October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

National Apple Month

National Book Month

National Bullying Prevention Month

National Principals Month

National Alzheimer's Awareness Month

October 23 -          Professional Development (Students Out)
                              Red Ribbon Week Begins
October 30 -          Recruitment Open House Events Begin         

VEX-ing Our Muscles
Inaugural Elementary Robotics Event

LRSD hosted its inaugural elementary VEX competition at Henderson Teaching and Learning Center this week, earning a feature photo in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper. (Thank you, Staci Vandagriff -Dem-Gaz photographer.) Our STEM team plans to host 3 more tournaments, with the next one happening on November 30th.

     FHSA Teacher Makes Directorial Debut at

Argenta Theater With Tribute Play Highlighting Member of LR Nine

Congrats to Forest Heights STEM Academy’s Satia Spencer, who made her directorial debut this week with the production – One Ninth! It’s the story of the LR Nine, as told from the perspective of Minnijean Brown Trickey and written by Trickey’s daughter, Spirit. Here’s another remarkable connection to this already amazing story, the lead actor, Tyranni Critton, attended LRSD elementary schools, and her mother, Gwendolyn Critton, is an Instructional Lead Math Teacher at Brady.

LR Southwest Gryphons Win Big at Multiple Battle of the Band Competitions

Congrats to the LR Southwest Gryphons! The band had a tremendous showing at recent Battle of the Bands competitions:

- Overall Grand Champion at the Osceola BOTB
- 1st Place Percussion at the Osceola BOTB
- 1st Place Flagline at the North Panola BOTB
- 1st Place Majorettes at the North Panola BOTB
- 2nd Place Single A Marching Band at the North Panola BOTB

The band received 5/5 trophies in all of the events, and members are the beneficiaries of several scholarship offers.  Way to go, Mr. Jose Holloway, Gryphon band director!

See -  It Didn't Hurt! 
LRSD Flu Clinics Underway

Starting this week, the Little Rock School District, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), will host Flu Immunization clinics in schools to provide flu vaccine for students, parents, and staff.  Visit www.lrsd.org for info on the clinics.  Special thanks to the Jefferson Elementary family for allowing us to showcase this wonderful health initiative to promote wellness throughout our District.  Thanks also to health director Jackie McEuen (fondly called "Nurse Jackie") and her team, as well as ADH, for making sure our students and staff have these convenient onsite opportunities.  

LRCH Student-Athletes Earn

National Distinctions

Little Rock Central Lady Tigers - selected as the recipients of a generous donation from the Support Her Sole initiative by Hibbett Sports - $5K! And Mimi Abochale and Annor Boateng – both were recognized this week as “All-American” athletes by the National High School Coaches Association. Way to go, Tigers!

Don't Forget to Mark Your Calendars for LRSD's Annual Spiritfest -Saturday, November 11th! 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the 2^nd and 3^rd levels of the mall.  Every LRSD school will be represented, plus several departments.  We’ll have live performances and door prizes!  Be sure to help us share this information.

Share Your Love of Reading with
LRSD Students 

S
Calling all volunteers, check out the above video, and sign up today to read to LRSD elementary students on Jane Mendel Reading Day, Tuesday, November 14, 2023.  

Deadline Looming! 

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SEE Y’ALL THERE! -
Just Two More Days of the Arkansas State Fair

The 2023 Arkansas State Fair offers something for everyone! The 83rd annual event returned to the State Fairgrounds today in Little Rock for 10 days of food, fun, and family entertainment. The event will host tens of thousands of fans and participants between Oct. 13 and Oct. 22.

New this year, in addition to a few more rides and everything fried and/or on a stick, all attendees 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old.  According to the Arkansas State Fair policies listed on its website, the staff and security may ask for identification as proof of age and also reserve the right to remove any unaccompanied minors after 6 p.m.  The State Fair also has a "clear" bag policy.

 

Friday Highlights 10.13.23

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

National Apple Month

National Book Month

National Bullying Prevention Month

October 16     -      Boss Appreciation Day
October 19-20 -     Parent/Teacher Conferences (Students out on the 20th)
October 19 -          LRSD School Board Meeting
October 23 -          Professional Development
                              Red Ribbon Week Begins

Don't Forget to Mark Your Calendars for LRSD's Annual Spiritfest -
Saturday, November 11th!
(Note Calendar Change)

And, while you're saving the date, order your super cute Spiritfest t-shirt today! The links are below. For each adult shirt purchased, get a child's t-shirt for free (while they last). Hurry, we're placing the order next week in order to get the shirts back in time!
2023 LRSD Spiritfest Adult T-shirt

Spiritfest t-shirt free with adult purchase - Child small

Spiritfest t-shirt free with adult purchase - Child medium

Spiritfest t-shirt free with adult purchase - Child Large 

LRSD’s Efforts Take Center Stage

with High-profile Literacy Event

Literacy advocates LeVar Burton, Kareem Weaver, and Dr. Kymyona Burk joined Dr. Jermall Wright for a special screening of The Right to Read - a documentary highlighting the critical challenge of our time, ensuring that all students can read. The literacy event also focused on the work being done to move the needle at LRSD schools.

Congrats to Parkview’s 5A Girls Individual Champ and State Runner-Up Tennis Team

We are proud of Parkview‘s Emmory Simmons, 5A Girls State Champion, and her teammates, who earned the runner-up title for the state! Shout-outs to Marlee Keck and Maya Brown, who join Emmory in the celebration circle!

LRSD Elementary Principal
Continues to Make Us Proud!

Congrats to Don Roberts Principal Steven Helmick, for his latest recognition!  Fresh on the heels of his national honor as a top principal, he was saluted by the Arkansas Department of Education today for his outstanding work and dedication to his students, staff, and families.  

LRSD's 49th Annual College Fair

Points to Pathways for the Future        

Students in and out of the District enjoyed LRSD's annual college night, hosted at the Jack Stephens Event Center at UA-Little Rock on October 10th, 6 p.m. This event is ideal for students who are planning for their futures. More than 100 colleges, universities, and representatives from military branches were in attendance. A special thanks to LRSD's director of counseling, Ms. Lequieta Grayson, and team for putting on another great event!

College and Career Also on the Minds of
LR Southwest Students

Students attending LR Southwest High had the opportunity to continue the college/career conversation on their campus this week during College Application Month.  Dr. Mary Perkins-Jacobs organizes this event, with support from staff, to help students further explore post-high school opportunities.  

LR Central Joins LR West Among High Schools Named to AP Honor Roll

Way to go, Little Rock Central High School! The school has earned a place on the College Board's AP School Honor Roll for the 2022-23 school year! The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that have done outstanding work to welcome more students into AP courses and support them on the path to college success. We shared LR West’s good news last week!

Educators’ Successful Grant Application Means More Opportunities for Kids!

Two Carver STEAM Elementary School staff members are to be commended for their work in securing a major grant - Mrs. Melanie Maupin, Gifted and Talented Educator, and Mrs. Stephanie Crowell, Art Educator, applied for and received grant funding from Arkansas STEM Coalition. The grant fully funded the purchase of VEX Robotics components and digital art tablets.  Congrats, Mrs. Maupin and Mrs. Crowell!  

See -  It Didn't Hurt! 
LRSD Flu Clinics Underway

Starting this week, the Little Rock School District, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), will host Flu Immunization clinics in schools to provide flu vaccine for students, parents, and staff.  Visit www.lrsd.org for info on the clinics.  Special thanks to the Jefferson Elementary family for allowing us to showcase this wonderful health initiative to promote wellness throughout our District.  Thanks also to health director Jackie McEuen (fondly called "Nurse Jackie") and her team, as well as ADH, for making sure our students and staff have these convenient onsite opportunities.  

Dunbar Community Fest Provides Platform to Highlight LRSD Students

Dunbar Middle School and LR Southwest High School students did an amazing job at last weekend's Dunbar Community Fest!  The event honors the legacy of the historic school while bringing out the entire community for a day of food, fellowship, and fun. 

W

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SEE Y’ALL THERE! -
That's the Theme of 

This Year's State Fair

The 2023 Arkansas State Fair offers something for everyone! The 83rd annual event returned to the State Fairgrounds today in Little Rock for 10 days of food, fun, and family entertainment. The event will host tens of thousands of fans and participants between Oct. 13 and Oct. 22.

New this year, in addition to a few more rides and everything fried and/or on a stick, all attendees 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old.  According to the Arkansas State Fair policies listed on its website, the staff and security may ask for identification as proof of age and also reserve the right to remove any unaccompanied minors after 6 p.m.  The State Fair also has a "clear" bag policy.

 

Friday, 10-6-23

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

National Apple Month

National Book Month

National Bullying Prevention Month

October 8       -      National School Lunch Week
October 9       -      Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day
October 10     -      LRPTA Council Meeting
October 12     -      School Board Work Session, 5:30 p.m.
October 16     -      Boss Appreciation Day

Sorry, We Missed You!
School Custodian Appreciation Day
was Monday!

LRSD Students Getting HIP -
As In Peer-to-Peer Training

Senior class leaders from all five LRSD high schools participated in a special HIP (Health Information Project) training this week at the Clinton Center, where they were learning a peer-to-peer approach aimed at creating safe, supportive, and inclusive campuses.  HIP utilizes volunteer 11th and 12th-grade high school peer educators to facilitate sharing health information with their classmates along with HIP faculty sponsors to implement the program.   

Roberts Elementary Leader Named Among
2023 National Distinguished Principals

Congratulations to Steven Helmick, Roberts' principal, for being named to the 2023 Class of National Distinguished Principals (NDPs)! NAESP honors outstanding elementary and middle-level administrators for setting high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and climate for the students, families, and staff in their learning communities.

This year, 37 NDPs: 35 public school principals – 32 elementary and 3 middle-level – and two representing the Department of State Overseas Schools were recognized.  Mr. Helmick, your LRSD family is proud of you!

Way to go, West High School of Innovation!  The school has earned a place on the College Board's AP School Honor Roll for the 2022-23 school year! The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that have done outstanding work to welcome more students into AP courses and support them on the path to college success. Research shows students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time. The students who enter four-year colleges with credit from AP accelerate their path to graduation and build confidence for college success. And, even for those who don’t earn college credit, AP coursework provides early exposure to college-level work and contributes to a college-going school culture. 

Make Plans to Attend 19th Annual
LRSD College Night

Students in and out of the District are invited to LRSD's annual college night, hosted at the Jack Stephens Event Center at UA-Little Rock on October 10th, 6 p.m.  This event is ideal for students who are planning for their futures.  More than 100 colleges, universities, and representatives from military branches will be in attendance.

Cloverdale Students Taking Learning
to New Heights

The Civil Air Patrol News featured the 801st Crenchaw  Memorial Squadron from Cloverdale, the first school squadron in the state, in its most recent edition.

Additionally, last weekend, 20 Cloverdale students joined 40 other cadets from across the state at Camp Robinson for the weekend.  Experienced cadets trained the new ones in core values, chain of command, and uniform regulations and practiced unit movement.  The cadets also took the initial PT test consisting of a one-mile run, pacer run, push-ups, and sit-ups.

The squadron received its charter on May 11 after its initial affiliation with the Little Rock-based 42nd Composite Squadron and is named in honor of Milton Pitts Crenchaw (1919-2015).  Mr. Crenchaw was recognized as the father of Black aviation in Arkansas. One of the original Tuskegee Airmen, Crenchaw was the first African American from Arkansas trained by the federal government as a civilian licensed pilot. He trained hundreds of cadet pilots at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in the 1940s.

Major shout-out to Maj. Garrick St. Pierre, the squadron's leader. Maj. St. Pierre wears more than one hat in the organization. He is also the Arkansas Wing director of aerospace education.

Guest Author at Six Bridges Book Festival Shares Expertise with
Aspiring Writers at Parkview

Parkview Arts Science Magnet High School students enjoyed a special visit by guest author Elizabeth McKenzie on Friday, September 29th.  McKenzie was one of several writers in town for CALS annual book festival.  

Looking for a Fun Way to Spend Your Saturday & Support LRSD Students at the Same Time?

Catch these young student-athletes in action.  We're #ReimaginingLRSD by providing opportunities through youth sports!  Each Saturday through October 21st, starting at 9 a.m., you can catch our elementary league volleyball stars!  Games are held at Mabelvale Middle School.

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SEE Y’ALL THERE! -
That's the Theme of 

This Year's State Fair

The 2023 Arkansas State Fair offers something for everyone! The 83rd annual event returns to the State Fairgrounds in Little Rock for 10 days of food, fun, and family entertainment. The event will host tens of thousands of fans and participants between Oct. 13 and Oct. 22.

New this year, in addition to a few more rides and everything fried and/or on a stick, all attendees 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old.  According to the Arkansas State Fair policies listed on its website, the staff and security may ask for identification as proof of age and also reserve the right to remove any unaccompanied minors after 6 p.m.  The State Fair also has a "clear" bag policy.