Includes: Home and School (1998-2002
4 issues)
LRSD News (August/September 2003)
News and Views (September 1994-May 5, 1997)
Parent Talk (October 1990)
Update (spring 2003)
and ""A Progress Report on the Little Rock School District, 2000-2001 School Year,"" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette(October 31, 2001)
Home & School FIRST QUARTER 98-99 CONNECTION District Unveils New Programs and Initiatives for 1998-99 School Year Our schools are experiencing many positive changes this schoolyear. School and district leaders are implementing new programs and other initiatives designed to improve student achievement and to better serve the residents of Little Rock. We are instituting campus leadership at all schools this year. Campus leadership allows a team at each school to set school goals and establish ways to measure progress toward these goals. Specific results expected from campus leadership are: - improved student performance: - improved community involvement in the school improvement process
- clearly established accountability parameters for student performance: - raised staff productivity and satisfaction
- improved communication and information flow
- consensus-based, effective decisions: - increased flexibility for schools to allocate resources
- coordination of program components. Each school is forming a campus leadership team this fall. The team will include parents, teachers, principal and neighborhood representatives. Please feel free to visit with your principal for information about the campus leadership initiative and how you can be involved. Another major program we are working on this fall is middle schools. You will find articles with more information on middle schools in this issue. Please note that we will implement middle schools in the fall of 1999. That means that fifth and sixth grade students thisyear will move to middle schools next fall where grades six. seven and eight will be taught. This year's eighth and ninth grade students will move to high schools next fall which will serve grades 9-12. Parents, teachers and administrators are working diligently to prepare for middle schools next _year. Middle schools are much more than changing the grade levels within the school buildings. We are overhauling our curriculum and student support services to provide the best education possible for our students. The articles on pages 2 and 3 describe how your child will benefit from middle school education. A third major initiative this fall is CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 INSIDE . . Davis Named LRSD Coach of the Year Marcus Davis, coach and 8"' grade health and RE. teacher at Cloverdale lunior High Academy, was named Little Rock School District Coach of the Year for 1997-98. Cloverdale's boys basketball, girls volleyball and girls track teams have all enjoyed success under Davis leadership. Middle Sclw^'ITClpc^c-- pgs___ School.' j^paIs TisL"'xQj^ '\ pg. 4 Hall .2-3 Nevy^^V' Voliml^r HeaflTi' ahs- 4 ,. 5 ,. 5 Principal Cassandra Norman described the winning coach as an exemplaiy person as well as an exemplary educator: Marcus' instructional ability goes far beyond teaching students the skills of sport. He teaches them skills for successful living." Davis' record of achievement for the 1997-98 school year included Cloverdale's administrative MARCUS DAVIS SchooKCpi Public 9a PS- 7 pg- 7 award, Teacher of the Year. Students see Davis as a tough, by-the-book, but fair, teacher. Fellow staff members see him as a model educator who maintains a clear picture of where he is and where he is headed, and as one who is admired and respected by all. 'implementation I N THE FALL O F 19 9 9 What is guiding the development of the middle schools in Little Rock? Parents, teachers and district staff are working in committees to design the middle schools. Our plan is based on the Turning Points" model developed by the Carnegie Council of Adolescent Development. This plan evolves from the idea that young adolescents face many opportunities, or turning points, during the ages of 10-15. These turning points" are: - Teaching a core of common knowledge: Every student in the middle grades should learn to think critically through mastery of an appropriate body of knowledge, lead a healthy life, behave ethically and lawfully, and assume the responsibilities of citizenship in a pluralistic society. - Ensure success for all students: Al I young adolescents should have the opportunity to succeed in every aspect of the middle grade program, regardless of previous achievement or the pace at which they learn. - Empower teachers and administrators
Decisions concerning the experiences of middle grade students should be made by the adults who know them best. - Improve academic performance through better health and fitness: Young adolescents must be healthy in order to learn. - Reengage families in the education of young adolescents: Families and middle grade schools must be allied through trust and respect ifyoung adolescents are to succeed in school. - Connect schools with communities
Responsibility for each middle grade students success should be shared by schools and community organizations. Will magnet junior high schools convert to middle schools next year? Yes, the magnet junior high schools will become middle schools next year, as will all of our junior high schools. Parents may apply for magnet schools or transfers as they presently do. Magnet school applications/assignments will not change. Published by the Middle School Communication Committee Which grades will be taught at each level? Kindergarten through fifth grades will be in elementaiy schools: grades 6-8 will be in middle schools: and grades 9-12 will be in the high schools. My child wants to participate in after-school activities next year. How will these be organized in the middle schools? Parents, teachers and administrators are developing a wonderful program of sports (both intramural and interscholastic) and other extracurricular activities. The middle school philosophy addresses more than just academic needs of children - health and fitness are important aspects of a childs well-being. How will the ninth grade students fit" into the high school buildings? District staff members are visiting high schools in early September to determine the exact capacity which exists in each of the high school buildings. Some students in 12th grade may enroll in the Accelerated Learning Center which opened this fall. This program helps students who are veiy close to meeting graduation reouirements - but who may have family and work commitments which prevent their finishing school - to accelerate their pace toward graduation. (For more information on the accelerated program, please call Carol Green at 570-4043 or Alicia Finch at 570-1400.) Will ninth grade classrooms be isolated from other grades in the high school setting? It is our intent that they will be housed in a specific area unless their course work repuires them to attend class in a specialized area, such as band or art classes or a science lab. Committees are working on the transition of students into the high schools and logistics of the move. Parents concerns about their children are paramount in this planning process, and we will structure the high schools, as well as all other schools, with safety of the students as one of our top priorities. Brown Bag Lunches Bringyour ideas to conversations on middle schools in the LRSD Board room, 810 W. Markham - FROM NOON - I P.M. - TUESDAY. OCT. 27 THURSDAY, NOV. 19Home & School Connection ^Bchool. UpxlaCc What are the major differences between middle schools and junior high schools? MIDDLE SCHOOL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Pages THE PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS Is student-centered
specifically Is subject-centered
school designed to address needs of components function separately, adolescents. Focuses on interdisciplinary, high Focuses on masteiy of concepts and content curriculum that emphasizes skills in separate disciplines. thinking skills and hands-on authentic instruction. Thematic and interdisciplinaiy units Divided into academic and special closely related to the student's real subject areas separated by categoiy. world and including complex skills and factual information. Allows for flexible scheduling with large Reouires a regular six/seven period day blocks of time. of 50-55 minute periods. Encourages multi-materials approach to Depends on textbook-oriented instruction. instruction. Organizes teachers on interdisciplinaiy Organizes teachers in departments with teams with common planning period. no common planning period. Arranges classrooms of teamed Arranges classrooms of teachers teachers adjacent to one another. according to disciplines taught. Organizes athletics around intramural Organizes athletics around and/or interscholastic concept. interscholastic concept. Promotes healthy environment, Health services generally provided by providing links/access to health/social part-time nurse, services. For more information about LRSD middle schools, please contact Linda Young at 324-2112, or visit the LRSD web site at www.lrsd.kl2.ar.us Special thanks to all of the parents, teachers, administrators and other community residents who are volunteering their time to this exciting and worthwhile endeavor. Information included from the National Middle School Association. Remember, our students will benefit as we work together to make middle schools successful in our district. Help us honor middle-level and high school youth for their volunteer community service! More than 600 awards Each states top middlelevel and high school youth volunteer receives $1,000, a silver medallion and a trip to Washington, D.C., for recognition ceremonies In Washington, Americas top five middle-level and five high school volunteers of the year are named, each receiving $5,000, a gold medallion and trophy Application deadline is October 30 Prudential, in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals For information: Contact school principals Visit our web sites: htlp://www.prudential.com, or WWW. nassp. org/services/awards.htmHome & School Connection Page 4 Principals for i998-99 School Year Hall High Planning for University School SENIOR HIGH Central ............. |.A. Fair............. Hall ................... McClellan......... Parkview............ . Rudolph Howard William Broadnax ... Gayle Bradford .......lodie Carter ..Dr. Linda Brown Vocational Technical Center Metropolitan Michael Peterson lUNIOR HIGH Cloverdale Academy Dunbar.................... Forest Heights........ Henderson.............. Mabelvale................ Mann....................... Pulaski Heights....... Southwest............... Cassandra Norman .....Deborah Beriy .......Vernon Smith lames Washington .... lames Fullerton ..Dr. Brenda lames ... Nang/Rousseau .............|im Mosby The Hall High University School, opening on the Hall High campus in the 1999-2000 school year, is a joint effort with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to enable Hall High students to take concurrent college credit courses at Hall and UALR. Many of the courses will be taught with an Advanced Placement curriculum by Hall teachers while other courses will be taught by UALR professors. Initially, courses will be taught on the Hall High campus for maximum convenience of the students. Marilyn Brewster, Assistant ELEMENTARY Badgett............ Bale.................. Baseline.......... Booker............. Brady............... Carver.............. Chicot.............. Cloverdale....... Dodd............... Fair Park.......... Forest Park...... Franklin............ Fulbright......... Garland............ Geyer Springs.. Gibbs.............. lefferson........... King.................. Mabelvale........ McDermott..... Meadowclilf..... Mitchell........... Otter Creek..... Pulaski Heights Rightsell......... Rockefeller...... Romine............ Teriy................. Wakefield........ Washington..... Watson............ Western Hills .. Williams........... Wilson............. Woodruff......... ...........Mary Golston .... Barbara Anderson .............Eleanor Cox ....Dr. Cheryl Carson ..............Ada Keown ......Diane Barksdale ..............lane Harkg .......Frederick Fields ..........Faith Donovan ...Dr. Samuel Branch ....Theresa Courtney ...........Ethel Dunbar .... Deborah Mitchell .............Lionel Ward ..............Donna Hall ...........Felicia Hobbs .............Susan Beard ...........Tyrone Harris .......Tabitha Phillips .........Virgina Ashig/ ..............Terry Worm .................Lillie Scull ............lanice Tucker .............Lillie Carter .........Sharon Brooks .........Anne Mangan ............Sharon Davis ..............Nang Acre Mag lane Cheatham ..........Gwen Zeigler ........Michael Oliver ...........Scott Morgan ..........Mag Menking ...........Beverly Iones ....Pat Higginbotham Principal, has been designated as the Universiy School Coordinator. She will be working with UALR during the 1998- 99 school year to finalize courses to be offered for college credit. It is anticipated that the courses will cover the spectrum of academic areas in English, history, foreign languages, art and science. A complete list of concurrent credit courses will be published and distributed to parents throughout the city. Research shows that increasingly it takes students more than four years to complete a college degree. The University School will give Hall students a chance to complete hours of college credit while still in high school. This program will save mong/ for families by shortening the time required to complete a post-secondary degree program. Students can begin accumulating college credit without the expense of room and board at an institute of higher learning. Courses accepted by UALR for credit and posted on the students permanent college transcript should be transferable to other institutions of higher learning. The Hall High University School is modeled after a program in Wichita Falls, TX. As with the Wichita Falls program, it is anticipated that pledges of financial support being sought from area businesses will make possible the granting of scholarships for either reduced tuition rates or full tuition paid. Aid will be based on financial need. Applicants will be screened for aid by Hall High School. Hall students who want to participate in the University School must meet the admissions requirements of UALR. They must have a 2.5 GPA and make a composite score of 21 on the ACT. Once admitted to the University School and UALR, students will have access to all the facilities available on the UALR campus. The Hall High staff is excited about the establishment of the University School and will be happy to provide additional information upon request. Interested patrons should call University School Coordinator Marilyn Brewster at 671-6209 or Principal Gayle Bradford at 671-6203. New Programs FROM PAGE I SPECIAL PROGRAMS Alternative Learning Ctr. Accelerated Learning Ctr ... Lloyd Sain Carol Green the announcement of new school assignment zones. A school is more successful when the surrounding neighborhood supports the school. By redrawing school assignment zones children will be able to attend a school close to their homes. Schools will benefit by increased parent involvement due to convenience associated with a shorter commute to attend meetings and other schoolevents. Students can still request transfers to other schools and apply for specialized programs, such as magnets. when the new zones are in place. The major proposal would be the elimination of "satellite zones" which were established to desegregate schools. Currently, satellite zones do not have a desegregative benefit and result in longer bus rides for children. The committee which is developing new school attendance zones is comprised of parents, district staff and other interested parties. One of the issues the committee is addressing is allowing children to continue at the school they presently attend
this is called "grandfathering. A final recommendation on this is expected in the next few weeks.Home & School Connection Pages Cloverdale Academy Host to St. Vincent Health System and The Partnership fora Healtly with health and wellness programs through the school's New Clinic Community has opened a free community clinic at Cloverdale junior High Academy. Clinic hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Tuesday. "The clinic has a dual mission: first, we want to reach theyoung people and teaching staff at Cloverdale junior High Academy. Second, we want to touch the lives of the Southwest Little Rock community," said Melonese Clarke, RN, Director of Health Promotion and Community Outreach for St. Vincent. "The Cloverdale junior High Community Clinic is one-of-a-kind in that we will have the opportunity to reach the students 1*^ I )( Celebrating Cloverdale Academy's new clinic opening arc (front, l-r) Liz Lacker. LRSD: Superintendent Les Carnine
principal Cassandra Norman: NLR Fire Chief Bill Nolan: city director Linda loyce: Melonese Clarke. St. Vincent Health System RN: and Sister Carole Kaucic. also of St. Vincent Health System. curriculum. In this way, we hope to alter habits that can adversely affect teenagers' health before they become ingrained into their lifestyles. There is no better way to fulfill St. Vincent's mission to the community than to offer this type of clinic for students and their families." "We are encouraged about the partnership between St. Vincent Health System, the Partnership for a Healthy Community and the Little Rock School District," said Dr. Les Carnine, Superintendent of the Little Rock School District. "This will be very beneficial for our students and the surrounding community as well." Services offered at Cloverdale include: a disease management program focused on such diseases as diabetes, asthma and hypertension: education on such topics as osteoporosis, nutrition, obesity and its effects on the body, preventive care, breast self examination, importance of prostate examinations, cancer warning signs, seat belt use, violence prevention, HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, stress management and other topics. Immunizations, vision and dental screenings, counseling, exercise prescription, and other health-related services will also be provided. This is the second free clinic established in a predominantly under-served area by St. Vincent and the Partnership for a Healthy Community. In july a free clinic opened at Glenview Recreation Center in North Little Rock. \ V* Gearing Up to Volunteer in Public Schools A new school year has started, and the need for volunteers is as great as ever. If you haven't signed up to volunteer at your child's school, please do so now. Whether you want to read to a child, mentor a child who needs a friend, chaperone a field trip or speak to a class, your child's school will match you up with an appropriate volunteer activity. Please remember to sign in at the off ice on the VIPS form when you arrive at the school to volunteer. 11 is increasingly important to capture our volunteer hours. Many people consider the number of volunteer hours at a school when they are selecting a school for their child. VIPS will sponsor another day of reading thisyear. Please sign up to read to an elementaiy school class on Tuesday, November 17,1998. We want to have even more readers in the schools this yearl Forms are available at your child s school or by calling the VIPS office. The Vital Link program this summer placed SOO sixth graders in one-week internships in local businesses. The students and the business volunteers who worked with them had an exciting OPPORTUNITIES ONGOING Tutoring, mentoring, listening to a child read, reading to a child, providing clerical assistance in an office, working in a health room, providing hands-on assistance to a teacher during Nifty Nutrition class, providing hands-on assistance to Fulbright Elcmentaiy's art program SATURDAYS Providing assistance to the students working in the WoodrutT community/ garden SFASONAL Reading to elementary students during Reading Day (November 17, 1998). assisting with the annual Mentor's Picnic (May), assisting with Field Days (May). opportunity to learn together. Be sureyour sixth grader signs up for the program next summer. Applications will be available in the spring. Don't hesitate to call the VIPS office at 324-2290 if you have any Questions regarding volunteer programs in the district. Home & School Connection Page 6 Our Goal - Healthy Kids HEALTH NOTES SERVICES OF YOUR SCHOOL NURSE The professional school nurse provides health services to the school age child by promoting and protecting their optimal health through health assessment, counseling, screening and education. Frequently the nurse is the case manager for students with chronic health problems. She also identifies health risk behaviors such as substance abuse and disabilities. The school nurse encourages you to utilize these services. She can help be an important provider of health care for your child. SCREENING SCHEDULE BY GRADE K - Hearing, vision, height and weight I - Hearing, vision, height and weight 2 - Height and weight 3 - Hearing, vision, height and weight 4 - Blood pressure, height and weight 5 - Hearing, vision, height and weight. Scoliosis-girls only 6 - Scoliosis - all students, height and weight 7 - Hearing - all students. Scoliosis - girls only 8 - Blood pressure - all students. Scoliosis-all students 9- Scoliosis-girls only 10 - Vision, blood pressure and Scoliosis on all students IMMUNIZATIONS Arkansas law requires that eveiy student enrolled in school be adeq.uately immunized against Diptheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles and Rubella. Students born after November 21,1991 must also be immunized against HIBS if they are under five years of age and immunized against Hepatitis B. Students entering the Little Rock School District must present an immunization record to the school before he/she may attend. In seventh grade a second MR is required by State Law. J ~ LRSD Health Services Office ~ Nutrition Education Benefits the Entire Family By Rosalyn Scruggs, Nutrition Education Coordinator How many times have you asked someone, "What's for dinner?" Or wondered what quick dish you could put together that eveiyone would eat? How frustrating! Why not involve the family ___ in planning the groceiy shopping, planning the menus and preparing the food? Children can be a tremendous asset toward helping to plan the groceiy list and the menus. Providing adequate nutrition for the family can be a learning experience. Children learn on various levels about the importance of nutrition and how it affects the body. Teaching children about nutrition can start as early as kindergarten. Nutrition education in public schools helps to build the bridge between the cafeteria and the classroom. The teacher in the planning of meals for the family. Setting aside time to go to your child's school can be beneficial for the parent and the child. Students not only learn about food, but they also learn new words, math facts and experience special science activities that are related to nutrition. Many other aspects of nutrition are relevant to the family. These include food safety and sanitation which mostly revolve around eating out at fast food has the responsibility of challenging students to I learn about various foods f and how these foods provide nutrition for restaurants establishments. and other dining their bodies. The essential proteins. vitamins, fats, and carbohydrates have a vital role in building healthy bodies through a proper balance of nutrition and daily exercise. Parents are encouraged to discuss what they have learned in school about nutrition through actively involving them The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sponsoring Team Nutrition in all schools across the country. Team Nutrition involves students, teachers, parents, and the community in the role of helping to ensure our students are receiving healthy meals. Families are challenged to eat five servings a day of fresh fruits and vegetables. This challenge is to maintain a healthy body. Take the challenge and make good nutrition and exercise vital parts of your family's well being. Eveyone benefitsiHome & School Connection Page? Schools + Parents, Families & Communities = Success Children succeed when learning is supported by schools working together with parents, families, and linking communities. Parents' participation and community involvement may take place in many ways. Listed are some basic tips from programs that work. All parents and families want the best for their children and can help them be successful. Good family involvement programs do not always reQuire new or additional money. Peop Ie and organ izations wi 11 stretch to meet the needs of the program in creative and innovative ways. Children do best when parents play four key roles in their children's learning: teachers (helping children at home)
supporters (volunteering at school): advocates (helping children receive fair treatment): and decision-makers (participating in joint problem-solving at school). (Henderson and Berla. 1994) Arkansas Public Schools Week OCTOBER 4-10, 1998 The fourth annual Arkansas Public Schools Week will be held October 4-iO, i998. The celebration is sponsored by the Arkansas Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association. The purpose of this week-long celebration of Arkansas' public schools is to give the community an opportuni^ to see firsthand the wonderful programs and opportunities available in the schools. School staff and administrators are encouraged to plan activities that will motivate community A major provision of the "reauthorized" Elementaiy and Secondaiy Education Act (ESEA). Title I. 1994. is the requirement that each Title I school develops a school-parent compact (learning compact). Schools receiving Title I funds (schoolwide and targeted assistance) must have on file a school-parent learning compact for each student. A compact is a written agreement that clearly states eveiyone's role in helping students meet district and state standards. A compact may include
(I) how expectations of schools and parents are met
(2) how clear school goals and rules are practiced
(3) how teachers and students will work together: and (4) how schools and parents will share information. Schools that have used partnerships experienced an overall improved school atmosphere, parent participation, family support services, student study habits, and communication among teachers, parents and the school. There is no standard way to write a compact. However, a school-parent compact is required to include a school's responsibility to provide high-quality ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY Cefyrlglu C/gft. Chafltr o/rh, NallMul School Mlle Helallam^itoeolloe. support and further promote strong schoolcommunity collaboration. Parents and volunteers are invited to support their school(s) by lending a helping hand at activities planned by staff. curriculum and instruction
describe ways in which parents will be responsible for supporting their childrens learning, such as monitoring attendance, homework completion and television watching: and address the importance of continuous two-way communication between teachers and parents. Compacts should become active tools in the operation of schools. Thg, may be used to describe expectations, plan training activities, help school personnel clarify efforts, and help teachers, parents and students make choices about how they spend their time. The compact should be reviewed annually for its effectiveness and, where necessarj', changed. Parents are encouraged to participate in the development of the school learning compact. For additional information, please contact the Little Rock School District Office of Federal Programs at 324-2110. 24 Named National Merit Semifinalists Twenty-four Little Rock School District students were recently named National Merit Semifinalists. These students will now compete for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and its sponsors. The students are
Sarah Argue, Lauren Autrey, Laura Beaton, Lauren Carter, |ohn Chamberlin, Thomas Deere, Amanda Dees, Evin Demirel, Ross Glotzbach, Elizabeth Holland, Shannon Keith, Patrick Kennedy, Katherine Laning, Maribeth Mock, Cynthia Nance, Courtney Nosari, Catherine Oswald. Carter Price, Kelli Roark, Elayna Wells and Christopher Wheat from Central High School
and Mark Burling, )ami Harrison and Mark Thiedeman from Parkview Magnet High School. Home & School CONNECTION Home & School Connection is published by the Little Rock School District to provide busy parents and guardians with practical ideas that promote school success, parent involvement and more effective parenting. Communications Office 810 W. Markham Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (SOI) 324-2020 http://www.lrsd.kl2.ar.us Home & School Connection IJ Little Rock School District SIOW. Markham Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 TO THE PARENTS OF: ANDREW BROWN 1201 WELCH ST UTILE ROCK AR 72202-40(52 LRSD Graduates Receive Scholarships for Judo Shaun Burns, a graduate of Parkview, and B.). Bosah, a Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1367 Little Rock, AR Page 8 - relationship helps children learn and gives volunteers a fulfilling way to make a difference in the life of a child. "What an inspiration these children have provided me," says one volunteer. "Their interest in learning as new skills are graduate of |.A, Fair, accepted full judo scholarships at introduced continue to prove our time does make a Southern Illinois University (^4
U.) beginning Fall liK?8. differeneel" Burns and Bosah both studied at the Little Rock judo Center Each tutor participates in an initial 11/2 hour orientation (LR|C) over the past s^ral years under the direction of and training. After the initial assessment is made tutors are Gaiy Norton, coach Mann Magnet Junior High, and Eric asked to spend 30 minutes a week with kindergarten students Baker. The S-yea^-qld LR|C Serves as an after school or 45 minutes a week with first and second grade students, program for stud^ts ip Little Rock School District and Those interested in tutorii from Central Arkansas. Burns and Bo^V are both ranked at the lop of their respective weighttM^ries nationally and have trained at program coordina^J^ atJefferson should contact the .! the U.S. Ol^jiipy^hipg Center in Colorado Springs, Studcnt Vtolcn^ Colorado. J j i , All of the nmhlems rt nw 1^0 program thisyear and has expressed relationship with the Little Rock S.I.U. f( interest in t |udo Centei Reading lefferson future athletes. :s Key to Suciress "This time (ifcdina tutoring) has fed my soul and I am so proud of my stMdU^rogress," states Debbie Coates, one of the thirty-fi^rreeaafl flfe tutors who volunteered last 39.^1 in th Nations Schools All of the problems rooted in the home and on the street walk through the schoolhouse doors evegr day. Overall, about one school crime is reported lOO students. Of these, 95 percent are nonviolent fWpercent are serious .violent aimcs such as rape, robbery, battery or involving a weapon - five violent crimes for, every fO,0OQ students. Nearly percent of all students report some type of formal school violence prevention or reduction program. Data Illustrates that there students incur violent,acts at home than at school. In many places, sch^ >v^e the safest place. the most nourlSffig rr^s, tbelhi ist si^ortive environment, year at Jefferson Elemc.^,,^th.,p^o.k,.. Beginning its second ' the most nurturinMlaults ,5^ - esUfcalth care that children year, Jefferson STARS (Stut^^nts Taiget and Successfully) is a structured volunteer reading tutoring a , . c program targeting at-risk kindergarten through seepfjradeT School Administrators Newsletter students. It is designed to enable student?to iftd^nd j comprehend at grade level by the beginning tai
nts taiget and Achii As printed in the STARS program volunteers create wonderful partnerships with the children they tutor. The one-on-one Home & School SECOND QUARTER 1 999-2000 CONNECTION PTA Membership Increases 34% Membership in the PTA in Little Rock schools climbed dramatically this fall. The Little Rock PTA Council announced that LRSD schools recruited a total of 16,453 PTA members. This is a 34 percent increase over total PTA membership last year. Sixteen schools reported to the PTA Council that they have achieved 100 percent membership, which means a PTA member for every child enrolled as of Oct. 1 at the school. The schools reporting 100 percent PTA membership are: Bale, Booker, Carver, Dodd, Forest Park, Fulbright, Gibbs, Jefferson, Martin Luther King, McDermott, Rightsell, Rockefeller, Western Hills, Williams, Mann Magnet, and Pulaski Heights Middle School. Three other schools reported to the Arkansas PTA that they had 100 percent membership
these schools are Cloverdale Elementary, Garland SEE PTA ON PAGE 3 INSIDE . . Preventing Illness pg- 2 Enrollment, Open Houses pg. 2 After School Programs Dropout Prevention Volunteer Update Graduation Schedule pg- 4 pg- 5 pg- 5 pg- 6 District Receives Arkansas Quality Award The Little Rock School District was one of 53 organizations or companies and the only school district in the state to receive a 1999 Arkansas Quality Award. The district received the Quality Interest Award, the starting point for any organization expressing interest in adopting and applying quality principles as defined by the seven categories of the Arkansas Quality Award Criteria. As well as the recognition, each organization received written feedback citing strengths and areas that need improvement in its quality Schools Present Repair/Renovation Needs at Public Meetings During five nights of public meetings in late November and early December, parents, teachers and principals outlined specific repairs, additions and renovations needed at the districts 50 schools. The list of needs was probably not a surprise to School Board and audience members in attendance since 10 years have passed since the community last voted for a millage increase for the Little Rock School District. Among the most frequently noted problems were school restroom facilities that are outdated. LRSD School Board President Sue Strickland receives the award from Gov. Mike Huckabee. management program. Other award categories are: Quality Commitment Award, designed for organizations that have progressed to a point of demonstrating a serious SEE QUALITY ON PAGE 3 inoperative or beyond repair
roof leaks
inadequate heating and cooling systems
and need for additional classrooms. We are compiling the lists of building needs that the school campus leadership teams developed and will present these funding requirements to the School Board in January, said superintendent Les Carnine. It was important that parents and teachers help us to identify their schools needs since they are the ones using the buildings every day. Home & School Connection Page 2 Prevention, Education - the Best Medicine With medical expenses increasing every year and with chronic diseases on the rise, prevention is key to staying healthy. This applies to both our students and our staff. Parents, school nurses and staff need to be proactive in this area. VARICELLA Of special importance to parents of children in our 4-year- old and preschool programs is the new Health Department requirement for Varicella vaccine by January, 2000 for the prevention of chickenpox. Chickenpox disease can range from very mild to very severe and can even result in death from complications. This is a highly contagious viral disease which many times may result in scars, seven to ten days out of school and other medical complications. Besides being a new requirement, the vaccine is recommended for children and adults who do not have a history of the disease. We encourage you to check with your physician or local health department to receive this vaccine. SCOLIOSIS Did you know that it is a state law (House Bill 1031) that school students be screened for the condition of scoliosis? If found early, scoliosis is easier to treat, and treatment is more likely to be successful. The name scoliosis means crooked, and this condition affects the spine. Starting with fifth grade girls, boys and girls are screened at significant points in their development. Students are referred to a physician for further evaluation if they have a scoliometer reading greater than 5 degrees. This screening is 95% completed in the LRSD for the year 1999-2000. HEPATITIS B VACCINE Hepatitis B is a virus that causes an infection in the liver. The disease is a widespread major health problem across the United States and can be life-threatening. Hepatitis B is significantly more infectious than the HIV virus that causes AIDS. Starting in 1991, hepatitis B vaccination was recommended for all newborns. Now, the Centers for Disease Control has recommended catchup immunizations for all adolescents. Since adolescents average less than one medical visit each year and are approaching the time in their lives when they are at greater risk, school-based vaccination programs are an ideal way to protect this vulnerable segment of the population. The Pulaski County Health Department and LRSD school Student Registration Office Announces 2000'2001 Schedule The LRSD Student Registration Office has announced its schedule for the 2000-2001 registration process. If you have any questions about the registration process, please call 324-2272. Jan. 8 Jan.10 Jan.18 Jan. 18 - 19 Jan. 20 Jan. 24 - Feb. 4 Magnet School Fair - Park Plaza Mall Elementary Open House Middle School Open House Check Us Out School Tours High School Open House March 1 March 6 March 6 - 17 April 5 June 2 - July 28 Registration (Open Enrollment Period for Kindergarten, Transfer, Magnet School, 4-year-old and New Students) Assignment letters mailed Registration reopens at Attendance Zone Schools and the Student Registration Office Special Circumstances Transfer application period 4-year-old Program assignment letters to be mailed Summer registration in Student Registration Office nurses are making available the hepatitis B series to our fifth grade students. FLU VACCINE What have you heard about the flu this year? It is going to be the worst. M U- It is starting early. It is Starting late. The things we do know for certain are that people of any age can get influenza and that influenza can make one slightly ill, severely ill or even result in death. Flu vaccine is recommended for any person who wishes to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza and has no contraindications to the vaccine. All persons 65 years of age and over, health care workers, household members of high-risk persons and people with medical conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease, asthma, or metabolic diseases such as diabetes, anemia, and other blood disorders should get the vaccine. I i 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 9 a.m. -1 p.m. 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. fHome & School Connection Page 3 Parents Support Millage for School Improvements A majority of Little Rock School District parents polled in September would support a millage increase for specific building and technology improvements. Staff members conducted the survey in every school on parent conference day. More than 2,000 parents responded to the questions which addressed technology
school and classroom security
renovations, repairs and additions
and alternative classrooms. Parents considered technology the highest priority for a bond issue with more than 92% who rated it a 4 or 5 on a five-point scale. Repairs, renovations and building additions came in second with more than 87% of parents agreeing or strongly agreeing this is a priority for a bond issue. Security needs received more than 83% support, while alternative education facilities received about 80% support. Parents were specifically asked whether or not they would be willing to pay additional taxes to support the project areas included Construction crews prepare the site for the new Stephens Elementary School and Community Center at 3700 West ISth Street. The district plans to move into the building in January, 2001. in the survey. Almost 80% said they would be willing to pay more taxes to support school improvements. The district has not asked voters for a millage increase since 1990. Currently, the average age of LRSD buildings is 44 years, and more than half were built prior to 1960. PTA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1__________ and Pulaski Heights Elementary. To put this in perspective, last year only 7 schools in the LRSD achieved 100 percent membership. This year, at least one-third of our schools will be 100 percent PTA membership units. Among those schools that did not quite reach 100 percent membership there were some significant gains, even with the loss of one grade level in the elementary schools: Mitchell increased 46 percent over last year
Otter Creek, 106 percent
Romine, 19 percent
Washington, 9 percent
Wilson, 158 percent
and Woodruff, 8 percent. Among middle schools, Dunbar showed a 33 percent increase
Forest Heights, 129 percent
and Henderson, 27 percent. At the high school level Central showed a 128 percent increase. Fair a 125 percent increase. Hall a 34 percent increase, and Parkview a 21 percent increase. f Quality CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 commitment to the use of total quality principles. Quality Achievement Award, received by organizations that have demonstrated sound and notable processes through their commitment and practice of quality principles. Governors Quality Award, the highest level of recognition presented to organizations that have demonstrated through their practices and achievements the highest category of quality excellence. The Arkansas Quality Award program was created through a special partnership between the State of Arkansas and the private business community. The programs goal has been to encourage as many Arkansas organizations as possible to engage in continuous quality improvement and to provide significant recognition at its awards celebration for /Arkansas organizations that have demonstrated achievements in the implementation of quality principles and practices. Home & School Connection Page 4 Rootin ^'Tootin Reading Fun for AU Western Hills Elementary kicked off the 1999-2000 uRootin-Tootin-Reading incentive program with a special day for all students. The entire staff dressed in western wear, while everyone enjoyed cowboy games such as the Lariat Jump. A real cowpoke, Steve Jones of UALR, came to show students his horse. The Sunny Brook Farms Petting Zoo was also a hit as students enjoyed touching the cuddly critters. A chuckwagon sponsored by Sonic, Hometown Foods and the Western Hills PTA served chili, cowboy brew and moon pies. The group effort between Western Hills, neighborhood sponsors and guests kicked off the beginning of a Rootin-Tootin time of reading for all students. 21^ Century After'school Programs Making a Difference in Community BY MARION BALDWIN In June 1998, the Little Rock School District became the first district in Arkansas to receive a 21 Century grant
the award was slightly over $1 million. The money is being used to provide programs at McClellan Community High School, Cloverdale Middle Level Academy and Cloverdale Elementary. President Bill Clintons 21 Century Community Learning Centers program has made possible the expansion of after-school programs throughout the country. At the national level. Congress has provided $200 million dollars to fund after-school, weekend and summertime programs for youth. The Little Rock LEADERS (Literacy Education, Academic Development, Educational Resources Services) project provides youth and adults with educational and social services. LEADERS programming and other district initiatives are aligned with the districts Strategic Plan and Revised Desegregation and Education Plan to maximize academic support for students who are not performing at grade level. LEADERS programs include: after-school tutoring for children in grades K-12
academic enrichment
recreation
2 Cool 4 School Summer Day Camp
employment preparation training
and community service projects. Medical and mental health services also are provided to students and their families. A total of 587 youth between the ages of 5 and 18 participated in the first year of LEADERS programming. More than 80 families received medical services during Saturday clinics and 100 students participated in mental health programs. Currently, there are approximately 360 youth enrolled in after-school tutoring. For more information about these and other available programs, contact McClellan Community Education at 570-4149. I Student Named Wendy's Heisman State Winner Scott Schilb, a senior at Parkview Magnet High School, was selected as a State Winner in the 1999 Wendys High School Heisman Award program. This award is based on excellent achievement in academics, athletics and community service. The State Winners will receive a silver medal presented by Wendys International. Of the State Winners, 12 students (6 male and 6 female) will be selected National Finalists. They will travel to New York City for recognition ceremonies. This year, 12,000 nominations were submitted for the award program. The competition is also sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Home & School Connection Pages ( Dropout Prevention Nobody wants to see a student drop out of school, but each year many students make this unfortunate decision. There are many reasons students drop out, and as parents and educators we must learn how to recognize students with the potential for leaving school before graduation. This year the Little Rock School District started a program that places a Dropout Prevention Coordinator in each middle school and high school. The primary responsibility of this staff member is to identify potential dropouts and to provide them with assistance that will prevent them from dropping out of school. The school district has many programs in place that are designed to help students who are not successful in their present school environment. The schoolbased Dropout Prevention Coordinators can work with these students and their parents to get students back on the track to academic success. To learn more about this program, or to seek help with a dropout problem, contact your schools Dropout Prevention Coordinator. ViPS Reading Day was a great success! 793 volunteers read to LRSD elementary students on November 16! ViPS H sss PU^lC SCHOOLS Whats happening next? Mark your calendar now, MARCH 1 - Be counted! Volunteer hours for the 1999-2000 school year are due. Send your volunteer hours to your schools ViPS chairperson or fax to the ViPS office at 324-2044. Any volunteer activity contributed on behalf of the school should be counted, including preparation and drive time to volunteer activities. Make sure your school receives credit for your hard work and support! MARCH 21 - ViPS Award nominations are due. You can nominate LRSD volunteers. Partners in Education and certified and non-certified staff for their support of volunteerism in your school. To request a ViPS Award nomination form, call the ViPS office at 324-2290. MARCH 24 - Vital Link student applications are due. Vital Link is a one-week student internship program held during the summer for any LRSD student entering seventh grade. All interested students must apply to participate. See your school counselor or contact the ViPS office for an application. ATTENTION LRSD-TV VIEWERS APRIL 25 - All LRSD volunteers and employees are invited to attend An Evening for the Stars Vit Ricks Armory from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. ViPS Award winners will be announced after the close of our wonderful silent auction. Call for reservations, 324-2290. If you are experiencing problems with the reception and quality of LRSD-TV Cable Channel 4, please call Comcast Cable at 375-5755. After 5:00 p.m. call 375-0104. Want to volunteer? Volunteers in Public Schools has an ongoing need for volunteers throughout the district. For a list of opportunities, call the ViPS office at 324-2290 or tune in to the districts educational access channel 4 on Comcast.Home & School Connection Page 6 Students Say ALC Beneficial to Their Success Imagine a classroom where lessons are tailored to each students particular needs, and computers line the walls of the room. The Alternative Learning Center (ALC) provides such a setting as a nontraditional, structured school that serves students in grades 6-12. Students who have experienced discipline sanctions in their assigned schools may attend the ALC where small class sizes, computer-aided instruction and behavior modification classes help many students succeed. I came to the ALC for skipping school, said 11* grade student Jessie Vernon. The teachers helped me, encouraging me, telling me I can do it. They helped me be a role model for other students. I have self-discipline, self-control. I can make good grades. Here, they help you and tell you to wipe the slate clean and start fresh, Vernon added. t .4 ALC stwcients use computers for much of their instruction. Computers allow students to work at their own pace. Other students who have studied at the ALC agree that the alternative program has given them new perspective. My attitude has changed by a participating in group session, according to 9* grade student Tomi Phillips who spent a semester at the ALC. Tomi said controlling her temper is an area she has been working on, and the ALC staff taught her to think positively about herself. ALC principal Lloyd Sain and his staff enjoy the challenge of working with students who have experienced problems in their regular schools. He believes that the academic focus and conflict resolution discussions help students who may have not had much success in their regular schools. The ALC also serves as a transition back into the Little Rock School District for students who may have been in juvenile detention facilities. Monkietron Walls was one of those students. I came from Alexander training school. I did six months down there. It (ALC) helped me a lot, Walls advised. The teachers spend as much time as they can explaining, Walls continued. You work at your own pace. Working on the computer, you go through each lesson. Im in Geometry, Biology, History and English. Walls said the ALC program also helps students with social skills, such as introductions, how to dress and how to act. He said the staff also talk with students about how to deal with feelings which helps them improve their attitudes. I used to have a bad attitude when I got here. Ive seen they can help me in I S' certain areas. Tenth grade student Andrew Ellis has been to the ALC on three occasions. He said that he has a better attitude now and thinks he will absorb the lessons better this time. He hopes that in his regular school he will find someone I can talk with, and I have to be ALC students binefitfrom group discussions with staff members about conflict resolution and behavior management. Many students feel the discussions help them "adjust their attitudes when they return to their regularly assigned schools. more mature and be able to handle it myself. The ALC provides for more than the academic needs of its students, and its obvious that many of these students believe the ALC has given them another chance to succeed when they leave. Home & School Connection Page? Parent Tips With the information you have received from your childs school and the district about the new reading, math and science programs, you may wonder how you can continue important learning activities at home. College Board Recognizes Students for Exceptional Performance on AP Exams Of the 534 Advanced Placement (AP) exams taken by 295 LRSD students, a total of 276 exams earned a score of three or better. These marks brought $ 13,800 in incentive funds to the district based on Act 929 of 1997. The Arkansas Department of Education awards a district $50 for each exam that earns a score of three or better. The exams are Do you: - Sit with your child or children every night and let them read aloud to you? - Show your child how math and science are used in household chores, such as preparing recipes? - Take your child to the library and help her or him select books? - Ask your child questions about classroom activities in order to better understand what your child does each day? - Visit your childs school as often as possible to show your child that you are interested in his or her education? scored from one to five, with five being the highest score. The exams were taken in May of 1999. The funds must be spent on the schools Advanced Placement Programs. The funds allow schools to expand programming by purchasing instructional equipment/materials and providing professional development opportunities, student fee assistance and public relations activities. The two schools with the highest number of student scoring a three or above on the exams are Central High School with 191 exams and Parkview Magnet High School with 76 exams. More than 95,000 high school students received awards from the College Board for exceptional mastery of college-level material, as indicated by the grades they received on three or more Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations. This year's top College Board award. National AP Scholar, went to 1,031 students who had accumulated high grades on eight or more AP Exams - a level that qualifies students for two or more years of credit at virtually every college and university in the nation. Another 20,698 students were named AP Scholars with Distinction for having accumulated five or more AP grades averaging 3.5 or higher ~ a level that qualifies students for at least one year of college credit. The two other award categories went to 21,736 AP Scholars with Honors for grades of 3.25 or above on at least four AP Exams and 51,937 AP Scholars who had an average grade of 3 on at least three AP Exams. - Talk with your childs teachers to find out how you can help support what the teachers are doing at school? - Understand how important YOU are in your childs school success? On behalf of the administrators of the Little Rock School District, we would like to issue a special thank you to our outstanding faculty, principals and support staff. These wonderful professionals have given so much of their personal time this year to ensure our middle school transition, grade restructuring and new programs have gotten off to a successful beginning. Whfn you see a teacher, say thanks."Home & School CONNECTION Home & Scliao! 'CJo^Tieftion 15 published by the Liljle Kock School District to provide lAisi^arents and guardians with practicjfl idea'sJWat ptbrnote school success, parent involve^nt and more effective par^^Ul . Com v arkliam ' /w,. . . LittleRock,72201 (soirsifeoio http://www.lrsd.kl2,ar.us Little Rock School District 810 W. Markham Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 ************* TO THE PARENTS OF: BROWN, ANDREW 707 N SPRUCE ST ***ECRLOT**C-002 little EOCK AR 72205.375 ] Non^rofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Pennit No. 1367 LitUe Rock, AR Home & School Connection Page 6 Important Dates EXAM SCHEDULE: First Semester: January 10, 11, 12 and 13 Second Semester: May 28, 30, 31 and June 1 Senior Exams: May 17, 18, 19 and 22 GRADUATION SCHEDULE: Baccalaureate: May 30: May 31: June 1: May 28 (all schools - times may vary) Parkview - 6 p.m. McClellan - 8:30 p.m. Fair - 6 p.m. Hall - 8:30 p.m. Central - 7 p.m. ft Have Happy and Safe Holidays! What do you think... Please take a minute to let us know how to better meet your needs as parents. As we look forward to the millennium school year, we know times change and so do the needs of our parents. The Communications Department is requesting your input on the content and title of this newsletter. Does the newsletter keep you informed about our schools? yes sometimes no If yes, what do you like most about the newsletter? If sometimes or no, what kind of information would better meet your needs as a parent? ______________________________________________ Do you have a suggestion for a new name for this publication? Please send your comments or suggestions to: Suellen Vann, Communications Director, 810 W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72201 OR sevann@lrsdadm.lrsd.k12.ar.usD Homi A PUBLIOATIONOF THE * LITTLE ROCK SCWOL DH -2_______ - BACK-TO-SCHOOL EDITION SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2001 I-"T Improvement Projects Are Underway in LRSD Schools LRSDs schools honestly can be called works in progress, thanks to the voters of Little Rock who approved a 5-mill increase last year to benefit our schools and our children. The maze of ductwork in the hallways of Bale Elementary is a result of the new heating/air conditioning system that was installed at the school over the summer. Many building improvements have already been completed, some are currently in the works and even more are in various stages of planning. The construction plans, said Doug Eaton, LRSD Director of Facility Services, will benefit virtually every school in the Little Rock School District, be it a small improvement to the electrical system or a major rebuilding project. Some of the upcoming projects include: Central High School will see some major renovations beginning this fall. The first phase includes replacing the buildings roof and doing extensive work on its facade. First and foremost in Centrals plan is moisture mitiga-tion, said Bill Goodman, LRSDs Engineer. A lot of damage has been done over the years from water seeping into the building from the roof, the windows and other places around the buildings (continited on p. 2) LRSD Welcomes New Staff The Little Rock School District Board of Directors has approved the appointment of the following people to administrative positions: Major Changes in Store for Mann The news came from out of the blue, but youd be hard pressed to find a student who upset about it! Mann Arts & Science Magnet Middle School was students discovered on May 29 that their summer vacation would begin two days early. The reason for the early dismissal was a surprising engineering report that declared several buildings on the Mann campus were deteriorating more rapidly than previously known. Students were sent home that day with a letter from Mann principal Jim Fullerton explaining how school and district administrators had come to make this decision. The report states that two On the first day of the 2001-2002 school year, Manns stuJencs test out their new portable classroom buildings. A deserted hallway, lined with hastily emptied lockers, awaited the u/recking bail at Mann in June. of the buildings at Mann are structurally unsound, he said, and others also have serious problems. While there would have to be some triggering event to cause an immediate safety issue, there is some potential risk. While the school was already planning for major demolition and rebuilding under the districts improvement plan, the original construction schedule for Mann had to be moved up eight months. Teachers and staff at Mann spent the remainder of that week (continued on p. 2) Johnny Johnson joins the LRSD as Athletic Director. He was Assistant Athletic Director and Mens Basketball Coach at the University of the Ozarks. Debbie Price, former Principal at Dunbar Magnet Middle School, was appointed to the newly created position of Magnet Schools Assistance Program Director (see related story on magnet schools on page 2). John Bacon, former Assistant Principal at Dunbar Magnet Middle School, has been named Principal at that school. Angela Munns, former Assistant Principal at Central High School, is the new Principal at Cloverdale Magnet Middle Level Academy. Karen Carter, former Assistant Principal at Franklin Elementary, was promoted to become Principal at Meadowcliff Elementary. 'elcome back to school! As we begin the new school year, you will notice a change in our newsletters. We Message from the Superintendent 2001 Convocation: A Real Circus! Volunteering Your Time can Help a Child Substance Abuse Program Rewards Students Improve Your Childs Test-taking Skills Good News from around the District pg- 3 pg- 3 pg- 4 pg-pg- 6 pg- 7 have expanded Home & School Connection to include news of importance to parents of children in Little Rocks schools, to LRSD staff members and to the community at large. This change eliminates the need for News & Views, our former staff newsletter. Home & School Connection will be published bimonthly. Parents will continue to receive copies in the mail, and teachers and administrators will receive their copies via interoffice mail. What do you think? If you have questions, comments or ideas, please call 324-2020, fax to 324-2023 or email to jmdavis@lrsdadm.lrsd.kl2.ar.us. We would love to hear from you! w. Page 2 Little Rock School District Federal Education Grant Is Approved
Four Little Rock Schools Get Magnetized Imagine that you are in the 6th grade and you have a great interest in building things. You take an introductory class in Engineering at your school, and youre hooked. Then imagine that you spend the rest of your middle school years concentrating your study in the area of engineering and go on to high school with the same subject focus. You graduate from high school with a background in engineering, and youre well prepared to go on to college and begin your career. Years ago, this scenario would have seemed impossible. In todays world, however, it is entirely within reach. Magnet schools make it possible. Thanks to an important grant the LRSD has received from the Projects, from page 1 exterior. We will take care of this before any other work is done. The second phase will encompass some major renovations, including a new air conditioning system. This phase is expected to begin this winter. A new athletic center is in the works for Hall University Studies High School. This addition to the school will also include expansion of the cafeteria and some new classrooms. Halls construction is planned to begin this winter. Mabelvale Magnet Middle School, which has just received grant money to develop magnet programs in Environmental Science, Information & Communications Technology and Medical Investigations (see story above), also will undergo major renovations this winter. Additions to the cafeteria and administrative area Thomas Elected Governor at Boys' State Byron Thomas, a student at Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School, was elected Governor at Arkansas Boys State during the summer. The Governor has a lot to do. It has really taught me a lot about how state government works, and I think maybe someday this could be something that I would like to do, Thomas stated. Thomas is the vice president of the Parkview Student Council. School Board Elects Officers At the September 28, 2001, school board meeting, the Little Rock Board of Education elected new officers for the 2001-02 school year. Baker Kurrus, Zone 4 representative, was elected president of the Board. Judy Magness, Zone 3, was elected vice president, while Tony Rose, Zone 6, was chosen to serve as Board secretary. Outgoing Board president Dr. Katherine Mitchell, Zone 1, expressed her appreciation for the high level of cooperation among Board members during the past year and acknowledged that one of the Boards major accomplishments was selecting Dr. Ken James as the new superintendent. U. S. Department of Education, more students than ever have the opportunity to specialize in a particular field of study while in middle school and high school. The three-year Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant, with a total value in excess of $7 million, will provide over $2.3 million this school year alone to establish a range of magnet programs at four secondary schools in the district. Debbie Price, former principal at Dunbar Magnet Middle School, has been appointed Director of Magnet Schools /Assistance Program and will coordinate the development and oversee implementation of the new magnet programs. Part of the grant money has been earmarked for the addition of a Central Highs facade will get a much-needed overhaul this year. will be built, as well as classroom additions designed to support the schools new magnet programs. Progress on all millage projects is updated monthly
you can log on to the Little Rock School District website at www.LRSD.org and click on Construction Projects to check out your school. curriculum coordinator and two lead teachers at each of the schools, supplies, equipment to set up labs, teacher training and consultants for staff development. The schools that will benefit from this magnet grant are: Cloverdale Magnet Middle Level Academy will add magnet programs in the fields of Economics, Multimedia, Engineering and an International Baccalaureate program. McClellan International Baccalaureate Magnet Academy will begin corresponding programs in Business & Finance, Multimedia & Graphic Design, Engineering and its own International Baccalaureate program. Mabelvale Magnet Middle School will incorporate magnet course strands in Environmental Science, Information & Communications Technology and, in partnership with Southwest Hospital, Medical Investigations. J. A. Fair Science & Technology Systems Magnet High Schoors magnet programs will encompass Environmental Science, Systems Engineering & Information Sciences and Medical Studies. Incoming 6th grade students at the two middle schools will Mann, from page 1 packing up offices and classrooms in preparation for the upcoming demolition. Until the new classrooms are built, students will attend most of their classes in portable buildings. All of this relocation and temporary housing will result in a brand-new building designed to enhance Manns specialty programs, said Fullerton. All of us students, teachers, parents and administratorshave a lot to look forward to as Mann gets spend their first year sampling introductory courses from the various programs to try to find a subject area, or strand, of interest. The 7 th and Sth grade years will be spent working in the academic strand of choice. When the student progresses to high school, he or she may choose to continue in the same academic strand or to review the other available options. The introductory courses are already in place for incoming 6th graders at the middle school level and 9th graders at the high school level
courses for the remainder of the grades will be ready in 2002-2003. We are hoping that students will choose to continue on the same career path from middle school to high school and beyond, said Price. For instance, a student who chooses to study engineering at Cloverdale will hopefully go on to McClellan and continue the same course of study. Our goal is to encourage students to think about possible career paths and prepare for college and the world of work. these much-awaited building improvements. Architects are working with district administration, Manns Campus Leadership Team and others to devise a plan for the new building that will best accommodate the classrooms needed for the schools magnet programs and core subject areas, ccording to Bill Goodman, LRSDs District Engineer. Construction will begin soon after the design is approved and is expected to take about a year and a half. Watch your mailbox! Every six months the LRSD will mail to every Little Rock household an update on the status of building projects in the district. When voters approved the millage increase in 2000, the LRSD committed to monthly updates to the school board and semi-annual mailed reports to the community. Home & School Connection Page 3 From the Superintendent by T. Kenneth James We begin this new school year with many, many thanks to all who have contributed to an exceptional opening of the 2001-2002 academic year. We stood together as staff, school board members, parents, community members and students to ensure that opening day was a wonderful experience for all. We are moving forward to repair our schools and provide the safe, secure environment that is so crucial to the well-being and education of our children. As we enter the 2001-2002 academic year, we enter a time of excitement and renewed focus. The Little Rock School District, An Individual Approach to a World of Knowledge, is on the move. We hope that you, as a parent or guardian, understand that this vision is our road map to success. Our Individual Approach to a World of Knowledge guides us along our journey and keeps our focus clear. Just as the long-distance runner focuses on the finish line, and just as civil rights songwriter Alice Wine told people to keep their eyes on the prize, we are keeping our eyes on our prize and Little Rocks future our children. We cannot fail our children, for if we do, we will rob them of their opportunities to become our future leaders. If we fail, we steal their chances to become our doctors, nurses and healthcare providers. If we fail, we take away their abilities to write new software and design more powerful computers. If we fail, we deny their rights to build new cities, explore space, expand the world of science and create new art. If we fail our children, we do away with their opportunities to compete, to flourish, to prosper, to improve our world and to live as we want them to livestrong, successful, happy and free. As we embark on our journey together, we must focus on five key design tasks that are essential to our success. These design tasks will guide us to small successes now and ultimate success in the future. Our focal points will be: standards and assessments, learning environments, high-performance management, public engagement and community services and supports. How will we know that we have been successful? We invite you to look for: Improved scores on the Statewide ACTAAP examination Improved achievement on the SAT-9 examination Improved achievement on district-level examinations Higher graduation rates Staff and administration engaged in meaningful professional development opportunities linked to increased student achievement An aggressive teacher recruitment process from a wider variety of colleges and universities More teachers and principals actively seeking employment within the Little Rock School District An aggressive approach to increasing LRSDs student enrollment Were serious about developing the minds of all the children within the Little Rock School District. We must celebrate our diversity, maintain our commitment to the Covenant, and collaboratively build the premier school district in the state. It is our goal and our mindset to become the flagship school district in the state of Arkansas. As parents/guardians, you are tremendously important to your childs success. We invite you to become involved and engaged in our pursuit of academic excellence for the students that we are all here to serve. Sincerely, T. Kenneth James, Ed. D. Superintendent of Schools F LRSD Employees Meet under the Big Top
Convocations Theme Is Serving Those Who Serve Our Children Popcorn, cotton candy, clowns and balloonsall the ingredients necessary for a successful meeting. Or are they? In this case, the meeting definitely was a success as all employees of the school districtteachers, administrators, bus drivers, child nutrition specialists and all othersgathered together for the districts fourth annual Employee Convocation. The circus theme, which lent itself well to the setting of Barton Coliseum, seemed to put everyone in a festive spirit. Dr. Bonnie Lesley, Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, commented that some people didnt see the relationship between the circus theme Associate Superintendent Junious Babbs got into the spirit of the occasion and handed out peanuts and Cracker Jacks to the assembled crowd. and education. It seems to me that educators know something about trapeze work, about getting shot out of a cannon, about how to walk the high wire, we perform magic tricks, we know something about clown acts and we are experts at taming lions, she explained. So Barnum and Bailey just think that they are the greatest show on earth. What you do every day in the classroom, on the bus, in the halls and on the playground is really the greatest show on earth. Winthrop Rockefeller, Arkansas Lieutenant Governor, spoke of the importance of quality public education. He thanked the assembled crowd for their willingness to shape and mold tomorrows leaders. We all appreciate learning as a lifetime activity, he said. Only you as teachers and parents can pass that message on. Our future depends on that. We believe in the inherent ability of children to learn, said LRSDs new Superintendent Ken James. It is our job to nurture youngsters to help them realize their full potential. The names of 11 lucky employees, who had perfect attendance from April 2 to May 31, were drawn to receive awards. They vre: Natasch Acker, Rose Bowman, Carolyn Cole, Margaret Dawson, Eddie Mae Finley, Deborah Jones, Barbara Mays, Marjorie Rutherford, Jeffrey Walters, Irish Williams and John Word. Door prize winners were Chicot Elementarys Lisa Poteet, who won a computer, and Vera Weller of Southwest Middle School, who won two round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines. Companies that furnished door prizes, provided financial consideration and/or exhibited at Convocation were: Aerospace Education Center/lMAX
Bank of America Mortgage
Cingular Wireless
Cricket Communications
Dell Computers
Friday, Eldredge & Clark
KATV Channel 7
Little Rock Teachers Federal Credit Union
Pulaski Technical College
Southwest Airlines
Staples
Stephens Inc.
UALR
and VALIC. Dr. James concluded his remarks with a f What circus would be complete without a few clowns! parable. Come to the cliff, he said. TTzey said they were afraid. Come to the cliff, he said again. They came. He pushed them. And they flew. I want to challenge you today to not forget to fly, said Dr. James. Spread your wings. The most important thing we can do is support, nurture and encourage the kids we are here to serve. It * * School Board President Dr. Katherine Mitchell welcomes everyone to Convocation with renewed eneigj arui great expectations. Page 4 Little Rock School District Volunteering: More than Just Giving Your Time Do you enjoy working with people? Do you have a genuine interest in helping children succeed in school? If so, you can become a ViPS! Volunteers in Public Schools, or ViPS, is an organization that serves as a link between the LRSD and the community. During the 2000-01 school year alone, over 310,CXX) hours of volunteer service, with an estimated worth of $4,584,000, were contributed to the LRSD. If I become a ViPS, what kinds of things can I do to help? Volunteer services cover a very broad range and depend on the needs of the school and the interests and abilities of the volunteer. Activities include tutoring students, mentoring, chaperoning field trips, becoming a classroom speaker and participating in special education for gifted students or students with learning disabilities. You can volunteer as much or as little time as your schedule permits. Charlie Hamon of the Young Lawyers Association spends time tutoring a student at Mitchell Academy. Volunteers are always welcome for tutoring, mentoring and other activities in the districts schools. NEA Issues Challenge to White House about Early Childhood Education The nations teachers challenged President George W. Bush in July to fill the gaps in early child care. This challenge came just before the White House Conference on Early Childhood. Our members see firsthand which children have received the nourishment and social building blocks required to start school and which children have not, said National Education Association (NEA) President Bob Chase. A safe and healthy passage into kindergarten requires a seamless support network. These gaps in child health and social navigation Volunteers in Public Schools What kinds of special activities does ViPS sponsor? Aside from individual volunteers, ViPS works with local businesses and community organizations in the Partners in Education (PIE) program. Businesses may develop enrichment programs for students, provide student achievement incentives or grant release time to employees to visit schools, and the schools may in turn recognize their partners with decorative art, musical presentations or other special projects. State Farm Insurance is a Parmer in Education with Woodruff Elementary. Launey Jason, Senior Agency Field Specialist at State Farm, believes that the benefits of partnering with a school are mutually beneficial. As an active partner with Woodruff, we feel it is our duty to be good mentors and role models, provide educational aids for teachers and expose students to corporate America, because these things play an intricate part in creating an atmosphere conducive to a higher quality of learning. I personally take great pride in knowing that Woodruff really appreciates our efforts. ViPS will co-sponsor the first districtwide Parent Institute.this year on Saturday, October 27, at J. A. Fair Magnet High School. Speakers and workshops will be offered that are geared towards parents and other members of the persist into adulthood and exact a costly toll on children, their families and the economic health of our nation. Chase praised President Bushs focus on literacy, but warned that ...research and common sense tell us that education cannot be successful if we dont do right by the youngest children. If a child is hungry, sick and not cared for in ways that spark proper emotional and intellectual development, he or she will have more trouble with reading and in school. Research shows that children receiving better quality care have stronger language, pre-mathematics community. For more information, contact Kaye Rainey, Parent Involvement Coordinator, at 660-6610. ViPS also sponsors an annual Reading Day, which will take place this fall on Tuesday, November 13. Scheduled specifically to coincide with American Education Week and National Childrens Book Week, ViPS Reading Day provides an opportunity for members of businesses, churches, civic organizations and others to take a small amount of time out of their schedules to read to a class of elementary students. You can select a particular class, grade or school to visit Call ViPS at 324-2290 to obtain a Reading Day Commitment Card or register online at www.LRSD.org by clicking on Volunteers. Readers will receive confirmation by mail. How are my volunteer hours credited? When you perform volunteer work at a school, you should sign in and out in the school office. Off- campus volunteering (such as game concessions, PTA phone calling from home, etc.) can be reported directly to your schools ViPS Chairperson or to the ViPS office (324-2290). You can also e-mail the information through the LRSD website. It is very important that you report all of your volunteer service time, no matter how much or little. ViPS volunteers are always welcome! A small investment of your time can reap big rewards in a childs educational success. Please call Debbie Milam, ViPS Director, at 324-2290 for an application or for more information about volunteering, or log on to www.LRSD.org and click on Volunteers. and social skills than those with low-quality care. Chase called for a more comprehensive approach to early care and education: federal funding of early care and education, including Early Head Start and Head Start
expansion of the Child Care and Development Block Grant
continued use of welfare funds to provide childcare for parents working toward self-sufficiency
more research into effective child development strategies
more training and education for early childhood professionals
quality standards for early education settings. Looking for a Good Book for Your Child? With so many books available in libraries and bookstores in such a wide array of topics, how can you be sure that the books your children choose to read are appropriate? If you are unsure about which books to recommend to your children, take a look below at some suggested books for young scholars, broken down by age category, which have been suggested by Suzi Davis, Director of LRSDs English and Foreign Languages Department, and Judy Teeter, Early Childhood/Elemen- tary Literacy Specialist. Elementary School (in order of difficulty) Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten (Slate) Over in the Meadow (Keats) The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (Prelutsky) The Doorbell Rang (Hutchins) Swimmy (Lionni) Chicken Soup with Rice (Sendak) Cam Jansen Mysteries (Adler) Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (Cleary) Charlottes Web (White) Jumanji (van Allsburg) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Dahl) Middle School Bud, Not Buddy (Curtis) The Contender (Lipsyte) The Egypt Game (Snyder) Gathering Blue (Lowry) Hatchet (Paulsen) Holes (Sachar) Huckleberry Finn (Twain) 1 Am the Cheese (Cormier) Jump Ship to Freedom (Collier) Let the Circle Be Unbroken (Taylor) Night (Weisel) The Outsiders (Hinton) Phoenix Rising (Hess) Ransom (Duncan) Tom Sawyer (Twain) Watsons Go to Birmingham (Curtis) i High School The Enders Game (Card) Hiroshima (Hersey) The Hobbit (Tolkien) I Always Wanted to Be Somebody (Gibson) I Heard the Owl Call My Name (Craven) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Angelou) Jane Eyre (Bronte) The Learning Tree (Parks) A Midsummer Nights Dream (Shakespeare) Out of the Dust (Hess) When Legends Die (Borland) Wed love to know about your favorite books! You may even see them on future reading lists.Home & School Connection Page 5 Ji Parent Involvement Office Helps All The LRSDs parent involvement efforts have been reorganized to unite and share common resources with parents for the benefit of keeping our children first, which in turn contributes to a higher level of educational success and a growing community. The ViPS Parent Involvement Office will work with district schools to make parents aware of services provided by the district that can help their children achieve educational success. One of the services is the Title I Parent Advisory Council, which is now being reorganized. The council is a working committee that will go through parent education training to help themselves, other parents within their school and the district to become more knowledgeable of opportunities within the district. The Parent Involvement Office is making plans to share the "Active Parenting Today" program, both in English and Spanish, with some Title I schools and also to activate a lending library of materials with academic and social topics that parents can use to help their children. For more information, contact Kaye Rainey, Parent Involvement Coordinator, at 660-6610, and Stella T. Loya, ESL Parent Liaison, at 660-6609. Students May Declare TRUCE LRSD students may earn rewards from local merchants by participating in TRUCE. The name TRUCE stands for Teens Resisting Unhealthy Choices Everyday. It is a voluntary program which reward students for being drug and alcohol free, and it encourages those using drugs to reject substance abuse. Positive peer pressure encourages students who choose to remain drug-free. With parent or guardian permission, students in TRUCE are voluntarily tested to prove that they are not using drugs or alcohol. Those who test drug- and alcohol-free receive an official TRUCE card which entitles the student to rewards such as discounts from local businesses and activities such as pizza parties, retreats and other planned events. TRUCE information was sent home to parents of secondary students the week of October 8
if you would like for your child to participate, please sign the consent form and return it to school. LRSD School Directory Se han reorganizado los esfuerzos de "ViPS Parent Involvement" del distrito para unit y de compartir recursos comunes con los padres para la ventaja de mantener a nuestros nihos primero, que alternadamente contribuye a un nivel mas alto del exito educative y de una comunidad cada vez mayor. La oficina de "ViPS Parent Involvement" trabajara con las escuelas del distrito para informar a los padres de los servicios proporcionados por el distrito que puede ayudar a sus nihos a alcanzar exito educative. Uno de los servicios que se reorganize es el comite de "Title IParent Advisory Council." Este comite pasara por un entrenamiento de la educacion de los padres y se podran ayudar ellos mismos y a la misma ves ayudar a otros padres del distrito escolar. Los padres conoceran oportunidades que el distrito les ofrece. La oficina de "ViPS Parent Involvement" esta haciendo planes para compartir el programa "Active Parenting Today" en ambos idiomas (espahol e ingles) con las escuelas de "Title I" (Titulo I) y tambien activar una biblioteca de prestamos de recursos materiales que los padres pueden utilizar para ayudar a sus nihos con asuntos academicos y sociales. Para mas informacion, llame a Kaye Rainey, Coordinadora de Los Padres Envueltos del Distrito Escolar de Little Rock, 660-6610
y Stella T. Loya, Coordinadora entre Los Ladres y el Distrito Escolar de Little Rock, 660-6609. School Central High J. A. Fair Magnet High Hall University Studies High McClellan Magnet High Parkview Magnet High Metro Career-Technical Center Cloverdale Magnet Middle Dunbar Magnet Middle Forest Heights Middle Henderson Magnet Middle Mabelvale Magnet Middle Mann Magnet Middle Pulaski Heights Middle Southwest Middle Principal Rudolph Howard Cassandra Norman Vernon Smith Jodie Carter Dr. Linda Brown Michael Peterson Angela Munns John Bacon Elouise Hudson Larry Buck Ann Blaylock Jim Fullerton Nancy Rousseau Jim Mosby Phone 324-2300 228-3100 671-6200 5704100 228-3000 565-8465 570-4085 324-2440 671-6390 228-3050 455-7400 324-2450 671-6250 570-4070 Congratulations to Benjamin Franklin Communications Technology Elementary School. It has received one of five 2001 Arkansas Star School awards from the Arkansas Department of Education, Office of Comprehensive School Health. The award was presented to Franklin for its efforts in creating a healthy school environment in eight critical areas, including health education, physical education, school nutrition, health services and family & community involvement. Badgett Elementary Bale Elementary Baseline Elementary Booker Magnet Elementary Brady Elementary Carver Magnet Elementary Chicot Elementary Cloverdale Elementary Dodd Elementary Fair Park Elementary Forest Park Elementary Franklin Elementary Fulbright Elementary Geyer Springs Elementary Gibbs Magnet Elementary Jefferson Elementary King Magnet Elementary McDermott Elementary Mabelvale Elementary Meadowcliff Elementary Mitchell Elementary Otter Creek Elementary Pulaski Heights Elementary Rightsell Elementary Rockefeller Magnet Elementary Romine Elementary Stephens Elementary Terry Elementary Wakefield Elementary Washington Magnet Elementary Watson Elementary Western Hills Elementary Williams Magnet Elementary Wilson Elementary Woodruff Elementary Mary Golston Barbara Anderson Eleanor Cox Dr. Cheryl Carson Ada Keown Diane Barksdale Jane Harkey Frederick Fields Faith Donovan Dr. Samuel Branch Theresa Ketcher Ethel Dunbar Deborah Mitchell Donna Hall Felicia Hobbs Roberta Mannon Tyrone Harris Virginia Ashley Tab Phillips Karen Carter Darian Smith Janis Tucker Lillie Carter Mary Smith Anne Mangan Lillie Scull Sharon Brooks Nancy Acre Les Taylor Gwen Zeigler Mike Oliver Scott Morgan Mary Menking Beverly Jones Janice Wilson 324-2475 5704050 5704150 324-2482 228-3065 324-2460 5704062 5704055 455-7430 671-6260 671-6267 671-6380 228-3080 5704160 324-2490 671-6281 324-2135 228-3072 455-7420 5704165 324-2415 455-7440 671-6290 324-2430 324-2385 228-3086 671-6275 228-3093 5704190 324-2470 5704195 5704175 671-6363 5704180 671-6270 ACC (Metro) ALC Elementary Charter Evening High School Dr. Alicia Finch Lloyd Sain Krishna Young Carol Green 570-1400 324-2370 324-0590 570-1400 Page 6 Little Rock School District Can Your Child Improve Test-taking Skills? Note to Parents and Students Test. This is one of the most unnerving words in a students vocabulary. Of course, tests are important. A test can measure a basic skill. It can affect a years grade. Or, if it measures the ability to learn, it can affect a childs placement in school. Besides, the ability to do well on tests can help throughout life in such things as getting a drivers license, trying out for sports or getting a job. Without this ability, a person can be severely handicapped out in the real world. Students all across " the Little Rock School District will take many different types of tests at different times throughout the school year. You can help your child prepare for the test-taking experi- 6 ence and ease some of his or her anxiety. Just have your children try these simple techniques developed through research by the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Educational Research and Improvement: Eating well and getting plenty of rest and exercise are as important to test taking as they are to all other schoolwork. All three factors contribute to keeping the brain healthy and alert. Carefully read the test directions, and look over the entire test before beginning. Ask questions if you are unsure. Answer the easiest questions first, then go back to the harder ones. Parents also can do their part to help their children do well: Calm down. If you are nervous about your childs test scores. The Achievement Level Tests (ALTs) that had been scheduled between September 24 and October 12, 2001, were canceled by the Board of Directors. LRSD teachers and administrators felt that these tests, administered so close to the Stanford 9 Achievement Tests in September, would not be very beneficial. Instead, students will take the ALTs as scheduled in the spring, and their academic progress will be measured between years. your anxiety can rub off onto your child. Encourage and praise your child whenever possible. Children who are afraid of failing are more likely to become anxious at test time. Avoid making judgments based on a single test score. If your child does not perform as well as you expected, encourage him to do better the next time. (adapted from Help Your Child Improve in Test-Taking/ U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement
www.ed.gov/pubs) National Merit Semifinalists Announced Fifteen LRSD students have been named Semifinalists in the 2002 National Merit Scholarship Program, and two LRSD students were named National Achievement Semifinalists. Approximately 16,000 high school seniors have been named Semifinalists in the program. These academically talented high school seniors are now eligible to advance in the competition for Merit Scholarships. The National Merit Semifinalists are: Elizabeth S. Arnold, Melissa L. Bandy, Jay M. Bauman, Edward D. Fleming, Chris Fox-Lent, James Harrell, Toby H. Huang, Charles W. Lyford, Solvig A. Pittenger, Alex J. Schmidt, Gary S. Slater, James A. Szenher, Maxwell Teitel-Paule and Tracy Tran, all of Central High School, and Anita Budhraja of Parkview Magnet High School. The National Achievement Seminalists are Frederick McKindra and Justin H. Mercer of Central High School. More than 1.2 million students entered the 2002 Merit Program when they were juniors by taking the 2002 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screening of program entrants. Semifinalists in each state are the highest scoring entrants in each state and represent less than one percent of the states seniors. LRSD Receives $900,000 for Electronics Upgrades Schools Are Winners in Malls4Schools Program Six secondary schools came out winners in Park Plazas Malls4Schools program during the spring semester. These schools, with the help of parents and other supporters, received money based on the amount of votes they received during the promotional campaign. The winning schools were: The LRSD recently received notification from the Universal Service Administrative Companys Schools and Libraries Division that the district will receive up to $900,000 in funds for technology projects. Commonly known as E-Rate funds, these funds provide discounts on telecommunications services and will be applied to the cost of the districts new wide area network as well as local, long distance and cellular telephone service. E-Rate is a federal program designed to provide assistance to schools Parkview Magnet High School $1,250 Mann Magnet Middle School $1,000 Forest Heights Middle School $850 [Ullllllt lb'l O'liiniii'ul and libraries for telecommunications, Internet I access and Dunbar Magnet Middle School $500 Southwest Middle School $350 J. A. Fair Magnet High School $200 The MalMSchools program is co-sponsored by KARK-TV Channel 4 and Radio Disney. This fall, elementary schools will once again have their turn participate in the program. LRSD schools planning to go for the gold include: Baseline Elementary, Forest Park Elementary, Geyer Springs Elementary, Rockefeller Magnet Elementary, Romine Interdistrict Elementary and Woodruff Elementary. You can cast your votes for your favorite school at Park Plaza between September 1 and December 31. For more information about this program, check out www.parkplazamall.com or www.malls4schools.com on the Internet. internal connections such as cabling and electronics. LRSD has also applied for funds for cabling, electronics, servers and telephone systems. Notification of funding decisions should continue owr the next few months. -reported by Lucy Neal, LRSD Director of Instructional Technology Home & School Connection Page 7 Teachers & Students Good News around the LRSD < ( Katina Ray D I K> X atina Simpson Ray, 1 grade teacher at .JX^ashington Magnet Elementary, has been named 2000-2001 National SECME Teacher of the Year. Additionally, Kristian Henderson received first place honors in the 2000-2001 National SECME Essay Competition. She attended Pulaski Heights Middle School last year and is a freshman at Central High School this year. ionna Murphy, Adaptive P. E. Coach at J. A. Fair High School, has been named Arkansas Special Olympics Coach of the Year. Louise Carpenter, first grade teacher at Carver Magnet Elementary, received the LRSD Service-in-Action Teacher Award by ShareAmerica of Children International and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. c Kristian Henderson lonnie Green was one of 20 teachers in 'the U. S. who were chosen to attend the Brandwein Environmental Institute in Pennsylvania during the summer break. She received training in field studies for the classroom and will incorporate this training in her new position as Environmental and Medical Lead Teacher at Mabelvale Magnet Middle School. Ann Callaway, Nurse at Carver Magnet Elementary, has received the Lorene Blair Award from the Arkansas School Nurse Association. This is a state-level award for outstanding service and contributions to health care for the children of Arkansas. Deirdre Jones, a student at Central High School, attend the National Young Leaders Conference [, was selected to in Washington, DC, in July. Only 350 students from around the nation were chosen to attend this conference, which inspires young people to achieve their full leadership potential. Patrick L. Clark, a student at McClellan High School, recently has been named a United States National Award winner by the United States Achievement Academy. I Mfany JLnigh s Gunn, Valedictorian of McClellan .High Schools Class of 2001, has been named 2001 Gatorade Arkansas High School Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Twt at 'Q LRSD seniors will travel overseas this autumn as part of a special study tour. Amber Mendoza of McClellan High School and Hannah Singer of Central High School have been selected by Heifer Project International (HPI) to participate in this tour abroad, which will take them to Thailand and Laos for Tiffany Gunn two weeks to observe the organization at work and learn about different cultures. Since 1944, HPI has enabled over 4 million hungry families worldwide to become self-reliant for food and income. w
^oodruff Elementary student Briana Massey was the recipient of a $100 prize for an essay she wrote for the Circle the City contest earlier this year. The citywide event was sponsored by the Centers for Youth and Families. A rAi manda Springs and Derrick Smith, S' hirley Krannichfeld, a L grade teacher at Wilson .both seniors at McClellan High ST Shirley Krannichfeld (2nd from right) accepts her Teacher of the Year award from Wal-Mart representatives. Wilson Principal Beverly Jones holds the check that was presented to the school. Elementary, was named Teacher of the Year by the Wal-Mart store on Bowman Road in Little Rock. On August 20 store representatives presented Krannichfeld with a plaque, a bouquet of flowers and a blue Wal-Mart vest with 2001 Teacher of the Year emblazoned on the back. Wilson Elementary also received a $500 check from the retailer. School, were elected to serve as state DECA officers. Smith will serve this year as Vice President, and Springs will serve as Southern Region Vice President. Both students W'J ... Tracy Mason, a science teacher at Mabelvale Magnet Middle School, served in a summer externship at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. The program was sponsored by Arkansas Career Opportunities. The LRSD Athletic Department recently announced its picks for Coach of the Year honors. George Cirks, basketball coach at H Hall High School, was the winner in the High School/Male Tern category. Bill Spivey, womens soccer coach at Central, was named winner in the High School/Female Team category. Marcus Davis, who coaches volleyball, basketball and track at Cloverdale Middle Level Academy, was named top coach in the Middle School/Male Team category, and Anitra Jackson, the volleyball, basketball and track coach at Southwest Middle School, received top honors in the Middle School/Female Team category. S' hannon L. Watson, a senior at Parkview Arts Sc Science Magnet 'High School, has received a $2,500 scholarship as part of the Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship program. .kt Derrick Smith and DECA sponsor Nancy Leslie participate in a trnst-building exercise. recently returned from DECAs state officer workshop in nRflfifcCKW? i Amanda Springs at the DECA officer workshop. Springdale. The schools DECA sponsor, Nancy Leslie, accompanied the two to the workshop, which included sessions in teamwork, communication skills, decision making skills and parliamentary procedure. The two students will attend the DECA Southern and North Atlantic Region Leadership Conference in November with the other members of the Arkansas delegation. J ennifer Hale Milligan, a science teacher at Mabelvale Magnet Middle School, was one of only 14 teachers nationwide who were chosen to participate in the Frontiers in Physiology program. Sponsored by the American Physiological Society (APS) , the 2001 Summer Research Fellowships were awarded to middle- and high-school-level science teachers to work in a laboratory setting with an APS member. Milligan studied with Dr. Michael Edward Soulsby, 1 b- Jennifer Hale Milligan Ph.D., who is an APS member and is on the faculty of DAMS.Home & School CONNECTION Home & School Connection is published five times during the school year to provide information about the Little Rock School District and its individual schools to parents, teachers, staff and other members of the Linle Rock community. Please address comments to Julie M. Davis, Communications Specialist. Communications Office 810 W. Markham Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 324-2020 jinJavis@lrsdadm.lrsd.kl2.ar.us www.LRSD.org Little Rock School District 810 W. Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 received NOV 2 8 20QJ OFFICEOF lESEGREGATIOMMONITOfillllg received ? s 2001 o&bwesaiiou i^ouiToimie TO THE PAREJXTS OF
GULDiN, WILLIAM 6509 CANTRELL RD LITTLE ROCK 72207-4218 AUTO s-Dicrr 72207 FKG 1 SACK 72 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1367 Little Rock, AR Page 8 Home & School Connection Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey recently announced the newly elected members of the Mayors Youth Council for 2001-2002. Serving as Chairperson is Mary Rutherford of Central High School. Other officers include: Co-chair, Jessica Marshall of Central
Recording Secretary, Morgan Miller of Central
and Public Relations Chair, Chris Love of Parkview Magnet High School. Calvin Johnson of McClellan High School was named Senior Member-at-Large
Sarah Alexander of Hall High School and Foster Davis of Parkview were named Junior Members-at-Large
and Bryan Hall of Central and Kenyon Lowe of Parkview were named Sophomore Members-at-Large. Mayor Dailey established the Youth Council to promote youth volunteerism and community service. To date, it has volunteered over 8,700 hours including projects with the Red Cross, the Arts Center, the Hope Center, P.A.R.K., the Greek Food Festival and Easter Seals. The National Education Association (NEA) recently honored Eleanor Coleman, a counselor at Forest Park Elementary. The organizations Committee on Human and Civil Rights has named Coleman the recipient of its H. Council Trenholm Memorial Award for her promotion of the ideals of human achievement, justice and equality. She was nominated by the Little Rock Classroom Teachers Association and the Arkansas Education Association, which was presented at the NEA annual meeting in Los Angeles, Calif. Other Arkansans who have received this I Efe Eleanor Coleman distinguished award include Daisy Bates, Dr. Joycelyn Elders and the Central High School Womens Emergency Committee. Original Operas a Big Hit at Gibbs The spring semester at Gibbs Magnet School of International Studies and Foreign Languages was a busy and exciting one
students in the 4th and 5th grades had the opportunity to conceive, write and perform their own original operas! In addition to their regular music curriculum, these students were involved in a program from the Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts called Music, Words and Opera. The program was developed by Opera America and funded in Little Rock by the Arkansas Arts Council. Artists in residence for the program were Helene Fisher Elbein (visual arts) and Judy Trice (theatre arts), who worked with Gibbs Music Specialist Kayren Grayson Baker. The scripts, sets, costumes, choreography and music for the original operas were created by the 4th and 5th grade students (with a little help from Trice, Elbein and Baker). Ms. Susie Robinsons class performed The Saga of Wordsville (an Old West tale with a twist)
Ms. Pat Luzzis class performed a comic Medieval opera called Sauce and Burgers. Sanderella was performed by Ms. Kristy Kidds class. Finally, Ms. Jill Johnsons class performed The Wizard of the Nile (an Egyptian twist on The Wizard of Oz)- Most of the operas had an Egyptian theme because Egypt was the schoolwide nation of focus. The Wizard of the Nile, as performed by Jill Johnsons 4th grade class, was based on The Wizard of Oz, but with an Egyptian twist. CONVOCATION 2001 fl Sanderella was the original opera written and performed by Kristy Kidd's 4th grade students. It was based on a kidnapped Cinderella in Egypt. When LRSD employees get together, Barton Coliseum is just about the only place in town large enough to hold them all!Home, EARLY SPRING EDITION 2002 A PUBLICATION OF THE LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT State Reduces School Funding: PTA Presents Annual Awards Badgett, Charter School to Close Governor Mike Huckabee has substantially cut state spending due to lower-than-expected state revenues in recent months. The reduction in funding for education alone amounted to $140 million and will affect every school district in the state. Since the Little Rock School District is the largest in the state, the repercussions of this cutback will be felt intensely here. Even more cutbacks are possible in the future, and the district also has to provide funds to pay for a contracted teacher pay raise for the 2002-2003 school year. When all is said and done, the total funding reduction for the LRSD is expected to be approximately $5.5 million. The district has been forced to make up this reduction in funding the only way possibleby making budget cuts, and that is exactly what Superintendent Ken James and the Board of Directors are trying to do. The Board held a special meeting on January 15 to make a decision on the first part Fair Park Elementary (above) and David O. Dodd Elementary will remain open. Badgett and the Charter School will close at the end of the school year. of this difficult job: whether or not to close four LRSD elementary schools. Badgett, Dodd, Fair Park and the Residential Elementary Charter schools were considered for closure as one part of the budget reduction plan. Closing all four schools would save the district an estimated $2.5 million. Before making this difficult decision, however, the School Board held public meetings at each of the schools in early January to answer (continued on p. 5) Celebrating Community Involvement was the theme of the PTAs annual Founders Day luncheon. Awards were presented by the PTA Council to outstanding administrators, educators and volunteers. The council named Felicia Hobbs, principal at Gibbs Magnet Elementary, Administrator of the Year. Both Sarah Purtle, Pre-k teacher at M. L. King Magnet Elementary, and Dr. L J. Routen, music teacher at Rockefeller Elementary, received Educator of the Year awards. The PTA Life Membership Award was presented to Lee Ann Matson, Resource/Field Trip Coordinator in the ViPS office. kbfiu____ Smart Money at Work "V If you see construction in progress at your neighborhood school, you know that your tax dollars are hard at work. Improvement and renovation work continues on LRSDs Scaffolding appears to grow on the exterior walls of Central High School as contractors continue their work to waterproof the building. Technology Upgrades Throughout the District 2002-2003 Student Calendars New Extended Year Schools Announced Changes to L.R. City Curfew Ordinance Help Available Through EAP Duke Talent Search Participants Announced schools, thanks to funds from the millage increase that was approved by Little Rock voters in 2000. Bill Goodman, LRSDs Engineer, and Doug Eaton, Director of Facility Services, are coordinating the many projects that are on the drawing board or are currendy in progress. Scaffolding climbs the outside walls of Central High School as work progresses (weatherproofing the windows and the buildings exterior as well as work on the roof). Interior renovations, including a new air conditioning system and repair of extensive water damage, are expected to start this summer. PS- 2 PS- 3 PS- 3 PS-4 PS- 6 PS- 8 Architects Tendering o/ the building addition scheduled to be constTwcted nt Hall High School. Not quite as obvious to the passerby is the work in progress at Jefferson Elementary. This school, which was built in 1950, is undergoing a total renovation. Classrooms and hallways are in the process of being completely remodeled, then the entire building will get new windows and a new heating/air conditioning system. Work is currently in progress at Otter Creek and Watson elementary schools as well. Otter Creek will have a new classroom addition when the job is completed, and work at Watson includes an addition as well as renovations to the existing building. Other projects that are expected to start this spring or summer include: Romine Elementary (renovation/addition). Hall High (new gymnasium and (continued on p. 5) Gibbs principal Felicia Hobbs accepts the PTA Council Administrator of the Tear award from superintendent Ken James. National Merit/Achievement Finalists Announced LRSD is proud to announce that all of the students who previously had been named National Merit and National Achievement Semifinalists have now advanced to Finalist status. National Merit Finalists are: Anita Budhraja of Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School and Elizabeth S. Arnold, Melissa L. Bandy, Jay M. Bauman, Edward D. Fleming, Chris Fox- Lent, James Harrell, Toby H. Huang, Charles W. Lyford, Solvig A. Pittenger, Alex J. Schmidt, Gary S. Slater, James A. Szenher, Maxwell Teitel-Paule and Tracy Tran, all of Central High School. LRSDs two National Achievement Semifinalists who have been named finalists are Frederick McKindra and Justin H. Mercer, both of Central High. Congratulations to all of our scholars. Page 2 Little Rock School District From the Superintendent by T. Kenneth |ames r Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) We are very excited to announce that two of our elementary schools, Rockefeller and Stephens, have voted to participate in a new and exciting program that is a systemic approach to transforming the teaching profession. The Arkansas State Department of Education and the Milken Family Foundation have selected Rockefeller and Stephens to be part of a pilot program for the Teacher Advancement Program. The Walton Family Foundation will consider funding this initiative later this month. The Teacher Advancement Program builds upon five key principles: 1. Multiple career paths for teachers
2. Market'driven, performance-based compensation
3. Performance-based accountability
4. Ongoing, applied professional growth
and 5. Expanding the supply of high-quality educators. Though the principles of TAP are unique, they are highly interrelated and dependent upon each other. For example, without a rigorous accountability system and performance-based compensation, the multiple career paths principle would simply be a traditional career ladder program. By the same token, a comprehensive professional growth program is necessary to support the rigorous accountability system. Although some elements of TAP are found in other school reform efforts, TAP 1 Fk-J is unique because it combines these various reforms into a single, comprehensive model. The Teacher Advancement Program provides an opportunity for a systemic, comprehensive paradigm shift, grounded in existing research findings, that we believe will improve the quality of teachers entering and staying in the profession. Stay tuned for more information about the Teacher Advancement Program at Rockefeller and Stephens elementary schools. Thank you for your continued support of the Little Rock School District. Sincerely, T. Kenneth James, Ed. D. Superintendent of Schools Technology Upgrades Are Evident Throughout the District by Lucy Neal Great Books for Your Kids! The planning phase for LRSDs technology upgrades is now complete, and the implementation of those upgrades has already begun. Technology projects scheduled for this school year include: new wide area network technology center equipment room help desk (Techline) telephone in every classroom and voice mail for every employee computer for every classroom technology training Funds for this districtwide technology upgrade are partly from a $900,000 E-Rate federal funding project and partly from the millage increase approved in 2000, which promised voters that every classroom would have a computer and a telephone. All sites will be connected to the new wide area network by the end of April. The new network provides LRSD users with high-speed Internet access, making the use of Web-based resources a reality for teachers and students. Construction of the new technology equipment room at Metropolitan Career-Technical Center is complete, and equipment is currently being installed. This room houses the equipment that is essential to run the districts network, including the new telephone system, the midrange computer system that holds the districts business applications, a server farm and the new help desk (Techline). The LRSD help desk (Techline) is now up and running. Techline will provide a single point of contact for all technology-related issues. Techline staff can I 3 1 V a b 4 School Board members take a guided tour of the newly completed technology equipment room at Metro. resolve many technology calls on the spot and refer others to the appropriate support staff. Every LRSD classroom will have a telephone, and most employees will have voice mail. The new telephone system will enhance communication between faculty, parents and other patrons. While phones will be programmed not to ring during instructional time, they can be used by teachers and students to contact experts and do research. New computers will be installed in all classrooms that do not already have them. Each classroom is being wired with a teacher workstation plate (TWS) where a teachers telephone and computer will be located. In a separate location from student computers, the TWS ensures that a teachers technology tools are all together in one efficient work area. Technology training classes are offered several nights a week, and teachers continue to take advantage of these free classes that offer instruction in a variety of software applications. LRSD has also installed new data integration software that will help track and record changes to student records. The LiveAudit system allows the district to generate student reports that are accurate and up to date. We needed a solution that would enable us to automatically track changes to our student records for accuracy, security and accountability to our students, parents and staff, said John Ruffins, Director of Information Services. This new system will not only help the district meet federal regulations governing E-Records, but also will enable the LRSD to be accountable to the public and to ensure the security and accuracy of its records. It may seem that the technology upgrades are a long time coming, but with the planning phase now complete, things will be happening very quickly. Watch for exciting new developments at your campus! Lucy Neal is the Director of Instructional Technology for the Little Rock School District. Listed below are some age-appropriate reading suggestions for your child that have been provided by Judy Teeter, Early Childhood/Elementary Literacy Specialist, and Suzi Davis, Director of LRSDs English and Foreign Languages Department. Visit your local library or bookstore to find these and many other exciting tales! Elementary School (in order of difficulty) Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (MacDonald) Stone Soup (Brown) Youre the Boss, Baby Duck (Hest & Barton) Henry and Mudge: The First Book of Their Adventure (Rylant) Night Noises (Fox) Pinky and Rex (Howe) Houdini Box (Selznick) The BFG (Dahl) Holes (Sachar) Middle and High School (multicultural titles) Dragonwings (Yep) Jacobs Rescue: A Holocaust Story (Drucker) Zlatas Diary: A Childs Life in Sarajevo (Filipovic) The Double Life of Pocahontas (Fritz) Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida (Martinez) The Friends (Yumoto) Journey to JoBurg: A South African Story (Naidoo) Canyons (Paulsen) The Bridge of San Luis Rey (Wilder) A Long Way from Chicago: A Novel in Stories (Peck) El Guero (De Trevino) Home & School Connection Page 3 LRSD Changes Elementary Summer School Policy Two More LRSD Schools Change to Extended Year Format The Little Rock School Districts School Services and Curriculum & Instruction departments have changed the way that academic intervention will be provided for those students in need of extra help. The district staff believes that teachers can be more effective by preventing failure during the school year rather than trying to remediate it during Summer School. In the past, one of the means of providing intervention was the districts Summer School program. After carefully evaluating that program, the district has decided to no longer provide Summer School for elementary students. Instead, each elementary school will be allocated additional funds to provide an intervention plan for students during the school year. This plan will target individual students who need extra helpthose for whom schools have developed Student Academic Improvement Plans (SAIPs). If your child is in need of extra help, that help can be obtained in a variety of ways at your childs school. This change affects elementary schools only. Secondary Summer School will remain the same. You can expect to receive Summer School information soon from your childs middle or high school. If you have questions or concerns on the elementary school level, please call Frances Cawthon Jones, Assistant Superintendent, at 447-1134. The LRSD has recently announced that two more elementary schools will change to the extended year format in the 2002-03 school year, bringing the total number of extended year schools in the district to five. Cloverdale and Mitchell elementary schools will join Mabelvale, Stephens and Woodruff, which have operated under the extended year format since Fall 2000. The extended year calendar starts the school year earlier and ends later than other schools. Research has shown that reducing the long summer break and taking shorter, more frequent breaks throughout the year is beneficial for students. During the breaks, called intersessions, students who need additional help may attend school. I believe that this new format will help our students and will lead to more student achievement, said Darian Smith, principal at Mitchell. Our parents are very positive about the change as well.' f % Little Rock School District 2002-03 Student Calendar New Years Resolutions? Its Not Too Late! by Sue Ward, R.N. Even though the New Year is already well under way, its not too late to resolve to make some changes that will improve your life and enable your body to do its best. Resolution ^1: Get Plenty of Exercise. What does exercise do for you? A lot! It makes your body systems work better. It stretches and strengthens all of your muscles, particularly your heart. It helps control your weight. It makes your body work more efficientlyyour lungs hold more air, your heart is stronger and provides better circulation, your blood vessels expand and let blood flow more easily, cholesterol and blood fats dont build up and your blood pressure can improve. It improves your endurance and flexibility. It also improves your self-esteem. Since a link has been found between our "couch-potato lifestyle and the increase in the number of young people with chronic conditions like asthma, obesity and diabetes, now is the time to: Plan an exercise program with your child, and keep to your plans. Try activities like biking, skating, jumping rope, walking, tennis or basketball. When possible, break that automatic driving impulse: walk instead of drive. Limit the time your family spends watching television. Drink plenty of water. The water you lose as perspiration during exercise must be replaced to avoid dehydration. Resolution ^2: Get Plenty of Rest. It matters when your child doesnt get a full nights sleep. It also matters when you dont! More than 100 million Americans of all ages fail to get a good nights sleep each night. Inadequate sleep leads to poor concentration, forgetfulness, crankiness and sluggishness. Lack of sleep makes us vulnerable to infection and other medical problems such as high blood pressure, anxiety, weight gain and stress. Sleep is necessary so that your body has chance to rest. a August 5-6, 2002 August 19,2002 September 2,2002 October 4, 2002 October 18,2002 October 21,2002 November 7-8,2002 November 27, 2002 November 28-29,2002 December 23,2002 January 6, 2003 January 16,2003 January 17,2003 January 20,2003 February 17,2003 March 10, 2003 March 20, 2003 March 21, 2003 March 24-28, 2003 April 18,2003 May 26, 2003 May 28, 2003 A body needs more slumber while its growing: three year olds need about 12 hours each night, elementary & intermediate age students require ten hours of sleep, high school students and young adults up to age 20 need at least nine hours of sleep and adults require eight hours of sleep each night. How can we get the rest we need? Keep a regular bedtime. Once you rob your sleep bank, you must refill it, ideally by several days worth of extra sleep. Regular exercise deepens and extends sleep, but dont exercise just prior to bedtime. Dont eat a meal or large snack before bedtime. Avoid caffeine for at least 3 hours before bedtime. Make sure your bed and pillow are comfortable. Exercise and rest work together to help keep you healthy! July 24-25, 2002 August 13,2002 September 2,2002 October 4, 2002 October 10,2002 October 11,2002 October 14-18,2002 October21-25,2002 November 7-8,2002 November 27, 2002 November 28-29,2002 December 23,2002 January 6, 2003 January 15,2003 January 16, 2003 January 17, 2003 January 20, 2003 February 3-7, 2003 February 10-14, 2003 March 10, 2003 March 24-28,2003 April 16, 2003 April 17,2003 April 18, 2003 May 5-9, 2003 May 26,2003 June 26,2003 Sue Ward is the school nurse at Williams Magnet Elementary. School "Check-In" First Day for Students Labor Day Holiday * Parent Conference Day * End of First Quarter Teacher Records Day * AEA/Professional Development * Professional Development Day * Thanksgiving Holiday * Winter Vacation Begins * Classes Resume End of Second Quarter Teacher Records Day * Martin Luther King, ]r. Holiday * Parent Conference Day * Professional Development Day * End of Third Quarter Teacher Records Day * Spring Break * Professional Development Day * Memorial Day Holiday * End of Fourth Quarter/Last Day for Students Extended Year Schools 2002-03 Student Calendar (Cloverdale, Mabelvale, Mitchell, Stephens and Woodruff Elementaries ONLY) School "Check-In" First Day for Students Labor Day Holiday * Parent Conference Day * End of First Quarter Teacher Records Day * Intersession * Vacation * AEA/Professional Development * Professional Development Day * Thanksgiving Holiday * Winter Vacation Begins * Classes Resume End of Second Quarter Teacher Records Day * Parent Conference Day * Martin Luther King, ]r. Holiday * Intersession * Vacation * Professional Development Day * Spring Break * End of Third Quarter Teacher Records Day * Professional Development Day * Intersession * Memorial Day Holiday * End of Fourth Quarter/Last Day for Students * Students do not attend class.Page 4 Little Rock School District Protecting Against Tooth Decay Going to the dentist. Its a thought most of us would like to banish from our minds. But what if you didnt have to go to the dentist? What if the dentist came to you? Students at Franklin Elementary were the first to benefit from a school-based tooth sealant program called Future Smiles, which was launched by UALR Share America, Colgate-Palmolive, DAMS Head Start and a group of dentists and dental health professionals called the Dental Health Action Team. Future Smiles provided free dental sealants (plastic coatings placed on the chewing surfaces of back teeth to seal out food and bacteria) to inner<ity elementary students during the month of February, which is also known as National Childrens Dental Health Month. Children participating in Future Smiles were identified by a dental screening completed last fall by Dr. Lynn Mouden, Director of Oral Health for the Arkansas Department of Health, students and faculty from DAMS School of Dental Hygiene and volunteer dentists from ^4 A I St. Vincents Health System and the Department of Human Services. The study revealed that about 57.5% of children screened were already affected by dental disease, and only 1.7% of children in the third grade and up actually had dental sealants, which have a tremendous potential to prevent tooth decay in children. Unfortunately, many of these children have never even been to a dentist, said Dr. Rosetta Calvin, a volunteer Its really not as bad as it looks: This student doesnt seem too h
This project was supported in part by a Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives project grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Council on Library and Information Resoources.