Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast - Week 37: A School Year of Accomplishment

Episode Date: May 23, 2025

Happy Friday!As the final week of the 2024–2025 school year draws to a close, I want to thank each of you for the focus, care, and effort you have shown throughout this week. You have managed final exams, field days, farewells, and everything in between with poise and professionalism. This year’s performance targets data is now complete, and the results affirm the direction shared in the Week 35 Wrap-up. We did not hit the mark for attendance and discipline, but there was good progress through intentional work. Though our academic data collections are encouraging, we will not see the full picture until ATLAS results are released in late July or early August. Still, what we can already see is a testament to how much has been accomplished, one steady step at a time.This week's message is a reflection and a heartfelt thank you for the power of quiet consistency, the value of everyday effort, and the truth that great achievement is built by many hands working in harmony.Collective AccomplishmentThroughout this school year, each of you has contributed in ways that mattered deeply, whether seen or unseen. From classroom instruction to hallway supervision, from mentoring students to supporting your colleagues, from driving buses to maintaining safe and clean facilities, from preparing meals to preparing practice plans, your actions made a difference. Some moments were celebrated publicly, others happened quietly. But together, they shaped a year defined by progress, perseverance, and pride.We honor our students who showed determination, curiosity, and growth. We commend our staff—especially those who completed their first year, reached a career milestone, or are stepping away after years of meaningful service. And we thank our families and community partners who stood beside us with trust and support. Every person in our district—whether leading, teaching, serving, or supporting—played a role in this year's success.There is a saying I have come to rely on: "To move fast, you have to go slow." At first, learning new methods, examining results, and living through mistakes may feel like trudging through deep sand. But when we commit to this process consistently, something remarkable happens—we get better and better, faster and faster. And then, one day, we look back and realize how fast the year has gone and that we are moving with real momentum. This year reflects that truth. The careful, deliberate steps we took are now propelling us forward at a pace that brings our long-term goals within reach.As we now shift into summer, I encourage each of you to rest and reflect. Take time to restore your energy and renew your sense of purpose. Growth does not always come through motion, it can also happen in stillness. If during your rest you are drawn to something that sharpens your thinking or reawakens your passion for learning, welcome it. Renewal comes in many forms.August will be here soon, and the school days will return with new challenges and new opportunities. But for now, we close this year with thankfulness for the steady, faithful work that brought us here.It was a good year of accomplishment at Mena Public Schools.At Mena Public Schools, our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident.Keep the #menareads posts and videos coming and have a good summer! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bearcatwrap.substack.com

Good afternoon and welcome to the final wrap up of the 24-25 school year. The week 37 wrap up entitled the school year of accomplishment. Every action no matter how quiet helped create a year of great achievement. Happy Friday. As the final week of the 2024-2025 school year draws to a close, I want to thank each of you for the focus, care, and effort you've shown throughout this week. You have managed final exams, field days, farewells, and everything in between with poise and professionalism.

This year's performance target data is now complete and the results affirm the direction shared in the week 35 wrap up. We did not hit the mark for attendance and discipline, but there was good progress through intentional work. Though our academic data collections are encouraging, we will not see the full picture until ATLAS results are released in late July or early August. Still, what we can already see is a testament to how much has been accomplished, one steady step at a time. This week's message is a reflection to how much has been accomplished, one steady step at a time. This week's message is a reflection of a heartfelt thank you for the power of quiet consistency,

the value of everyday effort, and the truth that great achievement is built by many hands working in harmony. Collective accomplishment. Throughout this school year, each of you has contributed in ways that matter deeply, whether seen or unforeseen. From classroom instruction to hallway supervision, from mentoring students to supporting your colleagues, from driving buses to maintaining safe and clean facilities, from preparing meals to preparing practice plans, your actions made a difference. Some moments were celebrated publicly,

others happened quietly, but together they shaped a year defined by progress, perseverance, and pride. We honor our students who show determination, curiosity, and growth. We commend our staff, especially those who completed their first year, reached a career milestone or are stepping away after years of meaningful service.

And we thank our families and community partners who stood beside us with trust and support. Every person in our district, whether leading, teaching, serving, or supporting, played a role in this year's success. There's a saying that I've come to rely on, to move fast you have to go slow. At first, learning new methods, examining results and living through mistakes may feel like trudging through deep sand. But when we commit to this process consistently,

something remarkable happens. We get better and better, faster and faster. And then one day we look back and realize how fast the year is gone and that we're moving with real momentum. This year reflects that truth. The careful, deliberate steps we took are now propelling us forward at a pace that brings our long-term goals within reach. As we now shift into summer, I encourage each of you to rest and reflect. Take time to restore your energy and renew your sense of purpose.

Growth does not always come through emotion. It can happen in stillness also. If during your rest you are drawn to something that sharpens your thinking or reawakens your passion for learning, welcome it. Renewal comes in many forms. August will be here soon, and the school days will return with new challenges and new opportunities. But for now, we close this year with thankfulness for the steady, faithful work that brought us here. It was a good year of accomplishment at Mena Public Schools. At Mena Public Schools, our studentsena Public Schools our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident. Keep the

Mena Reads posts and videos coming and have a good summer.