LRSD News

It’s time to head back to school for students in the Little Rock School District! Some of our elementary schools are hosting back to school events for their parents and students. Please make plans to attend your school’s Back-to-School Bash and meet your principal, teacher and staff!

Otter Creek:  Friday, August 3, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

McDermott:  Thursday, August 16, 2012 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Terry:  Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.

Rockefeller Early Childhood:  Friday, August 17, 2012 from Noon to 4:30 p.m.

Bale:  Friday, August 17, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Watson:  Sunday, August 19, 2012 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Western Hills: will have a Meet and Greet on Thursday the 16th from 5:15-6:15. Parents and students can meet their teacher, see friends, and leave school supplies.

Williams: will hold their back to school night on August 16th from 5:30-6:30.

Parents are invited to the final two of a series of informational meetings introducing the new Common Core State Standards.  District officials will provide an overview of the new standards and answer your questions regarding enhancements to the literacy and math curricula.  Informational meetings will take place, Tuesday, April 10 at Roberts Elementary from 6-7:30 pm and Wednesday, April 18 at Forest Heights Middle School from 6-7:30 pm.  (Please note the date change for the April 17 meeting).  The focus of the initiative, among other goals, is to establish a clear set of universal standards designed by a diverse group and to ensure that each student is prepared for either college or a career.

The district is following  guidelines developed through a national collaboration of educators and governors across the country.  Arkansas is one of 45 states, along with the District of Columbia, that is adopting the new standards voluntarily.  To find out more about this important initiative, please plan to attend one of the final two meetings.  You may also read about the standards by clicking here. 

Arkansas Department of Education Common Core State Standards

Common Core Comes to Secondary Literacy

Common Core Presentation

Calling all rising 6th graders (current 5th graders), the Middle School Literacy Lab is now accepting applications. The program will be held at Mabelvale Middle School  from June 5 - June 28, 2012,   9 a.m. to 1 p.m daily.

The purpose of the Middle School Literacy Lab is to help your child increase their level of proficiency in reading comprehension. This will be completed through word study, vocabulary, grammar, and writing. There will also be hands-on activities and projects for the students. Master teachers and instructional coaches will be on staff to provide individual, small group, and whole group instruction to ensure the students receive the most effective instruction needed to be successful in middle school.

Click here for the application and return to your child's school by May 11, 2012. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis. If you have any questions, please contact Renee Dawson at (501) 447-3334. Completed applications can be emailed to renee.dawson@lrsd.org.

Please view our Literacy Lab Video .

The Common Core State Standards comes from a consortium of states (including Arkansas), and are rigorous common K-12 math and reading standards specifically designed to prepare students for colleges and/or careers. These standards focus on emphasizing cognitive skills so that students can solve problems and apply what they learn to real life like situations. The standards will be implemented in all schools over the next 2-3 years who are a part of the consortium.

The district has planned a series of informational meetings with parents to introduce and overview the new Common Core State Standards. Five meetings at various locations have been scheduled as follows:

Monday, March 12 at Parkview Magnet High School from 6 pm to 7:30 pm

Tuesday, March 27 at Southwest Little Rock Community Center from 6 pm to 7:30 pm

Monday, April 2 at the Clinton Library from noon to 1:30 pm

Tuesday, April 10 at Roberts Elementary from 6 pm to 7:30 pm

Wednesday,  April 18 at Forest Heights Middle School from 6 pm to 7:30 pm

Please pick the meeting that best matches your schedule and preferred location and plan to attend.

Maybe college is the right choice for you...maybe not. Maybe you'd like to work while you go to college. The LRSD will, once again, offer students and parents an opportunity to meet with two-year colleges, technical schools, employers and representatives from the military to help students make the right post-secondary choice at the LRSD Career Day on Tuesday, March 13, at Pulaski Techinal College-South Campus, located at 13000 Interstate I-30. High school juniors and seniors, and their parents are encouraged to attend LRSD Career Day, which will be held from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

For more information, please contact Laureen Isom, Career Day Coordinator at 447-2971 or laureen.isom@lrsd.org Two-year colleges, employers, apprenticeship programs and technical schools who would like to attend Career Day are encouraged to inquire.

In February, the Little Rock School District hosted a series of meetings with parents of middle school students to inform them of the proposed eight period day schedule change for next year. Below is a link to the meeting at Henderson Middle School for parents who may not have been able to attend a meeting.

Please click on this link to view a video of the parent meeting for the proposed Middle School schedule change.

The final parent meeting regarding the proposed middle school schedule change for next school year will be Monday, February 27 at Henderson Middle School beginning at 5:30 p.m.

In addition to changing the class schedule from a block schedule to an eight period day, district officials will announce new proposed electives for middle students to choose from for next schol year. To see these proposed new electives, visit our middle school webpage.

Find answers to your most fequently asked questions about an eight period day for middle school students, visit our middle school webpage.

Six Little Rock Central High students has been selected as candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program. These students must complete an application to be eligible for selection as one of the 500 semifinalists, and ultimately as one of two Scholars from our state. 

Scholars are chosen on the basis of their accomplishments in many areas-academic and artistic success, leadership, and involvement in school and the community- and represent excellence in education and the promise of  greatness in America's youth. They are invited to Washington, DC in June to participate in National Recognition Weekend, which includes many enrichment activities and events and culminates with the presentation to the students of the Presidential Scholars medallion during a ceremony sponsored by the White House.

These students are:

Muhammad Abu-Rmaileh

Joseph Berleant

Rebecca Berry

Whitney Gao

Samia Nawaz

Jonathan Spradley

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating seniors. In 1979, the program was expanded to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional scholarship and talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. Annually, up to 141 students are chosen from among outstanding graduating seniors to become U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.

Attention Parents:

Rockefeller Early Childhood Center is Open today, February 13, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact the center.

Parents, you are warmly invited to attend a meeting on the proposed eight period middle school schedule for next year! In this meeting you will hear a presentation by LRSD staff members in which details will emerge about this schedule. A list will be distributed to you listing the pros and cons of the proposed schedule. You also will receive printed FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) along with answers to the FAQ’s. After the presentation, you will have the opportunity to ask questions of the LRSD staff members present.

We look forward to seeing you!

Middle School Schedule
(8 Period Day)
Meetings
MEET WITH TEAMS:

Cloverdale & Mabelvale at Cloverdale
Thursday, February 16th
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Parents

FHMS & PHMS at Forest Heights
Monday, February 20th
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Parents

Dunbar & Mann at Dunbar
Tuesday, February 21st
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Parents

Henderson at Henderson
Monday, February 27th
5:15 – 6:45 p.m. Parents