Recognitions

The tradition of excellence is more than 130 years old in the Fort Smith Public School District. Students compete favorably in academic challenges, athletic contests and tests of musical skill. Since its birth in 1875, the District has evolved to meet the expectations of parents and students by providing many opportunities to develop the diverse talents exhibited by students. The District supports a strong sense of accomplishment within its staff too. Educators and support personnel are recognized for their achievements and excellence throughout the region, state and nation. Within these pages you will find congratulations to students and staff who have won state and national awards; statements recognizing gifts to the district, grant winners, elected association positions, etc. and points of interest.

Congratulations:

• SHS Science Bowl Team Wins 6th Consecutive State Title
The Southside High School Science Bowl Team won the Arkansas Science Bowl Championship for the sixth consecutive year. Captain Wesley Johnson-Graves and team members Miranda Pitsch, Tyler Evans, Reed Stiles, and Jarid Kinder will travel to Washington D.C. in April to compete for the national title. Josh Adams coaches the Southside High School Science Bowl teams.

• Students earn semi-finalist designation
Sixteen Fort Smith Public School District students have earned the National Merit Semi-Finalist designation by the National Merit Corporation. Lam Pham, Terry Schneider, Andrew Champlin, Elise Geraghty, Matthew Kern, Kelsey King, Kevin Kraemer, Jingyi Ma, Michael Marchese, Jay Mehta, Marisa Nelson, Ashley Paladino, Kyle Peterson, Justin Post, Kayla Rheinhard and Daniel Rice qualify to compete for National Merit Scholarships and private corporation scholarships with this designation.

• Teacher nationally recognized
Southside English Teacher Oretha Ferguson has been selected as a feature on nationally recognized educator Harry Wong's teachers.net column.

• School beautification
Howard Elementary School received the Fort Smith Orchid Award for their newly developed Outdoor Classroom. The Orchid Award is presented to community residents, institutions, and businesses that have given special attention to the attractiveness of their yards, campuses and landscapes.

• Student musicians earn top positions
Fifty-nine Fort Smith Public School District student musicians earned 68 All-State positions in the state’s finest 2006 student bands, choirs and orchestra. [More...]

• Students compete favorably in regional FBLA contests
Fort Smith Public School District students earned honors at the District I Future Business Leaders of America 2006 Spring Leadership Conference. Competing with public and private school students from the West Central and North Western Arkansas, FSPS students earned 39 percent of the first place positions in the annual contest. [More...]

Recognizing:

•Sheila Humphrey, Woods Elementary School First Grade Teacher, was awarded the Polly M. Jackson Master Economics Educator designation by the Arkansas Council on Economic Education. This award was presented by the Council’s associate director Donna Wright. Humphrey has also won four Arkansas excellence in teaching awards from the Council.

•Terry Schneider, Northside High School, Elise Geraghty and Daniel Rice, Southside High School, have been invited to compete in the United States Department of Education Presidential Scholars Program. Established in 1964, the Scholars Program recognizes the Nation's distinguished high school students and their accomplishments in many areas including academic and artistic success, leadership and involvement in school and community.

•Darby Junior High School Science Teacher Sherry Christopher and 15 science students participated in the activities celebrating the Grand Opening of the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center. Christopher and these students have contributed to construction of the center in time and in effort.

•Thanks • Members of the Alpha Beta Omega Chapter of the Kappa Delta Pi at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith collected and delivered books that completed classroom libraries in all three first grade classrooms at Tilles Elementary School.

•Thanks • New Partner in Education with the Fort Smith Public School District’s Student Assistance Department The Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club led by Executive Director Jerry Glidewell, has contributed the use of the Evans Boys and Girls Club for the nine Kids Leadership Days held for all FSPS sixth-grade students. The new facility provides a safe and comfortable environment for each group. Teachers and counselors comment that the facility makes the Kids Leadership Day more enjoyable for all involved.

Points Of Interest:

• Enrollment numbers for the first several days of the 2006-2007 school year appear to verify that the enrollment growth of the past several years is indeed a trend. After five days of classes, the district-wide totals were 13,606. This is more than 400 students above those of the corresponding date of one year ago. Enrollment has increased more than 1,000 student over the past four years.

• Woods Elementary School Teacher Sheila Humphries and her 2004-05 first graders performed their award winning program on economics education at their school. To a familiar tune, the students talked about the processes and elements of economics in our society.

• Darby Principal Michael Farrell, Science Teacher Heather Wright and former students Sarah Smith and Ema Holland spoke to the Board about the Teaming approach to learning. All spoke of the benefits of a small learning community in a larger environment. The students noted that structure gave them a greater feeling of security, confidence and academic success. Wright expressed the same sense of support as a teacher.