INSIDE:

• Operation Paydirt: Fundred Project • Mid-Winter Technology Conference • New in Paris School District • Toolbox for Education Grant • Outstanding Eagles • Alumni in the News • Dates to Remember

Making a Difference SPRING 2010

EAGLE PRIDE

Helping You Stay Connected to the Paris School District….

Making a Difference (Cont.) Paris Elementary students, along with their Art Teacher, Pat Shoultz, are helping to make a difference. They have recently started working on a project called "Operation Paydirt." PES is helping make safe the lead-contaminated soil in U.S. cities that puts thousands of children at risk for severe learning disabilities and behavioral problems. New Orleans is one of the most lead-contaminated cities in the U.S.

Part of "Operation Paydirt" is the Fundred Dollar Bill Project. This is a nationwide drawing project. The students were given color photo copies of blank $100 bill templates. They were then asked to draw their own creations on these templates.

The goal of this Fundred Dollar Bill Project is to collect over 3 million of these unique artworks. This cumulative total of 300,000,000 Fundred Dollars supports the equivalent cost (in U.S. Dollars) required to make safe every lead contaminated property in New Orleans, so that every child is protected.

The completed Fundred drawings are sent to official collection centers to be counted and securely held. These valuable drawings will be picked up by a special armored truck and presented to the U.S. Congress with a request for an even exchange of the Fundreds for real funding to make safe lead-polluted soils in New Orleans.

Mid-Winter Technology Conference Paris School District recently hosted a Mid-Winter Technology conference at the Paris Elementary School in January in conjunction with the Charleston, Cedarville and County Line schools as part of the Enhancing Education Through Technology grant. The conference was a great experience for everyone who uses or is seeking to use technology in the classroom to learn ways to effectively integrate required K-12 technology standards. There were nine presenters at the conference discussing numerous topics, including SMARTboard use, Google Programs, Wikis and tips, tools and a list of free useful educational sites. Over 180 teachers participated in the Mid-Winter Technology conference. The conference gave participants a variety of new ideas they can use in their classrooms.

Paris Elementary School Clubs

PES Counselor, Sara Davis, recently put a new program into place at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. Davis learned about the Club Program at a conference she attended last school year. Upon hearing of the program, she decided it would be a great tool to get at-risk students involved who aren't usually in extracurricular activities. However, the program has proven to be beneficial for all participating students. The program consists of eight clubs the students can choose to join:

• Birthday Club – open to 2nd-4th graders: Organize monthly birthday parties and decorate birthday board • Decoration Club – open to 2nd -4th graders: Decorate school for the holidays and special events • Eagle Club – open to 3rd & 4th grade boys: Make morning intercom announcements, help with Rise & Shine and

Honors Assemblies • Brown Bear Buddy Club – open to 4th graders: Help 1st grade students with reading skills weekly to help them

get in to the Brown Bear Reading Club • Hollywood Club – open to 2nd-4th graders: Perform commercials at the Character Ed Assemblies based on the

character principal for that nine week period • Girl Power Club – open to 2nd-4th grade girls: Make Thank you cards for guest presenters, help with Box Tops

for Education program • Boys of Purpose Club – open to 2nd & 3rd grade boys: Help with the Back Pack Food Program weekly • Just Say No Club – open to 2nd graders: Help Mrs. Davis during Red Ribbon Week in the month of October

In order to participate in a club, each student must do all their homework and class work, have no more than 2 office referrals and are required to attend the club meetings. The purpose of the new Club Program is to help the students develop self-esteem, responsibility and a feeling of belonging. The clubs also help the students make new friends. In the future, Davis plans to have club offerings for kindergarten and first grade students as well.

Paris High School Renaissance Program

A new program will begin at PHS at the start of the 2010-2011 school year. The goal of the Renaissance Program is to provide an atmosphere that promotes excellent performance by all students and to create an attitude that academic achievement is something to be proud of and will result in immediate and future rewards. Any student who has been awarded a semester of credits will be eligible for the Renaissance program (freshmen will be eligible for a card after the Spring Semester). Cards are good for one semester and will be awarded for the Fall and the Spring Semesters. A student will be issued a GOLD, BLUE or WHITE Renaissance card at the end of each semester. Some of the criteria that are considered in issuing the cards are grade point, suspensions, tardies, absences and EOC exam scores. Students who are issued these cards will be rewarded for their academic excellence in several ways which may include discounted admission to athletic events, selection of lockers and parking spaces, Renaissance Days, discount on annuals and parking permits and other complimentary items. PHS believes a student who is encouraged, supported, and rewarded for academic achievement will experience greater success, graduate and enter the community as a positive, productive citizen.

New Programs in Paris School District

FFA Chapter Fundraiser Paris High School FFA Chapter recently began selling personalized bricks for a fundraiser. Members will be selling bricks for $40 each and the profits go into a FFA Scholarship fund. Their goal is to sell 250 bricks to raise over $4000. Along with the bricks they will buy a 7ft tall FFA emblem made of concrete that has been stained in bronze. The emblem will be placed in front of the high school with the bricks inlaid around it.

Toolbox for Education Grant

Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a $4,700 Toolbox for Education grant to Paris Middle School for “Project Courtyard”. Paris Middle School is one of more than 450 schools or parent organizations to be awarded a Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant for parent-initiated school improvement projects, benefiting K-12 public education across the United States during the 2009-2010 school year. “Project Courtyard” will make improvements to the current bare learning and recreational area in the center of the Paris Middle School campus. The student and parent volunteers will plant flowers, bushes, grasses and trees; while including chairs, benches, ground improvement and aesthetically pleasing murals/banners in the design and development. The project is scheduled to be completed in April 2010.

Gift from Walmart Paris Walmart recently presented Jim Loyd, Paris School District Superintentdent, with a gift card for $300 to use for the schools. The moneys originated from a competition the area stores had to see who could achieve the highest sales of Pepsi products. Paris Walmart won the competition and recived $1000 from Pepsi to distribute among area schools. These winnings were divided among Paris, Scranton and Magazine Schools.

ACT All Stars Paris School District is proud to announce our ACT All Stars. These are students who have achieved a score of 23 or higher on the American College Test (ACT). These ACT scores will be considered when students apply for scholarships and college entrance in most states.

NCEA Award Received Paris Middle School was recently presented an award by Governor Mike Beebe and Dr Tom Kimbrell, head of the Arkansas Department of Education. PMS was recognized for the level of improvement in student math scores on the Arkansas Benchmark Test. The National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) recognized PMS as part of its 2009 Just for the Kids Campaign for Higher Performing Schools in Arkansas because they had a better improvement rate in math test scores than schools with similar demographics. PMS is in the top 5% of high performing schools in Arkansas according to the NCEA.

Outstanding Eagles

Kelsey Vines – 25 Taylor Cooper – 25 Josh Vines – 30 Sophie Vincent – 27 Hunter Featherston – 29 Abbey Stephens – 31 Jessica Ellingberg – 27 Kevin Chow – 25 Collin Hutson – 28 Alivia Biggs – 27 Chase Askins – 26 Becky Lowe - 23

Rebecca Broadbent – 25 Ritchie Trusty – 25 Keith Brown – 25 Sara Watkins – 27 Abbey Eckelhoff – 25 Colton Dishongh – 28 Anthony Anhalt – 31 Michael Curtis – 24 Sam Canada – 23 Stephanie Corley – 25 Michelle Duggar – 26

Outstanding Eagles (Cont.)

Karen Earwood, PES 3rd grade teacher, was honored as 2009 Educator of the Year at the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet at the Mount Magazine Lodge on February 20th. Earwood has dedicated the last 38 years to educating our youth and makes learning fun for our children.

Paris Middle School 7th grade student, Jordan Lee, has been named the 2010 Muscular Dystrophy Association Goodwill Ambassador! Jordan, along with the help of his family, Paris school District and the community, has raised thousands of dollars for MDA this year alone.

Congratulations to Paris High School Senior, Hunter Featherston, who is now a published author! Hunter recently coauthored the book Cross Your Heart with Shelby Kimbrough. To learn more about their book or the authors, visit www.crossyourheartbook.com .

PHS Senior, Josh Vines, was selected as the 2009 Youth of the Year by the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce board and honored at the recent banquet held on February 20th. Vines is a leader in academics, athletics and in our community. He is ranked first in his class and will graduate with highest honors.

REESE ROWLAND – CLASS OF 1984

Reese Rowland graduated from Paris High School in 1984. Following graduation, he went on to earn his degree from the University of Arkansas School of Architecture in 1990. He then went to work as a project designer with Wittenberg, Delony & Davidson Architects from 1990-1996. In 1996, he joined Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects, where he continues to work today. Reese’s dedication to crafting meaningful spaces through innovative, sustainable architecture has been rewarded with over 25 National, Regional and State Design Awards in the last nine years. His Heifer International World Headquarters design received the Nation’s highest honor for architecture, the 2008 AIA National Institute Honor Award, one of only 13 awarded, honoring what is considered the best work around the world by an American architect. The National AIA also recognized the sustainable building as a Top Ten Green Project in the country for 2007. In 2009, Arkansas Business named Reese to its prestigious list of “25 Entrepreneurs & Innovators of the last 25 years”. His work has been published in over 20 architecture journals, as well as 10 books. He has designed some of Little Rock’s most recognized buildings, including Acxiom’s River Market Tower, The Arkansas Studies Institute, Heifer’s new Education Center and the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. He has also designed numerous projects for the Paris School District over the last several years. He still considers Paris his home. Reese and his wife Kami live in Little Rock with their two young sons, whom Reese considers his greatest designs.

DR. GLENDA EZELL – CLASS OF 1973

Dr. Glenda Ezell graduated from Paris High School in 1973. After graduation, she attended Westark Community College in Fort Smith, AR. A lifelong resident of Paris, Ezell earned her B.S.E. in Elementary Education and M.S.E. in Special Education from the University of the Ozarks. She later completed her graduate work with the University of Central Arkansas and then earned her Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She worked for 15 years in the Paris School District before continuing her career with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith as the Coordinator of early childhood education, Director of field experiences, Site Director of Arkansas Non-Traditional Licensure Program and Director of DESTINY Program. For the past seven years, she has worked at the University of the Ozarks, serving as Director of Field Experiences and then as Coordinator of Early Childhood Education and Special Education. Dr. Ezell has recently been named as the new chair of the Division of Education at the University of the Ozarks. She has also written and participated in several grants and made numerous presentations worldwide to help improve education. She is married to Kenneth Ezell and they have two sons, all graduates of Paris High School. Dr. Ezell loves education and is a strong believer in life-long learning.

Alumni in the News Paris School District has educated generations of successful men and women. We would like to take this opportunity to share some of their achievements.

The goal of the Paris School District is to provide meaningful learning experiences so that students can enhance their potential to succeed in a career of their choice.

Dates to Remember April 2 – Good Friday-Make-up Snow Day 3 – Choir Concert 7pm 5-15 – K-2, 9 NRT Testing 8 – Board Meeting 5:30pm 12-17 – Benchmark Exams Grades 3-8 19 – PES Volunteer Appreciation Banquet 20-21 – End of Course Geometry Exam 22-23 – End of Course Algebra I Exam 23 – PES PTO Carnival 24 – PHS Prom 27-28 – End of Course Biology Exam 28-May 7 – GATE Plant Sale May 1-27 – 1st Grade DVD Sales 5 – End of course Algebra II Exam 6 – FBLA Conference 13 – Board Meeting 5:30pm 14 – PHS Graduation 21 – PES Character Ed Program 28 – Semester Tests 31 – Memorial Day – NO SCHOOL June 1 – Semester Tests (Make-Up Snow Day) 2 – Semester Tests (Make-Up Snow Day)

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Eagle Pride is a publication of the Paris School District. It is published quarterly to provide

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members. Please address comments or suggestions to Tonya Varnell, Director of Communications &

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Paris Public Schools 602 North 10th Street Paris, AR 72855-0645 (479) 963-3243