Springdale Public Schools

DEREK RATCHFORD SELECTED AS GROSVENOR TEACHER FELLOW Sonora Middle School EAST instructor Derek Ratchford is only the second teacher from Arkansas ever selected as a Grosvenor Teacher Fellow by the National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions. This is the 14 th year of the program. “This is a huge opportunity,” said Ratchford. “I want to be the teacher who never stops learning, the type who jumps in with my kids and explores the content right along with them. This experience will help me share with our students how huge the world is. I want them to be explorers, whether it is in the world, as astronomers or in the classroom.” The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship is a field-based professional development opportunity made possible by a partnership between National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions. When travel conditions allow, Ratchford and the other 49 Teacher Fellows will embark on a one-to-three week voyage aboard a Lindblad Expedition ship. Fellows will travel in small groups to some of the world’s most remote and extraordinary environments, including the high Arctic, southeast Alaska, Central America, Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands. The Fellows will encounter wildlife and explore breathtaking landscapes while accompanied by a team of Lindblad Expeditions naturalists, including marine biologists, geologists, historians, undersea specialists and National Geographic photographers. The Fellows will return home with an experience they will translate into reimagined curricula that inspire their students, colleagues and communities to care more deeply about the planet and take action on global issues. “I am looking forward to seeing one of the most remote places on the planet and bringing a unique and once in a lifetime perspective back to my classroom, my school, my district and my state so I can help build future explorers and a love for storytelling and empathy for others. “When you think about National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions you immediately think about exploration, storytelling and wildlife. They open the eyes of the world to what is out there. It is a huge honor they saw me and what we do in EAST at Sonora Middle School as exemplary.” Ratchford credits the Springdale School District for “being a district that values learning for all, including educators. In my second year as a teacher I was at J.O. Kelly Middle School and the principal, Sara Ford, said she wanted me to go with three others to Boston to a conference to learn about Project Based Learning and the Flipped Classroom approach. It was at that moment I knew if I wanted to be the best for my students, I needed to learn from doing and learn from the best. “That same mindset transitioned with me to Sonora Middle School and the principal, Dr. Martha Dodson. All I had to say was I think this will help me and our kids and she would figure out a way to make it happen, like the National Geographic Education Summit in October, 2019 that introduced me to a new way of thinking and approach to exploration in the classroom.” Ratchford is among the many outstanding teachers who make Springdale Public Schools #THEChoice.

Students from Har-Ber High School watched and engaged in a presentation created by Jessica Shelton, an instructional facilitator. During the whole month of February, students will be presented with African American history and people who made a difference. “It is important to have exposure,” says Aterra Lowe, Assistant Principal of Har-Ber. Pictured here are students from Mrs. Davey’s 10th grade class and Mr. Hernandez’s Spanish class watching the presentation. #THEChoice

Watch LIVE Basketball at 6:00pm | Har-Ber Wildcats at Bentonville West https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oIjr7vEmXg

Watch LIVE Basketball at 6:00pm | Springdale Bulldogs vs Rogers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adUL50O1ws4

Watch LIVE February School Board Meeting | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZuNtFYwi-U

Watch LIVE Basketball at 6:00pm: Har-Ber vs Springdalehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--4kr8ApXCQ

Watch LIVE: Sonora Middle School | Souper Bowl Basketball Finale | Teachers vs Students https://youtu.be/n3uexLp7Ruc

Shout out to school counselor Mrs. Kim Justis from Walter Turnbow Elementary!

Central Support Services go Red for Heart Celebration!

Violet Middleton from Walker Elementary on morning announcements introduces Black History month with the following announcement: Did you know that February is the month set aside to honor African Americans? Black History Month honors the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history. Among prominent figures are Madam C.J. Walker, who was the first U.S. woman to become a self-made millionaire; George Washington Carver, who derived nearly 300 products from the peanut; Rosa Parks, who sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and galvanized the civil rights movement; and Shirley Chisholm, who was the first African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Each day this month Walker will be showcasing an African American who made a positive difference in our world. #THEChoice

Shout out to school counselor Mrs. Hope at Kelly Middle School!

Attention Parents: Please see the calendar below for important information for junior students who are planning on taking the school-wide ACT that will be given on March 9th. Preparation will be given for it by reviewing specific content and testing strategies. The next round of ACT Boot Camp will begin on Saturday, February 13. Saturday sessions are available from 8:00 am - 12:00 noon and weekday sessions on Monday - Thursday from 4:00 - 5:30 pm. All sessions are completely FREE and you may come to as many sessions as you are able. For more details or questions please email Mrs. Renneker at trenneker@sdale.org.

Shout out to school counselor Julie Patrick at Kelly Middle School!

Save the Date for I2

Tim Aynes, who guided Springdale Har-Ber's girls' golf team to the state 6A championship, has been named Arkansas High School Association Outstanding Coach for Girls' Golf. Great coaches help make Springdale Public Schools #THEChoice.

Andre Sparks, a senior linebacker and running back at Springdale High School, has signed a letter of intent to play football while attending Arkansas Tech. #THEChoice

Springdale Har-Ber senior linebacker Billy Tillory has signed letter of intent to play football while going to Southern Arkansas University. #THEChoice

Tyler Hart, a Springdale Har-Ber senior defensive lineman, has signed a letter of intent to play football while attending Southwest Baptist. #THEChoice

Springdale Har-Ber senior offensive lineman Peyton Henderson has signed a letter of intent to play football while going to school at Arkansas Tech. #THEChoice

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