LRSD Spotlight

Morgan Johnson, a third-grade Bear Cub Scout from M.L. King Elementary, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to help present the Boy Scouts of America’s Annual Report to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (pictured above with Morgan). He was one of only eight Scouts from across the nation chosen to present the Annual Report this year. During the trip, Morgan met with Senatorial and Congressional leaders and dignitaries from the CIA, the Pentagon and the Supreme Court. 

The Boy Scouts of America’s Report to the Nation is presented annually by a delegation of youth from across the nation. It highlights the organization’s achievements during the past year, including progress on Scouting initiatives that address national service, conservation, healthy living and community involvement.

Morgan's favorite subject at school is math, he likes to play golf and he has said he wants to attain the rank of Eagle, the highest in Scouting.

Suellen DiMassimo, a Math Specialist at Carver Magnet Elementary, has been selected to attend the 2010 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy! This year’s Academy is scheduled for July 18 - 23 at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, N.J. The selection panel based their decision on teachers' qualifications, dedication to inspiring students at an early age and overall commitment to enhancing the teaching profession.

The Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy was launched in 2005 to provide 3rd- through 5th-grade teachers the tools to enhance curricula, an opportunity to network with other educators and discover innovative ways to teach math and science to students. Since its launch, more than 2,000 teachers have attended the Academy and shared their experiences with more than 40,000 students nationwide.

Suellen is excited about attending this program. "I will be working and learning with the best math and science teachers from around the country," she said. "I look forward to bringing this knowledge back to Carver Magnet and incorporating it into our curriculum."

Science is the name of the game at Central!

Central students placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the 44th annual Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). Twenty-eight students presented their scientific research at this prestigious event at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville on March 13.

From those 28 students, 13 were chosen to give formal presentations to a dozen Arkansas Tech faculty members. Seven of the eight top awards went to Central students. The following students will attend the National JSHS in April in Bethesda, Maryland.

1st place: Boshan Zhao, junior. “Nano-Graphene Laser Limiting.”

2nd place: Aaron Yin, sophomore. “The Effects of Phonemes,Syntax, and Semantics on the Brains’s Ability to Solve Jumbled Words.”

3rd place: Samia Nawaz, junior. “Toxicity of Manganese Nanoparticles in PC12 Cells.”

5th place: Tatiana Lupashina, junior.

6th place: Muhammed Abu-Rmaileh, sophomore.

Zhao and Yin will compete for up to $16,000 in scholarships and trips to London by presenting their research to top American Scientists at the National JSHS. Nawaz will be one of 48 students that will present posters of their work to compete for scholarship monies. Alternates include Kamakshi Duvvuru and Elton Zhou.

In addition to the winners listed above, 19 additional Central students competed at the JSHS Poster session. Students winning awards include:

1st place (tie): Aya Kantarovich and Kunal Shah, $100 each.

2nd place: Ritika Mazumder, $80.

Arkansas Tech presented Kiara Aadil, senior, and Amber Ray, junior, both Central students, scholarships that will more than cover one year of tuition at Arkansas Tech University. The scholarships will be contingent for renewal each year. They conducted research on the water quality of Coleman Creek and Fourche Creek, respectively.

Central teacher Annice Steadman received the 2010 Tom Palko Award for contributions to high school student research. She received a $500 award and plaque from the Tom Palko family. Melissa Donham, also of Central, received the 2010 Arkansas Junior Science and Humanities Teacher of the Year Award in recognition of outstanding service as a research sponsor. Her award was made possible by the Army, Navy and Air Force Offices of Research.

Congratulations to Central High School DECA members Trevor Blake Bass (back), Randon Brewer, Gabriel King (right) and Alexia Mahomes for their outstanding performance at the 64th Annual DECA State Career Development Conference in Rogers on March 3 and 4.

Central received a Certificate of Achievement for 100% membership in national DECA’s Membership Campaign.
 
Blake was the first-place winner in Automotive Services Marketing, and Gabriel placed 6th in Food Marketing. Blake qualifies to compete in his event at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, in April. Gabriel will be an alternate competitor in her event at nationals.

The second grade students at Williams Magnet Elementary set a goal to bring 100 food items per class to mark the 100th day of school for the 2009-2010 school year. There are three second grade classes, so the total goal was 300 food items. After collecting for a week, the students gathered to present the items to Mr. Walter Tucker, Arkansas Foodbank Coordinator, and Mr. Phillip Achor, Arkansas Foodbank Operations. 

Mr. Tucker informed the students about the Arkansas Foodbank. “Our job is to provide for the hungry people in Arkansas," he said, "and to make sure no one goes hungry.”  He went on to tell them that the Foodbank feeds about 23,000 people in a week. Mr. Achor explained to the students how the food is received and delivered. He told them that last year the Foodbank delivered 14 million pounds of food, and 400 agencies received food from the Foodbank to distribute to the hungry.

After the informative presentation by the representatives of the Arkansas Foodbank, the food items were counted and weighed. The combined total for the three classes was 498 food items, weighing a total of 484 pounds. It will provide a total of 372 meals.

Williams Magnet's second-grade teachers (Mrs. Lori Hoyt, Mrs. Amy Hughen and Mrs. Connie Simpson) said that the food drive was a huge success.  During the drive, they used the food items as a learning opportunity.  As the items were brought in, the children would weigh them and chart the various shapes. “We wanted them to learn in a practical way,” Mrs. Simpson said. "Of course, the most important lesson that they learned was to have compassion for others."

They have set a goal to reach over 500 food items in next year’s second grade food drive.