Happy Friday!

As we close the first quarter of the school year, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for your continued dedication and hard work. It is hard to believe how quickly the first nine weeks have flown by, and we have accomplished a great deal in that short time. From implementing new initiatives to fostering student growth in the classroom, our collective efforts have shaped a positive start to the year. This Week 9 Wrap-up will allow us to reflect on where we stand after the first quarter, review our progress, and acknowledge the areas where we are growing. Let us take pride in what we have achieved and stay focused on our goals for the remainder of the year.

First Quarter

As we reflect on the first quarter of this school year, it is clear that our staff’s unwavering dedication has set a strong foundation for success. From the successful kickoff to the implementation of new policies, your adaptability and commitment have made a significant impact. We have also seen steady progress in our academic efforts, with a focus on Tier 1 instruction, professional growth, and creating a supportive environment for all. However, challenges such as staffing shortages and transportation issues remain a priority, and we will continue working together to address these needs in the coming months.

Our students have already shown remarkable achievements in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. From outstanding performances in football, volleyball, and tennis, to the success of our REACH program graduates and Mena Reads initiative, our students and staff continue to thrive. Their success is a direct result of the efforts you put forth each day, both in and out of the classroom. As we move into the second quarter, let us continue to foster a culture of growth and achievement for all.

Let us keep this momentum going and strive to make the next quarter even more successful. I challenge each of us to reflect on what has worked, address areas for improvement, and push forward with the same energy and passion that brought us through this first quarter. Together, we can ensure that this school year is one of continued progress and collective success for both staff and students.

Performance Targets

This week’s discipline referral tracking shows a positive development. While we are still above our goal of a 10% reduction compared to last year, we can see a key trend: the yellow bar, which tracks gap between increase or decrease in referrals, has started moving downward. For Week 9, it stands at 40.34%, showing progress in closing the discipline gap between last year and this year. This decline highlights our ongoing efforts to create a more focused and positive learning environment. Our attendance is holding steady at 93.9%, which is above our target, and I encourage you to visit our Performance Target page for additional insights, including charts tracking our attendance and other key performance metrics.

As many of you know, we have been experiencing a lot of illness across the district, which could begin to impact our attendance. To help mitigate the spread of germs, our custodial team has sprayed all facilities using the Clorox 360 system. I also encourage everyone to do their part in maintaining their health. Be sure to wash your hands regularly, stay hydrated, eat well, and get plenty of rest. Together, we can work to keep our school environment as healthy as possible as we move into the next quarter of the school year.

Monday’s PD

This coming Monday, we have a professional development day, which will provide an opportunity for us all to dig into the data from the first nine weeks. Without students on campus, I encourage you to take full advantage of this time to reflect on both the celebrations and areas of improvement that will help guide us in making the second quarter even more successful. Additionally, we will be receiving our ATLAS results next week, which will show how well we performed last year. We will share those results with you and offer some reflections throughout next week and in next week’s Wrap-up.

Here is a general overview of the scores and process for ATLAS that was shared with superintendents on Wednesday. This will be a good preview for you all to prepare for next week when we see how Mena Public Schools performed. We will soon have more robust academic data to guide us through the rest of the school year.

National School Lunch Week

Next week, from October 14-18, we will be celebrating National School Lunch Week, a time to highlight the importance of nutritious meals for students’ health and academic success. A balanced, nutritious school lunch helps students stay focused, improves memory, and provides the energy needed for both classroom learning and after-school activities.

At Mena Public Schools, we have a fun twist planned for this year's National School Lunch Week provided by Aramark! The menu will feature some of our administrators' favorite meals from when they were in school, including classics like square pizza and chili with cinnamon rolls, plus a few more surprises. Students will have the chance to guess which school lunch favorites belong to which admin throughout the week. We hope this celebration brings some fun and excitement to lunchtime while also reinforcing the value of healthy eating.

Please encourage students to participate and enjoy the nostalgic menu, as we continue to prioritize both fun and nutrition in our school lunch program.

Closing

Congratulations to our high school choir students who attended the All-Region Auditions and achieved incredible results! Their hard work and dedication have truly paid off, and several of these talented students will continue on to audition for All-State after the new year. These students are representing Mena High School with excellence, and I could not be prouder of their achievements. Let us all take a moment to celebrate their success and wish them the best as they prepare for their next auditions. Great job, Bearcats! Keep up the fantastic work!

Next week is Homecoming Week, and we are excited to celebrate this special time at Mena Public Schools! Our students and community will come together for a week filled with school spirit, activities, and celebrations. Be sure to check out our Facebook page for details on the upcoming events, including dress-up days, the homecoming parade, and the big game.

A big thank you to our Mena High School art students who worked hard this week to fulfill community service hours by designing and painting the windows of a preschool classroom at Louise Durham Elementary. Their creativity and dedication have added a wonderful touch to the learning environment, bringing joy to the young students. You can see their fantastic work by visiting our Facebook post here. Please take a moment to check out the artwork and celebrate these students’ contributions to our school community!

Tonight, the Bearcat football team travels to Ozark to take on the Hillbillies in what promises to be an exciting match-up! If you can make the trip, come out and support the Bearcats in person as they take the field. For those who cannot attend, we encourage you to tune in and watch the game live on our YouTube channel. Show us your school spirit and cheer on the Bearcats, whether in the stands or from home!

After last week’s game, Bearcat Football player Brody Peters is in the lead for becoming Player of the Week in Arkansas Sports Illustrated. Fans can vote for Brody here.

Fields of Faith had a great turnout this week and we received a Red Ribbon Week Grant to support the message of a drug-free school. Thanks to all of our staff who made those things happen!

So much more happened that it is hard to put it all in one Wrap up!

It was a good week for us at Mena Public Schools!

At Mena Public Schools our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident.

Keep the #menareads posts coming and have a nice weekend!

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Week 9: The End of the First Quarter