World Travelers at Hall High


Hall High students celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month in October with food, dancing, student artwork and a Mariachi Band performance. Other highlights include Aztec math games, a scavenger hunt and a mock Mexican “Charro”-style wedding. The school is home of the Carolyn Newbern Newcomer Center that provides support to ESL (English as a Second Language) students at Hall. Currently, ESL students, primarily Latino, make up 22 percent of the school’s student body.

Dunbar's Day of the Dead


Dunbar Gifted and Talented/International Studies Magnet Middle School hosted an International Fest in late October, taking students around the world with food, music and activities that honor Spanish, German and French cultures. Children sang German folk songs, learned about the Day of the Dead, and listened to choir, band and orchestra performances.

Crestwood's Day of Service
This September, Crestwood Elementary School in North Little Rock once again participated in the Green Apple Day of Service, a national initiative from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council. For this year’s event, community volunteers updated the playground with a safer, softer play surface. The school will also continue the gardening project launched at last year’s event.

Tiger Math
Way to crunch those numbers, Little Rock Central High School! Students placed 10th in the 2014 Fall Startup Event, a national mathematics contest administered by National Assessment & Testing (NA&T). Coach Summer Vaught prepared students for the competition, in which students race to answer 100 problems of a variety of mathematical topics in just 30 minutes.

Students in Mrs. Jackson’s kindergarten class at Chenal Elementary School are wise beyond their years! In November, the youngsters had a blast dressing like their grandparents for the Grandparents and Family Thanksgiving Lunch.

Say cheese! The Little Rock School District hosted the Dads Take Your Child to School Day Photo Contest, and Ed McClain was the winner! McClain participated by taking his daughter to school at Fair Park Early Childhood Center.

Fresh Facilities

North Little Rock

Amboy, Lakewood and Boone Park Elementary Schools have brand new looks (from the old versions pictured above.)

The North Little Rock School District has been busy implementing its Capital Improvement Plan, a $256.6 million plan to rebuild the entire school district. Students at two North Little Rock schools—Lakewood Elementary and Amboy Elementary—returned from Thanksgiving break to brand-new school buildings. The next opening will be this month’s unveiling of Boone Park Elementary.

Community Open Houses are scheduled for each school:

  • Amboy Elementary: 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 13
  • Lakewood Elementary: 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 20
  • Boone Park Elementary: 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 27

ACCESS


Friends and supporters gathered to celebrate the renovation of the ACCESS Lynn O’Connor Library, which was given a makeover last spring by the Junior League of Little Rock 2014 Provisional Class. The library, named by Ralph O’Connor in honor of his daughter-in-law, received new paint, flooring, bookshelves, furniture and, of course, books. Thanks to these dedicated women, ACCESS has a creative, fun reading environment for students.

Sylvan Hills


This past fall, the Sylvan Hills High School Bears were excited to debut a brand-new football field made of synthetic nylon turf. Because of its low maintenance and durability, the field can be shared with the entire community, including local little leagues and community groups. The project came after district improvements to the interior of the school. The Bears Foundation, a 501c3, was formed to raise funds for renovations to the school’s outward appearance, starting with the football field. With help from the City of Sherwood, local businesses and community members, the Bears Foundation completed the $1.2 million project, which included the new field and a renovated stadium entrance. A new press box, concession stand and bleachers are part of future plans.