Arkansas WorkForce Center - Resource Fair
“Assisting Those in Need”
When: September 23, 2021
Where: On the Campus of University of Arkansas at Hope
Hempstead Hall
2500 South Main Street
Hope, AR 71801
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00PM
Local non-profit agencies with loads of information about their services and programs for you and your family will be on hand at this event. For more information contact Sherry Bailey at 870-703-4243 or email me at shbailey@eckerd.org
Eighth and Ninth grade football games in Magnolia set for Thursday, Sept. 16, have been cancelled.
The Hope Public Schools will host the Hope/Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce Community Coffee for Wednesday, Sept. 15, at The Hub from 9:30-11 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend.
Tickets for the Thursday night 8th, 9th grade football games in Magnolia will be sold ONLY at https://magnoliapanthers.ticketleap.com/magnolia-vs-hope-8th-9th-gradejr-high-football/ online.
The Bobcat Clinic at Hope High School will NOT have a physical health provider on campus today. Appointments will be rescheduled. COVID-19 testing will available.
Go Bobcats!!
Meals will be provided for virtual and quarantined students for pickup at the Yerger Middle School campus. See flyer attached.
HPSD is attending the Open Air Market today giving out books. Come see us and grab a book. #ReaderAreLeaders. #SOAR. #RISEcommunity
Go Bobcats!
The Bobcat Clinic on the Hope High School campus will be closed for the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept. 6. Regular hours will be observed again on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
Hope Public Schools will be closed for Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6. Classes resume Tuesday, Sept. 7.
Make sure you visit the HPSD booth on Saturday, September 4th from 9:00 -- Noon.
Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 24, COVID-19 testing at the Bobcat Clinic will be by appointment. Call 870-722-2733, option 2, to schedule a time.
Miss Zanaria received her books today from a drawing she won. She was able to choose her titles. Great choices! #readersareleaders. #SOARgrant. #RISE
BOBCAT FOOTBALL... Hope v. Fouke/Dierks benefit game moved to Hammons Stadium, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 7 p.m.
Holt/Crossley welcome reception, Sunday, Aug. 15, Hempstead Hall, 2-4 p.m. (See invitation below)
Rosie is visiting CPS! @waterford.org
PreK teachers learning about @waterford.org SmartStart program
A MESSAGE FROM SUPT. DR. JONATHAN CROSSLEY
Good Morning Bobcat Family!
As we start this school year, I am very proud of you. You have shown continual resilience and a heart for service. Thank you!
Today, I would like to offer an important update regarding masks and the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. Effectively immediately, masks, or other appropriate face coverings, will be required for all persons present on school campuses or in school vehicles or buses, including staff, students, visitors, and others.
This is a timely and important update because open houses are this week. We will have masks available at all campuses. Please ensure that we are all taking the proper precautions regarding masks and face coverings. Safety will be our priority.
Rationale:
The Hope School Board met this morning in a special called session at 10 am to discuss mask requirements. Last week Judge Fox, Pulaski County Circuit Judge, ruled that the ban on mask requirements from Act 1002 was unconstitutional. This allows for school districts to make their own determinations about masks and face coverings. Please see the attachment for the signed resolution from the HPS Board.
To be clear, HPS will comply with any and all future orders of the Pulaski County Circuit Court, the Arkansas Court of Appeals, and the Arkansas Supreme Court regarding Act 1002. Since we have the ability to require masks, the HPS Board voted to do so. If that ability is taken away in the future, you will be notified. Again, we will ensure that we are abiding by the law.
There are many reasons for such a requirement. However, I will outline just a few:
Keep students, parents, and employees safe. This is my chief charge as superintendent. I care for all of you, even if I haven't met you yet. I want to do everything that I can to keep you safe. As our 2,300+ students and 350+ employees come back to school, we must do everything we can to ensure a safe environment.
Avoid unnecessary quarantines and additional learning loss. Masks, in addition to vaccinations, have been proven to reduce the incidences of quarantines. As you know, this greatly impacts teaching and learning.
Parents, students, and staff need clarity as open houses begin. Again, as the court system may debate this in the future, we will follow the law. However, this decision for mask requirements will give parents, students, and staff enough time to acclimate to the change. Open houses begin tomorrow, and school starts a week from today. This was a timely decision.
In addition to requiring masks, we are highly recommending that all of our eligible students, their families, and our employees get vaccinated and follow CDC guidelines to protect themselves and others.
Recent Numbers:
Arkansas is on high alert for COVID-19 based on the number of cases in the state and the percentage of individuals vaccinated. Hempstead County has a 23.8% COVID-19 vaccination rate. This is among the lowest in the entire state. In that vein, active COVID-19 numbers in Hempstead County are on the rise. We had 64 active cases last Monday. As of yesterday, we have 102 active cases. Medical experts are advising us that this upward trend in cases will continue before it levels out.
Side Notes:
If you are vaccinated and do not show symptoms then quarantine is not necessary. Per CDC guidelines, individuals self-monitor in this situation. Vaccination is encouraged.
We will follow all Arkansas Activities Association guidelines for COVID-19. Sporting events will continue as scheduled.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Gretchen Carlton, HPS Point of Contact and Renee Sells, HPS Lead Nurse, will be great resources as well. Let's have a great, and SAFE, school year!
The Hope Public Schools Board of Education will meet in called session Monday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. in the board conference room of the HPS Administration Building, 117 E. Second Street. The agenda will involve consideration of the district policy regarding the use of face masks.