Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast - Week 37: Celebrating a Strong Finish to the School Year

Episode Date: May 22, 2026

Happy Final Friday!Once again, thank you for all you have done to finish up a good week of school and a great school year! As we close out the school year, our district performance targets give us every reason to celebrate. We set meaningful goals in attendance, school climate, and academic growth, and together our students, staff, and families rose to the challenge in impressive ways.Showing Up and Finishing StrongOne of the brightest highlights of the year is that we exceeded our district attendance goal of 93.5% by finishing at 93.9%. This is the first time this has happened, and it is an outstanding accomplishment. It is definitely a reflection of the value our students, families, and staff place on being present, engaged, and ready to learn each day. A Meaningful Reduction in Discipline ReferralsWe also have much to celebrate in the area of school climate and student behavior. Our goal was to reduce discipline referrals by 10%, and we surpassed that goal with a 12.89% reduction, a strong sign that our schools are continuing to grow in positive culture, support, and student success.Growth Worth CelebratingAlong with these important gains, we are encouraged by the academic improvements we have seen this year in English Language Arts, math, and science. Our schools have stayed focused on student learning, and that steady progress reflects the dedication, expertise, and persistence of our teachers, staff, and students.Thank You for a Great YearThank you to everyone who made this school year such a success. As we wrap up Week 37, we do so with pride in what we have accomplished together, gratitude for the people who made it possible, and excitement about the momentum we are carrying forward.It was a good year of determination at Mena Public Schools.At Mena Public Schools, our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident.Rest, recover, reflect, and have a great summer break! 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 week 37 wrap up entitled Celebrating a Strong Finish to the School Year. We take one last look at what we wanted to accomplish and find much to celebrate and much to look forward to. Happy Final Friday. Once again, thank you for all you have done to finish up a good week of school and a great school year. As we close out the school year, our district performance targets give us every reason to celebrate. meaningful goals in attendance, school climate, and academic growth, and together our students, staff, and families rose to the occasion in impressive ways. Showing up and finishing strong. One of the brightest highlights of the year is that we exceeded our district

attendance goal of 93.5 percent by finishing at 93.9. This is the first time this has happened, and it is an outstanding accomplishment. It is definitely a reflection of the value our students, families, and staff place on being present, engaged, and ready to learn each day. A meaningful reduction in discipline referrals. We also have much to celebrate in the area of school climate and student behavior. Our goal was to reduce discipline referrals by 10% and we surpassed that goal with a 12.89% reduction, a strong sign that our schools are continuing to grow in positive culture, support, and student success. student success. Growth worth celebrating. Along with these important games, we're

encouraged by the academic improvements we have seen this year in English language arts, math, and science. Our schools have stayed focused on student learning, and that steady progress reflects the dedication, expertise, and persistence of our teachers, staff, and students. Thank you for a great year. Thank you to everyone who made this school year a success. As we wrap up week 37 and the 2025, 2026 school year, we do so with pride in what we have accomplished together. Gratitude for the people who made it possible and excitement about the momentum we are carrying for. It was a good year of determination in the middle public schools. A mean of public schools,

our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident. Rest, recover, reflect, and have a great summer break.