The Lizard’s Tale—April 30th, 2014 Volume 1, Issue 4 Page 1
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Dardanelle EAST Earns Superior Rating
Disney Aladdin
EAST at Dardanelle High School earned a superior rating at the recent 15th annual EAST National Conference, presented by the Important Arkansas Department of Education, held in Info Hot Springs. Dardanelle High School EAST DHS wins students who attended the annual conferBusiness ence were Hugh Benfer, Rio Collins, Grant Challenge George, Max Summer, Cade Wilks, Miranda Wilks, and Team Leaders Branda Dugan and DHS wins silver for best Woodrow Ramey. Miranda declares, "This schools 2014! was my second year at EAST conference, and this year was the best. Everyone was so friendly and I met many remarkable and intelLiterary ligent people that were going above and beJournal yond the standards of EAST."
Prior to and during conference, EAST programs were evaluated in several areas including program summary and booth display. Presenting the Conference Program Overview presentation were Dardanelle Conference team: Left to right: Hugh Benfer, Rio Collins, Ramey and Benfer, and the team’s collaborative efforts awarded Branda Dugan, Miranda Wilks, Cade Wilks, Max, Summer, Woodrow Ramey, Grant George. Dardanelle EAST a superior rating for meeting the program’s standards, an honor awarded to just over 60 total EAST programs this year. Says Ramey, "Helping my school earn a superior rating was a very rewarding experience." Additionally, Benfer and fellow EAST student Austin Thaxton's poster for the EAST general category earned first place in a student vote for best overall poster. In the Big Project area, the team showcased a robot project called The Illuminator, developed by Will Lively and Dayton Clark. Several projects such as the Dardanelle Rock mapping and video project, the Z Virus (mapping the flu in central Arkansas), historical videos, news reporting, and work on teen issues from Teen Leadership Coalition projects were showcased. “We wanted to incorporate the beauty of our town and its natural features in the poster, so on top of Dardanelle Rock was perfect” –Austin Thaxton “Our poster came together by our team carrying sand from the Arkansas River bank, which runs by the base of the outcropping, to the top of Dardanelle Rock and molding the sand into the word EAST near an overlook of the town and then snapping a picture with the sun’s rays juxtaposing the vibrant colors of the foliage and the scenery” –Hugh Benfer “Our inspiration came from our very first project together in EAST on the ‘Rock’. After our first project we realized that with EAST as our strong foundation, the sky is the limit.” Both participants received a Wacom drawing tablet for winning the 2014 EAST general poster competition.
Winning poster by Hugh And Austin
The Lizard’s Tale—April 30th, 2014 Volume 1, Issue 4 Page 2
DHS Theater Disney’s Aladdin DHS Theater is proudly presenting two performances of Disney’s Aladdin. Featuring many of the songs from the original motion picture this play is enjoyable for any age group of 3 and up. Performance dates are Friday (May 9th) and Saturday (May 10th) in the Dardanelle High School cafeteria. We look forward for you joining us for a night of magic and fun.
Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults.
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Several volunteers needed at Yell Fest. Friday night May 9, Saturday morning, afternoon, or evening. Sign up with Mrs. Busch. Day 1 of semester test is Tuesday, June 4
Day 2 of semester test is Wednesday, June 5
Day 3 is make up tests; teacher grades due in system by June 6 3:30 pm.
Summer school begins June 8th Last day for exempt seniors Wednesday May 14; Exempt list posted at noon. Thursday, May 15 is senior tests (all periods) May 14---last day for exempt seniors. Exempt list posted at lunch. May 15---senior tests May 16—9 a.m. here at school is commencement practice---mandatory Commencement 7 p.m. Sunday, May 18th, Tucker Spring Break Trip to Italy in 2015: This is a private trip (not school sponsored) . See Mrs. Busch for information!
Semester Test Lunch is as normal during both days of tests. Students who are not making up tests are not to be on this campus or the campus of any other school on June 6th. Remember that a semester test is a requirement for credit in the class! No tests are to be given off this schedule. All classes are to be tested according to this schedule this includes mastery math classes and remediation classes. Teachers note that all 5th period classes are to have the whole (or last part of) the test on Wednesday June 4th and are to meet that day according to this test schedule. Seniors will take tests within regularly scheduled class period. They will leave only at the end of the period.
Summer School Information: Registration in Progress Cost for all remedial semesters is $85 per semester. Drivers’ Education costs $150. Fees are payable in full at the time of registration. Our board of Education does allow a down payment of $35 to hold a spot for you and two payments during April and May of the balance. The entire $85 must be paid prior to June. Partial payments may not be refunded. There is no payout plan for Driver’s Education. There is zero tolerance for absences, tardies, discipline situations in summer school. The student will be removed from class; Tuition is not refunded.
Prom is May 3rd from 9 p.m. until Midnight at Chamberlyn Country Club. All DHS juniors and seniors are invited. Each may bring one guest. Guests must be registered and approved by the office starting NOW. Guests must be high school or college age (approximately). They may not be people with drop out records or disciplinary histories. Our 9th and 10th graders may be invited as guests, but ,like all guests ,they must be registered and approved. Middle School students may not be invited as guests. You, as the host, are expected to come and leave with your registered guest. You are expected, too, to introduce that guest to Mrs. Lawrence or Mr. Balloun. All persons attending prom (guests or our juniors and seniors) must have a ticket. Tickets are $10. each and may NOT be purchased at the door. Tickets will be sold both lunches on April 28 and April 29.
Bright Star Athletes The following athletes have been named the Bright Stars of the River Valley: Jose Castelano, Lindsay Moses, Shidale Crowe, Hugh Benfer, Woodrow Ramey, TJ Tucker, JJ Dunn, Stefanie Traigle, Savannah Rhinehart, Raley Richey, Breanna Hauff, Julianna Harper, Taylor Salters, Krissy Davis, Clint Smallwood, Ethan Farnam, Easton Carter, Michael Dugan, Parker Witt, Chris Kersner. There is a banquet May 29th. You need to purchase your ticket and one for anyone else going with you. Do this on line: RiverValleyLeader.com This is a really nice honor for you! If you should be a finalist you will get a letter around May 1st and your ticket and your parents’ tickets will be free.
Rising Seniors & their parents: From July 1 until August 15th, Love’s, 205 Quay in Dardanelle will make the senior yearbook pictures. It is your responsibility to schedule yourself and go get your yearbook picture made during this time at Love’s. Don’t forget to make an appointment with Love’s! Love’s contact Information: (479)-229-3290 205 Quay Dardanelle, AR 72834 The Lizard’s Tail is created and designed by the following EAST students: Aaliyah Brousseau and Melanie Navarrete.
Congratulations Honor Graduates of class of 2014! We’d like to congratulate Austin Thaxton, Leslyn Barnes, Alan Herrera, Austin Torgerson , Steven Green, Hugh Benfer, Cayce Baxter, Carley Criswell, Zanely Castelano, Alex Clark, Hannah Hooten, Breanna Hauff, Branda Dugan, Clint Smallwood.
Forensics and Debate Faith Brown and Regan English are first alternates to the National Tournament. Congratulations, debate and forensics and Mr. Gamble- - - great year in competition!
Dardanelle High School team wins Arkansas Tech Business Challenge! Three students from Dardanelle High School won the top prize in the second annual Arkansas Tech University Business Challenge. Luke Bartlett, Tyler Calavitta, and Tyler Cooley were selected as presenting the best business idea during the finals of competition at Rothwell Hall on the Arkansas Tech campus in Russellville on Friday, April 11. High school students participating in the Arkansas Tech Business Challenge pitch their ideas for a business start up or expansion to a panel of judges. Bartlett, Cooley, and Calavitta earned $500 for their winning presentation. Arvest Bank, Cargill Pork, Pope County Farm Bureau, and Yell County Farm Bureau served as sponsors for the 2014 Arkansas Tech Business Challenge. Photo– Dardanelle Post Dispatch
Teacher of the Month Our teacher of the month is Mrs. Erin Robison. Mrs. Rob teaches English I and Pre AP II. She loves to read, play with her dog and nap. Her advice to the study body, “There is no promise of a tomorrow; live well today.”
Student of the Month Our student of the month is Charity Jewell. She is in the 9th grade. Activities she’s involved in are band, quiz bowl, chess club, girl scouts, and church. In her free time she likes to read, write, draw, listen to music, and card tricks. Her advice to the student body, “If you want something bad enough, no matter what the odds are or what other people say you will find a way.”
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Dardanelle High School Wins Silver award for Best Schools 2014! Dardanelle High School has been ranked at the silver level by US News for 2014. The rankings are compiled by using state EOC scores and percentages of students enrolled in advancement placement programs, the AP scores and, then, comparing the results to the school’s demographics. Around 700 schools in the nation were ranked with either a gold, silver, bronze, or ‘ranked without medal’. The same day ‘School Digger’ which ranks schools within the state named Dardanelle High School number three in the top five high schools in Arkansas. Marcia Lawrence, the school principal, commented as follows: “We remind our students and parents that lists ranking schools based primarily on test scores are great, but testing is only a piece of the puzzle when it comes to excellence in high schools. We are about much more than testing at DHS. With that said, we are always honored to be on any “good” list, especially near the top of such a list. It is a reflection on the work done by Dardanelle’s teachers, students, and parents. We are proud of them!”
EAST Speaks to Yell County Historical Society
Left to Right: Mrs. Gloria Craig, Tyler Corbin, Austin Thaxton, JJ Dunn, Garrett Haney, and Hugh Benfer
Dardanelle High School EAST students Hugh Benfer, Austin Thaxton, Tyler Corbin, Garrett Haney, and JJ Dunn presented their EAST projects to members of the Yell County Historical Society at their monthly meeting of April 21st. Hugh, Austin, and Tyler discussed their flood mapping project and the Dardanelle Hiking Trail project. Also, Austin and Hugh reported out on their first place win for general poster design at the recent EAST Conference. Garrett and JJ reported out on their video and research about the Old School House located in Ola, AR.
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Literary Journal
By: Julian Price
Amazing drawings by these talented students! Get your poetry, essay, art, or even a photograph published in the newspaper and show the whole would your creativity and talent you have! We would love to see them be published!
By: Marina Phommasak