Paragould School District

To our kindergarten students, the class of 2035, we want you to know we are excited you're joining the Ram family tomorrow. Click the link below to watch our Superintendent, Dr. Nick Jankoviak, and his son, Jon Paul, read "The Night Before Kindergarten" https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ytHKPbzxQh6el75Tu0f1ZyCkggQV5vb4/view?usp=sharing

PJHS Reminder of Open House this Thursday, August 11th. 7th Grade from 5-6pm 8th Grade from 6-7pm *8th Graders, at Open House when you get your schedule, look to see if you have Physical Science or Algebra 1. If so, please stay for the parent meeting in the library at 7 on Thursday for very important information.

Hold onto your hats, Ram fans, it's been a GREAT and EXCITING day in the PSD!! You'll want to check back frequently because we are going to be posting about the pep rally....errrr, meeting, we had this morning to welcome our certified staff back to campus; you'll get to meet some of our new staff members as we begin highlighting them today; and RIGHT NOW you get to see the awesomeness of Micka Hatley, Special Education teacher at the Paragould Primary, receive a $5,000 grant from Ag for Autism to spend in her classroom to make it even more amazing than it already is! Fun fact: This is the SECOND YEAR IN A ROW that Micka has won an Ag for Autism grant! Special thank you to the following people for coming out to celebrate with her today at the check presentation: Billie Bastian, Special Education paraprofessional at Paragould Primary Daniel Pieroni with Ag for Autism Mike Williams, Rob Taylor, and Jacob Hester with Farm Credit Midsouth Noah Tullos and Blake Phillips with Unico Bank Dr. Nick Jankoviak, PSD Superintendent Stephanie Thomas, PSD Director of Special Education Andrea Moore, Principal of Paragould Primary It's a GREAT day to be a Ram! #RiseUpRams #PSDRams #AgForAutism

Open Houses are scheduled! The attached has dates and times for each campus. If you cannot attend Open House, please call your child's school and update information (such as transportation, address, phone numbers, etc.). Paragould Primary 240-2201 Baldwin 240-2211 OGE 240-2221 WWE 240-2231 OGMS 240-2241 PJHS 240-2261 PHS 240-2271 Go Rams!

2022-23 ACT test dates and registration deadlines have been announced. Please see the attached for information. Contact the PHS counselor's office to register your student(s).

Several local churches are offering "Back to School Blessings" which involves backpacks, school supplies, a clothing closet, new shoes, haircuts, and food distribution. Take a look at the flyer for more information. What a blessing to our community!

Parents/Guardians/Caretakers - School will be back in session before you know it! Here are some things you can do to start the year off right: 1) Download/Update our free app and turn on notifications - you'll be the first to know important information such as early release, school closings, PTO meetings, etc. 2) Back to School letters will be mailed soon - have you moved? If so, please call your child's school and give them your new address. 3) Make plans to attend Open House at your child's school. Information will be posted soon with those dates/times. 4) K-6 School Supply Lists are now available by clicking the following link https://www.paragould.k12.ar.us/documents/for-parents/2022-23-school-supply-lists/352715

The Paragould School District is proud to announce an exciting virtual learning opportunity for motivated students in grades 5-12. Students who meet the requirements to be accepted into the PSD Virtual Academy will receive a targeted education delivered by highly qualified teachers. Virtual students will also have access to state-of-the-art technology programs, extracurricular activities (athletics, band, ROTC, theatre, etc.), and the added flexibility of being a virtual learner. If you are interested in applying to the PSD Virtual Academy for the 2022-23 school year, please complete the following form: https://forms.gle/V8BEWy2ZEAGdpmt98 Applications will be accepted until August 1st. GO RAMS!

Paragould High School will be providing an opportunity for Driver’s Education this summer. There are 15 spots available. We will have one (1) class only. The dates for this class are July 18th- August 5th, 2022. The first 15 qualified students to register for the course will be enrolled. Class time will be from 8:00-10:00am Monday- Friday. Driving times will be assigned later. The program consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction (BTW) on public streets and highways, and 6 hours of in-the-car observation. Students must be at least 14 years of age and have completed the 8th grade prior to the beginning of classroom instruction. Students must obtain and have in their possession a valid learner’s permit when receiving the BTW instruction on public streets and highways. If you are interested in taking Driver's Education, please fill out the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfK_mtqvK2YnXC7bDpe5EA0iE18z9F7j8DjixIPw3qt_pdqZA/viewform?usp=sf_link *Please be aware that for those who sign up and are able to take the course- there will be a $100.00 fee to take the class. This will be due in the first four days of the class. If the fee is not paid by then the student will be removed from the class.

Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) is a federal program designed to provide food support to families with children who were receiving free and reduced price school meals and missed school for COVID related absences. It can help families pay for food when students are absent from school due to a COVID-19 related isolation/quarantine. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in collaboration with the Department of Human Services (DHS), received approval to operate this program in response to the COVID-19 related school closures for school year 2021-22. The State’s plan provides P-EBT benefits to SNAP and non-SNAP households with children who temporarily lost access to free or reduced price school meals due to a COVID related isolation/quarantine. This plan will provide P-EBT benefits to students who: 1) qualify for free or reduced meal benefit and 2) were absent from school due to a COVID related isolation/quarantine. Students will qualify to receive P-EBT benefits if the answer is yes to both statement #1 and statement #2. The state has formalized a parent initiated option for meal application benefits. Access to the online application can be found on the district website or by clicking on the link below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfp78rK9f0ptIfTJOd3n0z7uS4ZV01oOXjNGDLpEJ538uCijw/viewform?usp=pp_url Once the application is submitted, the school district will verify the absences, approve the application, and submit the student’s information to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. DESE will work alongside DHS to process the benefit for each household. Benefits will be provided at a rate of $7.10 per day/days absent, due to a COVID related isolation/quarantine. Anticipated timeline: The deadline for a household to complete the application process and submit the application is July 29, 2022. The Paragould School District will consolidate collected student information and submit the information to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) by August 12, 2022. Feel free to contact your child’s school for more information.

PHS is excited to announce the July ACT Bootcamp registration is now open! Bootcamp is scheduled for July 11 - 15. Details are in the link below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpoZCJzyslv5M8NAxbjhPziz91KRc9TkKTn5Dm8gH63_f-0Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

The NEA area substitute teacher training is scheduled for Wednesday, June 8 from 9-12 at the ESS South Central Office. This training is for anyone interested in becoming a substitute teacher for the 2022-2023 school year. For additional information, or to apply online, please visit ess.com.

Congratulations go out to Henry Thompson and Nelson McHaney for showing up and showing out at Boys State 2022. Thompson was elected as Justice of the Peace for Caldwell County and McHaney was elected to City Council for Fisher City. To learn more about Boys State and their achievements, read the press releases below. Even in the summer, our Rams are working hard and making us proud!

Below you will find the link for tonight's graduation ceremony. Congratulations Class of 2022! https://youtu.be/PVFaYCObUhI

PHS is proud to announce our honor graduates for the Class of 2022 including Valedictorian, Ashton Rodrigues and Salutatorian, McKenzie Minor. Ashton and McKenzie were recently honored at the Governor's Scholastic Honors Day in Little Rock at the Governor's Mansion. Congratulations to all of our honor grads! Valedictorian: Ashton Rodrigues Salutatorian: McKenzie Minor Summa Cum Laude Zed Alhallak Jacob Cupples Alana Holloway Grace Jankoviak McKenzie Minor Fernanda Morales Brady Morgan Ashton Rodrigues Savannah Tinsley Katelynn Waddell Ashley Williford Samantha Wood Magna Cum Laude Sebastian Barger Hailey Bland Marissa Brandon Cole Brengard Jake Brittingham Anna Cox Kelsey Goodman Emily Hampton Isaiah Jackson Taylor Runsick Braxton Tilley Austin Weaver Cum Laude Berkli Benefield Nancy Brandon Jamison DaVault Rhett Frahler Natalie Horner Noah Huffman Bethanie Hutchison Isaac Jiles Ethan VanDon

Registration for the NO COST Academic/Athletic Camps for current students in grades K-6 is open NOW through Friday, May 20th. Your child is invited to attend Paragould K-6 Summer Academic/Athletic Camps. Our summer program is offered at NO COST to PSD students! Transportation will be provided for students if needed. Opportunities include both academic and athletic activities. Students will be given the opportunity to interact with district literacy and math computer adaptive technology programs. We will also offer one-on-one and small group instruction when necessary. Athletic programs offered to students include baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, volleyball, cheer, dance, and speed/agility. K-6 Athletic Program Coordinators and district coaches will facilitate athletic activities. Don’t delay, registration ENDS on Friday, May 20th. If interested, please complete the registration process by clicking the registration link below. Click the link below to register for the 2022 Academic/Athletic Camp https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfT8LIk4RXBm48vkrJR8FEE9UfjYW2XvgwhovOV7WOelcpWLQ/viewform?usp=sf_link Click the link below for more information about the 2022 Academic/Athletic Camp https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cw8SPF0G3Jn5SP8cUzNrLe8kM4cou0raJXHO96LeTlE/edit?usp=sharing

Parents of students going into 9th - 12th grade for 2022-23 school year, please mark your calendar - PHS would like to invite you to a parent meeting in the high school auditorium to explain registration, new graduation requirements, and the options for programs of study. Families with students who will be in 9th or 10th grade next year will meet on Wednesday, May 4th at 5:30 pm. Those with students who are going into 11th or 12th grade will meet Thursday, May 5th at 6:00pm. We encourage all parents to come find out the options your child has at PHS before they start choosing classes for next year on May 9.

Please see the photo for official pageant times for Saturday, April 30th!

PSD releases 2022-2023 school year calendar. Go Rams!

Don't forget - this Friday, April 22nd is the last day to sign up for the PSD Pageant that will be held on April 30th in the PHS Auditorium. Forms are available in each of our school offices. Ages 2 years old through 12th grade are allowed to enter. Email jwallace@paragouldschools.net for more information.