The local James K. Polk Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution awarded Mena Middle School teacher TOMMY JOHNSON with the 2020 Helen Pouch Memorial Fund Classroom Grant on Thursday. They also awarded 2020 Mena High School Graduate, FAITH CHANEY, with her certificate as the DAR Good Citizen State Winner.

Mena Middle School BADD under the Leadership of the MMS Project Prevent Team recognized November as Lung Cancer Awareness month and today as the Great American Smoke-out. As part of the day all MMS students watched a smoking prevention video in ACHIEVE class. BADD/Project Prevent members met for the monthly meeting and discussed staying tobacco free. The meeting was followed by all members doing a full campus trash pick up.

Announcements: Thursday, November 19 th   I. Mid-Term Progress Reports were handed out yesterday. If you were absent, check with your ACHIEVE teacher. II. Congratulations to 8 th grader, Elijah Smith, for taking 1 st place in the Patriot’s Pen Essay contest sponsored by our local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Elijah received $300 as a part of his prize. Also, congratulations to Coach Tommy Johnson for being selected by the VFW as their teacher of the year. III. The BADD club will meet outside at the benches right after today’s announcements. To attend the meeting, you must be passing all classes and have not been assigned to ISS. IV. Tomorrow is Flex Friday. Please complete the survey that Mr. Sherrer has emailed to each of you. V. A phone was found in the Choir room yesterday. If you think it is yours, come to the office and identify it. VI. Today’s 6 th period meal distribution will be a little different than the past few weeks. Today during 6 th period, EVERY student will go through the Cafeteria line and receive a meal for Monday’s Virtual Day. If you are not going to be here tomorrow for Flex Friday, you will receive that meal as well. VII. Lunchtime Weather: VIII. Lunch Menu: * Turkey & Dressing * Meatball Sub * Taco Bar * PB&J Sandwich * Turkey or Ham Sandwich * Popcorn Chicken Salad

The local American Legion, Frank Fried Post #18, had an awards dinner Tuesday where they gave out thousands of dollars to local youth as awards for their essays. Outstanding teachers and first responders were also recognized. Mena Middle School 8th grade student Elijah Smith won first prize in the 2020 Patriot's Pen Essay & he was awarded $300.00. Mena MIddle School Teacher Tommy Johnson was also honored as the 2020 VFW School Teacher of the Year & received $100.00.

You can almost smell the goodness in this photo from MMS Family & Consumer Science.

Mena Middle School midterm progress reports will be sent home with students today 11/18.

Just a reminder that our fourth Flex Friday is on 11/20/20. Flex Friday is a day for students to work virtually if desired, while having the option to attend school and receive extra assistance as needed. Blended learners are invited to receive assistance on Flex Fridays.

Click the link for the meal order form for the week of November 23rd-27th. Pick up is Friday from 1pm-2pm at Louise Durham & Mena High School. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9w5r10W5SBACSxbJD-rNH5UXC4IOfAbmCPwlhz8r5upMenA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3OtRgV6L0L5P4MIwZezF4ZWeeEyPd_plZLOEi05zwQwTIzlmQrBfZM1lM

As part of a coordinated response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in partnership with the Office for Education Policy (OEP) at the University of Arkansas has developed a Parent/Guardian Survey for soliciting family input on what is working now and what may be considered for the future. We encourage you to share the survey link with your families and ask them to complete the survey before November 20th. A Spanish version of the survey is available here. The survey seeks to involve families in an organized, ongoing and timely way in planning, review, and improvement. The survey will provide feedback regarding: * family concerns * how families are making decisions * family awareness of options and resources available * family considerations for the future The intention of this survey is not to identify individual school or district responses, but rather to establish an understanding of the state as a whole. The information will be aggregated by region only; therefore, families will be asked to identify the region of the state in which they live in order to understand the distribution of the survey without specifically identifying any district or school by name. OEP will be sharing results at the December State Board meeting. Follow this link to the Survey:https://uark.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6X7aRF3ErNNXFel... Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser: https://uark.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6X7aRF3ErNNXFel...

Announcements: Wednesday, November 18 th   I. Mid-Term Progress Reports will be given out to you today during ACHIEVE. II. Today is the last day to donate diapers or other baby supplies to Mrs. Frost’s Leadership class. Money can still be donated in the front office, throughout November. III. Reminders:  BADD will meet tomorrow, outside by the benches. Members must be passing all classes and have not had ISS to participate in BADD.  Stay away from the green electrical box located outside of the gym. IV. Lunchtime Weather: V. Lunch Menu: * Burrito * Chicken Tenders * Corn Dog * Wing Bar * PB&J Sandwich * Turkey or Ham Sandwich * Turkey Chef Salad

The Mena School Board met for their November meeting on Tuesday via Zoom. There was a short agenda & the meeting was brief, The meeting began with the Superintendent's Report. Mr. Benny Weston started by updating the board on the Covid-19 cases & quarantine situation in the district & stated that they have been able to isolate those cases. Next Weston was happy to report that the response to Flex Friday has been very positive. A total of 602 students attended class on the first Flex Friday, 683 on the second & 593 on the third. The Flex Friday option for students will continue through the Christmas break & will be reevaluated before the 2nd semester begins. There were two action items that were a part of the Superintendent's Report. One being a request by the Future Farmers of America chapter to proceed with the establishment of a shooting sport program, That request was approved. The other was a proposal to give all full time Mena Public School employees a $750.00 bonus. That proposal was approved by the board & the bonus will be issued at the same time as the December payroll. Finally the board approved the financial report & adjourned for the evening. .

The Mena Jr. High Teams played at Mountain Pine on Tuesday. Mena Jr. Girls-25 Mt. Pine-21 Mt. Pine-33 Mena Jr. Boys-29 Mena will be in action next on 12/1 when they play at Waldron. https://www.menaschools.org/

Announcements: Tuesday, November 17 th   I. The 7 th & 8 th grade Quiz Bowl teams will have practice in the conference room today, right after these announcements. II. Mrs. Sikes needs to see all FBLA members in her room immediately following today’s announcements. III. Reminder: You can pay $1.00 to your ACHIEVE teacher today and wear a hat all day – even indoors – in support of FBLA’s fund raiser for World Prematurity Day. IV. From Mrs. Rose: BADD will meet on Thursday, outside by the benches. Members must be passing all classes and have not had ISS to participate in BADD. V. Students, for your safety, please stay away from the green, metal electrical box located outside of the gym. Do not eat lunch there or climb around on it. VI. Reminder – Use your Chrome Books for school work only. VII. Lunchtime Weather: VIII. Lunch Menu: * Chicken Parmesan * Hamburger * Spicy Chicken Sandwich * Taco Bar * PB&J Sandwich * Turkey or Ham Sandwich * Cobb Salad

The Mena Jr. Boys played Jessieville Monday at the Union Bank center & lost 28-41. The boys played again on Tuesday 11/17 at Mountain PIne. https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics/athletics?filter=20091

The Mena Jr. Ladycats led at half but a big 3rd quarter led to at Jessieville win 44-37 at the Union Bank Center. The Mena Jr. Teams will be back in action on Tuesday 11/17 at Mt. Pine. https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics/athletics?filter=41091

Students in Mrs. Frost's Family & Consumer Science Classes at Mena Middle School not only learn to prepare but also a how to present a meal.

A premature baby is one who is born too early. Each year, about 1 in 10 babies in the United States are born prematurely. Close to eight million babies worldwide are born with serious birth defects every year and more than three million of them die before age five. Tuesday, November 17 is World Prematurity Day. Join Mena Middle School FBLA by wearing your favorite cap or hat to school on Tuesday for $1.00. All the proceeds will go to the March of Dimes to help support the fight against premature babies.

Announcements: Monday, November 16 th   I. The 6 th grade Quiz Bowl team will have practice in the conference room today, right after these announcements. II. Thanksgiving vacation is next week, November 23 – 27. Because we had to start school later than normal, and in an effort to end school at our usual time in May, the Monday of Thanksgiving vacation will be a virtual learning day from your home. More information will be given later this week. III. From Mrs. Sikes: A premature baby is one who is born too early.  Each year, about 1 in 10 babies in the United States are born prematurely.  Close to eight million babies worldwide are born with serious birth defects every year and more than three million of them die before age five.   Tuesday, November 17 is World Prematurity Day.  Join Mena Middle School FBLA by wearing your favorite cap or hat to school tomorrow for $1.00.  All the proceeds will go to the March of Dimes to help support the fight against premature babies. If you want to wear your hat all day, pay your $1.00 to your ACHIEVE teacher tomorrow. IV. Usually during this week our cafeterias serve a holiday meal and family members are allowed to eat with you. Due to the Covid guidelines we have to follow, however, this traditional event will not be taking place this year. Turkey and Dressing is on the menu for students this Thursday. V. It seems that several of you still need to be reminded that our staff can see everything you are doing on the Chrome Book. They recently got an alert of an unauthorized game that some of you were playing and it has been blocked, as all such games will be. Use your Chrome Book for school business only. VI. Lunchtime Weather: VII. Lunch Menu: * Drumstick * Hot Dog * Chicken Sandwich * Waffle Bar * PB&J Sandwich * Turkey or Ham Sandwich * Chef Salad

Click the link for the meal order form for the week of November 23rd-27th. Pick up is Friday from 1pm-2pm at Louise Durham & Mena High School. https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSd9w5r10W5SBA.../viewform

FLEX Friday at MMS! Some FLEX at home & some FLEX at school, like this Mena Middle School Student.