Mena High School students have been participating in a program through Civics classes with Mrs. Julie Gordon and Freshman English classes with Mrs. Patricia Jackson, under the direction of MHS Media Specialist Celeste Ashcraft through the Arkansas Declaration of Learning Program. The program of study focused on WWI with the incorporation of art housed at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, The Diplomatic Reception Rooms, The Butler Center Galleries, and The Clinton Presidential Library.
Also, through the program of study, students must complete a civics engagement project. MHS students in the program chose to plant a tree outside of MHS as part of the WWI Memorial Tree Project. The location of the tree at MHS will be listed on the Arkansas register of the official website of the program. A Shumard Red Oak tree was chosen for its red fall foliage symbolizing the blood that was shed to protect our freedom during WWI.
Besides Mrs. Gordon's & Mrs. Jackson's classes, many other organizations are involved including FCCLA, the FFA Nursery & Landscape Team, MHS Band, Polk County Master Gardeners, Polk County Cooperative Extension Agents, and MHS Journalism.
MHS invites the community to the ceremony this Friday, April 27, at 10:45 a.m., but the organizations are also accepting donations for the tree and will recognize memorial donations in honor of Veterans of any wars, especially Veterans of WWI. If you would like to contribute to this endeavor, please contact Julie Gordon or Celeste Ashcraft at 479-394-1144.