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
Announcements for Wednesday, October 21 st
I. Right after these announcements, the 7 th grade ETS students will meet in the cafeteria.
II. Today is the first day of the second grading quarter. Report cards for the first quarter will
be handed out on Monday.
III. Several of you need to be reminded that everything you do on your Chrome Book or other
device can be seen by our tech department, your teachers, and administrators. Use your
device for school work only. There will be consequences if you use your device
inappropriately.
IV. If you are interested in entering the Polk County Pulse Halloween Coloring Contest, you
can come get a copy of the Pulse located outside the front office. The contest is for
students 13 years old or younger. The contest sheet is located on the back page of this
week’s Pulse.
V. Next week is Red Ribbon Week. Check out the fliers on the library windows to see what
the dress-up themes are for each day.
VI. Lunchtime Weather:
VII. Lunch Menu:
* Ravioli * Hot Dog * Chicken Sandwich * Wing Bar
* PB&J Sandwich * Turkey or Ham Sandwich * Turkey Chef Salad
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.
Announcements for Tuesday, October 20 th
I. The 7 th & 8 th grade Quiz Bowl teams will meet in the conference room right after these
announcements.
II. Today is the last day of the first grading quarter. Report cards will be handed out next
Monday, in order to allow teachers time to get all grades entered into the grade book.
III. Reminder to check the lost & found box in the cafeteria if you are missing anything. There
are a few jackets and hoodies in it.
IV. Next week is Red Ribbon Week. There will be a different dress-up theme each day.
Check the fliers on the library windows to see what the daily dress-up themes are.
V. Lunchtime Weather:
VI. Lunch Menu:
* Popcorn Chicken Tater Tot Bowl * Rib Patty Sandwich * Spicy Chicken Sandwich
* Taco Bar * PB&J Sandwich * Turkey or Ham Sandwich * Cobb Salad
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
The 7th Grade & Jr. High Bearcats played at Ozark on Thursday.
7th Grade / Mena-14 Ozark-0
Jr. High / Mena-8 Ozark-43
Mena will play at Dardanelle on Oct. 22nd at 5:30pm. GO BEARCATS!
Mena Middle School BADD (Bearcats Against Destructive Decisions) members are busy planning 2020 Red Ribbon Week!
The National Theme this year is Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free.
Monday 10/26-Follow Your Dreams, Stay Drug Free-Pajama Day
Tuesday 10/27- Team Up Against Drugs-Twins or Teams
Wednesday 10/28- Wild about being Drug Free-Wild Hair and Wild/Mismatched Clothes
Thursday 10/29-Drug Free and Proud to Be Bearcat-Wear Red and Black
Friday 10/30- I'm To Bright For Drugs-Wear Bright/Neon Colors
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...
Announcements for Thursday, October 15 th
I. School pictures were handed out yesterday. If you were absent, see your ACHIEVE
teacher about your pictures.
II. Reminder: No school tomorrow or Monday. Monday will be a virtual learning day. Be sure
and log on to your classes to check for assignments.
III. There will be a fire drill today at the end of ACHIEVE. The fire alarm will be used and all
classes will evacuate. You can review the evacuation map posted in your classroom. Be
sure to have your mask on.
IV. Since Monday is a virtual day and counts as a school day, the school is required to provide
a meal. That meal will be handed out to you today during 6 th period. The meals will be
delivered to your classroom. Do not let this cause a problem for you in class or on the bus.
If you ride a bus, keep the food bagged up until you get home. DO NOT get the food out
on the bus.
V. Lunchtime Weather:
VI. Lunch Menu:
* Steak Fingers * Chicken Tenders * Meatball Sub * Taco Bar
* PB&J Sandwich * Turkey or Ham Sandwich * Popcorn Chicken Salad
Mr. Philpot announced today that we have secured a retakes and make-up picture day with Lifetouch for our School Pictures, which will be on Wednesday, November 11. Originally, Lifetouch wasn't going to be able to offer a make-up pics and retakes day, but once they finally got all their schools scheduled for their official picture day, they were able to look at possible dates to offer retake and make-up pics, so we're fortunate to get this date.
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.
Kickoff is at 5:30pm & volleyball begins at 4:30pm. GO BEARCATS!
Announcements for Wednesday, October 14 th
I. School pictures have arrived and will be handed out right after these announcements.
II. The 8 th grade ETS students will be meeting in the Cafeteria right after these
announcements.
III. Reminders:
No school Friday or Monday – Monday is a virtual day.
Follow mask and social distancing guidelines.
Check the Lost-&-Found box in the Cafeteria if you are missing anything.
** Mr. Coogan is randomly walking the halls and looking in to classrooms to check the wearing of
masks and social distancing.
IV. The first Grading Quarter ends next Tuesday and report cards will go out shortly after. Be
sure and get all of your assignments completed and turned in ASAP.
V. Lunchtime Weather:
VI. Lunch Menu:
* Burrito * Hamburger * Corn Dog * Wing Bar
* PB&J Sandwich * Turkey or Ham Sandwich * Turkey Chef Salad
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.
Announcements for Tuesday, October 13 th
I. Reminder: There is no school this Friday or the following Monday. Though we will not be
on campus on Monday, it will be a virtual day in which you will receive online assignments
from your teachers.
II. Covid cases are beginning to rise in our community and a couple of cases have appeared
among students. Please continue to follow the guidelines for masks and social distancing.
Some Covid Protocol Reminders:
Keep your mask over your mouth and nose
Do not pull your mask down to talk to someone
Only 3 people allowed at a picnic table – there have been too many people at the tables
Only 2 people allowed on the benches – one on each end
III. There are a few jackets and shirts in the Lost-and-Found box in the Cafeteria. If you are
missing one, please look in there.
IV. At the end of these announcements, 7 th & 8 th grade Quiz Bowl teams will have practice in
the Conference Room located next to Mrs. Rose’s office.
V. If you are a member of a club or organization that plans to meet during ACHIEVE, you must
go to your ACHIEVE class first. Do not go to the meeting location until after the
announcements have been read.
VI. Lunchtime Weather:
VII. Lunch Menu:
* Chicken Parmesan * Chicken Tenders * Spicy Chicken Sandwich * Taco Bar
* PB&J Sandwich * Turkey or Ham Sandwich * Cobb Salad
Lifetouch Sports, band & cheer photo's are being taken today at MHS & MMS !!!
Announcements for Monday, October 12 th
I. Reminder: There is no school this Friday or the following Monday. Though we will not be
on campus on Monday, it will be a virtual day in which you will receive online assignments
from your teachers.
II. Covid cases are beginning to rise in our community. Please continue to follow the
guidelines for masks and social distancing.
III. Mrs. Sims is out today, so there will be no 6 th grade Quiz Bowl practice today. Tomorrow,
however, the 7 th & 8 th grade Quiz Bowl team will have practice.
IV. From Mrs. Sikes: The 2020-2021 FBLA Officers have been selected: If you are on the list,
please go to Mrs. Sikes’ room right after these announcements, for a photo.
President: Makenzie Vega Vice President: Max Rocha
Secretary: Dax McMellon Treasurer: Trinaty Richmond
Reporter: Eli Swall Historian: Abbie Martin
V. Lunchtime Weather:
VI. Lunch Menu:
* BBQ Chicken * Hot Dog * Chicken Sandwich * Waffle Bar
* PB&J Sandwich * Turkey or Ham Sandwich * Chef Salad
