Friday Highlights 5.27.22

 

May is

National Mental Health Awareness Month

National Better Speech & Hearing Month

National Physical Fitness & Sports Month

Lupus Awareness Month

National Dental Care Awareness Month

May 26      - Rescheduled to June 8th - 5:30 PM

May 27      - Last Day of School for Campuses

Monday, May 30th

We remember our fallen heroes and thank them for their service.  We also use this observance  to remember the victims of Uvalde.  

Congratulations to the Class of 2022

More great photos graduation photos will be shared on LRSD's Facebook this weekend.  Meantime, you are invited to share congratulatory messages, photos and/or videos on social media, using hashtags #LRSDClassof2022 and #LRSDPowerofUS.  Also, you may enjoy watching your favorite grads walk across the stage:

Parkview

Central

                                                                            Hall

LR Southwest High 

Chicot Elementary Earns Coveted
 "Lighthouse" Distinction

Chicot Elementary proud to named a Leader in Me Lighthouse School.  Principal Gina Khoury, students and staff hosted a special celebration in honor of the prestigious status.

Lighthouse Certification is a highly-regarded standard set by Franklin Covey that is attainable by every Leader in Me school. As it is a significant benchmark, applying for this certification typically occurs four to five years after a school begins the Leader in Me process.

The certification is evidence that schools have produced outstanding results in school and student outcomes, by implementing the process with fidelity and excellence. It is also because of the extraordinary impact that the schools may be having on staff, students, parents, and the greater community.

Perfectly Pink

Teachers provide so much inspiration. That’s why this unique act of “love” by her students made PHE teacher Barbara Hall feel special. Third grade students led by classmate Willa Noland (with a little help from Willa’s parents) surprised Ms. Hall, donning her signature hairstyle.

Happy Summer Break!

Do You Have an Event/Information You Would Like Featured in Our Blog?

Fill out this media request form: https://lrsd.jotform.com/201056269402044?  

Remember, the deadline for each week's submissions is Thursday, noon.

Argenta District's Third Friday Night Art Walk

Doodle POP is Coming to Town!

Little Rock Night Market

Library Square - Downtown Little Rock

June 4, 2022 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

100 S Rock St. Little Rock, AR 72201

The Little Rock Night Market is the sort of local event that has something to offer everyone. You can expect a night filled with food trucks, music, local makers and artisan vendors. The event is described as more than just a market, but a nightlife experience. What's even better, admission is FREE. Come out for a night of food, music, and shopping!

48th Annual Farmers Market Offers Tasty Locally Grown Options

Don't forget you can pick up some delicious local favorites from the downtown Farmers Market at the River Market each Saturday from 7 a.m. 3 p.m.

Friday Highlights 5.20.22

 

May is

National Mental Health Awareness Month

National Better Speech & Hearing Month

National Physical Fitness & Sports Month

Lupus Awareness Month

National Dental Care Awareness Month

May 23      - Last Citation Program of the 2021-22 School Year

May 23-27 -  Final Exams

May 24      -  High School Graduations (War Memorial Stadium)

                      Parkview - 5:00 PM 

                      Central - 7:30 PM

May 25      -  High School Graduations (War Memorial Stadium)

                      Hall - 5:00 PM 

                      Southwest- 7:30 PM

May 26      - LRSD Board Meeting - 5:30 PM

May 27      - Last Day of School

Graduation Season is Upon Us 

LRSD high school graduations are slated to start next week and we have all the details you might need. This year's ceremonies will also be hosted at War Memorial Stadium. If you can't come in person be sure to tune in on LRSD’s YouTube Channel: lrsdlive.com. (A rain-date is slated for Thursday, May 26th, but let's keep our fingers crossed the weather will cooperate. We'll update you on the website if anything changes.)  

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

LR Parkview 5:00 p.m.

LR Central 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

LR Hall 5:00 p.m.

LR Southwest 7:30 p.m.

(Update - We are excited to host in-person graduation ceremonies again this year at War Memorial Stadium!  As an FYI, we are working with the National Weather Service and local weather forecasters and continuing to monitor weather developments related to next week's ceremonies.  Decisions regarding the status of ceremonies will be made based on the conditions the day of the scheduled graduations, Tuesday, May 24, and Wednesday, May 25.  Should we have to reschedule based on weather, Thursday, May 26th is the designated make-up day.  Any change in plans will be made on the morning of the ceremonies and communication will be shared via ParentLink notification, LRSD's website and social media, as well as through our traditional media partners. 

Please know that we are doing all we can to ensure that this is a wonderful and safe celebration for all of our students and families.  Thank you for your understanding and support.)

OneRock Legends Hall of Fame Ceremony

Each year, the Little Rock School District Athletic Foundation hosts its OneRock Legends Hall of Fame Ceremony. This year's ceremony was held on Thursday, May 25, at the DoubleTree Hotel.  We had an outstanding list of  inductees for the 2021 class, including  (pictured from left to right) James Rouse, Lindsey Davis, Coach John Kelly, and Jamaal Anderson. You can watch the full ceremony here. Meantime, please enjoy these photos from the ceremony.  (LRSD Supt. Mike Poore was even given an honorary induction into the Hall of Fame for his continued support of the District's athletic programs.)

 

 

Leadership Day at Chicot Elementary

This past Wednesday, Chicot Elementary students, teachers, and staff came together for Leadership Day! The effort is a student-led celebration of leadership for students, staff, and the school to share the impact of Leader in Me and the 7 Habits.  During the day, students showcased their leadership skills in their school-wide and classroom jobs, as well as, shared their Leadership Portfolios which include information about the student, the student’s Wildly Important Goals (WIGS), student learning, leadership, and celebrations. Components of the day included student speakers, student-led tours, classroom visits, a staff and student panel discussion, and a closing celebration of leadership. Parents, visitors from other schools and the community came out to learn more about Leader in Me at Chicot. 

The celebration also served as the school's pitch to achieve distinguished "Lighthouse" status.  Keeping our fingers crossed for you, Chicot!

 

Surprise Districtwide Retirement Celebration for Supt. Mike Poore

 

Last Saturday, the Principal's Cabinet hosted a surprise districtwide retirement celebration for Supt. Mike Poore. The celebration featured a parade, followed by a brief program that took place in the District's board room. The parade was complete with a color guard, marching bands, and cheering students, families, and staff. During the program, a tear-jerking tribute video was played, sentimental enough to make anyone cry. You can recap the entire event here.

Washington Elementary Principal Celebrated as LRSD PTA Principal of the Year

We are sending a huge shout out to Washington Elementary principal Aleta Posey for being awarded the LRSD PTA Principal of the Year during the annual Spring Luncheon celebration! 

Check Out Our "Student of the Month"
Book Recommendation 

We continue our student reading initiative where we send a student book recommendation to every elementary school media center each month. Students are encouraged to email Superintendent Mike Poore and pitch him their book suggestion. A photo like the one above will be displayed in a visible area in the media center to help get our students to develop a love for reading. 

Teachers and parents, help get your students excited about the possibility of having their picture and book recommendation featured in their schools' media center for an entire month!  Additionally, the selected student's recommendation will also be prominently featured at the Hillary Clinton Children's Library.

This month's book recommendation, "Hilo The Boy Who Crashed to Earth", is by 4th grade Chicot Elementary student Oslan Cardona. During his interview, Oslan explains in his own words what made him gravitate towards this book. You can watch the full interview here.

Congratulations to LRCH Student Attendees for Impressive Showing at 2022 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair! 

When you hear about exceptionalism in science among LRSD students, you'll remember these names: 

Kevin Durden
Kartik Joshi
Anu Iyer
Amna Khan
Ahmad Alam
Disha Ram
Bhavana Sridharan
Olya Tryndyak

These students attended along with 1750 attendees from 63 countries, both in-person and virtually.  The fair was held over six days in Atlanta, Georgia, with students competing for over $8-million in prizes.  Guest speakers included Michio Kaku, famed physicist, and George Yancopoulos, co-founder and chief scientific advisor of Regeneron. 

LRCH Students earned the following awards at the fair:

Bhavana Sridharan: 2^nd place ($2000) in the category of Cellular and Molecular Biology with her project “In vitro Evaluation of the Antioxidant Potential and Differential Effects of Punicalagin in Normal and Breast Cancer Cells” 

Anu Iyer: 3^rd place ($1000) in the category of Robotics and Intelligent Machines with her project “Systematic Parkinson Audio Recognition Construct (SPARC): A Novel Approach Implementing a Machine Learning Method To Diagnose Parkinson’s Disease Using Voice Features”, along with an Honorable Mention from the Acoustical Society of America 

Amna Khan: American Chemical Society Honorable Mention ($100) with her project “FRET-Based Combination Drug With Enhanced Photothermal Therapy”

Do You Have an Event/Information You Would Like Featured in Our Blog?

Fill out this media request form: https://lrsd.jotform.com/201056269402044?  

Remember, the deadline for each week's submissions is Thursday, noon.

Argenta District's Third Friday Night Art Walk

Third Friday Night Art Walk

Fri May 20, 2022 at 05:00 pm

Argenta Plaza

Doodle POP is Coming to Town!

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is bringing "Doodle POP,"  a Children's Theatre production from South Korea's Bush Theatre where cartoons come to life! The production features mischievous duo Woogie and Boogie as they make magic with illustrations, scribbles, sound effects and animations. This event is perfect ages three and up. See event details below:

CALS Ron Robinson Theater

100 River Market Ave, Little Rock, AR, 72201

05/21/22 10:00 AM - 05/22/22 4:00 PM

Pricing: $20

Phone: 501-372-4000

Little Rock Night Market

Library Square - Downtown Little Rock

June 4, 2022 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

100 S Rock St. Little Rock, AR 72201

The Little Rock Night Market is the sort of local event that has something to offer everyone. You can expect a night filled with food trucks, music, local makers and artisan vendors. The event is described as more than just a market, but a nightlife experience. What's even better, admission is FREE. Come out for a night of food, music, and shopping!

48th Annual Farmers Market Offers Tasty Locally Grown Options

Don't forget you can pick up some delicious local favorites from the downtown Farmers Market at the River Market each Saturday from 7 a.m. 3 p.m.

Friday Highlights 5.13.22

May is

National Mental Health Awareness Month

National Happy Better Speech & Hearing Month

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Lupus Awareness Month

National Dental Care Awareness Month

May 15      -  Baccalaureate All High Schools

May 16-20 -  Senior Exams    

May 23-27 -  Final Exams

May 24      -  High School Graduations (War Memorial Stadium)

                      Parkview - 5:00 PM 

                      Central - 7:30 PM

May 25      -  High School Graduations (War Memorial Stadium)

                      Hall - 5:00 PM 

                      Southwest- 7:30 PM

May 26      - LRSD Board Meeting - 5:30 PM

May 27      - Last Day of School

Be sure to check the LRSD website and social media for helpful tips during this month!  

LRSD Celebrates School Nurses for National School Nurse Appreciation Day

 

Wednesday, May 11, was National School Nurse Appreciation Day and LRSD recognized its nurses with a special celebration with Health Services Director, Jacqueline McEuen. We are so grateful for the hard work our school nurses pour into the district, especially as the world starts to reopen after the pandemic. School nurses played such a vital role in keeping us safe, healthy, and informed as we've navigated turbulent times. To say thank you and that you are appreciated is an understatement!

Jefferson Students Steal the Food Truck Show During Annual Shank Tank-Styled Competition

In addition to taking home the $1,000 prize after wowing the judges, Ms. Amanda Cazort's class got to share their presentation at the Economics Arkansas Board Meeting.  A special shout out to all of our One Rock One Book sponsors!  

One Rock One Book Culminating Event Recap

Last weekend the Little Rock School District hosted the One Rock One Book culminating celebration. It was a day of food truck pitch competitions, live performances, wellness promotions, and great times. One Rock One Book is an initiative where Pre-K -5th grade students across the district unite to read the same book. This year's book is Lunch Money by Andrew Clements for K-5; while pre-K students are reading Just Saving My Money by Mercer Mayer. These books teach students the importance of being financially responsible and saving at a young age.

Pre-K students  actually raised an outstanding $8,433.82 to serve the community. The students and their families saved their money, and as a team decided to donate the funds to Our House - in the spirit of helping others.

 

Thank you LRPTA Council!

In the spirit of returning to normalcy, the LRPTA Council hosted its annual spring luncheon in person this year.  Special thanks to council president Charlene Kirk for her fearless leadership during the pandemic!

LRSD Scholars Recognized During
City of Little Rock Board Meeting

On Tuesday, May 10, the City of Little Rock Board members gathered for a board meeting where a recognitions of the city's National Merit Scholars were recognized. Little Rock School District holds a record number 27 National Merit Finalists who were among those acknowledged during the meeting. Huge congratulations to those National Merit Finalists, Semi-Finalists, and Commended Scholars for their hard work. Good luck on all your future endeavors as this chapter in life comes to a close, and a new one opens. You can watch the full board meeting here.

Little Rock Central High Student Among the 2022 Thea Foundation Scholarship Winners

The Thea Foundation announced scholarship winners for the 2021-22 school year and Little Rock Central High students were among them. This year, over 450 students competed in the annual competition, submitting work that aligns with the "Reflection/Refraction" theme. The competition was designed to provide financial support to Arkansas graduating high school seniors in their pursuit of higher education. We are so proud off:

Maggie Davis - $9,000 scholarship recipient

Zoe Seibert - $8,000 scholarship recipient
Ashley Fan  - $3,000.00 scholarship recipient

More Kudos to Central Students for Putting their Social Media Skills to Good Use

The #BeKindSocial Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest gives Freshman Seminar students a unique opportunity to submit creative strategies to improve awareness and promote positive social media use. 

• Top Infographic/Poster ($250):  Lucy Carter

• (WWGS-What Would Grandma Say?)

• Teacher:  Ms. Leigh Walters

• Top Video ($250): Hannah Brown

• “Even behind a screen, your words can still crush a dream.”

• Teacher: Ms. Patrice Williams

• Overall Grand Prize Winner ($500):  Eleanor Beland

• “Find Your Community”

• Teacher: Ms. Laura Langley

Parkview Student Named
2022 Art Porter Music Education Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to Little Rock Parkview student Tyus Diaz on being named a 2022 Art Porter Music Education Memorial Scholarship recipient. The scholarships are provided to support musically gifted Arkansas high school graduates in order to promote excellence in music education. Tyus will receive an award of $3,000.00 as he goes on to pursue a degree in the field of music. 

Parkview Students Recognized by the Ralph Vines Public Speaking Contest Organizers

Little Rock Parkview High students were among those districtwide who were recognized with cash awards by the Ralph Vines Public Speaking Contest organizers.  They were among dozens of contestants who participated in the annual event.  Parkview senior Dylan Patel won the overall award and received the $1,500 Winthrop P. Rockefeller grand prize.  Other  Parkview winners include:

Arianna Williams

Joi Geter

DaShaun Bracely

Camille Gardner

Eliot Spann

Kairstyn Davis

The contest namesake, who has a speech impediment, recognized the importance of being able to speak well and with confidence, and founded the contest to help young people further develop those skills.  See ralphvinesendowment.com for more info about the contest and the winners.

Two Veteran LRSD Educators Recognized with  Special Award Honoring Their Dedication

Congrats to Mary Harden, McDermott Counselor (l) and Shanda Macon, LR Southwest Academy Coach (r) - both named recipients of the Alma J. Washington Educator of the Year Award during the 5th Annual Oscar Washington, Jr. Scholarship benefit.  Friends and family of the late Oscar Washington host the event in his memory each year.  Alma Washington, also and educator, is Oscar Washington's mother.

Local Chef with Washington Elementary Ties Wins Big!

Click here to watch

This week featured the last episode of “Big Restaurant Bet” with Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and… Guess who won? Ms. Alicia Watson, Washington's occupational therapist, won the competition with her wonderful plant-based recipes. Her restaurant is called, “Vito & Vera.” https://www.vitoandvera.com/ 

We celebrate school success, but we also celebrate personal success, and this is a celebration!

 Let’s congratulate her on a job well-done. 

LRSD Students and Teachers Placed in the Economics Arkansas' Stock Market Game

 Big congratulations to our students for winning the Spring and Yearlong Stock Market Games.  We are sending a huge congratulations to Adnan Nathani and Frankie Struts from Little Rock West High School of Innovation and from  Pinnacle View Middle School. They were rewarded with a visit from Superintendent Mike Poore and Marsha Masters from Economics Arkansas(check out the LRSD Facebook for a live video).  The LRSWOI winners are splitting $500 in cash! 

Pinnacle View students also won a medal, citation, trophy and $125.00 per team.   From left to right.  Keshav Ankem, John Adams, Leonard Russell, Cass Sobek and Rober Webb.

The Stock Market Game is a national program that gives teachers and students the chance to invest $100,000 worth of virtual money in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds throughout a 13-week simulation each semester. Participants also have an opportunity to engage in a year-long session that begins in September and ends in April. We are so proud of our students and teachers who placed in this year's games.

Check Out Our Student Book Recommendation of the Month

We continue our student reading initiative where we send a student book recommendation to every elementary school media center each month. Students are encouraged to email Superintendent Mike Poore and pitch him their book suggestion. A photo like the one above will be displayed in a visible area in the media center to help get our students to develop a love for reading. 

Teachers and parents, help get your students excited about the possibility of having their picture and book recommendation featured in their schools' media center for an entire month!  Additionally, the selected student's recommendation will also be prominently featured at the Hillary Clinton Children's Library.

This month's book recommendation, "Hilo The Boy Who Crashed to Earth", is by 4th grade Chicot Elementary student Oslan Cardona. During his interview, Oslan explains in his own words what made him gravitate towards this book. You can watch the full interview here.

Gold Hands for Democracy

Central alum and 2019-20 Fulbright US Scholar Nicola Ginzel brought a special project from New York to Little Rock - Gold Hands for Democracy.  

According to Ginzel, the project's intention is to illuminate the positive attributes of mankind and unify our hands through the color gold. Gold blurs the line between nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, and gender. 

Save the Date - LRSD Athletic Foundation's One Rock Hall of Fame

Mark your calendars for the LRSD Athletic Foundation's One Rock Hall of Fame induction ceremony luncheon, scheduled for May 19, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Little Rock. 2021 honorees include Jamaal Anderson, Lindsey Davis, John Kelley, and James Rouse. Tickets may be purchased at the organization's website: www.lrsdaf.com starting April 25th. 

Do You Have an Event/Information You Would Like Featured in Our Blog?

Fill out this media request form: https://lrsd.jotform.com/201056269402044?  

Remember, the deadline for each week's submissions is Thursday, noon.

Last Weekend to Catch Into the Woods

Click Here for More Info

Doodle POP is Coming to Town!

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is bringing "Doodle POP,"  a Children's Theatre production from South Korea's Bush Theatre where cartoons come to life! The production features mischievous duo Woogie and Boogie as they make magic with illustrations, scribbles, sound effects and animations. This event is perfect ages three and up. See event details below:

CALS Ron Robinson Theater

100 River Market Ave, Little Rock, AR, 72201

05/21/22 10:00 AM - 05/22/22 4:00 PM

Pricing: $20

Phone: 501-372-4000

Little Rock Night Market

Library Square - Downtown Little Rock

June 4, 2022 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

100 S Rock St. Little Rock, AR 72201

The Little Rock Night Market is the sort of local event that has something to offer everyone. You can expect a night filled with food trucks, music, local makers and artisan vendors. The event is described as more than just a market, but a nightlife experience. What's even better, admission is FREE. Come out for a night of food, music, and shopping!