After classes conclude & school dismisses today, Monday March 16th, all Mena Public School facilities will be closed to the public. This includes all buildings as well as Bearcat Stadium, Union Bank Park, playgrounds, etc. Deep cleaning will be taking place over the next few days & all will remain closed till at least March 30th, 2020. All buildings will be off limits. If a Student or district patron has a need, March 17th-20th, they should call ahead. For MHS & MMS call 479-394-1144. For HHE & LDE call 479-394-2943. You may also contact the central office at 479-394-1710... Spring Break will be March 23rd-27th !

Announcements for Monday, March 16th Spring Break is next week, March 23 – 27. Report cards for the 3rd grading quarter are on hold for the moment and may be available after Spring Break. EAST students will go to the Middle School EAST room today instead of the High School. Students, if you normally get a food bag on Fridays from Mrs. Rose, you can get one today at the end of the day. Lunchtime Weather: We will be inside for lunch today. There will be only one lunch period. All students and staff will follow the 6th grade bell schedule and go to Lunch “A.” Lunch Menu: Line 1 – Hamburgers Line 2 – Pizza Concession – CLOSED Club / Group Meetings: ** Unless further guidance is received from the Governor’s Office, school will resume on Monday, March 30th. Over the next two weeks, please look for updates on the Middle School Facebook Page and other social media outlets.

Mena Public Schools will be offering “Grab & Go” lunches for our students for the remainder of this week Tuesday, March 17th - Friday, March 20th. The Louise Durham Elementary Car Rider Line will be open from 10:00-11:30. The Mena High School student parking lot porch area drive up will be open from 11:45-1:15. Parents may choose either location and receive meals for all of your students in one stop. All of our students are able to eat at no charge for this week. Due to the Child Nutrition Unit guidelines, this is only for students and not adult meals. We appreciate your support and understanding as we strive to continue to meet the needs of our learners.

Important information from MMS Principal Clifton Sherrer!

The Governor just updated In reference to Arkansas School Closings. It will be optional to attend school tomorrow on Monday, March 16th. Students may need to pick up learning packets or check out a chrome book for online learning at home. Mena Public Schools will be continuing with online learning Tuesday, March 17th through Friday, March 20th. The following week is spring break. We will keep you posted with continual communication. We appreciate your support in our efforts to keep the safety of our students first.

AAA Suspends Spring Interscholastic Competition

The sixth grade GT Quiz Bowl participated in the Murfreesboro Invitational Quiz Bowl on Thursday, March 12.  There were 10 teams. Our team was seeded first  after lunch and ended up taking first place at the end of the day, as well. We are so proud of them! Pictured are Denton Warner, Valley Reppo, Tripp Hensley, Jackson Thompson, Brandon Dong, Dax McMellon, Chloe Hooper, Kate Wilson, Eli Swall, Elliott Dugan, and Lynnlee Cook.

The Governor’s Office is in charge of making the decision to close schools. The Mena School District has been told we are presently still at a low risk and will remain open. Any further closings will come through the Governor’s Office. We are following all precautionary steps. Thank you.

Under the continued guidance of the Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Arkansas Department of Health, Mena Public Schools is taking all measures to carefully monitor potential risks. We encourage frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick.

Announcements for Tuesday, March 10th Anyone on the Jr High Track Team will be meeting with Coach Dover and Coach Peters in the gym right after these announcements. Reminders: The EAST Presentation Team will meet today and Thursday in the EAST room after the announcements. 6th grade ETS students will be meeting tomorrow during ACHIEVE and 7th grade ETS will be meeting next Monday. Magic Springs money and permission slips are due Friday. Friday is the end of the 3rd grading quarter. Spring pictures will take place one week from Thursday, March 19th. There are extra picture forms in the front office. These pictures are voluntary. Lunchtime Weather: Lunch Menu: Line 1 – Salisbury Steak, MTO Tortilla, MTO Nachos Line 2 – Meat Lovers Pizza, Deli Sandwich, Cobb Salad Concession – Cheeseburger, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Tenders Club / Group Meetings: At this time, the EAST Presentation Team needs to go to the MMS EAST room, and Jr High Track Team members need to go to the gym.

March is Music In Our Schools Month!

Act Aspire & Star Testing will be taking place at Mena Public Schools in April. Star Testing April 13th - 24th @ LDE ACT Aspire Testing April 6th - 9th @ HHE April 13th - 16th @ MMS April 23rd - 24th @ MHS

Spring Break at Mena Public Schools will be March 23rd - 27th.

Mena Public Schools are seeking qualified applicants for a pair of positions. Follow the link for more information. https://menaschools.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

Announcements for Thursday, March 5th The EAST Presentation Team will meet in the MMS EAST room after these announcements. From Mrs. Sikes: FBLA, FCCLA, and 8th grade EAST students: The deadline for to turn your money and permission slip in to her for the Magic Springs trip is Friday, March 13th. Daylight Savings Time begins this weekend – before you go to bed Saturday night, move your clocks ahead one hour. Lunchtime Weather: Lunch Menu: Line 1 – Mini Corndogs, MTO Tortilla, MTO Nachos Line 2 – Cheeseburger Pizza, Deli Sandwich, Popcorn Chicken Salad Concession – Meatball Sub, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Tenders Club / Group Meetings: At this time, 8th grade GT students need to go to the Conference room and the EAST Presentation Team needs to go to the EAST room.

A message from Mena Public School Superintendent Benny Weston!

Polk County Voters went to the polls today & Mena Public School patrons had the opportunity to cast their vote on two school board races. In complete by unofficial results it appears the incumbents will retain their positions. Position 1 Brandyn Gortemiller 1082 Todd Aynes 1919 Position 2 Robby Hines 1604 Calvin Cummings 1401

Announcements for Tuesday, March 3rd Students that are going on the DC / NYC trip this summer need to give Mrs. Swall your t-shirt size today. From Mrs. Lunsford: 5th period EAST students will to Mrs. Carls' Room today. All other classes go to High School as usual. From Ms. Harrison: A poster will be hung next to the water fountains near the office. It is a pledge to spread inclusion of special needs students by doing various acts of kindness. Wednesdays will be considered Inclusion Wednesday however students should be mindful and take part in these acts everyday. Students are encouraged to go by the poster and sign to show their support for our Inclusion Wednesdays. Lunchtime Weather: Lunch Menu: Line 1 – Parmesan Chicken, MTO Tortilla, MTO Nachos Line 2 – Meat Lovers Pizza, Deli Sandwich, Cobb Salad Concession – Rib Patty Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Tenders Club / Group Meetings:

The Mena 7th grade track team competed in a meet at Booneville on Monday. Here are the results: Cooper Plunkett 1st place in mile, 6th place in 800 meter, 5th place in 400 meter. Brody Peters 2nd place in 200 meter. Sean Sullivan 4th place in triple jump, 4th place in 200 meter Hunter Cannon 8th place in shot put. Dakota Vanfleet 5th place in 100 meter hurdles, 6th place in 300 meter hurdles. Jorden Davis 6th place in 300 meter hurdles. Jair Hernandez 8th place in long jump, 3rd place in mile, 8th place in 800 meter. J.D. Murphy 7th place in discus. Rhett Brotherton 4th place in discus. Kaleb Cox, 8th place in 400 meter. Relays 4x1 Evan Leonard, Brody Peters, Daven Breedon, Cody Short, 8th place. 4x4 Tucker Hartin, Rhett Brotherton, Daven Breedon, Jorden Davis, 8th place 4x8 Cooper Plunkett, Elijah Smith, Sean Sullivan, Dakota Vanfleet, 2nd place  Taliyah Defrenchi 8th place long jump. Emma Ferguson 5th place in high jump. Marlenne Cecilio 3rd place in 800 meter, 5th place in 400 meter. Brooklyn Landrum 2nd place in discus, 5th place in shot put Rylie Bentley 1st place in mile. Relays 4x1 Mariposa Joe, Taliyah Defrenchi, Lauren Beck, Lily Roland , 5th place 4x4 Addison Thomas, Izzy Henry, Rylie Bentley, Karley Sharp 7th place 4x8 Lauren Beck, Rylie Bentley Marlenne Cecilio, Jaden Roberts, 1st place. The Sr. High will compete at Booneville on Tuesday 3/3 & the Jr. High on Thursday 3/5.. GO BEARCATS!

Announcements for Monday, March 2nd If you are going on the Washington, DC / NYC trip, please see Mrs. Swall and tell her your t-shirt size. Congratulations to our MMS Choir for earning a division 1 superior in performance and sight reading and last week’s CPA assessment. Great job! From Mrs. Breedlove: There has been a change on the location for Cheer tryout clinic. It will no be at MMS today and tomorrow. The 6th grade GT students will be meeting after these announcements. We will reopen the ball box today. It will remain open until the balls are being left outside. Lunchtime Weather: Lunch Menu: Line 1 – Breaded Drumsticks, MTO Pasta Bar Line 2 – Sausage Pizza, Deli Sandwich, Ham Chef Salad Concession – Cheeseburger, Steak Sandwich, Chicken Sandwich Club / Group Meetings: At this time, 6th grade GT students need to go to the Conference room.