December Newsletter word

							                   Helena-West Helena School District
                                    “Excellence Without Excuses”


                       The Cougars Den
               December 2009                                                                 Issue 2

                                           Schools of Excellence
Under the supervision of Principal Joyce Stevenson, Beech Crest Elementary School has received an
award of Excellence for the 2008-2009 school year from the Arkansas Department of Education.

Schools are scored on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 representing Schools of Excellence. Being no stranger to
achievement and hard work, Beech Crest Elementary has scored a 5 for the second consecutive year.

The score is based on the above or at proficient levels scored by third through eighth grade students on
                                            the Arkansas Augmented Benchmark Exams distributed to all
                                            public schools in the state of Arkansas.

                                            “Teachers and students make an agreement. They agree to come
                                            early and stay late in order to reach the set goals” stated Principal
                                            Stevenson. In the morning before school begins, students are able
                                            to use the Success Maker Computer Program under the
                                            supervision of Charlotte Jones, which tracks progress and
                                            weaknesses for each individual child and aligns lessons
                                            accordingly.
L toR. Joyce Stevenson, Charlotte Jones,
Aurelia Echols, Karen Randolph, and         Also making academic waves is J.F. Wahl, under the direction of
June Fears
                                            Principal Becky Alexander. J.F. Wahl was also recognized by the
                                            Arkansas School Recognition Program receiving a score of a 4 for
the second consecutive year which recognizes the school as Exceeding
Improvement Standards.

This year, however, marked an additional achievement for the                             In This Issue…
previously mentioned award recipients. This was the first year a
monetary award was attached to the school achievements which is a                      Exemplary Schools…………1

good tool to further equip and motivate our students and teachers as                   Tis the Season……………….2
they gear for future successes.
                                                                                       December Events…………..2

                                                                                       Holiday Recipe……………….3




                                      Responsibility. Accountability. Results.
   A Season for Giving
   In this season of giving, the Helena-West Helena School District in cooperation
   with Together for Hope, gave coats to students in need.

   On Friday, December 4 at the Helena Community Center, families were invited
   out for a night of giving, learning, and feasting. Over 120 students ranging
   from ages two to twelve were given new or gently used coats for the cold
   winter months at no charge to the families.                                                           Responsibility.
                                                                                                         Accountability.
   In addition to this gift of giving, parents and students were able to participate                        Results.
   in workshops further promoting the spirit of family and community within the
   District. Students were able to make gifts to give to their parents over the holiday season, and families
   were also served dinner with an opportunity to meet, greet, and socialize all in the holiday spirit of
   giving. Happy Holidays to each and every family from the Helena– West Helena School District!


   December Events
   December 4                              December 14
   Christmas Parade                        Helena Home for the Holidays
   6:00 p.m.                               6:00 p.m.
   Taking place downtown Helena            Central High Gymnasium, showcasing the talents of the students of the Helena-
   showcasing several bands, the           West Helena School District
   Mayor, and Superintendent
                                           December 15-16
   December 5                              Project Discover
   Christmas Festival                      See the talents of students at Beech Crest and West Side at this project fair.
   12:00 p.m.
   Downtown Cherry Street free
   admission and fun for the entire        December 16-17
   family                                  District Wide Staff Meeting
                                           3:30 p.m.
   December 11                             J.F. Wahl cafeteria, district employees can find out if their future is secure. Talk
   Christmas in Memphis                    to Carl Thomas of Farmers Insurance
   9:00 a.m.
   District wide field trip to MyPac       December 18-20
   Memphis Holiday Celebration and         Love Came Down at Christmas
                                            An original stage musical by Kyle T. Miller featuring an all star cast including
   much, much more!
                                           Roosevelt Griffin Jr (“Jimmy Early” in Dreamgirls)



Chocolate Crunchies
1 package (16 ounces) refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/2 cup sweetened cocoa powder
1 egg
3 bars (1.55 ounces each) milk chocolate with crisp rice candy
1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Lightly grease cookie sheets. Let dough stand at room temperature 15 minutes.
2. Combine dough, cocoa and egg in large bowl; beat until blended. Stir in candy. Shape dough into 36 balls;
    place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
3. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until set. Let cool on cookie sheet.



                                       Responsibility. Accountability. Results.