Eureka Springs School Board met Monday night with a light agenda where there were principals’ reports, but the only other business involved the school choice program.
- Supt. Bryan Pruitt said the Arkansas School Boards Association had sent a template including a change of deadline, which moves from June 1 to May 1. The board approved the change, and anyone wishing to sign up for the school choice program will now have to meet the earlier deadline.
- Music Teacher Donesa Mann reported for the Elementary School, and invited board members to the March 19 performance of Frozen. The Singing Scotties will perform the musical at 6:30 p.m. in the High School Auditorium.
The Scholastic Book Fair will be held March 19-20 in the Elementary cafeteria. Those dates encourage parents to stop in with their children before the Frozen presentation, or during parent/teacher conferences the following day.
- Staff development continues in the Elementary School, with more training in the reading curriculum. Other training included mental health awareness and Leader in Me coaching. Students participating in the Leader in Me have taken part in Student Lighthouse Teams to learn to lead in areas such as the Sparkle assembly or a school safety patrol.
- The Scottie Art Show and Leadership Celebration is scheduled for April 23.
- Students have kept track of attendance, individually and by class, to emphasize the importance of good attendance. Balloons outside the classroom door designate weekly winners in attendance, and Mann said overall attendance has rebounded since the flu season. On a related note, school staff will continue to focus on sanitation awareness, including frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close physical contact.
ESMS girls’ self-defense offered, ESHS band gets pat on the back
Middle School Principal Cindy Holt reported on preparations for state assessment tests in April. Track practice has begun, and Leah Hollinger won a poster contest for mental health awareness, earning a $50 prize and the opportunity to compete against other districts.
In early April, the school’s resource officer will present a self-defense class for girls in grades 7-8. The class has already been presented in the high school and was well received.
Holt also delivered an update for the high school, since Principal David Gilmore had gone to Little Rock to accept an award for excellence in the alternative education program.
Band students, preparing for a yearly assessment in Rogers, will have a visit from the band director at the University of Arkansas this week. Pruitt mentioned that representatives of North Arkansas College had come to the school to scout a basketball player, and afterwards they asked if the band would come to Harrison to play at a basketball game. Pruitt said the band could not make the performance because of the short notice, but said the invitation demonstrated the band’s quality.
On Friday, March 13, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack will come to the school to honor Kayden Eckman, who has been admitted to West Point. An assembly is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Renaissance Award Day is March 12, for students with a 3.0 average or better. Students in the Future Farmers of America will compete at Arkansas Tech in Russellville on March 29.