art room, computer lab, media center, flexible learning centers, cafeteria, along with PE and Music areas. Located on ap
SUCCESS
HAPPENS HERE
November 2017 The new zoning plan will be presented to the Board for approval at the March meeting.
district SNAPSHOT
I am happy to report that the Bryant School Board approved a five-year strategic plan to move Bryant from a very good school district to our vision of becoming the state’s premier provider of educational services. We’re calling this Our Plan for Success.
Dear Bryant Families and Community, October was an exciting month at Bryant Public Schools! We had the opportunity to recognize our school leaders during National Principals Month and share the importance of healthy meals during National School Lunch Week. Homecoming 2017 was truly a memorable time of spirit activities followed with the crowning of queen India Stewart and victory over Ft. Smith Southside for the Hornets. During Red Ribbon Week, students learned about living healthy, drug free lives. The entire community joined us in celebrating the groundbreaking and dedication of our newest school, Parkway Elementary. A large sign sits on the property thanking our patrons for making the elementary possible for our students. We are grateful for the generous support of our citizens, and we look forward to building the future of our school district and community together. With the addition of Parkway Elementary, school zone boundary lines must be redrawn. RSP Associates has been hired to assist with the rezoning process. The company is currently collecting data for rezoning proposals. At the January work session, the Bryant School Board will review the work of RSP and study the draft recommendations for new boundaries. During January and February, meetings will be scheduled at each elementary and middle school to show proposed plans and gather feedback. Dates for those meetings are being finalized and will be shared soon.
Last January Hanover was hired to gather perceptions of the district from parents, staff, students (grades 6-12), and community members. A stakeholder group met for over two months to study the data and determine areas of improvement based on responses. Four focus areas were prioritized: (1) Social and Emotional Learning / Personal Responsibility; (2) Teaching and Learning; (3) Facilities and Systems; and (4) Personnel. Once goals were set, the district leadership team determined priorities and actions to help us achieve those goals over the next five years. The Plan will be used to guide decision-making and evaluate current programs for effectiveness at the district and school level. I invite you to read Our Plan For Success and join us in the common vision for our current and future students. Everyone working together to achieve the shared goals will move the district toward educational excellence. It’s an honor to serve as your superintendent. Dr. Karen Walters Superintendent
FOLLOW ON TWITTER: @KWalters_Bryant
FIND US ONLINE bryantschools.org
a publication of Bryant Public Schools
One
Thing I Love about Bryant Public Schools
I Learn to Be a
leader
SUCCESS
HAPPENS HERE
In a world that’s becoming increasingly complex, where success is driven not only by what you know, but by what you can do with what you know, it’s more important than ever for students to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information. These are the types of skills that students learn by studying science, technology, engineering, and math—subjects collectively known as STEM. Want to know more about this hands on, skill-based learning? We hope you’ll make plans to join us for the district’s very first STEM Expo on Thursday, December 7, 5:30 - 7:00 pm at Collegeville Elementary School. Elementary students and teachers from across the district will showcase how they are engaging in STEM learning. In addition to student exhibits, several community partners will help highlight how elementary students can be engaged in STEM learning opportunities in and out of the classroom. For more information, visit bryantschools.org.
Bryant Family of Schools Welcomes Parkway Elementary The official groundbreaking and dedication of Bryant’s newest elementary school was held on October 24. Parkway Elementary will be just under 85,000 square feet with 39 classrooms for 700 students in kindergarten through 5th grade. The two story facility will house an art room, computer lab, media center, flexible learning centers, cafeteria, along with PE and Music areas. Located on approximately 20 acres, the property will have a separate bus drive and ample space for parent drop off and pick up. The location next to Bryant Parkway will provide easy access. For decades to come, Parkway Elementary will serve the needs of Bryant students by providing them with a 21st century learning environment. We are thankful for the generous support of our citizens, and we look forward to building the future of our school district and community together. The school will open in August of the 2018-19 school year. Please visit our website, bryantschools.org, for updates on Parkway Elementary and other construction projects.
AN
SUCCESS
HAPPENS HERE
H NC
HANKSGIVING T AL LU U N
The holidays are just around the corner … that means it’s time for the traditional Thanksgiving lunch at Bryant Schools! On Thursday, November 16, parents, guardians, and family members can enjoy a delicious holiday meal with their student(s).
During the months of November and December, Bryant and Benton school bus drivers are working together to collect Christmas toys and nonperishable food for Saline County children in need as part of the “Stuff the Bus” program.
The tickets are $5.00 per guest. Current students will be charged through their lunch accounts as usual. Tickets should be purchased at the school office where you will be having lunch.
All of the proceeds will be donated to the Saline County Toy Commission in Benton and the Healing Waters nonprofit organization in Shannon Hills.
Please note tickets must be purchased in advance; the deadline is noon Friday, November 10. Due to the number of meals, we are not able to make exceptions. Adults and guest must have a ticket to be served.
As part of the program, a bus will be parked at various locations in Bryant and Benton on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday until December 15. For a schedule of where the buses will be parked, visit the Bryant School Buses Facebook page or the district website at bryantschools.org.
Each year, the Bryant Food Service Department does an excellent job serving all our favorite Thanksgiving dishes. We hope you will join your student as we celebrate this festive tradition.
Donations will also be accepted at the Bryant Transportation office, located on the main campus. Needed items include: • Stocking Stuffers ( fruit, socks, small toys, etc.) • Toys (for all ages) • Bikes • Learning games • Non-perishable food items Join our bus drivers in making the holiday a happy one for families in our community!
BRYANT SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED NOVEMBER 21-25.
GIFTED & TALENTED Need more information about Bryant’s K-12 Gifted and Advanced Placement programs? Check the website for the latest newsletter or get social on Twitter: @BryantSchoolsGT.
SUCCESS
HAPPENS HERE BRYANT MIDDLE SCHOOL Seventh grade dance won first Place at the Benton Dance Competition. Seventh grade Football team completed an undefeated season 9-0. BMS band has a record number of participants this year: 487 band students in the program. Elementary schools celebrated Red Ribbon Week, where they learned about living healthy, drug free lives.
HONORING OUR VETERANS From all of us at Bryant Schools, we say THANK YOU to America’s veterans. We salute your service, honor your sacrifice, and promise your dedication to our country will never be forgotten. Look for photos of Veteran Day celebrations on the Bryant Public Schools Facebook page.
SUCCESSstories
Join us in celebrating the success of Bryant students and staff during September and October: BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL Sydney Calvert was named a Commended student in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Congrats to senior sprinter Diante Woodson and Taylor Wilson for being named Wendy’s Heisman winners for BHS!
Nine Bryant High School students attended TechStart Tech Take Over at UALR.
Freshman Hornets completed the football season with a record and conference championship.
Volunteers from Geyer Springs FBC completed painting, landscaping and building projects at five Bryant Schools.
Friday’s victory over Conway was win #150 for Hornet Football Head Coach Buck James.
Senior India Stewart was named 2017 Homecoming Queen. For the second year in a row, The Legacy of Bryant has captured The Brandon Award for outstanding musical performance in the Showcase of Bands. The Legacy placed Bronze in the Arkansas State Marching Contest. Hornet Fishing won 1st Place over 70 teams at the AHSB Invitational. Caleb Thompson & Cole Taylor won top team honors.
Hornet Engineering earned Tournament Champion designation at regional VEX event. Two “firsts” for BHS: Eighty choir students made All-Region; every member of the Honeybee choir was selected to All-Region. Air Force JROTC received an overall assessment score of Exceeds Standards, the highest rating attainable, on the recent Unit Evaluation.
BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTO Paint night made great memories for over 150 mothers and daughters. The BES Halloween Carnival was another HUGE success thanks to volunteers and community organizations. The Third Grade Hall of Horrors was a big hit for the second straight year. COLLEGEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Kicks 5 Leadership team volunteered at the Arkansas Food Bank. A grant from Arkansas Game and Fish provided archery equipment for the gym. Honors Choir is practicing and learning new songs. 4th Graders at Collegeville completed the PLTW module on Energy and Collisions. DAVIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DES celebrated Digital Citizenship week Students participated in community service project to help the residents of Puerto Rico. Grandparents visited classrooms and enjoyed cookies and lemonade. HURRICANE CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hurricane Creek honored cancer fighters and survivors during the first Kids for the Cure Walk. HILL FARM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 5th graders are serving as leaders by reading books to K & 1 students before school each morning. Grandparents were honored with an assembly and special presentation. Hill Farm PTO provided a Fall Fest experience with learning experiences in science by Museum of Discovery and history by the Arkansas Historic Museum. SALEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Students collected new socks for a local homeless shelter during Socktober. The SES community participated in The Lemonade Wars book study. Salem News Crew visited Good Afternoon Arkansas for a behind-the-scenes look at producing a show. SPRINGHILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL First nine weeks’ celebration recognized students reaching academic and behavior goals. The Habit Heroes (those students best exhibiting the 7 habits at school) were also recognized.
