Week 5: Every Day Matters

Happy Friday!

Thank you all for the steady work you have given as we move through September. This is the time of year when routines are set, expectations are clear, and we begin to see patterns in attendance, discipline, and student engagement. These patterns reveal a great deal about our performance, and they remind us that consistency is crucial. They also tie directly into the performance targets we have set as a district, keeping us focused on daily actions that lead to long-term growth.

In this week’s Wrap-up, I would like to highlight our progress and challenges with attendance and engagement, remind everyone of the importance of professional development, share the results from our Open House parent survey, reflect on a successful Grandparents’ Day, and conclude with celebrations of academic and athletic achievements across the district.

Attendance and Engagement

This week, the Office for Education Policy at the University of Arkansas released the state’s Chronic Absenteeism Report, which includes data for Mena Public Schools. You can read the full report here: Chronic Absenteeism Report 2025.

While our overall attendance rate compares well with the state, our chronic absenteeism rate is several points higher. This means too many of our students are missing more than ten percent of school days, regardless of whether those absences are excused or unexcused. The result is the same—lost instructional time and lost growth opportunities.

Part of the concern comes from how chronic absenteeism is calculated. Excused absences count the same as unexcused, which means a student may appear in this category even when legitimate reasons are involved, other than school activities, which are not absences. In addition, incorrectly marked exemptions in eSchool may be inflating the numbers further, which is something we will continue to correct. Regardless of the cause, the impact is the same: students missing too much school.

As a district, we must make this a point of focus. Attendance progress has been made in the district, but chronic absenteeism is still a district-wide challenge. The key is the early action of catching attendance issues before they become chronic. This means reaching out to families as soon as patterns emerge, not just after thresholds are crossed. Every contact matters. A quick call from a teacher saying, “We missed your child today,” can make a lasting difference. Identifying students who struggled with attendance last year and checking in early this year is another important step.

Addressing chronic absenteeism is not about statistics; it is about student success. Students who are present every day are far more likely to achieve academically, feel connected, and graduate with confidence. Every day matters, and together we can help our students build the consistency they need to thrive.

Professional Renewal

September is also the time when our own energy can begin to level off. That is why this is the right moment to focus on professional renewal. Please make sure you are completing your required professional development and trainings in PowerSchool, logging your PD hours in the Shoebox on ESC Works, and staying ahead of any license renewals. For those with licenses expiring in December, please do not wait until the deadline is upon you. If you need assistance, Mrs. Newman or Mrs. Buckley can help with license renewals, and Mrs. Buckley is also available to answer questions about paperwork or professional development. These steps are not just compliance; they are investments in your professional identity and the students you serve.

Parent Feedback on Open House

Thank you to all of the parents who participated in our Open House and the follow-up survey. An impressive 98% of respondents attended this year, which speaks to the strong partnership between home and school. Parents especially valued the early release of forms, the welcoming atmosphere created by staff, and the efficiency of exploring classrooms and schedules. You can review the overall results of the survey here.

What is encouraging is how closely these themes match the feedback we have already heard from staff members. Both groups agree that the preparation, organization, and welcoming environment are major strengths of our events. At the same time, parents emphasized areas that sometimes feel less visible to us from the inside, such as crowding, unclear signage, and the need for more time with teachers. These differences are helpful because they remind us that a parent’s perspective walking into the building may not always match the view of those running the event.

To address some of the challenges raised during Open House, our elementary schools have already begun hosting grade-level parent meetings since the start of the year. These smaller, more focused gatherings provide opportunities for parents to connect directly with teachers, receive detailed information about curriculum and expectations, and ask questions in a setting that allows for more time and clarity. These meetings are an important complement to Open House, helping to ensure that parents feel informed, supported, and engaged throughout the year.

We are grateful for these insights. They align with our mission to ensure that every person in our district feels safe, valued, and confident in learning. By listening to our families and staff together, and by noting both the likenesses and the differences in perception, we can continue to make improvements that strengthen trust and connection.

Grandparents’ Day

This week, our elementaries hosted Grandparents’ Day, giving our PreK through 5th-grade students the chance to share their classrooms, read books, and enjoy refreshments with their grandparents. It was wonderful to see such a strong turnout this week. We are grateful to all of the grandparents who made time to come and support their grandchildren, and I want to especially thank the staff who organized and hosted these events. The welcoming atmosphere you created reflects the spirit of Mena Public Schools, where family and community play an essential role in our mission.

Closing Celebrations

It has been a strong week across Bearcat athletics. Volleyball teams at every level have seen success, with highlights that included multiple wins over Arkadelphia and Fountain Lake. The Ladycats demonstrated skill and composure in both tournament and conference play, giving fans plenty to cheer for as they continue through a demanding schedule. The Bearcat Cross Country team also opened its season with grit and determination at the Tom Stuthard Stampede, setting the pace for a competitive fall. On the tennis courts, our players showed great effort in singles and doubles competition, earning important victories and experience as the season progresses. Meanwhile, Bearcat Football is on the road at Stigler, Oklahoma, ready to take on the Panthers under the Friday night lights. Basketball athletes also stepped forward this week by participating in the community 9/11 Tribute run and team-building workouts, demonstrating how athletics teaches accountability, communication, and teamwork both on and off the court.

Our schools also shined academically and culturally this week. Teachers and administrators engaged in professional learning at the DeQueen-Mena Cooperative, focusing on coaching strategies, data protocols, and the Science of Reading. Students at Holly Harshman Elementary kicked off Bearcat Book Day by celebrating stories, sharing book talks, and fostering a love of reading alongside special guests. “We Recommend Wednesday” continues to inspire students across the district, with classrooms and libraries filled with fresh reading suggestions that keep #menareads growing. In classrooms, students dug deep into lessons ranging from grammar hunts to hands-on library activities, showing that learning is alive and active across all grade levels.

These celebrations are a reminder that growth happens in many forms. Whether through academic study, professional development, or athletic competition, our students and staff continue to demonstrate perseverance, teamwork, and pride in representing Mena Public Schools.

It was a good week of commitment at Mena Public Schools.

At Mena Public Schools, our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident.

Keep the #menareads posts and videos coming, and have a good weekend!

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