Mena Bearcat Coaches have selected #24, Brody Peters, as the Farm Bureau Insurance Player of the Game vs. the DeQueen Leopards. Brody is a Junior Fullback / Middle Linebacker, for the Bearcats, and is the son of Brandon and Mary Peters. Brody had 104 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, plus 12 tackles on defense, helping to lead the Bearcats to a convincing, 39-7 victory at Randall Whorton field this past Friday night. Brody enjoys fishing and hunting when not involved in school activities, and has taken up a new interest this past year, in trapping, thanks to his best friend, Cooper Plunkett. Brody also plays Centerfield for the Bearcat Baseball team and he hopes to go to college on a baseball scholarship after graduation in 2025. This Friday night, Brody and the Bearcats will travel to Center Point, to take on the much improved Knights, with kickoff at 7 pm. Shown presenting Brody with his game ball is local Farm Bureau agent, Andy Brown. Farm Bureau Insurance is a proud supporter of Mena Bearcat athletics!!

Saturday was Beginning Band Bootcamp at mena Middle School! Volunteer MHS Bearcat Band members spent the day teaching beginning band students how to assemble and play their instruments.

Lynus Campbell was the lucky winner of a $10 Cruizzers gift card🍔🥤🍦His name was drawn from all of Mrs Williams’ students that returned the “Back to School” paperwork completed…thank you parents!

The Mena Bearcat Band played their first halftime performance of the year on Friday at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium.

The Mena Bearcats won their season opener 39-7 over DeQueen on Friday night. Mena is back in action next Friday at Centerpoint. Kick off is set for 7:00pm. https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics/athletics?filter_ids=19617

Mena High School held their first pep rally of the year on Friday. Students cheered on the volleyball team as they prepare to play Magnolia on Tuesday and the football team as they play DeQueen on Friday. The sophomores won the Spirit Stick !

Tune in Bearcat News on Mena Public Schools Radio this Monday for the weekly report from Louise Durham Elementary. Featuring CUTTER a second grader in Mrs. Redfearn's class. Listen on 101.1 FM or online at https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/index.cfm?CFID=f72052df-6b1f-45e3-97c7-dff595a647a1&CFTOKEN=0&stationCallSign=KJBS&fbclid=IwAR0G03cs99oYkPhm1l20swHRNwOXTzY-0IJmi0Zndot1RGesrPPTZcwIirM

The Ladycat JV team defeated Ashdown 25-11/25-22 and the Sr. Ladycats defeated Ashdown 25-14/25-13/25-10 on Thursday at the Union Bank Center. The team is back in action Tuesday when they host Magnolia. https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics/athletics?filter_ids=19738

The Jr. Ladycats improved to 3-0 with a 25-9/25-13 win over Ashdown on Thursday at the Union Bank Center. The team is back in action on Tuesday at Greenwood. https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics/athletics?filter_ids=20083

Be looking for the Red Around Town Newsletter in your mailbox soon!

The week one Teammate Award Winners at Holly Harshman Elementary are: Emma Vieira - 5th grader, was nominated by Mrs Williams for her willingness to help other students. Raeden Parker - 3rd grader nominated by Mrs Parsons for always being respectful, honest, and empathic. Rayleigh Allen - 5th grader, was nominated by Mrs Montgomery for always willing to help other students with a sweet and kind heart in class. Blake Palmer - 4th grader nominated by Mrs Jacot. He is always helpful, respectful, and caring in class. He always leads by example. Keegan Murphy - 4th grader, was nominated by Ms Peters. He took the initiative to push in his classmates' chairs, pick up pencils and papers, and took a forgotten backpack to the next class. The girls will be team captains at tonight's SR High volleyball game and will be sitting on the bench cheering on the Ladycats. The boys will be water boys for the Bearcat Football team Friday night.

District Reading Intervention Coach Katie Thomas and Loise Durham Library Media Specialist Tiffany Williams attended the Arkansas Leadership Academy Instructional Leader Empowerment Cohort this week. ILE is for those within the school system that impact and support teachers and instruction in the classroom. The purpose of Instructional Leader Empowerment is to support growth through a focus on improving instruction in the classroom. ILE provides professional learning and sharing opportunities from both national subject matter experts and local Arkansas educators. Sessions focus on developing and nurturing a plan and process for instructional leaders to impact and support classroom teachers and instruction in the classroom.

Mena Public Schools always moving forward. Work began on a new parking lot at the Mena High School field house on Wednesday.

It was a busy first day at the Mena Middle School Library on Monday. 176 books were checked out. We have a lot of readers.

The 7th Grade Ladycats defeated Booneville 2-0 on Monday and the Jr. High Ladycats also defeated Booneville 2-0. The Sr. Ladycats defeat Booneville in the season opener on Monday 25-15, 25-15, 24-26, 25-18. Mena is back in action on Tuesday at Waldron.

The Mena High School Back to School Boot Scoot was held this past Friday. The MHS Student Council worked hard putting this together and were thankful for the turnout. Thanks to all the teachers who volunteered to chaperone this event.

The new six foot security fence has been installed and is almost complete at Louise Durham Elementary.

Mena Middle School Library Aides are working hard to get the library ready for Monday!

The SBLive Arkansas Volleyball rankings were released on Wednesday. The Mena Ladycats are ranked #3 in 4A and #17 overall in the state. Read the article at the link below https://highschool.si.com/arkansas/2023/08/16/sblive-arkansas-top-25-preseason-volleyball-rankings

Mena students are on campus and the first day of school is underway!!!