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Bearcat Wrap-up Podcastthings that Mena Public School staff members need or want to know. Author: Dr. Lee Smith
things that Mena Public School staff members need or want to know presented in a discussion format. bearcatwrap.substack.com Language: en Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Week 23: Regaining Momentum and Staying Aligned
Friday, 6 February, 2026
Happy Friday!As we continue through the spring semester, I want to begin by thanking our staff for how quickly and effectively you helped our district regain momentum following an unexpected six-day closure due to winter weather. Returning to routine after that amount of disruption is not easy, yet classrooms, offices, and campuses across the district quickly refocused on teaching, learning, and serving students. I also want to specifically thank our maintenance and transportation teams for the work they put in on Monday to ensure campuses were safe and bus routes were operational so we could return to school on Tuesday. Their behind-the-scenes efforts were essential to making that transition possible. That collective ability to reset, re-establish expectations, and move forward with purpose reflects the professionalism and resilience of this organization.Even after interruptions, our work remains anchored in clear goals and shared expectations. The performance targets we have committed to as a district continue to guide decision-making, instructional focus, and the use of time and resources. Your efforts to align daily practice with those targets, while balancing flexibility, planning, and care for students, are what keep progress moving in the right direction. This week’s Wrap-Up includes an important update related to assessment timelines and next year’s academic calendar, along with an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful civic learning as our nation approaches its 250th anniversary.Academic Calendar Update and Assessment AlignmentAs we work toward finalizing next year’s academic calendar, I want to share an update on timing. The Arkansas Department of Education has adjusted statewide testing windows, and the preliminary assessment calendar for 2026–2027 reflects several important shifts.Next year, K–2 interim assessments will take place in October and January, and both interim windows for grades 3–10 and End-of-Course assessments will conclude by December 11, which is earlier than in the current year. In addition, the ATLAS summative testing window will not open until May 3. These changes require us to adjust the placement of instructional data days, so staff have timely access to interim results and can meaningfully use that data to guide instruction, while also accounting for a later summative window.Because these shifts affect instructional days, data use, and overall calendar alignment, we need additional time to finalize calendar options. As a result, the release of calendar choices for staff voting will be delayed by at least one additional week. Thank you for your patience as we work to ensure the calendar supports both compliance and instructional effectiveness.Arkansas Celebrates America250 | Presidential 1776 AwardAs part of Arkansas Celebrates America250 (#ACA250), the Arkansas Department of Education is sharing the Presidential 1776 Award, a national civics competition for high school students that recognizes exceptional understanding of America’s founding principles.The competition is launched by the U.S. Department of Education and independently developed and judged by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. It challenges students to connect classroom learning to constitutional principles, civic responsibility, and informed citizenship as our nation approaches its 250th anniversary.The Presidential 1776 Award is open to students in grades 9–12 at no cost and includes an online state qualifying exam this month, followed by regional and national rounds. The national finals will be held in Washington, D.C., with scholarships totaling $250,000 awarded to top finishers.Please share this opportunity with students, families, and other teachers to reinforce relevant civics and U.S. history content already embedded in coursework. Registration information is available at presidential1776award.org, with additional details on the Arkansas Celebrates America250 website.Opportunities like this reflect the learning we value—learning that builds knowledge, responsibility, and confidence beyond the classroom.Mid-Year Leadership Reviews and Writing Across the CurriculumOver the past few weeks, we have been conducting mid-year reviews with our principals. These conversations are intended to be reflective and forward-looking, focusing on instructional priorities, leadership growth, and the conditions we are creating for student success. One area that consistently emerged across campuses was the intentional work being done to strengthen writing across the curriculum, and I want to recognize the collective effort behind that focus.Improving writing is not simply about preparing students for an assessment, although stronger writing will positively influence performance over time. Writing develops thinking. When students write, they must organize ideas, clarify meaning, evaluate evidence, and use language precisely. Those same processes are foundational to strong reading comprehension. Students who write more frequently become more attentive readers because they better understand the structure, vocabulary, and purpose of texts.Beyond academics, writing builds functional skills that matter in everyday life. Clear written communication helps students advocate for themselves, participate productively in the workplace, engage in civic life, and contribute meaningfully to our community. Whether students are completing applications, communicating with employers, or expressing ideas in collaborative settings, writing is a skill that strengthens independence, confidence, and opportunity.I appreciate the work our teachers and leaders are doing to embed writing meaningfully across subject areas. This is the kind of instructional focus that improves outcomes not only on assessments, but in the long-term success of our students as learners, workers, and citizens.Closing CelebrationsStudents at Louise Durham Elementary represented their school with pride in the Battle of the Books, a literacy competition that promotes reading comprehension, teamwork, and a genuine love for reading. These students demonstrated dedication and enthusiasm, and we are proud of the preparation and effort that went into representing their school and community.We also celebrate students who recently competed in academic and leadership events, including the District I Spring FBLA Leadership Conference and the Polk County Spelling Bee. Students represented Mena well through strong preparation, professionalism, and perseverance, earning advancement opportunities and recognition across multiple grade levels and competitive areas. Thank you to the teachers, sponsors, and families who support this work behind the scenes.This week was National School Counseling Week, and we extend our sincere appreciation to our counselors—Kaela Mendoza, Tonya Thacker, Leilani Rose, Ashlyn Watts, and Shannon Lyle—for the essential role they play in supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally. Their daily work helps students navigate challenges, plan for the future, and remain connected to school in meaningful ways.In athletics, our Bearcats and Ladycats continued to compete with effort and determination across basketball and wrestling. The Junior Ladycats’ win over Clarksville came down to the final seconds, creating an exciting moment that showcased grit and composure under pressure. Our wrestling program also competed at the regional level with strong team and individual performances, and senior team members were recognized during a ceremony Tuesday night for their commitment and leadership. Thank you to our coaches and athletes for representing Mena with pride.It was a good week of momentum at Mena Public Schools.At Mena Public Schools, our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident.Keep the #menareads posts and videos coming, and have a nice weekend! This is a public episode. 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