Tuesday, September 20, 2016

It's election day in Zones 3 and 7.

Head's Up

Tune in, it's National Radio Day.

National Hispanic Heritage Month started last Thursday and goes through October 15th. Esta una grande fiesta in Fayetteville uno y dos de octubre. Detalles nwahispanicheritagefestival.com 

Daaang, missed National Butterscotch Pudding Day yesterday.

Thursday is the Autumnal Equinox and summer is over. It's also the first rivalry football game between BWHS and BHS when the Freshman take the field at the TAC.

Friday, September 23 is National Great American Pot Pie Day.

Monday, September 26 is National Johnny Appleseed Day.

Everyone should be at the Future Ready Forum Tuesday, September 27 at BWHS Performing Arts Center. We're talking opportunities for graduates and how #EveryLearnerFutureReady is a great goal to have.

@bpscommunity

Ok, I was able to attend the Walmart Saturday Morning Meeting last Saturday and Miss America was there. Just sayin'.
Here's the contestants in this year's Miss BHS pageant.

Who has the most National Merit Semi-finalists? BHS, BHS, BHS! Yep, there's 18. The most in the state and a new BHS record. Congratulations to these scholars!










Then Dr. Jones and I joined some of our community partners at the Walmart Inclusion Festival. So great to see the diversity that is Northwest Arkansas and how everyone can find something they have in common.

That reminds me, it's time to start start talking about Diversabilities Awareness Festival 2017! We've got some non-profits ready to support student learning and celebrating the diverse abilities instead of focusing on the disabilities. Love to see this completely student-driven this year. We had a great group of students last year who really made the event exceptional.

McLarty Daniel Automotive is giving away a NEW car to a BHS and BWHS student with perfect attendance. I don't know about you, but that is pretty cool, and definitely an incentive.










Bentonville West played their first game in Bentonville last Friday. The scrappy Wolverines put up a good fight, but fell to Muskogee, OK.





First Graders at Thomas Jefferson Elementary collected school supplies for the Arkansas Children's Shelter. Think doing something for others doesn't make you happy, just look at these faces.

Are you making or tinkering in your classroom or grade level? Are you doing genius hour with your students? Then we want to video in your classrom for our next short film Making and Tinkering and Genius Hour, Oh My! Email Keith khelm@bentonvillek12.org or I and let us know when the best time to visit your class would be. By the way, Tinkerfest III is Saturday, October 1 at the Scott Family Amazeum.

Contests, Competitions, and sometimes cool stuff

Want to get started on your child's college fund? Here's the contest for you. The Arkansas 529 plan is holding a "Coloring for College" contest. Winners get $529 to start a 529 college saving plan. Win and leverage the power of compound interest to help you put your kids through college.

Art teachers and app developers, this is the reminder to check the due dates for the City Planning Art Contest and the Congressional App Competition.

Video of the Week

Have a great week.

Tuesday, September 13

Just didn't get this one done, and views were way down last week. Better up my game. Spelling better will probably help.

Head's Up

National Keep Kids Creative Week is September 19th through 23rd. No excuses, it's a national week, people!

Today is national Kids take over the Kitchen Day.

Wednesday, September 14 is National Live Creative Day and National Creme Filled Donut Day.

Thursday, September 15 is National Online Learning Day and National Double Cheeseburger Day. Not sure if this is a good idea, maybe they need to throw in National Work at a Standup Desk Day.

Friday, September 16 could be the best day ever! It's National Play-Doh Day! Can't you just smell it! It's also the first game in Bentonville for Bentonville West High School! Go Wolverines!

Saturday, September 17 is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

And Monday, September 19 is INTERNATIONAL Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Looking ahead - we are again partnering with TATA Consultancy Services to provide an opportunity for kids to learn design thinking and app development. But this year, unlike in years past, we are holding the Go-IT Camp during a school break. Fall break to be specific. If you're not taking a vacation on the first two days, and would like to earn a stipend ($175 per day) for helping facilitate the camp, send me an email. Facilitators will have to attend a training camp in the evening on September 27th. Only need a hand full of facilitators to support TATA employees and Ignite Computer + IT Solutions students, serious inquires only.

@bpscommunity

Here's a cool idea from a teenager - sit with us app http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/teen-creates-app-sit-with-us-open-welcoming-tables-lunch-bullying_us_57c5802ee4b09cd22d926463 Worth the time to read this story.

District National Intercollegiate Cycling Association teams participated in their first race of the season last weekend in Fayetteville. According to BHS Teacher Stuart Brune, not only did the participants have a great time, the earned a few podium finishes. NICA is going to be YOUUUGE!

My wife and I hiked part of the Bella Vista trail system on Sunday. If you're a cyclist or hiker check them out.

Have you checked out the district website? Ok, I know it's not the most engaging thing in the world. But maybe your students can help with that. We are going to start displaying student artwork on the website. Send us hi-resolution images of student work, and, yes, you can use your phone. Just center the shot with your camera horizontal and make sure to email the file at original size. We'll give the student full credit for their efforts.

Grants and PD

I'm still tweeking the Google form for grant/donation requests. Thanks to all who are helping debug and adding to my Google knowledge base.

Want to understand more about entrepreneurship and how to incorporate entrepreneurial concepts with your students? Then this PD offering is for you. There is no charge for the first session, space is limited, and best yet, it's here in Bentonville at Junk Brands on Tuesday, September 27 at 5:15 pm. Sign up here http://tinyurl.com/startupculturejunkbrands

Video of the Week

Sometimes to #findthegift you to open the box, break it down and recycle it.


In my humble opinion, the Best. TED talk. Ever. Have a great week.

September 6, 2016

That extra day off was certainly welcome, especially with the exceptional weather.

Head's Up

Today is National Coffee Ice Cream day and National Read a Book Day. Well, my day is planned.

September 8 is National Ampersand Day & probably something else.

September 9 is National Teddy Bear Day.

Saturday, September 10 is Square to Square ride on from Bentonville to Fayetteville. This is the route for a first timer, it's more downhill than uphill.

Sunday, September 11, is Patriot's Day. We visited the site and memorial this summer and it is a very somber yet strangely optimistic place now that the Freedom Tower is complete. If you are doing lessons or commemorative events aligned with 9/11 let me know.

September is Hunger Action Month, and leave it to those creative people at the Pack Shack to digitize the food drive. For the Great Arkansas Food Drive this month, they've developed an app that can be used to purchase bags of food to be donated to local, regional, and state food banks. Want to know more? http://www.thepackshack.org/great-arkansas-food-drive.html

I was contacted about holding a book drive for schools in Louisiana that lost their libraries in the recent flooding. I haven't been able to connect with the person who contacted me, if someone has reached out to you about this, let me know.

@bpscommunity

We survived the TriFest for MS on Saturday and finished respectably in the middle of the pack.

Speaking for myself, some training would have helped with the overall time. Need to thank Dr. Jones, and Amber D'Angelo, Aramark Director Mike D'Angelo's wife, for keeping us competitive.

The official results. I'm glad we were able to support the Rampy MS Foundation in there work to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis









Went back to the TriFest on Sunday afternoon for the kids Triathlon. Over 120 kids from Arkansas and surrounding states participated, including a number of special needs athletes sponsored by Bentonville Schools. Amazing how all the kids worked together and supported each other to get to the finish line making for a truly an inclusive event.

Mr. Neal from Mojo Cycling visited Ruth Barker this week to talk about cycling and  making sure to have the proper equipment before hitting the Greenway or the mountain bike trails. Square to Square is next Saturday, September 10th.









U.S. Congressman Steve Womack spent the morning at Ruth Barker this week to visit with students. You have to appreciate how Representative Womack makes time to visit with kids in our district. I sent information out last week about the Congressional App challenge for high school students. And yes, that's Vishack the REBES history club president front and center.

Out at Bentonville West, Coach Pratt brought in some experts to teach skills off the field. A group of dads came out to teach the team how to tie a necktie, so they're ready for those collegiate travel games and award ceremonies.  

Former Razorback Cheerleader Patience Beard calls the hogs after speaking to Elm Tree first graders about being confident and happy with who you are.








Do you have a mentor or other community member coming to your class to support student learning. Give us some head's up and we'll be there to share the gift.

Have a talented photographer in class, or an artist? We're going to highlight student visual arts on the website, so send in submissions. Photos need to be hi-resolution and will be formatted to fit the letterbox window. Students will be credited for their work. Send submissions to khelm@bentonvillek12.org.

Grants and PD

I appreciate everyone who has helped to debug the Grant/Donation Request Form. It's a learning process - any suggestions are welcome. You can find the form under the communications drop down on the website.

It's time to check the accuracy of your Kalpa professional development plan. Here's how https://docs.google.com/a/bentonvillek12.org/document/d/1lT3FWphSGPrAN1nyiiDiRPvJWtvCm1RFjd1FGKlqz3E/edit?usp=sharing

Video of the week

We talk a lot about data in education, check out how this guy analyzes data to create are. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, fast forward to 12 minutes to here his point - it's a good one.