Bentonville West sophomore Cami Gonzalez is a national champion! Cami was recently named the Junior National Pickleball Champion in California.
Before learning pickleball last year, Cami was a West varsity tennis team member. Her new sport has allowed her to travel the nation. She hopes to pursue pickleball at the collegiate level after graduation. #whereexcellencelives
There she is! Bentonville High School senior Peyton Bolling is Miss America's Teen! Peyton was crowned over the weekend, and life has been a blur since then! She’s the first ever Miss America’s Teen from our great state! Peyton will enjoy this next year representing Bentonville and America while preparing for college. She intends to study political science and communications after high school. #whereexcellencelives
The United States Senate Youth Program selects two high school students from each state every year to participate in its highly competitive program. This year, one of Arkansas' delegates and the first alternate are from Bentonville High School! We're thrilled for Prerana Kodakandla and Manvitha Narasimhan.
Prerana will receive a $10,000 college scholarship to pursue history and political science coursework. She will also represent our state this spring in Washington, D.C.
Manvitha will step in should one of the delegates not to be able to participate.
The U.S. Senate created the United States Senate Youth Program in 1962 to allow young people with demonstrated leadership abilities to better understand America’s political processes and strengthen their commitment to careers in public service.
Pictured L to R: Manvitha Narasimhan & Prerana Kodakandla #whereexcellencelives
Congratulations to the Bentonville High School varsity cheer team! They are once again your Arkansas State Champions! These student-athletes are coached by Tracy Kaufman and Stephanie McDowell. #whereexcellencelives
This has to be the nicest mean one you've ever met! Centerton Gamble Elementary School Principal Randall Hunt promised to dress the part and work from the school building's roof if his students took on a food donation drive. They came through big with more than 4,000 food items gifted to the Bentonville Schools pantry. Their gifts will support students who need a hand-up this holiday season. Well done, Mr. Grinch and CGE families! #whereexcellencelives
Snowman wishes and reindeer kisses! Merry Christmas, Bentonville! Enjoy the most beautiful break, and we'll see you in 2025! #whereexcellencelives
We, as a global community, talk a lot about Christmas angels during the holiday season. If angels are more common this time of year, and we hope they are, they are joined by Marisa Snow.
Marisa is a 24-year Bentonville Schools veteran and serves as a counselor at Vaughn Elementary. In 2022, she helped open that school, chartering the counseling program on campus. In previous years, she launched a mentoring program for middle school students, built an on-site community pantry and facilitated several programs to serve our most vulnerable students.
She was nominated by a Vaughn Elementary mom who called out Marisa’s work in creating a program called Eagles Give Back. The program, named for the Vaughn mascot, serves students needing necessities such as shoes, clothing and food.
Marisa told us her priority is to serve students by being a safe place for them to spill out their emotions, the good, bad and the ugly.
“All kids need a champion, and I hope I’m that person for as many children as possible.”
We hope you'll celebrate Marisa with us! #whereexcellencelives
Congratulations to Superintendent Dr. Debbie Jones! She is one of four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year. The selection committee will choose the national recipient in March. Dr. Jones was named Arkansas Superintendent of the Year in September.
Today is the official launch of three new parent choice schools in our community! We're proud to offer students more opportunities than ever with the addition of Sugar Creek Arts Academy, Thomas Jefferson Leadership Academy and Ruth Barker Middle International Baccalaureate Programme! Find more information at bentonvillek12.org, including enrollment details! #whereexcellencelives
The Arkansas LEARNS Act requires high school students to commit to community service before graduation. It's been awesome to see our teens at Bentonville West High School and Bentonville High School take on this work together. We've seen students going above and beyond what's required to serve others and having fun doing it!
Warm wishes for cold mornings! The student ambassador group at Ardis Ann Middle School gifted baskets filled with coffee, hats, gloves, gift cards and thank you notes to keep their school crossing guards toasty this winter! They raised money for the gifts by hosting a $1 pj day at their school. #whereexcellencelives
Has a Bentonville Schools employee gone the Extra Mile for your family? We'd love to hear from you! Nominate him or her at https://bit.ly/4gc9HpF
#whereexcellenvelives
Just before the break, we celebrated Friendsgiving in several of our schools and enjoyed every minute of the time together!
We wish you a home filled with love and laughter today! Happy Thanksgiving! #whereexcellencelives
Congratulations to Bentonville West High School Senior Ava Sophia Palacios! She recently won the Distinguished Young Women scholarship competition in Arkansas. The last young woman selected from the Bentonville area was in 2010. Ava Sophia is fluent in three languages and hopes to study public policy after graduation. She'll compete for the national title in June! Congratulations, Ava Sophia! #whereexcellencelives
So we meet again. #whereexcellencelives
Our November Extra Mile Award was a “Blank Space” until we received a nomination from a Bright Field Middle School mom about Coach Shawn Holland. She wrote that her daughter is fortunate enough to have Coach Holland as her daughter's PE teacher and bus driver.
She shared Coach Holland pauses on his bus route to point out the sunrise and hosts Swifty Fridays when his kids belt out Taylor's greatest hits on the bus and in his classes.
Shawn told us, “During our running warm-ups, I turn on the music, and we sing it together. It’s funny to see the students' behavior change when we are all enjoying something together.”
He added, “Even the boys have given in and let loose of their anti-Swifty ways. It’s created an open and engaging classroom environment for me and my students.”
It’s an open environment that promotes encouragement, forgiveness and second chances–ideas he values. Shawn mentioned teachers who had impacted him earlier in life by forgiving and encouraging him to keep going.
“Tough times often teach us more than the good ones,” Shawn said.
Coach Holland, thank you for making the tough times bearable and adding joy to the everyday! #whereexcellencelives
Executive Chef David Thornton is in holiday mode! He's sharing a recipe for cranberry relish just in time for Thanksgiving break! #whereexcellencelives
Music to our ears! Six consecutive Arkansas State Championships for the Bentonville Pride! Congratulations, Pride! Your commitment and discipline are unmatched! #whereexcellencelives
Eight consecutive Arkansas State Championships for the Bentonville High Men's Cross Country Team. This isn't another win. This is a dynasty. #whereexcellencelives
We're grateful for our military members, past and present, and we express our gratitude to their families on the home front. It's our honor to recognize you today across our classrooms and community! Thank you, U.S. Veterans. #whereexcellencelives
