Springdale High School AP Spanish and Spanish IV students presented their 16th annual "Celebra la Vida" Dia de los Muerlos event in the school's rotunda with displays featuring prominent Spanish speaking celebrities and/or historical figures. A community mural gave visitors an opportunity to write something they would like to do while they are still living.
MIKE HIGNITE – SRO, J.O. KELLY MIDDLE SCHOOL, CHILDERS KNAPP ELEMENTARY
A lot has changed since Mike Hignite became a student resource officer at Springdale High School. Hignite was one of only six SROs in the district at the time and he helped start the Law Academy at SHS that has produced several members of the current Springdale police force.
“When I started as an SRO we had two at Springdale High School, one at each of the junior highs and they had just added two for the new middle schools,” Hignite recalls. “Now we have 18 SROs and we are about to get three more. The SRO program pays off in our community. Officers build relationships with students and families and find solutions to problems. We have great officers and supervisors. I am proud to be a part of the program.”
Hignite became part of the SRO program in 2000 at Springdale High, his alma mater. He says, “When I started at Springdale High School, there were still a lot of teachers who had taught me. Aaron Harris was an assistant principal, just as he was when I was in school.
“I was raised by a single mother but also was raised by principals, teachers and parents of my friends. I started at Lee Elementary, then went to Southwest Junior High and Springdale High. I reflect back on the kindness that was extended to me and I can see it today at J.O. Kelly and Childers Knapp. I see teachers and principals helping raise kids, not just educating them.”
As soon as Hignite was back in school as an SRO, he was ready to give back. With his wife, Marjay, a teacher at and also a graduate of SHS, he was involved in the launch of the Law Academy.
“We were at the right spot at the right time and with a team of teachers we built the Law Academy from scratch,” Hignite explains. “Several of our current officers, some SROs and some on patrol, went through the Law Academy.
“We started with 25 or so students. By the third year we had 90, which was the most we could have at the time. It has been such a benefit to Springdale, not just to the students who went into criminal justice but also to the many who became teachers. They saw how much their teachers were investing in them and they wanted to do the same.”
After 11 years at SHS, Hignite left the school and moved into a training position. He says, “It was hard to leave but I really wanted to train young officers. I did that for four years, then went back to patrol. I was happy on patrol but when an SRO position came open at J.O. Kelly, Sara Ford, the principal at the time, told me to come to the school. It was a blessing to work with her for three years. She is a legend. Now I am working with Allen Williams, who was at Springdale High during some of the years I was there. He is top notch.”
What was Hignite’s pathway to becoming a police officer?
“I went to the University of the Ozarks for a year, then transferred to the University of Arkansas,” he responds. “After two and a half years there I needed a break so I joined the army. We were at peace when I went in but shortly after that came Operation Desert Storm and I served a short stint in the Middle East.
“I came back and finished at the UA. Right before I finished I took the police test and was hired after I graduated. It’s been 25 years on the police force for me and most days are fun.”
Since rejoining the SRO ranks, Hignite has started another program. This one, at J.O. Kelly, is called called the Shield Program. Students sign a contract to give back to the community. They become leaders in the school.”
“Officer Hignite is a mentor to a group of leaders,” says J.O. Kelly assistant principal Mendi Hayter. “He is the most humble person I’ve ever met. He is more comfortable giving other people the credit.”
Hignite is quick to give credit to the leadership at J.O. Kelly and Childers Knapp for “making me feel comfortable to be part of their teams. It’s great the schools are so close to each other so I can help wherever I am needed. I am blessed to be where I am and happy to be in Springdale.”
He’s been in Springdale most of his life and now has been at J.O. Kelly long enough to see students progress to high school.
“Seventh graders I saw playing football at J.O. Kelly during my first year here are now seeing the field as sophomores at Springdale High,” Hignite says. “We will always go to the Springdale Bulldog games. We are red until we are dead. I see many SHS graduates in the community and they tell me the year they graduated. There are some students at Childers Knapp whose parents I had at Springdale High.”
And, his three children are all SHS grads. His oldest son already has graduated from Notre Dame and his youngest is a freshman at the University of Arkansas. His daughter is in college in Philadelphia.
The entire Hignite family is entrenched in the Springdale community. He and his wife, Marjay, are both among the many reasons Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Springdale Schools is proud of students from Springdale High School East Program who collaborated to make a "Safe Sleep" brochure for Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review and Prevention Program, Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The brochure was translated into Marshallese in efforts to raise awareness of the importance of safe sleeping practices. The students chose this project last fall to better inform the community about SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome especially within the Marshallese Community. They have a higher death rate in infants than other sub populations and want to change that statistic through awareness. The brochure is also currently in circulation in some local pediatric clinics and Arkansas Children’s Northwest. They will also be distributing some brochures to local community clinics in Springdale.
The art department put on a parade with paper mache puppets inspired by Hispanic Heritage Month, Día de los Muertos, and parade traditions around the world.
https://youtu.be/0q04TK6eZFM
As we approach the winter, don't forget the dates for flu clinics available. We can fight the flu together!
Have you watched "Asi Es?" Follow our show on Springdale Schools YouTube channel or look for it on our Spanish language Facebook: Escuelas de Springdale!
Han visto nuestro programa "Asi Es?" Sigan nuestro canal de YouTube de Springdale Schools. Tambien lo pueden buscar en la pagina de Escuelas de Springdale!
Springdale Schools is proud of students from SHS who collaborated to make a "Safe Sleep" brochure for Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review and Prevention Program, Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The brochure was translated into Marshallese in efforts to raise awareness of the importance of safe sleeping practices. The students chose this project last fall to better inform the community SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome especially within the Marshallese Community. They have a higher death rate in infants than other sub populations and want to change that statistic through awareness. The brochure is also currently in circulation in some local pediatric clinics and Arkansas Children’s Northwest. They will also be distributing some brochures to local community clinics in Springdale.
Watch LIVE at 6:00pm: Arkansas 6A Volleyball State Tournament | Har-Ber vs. Cabot
https://youtu.be/EMejryeaCOQ
Thank a Custodian! Nancy Aguilar has been at Westwood since 2006. She says,"I came to Westwood 14 years ago and have been here ever since. I love the staff here." And they love her as well!
Thank A Custodian! Jazmain Izquierdo Flores designed and applied a Kelly Knight logo on the new stained concrete floor in a J.O. Kelly hallway.
Sonora Elementary School kindergarten students enjoyed learning about performing arts before watching Trike Theatre's production of Three Billy Goats Gruff through the 360 Trike-sperience. The Pre and Post show workshops and retelling materials provided teachers and students are based on research that has established using performing arts strategies in classroom content instruction improves students' language and literacy skills.
"This is a beta test for possible use in all our schools," said Sonora principal Regina Stewman. "Social, emotional and literacy learning are embedded in the theatre experience. We can't do field trips this year because of the pandemic but this was a way to bring the theatre to our students in a safe way. Each student's parents will receive a 360 Trike-sperience box that has a book that is in English, Spanish and Marshallese, as well as other activities that can be done at home. This was all done through a Walmart Foundation grant given to Trike Theatre."
Great partnerships are another reason Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Watch LIVE at 6:00pm Arkansas 6A Volleyball State Tournament | Har-Ber vs. Bryant
https://youtu.be/oHLPrW-2xfg
Let's fight the flu this season!
Watch live at 2:00pm the Industrial Maintenance Technology Ribbon Cutting at Don Tyson School of Innovation.
https://youtu.be/IOfIqA_nm_k
Attention ALL students: Our next round of ACT Boot Camp will be here before you know it! Make plans NOW to attend. Beginning November 14th, we will have Saturday sessions from 8:00 am - 12:00 noon, and afternoon sessions Monday through Thursday from 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm. All sessions are completely FREE and you may attend as many sessions as you are able. See the attached calendar for more details, or email Mrs. Renneker at trenneker@sdale.org.
Long time Superintendent Dr. Jim Rollins was honored with the Retiree Award at the 10th annual Cornerstone Event for the Springdale Public Schools Education Foundation. Great leaders have helped make Springdale Public Schools #THEChoice.
Don and Carol Lynn Gibson were given the Alumni Award at the 10th annual Springdale Public Schools Education Foundation Cornerstone Event. Successful alumni help make Springdale Public Schools #THEChoice.
Watch LIVE as Har-Ber hosts Fort Smith Southside in live football action
https://youtu.be/K5FDLFpzpIs
Watch LIVE the battle of the Bulldogs as Springdale takes on Fayetteville
https://youtu.be/8a6xxshddNU
Long time school board member and community leader Adrian Luttrell was honored with the Patron Award at the 10th annual Springdale Public School Education Foundation Cornerstone Event. Wonderful patrons help make Springdale Public Schools #THEChoice.
