Wildcat Connections: October 2022
OCTOBER 2022
October brings about cooler weather, parent teacher conferences, and the end of the first quarter. It's jam-packed with events, and we hope you'll check out the calendar at the end! If you need a refresher on this year's district calendar, click the photo! Here's a few dates to remember:
- October 10: Fall Break - No School
- October 11: Parent Teacher Conferences - No School for Students
- October 14: Homecoming
- October 21: End of Quarter
- October 26: Report Cards Go Home
NEW SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE
In order to provide a safer environment and improve security at ESD athletic events, a clear bag policy was put into effect in September. The policy limited the size and type of bag that can be brought into the stadium, gyms, and any other athletic field.
Additionally, all kindergarten - 6th grade students must be accompanied by an adult at all times while attending athletic events.
For more information, visit our website at https://www.eldoradopublicschools.org/page/athletics.
ESD: PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
The El Dorado School District will host Parent-Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, October 11th from noon - 6:00pm. Students will not attend school that day in order for teachers and parents/guardians to meet.
During conferences, parents/guardians will have an opportunity to visit with their student’s teacher(s) about their scholar’s progress and goals this semester. Fall conferences will be held
in-person on each individual campus. We ask that parents/guardians make appointments with their student’s teachers.
Elementary teachers (Grades K-4) will contact parents and guardians to schedule meeting times.
Families with students in grades 5-12 will schedule appointments through each teacher’s Calendly link, which has been posted on each school’s individual website. To access those links, please click on your student’s school below:
If you have any questions concerning conferences, please contact your student’s individual teacher or the main office of your student’s school.
We encourage each family to participate in Parent-Teacher Conferences to help steer each of our students toward success.
ALL AROUND ESD
All of our schools are actively keeping students engaged through various activities throughout the year. If you are not following them on social media, we strongly encourage you to! They post wonderful snippets of what's going on inside our schools--so much more than we can share here!
El Dorado High School
Freshman FFA member Parker Saffold exhibited his cattle at the Union County Livestock Show where he won Grand Champion. He also
exhibited cattle last week at the South West District Fair in Hope and has qualified to show at the Arkansas State Fair in a few weeks. Congrats, Parker!
Although it's only in its second year, the FFA program has nearly 50 active students and continues to grow. They are currently purchasing equipment for agriculture mechanics and animals science--all of which will be in the new building that should be completed in January.
Barton Junior High School
Barton has lots of fun activities planned this fall. If you are not following their newsletter and social media, be sure to follow them!
Washington Middle School
After their awesome house sorting ceremony the first week of school, WMS began a friendly "House Color Wars" in September. Each Thursday, students are encouraged to wear their house colors to school to show support for their house and team. They may be #FourHousesOneFamily, but they definitely know how to show their house pride!
- Altruismo (black): the House of Givers
- Amistad (red): the House of Friendship
- Isibindi (green): the House of Courage
- Reveur (blue): the House of Dreamers
Hugh Goodwin
Northwest
Fourth graders in Mrs. Trostle's science lab practiced the scientific method with an experiment involving Alka Seltzer. They observed and recorded the effect varying water temperatures had on the time it took the pill to dissolve.
Yocum Elementary
Fourth graders had the opportunity to dissect sheep eyes with Mrs. Renee Bearden from the South Central Service Cooperative in Camden.
Yocum Primary
Kindergarteners and 1st graders participated in their annual Celebrate Freedom Parade during "Celebrate Freedom Week."
EHS Homecoming: October 14
Congratulations to the 2022 EHS Homecoming Court!
Mallory Whitten, Queen; Tristen Thompson, Senior Honor Maid; Lynley Smith, Senior Honor Maid; Charalyn Rester, Senior Representative; Breana Slaughter, Senior Representative; Jaylah Davis, Junior Representative; Matilyn Nash, Junior Representative; Kailee Johnson, Sophomore Representative; Clarabeth Black, Sophomore Representative; Makayla Aaron, Freshman Representative; Natalie Rice, Freshman Representative.
Football Escorts: Kolin Parker (Queen); Sha'Darious Plummer and Jon Brooks Elia (Senior Honor Maids); Bryson Boulden and Karson Deblieaux (Senior Class Representatives); Levictor Levingston and Aidan Johnson (Junior Class Representatives); J-Prince Roberson and Cooper Henry (Sophomore Class Representatives); Jakori Lumsey and Paxton Strong (Freshman Class Representatives).
ESD schools will dismiss at 2:00pm on Friday, October 14th for Homecoming.
Homecoming week will be a busy week. Here are some key reminders:
- Monday, October 10: Fall Break - No school (The monthly board meeting has been moved to Monday, October 17th.)
- Tuesday, October 11: Parent/Teacher Conferences - No school for students
- Wednesday, October 12: 1:30pm dismissal for PLCs
- Friday, October 14: Homecoming
- 1:15pm Pep Rally in Arena
- 2:00pm All ESD schools dismiss
- 3:30pm Homecoming parade
- 6:30pm Coronation
- 7:00pm Kickoff vs. Sheridan
This year's Homecoming theme is "It's Game Time." The game theme will be the annual "pink out" game.
Mrs. Bethanie Hale, principal at Washington Middle School, has been selected as the WILD (Wildcat Impact in El Dorado) winner for the month of September. As the principal at WMS, Mrs. Hale has been a strong advocate for the House System, which has played a huge role in promoting a positive culture at WMS. She is an encouraging leader. A staff member said, "She’s always very personable and shows staff and students they’re appreciated and cared for." One parent said, "Mrs. Hale goes above and beyond. From hugging kiddos who need extra loving, to directing the BUSY traffic alone during drop-off, we are so very thankful for her."
Hale is a native of El Dorado, electing to come back after she graduated college to begin her teaching career in the El Dorado School District. Her dedication and commitment to her students, staff, and community are evident in all that she does. The El Dorado School District is proud to call you one of our own, Mrs. Hale!
The Wildcat Impact in El Dorado (WILD) award recognizes one El Dorado School District staff member each month who has made an impact in our community. We recognize that our staff members, from bus drivers to cafeteria staff to classroom teachers to paraprofessionals to administrators all play a vital role in our students' success. We also know that there are many staff members who have made and are making lasting positive impacts on our students and community. We want to celebrate those who go the extra mile, even when many of them see it as just doing what is best for our kids. So, we are asking for nominations from the community, parents, teachers, former students, current students, business partners--anyone that has experienced the positive impact their particular nominee has made and/or continues to make.
Nominations for October will be accepted from the 1st of the month until the 20th. The form can be found on the ESD website HERE. A committee will select one staff member each month to celebrate and recognize on our website, social media channels, and with local radio host, J. Randal Harvey on Big 96.1. In addition to recognition, we are partnering with local businesses to give a prize to that month's winner.
The prize for September was sponsored by ArtAttack Graphic Design. Owner Lindsey Perry has been a huge advocate for our district, and we are grateful for her continued support. She donated a personalized ESD tumbler with a handle, a Wildcat t-shirt, ESD notepad, a pen, and a piece of Wildcat jewelry she has in stock at the store. We encourage you to stop by ArtAttack and check out all the awesome Wildcat gear they have in stock!!