FALL 2013

Dear Parents and Community,

We are half way through the fall semester and our schools and district are making great strides by working together. Parent-teacher conferences were a huge success and we appreciate everyone who attended. These conferences allow our teachers and parents to strengthen the home-to-school partnership and allow for better communication, planning and reflection. The research is clear when it comes to parental involvement – young people achieve at higher levels when their parents are involved and supportive of the educational process. Let’s make it happen!

Recently, the Arkadelphia Promise Board released the college retention rates of our 2012 graduates and scholarship recipients. We are encouraged by these numbers and celebrate the success of our entire community. Eighty-two percent of graduates who attended college as a freshman returned for a second year. Compared to the state and national averages of 61.4 percent and 66 percent, Arkadelphia graduates are far surpassing their peers. We express our sincere appreciation to the Arkadelphia Promise, Ross Foundation, Southern Bancorp and all students, faculty and parents for their continued partnership and vision. We are making a difference in Arkadelphia.

Finally, we hope you’ve had a chance to visit our campuses and attend some of the outstanding activities and events that showcase our talented students. From our elementary musicals and parent nights to our many extracurricular and athletic events – our students are the pride of Arkadelphia. Come out and support them in their quest for quality and excellence. You’ll be glad you did!

Go Badgers!

Sincerely,

Donnie Whitten, Ed.S.Superintendent

7 1 out of 1.5 million AHS’s Daniell named National Merit Semifinalist8 Badger Spirit Go big blue!10 Campus updates Pumpkin totem, story time, iPads, state championship rings and more

2 Promise: Outstanding Retention

3 Raider Challenge

4 New Faculty

APS Superintendent Donnie Whitten

APS Communications DirectorSean Ruggles

Arkadelphia Public Schools Voice is a publication of the Arkadelphia Public Schools Communications Department. Questions regarding this publication may be directed to:

E-mail - sean.ruggles@arkadelphiaschools.org

Phone - (870) 246-5564 x1214

Mail - Arkadelphia Public Schools attn: Dept. of Comm. 235 N. 11th St. Arkadelphia, AR 71923

Arkadelphia Public Schools Board of Education

Dr. Jeff Root, President

Dr. Kenneth G. Harris, Jr., Vice President

Terri King, Secretary

Karrie Goodman

Billy Groom

Randy Turner

Dr. Casey Motl

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82%

Introducing the newest leaders of APS classrooms. Our teachers make us first class, and continue to push their students to new levels of excellence.

The JROTC Badger Battalion took top honors at the recent Raider Challenge held at Lake DeGray State Park. The competition tests cadets in various events including physical conditioning, map reading, land navigation and much more.

Since the introduction of the Arkadelphia Promise Scholarship program in November of 2010, AHS graduates are remaining in college ahead of state and national averages.

6 Superior Scores The Badger Pride Marching Band competed

at the Showcase of Bands in Little Rock at War Memorial Stadium where they earned the highest scores possible.

Arkadelphia Promise Director Jason Jones recently announced

several key statistics that demonstrate the effectiveness of the scholarship program available to Arkadelphia High School graduates. The most striking of the data is that AHS graduates who entered college as freshmen in the fall of 2012 returned to college in the fall of 2013 at a rate of 82 percent, which is a greater retention rate than both Arkansas and national averages.

“The Arkadelphia Promise was announced in November of 2010, and since then, AHS graduates have never had a better outlook for higher education opportunities,” Jones said. “We always look forward to this time of year, because we were confident our students were doing well in college and these numbers provide proof of what we suspected.”

The retention rate of freshmen to sophomore students is a common way to determine student success in college. By comparison, Arkadelphia’s current sophomores are excelling when compared to state and national retention rates. The rate for Arkansas

sophomores is 61.4 percent, and on the national level it is 66.5 percent.

“Last year, we were very excited to see 70 percent of our first Arkadelphia Promise freshmen return for their sophomore year,” Jones said. “They were also well above the state and national numbers.”

According to Jones, the sophomore to junior retention rate for the original class of the Arkadelphia Promise is 85.9 percent.

“This is what we hoped for when we began this journey three years ago with this inaugural group of students,” Jones said. “This is proof that the Arkadelphia Promise is providing a better future for the students in

Arkadelphia.”Jones also announced that the AHS

graduates who made up the college freshman class of 2013 went to college at a high rate. With the help of the Arkadelphia Promise, 74 percent of the graduates from AHS entered college the fall semester of 2013. In 2010, before the Arkadelphia Promise was announced, only about 60 percent of graduates entered college.

“The bottom line is that we are seeing our AHS graduates, and Arkadelphia Promise recipients, go to college and stay in college at a very high rate,” Jones said. “I personally think it is a credit to the community, the Arkadelphia Public Schools, and the Arkadelphia Promise funders, the Ross Foundation and Southern Bancorp, for fostering an environment that has created such a success story. The goals of the Arkadelphia Promise were to remove financial obstacles for students and to create an educated workforce and these numbers prove that this is happening. This is a great accomplishment in the young life of this organization.”

For more information regarding the Arkadelphia Promise, contact Jones at jjones@arkadelphiapromise.com, or call 870-210-1271.

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Promise: Outstanding retention

I personally think it is a credit to the community, the Arkadelphia Public Schools, and the Arkadelphia Promise funders, the Ross Foundation and Southern Bancorp, for fostering an environment that has created such a success story.

-Jason Jones Arkadelphia Promise Director

AHS’s class of 2013 is pictured above after signing their Arkadelphia Promise contracts and college letters of intent prior to May’s graduation.

The Arkadelphia High School JROTC Badger Battalion hosted

the 4th Annual Raider Challenge Competition at DeGray Lake State Park Saturday, October 19, where JROTC teams from around the state and one team from Irving, Texas, competed. Cadets worked as a team for the best time in various events, including running, map reading, land navigation, and much more.

The Badger Battalion entered three teams in the competition. Team A earned overall 1st place, Team B earned overall 3rd place and Team C, the all-female team, earned 1st place in their category.

Team A also earned: 1st place, One Rope Bridge; 2nd

place, Raider Pentathlon; 1st place, Compass Course; 1st place, Cross Country Rescue; 2nd place, Physical Training Test; 1st place, Map Reading; 2nd place, Team Challenge,;and 2nd place, Ruck March.

Team members for Team A were: Corbin Hughes (Team Commander), James Perkins, Moises Carrillo, Austin Hawkins, Kevin Tate, Tolman Vo, Tamal Stevens, Jeremy Terry, Keith Eakin, Kyle Walker, and Mark Adair.

Team B also earned: 2nd place, One Rope Bridge; 2nd

place, Compass Course; 3rd place, Map Reading Test; and 3rd place, Team Challenge.

Team members for Team B were: Mathis McDill (Team Commander), Julian Martinez, Jay Doggett, Landon Simmons, Ron Collins, Nigel White, Daniel Wheaton, Logan King, Devan Coney, Griffen Smith, Gage White, Christian Harford, Logan Porter, and

Ross Gillum. Team members for Team C were:

Kim Holt (Team Commander), Aajaylon Hill, Stephany Quintero, Tea Burgess, Angel Eley, Marissa Burtness, Tiara Burgess, Tea Burgess, Shaylene Porter, Sierra Adams, Kaitlyn Taylor, and Mehkia Wilson.

To learn more about AHS’s Badger Battalion and JROTC program, contact Lieutenant Colonel and Senior Army Instructor Michael Shepherd at michael.shepherd@arkadelphiaschools.org.

Team “A,” pictured above, of Arkadelphia High School’s Badger Battalion won 1st place overall in the recent Raider Challenge, which AHS hosted at DeGray Lake State Park. Below, LTC Shepherd presents the 1st place trophy to the Badger Battalion.

Badger Battalion

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New faculty

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Nicholas Brumfield works with his health class at Goza Middle School. Brumfield is one of 18 new faculty members who joined APS this year.

A first class education for APS students requires first class

educators leading our classrooms and activities. We are excited to introduce the 18 newest members of our faculty. Please join us in welcoming them to our school district and community.

Cherokee StreetmanHometown: Arlington, TXTeaching: Goza/AHS, P.E./Health/CoachingEducation: HSU, Physical EducationExperience: 1st year teacherHobbies: Going to church, running, working out, watching movies, listening to musicFavorite aspect of teaching: Making a differenceFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: Family atmosphere

Steve TurnbaughHometown: Fayetteville, ARTeaching: AHS, MathEducation: UA Fayetteville, Secondary Math/EngineeringExperience: 1 year, Montana

Hobbies: Cycling, woodworking, familyFavorite aspect of teaching: Student interactionFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: Pine trees

Jamie KapellaHometown: Oklahoma City, OKTeaching: AHS, MathEducation: University of Central Oklahoma, Secondary MathematicsExperience: 8 years, OklahomaHobbies: Softball, decorating & interior designFavorite aspect of teaching: Providing students opportunities for success dailyFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: It has the open skies of Oklahoma and the trees of Arkansas

Marcia RogersHometown: ArkadelphiaTeaching: AHS, Spanish IIEducation: HSU, Spanish & currently pursuing a Master’s degree at HSUExperience: 1 year, GurdonHobbies: Working out, hunting,

spending time with family and friendsFavorite aspect of teaching: Having the opportunity to impact the life of a childFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: It is small and comfortable

Misha ParkerHometown: Garland, TXTeaching: Perritt, MusicEducation: OBU, Music educationExperience: 3 years in Garland, TX, and 4 years in Corsicana, TXHobbies: Decorating, gardening, following current events, wrangling four kidsFavorite aspect of teaching: The FUN of it – dancing, singing and playing games with my students. Just because it’s rigorous doesn’t mean it can’t be delightful.Favorite aspect of Arkadelphia: Seeing old and near friends almost everywhere I go

Nicholas BrumfieldHometown: New Orleans, LATeaching: Goza & AHS, Health &

Physical EducationEducation: HSU, Physical Education & currently pursing a Master’s degree in Special EducationExperience: 1st year teacherHobbies: Working out, cookingFavorite aspect of teaching: Having a positive influence on studentsFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: The friendly environment

Chris KizerHometown: ArkadelphiaTeaching: Goza, PE/Health/Jr. High FootballEducation: SAU, Physical Education/Wellness/Leisure Experience: 1st year teacherHobbies: Reading, outdoors, relaxing with friends Favorite aspect of teaching: Positive interaction with students and making a differenceFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: Small town

Debi CrewsHometown: Paragould, ARTeaching: Peake, 5th grade literacyEducation: SAU, Elementary Education/Middle School English; Master’s degree from ASUExperience: 2 years at Carthage, 13 years at Greene Co. Tech., 1 year at PrescottHobbies: Going to the gym, spending time with familyFavorite aspect of teaching: Literature!Favorite aspect of Arkadelphia: DeGray Lake & my church, Trinity Temple

Mandy Stephenson Hometown: ArkadelphiaTeaching: Goza/AHS, PE & coachingEducation: HSUExperience: 6 years at Sparkman

Hobbies: Spending time with my kidsFavorite aspect of teaching: Working with kids and trying to make a positive differenceFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: My hometown and I graduated from high school and college here

Penny DavisHometown: El Dorado, ARTeaching: GozaEducation: SAU, Elementary EducationExperience: 14 years between El Dorado, Blevins, Delight & HuttigHobbies: Watching my son play golf, playing with my boxer & readingFavorite aspect of teaching: The studentsFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: My son at HSU, the small town atmosphere, working with an amazing education community

Mona JacksonHometown: Van Buren, ARTeaching: Peake, Literacy/Social StudiesEducation: OBU, Speech Pathology; received certification in Elementary Education from Texas Women’s CollegeExperience: 19 years between Texas & Arkansas, previous 10 years in SparkmanHobbies: Gardening, sewing, decoratingFavorite aspect of teaching: Making a difference in a child’s lifeFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: It’s where I met the love of my life and I have wonderful friends here

Amanda AdamsHometown: Butler, MOTeaching: AHS, Global StudiesEducation: University of Central Missouri, Social Studies Education,

Master’s degree in Secondary School Administration from William Woods UniversityExperience: 10 yearsHobbies: Running, reading, playing volleyball & softball, watching college footballFavorite aspect of teaching: Helping create student success stories and making connectionsFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: It feels like home

Elizabeth NixHometown: Hope, ARTeaching: AHS, Computer applications/Banking & FinanceEducation: UA Fayetteville, Business Education, currently pursuing a Master’s degree from UA Fayetteville Experience: 1st year teacherHobbies: Hiking, spending time with friends and familyFavorite aspect of teaching: There’s never a dull momentFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: Small community, closer to my hometown

Tiffany TerryHometown: Benton, ARTeaching: Perritt, PreKEducation: HSU, Early Childhood Education, currently pursuing M.S.E. in Reading at HSUExperience: 1 year at HSU’s Davis-Baker PreschoolHobbies: Cowboy action shooting and travelingFavorite aspect of teaching: Spending time with childrenFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: I love being close to DeGray Lake and my college friends

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Band earns superior scores

The Badger Pride Marching Band competed in the Showcase of the Bands marching competition at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The competition is the largest in the state and AHS’s band earned superior ratings in band, percussion, drum major, and colorguard.

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Congratulations to Arkadelphia High senior Seth Daniell

on being named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. Daniell is one of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Daniell was chosen as a Semifinalist out of 1.5 million high school students who entered the competition as juniors in 2012, according to a news release from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. He was selected based on his 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test scores. Daniell and his fellow Semifinalists represent less than 1 percent of the U.S. high school seniors. The Semifinalists include the highest-scoring entrants from each state with the number of Semifinalists being proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

“To proceed in the competition, the

Semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application with information about the Semifinalist’s academic

record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received,” the scholarship program’s release states. In addition, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

The National Merit Scholarship program expects approximately 90 percent of Semifinalists to advance to Finalist level. The students will be notified in February of this designation. Awards totaling $35 million will be divided among the most deserving 8,000 students between April and July 2014. Those awarded the scholarship will join more than 300,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

AHS’s Daniell named National Merit Semifinalist

Brenda HarmonHometown: Malvern, ARTeaching: Peake RosenwaldEducation: HSU, Early Childhood EducationExperience: 1st year teacherHobbies: I like being outside doing anythingFavorite aspect of teaching: Working with childrenFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: I am looking forward to working in the Arkadelphia Public Schools

Lea MyersHometown: Nashville, AR

Teaching: Peake, 4th & 5th grade Special EducationEducation: HSU, Early Childhood Education; Master’s degree from HSUExperience: 5 yearsHobbies: Reading, paintingFavorite aspect of teaching: Seeing the students experience “ah-ha” moments Favorite aspect of Arkadelphia: It’s a great place to call home

Tina BealsHometown: ArkadelphiaTeaching: Perritt, PreKEducation: HSU, Early ChildhoodExperience: 3 years at the APS Early Childhood CenterHobbies: Reading, photographyFavorite aspect of teaching: Spending time with children and

telling storiesFavorite aspect of Arkadelphia: Small town atmosphere

Haley ThorntonHometown: Little Rock, ARTeaching: Perritt, PreKEducation: HSU, Early Childhood EducationExperience: 1st year teacherHobbies: Photography, cooking, walking my puppyFavorite aspect of teaching: Learning from the kids – they teach us, too!Favorite aspect of Arkadelphia: The community within the APS schools. I have met so many wonderful people while interning at Central & Perritt.

Seth Daniell

New Faculty, from page 5

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Badger Spirit!

The Badger football team entered the ninth week of the season undefeated and No. 1 in the state. Their momentum builds every week through continued community support on top of hard work and dedication by the players and coaches. As the regular season nears its end, make your way out to a Badger game and make some noise.

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GOLFThe Arkadelphia High School Golf Teams had a

productive season after graduating a large senior class last year. The boys team consisted of thirteen players: 3 seniors, 3 juniors, 4 sophomores and 3 freshmen. The girls team consisted of seven players: 3 juniors and 4 sophomores. Senior Alec Groom served as captain for both teams. The team goals were to work hard and focus on improvement each day. The boys team won three matches during the season, while the girls team won two. Colin Parnell won

medalist honors for the boys, while Maddy Durrett won medalist honors for the girls on two different occasions. At the district tournaments, both teams placed 5th out of the eight conference schools. Sophomore Tyler Freeman came within a stroke of qualifying for the state tournament. Golf coach Steve Patterson said, “I was proud of our golf teams this year; they’re all extremely busy individuals, and yet they still worked hard to improve from match to match. Next year should be a great year for our teams.”

TENNISThe Arkadelphia tennis teams recently wrapped up their

seasons in the 7-4A District and 4A State tournament. The Lady Badger team of Johanna Baker, Madeline Cook, Katy Dickerson, Rebecca Fellers, and Addisan Forthman earned a 7-4A Conference Championship at the district tournament. The doubles teams of Baker/Fellers and Cook/Forthman each qualified for the 4A State Tournament.

At the state tournament, Forthman and Cook advanced to the quarterfinals before being eliminated while Baker

and Fellers lost in the first round after a tough draw in the seeding.

On the boys’ side, the doubles team of seniors Hunter Penfield and Seth Daniell came within one tiebreak of qualifying for the 4A State tournament as a doubles representative from the 7-4A but were edged out in a tough match in the conference tournament. The other doubles team of Johnathan Miles and David Lloyd earned a victory in the conference tourney as did singles player Joe Worack.

CROSS COUNTRYThe Badger cross country team pulled off the repeat as

7-4A conference champions at the 2013 conference meet on October 28 at the OBU Cross Country course. The Badgers came off of several quality performances in which runners posted personal bests for the 2013 season as the team prepared for the conference and state meets. The

Badgers finished second in the small school classification in the Caddo Hills Invitational and have been among the top team finishers among comparable schools in meets in which they’ve participated this season. The 4A State Meet will be held Saturday, November 9, at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

VOLLEYBALLThe Lady Badger volleyball team will conclude the 2013

season at the 4A State Tournament in Mena Oct. 29-31 as the 4th seed in the very tough 4A West conference. Host Mena is a favorite to win the state championship and will be the top seed from AHS’s conference. Featuring 12 seniors, the Lady Badgers played numerous non-conference opponents from higher classifications en route to a 7-0 start. The Lady Badgers wrapped up the 4th seed and a State

Tournament berth with a 3-0 sweep of Ashdown in the final conference match of the season. Although the squad will lose a solid group of 12 seniors, the future looks bright as Arkadelphia has been the runner up to Mena the past two years in the 4A West junior high volleyball conference. The Lady Badger 9th grade squad defeated 2nd-seed Booneville in the semifinals to earn the right to face top-seeded Mena in the title match.

Addisan Forthman Madeline Cook

Campus updatesIt’s not officially fall in Arkadelphia until Perritt Primary’s pumpkin totem pole goes up! Many thanks to South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. for their help with this fun and unique tradition.

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Perritt Primary students gathered in the gym to hear a story about friendship, teamwork and overcoming obstacles. Otis, played by Misha Parker, is a friendly farm tractor who is best friends with the Beautiful Baby Calf (Jane Watson). The two are inseparable. But one day, the farmer shows up with the new Big Yellow Tractor (Myka Hughes) and the Beautiful Baby Calf and Otis don’t get to see each other as often. When the calf finds herself in trouble in a muddy pond on the farm, it’s Otis to the rescue! Perritt media specialist Kaila Murphy narrated the story, which is part of this year’s Jump-start Read for the Record national campaign, which aims to promote reading by setting the record for the same number of students reading the same story on the same day. After the story, students colored a their own Beautiful Baby Calf mask and held a parade in the gym with the story’s characters leading the way!

Campus updates

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Peake Elementary students and teachers now have access to 60 iPads for use in their classrooms. The tablets have already been utilized to supplement social studies and science project research projects, virtual science labs, math and literacy practice (multiplication and grammar lessons and games), as well as online TLI assessments. Common Core State Standards require the use of technology as a teaching tool and this is one way Peake is reaching that goal, along with use of interactive SmartBoards, science lab equipment and two desktop computer labs.

At right, Goza Middle School’s campus is ready for fall festivities. Below, Central Primary students walk to Henderson State University’s campus for an anti-drug rally as part of Red Ribbon Week. Students created banners with slogans promoting staying drug-free, and walked with their class across the HSU campus where they were greeted and entertained by Reddie spirit groups.

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Peake Elementary students, along with Goza teacher Jeremy Smith, performed their fall musical for their school community. The show featured several patriotic pieces and allowed many students to display their vocal and dancing talents.

Thanks to generous community support, the Badger Baseball team received their state championship rings. Head Coach Brant Matros handed out the rings to each player at an assembly earlier this school year.

Below, Central Primary students react to motivational performer Ron Cole taking the stage in Central’s auditorium.

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