STRI

VIN

G F

OR

EDUC

ATIO

NA

L EX

CEL

LEN

CE

upda

teSE

ARC

Y PU

BLIC

SC

HOO

LS

What’s in this issue?McRae Pirate STEM Day 1SHS Art Club “Fiery Lion” 1AJHS Literacy Night 2UNITY Health 2EAST Night Out 2ASU Nursing Students 2Lunch Menu 3Calendar of Events 3FTA Race for the Cure 4Lionsteppers Volunteer 4FFA Award 4Wreaths Across America 4SHS Golf Team 4SHS Wrestling Team 4Artist of the Month 4

NO

VEM

BER

20

15

McRae Pirate STEM DAY; Searcy High School Art Club’s “Fiery Lion”

McRae’s 2nd graders enjoyed a fun-filled Pirate STEM day exploring the engineering de-sign process through designing pirate boats, sails, and air cannons with the help of math and science specialists from Harding University’s STEM Center, Wilbur D. Mills Co-op, and math/science specialists from within the school district. Pictured are Mrs. Hopper’s stu-dents Ella Marter, Kennedie Behel, and Sophie Webb.

“Fiery Lion” adorns the windows of Searcy High School. The SHS Fine Arts Club painted this piece down the halls of SHS. Pictured is art student Hailey West creating the work of art.

Ahlf Junior High School Literacy NightOver 600 people attended Literacy Night at Ahlf Junior High School. The English teachers emphasized the importance of reading and a reading routine at home. Selected seventh graders participated in a dramatic reading of “Casey at the Bat,” and a group of eighth graders performed a readers’ theater of a scene from the play The Diary of Anne Frank. At the end of the program, all seventh and eighth grade students displayed a project about a book or an author.

Another purpose of the evening was to discuss ways parents can help their children: • Provide a quiet place to read.• Provide a time to read.• Read aloud to your child.• Listen to audio books with your child.• Read the book your child is reading.• Model good reading habits.• Talk about books your child is reading.• Build a home library.• Take your child to the public library.

Carmen Oakes and Ashley Zheng present their projects over playwright William Shakespeare.

Students Cielo Perez and Garrett Pritchett perform a reading during the evening.

Searcy High School EAST Program joined with the nation-wide EAST initiative to hold EAST Night Out. Students invited the public to visit their lab and learn what projects they are currently working on to assist the community this year. EAST student Aaron Cullum guides Searcy High School teacher Catie Holman through a virtual reality tour. The EAST lab is facilitated by Mrs. Kay Carpenter.

EAST Night Out

UNITY Health

Unity Health kicks off the Unity Kids Program at Deener, Westside, and McRae. The program will focus on edu-cating the children in our local schools to live Health Centered physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually. “We believe that instilling in our children to live healthy lifestyles at a young age will help them develop healthy habits for life. It is very important to empower our chil-dren to think and be Health Centered.”

Arkansas State University nursing students educate McRaekindergartenclasses about good hand washing and preventing the spread of germs.

What’s Happening at Searcy Schools?

What’s Cooking at Searcy Schools?November — Lunch Menu

Searcy Public Schools Child Nutrition Program

NOTE: Additional foods may be offered to meet calorie needs for specific ages. ALL grain foods are >50% whole grain to meet USDA regulations. For more information or questions, contact Child Nutrition Director, Charlotte Davis, RD, LD at (501) 268-3517 or cdavis@searcyschools.org. USDA is an equal opportunity provider & employer.

 2  

Breaded  Steak  Fingers  OR  Teriyaki  Chicken  w/Asian  Rice  Mashed  Potatoes  with  Gravy  

Seasoned  Green  Beans  Texas  Toast    /      Fresh  Banana  

“Dragon  Punch”  /    Milk  

3  “Domino’s  Smart  Slice”  

Pepperoni  Pizza  Green  Salad  with  Dressing  

Glazed  Carrots  Raisins  Milk  

4      Popcorn  Chicken  with  Sauce  

OR  Roast  Pork  w/Gravy  Sweet  Potato  Crunch  

Seasoned  Black-­‐eyed  Peas  Bread  Stick  

Applesauce    /    Milk  

5  Chili  with  Beef  &  Beans  with  

Mini  Saltines  OR  Mini  Corn  Dogs  w/Mustard  “Smiles”  Potatoes/  Ketchup  

Creamy  Coleslaw  Fresh  Grapes  /Brownie/Milk  

 

6    

NO  SCHOOL    

(Teacher  Inservice/AEA  Conference)  

9  Hot  Dog  with  Mustard  OR  

Hamburger  Lettuce/Tomato/Pickles  

RF  “Cheetos  Puffs”  Seasoned  Whole  Kernel  Corn  

Baked  Beans  Diced  Pears  /  Milk  

10            “Breakfast  for  Lunch”  Scrambled  Eggs  

Biscuit  with  Cream  Gravy  Jelly  

Sausage  Patty  Tator  Tots  with  Ketchup  

Bell  Pepper  Strips  Juice    /    Milk  

11  Personal  Cheese  Pizza  OR  

Chicken  Nachos  Green  salad  with  Dressing  

Glazed  Carrots  Fruit  Cocktail  

Chocolate  Chip  Cookie  Milk  

12  Chicken  Sticks  w/Sauce  OR  

Baked  Turkey  Sour  Cream  &  Chive  Mashed  

Potatoes  Seasoned  Green  Peas  

Hot  Roll  Applesauce    /  Milk  

13  Corn  Dog  with  Mustard  OR  Mostaccioli  Pasta  w/Roll  

Seasoned  Whole  Kernel  Corn  Seasoned  Green  Beans  

Granny  Smith  Apple  Slices  with  Caramel  Dip  

Milk  16  

Cheeseburger  OR  Pizza  Cheese  Crunchers  Lettuce/Tomato/Pickles  

Glazed  Carrots  Seasonal  Fresh  Fruit  

Milk    

17            “Thanksgiving  Meal”  Baked  Turkey  

Cornbread  Dressing  Mashed  Potatoes/Gravy  Broccoli  w/Cheese  Sauce  

Hot  Roll  Fruit  Salad  /    Milk  

18  Max  Cheese  Sticks  OR  Stromboli  

Marinara  Sauce  Seasoned  Whole  Kernel  Corn  

Fruit  Juice  Punch  “Chortles”  Mini  Grahams  

Milk  

19        Breaded  Chicken  Sandwich          OR  Chicken  Spaghetti  with  

Bread  Stick  Lettuce/Tomato/Pickles  

Baked  Potato  with  Margarine  &  Sour  Cream  

Seasoned  Green  Beans  Peaches/Cupcake/Milk  

20  Crispito  with  Cheese  Dip  OR  Vegetable  Beef  Soup  with  

“Goldfish”  Crackers/St.Cheese  Seasoned  Pinto  Beans  

Green  Salad  with  Dressing  Golden  Delicious  Apple  

Milk  23  

Garlic/Cheese  French  Bread  Pizza  OR  Beef  Burrito  with  

Cheese  Sauce  Green  Salad  with  Dressing  

Glazed  Carrots  Frozen  Juice  Cup    /      Milk  

24  Taco  Salad  with  Cheese  

Lettuce  &  Salsa  Seasoned  Pinto  Beans  

Fruit  Juice  Punch  Cinnamon  Roll  

Milk  

25    

NO  SCHOOL  

26    

NO  SCHOOL  (Thanksgiving)  

27    

NO  SCHOOL  

30  Breaded  Steak  Fingers  OR  

Teriyaki  Chicken  w/Asian  Rice  Mashed  Potatoes  with  Gravy  

Seasoned  Green  Beans  Texas  Toast    /      Applesauce  “Dragon  Punch”  /    Milk  

 

       

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

Basketball: Cub Classic Tournament — 9th Grade Only

OCTOBER 2015 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

DECEMBER 2015 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

5 pm Basketball:7th, 8th, 9th Grade Boys

vs. Jonesboro

5:30 pm Football: 8th Grade & SHS Cubs vs. Beebe

6 pm Westside: 2nd Grade Program/PTO Meeting

Choir: Invitational FestivalFFA: Sub-Area

Leadership Contest

Basketball:Jammin’ in the Jungle

7:30 am Deener: K & 1st Donuts with Dads

4 pm Basketball:8th Grade & SHS Cubs vs.

Cabot South5 pm Basketball: JV Boys &

SHS vs. Watson Chapel

McRae/Sidney DeenerFlu Clinics

8:15 am Westside:Military Heroes Celebration

10 am AJHS:Veterans Day Assembly

2 pm McRae:Veterans Day Parade

7:30 am Deener: 2nd & 3rd Grade Donuts with Dads

5:15 pm Board MeetingSuperintendent’s Office

Thanksgiving HolidayNo School

SWMS: Picture Day5 pm Deener:

Family Game Night

4 pm Basketball:7th Grade vs. Batesville

Progress ReportsSent Home

Westside Flu Clinic4 pm Basketball: 7th Grade

vs. Wynne

Thanksgiving HolidayNo School

Teacher DistrictIn-Service-AEA Conference

7 pm Football:SHS vs. Cabot

SWMS Flu Clinic1:30 pm Deener: K & 1st

Grade StudentRecognition Assembly

2 pm Deener: 2nd & 3rd StudentRecognition Assembly

Thanksgiving HolidayNo School

Basketball:Jacksonville Jamboree

Drama: Arkansas Young Playwright Competition

Choir: Region Clinic

Drama: Cyclone Forensics Tournament

Basketball: BeebeJr. High Tournament

Basketball: Beebe Jr. High Tournament — 9th Grade Only

4:30 pm Basketball:8th Grade & SHS

Cubs vs. Greenbrier

Basketball: Searcy Bank Classic Tournament

upda

teVolume 29, Number 3

November 2015

Searcy Public Schools801 North Elm Street

Searcy, Arkansas 72143(501)268-3517

www.searcyschools.org

Board of EducationPhilip Williams - President

Dr. Michael Liles - Vice PresidentLinda Benson - Secretary

Dr. Brent Blakely - MemberJimmy Simpson - Member

Superintendent - Diane Barrett

Concerns regardingUPDATE may be addressed to

Betsy Bailey, Editorbbailey@searcyschools.org

Art istof the

Month

NO

VEM

BER

Congratulations to McRae Elementary School third grade student Clark Ollis for being named the November Artist of the Month. Ollis is a student in Mrs. Tracey Rogers’s art class and in Mrs. Blakely Howell’s homeroom. He is shown with his “Lion” drawing that was entered in the McRae yearbook cover contest.

On Saturday, October 10, seven members of the SHS FTA (Future Teachers of America) traveled to Little Rock to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to honor the survivors and victims of breast cancer. Pictured left to right: Sara Feather, Bailey Mills, Savannah Morris, Jewell Hernandez, La’Tiana Floyd, Kamie Provence and Ivorie Hickey.

Searcy High School Lionstep-pers donated their time and efforts to the Foster Care Boutique sorting clothing for children in foster care in White County. Pictured areLionsteppers Kim Troillett, Madison Young, Hannah Wells Bonnie Gavin, Yohanna Cortes, Pallas Manley, and Hannah Prichard with their coach Amanda Simpson at the foster boutique storage unit.

Searcy High School junior Jessica Wesson shows her goat Mercedes which placed 6th in the state at the Arkansas State Fair. Wesson holds the office of secretary in the Searcy FFA, and she is pictured with FFA advisor Addison Safley.

SHS wrestling team raises funds for it pro-gram carhopping on October 10th. Shown are wrestlers Corey Pope, Chris Melder, Jus-tin Osborn, Manager Ane Elise Pitt, Justin Vaughn, and Tremer Shell hard at work. The team raised approximately $2,000.

The Searcy High School golf team visited McRae Elementary School and read to stu-dents throughout the school. Pictured are golfers Grace Williams, Kalynn Hopkins, Ena Antone, Ellen Grace Adams, Hallie Jackson, Ashton Schlem, Jason Rains, Jackson Hart, Colton Smith, Drew Castle-berry, Hunter Wilkerson, Grant Holeyfield, Austin Pike, Drake White, and Grant Robin-son with Coach Bryant Turney.

In preparation for the holiday season and the Wreaths Across America assembly, Ahlf Junior High School’s Student Council is organizing a Toy Drive with Operation Homefront to benefit military families. The seventh and eighth grade classes will compete to see which class can collect the most donations. Toys should be new and unopened, and appropriate for chil-dren between the ages of 6-18. The toy drive begins Nov. 11th and will conclude Dec. 4th. Questions may be directed to Brenda Louis, blouis@searcyschools.org.