Happy National Custodian Appreciation Day to all our wonderful custodians! We are thankful for all you do to keep our schools in great shape throughout the year!
It's game day! Lots of tailgating going on this evening, including "Frolic on 5th" at Hugh Goodwin from 5-6pm. The stadium opens at 6pm. Kickoff begins at 7pm.
REMINDER: All Kindergarten - 6th graders must be accompanied by an adult at all times while attending ESD athletic events. The clear bag policy remains in effect for all athletic events.
Class of 2023 Parents: Mark your calendars! There will be a Senior Parent Promise Meeting held on Tuesday, October 11th in the EHS Commons from 5-6pm. Please make plans to attend!
Beginning September 30, 2022, all students in Kindergarten through Sixth Grade must be accompanied by an adult at all times while attending El Dorado School District athletic events.
Students must enter with an adult and remain with that adult throughout the event. An adult is defined as any person assuming the responsibility and supervision of the student they bring. This person cannot be a student in grades 7-12.
When entering the game, all K-6 students must have their hand stamped. Students with a stamp must be accompanied by an adult when they visit the lower level (under the bleachers), including the concession stands and/or the restrooms. Students who have a stamp but are not accompanied by an adult will be sent back to sit with their adult in the stands.
The purpose of attending athletic events is to cheer for and support our Wildcats and Wildkittens. This policy is in place to ensure the safety of our students and to allow the best game experience for all El Dorado and visiting fans.
Alyssa Avant, a teacher at Washington Middle School, graduated from Southern Arkansas University with a Bachelor of Arts in History, and soon, she will graduate with her Master of Arts in Teaching, also from SAU. Ms. Avant teaches fifth-grade social studies at WMS.
After graduating from Southern Arkansas University Tech, Ms. Avant received a transfer scholarship to attend SAU. Her time at SAU was valuable to her for many reasons, including the new perspective and experiences it brought into her life. “Having the experience to learn about different cultures and parts of history gave me a better understanding of the world around me, and of myself, too. Additionally, the education courses I have taken only further stirred my passion to help others succeed. By attending SAU, my passion was made a reality.”
Thank you, Ms. Avant, for sharing about your SAU experience! If you are interested in learning more about Southern Arkansas University, visit https://web.saumag.edu/.
It may not feel like fall, but in just two weeks, we will be out of school for fall break!
There will be no school on Monday, October 10th for fall break, followed by Parent Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, October 11th.
The Accelerated Reader (AR) Reading Lab is open every Monday at Hugh Goodwin Elementary from 4pm-6pm. The lab is open to all El Dorado School District students. If you are looking for another opportunity to take AR tests, this is a great one!
ESD Athletics has its own Facebook page! Keep up with all Wildcat and Wildkitten sports by following the ESD Athletics page here: https://www.facebook.com/ESDAthletics.
Go Cats! Go Kittens!
If you are unable to travel to Benton tonight, you can still cheer on the Cats! Kickoff is at 7pm. Watch the game live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6icgX_VREs
Daniela Rivas, a Yocum Elementary teacher, graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies. Mrs. Rivas currently teaches 4th-grade literacy.
Choosing the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) was an easy choice for Mrs. Rivas. “It was far enough away to help me be more responsible but close enough to come home when I needed to.” Another thing that made her UCA experience special was the opportunities provided by the Reynolds Performance Hall. “They always brought guest speakers in. One of them was Nev from the Catfish The TV Show,” and Mrs. Rivas got to meet him.
Thank you, Mrs. Rivas, for sharing about UCA! If you are interested in learning more about the University of Central Arkansas, visit https://uca.edu/.
Taking care of yourself physically can improve your mental health. Be sure to:
• Eat nutritious meals
• Avoid smoking and vaping
• Drink plenty of water
• Exercise helps decrease depression and anxiety and improves mood
• Get enough sleep. Researchers believe that lack of sleep contributes to a high rate of depression in college students.
Progress Reports will be available this week. Check with your student's school for more information.
Reminder: The Clear Bag Policy goes into effect today for athletic events.
If you plan to attend tonight's football game, please remember:
• The gate will open at 6pm.
• Only clear bags that adhere to the policy will be allowed inside the gate.
• There will not be a place to store bags.
• Although individuals taking tickets and administrators working the gate are enforcing the clear bag policy, they did not make the policy.
For more information, visit bit.ly/ESDClearBagPolicy.
Want to receive text, email, and/or phone calls with important information, such as bus route updates, newsletters, policy updates? Contact your student's school to submit your most up-to-date contact information.
You can also download our mobile app and follow us online!
Ashlee Curtis, El Dorado High School teacher and coach, graduated from the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Coach Curtis currently teaches PE and Introduction to Education and coaches varsity girls' basketball.
The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith (UAFS) is more than just a college to Coach Curtis. During her senior year of high school, she tore her ACL–potentially wrecking her chances of playing at the collegiate level. However, the UAFS coach believed in her and recruited her to play on the women’s basketball team. Once she arrived in Fort Smith, she was overwhelmed by the love and support the community shows the UAFS students. “The community is very involved. They go above and beyond to make sure students are successful.” The support she received from the community and her coach, as well as her love for the campus, helped make her time at UAFS special.
Thank you, Coach Curtis, for sharing about UAFS! If you are interested in learning more about the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, visit https://uafs.edu/.
Beginning on Friday, September 16th, the El Dorado School District will implement a Clear Bag Policy in an effort to provide a safer environment and improve security.
The Clear Bag Policy limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into stadiums, gymnasiums, and other athletic fields. Prohibited items include but are not limited to purses larger than a 4.5" x 6.5” clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, grocery bags, cinch bags, luggage of any kind, computer bags and camera bags, or any bag larger than the permissible size.
Bags that are permitted included:
• Tote bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags
• Small clutch bags with or without a handle or strap, no larger than 4.5” x 6.5” (approximately the size of a hand)
Bags not permitted:
• Backpacks, printed plastic bags, fanny packs, purses, reusable grocery totes, mesh or straw bags, duffle bags, large totes, and camera or binocular cases.
• Diaper bags are not allowed. Items normally carried in a diaper bag must be put into a clear plastic bag for venue entry.
In the near future, metal detector screening and a search of all items being carried in may take place at all ESD Athletic Venues. There are no provisions available to store or safeguard any prohibited bags. ESD is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
*An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at a gate by the respective gate supervisor.
For more information, visit our website at www.eldoradopublicschools.org/o/district/page/clear-bag-policy.
Did you know the Wildcat Wellness Center is open each weekday to ESD students? A variety of healthcare services are offered, including vaccinations, on-site labs, and health assessments. They accept Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, as well as a sliding fee discount program. The clinic is located on the WMS campus. Call 870.639.3875 for more information.
Bus route 26 will NOT run this afternoon, Monday, September 12th. If your student rides Route 26, please make alternate arrangements for after-school transportation. We apologize for this inconvenience.
Did you know?
On December 18, 2001, Congress designated September 11 of each year as “Patriot Day,” and later, on April 21, 2009, Congress requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized “National Day of Service and Remembrance.”
As National Suicide Prevention Week draws to a close, remember the following from the NAMI website:
"Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues."
• If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately.
• If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can chat the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.
• You can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
