The Mena Jr. High Bearcats hosted Horatio & Mansfield for a team camp at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium on Tuesday. The season opener is September 1st at Centerpoint.
The Sr. High, Jr. High & 7th grade boys basketball teams hosted Horatio, Booneville, Jessieville & Cossatot in a team camp on Thursday.
Mena teachers continue to work in preparation for 2022-2023.
On Tuesday educators underwent MathQuEST training the MHS Library.
Math QuEST (Quantitative Essentials for Students and Teachers)
is a journey for ambitious teaching that promotes equity and engagement of all students in meaningful mathematics learning experiences of reasoning and problem solving. AR Math QuEST empowers educators and families to help students develop positive identities as doers
of mathematics to increase student achievement.
Day two of the Mena High School Class of 2023 Senior Pictures were today in the MHS safe room. Any students who didn’t get their senior pictures taken with the school over these past two days will need to get their pictures taken during the makeup picture day in mid-September.
The Sr. Bearcats competed at the Pottsville Team Camp on Tuesday. The season opener is on August 26th at DeQueen, Check the complete schedule at the link below
https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics/athletics?filter_ids=19617
Please welcome Maranda Cash to Mena High School !
Hi, my name is Maranda Cash and I am excited to be joining Mena Public Schools as the new 9th grade English teacher. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in English Education with a minor in English as a second language at Arkansas Tech University. I also obtained a master’s degree in Special Education From Arkansas Tech. I have been teaching for two years.
The Mena football team worked out for the first time on the new turf at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium on Monday. Check this years schedule on the website at https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics/athletics
Please welcome Kristine Albin to the team at Mena High School!
Hello, my name is Kristine Albin. I will be teaching 11th and 12th grade English at Mena High School. I was born in Mena and a lot of my family is still here. I look forward to returning to my home town to help prepare local students for their future careers and goals.
Mena High School Class of 2023 Senior Pictures are being taken in the MHS Safe Room today and tomorrow, July 11 and 12.
Students were mailed appointment cards, but we know there's always a handful of students who don't get their cards in the mail. Any students who don't get their photos done today or tomorrow, we will have a senior pictures makeup day sometime in September.
The sitting fee is $10, and can paid with cash or check if the student didn’t already confirm their appointment and pay online.
For further information or any questions, contact MHS Yearbook Adviser Andy Philpot at andy.philpot@menaschools.org
Please welcome HOLLY WELSER to the staff at Mena High School!
Hello! I am looking forward to my first year in the Mena High School Science Department. I am coming from Conway High where I have been teaching Environmental Science. Before that, I taught Agricultural Sciences.
I am originally from Kentucky and have always enjoyed the outdoors, animals and plants. I currently raise dogs, rabbits, garden and am a beginning beekeeper.
I also have been a 4-H agent and love guiding students to enjoy learning by doing! I am ready to start exploring the Life Sciences with my students.
Mena High School junior Claire Walston recently attended a judging camp at the University of Arkansas.
Claire’s Results:
Advanced Division
Sheep & Goats 2nd
Cattle 2nd
Hogs 1st
Reasons 1st
Overall 2nd
Congratulations on your hard work this week.
Several Mena High School teachers completed a three-day Google Certification Boot Camp on Thursday. The boot camp was led by Tyra Hobson, DMESC Instructional Technology Specialist. Those attending included Bernice Philpot, Colby Singleton & Jerusha Neufeld.
Mena FFA members have been at the Arkansas FFA World Explorer Leadership Camp. The members learned about different countries and the food insecurities there, participated in several team building outdoor activities, and are bringing back great leadership skills to our chapter, school, and community.
Several Mena High School students are in Chicago for the FBLA National Conference.
Wednesday was filled with shopping, a competition for Psalm and the Opening session where they unveiled the new FBLA logo.
The convention center is right on the lake so the views out the east side are gorgeous!
Nights in Chicago are busy and loud so we walked across the street from the hotel for Gelato and to a market for snacks.
Some had their (including me) first taste of authentic Chicago Deep Dish for dinner. The opinion was split on whether they liked the crust or not 🤷🏻♀️
Thursday was an all day conference day. Shantal and Briley competed andI worked competitions all morning. The girls attended workshops in their “spare” time. They learned about communication, the future of education, internships and Business Achievement Awards. Now headed to the hotel for a little rest then dinner at Hard Rock Cafe….YUM!!!
We are still tired from walking 15,000+ steps yesterday, have blisters on our feet and heels, saw a terrible wreck and had delayed and lost shuttle buses BUT it’s been a great experience and can’t wait to explore more Friday and Saturday and find out if our competitors placed
Mena School administrators are teaming up with our local Walmart for the annual “Tip the Tank,” a fundraising activity for the Arkansas Children’s Miracle Network. Pictured are Louise Durham Principal Curtis Black and Superintendent Dr. Lee Smith.
Please welcome STACY SALISBURY to the staff at Mena Public Schools !
Hello Bearcat Nation-
I am so happy to be a part of Mena Schools as your dyslexia specialist and coordinator of the dyslexia program at Mena Schools. I am a CALT or Certified Academic Language Therapist. I received my CALT training from Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, Texas at the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders in 2007. I have been a dyslexia therapist for several school districts in Texarkana,Texas serving grades K-12. I started my teaching career in 1982 (graduating from Texas A&M- Texarkana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education) and have been a classroom teacher for grades 1st-6th until becoming a dyslexia therapist. I retired from teaching in Texas in 2017. After only being retired a few months, I returned part-time as a dyslexia therapist for Texas High School in Texarkana. I truly enjoy helping students overcome their dyslexic challenges and achieving their highest academic success.
My husband of 42 years, Dennis Salisbury, and I found your beautiful community about 4 years ago and bought property on Highway 8 West. We have been busy building our home here and finally Dennis has decided to retire! He has been a quality home builder in the Texarkana area building beautiful homes for over 30 years. I look forward to continuing my passion of helping dyslexic students and bringing my experience and knowledge of dyslexia to Mena Schools. I feel extremely blessed to be a part of Bearcat Nation!
Mena School Staff are wrapping up three days of professional development at the Arkansas School Counseling Association Conference in Hot Springs.
The history of Mena Public School Part 5:
Friday, June 10, 1949 will always be remembered as a very special day for Central School. This was Louise Durham Day for all the pupils. Teachers and community came together to honor Miss Louise Durham who was retiring from the Mena Schools after fifty-seven years in education. All students in grades seven through twelve were housed in the high school building. The enrollment in these grades had increased in number until the high school building was not large enough to care for the students without overcrowding. Mena Junior High School was organized in 1951. A new gymnasium was approved by district patrons and construction on the project was completed in 1958. In 1960-61 a much needed school auditorium was added to the high school building. In 1968 students first occupied a new cafeteria. The 1968-19 term was a time of change at Stillwell. The first four grades were all moved to Louise Durham School. Only fifth and sixth grade children attended Stillwell. In 1973, the district asked for a five-dollar-per-thousand tax increase to build a new high school. Following the completion of the high school project, the Mena District underwent a reorganization as a middle school was created and kindergarten was added to Louise Durham Elementary. This reorganization began in 1976. The middle school housed 6-8, and the high school housed 9-12. The Stillwell school remained until 1983. In the fall of that year, grades three, four, and five were moved to a new elementary facility that was named after Miss Holly Harshman who had served the Mena District 45 years as a teacher and elementary principal. In 1986 a total of 10 new classrooms plus a band room and athletic facility was built by the district to help meet new state standards. Two years later a new 2200 seat stadium was constructed to replace Boyd Stadium which was plagued by inadequate seating, restrooms, and lighting. The Mena District went from 1973 to 1991 without asking its patrons for a millage increase. However, In September of 1991 district patrons were asked to vote a two mill increase in order to bring the district into compliance with Arkansas Law. The two mills were approved by the people.
As of May. 2022, the Mena District has a present enrollment of 1696.. Louise Durham PreK-2 has 460, Holly Harshman has 368, Mena Middle School has 391, Mena High School has 463, Polk County Virtual Academy 14.
Please welcome CRYSTAL REED to our team at Mena Public Schools!
My name is Crystal Reed. I'm so excited to be a part of the Mena High School Special Education Department this next school year. I have been working with students with special needs for the past year. I've lived in Mena for 9 years and previously lived in Hot Springs. My family consists of my husband John, my children, Kennedy, Cameron, and Dennison, and my grandchildren, Hadlee and Ila. I enjoy reading and spending time outdoors in my free time. I look forward to my new position with the Mena High School.
