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SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS

Cyclists "Ride for Their Lives" to Promote Child Safety lementary schools throughout the District take part in the annual "Ride for Their Lives" bicycle event. Sponsored by The Morgan Nick Foundation, a District Partner in Education, the event helps raise awareness about the need for child safety education. In 2012, more than 50 area cyclists traveled from school to school where they were greeted by crowds of students and teachers. Several of the schools also hosted "parking lot parties" where students interacted with the riders and enjoyed food, dancing and giveaways. The event helps to reinforce the safety skills and abduction prevention education taught to the students in the weeks leading up to the ride.

Students, teachers and parents line the Vanessa Moates, Blaze'n Burrito, takes a break sidewalk outside Orr Elementary School from riding to smile for a photo with students to greet cyclists as they ride down during a school parking lot party. Phoenix Avenue.

Students at Morrison Elementary School gather along the fence to encourage riders and give high fives as they make their way through Fort Smith.

Board of Education

Administration

Yvonne Keaton-Martin, President David Hunton, M.D., Vice-President Jeannie Cole, Secretary Shannon Blatt, Esq Barbara Hathcock Deanie Mehl, Ph.D. Wyman R. Wade Jr., Esq

Benny L. Gooden, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools Gordon C. Floyd, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent Brenda Sellers, Ed.D. Associate Superintendent for Human Resources and Support Services Barry Owen, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services

Good Things are Happening in Fort Smith Public Schools is a publication of the Fort Smith Public School District. P.O. Box 1948 • Fort Smith, AR 72902-1948 • (479) 785-2501 • (479) 785-1722 fax In compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws, the Fort Smith Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability in its employment and educational practices. If you have questions regarding the professional qualifications of your child’s teachers or paraprofessionals, you are encouraged to ask Dr. Brenda Sellers, Associate Superintendent for Human Resources and Support Services. Le invitamos a que hable con la Dra. Brenda Sellers si usted tiene alguna pregunta sobre las capacitaciones profesionales de los maestros o asistentes de maestros de sus hijos www.FortSmithSchools.org 2 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

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MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Focusing on the Future Requires Planning and Action or the past several years the Fort Smith Public Schools have addressed a vision for the future which includes a group of core beliefs, a succinct mission statement and a number of strategic initiatives to gauge progress. These initiatives have included attention toward: student achievement, a highly qualified staff, providing an education of choice, safe and healthy schools and family and community involvement. All these items have been included under the concept of a “Future Focus” which has provided guidance for many programs and activities. Addressing the future involves students who are at all levels in local schools as these students pursue academic goals to prepare them for college or careers. Supporting current initiatives toward these ends must be balanced with actions which will lay the foundation to serve the needs of future generations. Just as the mission statement discusses the preparation of students, our work must address building an infrastructure for “… today and in the future.” When planning for future needs, our schools, city, state and nation have provided facilities to support transportation, commerce and education throughout history. These investments continue to facilitate progress long after those who planned them have passed from the scene. Whether building highways, water supply structures, recreational facilities or other community assets, those who have facilitated progress have made life better for future generations. Likewise, our school infrastructure provides the essential environment to support the highly qualified staff who can provide the education of choice which parents and community expect. These assets ensure that student achievement will be supported at high levels for the next generations of students. To accomplish these goals, the Fort Smith Public Schools have used the available revenue stream from a school tax which has been constant since 1987. Improvements to existing facilities have ensured that the physical infrastructure for public education is a safe and healthy one. This is accomplished by using every available financing tool to minimize costs and to get maximum benefit for each dollar expended. An example of this includes the use of Qualified Zone Academy Bonds to support improvements to existing buildings in which the final payment is significantly less than the original loan. The use of

Superintendent Dr. Benny Gooden speaks to graduates and guests at the 2012 Northside High School Commencement Ceremony. More than 14,000 are enrolled in Fort Smith Public Schools, which is comprised of 19 elementary schools, six secondary campuses and one alternative learning center. Dr. Gooden has served as District Superintendent for 26 years.

low or zero interest school bonds has supported expansions and improvements to existing facilities in accordance with a focused plan. From classrooms to sports facilities or fine arts, planning for the technology and programs to support learning must guide our preparation for an uncertain future. Looking farther into the future the Fort Smith Board of Education has selected the site for the next secondary school – likely a senior high school – in the growing Chaffee Crossing development. Designating a site for future development and beginning planning now will ensure an infrastructure to meet needs during the next several decades. While the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority has designated the land for a free conveyance, the cost of constructing a major new campus will require additional funding. Building for a future to support the education of the next generations of Fort Smith students represents an investment for tomorrow. We must build for their futures.

Benny L. Gooden, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools 3 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

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HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF

FORT SMITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Estep Strives to Lay Foundation for Lifelong Learning eghan Estep, Fort Smith Public Schools’ 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year, views kindergarten as the opportune time to instill a love for learning in children. “As a kindergarten teacher it is imperative that I lay the foundation that sets each child up for success throughout his or her educational career,” said Estep. ”Education needs to provide a strong base in the primary grades. Every child needs the structure, experience and guidance that can be provided through early childhood education.”

Cavanaugh Elementary School Principal Hank Needham describes Estep as "upbeat, enthusiastic, and energized every day." Known for crafting creative lessons, Estep brings excitement into her classroom, which helps motivate and encourage her kindergartners. Needham adds, "she captivates her students every day because she makes her lessons entertaining and engaging."

To help build such a foundation, Estep challenges herself to understand the needs of each student so that she can accurately address specific learning goals for each child. “I find that my job is to discover how the individual student learns and then provide as many opportunities as possible for he or she to master the goal,” she noted. “My teaching style includes building relationships, positive energy and creative design.” Estep began teaching in the District in 2003 and has taught kindergarten at Cavanaugh Elementary School for nine years. Principal Hank Needham is proud to have Estep as a part of his school staff and regards her as “an ultra-talented motivator and engaging teacher.” Characterizing her teaching style as “edu-taining,” Needham notes that, “As a kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Estep has the awesome responsibility of planting the seeds of knowledge in the inquisitive minds of her 5- and 6-year-old students. Like a master gardener, she carefully 4 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

nurtures her impressionable pupil seedlings as they grow and develop their learning foundation.” Not afraid to step outside the box, Estep continually looks for new ways to engage her students. Since 2007, she has received numerous grants from the Fort Smith Public Schools Foundation to fund special projects including trips to her family’s farm, Dalmut Farms, in Mansfield, Arkansas. On one trip, Estep used a recorder to capture the sounds of the farm. After returning to the classroom, students listened to the sounds of cows mooing, feed pouring into bins, and a tractor motor running. The students then re-created the experience and recounted them for their families. “Creative lessons not only engage the learner, but leave them on the edge of their seat asking questions and searching for more information,” said Estep. “The excitement in the student’s voice is confirmation for me that learning has occurred!”

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To develop a better understanding of her students’ needs, Estep recognizes that it is crucial to also build a trusting relationship with the parents and families. She believes that “exploring a child’s bank of background knowledge must begin with a strong relationship with a student and his or her family.” At the beginning of each semester, Estep asks parents to write a letter describing their children. In doing so, she not only gains valuable insight about the child and family dynamics, but she helps establish a relationship with the child’s family that will hopefully result in a mutual trust and respect. Throughout her career, Estep has earned numerous honors and awards. In 2008, she was awarded certification by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. That same year she was also named as an Arkansas Walmart Teacher of the Year.

During 2011-2012 she was named a regional finalist for Arkansas Teacher of the Year by the Arkansas Department of Education. Needham believes that Estep's honor is welldeserved. "Meghan Estep is one of the most organized and prepared teachers I have ever worked with in FSPS," he stated. "She thoughtfully crafts and delivers mesmerizing and stimulating hands-on learning experiences every day. Her impressive instructional skills enable her students to thrive.” Estep is humbled by the designation as the District’s Teacher of the Year. "I feel extremely honored to be given such a prestigious award," said Estep. "Teaching is a passion for me and I look forward to making memories with students and colleagues every day."

Estep's goal is to not only engage her students, but to "leave them on the edge of their seat asking questions and searching for more information." She derives great pleasure in seeing her students succeed and says that "the excitement in a student's voice is confirmation for me that learning has occurred!"

5 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

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EDUCATION OF CHOICE

Teacher Melinda Briscoe (second from left) visits with Northside students about the different shirts available for sale at Grizzly Gear. Briscoe and fellow teacher Lori Bauer coordinated the project with their business and marketing students. After more than a year of research and planning, the store officially opened for business in December 2011.

Northside Business Students Launch Retail Venture etail is big business that business and marketing students at Northside High School are learning first-hand with the launch of the school's store, "Grizzly Gear.” Featuring school-spirited gifts and apparel, Grizzly Gear is the product of more than a year of planning, researching and organizing by students and teachers in the NHS Entrepreneurship program. As one of only three schools in the state to operate its own small business, Northside is covering new ground and is giving students a unique opportunity to practice real-life business skills that go far beyond a typical classroom experience. The idea for the project came from business teacher Melinda Briscoe. “I had dreamed about a venue my Enterprise Management students could use to market the products they developed in their business,” said Briscoe. “While this project is a lot bigger than anything I had ever imagined, it is one more step in the development of the Entrepreneurship program at Northside.” At the same time Briscoe was looking for a way to showcase her students’ products, fellow NHS teacher Lori Bauer was considering how to restructure the former DECA student store in a way that could engage her marketing students and provide them with hands-on experience outside the typical classroom setting. The two decided to work together to 6 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

pursue the idea of a school spirit/apparel store. “We thought it was a perfect fit to have the business and marketing students team together, all using the same ‘learning lab’ to give practical application to the concepts they were learning in the classroom,” said Bauer. At that point, the Small Business Operations (SBO) class was formed and planning for what would become Grizzly Gear began. Research and planning for the store began during the 20102011 school year. A team of teachers and administrators visited other school-based enterprises to get a better understanding of how similar operations worked. Students in the SBO Class then wrote a formal business plan for the store and applied for a grant to obtain the necessary startup funds. The group approached the District about a loan to help cover initial inventory costs, which were approved in the Spring 2011 semester. With the help of the District carpenters and maintenance staff, a remodel of the Shlenker Building on the NHS campus took place over the summer. When school reconvened in the fall, students began meeting with vendors and looking at products. The group also instituted policies and procedures regarding the overall look, operation and management of Grizzly Gear. The class coordinated all aspects of planning and launching Grizzly Gear. Students worked with local graphic artists to

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develop styles and designs for apparel and met with vendors. The group also made decisions regarding inventory, layout and merchandising prior to the grand opening. Students established a clear mission for their venture: “To provide the opportunity to learn all aspects of business operations and use this experience to provide Northside fans and alumni with apparel and gifts that show their Northside pride.” Grizzly Gear merchandise includes a variety of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel. Short-sleeve, long-sleeve shirts and outerwear are sold in various designs and colors. Other items include hats, scarves, sunglasses and jewelry. The store also features décor such as picture frames, and Northside-themed coffee mugs and tumblers. All designs are unique to the store and cannot be found at any other merchant or vendor. Another unique aspect of the store is its ability to showcase student-created products. Such items include door signs and ornaments made by the art club, embroidered items from JAG (Jobs for Americas Graduates) and items made by the carpentry/furniture manufacturing class. Customers can purchase custom-made signs or can place special orders for items they want designed. During the holidays, the store featured seasonal items including Grizzly-themed Christmas ornaments and holiday items. Class members manage the day-to-day operations of the Grizzly Gear, including stock and sales. The students are responsible for the Point of Sale (POS) system, and for maintaining store and stock inventory. The experience has had tremendous impact on the students involved. Several from the class have credited the project with giving them the inspiration to become entrepreneurs after they graduate. “This project gave me the knowledge that I need to one day open my own business,” said student Sha Racy. Classmate Darlene Lopez agreed, adding that the experience has been very beneficial in that she feels more prepared to own a business one day. “While we want students to learn each concept, process, procedure, etc., they learned that as a team they are more productive and efficient if they capitalize on each other’s individual strengths, talents, and abilities,” commented Bauer. “That is a real world concept that many don’t learn until they enter the

Students are responsible for managing store operations including sales, inventory and out-front displays. The store features merchandise exclusive to Grizzly Gear including Northsidethemed apparel, décor and jewelry. All designs are unique to the store and are created using local graphic designers.

workforce and the stakes are real. Those are some of the soft skills that employers want, but that you can’t teach out of a textbook.” The store hosted a soft opening in early December for invited guests and District employees. On December 8, Grizzly Gear officially opened for business to the public. In January, the school partnered with the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce in hosting a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Members from the chamber, community and District were all in attendance to celebrate the store’s launch. One goal for the SBO class is to expand Grizzly Gear to include e-commerce. Such expansion would allow the store to garner more exposure with a wider market. This could include non-locals and alumni living in other areas. It would also provide students with additional experience by exposing them to the ever-growing Internet market. With this goal in mind, the class has opened an online catalogue at www.fortsmithschools.org/grizzlygear. Grizzly Gear also employs sites such as Facebook to market the store online. The page features photographs of the merchandise and store information. It is regularly updated with pictures of new products and information about special events or extended hour days. Grizzly Gear is open during the school year Monday through Friday from 2:30-3:30 p.m. 7 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

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STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

SIOP Instruction Benefits All Students common challenge in today’s classroom is finding effective ways to meet the academic and linguistic needs of students who are learning English as a second language. Teachers must incorporate strategies that strengthen English Learners’ language comprehension, while also addressing the content needs of native English speakers who sit in the same classroom. One way Fort Smith Public Schools is tackling this challenge is through the incorporation of SIOP, a well-known instructional model proven to benefit both groups of students. SIOP or Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol is designed to help teachers structure student learning for all learners, while focusing on key concepts in language development. “SIOP maintains the integrity and rigor of the curriculum while providing access to the language and content via scaffolding and supplemental resources so that students can achieve academic success while learning English,” said Suzanne McPherson, FSPS Director of ELL/Migrant/Indian Education. Although recognized as an effective tool for teaching English Learners, SIOP has proven helpful to all students. Such is a key part of its success. The model also is effective in that it can be easily integrated into already established concepts and lessons, rather than being an additional practice teachers must find time to incorporate into their already jam-packed lesson plans. The model is made up of eight components: Lesson Preparation; Building Background; Comprehensible Input; Strategies; Interaction; Practice/Application; Lesson Delivery; and Review/Assessment. SIOP components include 30 features, which outline the specifics of the model. A sample of the features include the following: • Focus on language objectives along with content objectives • Emphasis on key vocabulary • Adaptation and scaffolding of rigorous content to make it accessible and understandable based on student’s language proficiency • Use of visuals, hands-on activities, gestures, demonstrations, modeling, etc. to make the information clear 8 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

• Frequent opportunities for students to produce language through peer and teacher interaction • Integration of all language skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking Teachers throughout the District have done a remarkable job of incorporating the SIOP model into their daily instruction. At Fairview Elementary, first-grade teacher Amanda Chavez uses a number of SIOP features to strengthen language learning. One way is by using concepts explicitly linked to students’ background experiences. She has students complete writing assignments using previous days’ vocabulary words as a way to make a connection between past learning and new concepts. She also utilizes a word wall to emphasize vocabulary terms and provides specific examples of the words and their meanings. Mandy Bush at Sunnymede Elementary also uses several components of the SIOP model in teaching her firstgraders. She often displays pictures and real objects to draw connections in vocabulary and other lessons. Bush includes many games and activities within daily instruction, as well. “The various activities that I use get students up and moving and require them to talk to each other in complete sentences to complete their tasks,” said Bush. “So while they are practicing the content of what is being taught, they are also practicing how to speak in complete sentences in English.” Sixth-grade teacher Rachael Foster also utilizes SIOP to enhance understanding in her classroom at Sunnymede. She integrates strategies that focus on the use of essential vocabulary and provide opportunities for peer interaction. This includes games such as “Four Corners” and “Mix and Match Vocabulary.” In “Four Corners,” students are given a vocabulary card they must use to organize themselves based on the categories in each corner of the room. With “Mix and Match,” students are given a word card and another with a definition on it. Students read their card to a peer, switch cards and continue until “mix” is finished. The students then read their cards to one another until they find their “match.” Foster encourages other partner work by having one student state a fact and then giving another

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Laina Thornton, Fairview Elementary School, keeps her second grade students actively engaged in lessons by incorporating hands-on materials. Here, Thornton emphasizes building numbers with base ten blocks, allowing students to practice content knowledge, a key concept in the SIOP model.

student the chance to agree or disagree and provide a reasoning for their judgment. “The use of ‘why’ is key to my classroom success,” said Foster. “I ask students to justify answers and they ask ‘why,’ as well. This helps to aid in further understanding at a deeper level.” The District has hosted numerous SIOP institutes over the past five years in efforts to integrate the model into class curriculums. Institutes are comprised of three days in which participants interact with the trainer and one another to learn and apply the SIOP model. Following the training, the District provides coaching and mentoring sessions in which a consultant meets with small groups of teachers in their school for an additional three days. During this follow-up, teachers fine-tune lessons utilizing the SIOP model and put them into practice in the classroom, often with the assistance of the facilitator. The groups also focus on ways to integrate SIOP with other District initiatives to help streamline instruction. “SIOP is a comprehensive system for instruction beginning with planning of content and language objectives and ending with student review and

assessment,” noted McPherson. “The instructional strategies are ones that integrate and complement all of the other District initiatives such as ’Every Child a Reader/Writer,’ Cognitive Guided Instruction, ’Teaching with the Stars,’ ’Picture Perfect Science,’ and cooperative learning.” SIOP is proving to be a highly effective tool for teachers as they continue to find ways to strengthen English language learning. As evident by the results teachers are experiencing with the model in their classrooms, SIOP appears to align perfectly with many of the other established learning concepts already in place to teach both native English speakers and ELL students. With the number of ELL students continuing to rise, the need to integrate the SIOP model into curriculum across the grade levels is also increasing, creating a demand for more educators to become trained in the content matter. The District will strive to meet that need by continuing to provide the coaching and mentoring to best equip teachers with the tools necessary to ensure student success. 9 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

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SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS

Fitness Trail Reinforces PE4Life Program at Sutton Elementary utton Elementary is dedicated to providing a quality wellness program to its students. With a highly diverse population that includes some of the most at-risk populations for obesity, the school is focused on educating students and their parents about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Thanks to the recent installment of a new fitness trail on campus, the school is now able to provide a safe place for students and members of the community to establish a fitness routine in their own neighborhood. Funding for the new wellness trail came from a grant provided by the Arkansas Blue and You Foundation. The grant was awarded in 2010 and planning for the track began soon thereafter. Sutton began its PE4Life program, which exposes students to fitness activities that they can continue over a lifetime, during the 2009-10 school year. In applying for funding, Sutton leaders outlined three goals it hoped to accomplish with the building of the track and the implementation of the other PE4Life elements. Its first goal was to decrease the number of students who were overweight or at risk for being overweight. To help aid in its efforts, the school also sought to educate parents and students about the risk factors associated with obesity. Its final goal was to eventually become a model center for PE4Life for elementary schools in the region. Since that time, the school has worked vigorously to reduce the number of students who are overweight or at risk for being overweight. At the beginning of each school year, students are given fitness pre-tests. Their Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Fat Index (BFI) are also measured. To help encourage and motivate students to be active, fitness goals are established and at mid-year, the students’ progress is assessed. A fitness post-test is also issued at the end of the school year and BMI/BFI is again measured. “We have seen great progress made in the fitness level of our students” said Kevin Kaelin, Physical Education teacher. “For example, we now have 90 first-grade students who can successfully do 15 sit-ups.” Sutton is not in an area of the community that has easy access to any kind of organized walking trail. In its grant proposal, Sutton stated that “the development of the walking trail, and the education of the community through our students and their families of the benefits of a physically enhanced lifestyle, will be a benefit to all involved.” It stressed that a walking trail would provide a much needed location for not only Sutton students and families to realize a healthier lifestyle, but for the surrounding members of the community to also establish a 10 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

Students take advantage of beautiful weather and walk the newly installed fitness trail at Sutton Elementary School. Part of the PE4Life program, the trail was funded through a grant provided by the Arkansas Blue and You Foundation. The fitness trail is open to the community during non-school hours.

A climbing wall was one of several pieces of new playground and fitness trail equipment recently installed at the Sutton Elementary campus. Principal Jennie Mathews says, “The equipment helps encourage students to be active by providing them with more opportunities for play and exercise.”

regular fitness routine. Jennie Mathews, Sutton Principal, noted that the school will have a walking program for students and parents beginning in the fall. "Participants can track their steps with pedometers," said Mathews. "Students have access to pedometers through PE class, but parents will be able to sign up and receive a pedometer, water bottle, and walking log." The concrete walking trail is equipped with several exercise stations. The stations combine aerobic exercise with resistance training, a combination which has scientifically proven to burn calories more effectively. Several pieces of equipment are positioned throughout the track including a situp board, a spring balance beam and a kids combo-climber. Students were trained on how to properly use the stations in May. New playground equipment made possible by the grant also was installed, with more pieces to come in the fall.

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SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS

Euper Lane Celebrates 25 Years By: Sherry Penix Euper Lane Elementary School Principal

uper Lane Elementary was completed in 1986 so this past year, we celebrated 25 years in the "newest elementary building in Fort Smith."  We started the year with planning how we would take on this endeavor. What a great way to talk about the old, but by adding something new! On our school website, we shared a picture and a plan for future construction at Euper Lane. Well, you can't talk about change and where you are going unless you talk about where you have been. We were "excited" all year because everything we had done led toward two big events. At the September “Report to the Public” meeting, an update was given about the new building construction and how we are the newest elementary building, even though we are 25 years old.  We planned our usual activities through most of the first semester, but emphasizing and encouraging more participation. At the December Christmas program, the third-grade students, under the direction of the music teacher, Patti Floyd and third-grade teachers, Ami Griggs and Ashley Hobbs, performed songs and asked trivia questions about Euper Lane. Dr. Gooden also spoke at the General PTA meeting and presented a historical snapshot of the school. We celebrated with cake and sang “Happy Birthday.” The students

Top: An archway marks the entrance to Euper Lane Elementary School.

Left: FSPS Superintendent candidate, Dr. Benny Gooden (far right), looks over plans for Euper Lane Elementary School during construction in 1986.

performed at night for parents and community and during the day for students and staff. In February, the fifth-grade students, under the direction of fifth-grade teachers, Diane Willis and Cindy Shry, and with support from Music Teacher Patti Floyd, did a program, which included poetry written by the students and a song written by the teachers for PTA Founder's Day. We also recognized teachers and PTA members who had been here for 25 years. What a great time it has been! What tradition! It is exciting to be heading into the future with new classrooms, a new cafeteria, additional media space, a covered outdoor play area, additional bathrooms, changes to the office area, classrooms for art and music, more storage, etc. We are looking forward to all the great and exciting opportunities and experiences that will come in the next 25 years. Eagles Soar! 11 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

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PARENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Chess Program Strengthens Skills and Builds Character avid Israel has played chess for as long as he can remember. Over the last six years, his love of the game has inspired him to share it with others. Now, thanks to Israel and a dedicated group of volunteers throughout the District, hundreds of students are reaping the benefits of playing the game. The idea for teaching chess to students came to Israel after seeing a movie on television. “I watched a movie on A&E called Knights of the South Bronx,” said Israel. The film, which follows a businessman who teaches the game of chess to students at a school in the Bronx, sparked the idea of teaching chess in Fort Smith. Through the Partners in Education (PIE) program, Israel had already volunteered a great deal of time through his employer, Weldon, Williams & Lick, at Howard Elementary School. Because of his already established relationship with the school, he decided to approach Principal Velmar Greene with the idea. In the beginning, Israel and his co-worker/fellow volunteer Heather Harvey began meeting with students and teaching them the basics of the game. Over time, the two grew the program to include fifty Howard students. Word of the chess program’s success quickly spread throughout the District. At the annual PIE back-to-school event, the volunteers hosted a special workshop to demonstrate how the program works and to encourage others to form clubs at other schools. From there, a number of other elementary schools inquired about starting a club. Currently, eight of the elementary schools have chess clubs in place including Barling, Carnall, Cavanaugh, Euper Lane, Fairview, Howard, Orr, and Sunnymede Elementary Schools. The clubs range in both size and in playing level. Some include both novice and advance players and during matches, the students are paired accordingly. Clubs meet every week or every other week to practice and work with their coaches during the school year. Israel believes that the game of chess helps students 12 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

Students attend chess practice and play games against one another to help sharpen their skills. Participation in the chess club requires commitment; students must abide by club rules and sign a pledge upon joining.

with concentration and helps enhance students’ learning skills. He also believes it has a positive impact on their behavior and overall attitude. “This year I have two students I mentor who were both having trouble in math,” said Israel. “Neither of them was in Chess Club. I was able to get both of them interested in joining and now, both of their grades have gone from C’s and D’s to A’s and B’s. Needless to say, I am very proud of them.” Many others recognize the benefits of having students involved with the chess program. “One of the club’s

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goals is to help each student find something that they can play for life,” said Principal Michela Wiley, Carnall Elementary School. “In addition to being a fun hobby, chess will be a tool that these students can use throughout their lives to help exercise the mind.” Diane Isaacs, former Barling Elementary Principal, believes that the 26 club members from her school are learning advanced thinking, planning and organizing skills through their participation. She also believes that being involved with the club strengthens the students’ social skills and teaches them the importance of responsibility and dedication. Being a member of the chess club also requires commitment and discipline. In order to participate, students must sign a pledge and agree to follow a set of rules. The student must commit to a full year of attending Chess Club during their recess time on the school’s specific practice day. Students interested in participating are allowed two trial sessions before being asked to commit to the program. If a member chooses to quit Volunteer David Israel coaches students in the game of chess at Sunnymede during the trial period, there are no consequences. However, if a students opts to Elementary School. Over the last six years, the elementary chess program's popularity has soared. Word of its success at Howard Elementary School led to leave after the trial period, he or she must the establishment of additional clubs at seven other schools, including earn back their recess time from the teacher. Sunnymede, and the creation of District-wide tournaments. Teachers also reserve the write to pull a tournaments, one for novices and one for advanced student from Chess Club if they fail to complete players, were held in the spring. Students from all assignments or exhibit repeated bad behavior. participating schools were invited to participate. Because of the tournaments’ success, the program The principals at each of the participating schools plans to continue hosting tournaments in the future. understand that the program would not exist without the volunteers. Isaacs attributes the success of the Israel would love to see the program expand into Barling club to Israel’s continued commitment to the more schools so that other students can learn the program. “This is all due to David Israel being available game, but stresses more volunteers are needed to and willing to give up several days a week to work with accommodate such growth. “There are many schools elementary students,” said Isaacs. “I applaud him for that have expressed interest in starting a chess club, his leadership and vision and appreciate how much he but we need volunteers to help coach and assist with wants our students to succeed.” practices,” said Israel. “We want more people to get involved so that as many children as possible can As interest in the program grows, so does the need for benefit from being part of this program.” additional clubs and playing opportunities. Two 13 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

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SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS

District Introduces Holiday Meals Program ood nutrition is vital to student success when school is in session and when students are on break. Unfortunately for many families, putting food on the table is a challenge and can be especially trying when students are home and do not have access to school meals. As a result, many students go hungry when schools are closed for the holidays. With more than 70 percent of all FSPS students qualifying for free or reduced-priced meals, the District recognized that many families would likely struggle to provide adequate nutrition for their children over the two-week break. To help ease the burden, two school sites, Spradling and Tilles Elementary Schools, were selected to launch the first-ever Holiday Meals Program. Weekdays, from December 21 to January 2, lunch was served to area children 18 or younger at no cost to the family. During the 10 days the two cafeterias were open, 2,277 lunches were served. Some children were accompanied by their parents or guardians, but many came on their own. “I would consider the program a success,” said Donna Turnipseed, FSPS Director of Child Nutrition. “Many children, who may not have had access to nutritional food at home, received meals, that were served in pleasant surroundings.” The Holiday Meals Program was designed much like the District’s Summer Meals Program. In its 10th year of operation in 2011, more than 50,000 meals were served from June 6 to August 5, 2011. During the summer months lunch was served at Ballman, Barling, Carnall, Howard, Pike, Spradling, Sunnymede, Tilles and Trusty Elementary Schools. Children eat for free. Breakfast was also provided at five of those locations from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. each weekday. Funding for both the Holiday Meals and Summer Meals Programs is provided through a grant with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). To be eligible, schools must have at least 50 percent of students who qualify for free and reduced priced meals. The District also operated the Summer Meals program in 2012, which served more than 55,000 meals. A decision regarding the winter program will be made closer to the holidays and will depend on the need in targeted attendance areas. 14 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

HealthTeacher Program Useful Resource for Educators s the need for quality health education becomes even more evident in schools across the country, District educators, staff and parents are being provided with a unique tool that includes valuable resources for teaching good health habits to students. HealthTeacher is a comprehensive online resource that is committed to education, outreach and the promotion of health literacy in communities. Its mission is to “instill lifelong health habits and personal responsibility into today’s youth with the goal to dramatically change the health of our nation, forever.” Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith generously provides FSPS educators with access to the nationally recognized program to help strengthen the District’s health education curriculum. One of the most useful functions of HealthTeacher is the comprehensive list of lesson plans it offers educators. With subjects ranging from injury prevention to personal and consumer health, the website gives teachers the ability to browse its collection of more than 300 sample lesson plans and download them for their personal use. The site also gives ideas on how to engage students in grades kindergarten to 12th. The goals of the program include: • Increase the health literacy of all teachers. • Enable teachers to overcome constraints that limit health education in the classroom. • Provide the knowledge, skills and tools that increase the health literacy of all students. • Engage parents and other key community stakeholders to reinforce healthy behaviors among children. Another helpful component of HealthTeacher is its extensive library of videos, articles and exams related to health education. The content is tailored to specific grade levels and includes a wide scope of topics. Subscribers also receive monthly newsletters containing health information relevant to their District that can be forwarded on or printed and distributed to their students. HealthTeacher is an effective tool that not only health educators can utilize, but school nurses, parents and other classroom teachers have available, as well. FSPS teachers, staff and parents are encouraged to use HealthTeacher and its vast resources to aid them in educating our students. For more information about the program, visit www.healthteacher.com.

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HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF

Mrs. Baird’s Program Recognizes Area Teachers ne company new to the Fort Smith area is going out of its way to show its support for local educators. The Mrs. Baird’s Baking Company “Teachers on the Rise” program honors teachers for their hard work and commitment to educating today’s students. The program, which kicked off in September 2011, recognizes regional teachers every month for outstanding service based upon nominations from their students. Each month, three teachers from area districts are selected as “Teachers on the Rise.” The winners are notified at their school, with a surprise announcement, and are presented with a prize package that includes a $200 Walmart gift card, a basket of Mrs. Baird’s products and a prize donated by KISR radio. In addition to the teachers’ prizes, the program also awards the student nominees a $50 Walmart gift card for their participation. To qualify for the program, a student must nominate his or her current or former teacher by submitting a paragraph of no more than 300 words explaining why he or she is deserving of the award. The student must also complete an official nomination form. Following review by the contest judges, a winner is selected in each of the three categories: pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, sixth-eighth grade and ninth to 12th grade.

Shane Sumroe from Mrs. Baird's presents Maureen Austin with a basket of breads and baked goods, for being named the January Elementary Teacher on the Rise. Austin, a fourth-grade teacher at Bonneville Elementary School, was nominated by her student Kaitlyn Woodham.

In the first year of the program, Fort Smith Public Schools had nine teachers selected as monthly winners. They include Maureen Austin, Bonneville; Sheila Butler, Southside; Kathryn Duncan, Carnall; Leigh Merry, Ramsey; Shawna Morganflash, Woods; Natalie Shoate, Cavanaugh; Rhonda Soley, Howard; Zachary Thomas, Northside; and Danielle Turner, Woods. Sheila Butler, a teacher at Southside High School, was named the 2011-2012 grand prize winner. Her name was entered into a drawing along with all of the other “Teachers on the Rise” for the year. Butler was presented with a prize package totaling $5,000, which included a $2,000 Visa gift card and a number of other prizes.

Shawna Morganflash, a third-grade teacher at Woods Elementary School, was named the February Elementary Teacher on the Rise. She was nominated by two of her former students, Emillie Burgess and Joshua Waack. 15 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

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PARENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Kiwanis Promotes Leadership and Service Among Students olunteers and community partnerships play a major role in helping students and schools succeed. Often, these individuals or businesses bring skills and experiences and use them in ways that broaden students’ horizons and present them with new opportunities. The Commissary Kiwanis Club of Fort Smith is using a newsletter as a tool to engage students and teach them about the importance of leadership and service. At Beard and Cavanaugh Elementary Schools, students are using developing journalistic skill and working together to prepare a monthly school publication. Dick Taylor, a local Kiwanian and active volunteer, serves as the advisor for the newsletter at each school. With more than 48 years of experience in the printing business, Taylor brings a wealth of knowledge and is instrumental in the production of each school newsletter. Each month, Taylor designs both papers and sends them to the printer. The project first launched at Cavanaugh, where Kiwanis is a Partner in Education. Every month, the newspaper staff members gather information, conduct interviews and write articles. Each edition includes pieces about recent activities, school programs and upcoming events. The papers also highlight teacher and student achievement. Cavanaugh’s Cougargram, which published its first issue in October 2010, also includes a "Library Corner" and a sports section. 2011-2012 was the first year for the Beard Bears Beat. Similar to Cavanaugh, students are given specific responsibilities each month. To recruit staff members, positions were advertised and students had to apply and be interviewed. Following the interview process, eight students were “hired” for various jobs, including reporter, photographer and editor. The team published its first edition in November 2011. Principal Pam Siebenmorgen says one focus of the 16 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

K-Kids President Megan Jowers rings the bell to signify the start of the club's first official meeting. Sponsored by the school's Partner in Education, the Commissary Kiwanis Club of Fort Smith, Cavanaugh's K-Kids is the first of its kind in the District.

newspaper at Beard is to create student leaders by allowing them to take on school-wide jobs, such as serving on the journalism staff. “Students interview individuals, write the articles, synergize with each other and adults in the creation of the newspaper,” said Siebenmorgen. “They are held accountable for having their news prepared and ready for Kiwanis to print.” The newsletters are printed each month and a copy is sent home with every student. Kiwanis generously covers the cost of the monthly printing process. The final copy is also posted to the school’s website for convenient access.

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Kiwanis has also established Fort Smith's first-ever KKids Club at Cavanaugh. The primary goal of the club is to teach children leadership through service. Students learn responsibility and the importance of volunteering by participating in community service projects. “K-Kids is a service organization,” said sponsor, Alyson Mason, “It promotes children volunteering their time to serve others. It is a great way for young children to learn the importance of serving others not just themselves.” In December, the club installed its slate of officers and members signed a K-Kids pledge. The pledge states, “As a K-Kid, I promise to serve my neighborhood and my school; I will show respect toward my environment; and I will try to make the world a better place in which to live.” Since then, the group has completed numerous service projects, including making cards for nursing home residents and disabled veterans. Taylor notes that Kiwanis hopes other elementary schools will become interested in the program and form more K-Kids clubs. 

Principal Hank Needham believes that Kiwanis is having a major impact on the students involved with the newsletter and K-Kids. "The Cougargram that Taylor edits and publishes in association with the Fort Smith Commissary Kiwanis Club has been instrumental in developing the writing skills of students and giving them first-hand exposure to print journalism," said Needham. “They are so excited to see their by-line in The Cougargram and see their stories published."  He added, "The student newspaper has been well-received by our parents and students." Taylor is proud of the students' work and is delighted to share the final product with others. "I always like to send these newsletters to Kiwanis, the schools and community leaders so that they may witness what many of our young people are accomplishing in honing their communication skills," said Taylor. "The students are really doing a great job. Kiwanis is committed to ‘serving children of the world’ and this is one way our club can help make an impact on these students’ lives.” Beard Bears Beat staff members work on the latest edition of the school newsletter. To be a part of the journalism team, students must apply for a position and go through a job interview. Principal Pam Siebenmorgen believes having students undergo this process helps make them more accountable for their work and helps them to develop important leadership skills.

As part of their involvement with K-Kids, students participate in service projects to benefit their school and community. For Valentine's Day, K-Kids members created cards to distribute to Disabled Veterans.

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›› Recognitions • The Chaffin Junior High eighth- and ninth-grade team was awarded Arkansas first-place honors in the annual knowledge Master Open. The academic contest allows students to compete with schools from around the nation using the convenience of their own school computers. The KMO team also ranked seventh out of 273 schools for the junior high division and ranked second in the nation in their enrollment division, which consists of 82 schools. Team members include Gavin Clark, Josh Cormier, Eriq Deaver, Alex Easley, Alaa El Khouly, Alex Emms, Chase Green, Alexa Karber, Abby Krehbiel, Blake Larkin, Eric McLain, Bret Pinter, Tariq Salem, Faith Schrader, and Jesse Warren. The group is sponsored by Sandy Aaron.

Jadyn Ketter and Kristen Tyler, Editors of The Southerner, were also honored as yearbook Editors of the Year by the organization. Other first-place awards included: Alexis Baes, Best of Show-Editorial Cartoon; Graham Coffelt, Best of Show-Newspaper News Story; Chasse Daniels, Best of Show-Yearbook People Layout; Nicole Harper, Yearbook, Academic Copy; Sarah McDaniel, Yearbook-People Copy; and Kristen Tyler, Best of Show-Newspaper Photo Essay. Susan Colyer is the Journalism sponsor.

• Six Fort Smith students placed first in the Arkansas PTA Reflections contest. The Reflections program, sponsored by the National PTA (Parent Teacher Association) encourages creativity among students of all grade levels. Winners included Madison Bennett (Literature), Chaffin; Abby Dahlem (Dance), Chaffin; Kameron Morton (Literature), Northside; Aaliyah Newman (Visual Art), Morrison; Molli Northcutt (Visual Art), Fairview.; and Lena Pham (Film), Southside. • Kameron Morton, Northside, was also recognized by the National PTA as the first-place winner in the Senior Literature Division of the PTA Reflections competition. • Southside students Alex Barthol and Srecharan Gorukanti, earned first place in the Network Design category at the state Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition. Alan Pinter, Southside, also took home first place in the Networking Concepts division. Southside FBLA is sponsored by Kelley Todd. • Zach Moore, a sophomore at Southside High School, won first place in the 132 weight category at the Arkansas State Wrestling Championship. Isaac Smith, a junior, was designated as an 11th-grade AllAmerican Wrestler in the 145-weight division in the 2012 Brute Nationals Wrestling Tournament. The two are coached by Larry Johnson.

• Northside High School senior and artist Huy Nguyen won the National Jobs for Americas Graduate (JAG) Cover Design Contest with his pencil drawing entitled, "JAG Now More Than Ever! Your Ticket to the Future." Nguyen qualified to compete in the national contest as the Arkansas JAG Cover Design winner and was recognized at the National JAG Conference in Washington, D.C. Eunice Eble is the JAG sponsor.

• The Editors of Southside High School’s yearbook, The Southerner, and its newspaper, Southworld, were each named All Arkansas Award Winners by the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association. Graham Coffelt and Paige Stewart were recognized as the Editors of Southworld.

• The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, NBPTS, recognized five Fort Smith Public School Teachers as achieving National Board Certification. Laurie Baldridge, Parker Center; Leigh Ann Hasley, Northside High School; Shanna

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Holycross, Beard Elementary School; Laura Moseley, Ramsey Junior High School; and Sandra Rogers, Fairview Elementary, each successfully completed the requirements set forth by NBPTS. With the five additional board certified teachers, the District now has 67 teachers who hold the prestigious designation. • Northside High School’s Male Ensemble was named Best in Class at the 2012 Arkansas State Choral Festival. The choir is under the direction of Bill Cromer.

Representatives from the District and the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA) present Peggy Walter, Fairview Elementary School Principal, with a plaque recognizing her as the 2012 Elementary Principal of the Year. From left to right: Dr. Gordon Floyd, Deputy Superintendent, FSPS; Dr. Barry Owen, Assistant Superintendent, FSPS; Dr. Benny Gooden, Superintendent, FSPS; Peggy Walter; Melanie Churchill, Representative, National Association of Elementary School Principals; Dr. Richard Abernathy, Executive Director, AAEA; and Mike Mertens, Assistant Director, AAEA.

• The Southside High School Female Chorus, Mixed Chorus and Male Chorus were also recognized as Best in Class at the state choral awards. Gaye McClure, Choral Director, and Emily Guadagnini, Assistant Director, serve as the choir sponsors.

• Joshua Ray, Southside Band Director, was named the 2011 Outstanding Young Band Director by the Arkansas Chapter of the Phi Beta Mu International Band Fraternity. • Sheila Humphrey, Woods Elementary School, was presented the Economic Arkansas’ 2011 Bessie B. Moore Award. • Susan Colyer, Southside High School Journalism Instructor, was named the 2011 National Distinguished Adviser by the Dow Jones Fund. • Wayne Haver, Southside High School Principal, was named the Arkansas Association of Educational Office Professionals' 2011 Administrator of the Year.  • Eight students from Southside High School earned first-chair placements at the 2012 All-State Music Conference. The musicians included Nick Chavis, First Chair Trumpet-Jazz Band; Nazar Drani, First Chair Baritone Sax-Band; Jacob Gatlin, First Chair Bass Clarinet-Band; Grant Harper, First Chair Bass I-Choir;

Taylor Huntington, First Chair Clarinet-Band; Zack Parks, First Chair Tenor II-Choir; Stephen Thorn, First Chair Trumpet-Band and Jacob Webb, First Chair Tuba-Band. A total of 84 Northside and Southside students represented FSPS in the All-State band, chamber, choir, jazz band and orchestra. • Peggy Walter, Fairview Elementary School Principal, was selected as the Elementary Principal of the Year by the Arkansas Association of Elementary School Principals (AAESP). • Martha Gunter, Ramsey Junior High Attendance Clerk, was selected as the 2011 Arkansas Association of Educational Office Professionals' Martha Stone Educational Office Professional of the Year. • Southside High School was the recipient of the Arkansas Activities Association 2011 Sportsmanship Award. • Jennifer Craig, Northside High School business teacher and National Business Honor Society Sponsor, was named to the National Business Honor Society Governing Council. She will serve a three-year term from 2011-2014. 19 Good Things l Fort Smith Public Schools

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As part of its emphasis on the Leader in Me® program, Beard Elementary put on a play to demonstrate the characteristics of a successful school. As the characters embark on their journey to find a truly great school, they learn that strong leaders are key in helping students and teachers succeed. The play showed that by following simple steps, such as Stephen Covey's seven habits in Leader in Me® and principles from Ron Clarks’ The Essential 55, students can help make life better and in some ways, even easier.

The mission of the Fort Smith Public Schools is to ensure academic and personal success for each student — Today and in the Future.