Friday Highlights 4.30.21

 April is National Volunteer Month

National Autism Awareness Month

National Poetry Month

May 3  - Teacher and Classified Employee of the Year Celebration

May 3- National Teacher Day

May 3-7 - School Nutrition Employee Week 

May 3-7- Teacher Appreciation Week

May 3-9 - Children's Book Week

May 3-14 - AP Exams

May 5 -Cinco de Mayo 

May 6 - Registration Deadline for June SAT

May 7 - Registration Deadline for June ACT

May 7 - School Lunch Hero Day 

Show Your Support for our Teachers and 

Classified Staff Members

Help us celebrate outstanding LRSD educators and classified staff during the 2021 Virtual Teacher of the Year/Classified Employee of the Year event!, Monday, May 3rd. Find out who the top teacher and top classified employee will be!  Watch on LRSD's YouTube Channel, Comcast Channel 4 or U-verse Channel 99.  It all starts at 6 p.m.  

DESE Partners With Schoolhouse.world to Offer Free Tutoring to Students

For more information go here.

Pinnacle View Middle School Student Ethan Gong Earns $1,500 Grand Prize
in  Ralph Vines, II Public Speaking Contest 

Parkview's Drama Program Featured on THV's The Vine

TThe talented students of Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School premiered a Covid-19 safe, movie musical production of Fame, Jr. April 23rd - April 25th. Check out KTHV's story of their innovative production HERE!  

LRSD Ignite Digital Academy Now Accepting Applications for Grades K-12!

You asked for virtual options and we listened!  The initial application period is now open for LRSD's exciting new K-12 Ignite Digital Academy.  It will be the only virtual student option for the 2021-22 school year.  To learn more and to see if this is a good fit for your student, visit www.lrsd.org/ignite.  We're saving a virtual seat for you!  Application window closes at midnight, May 3, 2021.

OneRock Legends Hall of Fame 

Be sure to save the date! Don't miss this exciting celebration of LRSD's distinguished class of alumni athletes.

May 25 2021 @ 6:30 PM

Little Rock Southwest High School

9751 Mabelvale Pike, Mabelvale, AR 72103

J.A. Fair K-8 Prep Academy - Enrolling Now!

Check out LRSD's new JA Fair K-8 Prep Academy - Enrolling Now!  See details in flyers above.

Eche un vistazo a la nueva Academia de preparación para k-8 de la JA Fair de LRSD: ¡Inscríbase ahora! Consulte el folleto a continuación para obtener más información.

Jefferson Elementary Recognized on Arkansas Senate Floor 

Beaming with pride about Jefferson Elementary School's recognition on the floor of the Arkansas Senate today.  Students, teachers and staff were celebrated for Jefferson's National Blue Ribbon distinction.  Way to go, Principal Sandra Register and Team! 

#LRSDPowerofUS

Central High Named Among Most Influential Public High Schools in the Country

What a distinction!  Little Rock Central named among “Most Influential Public High Schools in the country! Congrats, Principal Nancy Rousseau, students and staff! Read the full article here. 

Congrats to the Metro Students Below on a Successful Competition!

Students received Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards after competing in their program of studies with other students across the State of Arkansas.  The Gold Winners will compete this summer in the National Competition to be held in Kentucky. Congratulations and good luck on the upcoming competition this summer!

#SeeWhyLRSD

Hear from LRSD parents what makes their child's school and the LRSD so special - #SeeWhyLRSD 

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

Fill out this media request form:https://form.jotform.com/201056269402044   
Remember, the deadline for each week's submissions is Thursday, noon. 

Download the LRSD App!

Please also remember to download the free LRSD APP and you will never miss a message from the District.

CAUGHT DOING GOOD

Guess who was #CaughtDoingGood this week?  Nurse Annette Shirrell, Mcdermott Elementary School, was recognized for her extraordinary work and support of the Mustang family this year and her principal Pam Dial says despite everything that was going on, she only missed 1 1/2 days of work. Congrats, Nurse Shirrell, and thanks for all you do!

 #CaughtDoingGood

 

Time for Fresh Beginnings!

The Little Rock Farmers’ Market will open its 47th season on May 1, 2021.

The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System 50th Anniversary poster contest!  

Attention all students along the Arkansas River! Are you ready to put your art skills to the test? The Arkansas Waterways Commission (AWC) is looking for creative minds to decorate the 50th anniversary of the mighty river. One winner will be chosen from each grade, K-12. 

Art must include: 

#MKARNS50 

A barge 

A river/waterways 

Everything else is left to your imagination!  

Winners from each school (K-12) will be chosen based on creativity by the AWC. Then once the winners are chosen, the AWC will post the art on their Facebook page. From there, a definite winner from each grade will be chosen to represent the image of #MKARNS50. The winners will be chosen based on how many likes the photos get. 

*Please submit art electronically by April 30th to arkansaswaterways@gmail.com to be considered. 

Live at the Plaza May 2021

Live At The Plaza features the full company and includes classical and contemporary works, as well as recreational classes. Performances and classes will be held at the Argenta Plaza (510 Main Street, North Little Rock) May 1-2 and May 21-23. A full schedule is included below.

To learn more about Live At The Plaza, including performance and class descriptions, click HERE.  

Weekend 1

Saturday, May 

8 – 9am: Pilates at the Plaza 

9 – 10am: Stretch & Strengthen 

10 – 11am: Jazz at the Plaza 

11am – 12pm: Ballet on the Grounds 

1 – 2pm: Program 1 Matinee Performance 

7 – 8pm: Program 1 Evening Performance  

Sunday May 2

         8 – 9am: Rise & Shine Silver

9 – 10am: Art Start

10 – 11am: Stretch & Strengthen 

11am – 12pm: Unbound: Improvisational motion for well-being 

1 – 2pm: Program 1 Matinee Performance  

5 – 6pm: Program 1 Evening Performance

Weekend 2

Friday, May 21

      6 – 7pm: Program 2 Performance 

Saturday, May 22

         8 – 9am: Pilates at the Plaza 

 9 – 10am: Stretch & Strengthen

10 – 11am: Art Start 

11am – 12pm: Ballet on the Grounds 

1 – 2pm: Program 2 Matinee Performance  

7 – 8pm: Program 2 Evening Performance 

Sunday, May 23

8 – 9am: Rise & Shine Silver 

 9 – 10am: Stretch & Strengthen 

10 – 11am: Jazz at the Plaza 

1am – 12pm: Unbound: Improvisational motion for well-being 

1 – 2pm: Program 2 Matinee Performance 

Community Vaccine Clinic

Friday Highlight 4.23.21

 April is National Volunteer Month

National Autism Awareness Month

National Poetry Month

Apr. 26 - Interim Reports Period 4 Sent Home/Available Online
Apr. 26 - Superintendent's Citation

Apr. 27- Bus Driver Appreciation Day

May 3  - Teacher and Classified Employee of the Year Celebration

You Still Have a Couple of Hours 
To Take Advantage of this Community Clinic 
at Little Rock Southwest High School
Until 7 PM Tonight (April 23)

DESE Partners With Schoolhouse.world to Offer Free Tutoring to Students

For more information go here. 

Show Your Support for our Teachers 

Support of our teachers in the classroom is more important than ever!
Help us celebrate outstanding LRSD educators during the 2021 Virtual Teacher of the Year event! You're also encouraged to support the event with donations, which will be used to purchase awards, prizes and Educator SWAG Bags. To donate click here: tinyurl.com/2021-LRSD-TOY. Thank you for your support!

Spring Jamboree for ESOL Families!

Check out this awesome drive-thru fair hosted by LRSD ESOL Department.

 Questions: Please contact

501-447-3389   501/447-3383  501-447-3377

LRSD Ignite Digital Academy Now Accepting Applications for Grades K-12!

You asked for virtual options and we listened!  The initial application period is now open for LRSD's exciting new K-12 Ignite Digital Academy.  It will be the only virtual student option for the 2021-22 school year.  To learn more and to see if this is a good fit for your student, visit www.lrsd.org/ignite.  We're saving a virtual seat for you!  Application window closes at midnight, May 3, 2021.

Highlights from ViPS Drive-Thru Celebration! 

On April 20, 2021 from 4-5:30 pm ViPS celebrated this year's ViPS Award Nominees with a festive drive--through celebration. Congratulations again to all of the award recipients! 

Click on link to watch slide show of all the outstanding volunteers!

Partnering for Excellence

Date: Saturday, April 24, Time: 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m

The Parent & Family Engagement Office and the LRSD Cluster Teams are excited to present to you the Spring 2021 Partnering for Excellence Home, School, and Community Connections Virtual Conference. The topics presented from guest speakers are:  RISE, summer opportunities, health, wellness, college, career as well as COVID and Title I updates. 

Additionally, as a participant you will receive an opportunity for a chance on the prize wheel. Items: Amazon Fire Reader, ten (10) refurbished Dell laptops, gift cards and baskets, and more! If you have questions, please contact the Parent Facilitator or Parent Coordinator of your child’s school or email kaye.rainey@lrsd.org. 

Double the Learning Twice the Fun!

Jefferson Elementary has 9 sets of twins enrolled this year and they all came together on Tuesday for one photo! You can see more pictures and check out the full story on KATV here.  

#LRSDPowerofUS

#SeeWhyLRSD

Hear from LRSD parents what makes their child's school and the LRSD so special - #SeeWhyLRSD 

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

Fill out this media request form:https://form.jotform.com/201056269402044   
Remember, the deadline for each week's submissions is Thursday, noon. 

Download the LRSD App!

Please also remember to download the free LRSD APP and you will never miss a message from the District.

CAUGHT DOING GOOD

Alexandra Hardage, member of the Human Resources Department , was caught doing good today. Director of Human Resources Mr. Robert Robinson raved that Hardage always goes above and beyond. She has taken the initiative to start an online training program and pushing the department to go paperless. She also serves as a bilingual recruiter for the district. 

Hardage says she does her best everyday to do what she can to support district employees and families!  Ms. Hardage also serves our  school community by working with students who participate in the 21st Century grant program from Bale Elementary during her free time. Way to go, Ms. Hardage, and congrats for being #CaughtDoingGood

 

The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System 50th Anniversary poster contest!  

Attention all students along the Arkansas River! Are you ready to put your art skills to the test? The Arkansas Waterways Commission (AWC) is looking for creative minds to decorate the 50th anniversary of the mighty river. One winner will be chosen from each grade, K-12. 

Art must include: 

#MKARNS50 

A barge 

A river/waterways 

Everything else is left to your imagination!  

Winners from each school (K-12) will be chosen based on creativity by the AWC. Then once the winners are chosen, the AWC will post the art on their Facebook page. From there, a definite winner from each grade will be chosen to represent the image of #MKARNS50. The winners will be chosen based on how many likes the photos get. 

*Please submit art electronically by April 30th to arkansaswaterways@gmail.com to be considered. 

Live at the Plaza May 2021

Live At The Plaza features the full company and includes classical and contemporary works, as well as recreational classes. Performances and classes will be held at the Argenta Plaza (510 Main Street, North Little Rock) May 1-2 and May 21-23. A full schedule is included below.

To learn more about Live At The Plaza, including performance and class descriptions, click HERE.  

Weekend 1

Saturday, May 

8 – 9am: Pilates at the Plaza 

9 – 10am: Stretch & Strengthen 

10 – 11am: Jazz at the Plaza 

11am – 12pm: Ballet on the Grounds 

1 – 2pm: Program 1 Matinee Performance 

7 – 8pm: Program 1 Evening Performance  

Sunday May 2

         8 – 9am: Rise & Shine Silver

9 – 10am: Art Start

10 – 11am: Stretch & Strengthen 

11am – 12pm: Unbound: Improvisational motion for well-being 

1 – 2pm: Program 1 Matinee Performance  

5 – 6pm: Program 1 Evening Performance

Weekend 2

Friday, May 21

      6 – 7pm: Program 2 Performance 

Saturday, May 22

         8 – 9am: Pilates at the Plaza 

 9 – 10am: Stretch & Strengthen

10 – 11am: Art Start 

11am – 12pm: Ballet on the Grounds 

1 – 2pm: Program 2 Matinee Performance  

7 – 8pm: Program 2 Evening Performance 

Sunday, May 23

8 – 9am: Rise & Shine Silver 

 9 – 10am: Stretch & Strengthen 

10 – 11am: Jazz at the Plaza 

1am – 12pm: Unbound: Improvisational motion for well-being 

1 – 2pm: Program 2 Matinee Performance 

From our Partners at the Clinton Center

Day of Action: Global Youth Service Day (6th - 12th Grades) April 16, 2021 This year's program features Ian McKenna, TIME Magazine’s 2020 Kid of the Year Finalist. Ian McKenna is a senior at the Liberal Arts & Science Academy in Austin, Texas. In the eight years since Ian started his first garden, he has grown and donated over 21,000 lbs of organic produce. This Day of Action provides a platform where everyone can give back and inspire others to come together to make a difference. This program is for middle and high school students.   Student Presidential Leaders Forum (9th - 12th Grades) April 23, 2021 Join the Clinton Presidential Center’s 2020-2021 class of Student Presidential Leaders as a forum designed around the practice of three essential ingredients needed to engage in difficult conversations is presented: awareness, understanding, and communication. The Student Presidential Leaders will help facilitate this forum for their peers and community leaders, allowing them to explore social justice topics that are important to the next generation of change-makers. With examples from subject-matter experts, the forum will put the power of dialogue on display through civic conversations. The Student Presidential Leaders helped develop the topic and format of the forum with the goal of engaging an audience of their peers and community leaders.  Panelists: Chelsea Clinton, Tynesia Boyea-Robinson and Michael Tyler.   To Register Curbside Couture  (3rd - 12th Grades) Virtual Fashion Show: April 25, 2021 Join us for the virtual watch party of the 10th annual Curbside Couture. This "green" fashion show offers students in third-twelfth grades the opportunity to apply their creativity and technical skills to create wearable designs made of recycled material. Cash prizes are awarded to students with outstanding designs chosen by a professional panel of judges. Click here for more information. To RSVP In the Winners' Circle Sariah Batista         Meadowcliff Elementary Lorin E.B. Hill       Mann Magnet Middle Gautami Lohakare  Central High Rowan Graves        Fulbright Elementary Congrats to these awesome students! The Clinton Center is currently offering the following virtual educational experiences by request. Mini-Presidential Virtual Experience (PreK - 2nd Grades) Specifically for younger student visitors - program encourages exploration and imagination. Students are welcomed by an engaging online activity in which they play a matching and identification game that helps define national symbols and the responsibilities of the President.

Friday Highlights 4.16.21

April is National Volunteer Month

National Autism Awareness Month

National Poetry Month

Apr. 18-24- National Volunteer Week  
Apr. 19 - Personnel Policy Committee Meeting 5pm

Apr. 20 - ViPS An Evening for the Stars 

Apr. 21 - Administrative Professional Appreciation

Apr. 22 - Earth Day

Apr. 22 - Board Meeting 5:30pm

LRCH Continues its Tradition of Winning
With Another National Brain Bee Champ

After two days of intense competition, the 2021 USA Brain Bee Champion is Yashwanth Gokarakonda representing the Arkansas Brain Bee Chapter. The Brain Bee is a neuroscience competition for teenagers.  Yashwanth Gokarakonda is a junior at Little Rock Central High School. Among his prizes are a summer internship at a neuroscience lab, trophies for his school and himself, and the right to represent the United States at the World Brain Bee Championship. 

Show Your Support for our Teachers 

Support of our teachers in the classroom is more important than ever!
Help us celebrate outstanding LRSD educators during the 2021 Virtual Teacher of the Year event! You're also encouraged to support the event with donations, which will be used to purchase awards, prizes and Educator SWAG Bags. To donate click here: tinyurl.com/2021-LRSD-TOY. Thank you for your support!

'Parade of Stars'

ViPS Award Nominees Drive-Through Celebration!

On April 20, 2021 from 4-5:30 pm ViPS will be celebrating this year's ViPS Award Nominees with a festive drive-through celebration. Check out the info-graphic below to learn more about the history of the Jane Mendel Award. 

You can livestream this event on Facebook/mylrsd! 

Moms Matter Recap

Today we hosted our annual Moms Matter event. We got to meet a few amazing moms from our district as they drove through to pick up their lunch and goodie bags. Stay tuned for more pictures and highlights from today's event! Special Shoutout to Sephora for partnering with us by donating full size Dior Fragrances and goodies to go in our bags!

#LRSDMomsMatter

Booker Arts Magnet Student Cast in "Sparking Dialogue through Drama"

Kevin Jones, a 5th grade student at Booker Arts Magnet Elementary, has been cast as the role of “Pete” in "Nothing Rhymes with Juneteenth" by Idris Goodwin.  This virtual play is part of the series “Sparking Dialogue Through Drama: Family Conversations around Race and Anti-Racism”, hosted by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, one of Booker’s Partners in Education.  "Nothing Rhymes with Juneteenth" addresses a parent and child developing a rhyming scheme for a school presentation, while addressing racial justice through the lens of a family conversation.  

The event will consist of a live virtual play reading followed by a panel discussion, and Mr. Goodwin has agreed to participate in the panel. The virtual event will stream live on Facebook on April 17, 2021 at noon.  This program is part of AMFA’s social impact initiative and provides space for meaningful dialogue in the community exploring issues of identity, race, and anti-racism.  

For more information, visit the AMFA’s website: https://my.arkansasartscenter.org/136/8195

Partnering for Excellence

Date: Saturday, April 24, Time: 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m

The Parent & Family Engagement Office and the LRSD Cluster Teams are excited to present to you the Spring 2021 Partnering for Excellence Home, School, and Community Connections Virtual Conference. The topics presented from guest speakers are:  RISE, summer opportunities, health, wellness, college, career as well as COVID and Title I updates. 

Additionally, as a participant you will receive an opportunity for a chance on the prize wheel. Items: Amazon Fire Reader, ten (10) refurbished Dell laptops, gift cards and baskets, and more! If you have questions, please contact the Parent Facilitator or Parent Coordinator of your child’s school or email kaye.rainey@lrsd.org. 

Congratulations to Parkview High's Dylan Patel & LRCH's Landon Runion-Driskel  - Featured in Inviting Arkansas after Being Named
"Champions of Hope"
(photos/Inviting Arkansas)

LRSD is fortunate to have incredible students and staff who are committed to excellence in the classroom and in the community!  That's why celebrating Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School's Dylan Patel and Central's Landon Runion-Driskel and their most recent recognition in Inviting Arkansas is so special.  We join both young men's parents and school family in congratulating them for their selection as a "Champions of Hope" and being highlighted in "Inviting Arkansas"!  #LRSDPowerofUS

#SeeWhyLRSD

Hear from LRSD parents what makes their child's school and the LRSD so special - #SeeWhyLRSD 

Bale Elementary Students Enjoy a
Music-Filled Saturday Lesson

Bale Elem students get a rare Saturday drum lesson from African musician/storyteller Zinse, compliments of 

@arkmod & a 21st Century after-school grant. The students also enjoyed a trip to Little Rock Zoo, which included a train ride.

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

Fill out this media request form:https://form.jotform.com/201056269402044   
Remember, the deadline for each week's submissions is Thursday, noon. 

Download the LRSD App!

Please also remember to download the free LRSD APP and you will never miss a message from the District.

CAUGHT DOING GOOD

LRSD Social Worker Stephanie Young Abrao is assigned to LR Hall STEAM Magnet High School but today she was in for a surprise during a “meeting” at admin. LRSD Social Worker Stephanie Abrao (C), called out by Head Counselor LeQuieta Grayson (R), for being #CaughtDoingGood.  Too many good things to name, but one that is definitely noteworthy: she volunteered to help a 6th grader return to school, taking the job of caretaker to his mother off his plate.  

Ms. Abrao for leads the “Handle with Care” program, which allows LRPD to inform LRSD when police have been called to a student’s home.  This helps schools provide better support to those students.  She also coordinates social work interns from UA-Little Rock to help provide services when needed.  Grayson says she might have a book with resources, but Ms. Abrao has the experience, connections & manpower to get students’ help!  Congrats for being #CaughtDoingGood

 

The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System 50th Anniversary poster contest!  

Attention all students along the Arkansas River! Are you ready to put your art skills to the test? The Arkansas Waterways Commission (AWC) is looking for creative minds to decorate the 50th anniversary of the mighty river. One winner will be chosen from each grade, K-12. 

Art must include: 

#MKARNS50 

A barge 

A river/waterways 

Everything else is left to your imagination!  

Winners from each school (K-12) will be chosen based on creativity by the AWC. Then once the winners are chosen, the AWC will post the art on their Facebook page. From there, a definite winner from each grade will be chosen to represent the image of #MKARNS50. The winners will be chosen based on how many likes the photos get. 

*Please submit art electronically by April 30th to arkansaswaterways@gmail.com to be considered. 

Annual OWJ Scholarship Ceremony 

will Include Several LRSD Students

Be sure to tune in to Facebook or YouTube, Saturday, April 17th, 6:30 p.m., to see LRSD students shine as they are awarded scholarships from the Oscar Washington, Jr. Scholarship fund.  

Crafting With Opal

DATE AND TIME

April 22 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

This is a craft along program hosted by CALS. In this program they teach different crafts which could include sewing, crocheting, knitting, painting & others.

This is a virtual program that the Nixon library does live on Facebook every Thursday (excluding holidays). Just click here to go to their Nixon Facebook page to watch.

Issues That Matter: The Need to Read

DATE AND TIME
April 22 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

This forum will explore literacy in Arkansas, including efforts to teach literacy, rates of literacy in Arkansas, and the costs and effects of Arkansans who can’t read.

Featured Panelists:

Sherry Chambers – K-12 Literacy Director for the Little Rock School District

Marci Robertson – Executive Director of Literacy Action of Central Arkansas

Sherra Bennett – AR Kids Read

Nancy Leonhardt – Executive Director for the Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas

This event will be hosted virtually on the Zoom platform. Free registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Click here to register 

From our Partners at the Clinton Center

Day of Action: Global Youth Service Day (6th - 12th Grades) April 16, 2021 This year's program features Ian McKenna, TIME Magazine’s 2020 Kid of the Year Finalist. Ian McKenna is a senior at the Liberal Arts & Science Academy in Austin, Texas. In the eight years since Ian started his first garden, he has grown and donated over 21,000 lbs of organic produce. This Day of Action provides a platform where everyone can give back and inspire others to come together to make a difference. This program is for middle and high school students.   Student Presidential Leaders Forum (9th - 12th Grades) April 23, 2021 Join the Clinton Presidential Center’s 2020-2021 class of Student Presidential Leaders as a forum designed around the practice of three essential ingredients needed to engage in difficult conversations is presented: awareness, understanding, and communication. The Student Presidential Leaders will help facilitate this forum for their peers and community leaders, allowing them to explore social justice topics that are important to the next generation of change-makers. With examples from subject-matter experts, the forum will put the power of dialogue on display through civic conversations.The Student Presidential Leaders helped develop the topic and format of the forum with the goal of engaging an audience of their peers and community leaders.  Panelists: Chelsea Clinton, Tynesia Boyea-Robinson and Michael Tyler.   To Register Curbside Couture  (3rd - 12th Grades) Virtual Fashion Show: April 25, 2021 Join us for the virtual watch party of the 10th annual Curbside Couture. This "green" fashion show offers students in third-twelfth grades the opportunity to apply their creativity and technical skills to create wearable designs made of recycled material. Cash prizes are awarded to students with outstanding designs chosen by a professional panel of judges. Click here for more information. To RSVP The Clinton Center is currently offering the following virtual educational experiences by request. Mini-Presidential Virtual Experience (PreK - 2nd Grades) Specifically for younger student visitors - program encourages exploration and imagination. Students are welcomed by an engaging online activity in which they play a matching and identification game that helps define national symbols and the responsibilities of the President.