LRSD Spotlight

National service programs, civic groups, local celebrities, heroes and volunteers in Arkansas joined together for the third year to focus on childhood literacy in honor of the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001, and in observance of the National Day of Service and Remembrance. Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe joined with other volunteers for Arkansas’ "Together We Read" service initiative at Gibbs International Magnet School. Many volunteers, including Arkansas Service Commissioner Ron Coon, read to students in Pre-K through 3rd grade.

Mrs. Beebe read to students in Jennifer White's 2nd-grade class. Her book selection was The Little Chapel that Stood by A.B. Curtis, a story about the historic chapel that stood only 100 yards from the World Trade Center and remains standing to this day. The book also is about the men and women who made a difference on September 11.

A list of 10 children’s books, all with a ‘hero’ theme, were provided for volunteer readers. The goal of the "Together We Read" initiative is to read to 30,000 children in elementary schools and daycare centers across Arkansas, bringing attention to childhood literacy, the role of volunteers in addressing community needs and the everyday heroes living among us. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) State Office spearheaded this event and targeted the week of September 6-9 to read to children.

The bottom photo shows Mrs. Beebe with 1st-grade student Malachi Gober during the day's welcome ceremony.

If you attended Central High School and sang in the Concert Choir or the Madrigal Choir under Robert Brack's direction, we are looking for you!

The Robert L. Brack Music Scholarship Committee is hosting a scholarship fundraising concert in honor of the retired choral music director at Central High School.

All former Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers under the direction of Mr. Brack are invited to participate in choir rehearsals on Saturday, April 16, at 11 a.m. and perform in concert with the Central High School Alumni Choir on April 17 ay 5 p.m. Rehearsal and concert will be held at St. Peter's Rock Baptist Church at 2201 Brown St. in Little Rock.

Special coloists at the concert will be Laura Lackey Turner, Deserae Johnson, Danita Waller Paige, Sarah Jane Kirshaw, Marcus Rhodes and Rev. Gerald Thompson.

The concert is free and open to the public. Contributions to the scholarship fund may be made payable to the Robert L. Brack Music Scholarship Fund and mailed to 14217 Longtree Drive, Little Rock, AR 72212.

For further information, contact Dr. Stephen W. Christian, Comittee Chairman, at 501-280-0488, or Mr. Robert Brack at 501-225-4282 or by email.

American humorist and newspaper columnist Robert Benchley once said, “Death ends a life, not a relationship.” These words couldn’t be more true to describe the untimely death of Alex Courtney Franklin at just 20 years old. But through the Alex Foundation, a 501C3 nonprofit organization established in his honor, Alex’s passion for architecture, art and mathematics will live on by providing $1,000 cash scholarships to high school seniors who plan to pursue a higher education in any of these subjects.

To apply for the scholarship, students must submit a 500-word original essay, focused on one or more of the following: humility, strength of convictions, loyalty, honor, charity, determination, the value of family or the obligations of friendship and community. For more essay guidelines, click here.

“From words on paper to sketch drawings — my son was consumed by his enthusiasm to create,” said Angela Courtney, Alex’s mother and founder of the Alex Foundation. “Our desire is to help students who share Alex’s passion for architecture, art and mathematics by rewarding them with scholarship money and encouraging them to move forward with their goals.”

In its first year, Alex Foundation already has distributed five $1,000 scholarships to students who prepared thoughtful essays. If you’d like to donate money to the Alex Foundation, please do so here  or send funds to: c/o First National Bank of McGehee, 500 North 2nd Street, McGehee, AR 71654-2004. For more information, visit the Alex Foundation website here.