LRSD Spotlight

Melanie Kiker won the Coaching Excellence Award at National Science Olympiad tournament on May 19, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. The award was open to the thousands of Science Olympiad Coaches from around the nation. She won an expense-paid trip to the Science Olympiad Summer Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

Melanie has been teaching in the Little Rock School District for six years and has been at her alma mater, Little Rock Central High School, for three years. She currently teaches Physical Science and Pre-AP Biology and, interestingly, her classroom is situated between two of the science teachers she had when she attended Central.

Way to go, Melanie! We are proud of your commitment to excellence!

Colorful and innovative art covered the walkways of the Clinton Presidential Center on September 24, and a group of students from Rockefeller Elementary happily made their contribution to the dazzling array of color and design!

The event was THEA Foundation's "THEA Paves the Way," an annual event for student groups to show their originality by creating and exhibiting sidewalk chalk art. Students had a blast drawing on their designated patch of sidewalk under the direction of art teacher Sharon Boyd-Struthers. Some of their parents even decided that the kids shouldn't have all the fun and got involved as well. Rockefeller has participated in "THEA Paves the Way" ever since it began six years ago.

The subject of Rockefeller's chalk masterpiece was the man for whom their school was named, former Arkansas governor Winthrop P. Rockefeller. It marks the beginning of a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Students, staff and families at Gibbs Magnet School of International Studies and Foreign Languages celebrated the successful conclusion of the first service learning project of the school year on the National Day of Service and Remembrance (September 9).

The project, organized by Physical Education Specialist Nancy Passini and carried out in conjunction with Ozark Water Projects, was a challenge to the Gibbs community to donate 10 pairs of new or gently used shoes per student to help obtain clean drinking water for people in Kenya, South America and Haiti. How does that work? Read on...

The Ozark Water Projects team of Beckham and Karla Allen exports shoes/footwear to distributers in South America, Haiti and Kenya. Shoe resale builds the local developing economy with micro-businesses and affordable shoes for pennies on the dollar or for barter. Affordable shoes/footwear are a life-saving tool as they protect the new owner’s feet from foot abrasions, parasites and mites and help to improve the wearer's overall health. Funds generated from the shoes are then used to purchase well-digging rigs, water filtration systems and other supplies to bring clean drinking water to those in need. This is how shoes are turned into clean drinking water.

Beckham and Karla Allen challenged the Gibbs students to donate 10 pairs of shoes each. The challenge was accepted, carried out and surpassed! Gibbs donated a "mountain" of new and gently-used shoes, boots and sandals totaling more than 3,300 pairs -- an average of 10.7 pairs per student (see photo at top!). The students and staff celebrated their success at a special gathering with the Ozark Water Projects team. The Allens also announced that a well in Kenya would be named in honor of the students at Gibbs.

Brady Elementary's cafeteria recently was magically transformed into a beautiful palace to celebrate Grandparents Day. The theme of the event was “You Put the grand in Grandparent” because grandparents are grand in every sense of the word! Grandparents are royalty to the students at Brady, so they were honored with love and appreciation.

Grandparents Day is a great opportunity to honor grandparents and give them an opportunity to show love for their children’s children. It also is a day to help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer. Grandparents play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren. They often serve as role models and mentors, teach values and pass on family traditions. There are a number of grandparents who care for their grandchildren during the day or even have full custody of their grandchildren. These grandparents have a very strong influence on their grandchildren. Grandparents are always welcome at Brady, and they are an integral part in the education of their grandchildren!

Pulaski Heights Middle School French and Spanish students spent part of their summer travelling to Italy and Greece. Led by teachers Mary Johnson and Elizabeth McFadden, the 19 participants stopped for this photo in Delphi, Greece, at the home of the ancient Oracle. Student highlights included visiting Athens, Rome, cruising to the Greek Islands, sailing around Capri and bargaining in Turkey. Senora Johnson and Madame McFadden have led more than 20 tours with their students and are already making plans for their 2012 adventure to France and Spain!