Mena Middle School

The Mena School Board conducted their December meeting on Tuesday night at the Administration Building. As usual the meeting began with the Superintendent's Report. Mr. Benny Weston updated the board on a number of education related issues that will be a part of the Arkansas Legislative Session. The session begins on January 11th, 2021. Weston also congratulated the band, volleyball, football, cross country & golf teams on a successful fall. He also thanked the district patrons for paying attention to the guidelines so that those seasons could be completed. Flex Friday was next on the agenda. As voted on earlier these flex days will come to an end this week. The process of evaluating the success of this modification is underway. The district is surveying staff & monitoring student success before determining any future modification to the school calendar. Any change will have to be presented to the board for approval. Antigen Rapid Test have been made available to the Mena School District. When staff members return from the winter break they will have the opportunity to receive the test for the Covid Virus. The test will be available in all buildings on a weekly basis & is completely voluntary. The board then approved the stipends list for the year & also the financial report. Finally under personnel. Bethany Meadors & Breanna Peters have been serving as long term substitute teachers. The board approved the two being placed under contract for the second semester only at Louise Durham Elementary & Holly Harshman Elementary. These contracts are being funded by Title One funds carried over from last year.

Mena Middle School Leadership students are in the spirit of giving this season. They are wrapping gifts for teachers & other school employees in an effort to raise money to buy gifts for kids from the Polk County Angel Tree.

The Mena 7th Grade & Jr. Bearcats hosted DeQueen on Monday. 7th GRADE / Mena-23 DeQueen-18 JR. BOYS / Mena-26 DeQueen-17 The Mena Jr. & Sr.s play at Bauxite on Thursday 12/17. GO BEARCATS!! https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics

The Mena Jr. Ladycats played DeQueen on Monday at the UBC. JV GIRLS / Mena-18 DeQueen-4 JR. GIRLS / Mena-39 DeQueen-12 The girls will play at Bauxite on Thursday 12/17. GO LADYCATS!!! https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics

Mrs. Tiffany Luttmer, has been selected as a Science Spotlight Teacher of the Month in the AR Science Matters Newsletter. We are so grateful for Tiffany and the job she is doing at Mena Middle School. Go Bearcats! https://www.canva.com/design/DAENx1BL56c/0c31_NrHoeaoazNLzynJMw/view?utm_content=DAENx1BL56c&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton#7

The Arkansas Activities Association mandates a three day dead period over the winter break. These can be any three consecutive days from December 23rd-27th. Mena has chosen December 23rd-25th. Athletes will not be able to use any of the athletic facilities during these 3 days. GO BEARCATS!!!!

According to Athletic Director Shane Torix, Dierks has cancelled the basketball games scheduled for December 30th. https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics

December 21st & 22nd are Virtual Days for Students. They will be followed by the Winter Break December 23rd - January 1st & a District Professional Development Day on January 4th. Classes will resume at Mena Public Schools on Tuesday, January 5th. https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/828040/Calendar_2020-2021.pdf

The Sr. Ladycats & Bearcats play at Alma on Monday. Games begin at 5:30pm. The 7th Grade & Jr. Ladycats & Bearcats play DeQueen at the Union Bank Center. Games begin at 4:30pm.

Flex Fridays continue for the rest of 2020 ! Flex Friday is a day for students to work virtually if desired, while having the option to attend school and receive extra assistance as needed. Blended learners are invited to receive assistance on Flex Fridays.

Congratulations to the following 15 Mena Band students for making the Junior High Region VIII All Region Band: Bracey Turner- 3 rd band, 4 th chair Flute Ellijah Schneider- 3 rd band, 3 rd chair Oboe Logan Shone-2 nd band, 15 th chair Clarinet Brenden Ricker-2 nd band, 1 chair Alto Saxophone Zeke Berkey-2 nd band, 2 nd chair Alto Saxophone Levi Neufeld-3 rd band, 1 st chair Tenor Saxophone Jokiah Look- 2 nd band, 1 st chair Baritone Saxophone Claire Walston-1 st band, 6 th chair French Horn Scottie Gragg- 1 st band, 3 rd chair Trumpet Cason Bowling- 3 rd band, 1 st chair Trumpet Nick Williams- Trumpet Alternate Nathan Needham-3 rd band, 1 st chair Trombone Mason Brown- 3 rd band, 1 st chair Baritone Dalton McEntire- 3 rd band, 6 th chair Tuba Gabe Cunningham- Percussion Alternate

MMS ANNOUNCEMENTS Monday, December 14 th   I. There will be no Quiz Bowl practice this week. II. FBLA will meet in Mrs. Sikes’ room right after these announcements. III. From Mrs. Rose: Any student who usually picks up a food for kids bag from Mrs. Rose at the end of the week please pick up your food bag today. IV. From Mr. McCormick: There will be an FFA Christmas Party in the High School Safe room Friday December 18th from 10:00 am-noon. Students must sign up in Mr. McCormick’s room between now and Thursday to be eligible to attend. No exceptions! Each member should bring a wrapped gift limited to $10, gender specific. Wear your ugly Christmas sweater! V. Congratulations to the following MMS students for making All-Region Band: Scottie Gragg, Nathan Needham, Jokiah Look, Levi Neufeld, Nick Williams, Dalton McEntire, Mason Brown VI. Reminders:  Do not open and use your chrome books outside during breakfast and lunch. We have had a couple of them damaged.  If you plan to ride a different bus, a parent must call the school so that we can give you an office note. The bus drivers will not let you on their bus without a note from our office. VII. This is the last week of school for the semester. Things to do this week:  Get all of your assignments completed before semester grades are finalized.  Check the Lost & Found for any missing coats or jackets.  Christmas break is December 21 – January 4 th . School starts back on January 5 th .  December 21 & 22 will be virtual learning days from home. VIII. This Thursday will be “Ugly Sweater Day” at MMS. All staff & students are encouraged to wear your ugliest Christmas sweater. IX. Lunchtime Weather: Based on the forecast, we should be able to go outside today. Be sure and dress appropriately. X. Lunch Menu: * Salisbury Steak * Pizza Sub * Double Cheeseburger * Waffle Bar * PB&J Sandwich * Turkey or Ham Sandwich * Chef Salad

The Mena 7th Grade & Jr. High played at Waldron on Saturday. 7th Girls / Mena-14 Waldron-10 Jr. Girls / Mena-44 Waldron-18 7th Boys / Mena-33 Waldron-2 Jr. Boys / Waldron-38 Mena-30 Mena will host DeQueen on Monday at the Union Bank Center beginning at 4:30pm. https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics

Click the link for the Meal Order Form for December 21st - December 31st. Pick up is Friday December 18th from 1pm-2pm at Louise Durham & Mena High School. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxSBMT93b5entJhHkarPMK2Lpv4S6gE_Dvzv1oMguScECygg/viewform

Blended & virtual student meals for December 14th - December 18th may be picked up today at Louise Durham Elementary or Mena High School between 1 and 2 pm.

The Jr. Ladycats & Bearcats played at Fountain Lake on Thursday. 7th Grade Girls / Ft. Lake-20 Mena-13 Junior Girls / Mena-26 Ft. Lake-12 7th Grade Boys / Mena-13 Ft. Lake-12 Junior Boys / Ft. Lake-33 Mena-18 The 7th, Jr. & Sr. High will play on Saturday at Waldron. Games start at 1:00pm. https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics

Dear Parent, We have purchased a program (IXL) for students to practice and build academic skills while they are at school or at home. We want to encourage you to have your student use this tool to practice at home. Here are some benefits and a link. ▪ Web-based (Internet access required) allowing the student access on any device. https://www.ixl.com/signin/menamiddle ▪ Learning program offering unlimited math, language arts, science, and social studies practice across thousands of skills—all of which are aligned to Arkansas Standards. ▪ Students learn at their own pace. It adapts and adjusts to the student’s demonstrated understanding of the material. ▪ All results are saved to monitor the students’ progress on Analytics, which teachers can access to see student strengths. If your student is home for any reason, sick, quarantined, blended, etc., please support your child’s success by making certain they use this website for learning, skill improvement. This will also help them prepare for their ACT Aspire Test, which is the state test required for all students to take in April. Our goal is the success of all students – prepared to advance to next year, High School, college, and career. When “our” students obtain a high-wage job, our community reaps the benefits. It is in every person’s best interest for our students to be successful. We cannot reach these goals without your assistance.

Flex Fridays continue for the rest of 2020 ! Flex Friday is a day for students to work virtually if desired, while having the option to attend school and receive extra assistance as needed. Blended learners are invited to receive assistance on Flex Fridays.

The Mena 7th Grade & Jr. Girls & Boys play at Fountain Lake on Thursday. The first game begins at 4:30pm.

Click the link for the Meal Order Form for December 14th - December 18th. Pick up is Friday from 1pm-2pm at Louise Durham & Mena High School. https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSckEl98VzL.../viewform...