Hot Springs Park MagnetSchool

HSSD elementary schools are ready for Read Across America Week! Join in on the fun - Find a full schedule of books and attire for each day of the week, here. The National Education Association’s Read Across America initiative is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading. It is celebrated on March 2nd, which is also the birthday of the famous children’s book author Dr. Suess. Our wonderful school media specialists at each HSSD school organize the week-long celebration ahead of March 2nd to celebrate reading and the many ways we promote and support literacy for our students at the HSSD.

The local Panda Express restaurant worked with the HSSD Gifted and Talented Program to bring the Chinese New Year to life for 3rd-4th grade GT students. Alissa Mayavski, Manager at Panda Express - Hot Springs, provided a guest presentation. She described traditions commonly enjoyed during festivities, including fireworks, family reunions, lion and dragon dances, special crafts, the giving of red envelopes for good luck and items used for festive decorating. Students made crafts and enjoyed a traditional Chinese meal. Thank you to Panda Express-Hot Springs for such a great, informative program!

For the third year, Park Magnet School students participate in World Real Aloud Day through the Park Library. On World Read Aloud Day, people around the globe read aloud and share stories to advocate for literacy. Park Library Media Specialist Mrs. Evans arranged for Skype connections with five different locations for K-5 students to read with, including a public library in Guernsey, England; Hoover Elementary School in Mason City, Iowa; Madison Elementary School in Madison, Alabama; Episcopal School of Baton Rouge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary in Mechanicsville, Maryland.

Arkansas Jr. and Sr. Beta clubs gathered for State Convention January 24 - 26, 2019. A group of 94 HSSD students in 4th - 8th grades competed as Jr. Beta Club members from OVPA, Park Magnet, Intermediate School, and Junior Academy at Arkansas Junior Beta Club Convention January 24-25. A group of 25 HSSD students in 9th-12th grades competed as Sr. Beta Club members from HSWCHS at Senior Beta Club Convention January 25-26. Both events were hosted at the Hot Springs Convention Center. In all, 50 HSSD students qualified (42 from Jr. Beta Club and 8 from Sr. Beta Club) to compete at National Beta Convention in June, to be hosted in Oklahoma City. Huge thanks to Cheryl Long, Madeline Bull, and Melissa Bratton for the countless hours they spent helping our teams prepare. Congrats to HSSD Beta Clubs!