Happy Friday!

The last Friday of the fall semester is here!

At Mena Public Schools, we continue to reflect on our mission to inspire and support every student and staff member as we close out a successful first semester. This week, we take a moment to share an important message about perspective—how it shapes our work, our impact, and the challenges we face together. As we update our performance targets for the year thus far, we remain committed to achieving excellence and fostering a culture of growth and collaboration. We also want to thank everyone for the incredible work they have done this week, from students putting their best foot forward to staff and parents supporting their efforts every step of the way. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our Bearcats!

Attendance Comparisons

Last week, we wrote some details related to our attendance numbers and pointed out that the elementaries are lagging. But this week we will do a comparison to last year, which puts our elementary student attendance in a better light.

This year’s attendance data reveals a positive trend, with most schools and grades showing improved attendance rates compared to 2024. Our elementary schools are leading the way with significant reductions in absences, while Mena High School also saw notable progress, especially in the lower grades. However, areas like Mena Middle School’s Grade 7 and Mena High School’s Grade 12 highlight opportunities for targeted improvement. These results reflect the success of our ongoing efforts to engage students and families while emphasizing the importance of consistent attendance. For a deeper dive into the numbers and analysis, view the full report here. The data for the report may be viewed here.

Perspective Is All You Need

It is Christmas movie season now, and I have started watching my favorites. It’s a Wonderful Life is at the top of my list, and I recently watched it and caught a meaningful part of the movie that I had not thought much about before. It was the scene near the end when George kissed the newel post of his staircase before running up the stairs to his children. Throughout the movie, the newel post irritated George as it reminded him of how far from perfect his life was, but when you think about why he kissed it, you cannot help but think about our jobs as educators.

The newel post in It’s a Wonderful Life serves as a perfect metaphor for the hard work we do as educators. In the movie, George Bailey’s daily frustration with the wobbly post symbolizes the little irritations of life that come with a deep commitment to something greater—be it family, community, or, for us, the struggles of working in education. George’s constant battle with the post mirrors our struggles as teachers and leaders: the endless lesson planning, the repetitive questions, the late-night grading, challenging students, and the seemingly never-ending to-do list. Like George, we sometimes feel exasperated, wondering if all this effort makes a difference.

But the brilliance of the newel post—like the essence of teaching—is revealed when life’s context changes. When George is given the chance to see a world without his sacrifices, he realizes the profound impact of his work, messy and frustrating as it may be. He returns to his life not wishing for perfection but loving the imperfections, including the wobbly post because they are tied to the beauty and meaning of his life.

As educators, there are days when the “wobbly newel posts” of our work make us want to scream: the endless meetings, the challenges of meeting every student’s needs, the systemic pressures, and the constant juggling of tasks. But if given a glimpse of an alternative reality—a life where we did not invest in the lives of students, did not fight for their growth, and did not share in their struggles—we would feel the same yearning George felt to return to his world.

The wobbly post in education is a symbol of love. It reflects the messy, imperfect process of growth—not only for our students but also for ourselves. Every frustrating moment is a reminder that we are building something that matters: hope, confidence, curiosity, and resilience in the hearts of the next generation. And just as George embraces the post in the end with a term of endearment, so should we embrace the daily challenges of education as cherished evidence of a life well-lived and work that transforms the world.

Our “newel post” moments are proof that we are alive in the calling of teaching, investing in something bigger than ourselves. It may be wobbly, but that is how we know it is real—and how we know it matters.

Grants

The Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA) website offers a valuable list of grants designed to support educators and innovative classroom initiatives. Several of our teachers have successfully competed for these grants, securing funding to bring unique and impactful ideas to life for our students. We encourage all staff to explore these opportunities, especially if you have a creative project or a vision that could benefit from additional resources. Do not hesitate to take the leap—your idea could make a lasting difference! Visit the grant page here to get started.

Closing

As the semester ends, Mena Public Schools proudly honors two retiring employees whose dedication has made a lasting impact. Dora Venable has served faithfully as a bus driver for 15 years, beginning as a substitute in 2008 and transitioning to full-time in 2011, ensuring student safety with a kind and steady presence. Teresa Clark, Holly Harshman Elementary's secretary since 1999, has devoted 25 years to supporting students, staff, and families with exceptional care, organization, and warmth. We thank Dora and Teresa for their incredible service and wish them all the best in their well-earned retirement!

Our Mena High School Theatre Department recently dazzled audiences with their production of White Christmas by Irving Berlin, showcasing the immense talent and dedication of our students and staff. While there was some discussion regarding the appropriateness of a few lines performed during a presentation for young elementary students, we believe this minor controversy does not overshadow the hard work, creativity, and professionalism that went into bringing this holiday classic to life. The feedback has been heard and addressed. We are confident that future performances will continue to reflect the thoughtful consideration of our community and audiences. We will celebrate the passion and artistry of our drama team as they move forward with their inspiring work—our pride in their achievements remains strong!

We extend our sincere appreciation to our talented bands for delivering such a spectacular Christmas music performance. Your hard work, dedication, and musical artistry brought the holiday spirit to life and filled the room with joy and cheer. Thank you for sharing your talents with our community and creating a memorable experience for everyone. We are so proud of each of you for representing the Bearcat spirit with excellence and grace!

As we conclude the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the impact of the “no cell phone” policy. This initiative has been an important step in fostering a focused and engaging learning environment for all students. Now that we have implemented this policy for a full semester, your feedback is invaluable. We invite parents, students, and staff to share their thoughts and experiences through our Thought Exchange platform. Your input will help us assess the policy’s effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. Please visit the Thought Exchange here to share your insights. Thank you for partnering with us to shape a positive and productive learning atmosphere for our Bearcats.

Our middle and high school computer science students have been competing in a no-code hackathon for the past month. They are using Nyx No-Code web design, an artificial intelligence product of Kilroy Blockchain that creates websites from written prompts. No coding knowledge is necessary. The hackathon is sponsored by WalMart, Startup Junkie, and several other companies located in Northwest Arkansas. The students had to build a website related to the new bike trails project. Here is one example of a promotional website created without code to show the power of this AI. Team submissions are being judged now by professionals from the industry. Winners and prizes will be announced soon. Ozarks At-Large recently did a news story about this contest and you can hear it here.

A Social Security Retirement Presentation for educators is scheduled for Tuesday, December 17, 2024, from 6:30–7:30 PM. This session will provide valuable information about Social Security retirement benefits. If you would like to attend, click the lin...