Mena Middle School Offers Computer Science Course for 2020-2021 School Year Computer Science for Grades 7 and 8 is an elective consisting of an introduction to computers, hardware, software, internet, research, coding, and 21st Century Skills. This is a Project Based Learning course where students apply knowledge and skills to solve problems they identify in their school and community. Mena Middle School will continue to offer these Career Technical course electives: Family CSI (Consumer Science Investigations) Introduction to Agriculture Career Development Keyboarding Leadership through Service Learning Introduction to Business Applications / Computers These courses allow students to establish foundation skills for their future - high school, college, and workforce. Students should make their course selections via the School Form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiPXurZ4kFtf6EMLQ0ISAe8vRotzxcX8oYsPKcBiDlX3gAcw/viewform

Welcome Dr. Lee Smith back to Mena. Smith has been hired as the next Assistant Superintendent at the Mena Public Schools.. GO BEARCATS!!!

The Mena School Board met on Tuesday, May 19th. The meeting began with the Superintendents Report. Mr. Benny Weston updated the board on the multiple phases the leadership team is working on for reentry & the beginning of the 2020/2021 school year. Assistant Superintendent Paulette Sherrer added that a needs assesment is underway in anticipation of the award from federal COVID-19 CARES Act monies. Personnel was next on the agenda. RESIGNATIONS Traci Gray Malani Vega RESCIND CONTRACT Markie Blocker TRANSFER Amy Dollar - 6th grade social studies Justin Goodnight - Mena High School Agri Chelsea Johnson - 8th grade algebra Susan McKeever - LDE Special Education paraprofessional HIRE Dr. Lee Smith - Assistant Superintendent Cheyenne Burdess - HHE Lisa Falls - HHE LPN Alicia Farringer - MMS Special Education self contained Amy Martin - MMS Chase McCormick - MMS Agri Colby Singleton - Secondary MHS COACHING DUTIES Landon Dover - head sr. girls track Tia Fryer - assistant jr. boys basketball Ryan Luttmer - head jr. boys basketball & head jr. boys track Brad Lyle - assistant sr. boys basketball Heather Goss - head jr. girls track All were approved unanimously. The board then renewed the contract with Aramark Food Service & also renewed the agreement with Horizon Software. The board accepted the Freedom of Choice Applications of 9 students. Next was an update on the district's Five Year Plan to improve the FTE (Full-time equivalent). For the 20/21 school year the FTE has improved to 91.4% & is expected to jump to 95% once final calculations are made. Finally financial reports were approved & the meeting adjourned.

Mena Middle School now has bins available for students to return packets, library books, and teacher books. The bins are available from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Monday, May 11th through Thursday, May 14th and are located at the main entrance. Students' locker contents have been bagged and will be available for pickup during that time as well. MMS students will be able to return their Chrome Book device (and charger) May 18th &19th on the following schedule: 6th grade 9:00 - 10:30, 7th grade 10:30 - 12:00, 8th grade 1:00 - 2:30. The turn-in point for Chrome Books will in the bus loading area. If you have any questions, please call Mena Middle School at 394-2572."

ATTENTION MMS PARENTS / STUDENTS: Just a reminder that all student locker contents have been bagged and labeled. All bags need to be picked up by Thursday, May 21st. After that date, all usable items will be donated to local charitable organizations. If you're not sure if your child has items to be picked up, please call Mena Middle School at 479-394-2572.

Exciting news to pass along! Next week we will offer a Zoom meeting with both our JH and and incoming 7th grade football players. Information will be passed along on each "Remind" group. We will get information out early next week. Until then if you have an athlete in that group it would be good to familiarize with Zoom. We can't wait to see those Bearcats! https://www.facebook.com/Mena-Bearcat-Football-453541635192334/

Mena Middle School has 10 Yearbooks left for purchase. Come to the school NOW if you want to buy one while supplies last.

Students: Please use the link below to select your course for next year. Link for Middle School Course Requests. https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSfiPXurZ4kFtf6EML…/viewform This link has also been sent to the student's email as well.

Mena Middle School now has bins available for students to return packets, library books, and teacher books. The bins are available from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Monday, May 11th through Thursday, May 14th and are located at the main entrance. Students' locker contents have been bagged and will be available for pickup during that time as well. MMS students will be able to return their Chrome Book device (and charger) May 18th &19th on the following schedule: 6th grade 9:00 - 10:30, 7th grade 10:30 - 12:00, 8th grade 1:00 - 2:30. The turn-in point for Chrome Books will in the bus loading area. If you have any questions, please call Mena Middle School at 394-2572."

Meal pick up Monday Mena Public Schools is be able to provide one more week of meals & distribution is tomorrow, Monday, May 11th...

ATTENTION PARENTS! Please make sure your MHS & MMS student is checking their school Email. Important information is being communicated to them through Email..

Want to know more about the Polk County Virtual Academy? Just click the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2PzxYOwJi4&feature=youtu.be

Mena Public Schools Would like to express our appreciation for today's donation by one of our patrons to the Feed a Bearcat Program. This donation will help those students who are behind on meal charges. If you would like to help Feed a Bearcat you can make a donation at the Administration Building located at 501 Hickory in Mena or call 479-394-1710...

Mena Middle School Calendar of Activities May 5th, Band School-Owned Instrument Drop Off: 8:00-3:00-Leave instruments on the sidewalk outside of the High School Band Room door. May 6th: Personalized Yearbook Distribution Students with personalized yearbook received an email about this pick-up. Questions to Melissa Lunsford (melissa.lunsford@menaschools.org or text 479-637-6599) May 7th: Yearbook distribution Drive in at the MMS Front entrance. A-H last name: 10:00-11:00 I-P last name: 11:00-12:00 Q-Z last name: 1:00-2:00 May 11th-14th: Gather Library Books, Teacher’s Books, and Packets and Locker Content Pickup Please deposit Library books or Teacher’s Books in the marked bin outside the Middle School Front door. Any AMI or PBS packets can be turned into the bins marked for each grade at the Middle School front Door. Please make sure the student's name is on the packet. Please call the office (394-2572) to confirm that you need to pick up locker stuff for your student. We will know by Wednesday, May 6th which students had locker contents. Contents have been bagged and marked and available to be picked up between 9:00 - 1:00 any day the week of May 11-14. May 18-19: Chromebook Turn in: Please bring the Chromebook and charger to the Bus loading area. 9:00 - 10:30 - 6th grade 10:30 - 12:00 - 7th grade 1:00 - 2:30 - 8th grade If you have students in multiple grades, please bring all of them at the earliest time. May 18-22 Student Registration for next years Classes Links will be shared on Facebook for next year’s 6th, 7th, & 8th graders to sign up for classes. May 21-22: Final Report Cards Released & Academic Students recognized. All A’s and All A/B’s will be recognized with a Facebook Live

All Mena Middle School and Mena High School Band students will return their school owned band instruments on Tuesday, May 5th from 8am-3pm. The drop off point is in front of the high school band hall door on the sidewalk. No students will be allowed in Mena High School.

From Coach Fryar and Coach Goss This is the Remind App class code for the 20-21 school year 7th grade Jr Ladycat Volleyball and basketball. If you plan on being a 7th grade Jr Ladycat, please join for updates and info.

Mena Middle School Yearbooks Distribution Middle School Yearbooks that were pre-ordered (you have a receipt) will be distributed Thursday, May 7 as follows A - H 10:00am-11:00am I - P. 11:00am-Noon Q-Z 1:00pm=2:00pm Due to the virus, it will be curb side pickup in front of the Middle School entrance. Please do not get out of your car. It is "drive through" only through the circle drive. If, due to your work schedule, you need a different time, contact Mrs. Lunsford byTuesday, May 5 for special arrangement. Melissa.Lunsford@MenaSchools.org or text to 479-637-6599. Please provide the student's name and grade in your message. Yearbooks remaining can be purchased: Tuesday, May 12 11 am - 1 pm (1st Come / 1st Served) Limited Available Middle School entrance circle drive, curb side, drive-through Checks only accepted. Made payable to Mena Middle School Yearbook. Price is $29.

The Mena School District is accepting applications for many positions at this time. Follow the link to our website for more information.. https://menaschools.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

At this time, Mena Public Schools will be able to provide 3 more weeks of meals. We will be distributing weekly Monday meals on April 27th, May 4th, and May 11th. To help us maintain an accurate count, please choose one of the following options: 1. If you are already on the meal pick-up list, simply continue what procedure you were following for the next three weeks. 2. If you were on the pre-list and wish to be removed, please call our Aramark Food Director at 234-1161. 3. If you would like to be added to the list to receive the next three weekly meals, please call our Aramark Food Director at 234-1161. We appreciate your partnership in helping us maintain our commitment to meet the needs of our students.

Mena Assistant Superintendent Paulette Sherrer announces retirement after 30 years with TEAM Mena. 2019-2020 Assistant Superintendent 2015-2019 Federal Programs Coordinator/District Compliance Administrator 2014-2015 Holly Harshman Elementary Principal/District Compliance Administrator 2011-2014 Holly Harshman Elementary Principal 2009-2011 K-6 Literacy Instructional Facilitator 1999-2009 Third Grade Teacher - Holly Harshman Elementary 1990-1999 First Grade Teacher - Louise Durham Elementary