Congratulations to Bentonville West High School senior Ronak Pai! Congressman Steve Womack honored Ronak with the 2024 Congressional App Challenge Award. The nationwide coding competition for middle and high school students encourages young people to chase their STEM dreams to improve our world! Ronak created an app called Veteran Connect. It's one-stop shopping for essential health services for our nation's veterans, saving them time and streamlining their medical options.
Congratulations, Ronak! #whereexcellencelives
It's the 2025 Lunar New Year! Students from Bentonville High School and Bentonville West High School recently hosted a Year of the Snake Celebration at the Bentonville Public Library for the community. Our students helped kiddos make paper dragons, snakes and taught Chinese calligraphy "福“. The ribbon dragon dance and traditional paper cutting were also a big draw at this beautiful celebration. Students in our Chinese Club and classes are led by teacher Qiuye Ma. #whereexcellencelives
Sonya Wilson is a bus trainer and driver in Bentonville Schools. She’s known for decorating her bus for every holiday: Valentine’s Day, Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day–all of them. But, when Halloween came this past fall, her kids said, “Miss Sonya, you barely decorated.” They had no idea–no idea that Sonya was struggling to put one foot in front of the other after her 22-year-old son, Jayzek, was killed in a car accident only months earlier.
Despite her profound pain, Sonya kept going and kept driving. She drove every morning and afternoon and took on the field trips as they presented. That’s when she met Erin Rankin, a teacher at Apple Glen Elementary. Erin and her students were traveling on Sonya’s bus for a field trip, and she noted the joy Sonya exuded.
In her nomination, Erin wrote, “Sonya decorated her bus on the inside and outside, and it’s MAGICAL. She played Christmas carols like ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ that my students sang along with.”
She added, “I think it’s special that Sonya cares so much about her bus riders that she would create an environment for them to enjoy going to and from school.”
In this life, no one emerges unscathed, but Sonya says joy isn’t contingent upon circumstances. She says it’s a choice. She chooses joy in honor of her son and practices joy for her littlest children.
We asked Sonya what she loves about her job. She said simply, “Everything.”
Congratulations, Sonya!
If you'd like to nominate a Bentonville Schools' employee for going the Extra Mile, do so at https://tinyurl.com/4fazcd8x #whereexcellencelives
This is the team that gets its done! January is National School Board Member Appreciation Month, and these seven are the best! Many thanks to these men and women for their commitment to the students, teachers and staff of Bentonville Schools! #whereexcellencelives Pictured L to R: Joel Dunning, Kelly Carlson, Jennifer Faddis, Willie Cowgur, Jeremy Farmer, Tatum Aicklen & Becky Guthrie
It's not too late to register for the Parent's Night Out hosted by the Benton County Sheriff's Office. Cyber detectives will share critically important information about online safety concerns and how to better keep your child safe. #whereexcellencelives
Today we honor the life, legacy and the infinite wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #whereexcellencelives
Kindergarten pre-registration begins on Monday! More info here on our homepage. #whereexcellencelives
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
