Standardized testing begins next week across the #HSSD ... Find details for 3rd-10th grade, below. On these dates, please make sure that your students are well rested, and well fed. Please do not schedule appointments for students during these dates. We appreciate you!

The HSSD coordinated more than 2,100 K-6th grade students through the Hot Springs Airport today for Career Day, an event dedicated to highlighting the careers and services available in the Hot Springs community. Public safety and service agencies provided unique stations for students to visit with representatives and tour equipment and gear.

How do you summarize the biographies of our 45 United States Presidents? Gardner STEM third grade students in Ms. Sierocuk’s class wrote bio poems, created illustrations to accompany each poem, and presented their work to the class. As part of the Presidents Unit, the project included writing, art, and speaking skills, and challenged them to learn collaboratively about U.S. leaders.

Kindergarten registration opens April 1 for all four outstanding HSSD elementary schools. Come join our Trojan Family! Find info about open house or community events scheduled at each magnet school, and all required registration items, at: www.hssd.net/parents/registration

On April 5, the National Honors Society for Dance Arts Chapter at HSWCHS will host an Elementary Workshop for students ages 3-12 (grades Pre-K-6). The workshop will be held at the HSWCHS Studio from 3:30-5:30 on Friday, April 5. Participants will learn a technical warm up and then a dance to be performed at the HSIS/HSJA/HSWCHS Spring Dance Concert on April 11 at 6 p.m. Participants will rehearse on stage at HSJA on Tuesday, April 9 from 3:30-4:30. They will receive an official concert t-shirt and have the opportunity to dance with our talented dancers in the HSSD Dance Program.

This week’s shoutout goes to the amazingly talented students at our HSSD, and the brave way that our student groups put themselves out there in public forums, competitions, and performances. We’ve had a series of memorable events this week that have taken weeks (and in some cases- years) of preparation, discipline, creativity, integrity, community collaboration, and I’ll say it again - amazing talent. I also want to share an anonymous shoutout to Mrs. Hatcher at our HSJA. 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!

At the HSSD, we have four outstanding EAST Programs. All groups presented and competed this week at the 2019 EAST Conference at the Hot Springs Convention Center. Their amazing work has made the HSSD extremely proud. During the Conference Gala last night, our HSWCHS team Program was awarded the prestigious Project Sophistication and Innovation Award, and an individual award via Miles Hermann in the ARCHICAD Competition.

This week’s shoutout goes to our Park Magnet School staff members who have been super positive and helpful all week during massive staff absences due to widespread flu and illness. They also still managed to have incredible growth in MAP reading scores in all K-2 classrooms. I am SO proud of this staff and our students. I also want to share an anonymous shout to Ms. Holder and Mrs. Cox as follows “Langston’s Ms. Holder and Mrs. Cox rendition of Dr. Seuss Wocket in My Pocket!!!!”

Gardner first grade students in Mrs. Stacie Love’s class used snacks as manipulatives, to help practice math skills using quantities of 10s, up to 100 items. “Using snacks instead of traditional manipulatives like blocks really engaged the kids because it was such a different experience from what they are used to …”

This week’s shoutout goes to our 7th-12th grade students and support staff/sponsors in our HSSD Secondary Theatre Program for their excellent production of “Footloose!” Your theatrical talent, months of hard work in rehearsals and preparation, and wonderful collaboration as a student team was evident during every part of the “Footloose!” performance. I also want to share an anonymous shout to Mrs. Sadler at our HSJA.