Trojan Happenings: February 10-14, 2020
Reminder: No School Monday, February 17, for President's Day
Upcoming Events

Testing Reminder: Please make sure that students in grades 3-6 get plenty of rest, plenty of food, and lots of encouragement this week. They will be taking ACT ASPIRE Interim Tests Monday-Wednesday.

Monday, February 10
-ACT ASPIRE Interim Testing for Students in Grades 3-6
-Jr. High Basketball (9th Girls & Boys) 5A SW District Tournament
at Lakeside (AWAY)

Tuesday, February 11
-ACT ASPIRE Interim Testing for Students in Grades 3-6
-Jr. High Basketball (9th Girls & Boys) 5A SW District Tournament
at Lakeside (AWAY)
-Basketball (JV Boys; V Girls & Boys) vs. El Dorado at El Dorado (AWAY), 5:00
-HSSD Welcome Center Cooking Class, FREE to all,
at Welcome Center (702 Main Street) 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 12
(*Wednesday is NOT an Early Release Day this week; students will be dismissed at their normal afternoon dismissal time)
-ACT ASPIRE Interim Testing for Students in Grades 3-6
-11th Grade to Attend Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Career Fair
at Hot Springs Convention Center
-Jr. High Basketball (9th Girls & Boys) 5A SW District Tournament
at Lakeside (AWAY)

Thursday, February 13
(*Students will be released early on Thursday for Parent/Teacher Conferences)
-Parent/Teacher Conferences, All HSSD Campuses, 2:00-8:00

Friday, February 14
-Salsa vs. Salsa Competition at HSWCHS, 4:00
-Basketball (JV Boys; V Girls & Boys) vs. Lake Hamilton at HOME, 5:00

Saturday, February 15
Wrestling Conference Tournament at Lakeside (AWAY)

No School Monday, February 17: President's Day Holiday

Trojans News

I n coordination with our HSSD Gifted and Talented Program, representatives from Arkansas State Parks brought a 25-foot planetarium to our Park Magnet School and presented a “Native Americans and the Stars” program to more than 250 HSSD fifth grade students. Amy Griffin, Park Interpreter at Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park (Scott, Arkansas), set up the portable planetarium. Programs like these from Arkansas State Parks offer engaging content for students that also support classroom curriculum standards. “Native American and the Stars” programs include lessons in social studies, science, and reading comprehension - as interpreters explain how Native Americans used the stars and constellations for navigation, and passed down knowledge from generation to generation through storytelling. 

Park Magnet an IB World School, a part of the Hot Springs School District, has been named for a second year in a row as a National Magnet School of Distinction by Magnet Schools of America, the national association for magnet and theme-based schools. To receive a national merit award, members of Magnet Schools of America must submit a detailed application that is scored by a panel of educators. These schools are judged and scored on their demonstrated ability to raise student academic achievement, promote racial and socioeconomic diversity, provide integrated curricula and instruction, and create strong family and community partnerships that enhance the school’s magnet theme. See more, here.

S tudent Council Uses Positive Messages Board for Suicide Prevention Awareness

The Hot Springs World Class High School Student Council is receiving great participation from students via a positive message board project, created to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Students leave messages of inspiration, encouragement, and general kindness on sticky notes to build an entire collection of support to those who may be affected by depression, trauma, and other challenges.

Congrats to De'Ante Sanders, Santiair Thomas, Devin Hill, and Malik Brewer, who were celebrated last week at a Football Signing Ceremony at our Indoor Practice Facility for signing respective letters of intent with schools across the U.S. Our wonderful and talented friend Aaron Brewer captured all photos above.
Mrs. Gail Bean and Mrs. Joie Trejo are now certified R.I.S.E. Trainers for the HSSD, which allows for in-house training and support to staff members for the. R.I.S.E. (Reading Initiative for Student Excellence) Arkansas program facilitated through the Arkansas Department of Education They add a valuable service area to their roles as District Instructional Facilitators, because they can combine specialized R.I.S.E. training with the specific needs and challenges at the HSSD.

R.I.S.E. Arkansas advocates for community collaboration around reading, and includes a research-based curriculum that breaks down the unique brain processes required for reading skills at each level of reading. R.I.S.E. curriculum is entirely different from the way that reading skills have been taught previously, and is being implemented by schools across Arkansas. Because of R.I.S.E., the focus is now in determining what skills each child needs to read with fluency and comprehension. Diagnostic tests help to pinpoint exactly where a child is on various reading skill levels, which allow teachers to individualize and target skills needed by each child at each reading level. Read more, here.


School Counselors across Garland County were interviewed last week to celebrate National School Counselors Week, and highlight the invaluable role that School Counselors play in helping students to learn, grow, and plan for their futures! Read and Watch, here.

Let's work to stay healthy, together! HSSD families, please remember that January - March is the peak of flu/sickness season. What are everyday preventive actions we can all take to avoid spreading germs? 

1) Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. OR, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
 
2) If you or your child gets sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you (or your child) stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

3) Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands. 

4) Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs that can cause respiratory illnesses like flu. 



I want to give a huge shoutout to our School Counselors for the outstanding work that they do all year long. They are an invaluable asset to our team, and their profession is honored across the country this week for National School Counselor Week! Their skills and dedicated efforts are threaded into every area of need in a school - whether they are taking care of kids academically or emotionally, working with us on building and changing student schedules, helping to handle logistics of any kind as we shuffle students throughout the day, helping students to plan and make priorities/goals for their future, collaborating to provide mindful solutions for student and family challenges as we work to keep kids focused and motivated, and so many more duties and responsibilities. Thank you to our professional, passionate Counselor Team:  Trojan ‘Good Things’ is a weekly shout out from #HSSD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Nehus to individuals in our school community who are doing amazing things!  Read more, here.

HSSD Launches
New Mobile App

Download the "Hot Springs School District" app from your app store (for FREE of course) to quickly and easily access HSSD News, Calendars, a quick link to the Home Access Center (HAC), Lunch Menus, the Student Handbook, and more! We look forward to utilizing this additional communication tool to help keep our students, families, and community as well informed as possible.
400 Linwood Avenue
Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913
www.hssd.net
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