El Dorado School District

Olivia Fitzgerald currently teaches 3rd grade math and science at Hugh Goodwin Elementary. She attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello where she received a Bachelor of Science in Education Studies and a Master of Arts in Teaching. Mrs. Fitzgerald chose UAM because of the location and opportunity to continue her twirling career. She grew up in Monticello and was excited to stay close to home. Plus, being selected as the feature twirler made her college experience special. Mrs. Fitzgerald said, “I performed at football games, tailgates, etc. representing my hometown." Thank you, Mrs. Fitzgerald, for sharing about UAM! If you are interested in learning more about the University of Arkansas at Monticello, visit https://www.uamont.edu/.

Calling all Union County students grades 6-12! The Union County Math Competition will be held this Saturday at El Dorado High School. Students will register in the Wildcat Arena before reporting to classrooms. Awards will be held in the arena after the exams are administered. Masks are required.

Kindergarten Registration is coming soon! Take the opportunity to tour each of our elementary schools, so you can choose the best fit for your child. Tours will be offered on Tuesdays/Thursdays from February 8th-24th. Appointments required. Call today to sign up for your tour!

In honor of Arkansas School Board Member Recognition Month, Washington Middle School students presented the ESD board with plaques they designed and created in Mr. Christopher Rydners's coding classes. Mr. Rydners held a competition where students submitted designs they created with the software they use in class. The WMS office staff voted on the designs they liked the best, and that student’s design was used to create a plaque for each board member. The winning students were: 6th graders Juliana Adams, Brandon Maddox, Luis Acosta, Cy'Mya Ford, Alicia Freeman, Cayden Adams; 5th graders Liam Beebe, Kayla Huynh, Trenton Fairris, Carolina Sneed. Picture at School Board Meeting: Trenton Farris, Kayla Huynh, Cy'Mya Ford, Alicia Freeman, Brandon Maddox, Liam Bebe, Carolina Sneed, Juliana Adams. (Not pictured: Luis Acosta Gulindo and Cayden Adams) Additional picture: Juliana Adams, Cy'Mya Ford, Alicia Freeman, Luis Acosto Gulindo, Trenton Farris, Brandon Maddox, Liam Bebe, and Mr. Rynders (Not Pictured: Kayla Huynh, Carolina Sneed, and Cayden Adams)

REMINDER: The deadline to order an EHS 6A State Football Championship shirt is this Friday, January 21st. For more information and the order form, visit https://www.eldoradopublicschools.org/o/ehs/article/624847.

In accordance with the state and federal regulations implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), this is to inform the public of El Dorado School District’s intent to destroy personally identifiable information related to special education services. El Dorado School District would like to make Parents/Guardians, Former Students, and Eligible (Adult) Students aware that Special Education records of students who graduated, moved or were dismissed from special education in the 2014-2015 school years will be disposed of on February 7, 2022. The district is required to maintain records for six (6) years from the date the child leaves the school district. Any former students (now adults) age 18+ must pick up their own records. Special Education records collected by the El Dorado School District, relates to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of Special Education in the district. Records can be picked up between January 3, 2022 through February 3, 2022 from 8:00 – 4:00 at the El Dorado School District Special Education Office, 501 North Timberlane. If you have questions about records, contact Shawn Lamkin, Special Ed. Director at 864-5133.

The El Dorado School District has been made aware of a post circulating social media about an issue at Washington Middle School. Please disregard this post. We received phone calls regarding school safety, but there is no unusual activity in-or-around the school. Washington Middle School students are in a safe environment and actively engaged in learning. It's a typical school day. Please know that the safety of our students is always our absolute top priority. For official information regarding all ESD schools, please refer to our website or social media pages.

Did you know? There are 44 sounds in the English Language and ALL of them help a child learn to read. The Arkansas Department of Education has a variety of free resources for families to support young readers. Check it out at https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/rise-arkansas/rise-family-resources

All El Dorado School District staff and students report to school tomorrow, Tuesday, January 18. Per the ACHI guidelines, all students, staff, and visitors are required to wear masks while indoors and on school buses. We look forward to having everyone back on campus!

Today we honor the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. and recognize his legacy of service. Did you know that in 1994 Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, transforming the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day into a national day of service? It is the only federal holiday that is recognized as a day of service. Looking for ways to volunteer? Here's a few local places that have volunteer opportunities: UCAPS, The Call, Boys & Girls Club. Still looking for ideas? Check out www.dosomething.org - a youth-led service initiative - for some neat ideas to implement here!

Save the date! Kindergarten registration for the 2022-2023 school year begins soon! Visit eldoradpublicschools.org for more information.

Reminder: Today is an AMI Day for ESD students. Please follow the AMI guidance provided by your student's school. Sack lunches are available for pick up from Northwest Elementary or Washington Middle School today from 11am-1pm. An active lunch code is needed to pick up lunch.

ESD will be serving grab-and-go lunches tomorrow at Northwest Elementary and Washington Middle School from 11am-1pm. An active lunch number must be provided to pick up lunch.

Due to an increase in the number of COVID cases and those who have had to be quarantined as a result of close contact/exposure, the El Dorado School District will move to virtual learning for Friday, January 14, 2022. Please follow the AMI guidance provided by your school. School is closed Monday, January 17, for MLK DAY. We will be back on campus Tuesday, January 18, 2022. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your support and cooperation as we make this decision in the best interest of our students and staff.

El Dorado School District was recently named the 2021 Jumpstart Read for the Record District of the Year! Around 2,000 students, teachers, and administrators joined Qui Nguyen, Disney Writer for "Raya and the Last Dragon" and El Dorado alum, for a reading of "Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon!" We want to give a huge shout out to the elementary literacy facilitators for all their hard work in organizing Read for the Record: Kathy Clayton, Kristie Mann, Ashley Smith, and Jodie Walker. Your dedication to our students shines in all you do!! And a special thanks to district literacy chair Jeannie Strother for supporting these ladies! What a wonderful team!!

Natalie Renaud-Bolick, teacher at Barton Jr. High School, attended Southern Arkansas University where she received a BSE in K-12 PE and Health. Ms. Renaud-Bolick currently teaches 8th grade Career Development. Ms. Renaud-Bolick chose to attend SAU for two main reasons: the teaching and golf programs. She received a golf scholarship from SAU. Her scholarship, combined with her future plans to be a teacher and SAU’s great teaching program, took her to Magnolia. For Ms. Renaud-Bolick, her time at SAU was more than just earning a scholarship and a degree. She was able to experience 'big school' life in a small town. “SAU was small enough to feel like home but had all of the things bigger schools could offer. I had teammates from all over the world and got to continue to play the sport I loved!” Thank you, Ms. Renaud-Bolick, for sharing about SAU! If you are interested in learning more about Southern Arkansas University, visit https://web.saumag.edu/.

ATTENTION MURMIL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES: A sack lunch and breakfast for the next day can be picked up at the school from 11am-12:30pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week. You will need an active student lunch number to receive the lunch/breakfast.

Is there an ESD staff member who has made an impact on you or your student's life? Do you wish you could say "thanks" or let the world know how awesome they are? Here's your chance! If there is a staff member that you would like to recognize (bus driver, teacher, principal, school counselor, secretary, etc.), please let us know by completing the form below. We will be celebrating these recognitions on our social media channels. https://bit.ly/ESDWildcatImpact

All ESD campuses and buildings will be closed Monday, January 17, 2022 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Please see the following updates for Wildcat Basketball this week: Tuesday, 1/11/22 VS Pine Bluff - JVB/VG/VB 5pm Thursday, 1/13/22 VS PB Robey - Cancelled Friday, 1/14/22 @ Hot Springs - Postponed The 8th Grade Girls will not play in the Maumelle Tournament this weekend, Friday, 1/14/22, and Monday, 1/17/22.