Page 5 - BackToSchool2018

Monday, August 6, 2018 EL DORADO NEWS-TIMES — 5C
Smackover-Norphlet School District
Smackover-Norphlet takes last step in STEM-focused program
By Michael Shine
Staff Writer
The Smackover-Norphlet School District will imple- ment the last part of its K-12 plan for STEM-based education. Through the program, students can take classes that focus on science, technology, engineer- ing and math at each school.
At the elementary level, students can take Project Lead the Way’s Launch Curriculum, which gives stu- dents an introduction to topics such as light, flight, collision and robotics with each grade level focused on a different topic.
Elementary students also use Delta Eduction’s Full Option Science System kits. The kits come for kindergarten through eighth grade students with a physical science, earth science and life science kit for each grade level. The school district was awarded a $12,000 grant from LanXess to purchase the materi- als, supplies and equipment for the elementary STEM curriculum for the 2018-19 school year.
Middle school students take two classes each year that are STEM focused. Sixth grade students take Design & Modeling and Automation and Robotics. Seventh grade students take Flight & Space and Science of Technology. Eighth grade students enroll in Computer Science for Innovators and Makers and Medical Detectives.
Norphlet Middle School will host its fourth Annual Family STEM Night on Nov. 13. The event pulls in industry and community partners from Smackover, El Dorado, Camden and East Camden. It includes door prizes and STEM-related activities.
Smackover High School will be offering a new
Computer Integrated Manufacturing Class as part of the Engineering Program. Along with the new class, the high school program offers Engineering Design and Principles of Engineering.
LanXess also awarded $5,800 grant to support engi- neering students in obtaining industry certifications
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such as Autodesk Inventor. The grant will allow stu- dents to get tutoring in the software, take practice exams and sit for the industry certification exams.
Michael Shine may be reached at mshine@eldora- donews.com or 870-862-6611.
Notes from the Smackover-Norphlet superintendent
John Gross
Superintendent of Smackover-Norphlet Schools
At the beginning of the school year, parents will meet the people who will have the most influence on their children outside of their home for the next school year – a child’s teachers. These teachers will spend 178 days together with a strong commitment to the success of every student in their classroom. The impact of a teacher’s influence will be felt by a child’s parents, grandparents and friends.
Our hardworking teachers have been attending professional development throughout the summer to become more effective teachers and provide even higher-quality instruction. They have spent countless hours reviewing their students’ test scores to learn everything about your child’s strengths and weaknesses. They have worked long into the evening creating an atmosphere in their classroom that is warm and welcoming to your children and to you because, in reality, teachers want you, as parents, to feel just as welcome in their classrooms as your children feel.
So at the beginning of this school year, I want to honor and thank all of the teachers who have made the commitment to provide the highest quality education to the students in the Smackover-Norphlet School District. No other people will impact your child’s life more ... not the principal, not the superintendent. As superintendent, I am dedicated to ensuring
that the responsibility of every other employee in the school district is supporting teachers so that teachers can spend more time focused on what matters most – student learning.
• To the cafeteria workers who support the teachers by making sure that all of the students are fed a nutritious meal, we thank you.
• To the nurses who
support the teachers by
ensuring that students are
healthy and able to learn, we thank you.
• To the administrative assistants who support the teachers by taking care of the clerical needs of the school, we thank you.
• To the paraprofessionals who support the teachers by providing interventions or attending to the needs of special students, we thank you.
• To the counselors who support the teachers by advising students and supporting the mental health needs of students, we thank you.
• To the bus drivers who support the teachers by bringing the students safely to and from school each day, we thank you.
• To the maintenance and janitorial staff who support the teachers by keeping the facilities clean and in working order, we thank you.
• To the administrators who support the teachers by protecting instructional time and ensuring that the school operates in a safe and orderly manner, we thank you.
• To the community and industry partners who support the teachers through mentoring students and providing financial support, we thank you.
• To the parents who support the teacher by serving as a member of a team dedicated to the success of your child, we thank you.
We welcome all of our students and their families to the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year. May it be an exciting, challenging, and rewarding year for all!
John Gross
Be a STAR.
Fall classes start August 20
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