Friday, June 13, 2025

Friday Highlights 6.13.25



 

June is:

National Safety Month
Men's Health Month
National Returning Youth Month
National Portuguese Heritage Month
National Caribbean-American Heritage Month
National PTSD Awareness Month
African-American Music Month
National Great Outdoors Month
Pride Month

Important Dates: 
June 15: Father's Day
June 19: Juneteenth (Schools and Offices Closed)
June 26: School Board Meeting (5:30 p.m.)

Early Happy Father's Day
Here's wishing all the LRSD dads a very Happy Father's Day.  Hope you get to spend quality time with your loved ones!

Deserving LRSD Health Professional Earns School Nurse of the Year Honors
The LRSD family couldn't be prouder of our resident school nurse, Ms. Patricia Brown. She was named School Nurse of the Year by the Arkansas School Nurse Association. Ms. Brown's dedication, compassion, and commitment to student health make a lasting impact every day. Thank you, Ms. Brown, for being a true hero in our schools!
LRSD's SPED Team Ready to
Put their Summer Training to Work!
Proudly representing excellence and inclusion — LRSD’s dedicated Special Education team spent the first few days of summer break in professional development - working together to support every learner’s success. 💙📚 #TeamLRSD #SpecialEducation #InclusionMatters

Wakefield-Ready - In Case of Emergency

Approximately 30 staff members at Wakefield Elementary School participated in CPR, First Aid, and Safety Training as part of the school's ongoing commitment to student safety and emergency preparedness. The training, conducted by certified instructors, provided hands-on experience in essential life-saving techniques, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), how to respond to choking emergencies, wound care, and other first aid protocols. Staff also reviewed best practices for maintaining a safe and responsive learning environment. School administrators praised the staff’s dedication to ensuring a safe learning environment for their students.


Merit Incentive Roll Call
Congratulations to our outstanding educators receiving state merit pay awards! Your dedication, impact, and excellence in the classroom are truly making a difference—and it's being recognized in a big way. Thank you for going above and beyond for our students every day!
To see the list of recipients, click here.                            
The total Growth Score Bonus:  $210K
Shortage Area Bonus:  $698,500 


LRSD Offers More Options for Student Success

LRSD is committed to providing students with more choices to help them thrive. From innovative career and technical programs to strong academics and arts, LRSD is opening doors to a brighter future. Watch our new video to see how LRSD is preparing students for success—no matter their path!

Get Your One Team One Dream Shirts Today!

Show your team spirit with our One Team One Dream short-sleeve shirts! Available in redgreengray, and pink, these shirts are a great way to represent LRSD. Click the highlighted links to order yours today!

LRSD Seeks Community 
Service-Learning Partners

The Little Rock School District invites non-profits to join as Community Service-Learning partners. With community service hours now a graduation requirement for Arkansas high school students, LRSD aims to connect students with meaningful volunteer opportunities. Non-profit organizations can apply to become approved partners, allowing students to support their events and initiatives. Apply today at lrsd.org/community-service-learning or contact Stefanie Vestal at Stefanie.Vestal@lrsd.org for more information.

Have You Checked Out Our Community Report?

Did you see LRSD's latest Community Report? It features lots of LRSD highlights and the
2023-34 annual report. Read here.

Plan Ahead for Back-to-School Health Needs

As we finish out the 2024–25 school year, now is the perfect time to schedule your child’s physicals, sports physicals, and immunizations for next year. LRSD’s school-based health clinics reopen the week of July 14, 2025, and appointment slots are already filling up. These services are available to all LRSD students and their siblings. Don’t wait—beat the back-to-school rush and check the flyers for clinic hours and contact info!

Free Dental Screenings and Fun at 
"Give Kids a Smile" Event

Lyon College School of Dental Medicine invites families to the “Give Kids a Smile” event on July 18 from 9 AM to 12 PM at 5 Allied Drive, Little Rock. Children will receive free dental screenings and fluoride applications—no appointment needed! Enjoy storytime with the Tooth Fairy, a DJ dance party, face painting, and more. Don’t miss this fun-filled day promoting healthy smiles!

ESS to Host Informational Session 
for Prospective Substitutes

Interested in becoming a substitute teacher? ESS is hiring and will host an informational session and training on Tuesday, June 2nd, to help guide applicants through the process. Whether you're just starting or need assistance with your application, this is a great opportunity to get support. Start your application at ESS.com and be sure to register here to attend the session.

LRSD Offers Support for Families in Transition

If you are a family in transition, whether staying with friends, in a shelter, motel, or other temporary locations, your child may qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Act. LRSD provides resources like immediate school enrollment, transportation, and educational support to help ensure your child’s uninterrupted learning. For assistance, contact one of our liaisons or complete the Residency Form.

Explore College-Level Learning with LRSD's 
Advanced Placement Program

The Little Rock School District offers a robust Advanced Placement (AP) program, allowing students to take college-level courses in high school. With 38 courses across 20 subjects, students can earn college credit by scoring 3 or higher on the national AP exams. AP classes not only provide academic challenges but also enhance college applications.

LRSD Supports Gifted & Talented 
Students Grades 6-12

LRSD supports gifted and talented students beyond elementary school through advanced class offerings, monthly affective needs meetings, and competitions. For more information, contact your school's Gifted Facilitator or visit the LRSD Advanced Academics webpage.

LRSD Partners with UA Little Rock to 
Simplify College Admissions

The Little Rock School District is excited to announce a new partnership with UA Little Rock to streamline the college admissions process for our students. This collaboration offers waived application fees, direct transcript submissions, and automatic financial aid consideration, making it easier than ever for LRSD seniors to pursue higher education and achieve their academic goals. Learn more about this fantastic opportunity here: https://ualr.edu/admissions.

In Other Partnership News: LRSD/UA-Little Rock Connection Also Means Continuing Ed Opportunities for Employees

LRSD is excited to partner with UA-Little Rock to provide opportunities for our employees to start or finish an undergraduate degree while continuing their careers. Click on the link below to learn more.

https://ualr.edu/admissions/little-rock-school-district/

Unlocking Potential: Little Rock School District
Offers More Opportunities for Kids
 

2nd Friday Art Night Gears Up 
(Pending Good Weather)

Organizers are keeping an eye on the weather and crossing fingers that the weather doesn't put a damper on 2nd Friday Art Night.  They will announce any postponements on social media (https://www.facebook.com/2ndFridayArtNight). Meantime, here's the lineup for Art Night After Hours tonight, June 13, powered by Arkansas Arts Council!
At Capitol & Main, you will hear The Louis Heard Trio, DeFrance, Butterfly from NOLA with The All Stars, Crystal Hayes & Michael Lee Dotson. Special performance by Brutha Mac featuring KiLee with guest appearances by Red Lipstiq & Stephan James.
5:45 - DeFrance
7:00 - Butterfly from NOLA with The All Stars w/Crystal Hayes & Michael Lee Dotson
7:35 - Red Lipstiq
7:45- Butterfly from NOLA
8:45 - Stephan James
9:00 - Louis Heard Trio


Frida Family Carnival Coming to Plaza Frida

Looking for summer fun the whole family can enjoy? Head over to Plaza Frida for the first-ever Frida Family Carnival, happening June 12–15, 2025! This multicultural celebration will feature exciting rides, tasty food, games, and live entertainment—all in partnership with North American Midway Entertainment. With free parking, affordable admission, and a special offer for dads on Father’s Day, it’s a great way to kick off summer in Little Rock! For more information, click here.

Celebrate Culture and Community at
Juneteenth in Da Rock 2025

Join the Little Rock community on June 21, 2025, for Juneteenth in Da Rock, a vibrant celebration of freedom, culture, and unity. Held in the Historic 9th Street District, this family-friendly festival features live music, a 5K run, food, art, and more. Learn more about the event here.

Rock the Country Music Festival 
Coming to Little Rock this Summer!

Little Rock is set to turn up the volume this summer as Rock The Country, a two-day music festival, rolls into town June 20–21. This event is part of a 10-city tour featuring a mix of country and rock favorites, with headliners Nickelback and Kid Rock leading the charge. From legends like Hank Williams Jr. and Travis Tritt to crowd-pleasers like Shenandoah, Afroman, and the Ying Yang Twins, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss this community celebration of music and good times! Get tickets here.

The Little Rock Farmer's Market is Now Open!

The Little Rock Farmers Market has opened its doors for another season, welcoming visitors to the River Market with its farm-fresh produce, locally crafted foods, and handmade arts and crafts. As it has since 1996, the market invites SNAP beneficiaries, offering tokens purchasable on-site and participating in the Double Up Food Bucks program. Free parking, including spaces for seniors and handicapped individuals, ensures convenient access for all patrons.

They Help Us During the Year - Now They Need Our Help During the Summer - Intern Opportunities at ARKids Read


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