Thanks to a grant from the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation, John L Colbert Middle School (JLCMS) multilingual families are literally sharing their stories. Dr. Mary Collins and JLCMS staff have been hosting family nights where multilingual families gather and participate in interactive sessions with FPS staff to write their family stories. Families and staff work together to revise and edit stories in both English and their native language to prepare to be published in a book later this year. As part of the project, families had a portrait taken that will be both included in the final book and framed as a gift. Dr. Mary Collins is using the power of storytelling to build empathy and community in the school family. This authentic project invests students, families, and school staff in the celebration of language and cultural differences.
Leverett Elementary School 3rd & 4th grade students participated in a Fishing Derby today at Bryce Davis Park! With the help of parent volunteers, students learned the basics of catch and release fishing while connecting with the outdoors. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission supported the fishing excursion through a grant awarded to Leverett P.E. teacher Shae Newman. Students also enjoyed feeding the duck! #onefps
Today EVERY Wildcat walked away with a FREE BOOK at the annual Book Swap! Parents and students donated gently used or new books to Washington Elementary. Students then had the opportunity to pick three of these books to add to their own home library. 📚📖
Washington Elementary fourth grade investigators were busy solving mysteries today! Amazeum and TheatreSquared teamed up to create a fun and interactive show where students trained to become an elite group of spies in the “Super Secret Spy Society." Amazeum activities were brought to life by interactions with an exciting cast of characters, and through tinkering and teamwork, students became active participants in the play!
Ramay Junior High hosted a school wide art contest celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Judges from the University of Arkansas determined the finalists and the winners' art work was revealed on the community wall in Fayetteville today!
First place - Neveah Johnson
Second place - Jamiyah Hale
Third place - Alice Reed, Naudiah Hutcherson, and Taylar Westbrook.
The winning artwork is now viewable at the community wall at 691 Poplar Street in Fayetteville.
Celebrating Black History Month! ALLPS School held their annual fashion show highlighting many Northwest Arkansas black owned businesses and local sponsors. Students and staff strutted down the runway showcasing apparel with swag and style. Today was the final Black History Month celebration at ALLPS, following a month of educational activities.
Apple Seeds, Inc. brought their “Cooking in Schools” program to Owl Creek Elementary today! Students engaged in an interactive cooking class acquiring valuable culinary skills as they prepared a delectable and nutritious snack. Students were also exposed to the significance of making healthy food choices for their overall well-being.
Fayetteville Public Schools appreciates its ongoing partnership with Apple Seeds, Inc., a local food organization dedicated to educating and engaging children in the wonders of healthy food.
Holt Middle School principal Matt Morning and John L Colbert Middle School principal Warren Collier visited several elementary schools this morning to promote the exciting new Middle School Choice options that will be offered at those two schools next year. Click here for more information: https://district.fayar.net/page/mschoice
FHS head softball coach Ed Duncan spoke to students and parents this morning at Happy Hollow Elementary. The coach introduced some of the FHS softball players and assistant coach Kylie Cate, who is also a PE teacher at Happy Hollow. Coach Duncan reminded the students that "If you take character and work ethic, you can do whatever you want and be whatever you want to be."
Coach Duncan is the first African American head coach in the history of Fayetteville Public Schools.
FHS students interested in becoming a firefighter, paramedic, or emergency medical technician (EMT) will get the opportunity to jump-start their career during the 2024-25 school year! FHS is offering college credit courses that would lead to jobs directly out of high school in these fields. Students who were interested attended an informational meeting today led by Career & Technical Education Director Lisa Hotsenpiller and Fayetteville Fire Department firefighters. Students can sign up for this opportunity by contacting Deana Norman in the FHS College and Career Center.
McNair Middle School students have been dissecting owl pellets in Debra Fox’s classes! Pellets are a record of what owls have eaten, and students can study them to learn more about the owl and the ecosystems in which they live. Owls swallow their food whole, and owl pellets have been regurgitated from the owl's beak. When students dissect owl pellets, they can see and identify the tiny bones from that owl's meal and can learn about the owl's diet and their place in the food web.
Celebrating Black History Month! ALLPS students traveled to Little Rock and toured the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. Students received a first-hand history lesson from Mrs. Elizabeth "Liz" Eckford, a member of the historic Little Rock Central Nine and a civil rights trailblazer. She rarely makes public appearances but spent over an hour with ALLPS students, engaging in powerful conversation.
Arsaga's Mill District was the perfect venue for "Java with John" this morning. Special thanks to Arsaga's and the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce for hosting the event. We appreciate all who dropped by today. We value your support and interest in our schools!
It’s National School Counseling Week! Join FPS in celebrating the tremendous work of our school counselors who go ABOVE and BEYOND for our students, our staff, our families, and our community EVERY DAY! Thank you school counselors for helping all students succeed!
Holt Middle School students in Mr. Allred’s class took their temperature, pulse, and blood pressure in their first Medical Detectives lab. Students are learning how to measure and interpret vital signs, and how the systems of the human body work together to maintain health.
Parents from across the district participated in the first FPS Hispanic parents meeting. The group was organized in an effort to enhance parent communication between the district and Hispanic parents. The group will be meeting again on Friday, February 16, 2024.
The University of Arkansas’ Law Review partnered with the Leverett Elementary School Student Leadership Team and held a Student Leadership Luncheon today on the U of A campus. Fourth grade students traveled to the U of A Law school to learn more about becoming a lawyer and the importance of communication. Tracy Deffebaugh, Director of Admissions for the Arkansas School of Law, welcomed the students and presented them with gifts. Students competed in a cup stacking competition, an activity about communicating to achieve an end product. Thank you U of A Law Review for this fantastic opportunity!
Thank you Casey’s for your generous gift to Holcomb Elementary for their basketball court renovation. University of Arkansas basketball star Devo Davis was on hand to present a $10,000 check to Holcomb principal Katie Oliver to go toward the renovations. The students were excited to see and meet Devo and are looking forward to playing on their upgraded court!
Asbell Elementary held their monthly Roadrunner Rally assembly this morning, and it was a blast! Asbell music teacher Pam Pittman and the Asbell spirit squad revealed a new set of African drums (tubanos) for their music program! THANK YOU Fayetteville Public Education Foundation and Foundation donors for your continued support of our students and programs!
We hope you can join us for our next "Java with John" on Wednesday, February 7 at 8 a.m. at Arsaga's Mill District on School Avenue. Thanks to Arsaga's and the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event!
