 pupils. The town of Mena continued to grow rapidly and by 1907 it was necessary to add another room to the Ward building.
Check bac next Wednesday for part 3!
Work continues on the turf project at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium.
When completed it will be followed by an extensive paving project as well. The stadium and track will remain closed to the public until those projects are both completed.
The Mena Jr. Bearcats had a great time at the Harding Camp !
This past Friday the Mena FFA Jr. Trap team competed in the state tournament in Jacksonville! Team members competed
in the second flight of the morning. However, the other squad in our bracket had our number on Friday and the team was knocked out in the first round. For first year shooters this was a great first year! These five will be able to compete in the fall at the FFA shoot in November and in the spring they will move to the senior division. Congratulations on a great first year!
Team Members:
Drake Dollar-Captain
Dax McMellon
Grayson Farringer
Sean Maechler
Waylon Head
Mena Senior High Cheer team attended a National Cheer Association team camp at Hendrix College in Conway this past week!
They received many team and individual awards and recognitions including:
Sharp for Sophia Award
SAFE Stunting Award
2nd Place in Cheer Competition
Qualification for Nationals
Kiylee Hughes & Shantal Tecson were named NCA All American Cheerleaders.
Patience Ferguson was selected by NCA staff to tryout to teach for them next summer.
Cheerleaders selected by NCA staff to tryout for All American Cheerleaders:
Joey Decker
Hailey Emerson
Patience Ferguson
Amy Gragg
Kiylee Hughes
Cloey Massey
Shantal Tecson
Sophia Vacca
The Mena Jr. High Cheerleaders attended camp at Hendrix this week. They worked on many skills and made many improvements. They have worked so hard and it has paid off!
Five girls were nominated for All American Cheerleader:
Chloe Cossey
Bre Crider
Rayleigh Goodnight
Trinity Aviles
Lily Kate Doughty.
As a team Mena earned most improved, a stunt safe award, a bid to Nationals, a spirit stick, and 1st place for the Jr High Band Chant!
Out with the old & in with the new!
Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium is closed to the public till further notice.
Mena Public Schools will offer breakfast and/or lunch to anyone 18 and under free of charge beginning June 6th,2022 through June 30th 2022. Locations are:
Louise Durham Elementary 106 N. Reine in Mena on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Mena Middle School, 700 S Morrow St. Monday -Thursday.
Times are 8:00am to 8:30am for breakfast, 12:00pm to 12:30pm for lunch.
The Mena Public Schools Year End Celebration was held on Tuesday in the Performing Arts Center. A number of employees were recognized for their years of service.
1 YEAR
MADYSON BIRTCHER
JAMIE GROGAN
WANALYNN ALEXANDER
JORDAN BAILEY
REAGAN BLACK
ALEXA BREWER
BRIANNE BURFORD
CHRISTIE CHANDLER
VINCENT COLEMAN
LANA COOGAN
HANNAH CRAFTON
SHANDA CRAIG
CARRI CRANFORD
AUDRA CUMMINGS
SHELBY GARCIA
ERIN GRANT
LEANNA HARPER
JESSICA HUGHES
AMBER LABERTEW
SHANNON LYLE
KRISTEN MANASCO
MALLORY MCCONNELL
CHERISH MICHAEL
ABBY MINTON
ISAAC MINTON
REAGAN PETERS
ASHLKEY PREGON
JAQUELINE REDFEARN
LISA ROBERTS
KRISTI SCHULLER
AILEEN SIRKIS
KATHRYN SMITH
ABIGAIL TILLEY
TIMOTHY WALSTON
COURTNEY WARREN
ERIKA WILLIAMS
BRIANNA PETERS
LIBERTY JACOT
5 YEAR
SARAH BILLINGS
RACHEL CARTER
DANIEL HENDRIX
ALYSSA HOSTETLER
CHARMAINE MARTIN
KENNEDY MCCORMICK
JILL NEWBOLT
CYNTIA STANDRIDGE
LEAH TAYLOR
10 YEAR
KRYSTAL BOYD
PEGGY FOSTER
LORRIE HENRY
TIFFANY LUTTMER
AMY MONTGOMERY
LINDA SHELLEY
TERESA TORIX
SCOTT WRIGHT
15 YEARS
CE;ESTE ASHCRAFT
DIANNE HUNTER
MITCH MILNE
SHERMA PETERS
DEE SMITH
HEATHER GOSS
25 YEARS
STACI BROOKS
DALYNNE RANDOLPH
NATHAN STONE
30+ YEARS
LEO BARGE
TODD COOGAN
TERESA CLARK
BECKY RICHARDSON
MEGAN TIBBS
BRYAN MAYE
PATTY OGLESBY
ANNITA HENDRIX
RETIREES
RODNEY PURVIS
LINDA COLLINS
JIMMA HOLDER
KAREN PURVIS
Several Family and Consumer Science students at Mena High School have completed the training and passed the exam to earn the ServSafe Food Handler Certification. Those students include:
Gabe Corcoran
Joseph McLellan
Dennison Reed
Ashlyn Seaton
Logan Shone
Kenny Smudrick
Londyn Wagner
Caroline Cannon (Pictured)
Lukas Charbonnier (Pictured)
Eisayah Day (Pictured)
Connor Efird
Abigail Felix (Pictured)
Isaiah Renard
Ashlynne Self (Pictured)
Shantal Tecson (Pictured)
Marixa Delgado
Addi Dollar
Oliviana Ortiz
Elizabeth Williams
Haylie Harmon
Lilian Kaliwoda
Vanessa Ludlow
Jessica Nicholson
Brooklyn Pennington
Richard Sanchez
Summer Venable
The Mena High School Class of 2022 graduated in front of a packed house at the Union Bank Center on Saturday. Good luck graduates. You will be missed !
Graduation practice was held Friday morning at Mena High School.
Don't forget that commencement will be Saturday at 10:00am in the Union Bank Center. Doors will open at 9:30am & overflow will be in the Performing Arts Center if necessary.
The Mena High School Senior Success Assembly was held on Wednesday to celebrate seniors who have made their decisions on college, trade school, military or work force.
THOSE WHO PLAN TO ATTEND COLLEGE.
Morgan Caldwell
Jeremiah Kelley
Cadence Barnes
Danielle Hill
Annika Thompson
Austin Rose
Angel Rodriguez
Taylor Thacker
Karlie Bailey
Grayson Fairless
Alexis Williams
Cassidy Ashcraft
Allison Bates
Miranda Bump
Katie Benefield
Jaimeson Biard
Christina Gragg
Alexyss Hilderbrand
Samuel Cross
Rachel Wilson
Sarah Grenier
Amanda Booth
Travis Thrailkill
Avery Powell
Vanessa Vue
Brenna Smith
Bethany Godwin
Sarah Simmons
Navya Morris
Liberty Sharp
Caleb Peters
Olivia Betz
Jett Baber
Allison Ogden
Carleigh Smart
Ian Hughes
Luke Montgomery
Breanna Hall
Brenden Brown
Jaiden Milam
Blake Brown
Jacob Deramus
Caleb Jones
Lexi Dilbeck
Antoni Sobolesky
Abri Evangelista
Jake Brotherton
William Davis
THOSE CHOOSING A MILITARY CAREER
Nathaniel Jewell
Michael Auces
Zackery Grafton
William White
Gage Gorden
THOSE WITH PLANS TO ENTER THE TRADES
Billy Kirkendoll
Mathew Grossman
Noah Snider
Christina Ortiz
Brice Metrejean
Caitlyn Rode
Adrian Perez
The Mena High School Academic Awards Assembly was held on Wednesday, May 18th in the Performing Arts Center. Students recognized included those graduating with honors, Presidential Awards, as well those who earned completer status or earned a certification.
If you were unable to attend you may watch it now on the Mena Public Schools You Tube Channel at the link below.
https://youtu.be/cuMopeaA1zk
Mrs. Alexander and Mrs. Breedlove took a group of Juniors to the Arkansas Career Development Center in Hot Springs. The kids got to experience a few of the classes and things they offer to help prepare them for future careers. They learned about cuisine, welding, woodworking, driving, and nursing!
The Senior High Bearcats started spring ball yesterday! Good effort and energy with a lot to work on! Great job Bearcats!
The Mena Athletic Awards Assembly was held on Monday in the Performing Arts Center. All conference & all state athletes were recognized & numerous individual awards were given.
CHEER Leadership Award went to Christina Gragg. The Teammate Award was given to Cassidy Ashcraft & the Most Valuable Cheerleader was Kiylee Hughes
FOOTBALL Defensive Player of the Year was Logan Yang, The Offensive Player of the Year was Austin Rose & the William G Spencer Football Player of the Year is Caleb Peters.
GIRLS BASKETBALL Teammate Award went to Emmi Hines
BOYS BASKETBALL Team Awards were Best Offense Tre Mcmellon. Best Defense Caleb Peters & the Coat of Many Colors Award went to Luke Montgomery. Plus the Jim Rackley Award went to Caleb Peters
GIRLS SOCCER Defensive Player of the Year was Taylor Thacker. The Offensive Player of the Year was Allison Bates & Most Improved Rylie Bentley
BASEBALL Defensive Player of the year was Caleb Peters. Offensive Player of the year was Austin Rose & the MVP/Pitcher of the year was Blake Brown.
The 2022 winners of the Bearcat Foundation Scholarship are Rachel Wilson and Austin Rose.
This year’s winner of the LadyC.A.T.S. award is Carleigh Smart.
This year’s Frank Mosley award winner is Rachel Wilson
This year's James C Copher Award winner is Caleb Peters
Thank you Bearcats & Ladycats for a great year !!!
The Bearcat Football Alumni Cookout is this Saturday at 5:30pm. The Scrimmage will start at 6:30pm.
Those attending need to park near the new field house. We will be serving hot dogs, chips & deserts,
A few “Nostalgia” tables will be set up with memorabilia & there will be drawings for giveaways.
Please Bring a lawn Chair!
Former Bearcat Zane Sherrer spoke to the Mena football team on Friday! Zane was a starter on the 2014 State Runner Up team. He gave a great message!
Wednesday after school we had our student/faculty co-Ed softball game. Fun friendly game to end the year and celebrate our senior baseball/softball players. I started this last year and Students won the first game 6-5. This year faculty/freshman won 13-9
