Aramark Client Appreciation Day! Mr Weston, Mena Superintendent, and Susan Bodey, Aramark Director pictured. Aramark prepared and provided lunch in appreciation to the Mena School District. We are proud of our partnership with Aramark. Thank you for your excellence, commitment, and positive food service climate.
AIr Evac will be practicing a landing at Bearcat Stadium on Tuesday at 10:00am... Please share this post & spread the word in order to eliminate any confusion... There is no emergency this is just a drill...
Thirteen Mena High School and four Mena Middle School FBLA members are attending the Fall Leadership Conference today in Fort Smith.
The 2019-2020 FBLA officers have been selected:
Sophia Vacca - President
Shantal Tecson - Vice President
Caroline Cannon - Secretary
Elaina Aleshire - Treasurer
Makayla Vega - Reporter
Sophie Brewer - Historian
Cheesecakes arrived at the Paul Gray Band Hall this afternoon... If you purchased one from a band member look for them to be delivered later today!
The quarterly meeting of the Mena Public Schools Health and Wellness Committee will take place on Tuesday, September 24th, 3:30 pm. The meeting will be held in the Mena Middle School Library
Announcements for Monday, September 23rd
Reminders:
Flu shot forms are due tomorrow.
FBLA members will meet in Mrs. Sikes’ room right after these announcements.
Club G1 volleyball registration forms are in the office.
There are fliers in the office for anyone interested in information about Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
From Mrs. Moore: There will be no 7th grade GT meeting this week.
From Mrs. Sikes: The 2019-2020 FBLA officers have been selected:
Sophia Vacca - President
Shantal Tecson - Vice President
Caroline Cannon - Secretary
Elaina Aleshire - Treasurer
Makayla Vega - Reporter
Sophie Brewer - Historian
Lunchtime Weather: We will be inside today. You are not allowed to use your personal device while eating lunch. Once you’ve eaten and moved into the hallway, however, you may use your device. Keep the volume off or use earbuds.
Lunch Menu:
Main Line – Meatloaf, MTO Waffle Bar
Pizza Line – Sausage Pizza, Deli Sandwich, Ham Chef Salad
Concession Line – Cheeseburger, Chicken Sandwich, Rib Patty Sandwich
Club / Group Meetings: At this time, 6th grade GT students need to go to the Conference Room.
At this time, FBLA members and newly-selected officers need to go to Mrs. Sikes’ room.
The Mena 7th Grade Football Team got off to a fast start & never looked back enroute to a 40-0 win on Thursday night at Bearcat Stadium.. The Jr. Teams are back in action on 9/26 at Ozark!! GO BEARCATS!
The first Jr. High pep rally of the year was Thursday at Jim Rackley Gymnasium. Dubbed "Throwback Thursday"! Go Bearcats Beat Dardanelle! Go Ladycats Beat Arkadelphia!
Mena Middle School teachers were treated to breakfast in Mrs. Smith's Family & Consumer Science room before classes began this morning...
The Mena School Board conducted their annual Report to the Public meeting on Tuesday night. The evening began with a Facilities Meeting which included a one hour update on facilities, improvements & the five year plan. In total the district buildings include 430,000 square feet with a replacement cost of 71 million dollars. Improvements over the past year were reviewed as well as those on the horizon & additions to the five year plan.
That was followed by the annual Report the the Public Meeting. Mr. Benny Weston began on the district financial status. The end of year balance was $4,185,544.06 which is set aside for emergencies & potential shortfalls. Weston went on to state that the district currently employs 229 people & that 67% of the districts students qualify for free or reduced meals.
Paulette Sherrer spoke briefly on curriculum & testing. She shared a graph with those in attendance which show the students in the district are meeting or exceeding the national average.
Louise Durham Principal Jimma Holder says that enrollment in kindergarten has increased to 170 students & that the number of students testing proficient & exceeding have increased.
Principal Tamara Smart from Holly Harshman Elementary noted a gain in ACT Aspire scores in each grade.
Mena Middle School Principal Cliff Sherrer reported a total of 400 students over the three grades. He is excited about the upcoming student council elections as MMS has not had a student council for a number of years. Sherrer also added that many improvements have been added to the science curriculum.
526 students are currently enrolled at Mena High School & Principal David Maxwell told the board that is an increase of 32 students. In addition he reported that students performed well above the state average on the Aspire testing & that he is planning to improve those scores even more. Maxwell also ran down a long list of concurrent courses which have been added at Mena High School.
It was at this point in the meeting that a number of VIP's interrupted the meeting to award Superintendent Benny Weston with an award as the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators. (see photos & details on our social media & website)
Mrs. Bridget Buckley, MHS Assistant Principal & PCVA Director, reported an enrollment of twenty nine in the Polk County Virtual Academy & a positive response to a change in curriculum.
Finally Mrs. Paulette Sherrer announced an increase in federal funding & an increase of fifteen students to the schools gifted & talented program.
After a short break the September School Board meeting was conducted. It was a very brief meeting that included an executive session. Afterwards the board approved a one time bonus of $1,000.00 for Mr. Weston in recognition of his well-deserved accomplishment of Arkansas 2020 Superintendent of the Year. The School Board meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Administration Building.
The Mena cross country team competed in the Tom Stuthard Stampede on Tuesday. The top finishers for Mena were:
Chaniti Hall - 5th Jr. Girls
Brody Brown - 6th Jr. Boys
Danielle Hill - Sr. Girls
Logan Myers - 3rd Sr. Boys
See the complete results by clicking on the link
https://ar.milesplit.com/meets/366573/results/666076/raw…
Mr. Benny Weston has been named the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators Superintendent of the Year. Richard Abernathy presented the award at the annual report to the public on Tuesday night at the administration building. A number present & former superintendents from around the state also attended. Congratulations to the Boss Bearcat!
EAST Students, Seth Fruen, 9th Grade, and Riley Bentley, 7th, created this website.
https://sethfruen22.wixsite.com/dailydog
They have partnered with the Mena Pound for their project. They did all the work. -- photographed, made notes about the animals and created this website.
Please forward the link to your relatives and friends, through Social Media and text messages, etc., to get the word out. You can't search the Internet to find it because it cost to publish it. It can only be found by the direct link.
Announcements for Monday, September 16th
Flu shot forms are due September 24th.
From Mrs. Swall: There will be a DC/NYC informational meeting for any 7th or 8th grade student that would still like to go on the trip next summer but have not signed up yet. We will meet at 5:30 tomorrow in Mrs. Swall's room.
From Mrs. Breedlove: She sent an email to all the students with a form to fill out if you are interested in participating in a pep rally game. The first Jr High pep rally will take place this Thursday during ACHIEVE.
Before-school and after-school tutoring begins this week. Tutoring will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Morning tutoring starts at 7:15 am and after-school tutoring lasts until 4:15. You can get help in any subject. If you attend after-school tutoring, make sure your parents know to pick you up promptly and 4:15. They need to pick you up at the main entrance at the front of the school.
Students in Lunch “A”: You may return to taking food and drinks outside. This will last as long as you pick up your trash.
Announcement from Jr High Cheerleaders
Lunchtime Weather:
Lunch Menu:
Main Line – Fish Sticks with Mac & Cheese, MTO Oriental Line
Pizza Line – Pizza, Deli Sandwich, Ham Chef Salad
Concession Line – Hamburger, Steak Sandwich, Chicken Sandwich
Club / Group Meetings: At this time, 6th grade GT needs to go to the Conference room.
Homecoming Dinner!
Announcements for Friday, September 13th
Spirit & Pride t-shirt order forms are due today.
Flu shot forms are due September 24th.
From Mrs. Swall: There will be a DC/NYC informational meeting for any 7th or 8th grade student that would still like to go on the trip next summer but have not signed up yet. We will meet at 5:30 on Tuesday September 17th in Mrs. Swall's room. This meeting is only for students that have not signed up for the trip. If you have already signed up, you do not need to come to this meeting. If you need another informational packet, stop by Mrs. Swall's room and pick it up.
Students in Lunch “A”: No food or drinks outside today.
Announcement from Jr High Cheerleaders
Lunchtime Weather:
Lunch Menu:
Main Line – Crispitos with Cheese, MTO Baked Potato
Pizza Line – Sausag-Jalapeno Pizza, Deli Sandwich, Pizza Salad
Concession Line – Hamburger, Chicken Sandwich, Corndog
At this time, any student who has signed up for Student Council, needs to meet with Mr. Sherrer in the Conference Room, next to Mrs. Rose’s office.
Announcements for Thursday, September 12th
REMINDERS:
T-shirt orders are due tomorrow.
7th & 8th graders interested in FCCLA can pick up an application outside of Mrs. Smith’s room. The dues are $15. (Mrs. Pate is there today).
From Mrs. Breedlove: Our fist Jr. High Pep Rally is next Thursday the 19th. We have a Theme for this one, Throwback Thursday. Dress to “Throwback Dardanelle!”
From Nurse Sherry: Today your ACHIEVE teacher will hand out flu shot clinic forms. This is an opportunity for you to receive the flu vaccination at no cost. The clinic is October 8th. The forms must be completely filled out and signed before being returned to the school. The deadline for the forms to be returned is September 24th. No late forms will be accepted.
We have free tickets in the office for any student that would like to attend a “Dinosaur Circus” that is coming to town on September 18th. There is an informational poster on the library window in hall “A”.
Students in Lunch “A”: Despite being warned, several of you left trash outside and a couple of lunch trays yesterday. You will not be allowed to take food or drinks outside today or tomorrow.
Lunchtime Weather:
Lunch Menu:
Main Line – Mini Corn Dogs with Mac & Cheese, MTO Nachos
Pizza Line – Cheeseburger Pizza, Deli Sandwich, Popcorn Chicken Salad
Concession Line – Meatball Sub, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Tenders
Students who are registered to take the September ACT, the test is this Saturday. You need to be here at 7:50am. Testing will start at 8:00am. Bring your Picture ID, ticket, pencil, and calculator. Park at the MMS parking lot and enter through the side doors at MHS. Testing will be in the history rooms.
Patriot Day is an annual observance on September 11 to remember those who were injured or died during the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. Many Americans refer to Patriot Day as 9/11 or September 11.
Patriot Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.
Patriot Day remembers those who lost their lives during the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
On the direction of the President, the flag of the United States of America should be displayed on the homes of Americans, the White House and all United States government buildings in the whole world. The flag should be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect to those who died on September 11, 2001. Many people observe a moment of silence at 8:46 AM (Eastern Daylight Time). This marks the time that the first plane flew into the World Trade Center. Some communities, particularly in the areas directly affected by the attacks, hold special church services or prayer meetings. People who personally experienced the events in 2001 or lost loved ones in them, may lay flowers or visit memorials.
Patriot Day is not a federal holiday and schools and businesses do not close. Public transit systems run on their regular schedules. Some people and organizations may take some time out to hold prayers for the victims of the attacks, but these do not usually affect public life for more than a few minutes.
On September 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked. The hijackers then deliberately flew three of the planes into two important buildings, the Pentagon in Washington DC and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. The fourth crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The loss of life and damage that these hijackings caused form the biggest act of terrorism ever on United States soil. Nearly 3000 people died in the attacks.
