Friday Highlights 9.23.22

 

September is Better Breakfast Month
National School Attendance Awareness Month 
Classical Music Month 
National School Success Month 
National Suicide Awareness Month 
National Library Card Sign-Up Month

September 25 - 27:    Rosh Hashanah

September 26:           Superintendent's Citation - 5:30 p.m.

September 27:           Marking Period 1 Interim Reports (Available on HAC/Sent Home)

Join us in Commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Integration of Central High

Programs are underway now through September 26th at either the National Park Service or LRSD.  Sunday, the street in front of Central High will be renamed "Little Rock Nine Way" in honor of the nine black students who broke the color barrier when they integrated Central High School in 1957.  The theme this year is "Silence is Not an Option" and some programs will feature members of the Little Rock Nine. See "news articles" on www.lrsd.org or  www.nps.gov/chsc for more info on the scheduled events.

In addition to attending the street renaming ceremony, you are especially invited to watch the live stream of a special address by Little Rock Nine member Elizabeth Eckford who will share her personal story with LRCH students.  Watch live on Monday at 9:30 a.m.: 
 https://adesandbox.arkansas.gov/st?cid=MzkzYW

 Welcome "ABoard" New Zone 9 Member
Joyce Walker Wesley

Congratulations to new LRSD Board member Joyce Walker Wesley, sworn in on Thursday, September 22, 2022, as the newest director for the District’s Board of Education.  Wesley will represent Zone 9, replacing outgoing member Jeff Wood who was recently appointed to the Arkansas Board of Education.  LRSD also wishes to thank Mr. Woods for his service as a Community Advisory Board member and a duly elected member of the newly established LRSD Board of Directors.

Reggie Ballard Named LRSD Chief of Staff

LRSD also welcomes Reggie Ballard as the District's new Chief of Staff!  Ballard is an Arkansas native who most recently served as a managing principal for The Ballson Group in DC.  He has worked for the Arkansas Department of Education and has an extensive background in educational issues, as well as government and public affairs.  

Mark Your Calendars for #LRSDSpiritFest

Don't Forget to Enter the Grandparents/Grand Guardians Day Facebook Photo Sweepstakes

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

1. Grandparents/Guardians: Snap a photo of you with your current LRSD student(s)  (Grandparents/Guardians of all Students: In-person and Digital).

2. Upload your photo to LRSD’s Facebook photo contest page at: tinyurl.com/LRSDGrandparents2022. Multiple entries permitted for grandparents/guardians with multiple grandchildren. Grandparent/guardian should be in the photo with student.

3. This is a Sweepstakes WITHOUT voting. Winners will be randomly selected.

Click here to view the full flyer in English and Español. (Haga clic aquí para ver el volante en Inglés y Español.)

This is What Grit Personified Looks Like - When There's a Team of One

Thanks, THV11 for highlighting this amazing young woman at LRSW High!

LRSD Schools Celebrate Peace Week

McDermott Elementary School

 

Little Rock West High School
LRSD students were all in for "Peace Week".  Arkansas Peace Week is a program of activities with a mission to educate and promote peacemaking in our society and raise awareness of organizations working to build lasting peace in Arkansas.

LR Southwest Students Honor Their Own for National Security Officer Appreciation Week

LR Southwest High students thanked their Security Team in a special way for all they do daily to keep students, staff, and visitors safe. Each officer was presented with a bag decorated by the students filled with treats.

Storytime With Pastors Makes Its First Stop
of the Year at Gibbs Magnet Elementary

The Little Rock School District is big on literacy! We are always looking for ways to get our students to develop a passion for reading. Storytime with Pastors is one of our many efforts designed to instill that passion in our little ones. This week, students at Gibbs Elementary were paid a visit from faith-based community members who volunteer to read to students as part of the Volunteers in Public Schools program.

Speaking of Literacy... There's Nothing Like a Reading Visit by TV Personality Craig O'Neill This Stop:  Fair Park ECC 

Fair Park ECC and ViPS had the best visiting reader this morning- Craig O'Neill! Sending a huge thank you to Mr. O'Neill for stopping to spend some time reading to our little ones at Fair Park ECC. Check out this video to learn more about how you to can get involved and read to a LRSD elementary class for Jane Mendel Reading day on November 15, 2022. 

LRCH Has 8 Semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program

Congratulations to the above-mentioned students who were named semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program.  They are among an elite group of students nationwide vying for finalist status and scholarship money! We'll keep you posted.

Way to Go, Carla Lester - Earned a Statewide Recognition for Excellence in Her Field 

An LRSD Special Programs team member has a new distinction.  Carla Lester was just, named Administrator of the Year by AR School Psychology Association!  Congrats!

Learn More About How to Get Involved in the Academies of Central Arkansas

LRSD has partnered with the three Pulaski County school districts to transform the high school experience through career and interest-themed academics. Click here for more information.

LRSD Partnering for Excellence Home-School-Community Connections Conference

The Parent & Family Engagement Office and the LRSD Cluster Teams are excited to present to you the Fall 2022 Partnering for Excellence Home, School, and Community Connections IN-PERSON Conference.  Saturday, September 24, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The location for the conference is 401 John Barrow (former Henderson Middle School).

LRSD Superintendent Dr. Jermall Wright will be in attendance to share a message with participants. Other interesting topics and resources will be shared by LRSD Departments and special guests. Refreshments, health screenings, Covid vaccinations, child immunizations, and other community resources will be shared. Childcare is provided. Additionally, as a participant you will receive an opportunity to play Exhibitor Bingo where there will be 2nd & 3rd place prizes. The grand prize will be a new laptop!

There will be door prizes awarded throughout the event! If you have questions, please contact the Parent Facilitator or Parent Coordinator of your child’s school or email kaye.rainey@lrsd.org. You may visit www.lrsd.org for pre-registration information or review your email. We hope to see you on September 24 at 10:00 a.m. Thank you! Click here for the full flyer in English and Spanish.

Registration link: Pre-register at https://forms.gle/yjEif6sYL5Khh2Ak8

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, at noon.

Don’t Miss an Opportunity to Celebrate this Historic Occasion

CALS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

September 26 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Terry Library

2015 Napa Valley Dr.

Little Rock, AR. 72212

501-228-0129

Click here for more info.

Haven't Made it Out to Jazz in the Park? 
Don't Miss the Last Concert in the Fall Series
This Wednesday!

Wednesday Nights

6PM - 8PM

East River Market Pavilion

Learn Canva AND Get PD Hours While Doing It - Educators Are Eligible for PD credit.

In this class, you’ll learn to:

Use Canva’s pre-made designs to make something that looks great with minimal effort.

Get around in Canva’s easy-to-use interface and find the options you need.

Save your Canva designs and get copies to post, print, or share.

Use your own images in Canva to make your designs yours.

And more!

Attendee Info

Educator attendees are eligible for 2 hours PD credit.

Click here for more info.

Little Rock's Newest Festival - LITFest 2022

Little Rock's newest festival, LITFest, will take place October 7 – 9, 2022, in downtown Little Rock. The three-day event will highlight the City of Little Rock through live music, cultural programming and panelists on various topics from technology to economic growth.

“Not only will this be a time for Little Rock residents to gather, this is also a citywide homecoming,” Mayor Scott said. “Keeping with that theme, there will be a special emphasis on spotlighting current and former Little Rock residents who are recognized as leaders in their fields to participate as performers and panelists.”

For more information, or to sign up to become a festival sponsor, visit www.myLITFest.com. Follow @mylitfest on Twitter for more information and updates.