You may not realize it, but we are down to our last few days of school.
If you are a parent, staff member or student, I can almost guarantee you are aware that May 25 brings to a close the 2012-13 school year.
And, what a year it has been. Once again, we had a stellar year fulfilling our primary goal of preparing students for the future by providing strong academic instruction.
Here are a few statistics that illustrate just how prepared our students are for the future as they graduate from Bentonville High School:
• $7.2 million dollars of scholarship money was earned by our seniors.
• Three students were selected for military academy appointments.
• We had our first student selected for Julliard School of Music.
• We also had our first student accepted into Princeton.
• Ten students were National Merit Finalists.
• Six students received Honors College Fellowships to the University of Arkansas.
• Eighteen students have committed to the armed forces and will begin serving our country shortly.
• Twenty-five student-athletes will have their college paid for as they compete in their chosen sport.
• Bentonville High School was chosen as the second highest performing school in Arkansas by U.S. World and News Report
These are just a few of the accomplishments that happen when you have all the proper ingredients for success in play.
First, I want to credit our great staff. These accomplishments are not just high school accomplishments, but rather a PreK-12 collaborative effort involving outstanding teachers, administrators and support personnel.
All along the way, these dedicated professionals put students first and used their skill sets to impact achievement and personal development. I hope you thank an educator you know. We are blessed to have such talent in this school district.
But educators cannot do this alone. Along with great educators, there must be a caring community behind the schools lending their support.
We are blessed to have a community that values education. Businesses, nonprofit groups and churches have all done more than their fair share of supporting our schools, our families and our students.
We should all be proud of this type of support that seems to come so naturally and proactively in our community.
Finally, the most important component to our students’ success is the wonderful family environment that is at the core of the Bentonville School District.
I want to thank each of you for entrusting our schools with your children. The support you give to each school, their staffs and your deep interest in your child truly makes a difference. This is also something we should be proud of.
Yes, it has been an amazing school year and I am already looking forward to next year. But until then, over the summer months while the school doors are closed, let’s have our children’s learning continue.
I can’t think of a better place to spend some quality time over the summer break than at our awesome Bentonville Public Library. Go with your child and check out the summer reading programs they offer. Nothing says summer like a good book.
Have a safe and restful break. You have earned it.