Week 29: Planting Seeds

Happy Friday!

I hope you all had a wonderful Spring Break! This first week of the last quarter started very well with our professional development at the Ouachita Center on Monday. I want to start by extending my deepest gratitude to all staff members at Mena Public Schools for your unwavering dedication and hard work. Your commitment is the backbone of our progress toward our performance targets and instructional vision that was delivered to you all on Monday. As we navigate through this spring season, we are reminded of the importance of growth and adaptation, themes central to Monday’s work and this week's "Planting Seeds" Wrap-up.

Spring is not just about witnessing nature’s renewal but also about our own professional and institutional growth. This year we have been focusing on enhancing how we record discipline, aiming for greater accuracy in our data. I want to reiterate how this adjustment has led to an apparent increase in recorded incidents, a step back from our performance target, but a stride towards accuracy, transparency, and improvement.

Our attendance rates have shown a slight improvement since the last Wrap-up, increasing by a tenth of a percent. Though we celebrate this progress, it is not near our 93.5 percent attendance goal. But, every small improvement is a step in the right direction, and it is through your efforts that these steps are possible.

As we delve into the theme of "Planting Seeds," I want to highlight the growth that comes from facing challenges. Like seeds that must break open to sprout, stepping out of our comfort zones is essential for realizing our full potential. Everything we do as educators is about continuing our journey of growth and improvement together to ensure the growth of our students.

Seeds of Growth

In the silence of the earth, a seed holds within it a wonderful power, a promise of life waiting to burst forth. It is a process that begins in darkness, with a potential so vast yet so contained and protected. When a seed is scarred by the soil, that allows it to absorb water and nutrients transforming it into whatever it is destined to become. This mirrors the educational journey's need for openness to criticism for true growth to occur.

Consider the natural progression of a seed's life, where the breaking or scarring of its outer shell is not a mere happenstance but a necessity. This breach allows the essential elements of water and nutrients to seep in, initiating the process of germination that culminates in the sprouting and flourishing of new life. The scarring, rather than being seen as damage, is acknowledged as a critical step towards unlocking the seed's inherent potential.

This process serves as a powerful parallel to the role of constructive criticism and self-reflection in the realm of education. Such actions, albeit seemingly unwelcome or uncomfortable at times, acts as a vital catalyst for improvement and innovation. We know that openness to critique has paved the way for significant advancements in teaching methodologies, curriculum development, student achievement, and the broader sphere of educational leadership.

We have to develop the mindset required to effectively absorb and implement constructive criticism with openness, humility, and a relentless quest for excellence. Furthermore, we should foster a culture within educational settings that treasures feedback as an indispensable tool for personal and professional enhancement, rather than perceiving it as a form of judgment.

Just as we navigate our own growth through embracing challenges, it is crucial for us to foster a similar 'sprouting' process in our students. By thoughtfully applying the right amount of rigor in our teaching and expectations, we create the conditions under which our students can break through their own shells and start their journey of growth. This does not mean overwhelming them but rather providing a balanced environment that challenges them just enough to stimulate learning and personal development. It is up to us as educators to calibrate this rigor, ensuring it acts as the water and nutrients needed for a seed to sprout. In doing so, we are not just teaching curriculum content; we are nurturing resilient, adaptable learners prepared to thrive in the complexities of the world beyond our classrooms.

As we reflect on the metaphor of seeds and the process of growth, it is clear that both in nature and education, transformation is a journey that involves challenge, resilience, and the willingness to be open to change. The parallels between the natural world and our educational endeavors remind us that growth is an ongoing process, requiring nurturing environments, supportive feedback, and a commitment to fostering potential. Let us carry this understanding forward, recognizing that each student, each educator, and each member of our community holds within them a promise of growth and transformation. Together, as we cultivate these seeds of growth, we not only enhance our school system but also contribute to a richer, more vibrant future for our community.

Grants

I want to start by acknowledging the work of so many of you who have taken the time to acquire additional funds to use in our schools. The latest efforts have come from Karen Parnell, Special Education Instructor at Mena Middle School, and Maddison Maddox, Mena Public Schools alum and current graduate student at the University of Arkansas. Both of them have been responsible for providing new iPads to our non-verbal, special needs students to use as communication devices. Karen as a long-career Special Needs educator and Maddison as a passionate graduate student of Special Education have turned their ideas into a very helpful reality. We are thankful to both of them because it is very difficult to get insurance approval for parents to provide these devices to their children. Thanks to these passionate Special Educators, Mena students will have this new and valuable resource.

To further support the growth and development of our programs and initiatives, we warmly encourage any staff member inspired to pursue grant opportunities to do so. Before beginning your efforts, we kindly ask that you complete a designated form to ensure the central office staff is informed. This step will help us coordinate efforts, avoid any potential oversights, and ensure the seamless management of funds. By working together in this way, we can maximize the impact of these opportunities for the benefit of our students and community. Here is a list of several new opportunities.

Closing

This week we had some fantastic victories by our softball, baseball, and soccer teams. Our track performances have been outstanding, as well. Our gifted and talented students have been hard at work and competition. Congratulations to our coop chess tournament winners!

Congratulations to our high school coding team and Mrs. Titsworth for advancing to the All-State Coding Competition at Arkansas Tech.

It was another productive week at Mena Public Schools and we look forward to more as we draw nearer to the end of this school year!

At Mena Public Schools our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!