Gabrielle and Daniel Leslie represented UHSMA at the Craighead County Spelling Bee today at the ASU Fowler Center. We would love to say a HUGE congratulations to Gabrielle Leslie to placing 2nd Place in the Craighead County Spelling Bee!  Gabrielle and Daniel, we know how hard you both work on your academics—and we are so proud of you.

Also, a special thanks to Mrs. Julie Barker, our Spelling Bee sponsor! We had a Spelling Bee Parade for both children when they returned!

Our Third Graders are learning about their body systems in preparation for a Project Lead the Way activity on Genetics.NYIT Student Doctors Zachary Levy, Melody Young, and Jacob Salner had a video conference with our students today and they student doctors read the book they wrote called, "Rory's Adventure Through the Cardiovascular System." It is such an awesome book and we loved to hear about the heart from the perspective of an expert Doctor. Our students learned so much!! In addition to hearing the book and learning about the heart, our scholars learned why these student doctors wanted a career in the medical field.

NYIT purchased every 3rd grader the book that they read called, "Rory's Adventure Through the Cardiovascular System". Wow, we are so thankful for this! You can find Rory's Adventure Books on Instagram.

Arkansas State University’s, Dr. Scott Bruce, (Master’s of Athletic Training Program) spent some time zia ZOOM with our UHSMA’s 4th graders!  He taught us about the job of athletic trainers as well as providing specific expert information on concussions!  4th graders have been learning about the brain, how it works, and what happens to the brain when an injury occurs. Our 4th graders study the brain and concussions as part of our Project Lead the Way program.  Next week, these kids will make informational videos based on what they’ve learned about brains a d concussions. The Zoom today with Scott Bruce will just be so helpful as they plan and create their videos!

Something new is happening on Fridays at Nettleton UHSMA! You are going to this! Nettleton Schools will begin a Weekend Meal Bag program this week. This program provides a bag of food for ALL Nettleton students to take home each Friday until the end of the school year. The bags will usually contain a few frozen/cold foods that will need to be refrigerated once the student gets home. There will also be non-perishable, ready to eat foods such as canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, juice, and chips that kids can prepare or easily consume without assistance. Each student will have the opportunity to pick up a bag as they dismiss each Friday afternoon.

Thank you to our UHSMA Lunch Bunch for preparing the bags each week,

Dawn Ragsdale

(Child Nutrition Director at Nettleton) and our Nettleton administration that made this possible!

#Creatingscholars #sixhousesoneheartbeat #theheartbeatofnettleton

UHSMA already has many teachers and staff with advanced degrees beyond a Bachelor's Degree.  Recently, we have had more teachers graduate with an additional degree.  We would love to celebrate these teachers on their hard work.  Studies show that teachers who earn their advanced degrees show a deep level of commitment to the teaching profession, they are able to modify the curriculum to meet individual student's goals, they adjust teaching methods, and they are leaders in the building.  We see all of these qualities in our teachers that have earned advanced degrees.  

Congratulations to these staff members for recently completing advanced degrees!

David Utley--Masters in Educational Leadership

Cheryl Lenards--Education Specialist in Educational Leadership

Madison Purtteman--Masters in Reading

Mary Beth Jackson--Masters of Art in Teaching Special Education K-12

Christy Wortham--Masters of Education in Special Education

University Heights School of Medical Arts has been designated as an Arkansas School of Innovation. The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education has named UHSMA as a school that transforms teaching in exciting and relational ways for all students.  UHSMA is engaged in practices to improve academic performance and learning for all students. At UHSMA, we have designed new and creative alternatives to the existing instructional practices that are present in all schools that have been named as an Arkansas Schools of Innovation.  We have done this to increase student academic achievement and learning, which is our ultimate goal at UHSMA.

In December, we held a virtual House Tournament.  About 40 students were called down to the gym to play 6 different games.  The rest of the school watched virtually and cheered on their house!  It was so fun to watch the kids have fun!  Each house earned points for their house for participating!

1st Place (600 Points) - Amici
2nd Place (600 Points) - Kuleana
3rd Place (600 Points) - Valiente
4th Place (600 Points) - Manawanui
5th Place (600 Points) - Quantum
6th Place (600 Points) - Kujali