🌟 Staff Spotlight: Gena Wenger 🌟
Meet Gena Wenger, our incredible 7th-12th grade school counselor who goes above and beyond to support our students every day! Whether she’s guiding students through academic planning, offering a listening ear, or helping them navigate life’s challenges, Gena’s compassion and dedication shine through in everything she does.
She is a strong advocate for student success, always working to ensure they feel seen, heard, and prepared for their future. Our school is a better place because of her hard work and care! 💙
Thank you, Gena, for making a difference in the lives of so many!
🔬⚡ Science is in full swing at ESHS!
In Ms. Miller’s class, students are diving into the world of electricity, exploring how it powers our everyday lives. Meanwhile, in Mr. Hearth’s biology class, students got hands-on with blood typing to learn about genetics and the human body. They also took a closer look—literally—by dissecting sheep hearts to study the structure and function of this vital organ.
Real-world science, real-world learning! 🧪💡
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Whitney McCrary 🌟
Meet Whitney McCrary, an incredible 4th-grade teacher and cheer coach who brings a perfect balance of calm energy and excitement to everything she does! Her classroom is a place where learning is fun, engaging, and meaningful, and her sweet and patient nature makes every student feel valued.
Whitney’s lessons are thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity and keep students actively involved. Whether she’s guiding her class through a new concept or coaching her cheerleaders to success, she does it all with a positive attitude and a love for teaching.
We are so grateful for Whitney’s dedication to our students—both in the classroom and on the sidelines! 💙📚📣
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Tracy Trottier 🌟
Meet Tracy Trottier, one of our amazing paraprofessionals who goes above and beyond to support our students every day! Tracy’s dedication, patience, and kind heart make a huge impact in the classroom, ensuring students feel encouraged and supported in their learning.
Her positivity is contagious, and we are so grateful to have her as part of our school family! Thank you, Tracy, for all that you do! 💙🍎
🎨🖼️ 8th Graders at Crystal Bridges! 🏛️
Our 8th graders took a trip to Crystal Bridges Museum today, exploring incredible artwork and experiencing history, culture, and creativity up close! It was a day full of discovery, inspiration, and fun. 🚌✨
🐛 Second Grade Worms!
Our second graders are bringing James and the Giant Peach to life with a hands-on science twist—they’ve built their very own wormery! 🪱🌱 These little gardeners are learning all about soil, decomposition, and how worms help the environment. Reading + science = the perfect combo! 📚✨
🌸 Happy Spring Break! 🌸 Enjoy the time off, relax, and have fun! See you back on March 31! 😎☀️
🏆 Island Airco Athlete of the Week: J.D. Eckman – Boys Soccer ⚽
This week’s Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Island Airco, is J.D. Eckman!
“J.D. Eckman is our number one leader for the boys’ soccer team. He steps up to lead by example and speaks up to help promote a culture of accountability and positivity with his teammates. Over his four years on the soccer pitch, J.D. has developed a deep level of respect from his teammates and coaches. We depend on him every practice and match, and he never lets us down.” – Coach Hyatt & Coach Louderback
Congratulations, J.D.! Your leadership, dedication, and passion for the game make a lasting impact on your team. Keep up the great work! 👏⚽
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Rachal Hyatt, Director of Programs - Curriculum and Assessment 🌟 Rachal Hyatt serves as the Director of Programs for the district where she plays a role in supporting the district’s educational initiatives. Rachal is also involved in managing grants, overseeing federal programs, and fostering community relations, including social media updates. She collaborates with staff to support student success and ensure programs align with district goals. She has previously served as a classroom teacher and school counselor across all buildings. Year 20 in the district with more to go!! 🌟🌟
🌎 Hands-On Science in 2nd Grade! 🏞️
Mrs. Campbell’s second-grade class is diving into a fun and interactive science lesson this morning! They’re exploring the effects of erosion and testing creative ways to slow the process using cornmeal and everyday kitchen supplies. Science is best learned through discovery, and these young scientists are hard at work! 🔬✨
Eureka Springs FFA Shines at Arkansas Tech University!
Last week, 18 of our students traveled to Arkansas Tech University to compete in Career Development Events, showcasing their skills and hard work. We’re proud to announce that both the Nursery Landscape and Farm Business Management teams placed in the top eight of their events, securing a spot at the state competition in April!
Congratulations to all who competed—your dedication and effort continue to make Eureka Springs proud! #EurekaSpringsFFA #RoadToState #FutureLeaders
📢 EASTCON25 Recap! 🎉
It was a busy and exciting day in Hot Springs at #EASTcon25! Our students were hard at work, manning their booths, greeting visitors, and showcasing their incredible community-partnered projects. They shared how their innovative ideas are helping solve real-world problems—and they did it all with enthusiasm and confidence!
👏 We are so proud of their dedication and creativity. Check out the fun photos of our students in action! 📸✨
🌟 Pre-K & Kindergarten Round-Up! 🌟
We can't wait to meet your little learners! Join us on April 15 from 2:30-4:30 PM for our Pre-K & Kindergarten Round-Up, where you can register your child for the upcoming school year. Don’t miss this chance to get ready for an exciting year ahead! 🎉
📚👟 Career Exploration in Action! 👟📚
Our elementary students have been busy learning about careers this week! Using the book What Shoes Will You Wear? by Julia Cook, we put our detective skills to the test—inspecting the soles of different shoes and matching them with careers. From construction boots to ballet slippers, our students discovered how the right pair of shoes can take you anywhere! 🚀✨
🍎 Staff Spotlight: Halli Ceola 🍎
Meet Halli Ceola, our amazing Child Nutrition Director who works tirelessly to keep our students fueled and ready to learn! 🌟 From planning nutritious meals to ensuring everything runs smoothly in our cafeterias, Halli's dedication makes a huge impact across our district.
Her commitment to providing healthy, delicious meals shows in every detail — and her kindness and positive attitude brighten the day for students and staff alike. 💙
Thank you, Halli, for your hard work and the care you put into nourishing our school community! 🥗🥪
Our EAST teams have arrived in Hot Springs and are ready to represent ESSD with pride! These talented students will be showcasing their incredible projects, and we couldn’t be more excited to see their hard work pay off. 💡
A huge thank you to our EAST facilitators—Adam Louderback, Jerry Wells, and Tilenna Hill—for their dedication and leadership! Stay tuned for updates—we can’t wait to hear the results! 👏🏻
🍀 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀
Pre-K had a very mischievous visitor during recess—a naughty little Leprechaun! Ever since, our mystery-solving minds have been in overdrive trying to piece together the chaos:
🍀 A crumpled blanket? Clearly the Leprechaun’s doing.
🌶️ Lunch was a little spicy? Must have been the Leprechaun.
💅 Peeling nail polish? Yep, that tricky Leprechaun again.
🕵️♂️ One student suspected a cover-up, but their theory was quickly dismissed.
👃 After sniffing the Leprechaun trail, we now know that Leprechauns smell green… and like mustard.
Next year...there will be no "No Leprechauns Allowed" signs!!
Lucky to be learning! 🍀✨ Our kindergarteners practiced number bonds with a fun St. Patrick’s Day twist! Counting, adding, and a little bit of leprechaun magic made math extra exciting today.
📢⚽ Highlander Soccer Alert! ⚽📢
Come out and support your Highlander soccer team this Tuesday at 5 PM on the home field! 🏟️🔥 Let’s pack the stands and cheer them on to victory! 🎉💙
What a perfect day for a 1st-grade picnic! ☀️🥪 Laughter, sunshine, and plenty of fun made this outdoor adventure one to remember. We had a blast enjoying the beautiful weather.
