Dear Bryant Families and Community,

Over the past few weeks we have shared information on the proposed zoning changes for our elementary schools. For those of you unable to attend the meeting at your school, I wanted to provide information on the process. All of our elementary schools are at or near capacity. Bryant Elementary has 761 students with approximately half of those students overflowed from other zones; Springhill Elementary currently has 710 students housed in a school built for 625 students, utilizing portable buildings. The district is seeing the largest growth north of the interstate in the Springhill and Salem areas. Rezoning will relieve overcrowding and help balance enrollment. With our new elementary school opening in August, it was also necessary to establish an attendance zone for Parkway Elementary. Our last rezoning was in August 2012 when Hill Farm Elementary opened. Most growing districts go through a rezoning process every five years.

We hired a consulting firm, RSP, to collect and analyze data to help us determine new zones. Data included past, current and projected student enrollments; census information; and current and future housing developments in the Bryant, Benton and Saline County. The Bryant School Board provided criteria for determining the new zones: keep neighborhoods intact when possible; intact feeder schools; use natural boundaries and land parcels; bus transportation; balanced numbers among schools; and, plan for future growth. The RSP presentation is available on our website. The public meetings have provided a chance to collect feedback on the proposed zoning changes. All information will be provided to the Bryant School Board. The Board will also accept public comment on the proposed zones during the March 5 meeting held at 6pm in the Bryant Middle School gym. Our goal is to have new zones approved at the March 13 board meeting. All elementary schools are affected, some more than others. We know change can be hard. To help ease the transition, we are offering parents the option to request that their current 4th grade student remain at the school he or she is now attending for the student’s 5th grade year. This exception applies ONLY to students entering 5th grade and NOT siblings. While there are no guarantees all requests can be honored, efforts will be made to approve as many

requests as possible. Families who are approved for this option must provide their own transportation unless district transportation to the child’s school is available. The request form is online here. Deadline to submit the form is Thursday, March 15 at 4pm. In April, all elementary families will receive a letter with information regarding placement for the 2018-19 school year. We will also offer address location software housed on the district website to check zone of residence. Each elementary is planning a special open house to help families transitioning to a new school. We will soon be providing dates for these events. I do want to reiterate that all Bryant Schools follow the same quality academic curriculum. Although your student may be attending a different school next year, we are all part of the Bryant family. Our mission is to create opportunities for success at each school every day.

Dr. Karen WaltersSuperintendent

FOLLOW ON TWITTER: @KWalters_Bryant

Thing I LoveOne about Bryant Public Schools

SUCCESS HAPPENS HERE February 2018

a monthly publication of Bryant Public Schools

STEM OPPORTUNITIES ROBOTICS

districtSNAPSHOT

SUCCESS HAPPENS HERE

The annual Academic Fair is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13 from 6:00-7:30pm in Bryant High School Building 10. The Fair is a family-oriented event featuring the academic programs, projects and competitions available in our schools. Each school participates by showcasing student demonstrations and projects. Faculty members are available to offer information about programs and activities they sponsor.

If your high school student will be taking AP classes for the first time in the 2018-19 school year, it is highly recommended you attend the Advanced Placement presentation. PreAP teachers will also be available to provide information for students new to Pre-AP classes. Stop by the Multipurpose Room of Building 10 to learn more about these programs.

Concurrent credit partners will provide details and answer questions for high school students and parents interested in the concurrent credit programs. Counselors will be available to help seniors fill out FASFA forms.

From elementary through high school, the Bryant School District offers students great opportunities to enhance their education. Come see for yourself!

ACADEMIC FAIR HIGHLIGHTS DISTRICT OPPORTUNITIES

NEW PARENT RESOURCE

We are excited to announce an all new resource for parents of students in grades 6-12. The Seconday Education website provides Arkansas Academic Standards for English, Math, Science and Social Students along with lesson topics and school wide assessment dates tied to those requirements. The website is a great tool for tracking your student’s learning. Find all the information at bryantschools.org/secondary.

SUCCESS HAPPENS HERE

Bryant High School proudly presents

February 8-10 @ 7& 11th at 2pm

$5 Students$10 Adults

Love Auditorium 698 Harris Sreet, Bryant Ar

FootlooseStage adaptation DEAN PITCHFORD and WALTER BOBBIEBased on the Original Screenplay by Dean PitchfordMusic by TOM SNOW Lyrics by DEAN PITCHFORDAdditional Music by ERIC CARMEN, SAMMY HAGAR, KENNY LOGGINS, and JIM STEINMAN

It’s back to the ’80s when Bryant High School performs Footloose on February 9 & 10 at 7pm, with a special matinée performance on Sunday, February 11, at 2pm. Tickets are $5 for students/ $10 for adults at the door.

All performances will take place in Love Auditorium located on the Bryant High School campus. Footloose will be last public event in Love, which is scheduled for demolition during spring break to make way for three new buildings: Fine Arts, PE facility and cafeteria.

Over 100 Bryant High School students are involved in this year’s spring musical, which will feature songs that have become a part of pop culture history such as “Holding Out for a Hero,” and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” BHS Band members will provide the soundtrack for this iconic story.

Footloose tells the story of Ren McCormack who moves to a small Midwestern town from Chicago, and is in shock when he discovers the town he now calls home has made dancing and rock music illegal. As he struggles to fit in, Ren faces an uphill battle to change things. With the help of his new friend Willard Hewitt and defiant teen Ariel Moore he might just loosen up this conservative town. However, Ariel’s influential father, Reverend Shaw Moore stands in the way.

You and your family will enjoy the music, dancing and singing under the direction of Jeremy Clay, BHS Drama instructor and Joshua Gardner, Assistant Director of Bands.

Curtain Closes on Love Auditorium with Final Act of Footloose

Did you know eating school breakfast fuels learning? It’s true! Students who eat school breakfast are more likely to maintain a healthy weight, have better concentration, be more alert, and reach higher levels of achievement in class and score higher on standardized tests.

Breakfast is served every day at Bryant Schools, but we have some extra special plans to celebrate National School Breakfast Week from March 5-9. Schools will compete in a School Breakfast Challenge to increase participation. Look for special guests to stop by each morning while students enjoy the most important meal of the day!

The Food Service Department is offering special menu items all week. To kick off the campaign, we are providing FREE breakfast to students at all schools on Monday, March 5. This is a great opportunity to taste some of the delicious and nutritious options available to students.

Check out menu options at http://bit.ly/2nOI90Y.

MONDAY, MARCH 5

for all Bryant studentsbreakfastbreakfast

for all Bryant students

SUCCESS HAPPENS HERESUCCESS HAPPENS HERE

SUCCESSstories

Join us in celebrating the success of Bryant students and staff:

BHS junior Bailey Cunningham will attend the USA Games as the Special Olympics Youth Leadership Advocate.

BMS VEX Robotics team was featured on THV11 Morning Show.

Cadet Sebastian Wolf is the only Arkansas student selected to attend the Air Force Junior ROTC Flight Academy Program.

Bryant Middle School hosted the Hornet Regional VEX Robotics Competition for 64 teams around the state.

Salem Elementary was awarded a Lowes Toolbox for Education Grant to construct a greenhouse for the outdoor garden.

SPES 5th grade Quiz Bowl placed 1st in the district tournament; SES placed 2nd; BES took 3rd.

HFES Assembly Team 5th graders represented the district at the Hill Farm Fire Station groundbreaking ceremony.

The Kindness Challenge was celebrated at several elementary schools.

Hill Farm Archery team placed first in the Glen Rose Tournament; BHS Hornet Archery Team won 2nd place.

Springhill Student Council and student Lighthouse Team participated in the Springhill Fire Station groundbreaking.

Bryant and Bethel Middle School Unified Teams enjoyed a game of basketball in conjunction with the 7th & 8th grade girls and boys games.

BMS is headed to the 7A Jr High State Quiz Bowl tournament for the third time in four years.

Six Hornet athletes signed Letters of Intent to continue football and academic careers.

Congratulations to the 20 Bryant Choir members who were selected to All-State, breaking the previous school record of 14.

Bryant Varsity Dance placed 12th in the nation in NDTC Hip Hop medium.

Congratulations to the 26 Bryant band members who were selected to All-State, the highest number from BHS in 15 years!

Davis Elementary earned the Judges Award and placed 2nd at VEX IQ Robotics Tournament; Collegeville placed 7th and Hill Farm took 10th place.

find more SUCCESSstories

OPEN HOUSE: Thursday, March 8, 6-7pm Bryant Elementary CafeteriaJoin us for a brief presentation about the program and learn more about the application process. Parents are also invited to visit the classrooms and meet members of the Bryant PreK family.

REGISTRATION: April 12 & 13, 8:30am-2:30pm Bryant Elementary GymStudents must be 4 years of age (by August 1, 2018) and parents must meet eligibility guidelines. Tuition spots for families who do not meet the income and special circumstance requirements of the ABC and CCDF programs may also be available.

PreK

KindergartenIf your child will be (5) years of age on or before August 1, 2018 reserve these dates to register for kindergarten: March 28 & 29 (between 9am and 2pm).

AFTER MARCH 15: Check the district website or contact any elementary office for assistance in determining your child’s NEW attendance zone. Location for Parkway Elementary registration will be announced soon.

Parents must provide the following records to complete registration requirements:

• Official Birth Certificate• Kindergarten Physical Examination• Immunization Record• Social Security Card (if available)• Proof of Residence

This includes Current Real Estate Assessment (if homeowner) OR Personal Property Assessment (if renting); AND a current rent receipt, utility bill or deposit receipt with name and physical address.

We look forward to welcoming your little Hornet to Bryant!