Engagement MATtERS Arkansas
Engagement updates for the families, schools and communities of Arkansas
february 2023
valentine's day all year long
Did you know that recent studies show that even looking at a dog prompts a release of "feel good" hormones in humans, including serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin? Our furry friends are sharing the dog love at several schools in Arkansas: Nettleton School District in Jonesboro has an emotional support animal (Abby, below) ; Southside Charter High School in Batesville has a trained service dog at the high school; Bryant has Archie at the junior high (below, center), and Beebe School District has two support dogs (Benny the poodle greets students in the hallway, while Murphy gets in a little reading). These are just a few of the therapy dogs that we were able to share: thanks for letting us know about these canine friends who are improving the lives and bringing a calming influence to the kiddos in your schools. #therapydog #guideforlife
One more dog pic! Abby at University Heights School of Medical Arts, School of Innovation in Nettleton rocks math with her human pal.
february celebration of career and technical education
All Arkansas school districts offer Career and Technical Education courses to present students with options for career pathways. During February, numerous celebrations took place to showcase the efforts of districts whose CTE programs are helping prepare youth for life after graduation. Demonstrations of students gaining real-world experience were made available to parents, communities, and the media, such as this in-studio broadcast production by students at Farmington high School in the A/V Technology & Film Pathway. CTE Regional Showcases for 2023 were held at high schools in Greenbrier, Sheridan, Rison, Farmington, Carlisle, Genoa Central, Berryville, Manila, Cedar Ridge, Lake Hamilton, DeQueen, Van Buren, El Dorado, and Barton-Lexa.
Farm to you collaboration
is a hit in wynne
is a hit in wynne
The annual Farm to You program in Wynne, Arkansas, gives Wynne high school students the opportunity to teach younger students at the elementary school the things they themselves have learned in nutrition, health, physical fitness, and agriculture. Wynne High School students staff exhibit stations, and creatively engage the Wynne Primary students as they "tour and learn."
This year, the three-day event at Wynne Primary had visitors from Poinsett and St. Francis counties who conveyed that they were impressed at how smoothly the student-facilitated project runs and how prepared and knowledgeable the student teachers were. The event is a collaboration with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, and includes community partners CrossRidge Community Hospital, St. Bernards, and the Cross County Extension Office.
gentry pioneers:
helping families experiencing homelessness
helping families experiencing homelessness
School counselors at Gentry Public Schools' four school buildings identified access to laundry facilities and supplies as a need for families through their work in their Professional Learning Community (PLC). Working in tandem with leadership, the team helped establish a laundry facility at the district that is now available for students and families experiencing homelessness. The Gentry Pioneers stick together and help each other: special thanks to the Gentry Board of Education and the district administration team who supported the initiative!
dese news nuggets
arkansas accountability report
to the public
to the public
DESE's team gathered with the public to present data at Arch Ford education cooperative recently, celebrating the academic improvements and addressing the gaps at selected schools whose representatives were able to tell their stories. The full recording of the Schools on the Move proceedings can be found at this link.
(total viewing time 3 hours)
statewide community resource portal serves arkansas families
Don’t forget to check the statewide resource portal for information and resources to help families. Also, if you know of a resource that is not listed, please submit it as an addition to the database:
Statewide Community Resources Portal - Home (arkansas.gov)