
A former student recently wrote us about some notes she found when going through her high school mementos. Lexi Carter said she found a couple of writings she had saved from Bentonville High School teacher Cayse Cunningham. Mrs. Cunningam shared the notes of encouragement when Lexi was a student in her AP Physics class.
Mrs. Cunningham has been teaching AP Physics and IB Physics for 10 years in Bentonville Schools. Her love for physics is surpassed only by her love of her students. She hopes her kids remember the principles of gravity, electromagnetism and nuclear force, but, more importantly, she hopes they also remember teachers are a lifelong force for them. She told us a teacher’s support doesn’t end after graduation.
These two ladies ran into each other this past summer at a local restaurant. Lexi told her mentor she is currently studying education. Her career goal is to become a teacher and care for others the way she was cared for in Bentonville Schools.
Join us in congratulating Cayse Cunningham for going the Extra Mile in her service to students. #whereexcellencelives




Bentonville West High School graduate Madison Phillips was recently elected president of her class at West Point - The U.S. Military Academy! Madison graduated from BWHS in 2021 and was a star student while in high school. Her grit is almost beyond human! We’re proud of your perseverance, Cadet Phillips! #whereexcellencelives

The Benton County Sheriff's Office will host its Parent's Night Out on November 7. This event is for adults only and you must register in advance at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b084aaeaa2fa3f49-parents1
This meeting is incredibly powerful and a must-see if your child owns a cell phone. Register now and save the date. #whereexcellencelives


Kelly & Cortney Carlson have championed the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement in Bentonville from day one and are co-chairs of Choose Love 2022. This husband and wife team rolled up their sleeves when we started planning in April, and they've been in the trenches ever since. Kelly is vice president of the Bentonville Schools Board of Education and Cortney is employed with Walmart. You want to know what really motivates them though? It's their girls. Julianna and Caroline are why they Choose Love. Earlier in the year, Caroline, who is seven and a half (the half is important, she says) brought her piggy bank money to Cortney. She said it was her contribution to our big event on November 9. You can bet this will be the biggest and best Choose Love celebration yet. Make plans now to be there. #whereexcellencelives




October is National Principals Month. The folks you see here keep our schools going, and they do it with grit and grace. If you have a moment this week, drop a note off with your principal or send an email to share the love! #whereexcellencelives


What a great night recently at Osage Creek Elementary and Creekside Middle! The two schools hosted a packed house for a combined culture night. Students were invited to share the stories of their backgrounds through dance, art and music. #whereexcellencelives





The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement is a formula to live with courage, show compassion, extend gratitude and offer forgiveness. We hope you'll join us in perpetuating the movement throughout Bentonville on Wednesday, November 9. The event is perfect for families of all ages! #whereexcellencelives


We the people are loving this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a rare, original print of the U.S. Constitution made possible by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Bentonville High School civics students toured the exhibit with their teacher Michael Eaves earlier this week. Original prints of the Declaration of Independence, the proposed Bill of Rights and the Articles of Confederation can be viewed until January 2. The exhibit is free and absolutely worth your time. #whereexcellencelives





You wanna put on a clinic...you call up the best. WNBA Hall of Famer Jackie Stiles showed the ladies' basketball team at Lincoln Jr High how it's done recently. Jackie encouraged the ladies of Lincoln to live their dreams on and off the court. In the 2001 WNBA draft, Stiles was selected fourth overall by the Portland Fire and was later voted the Rookie of the Year #whereexcellencelives





Back in May, we asked our teachers to take a picture of themselves celebrating the Choose Love Movement over their summer break. We got back some incredible images but one stood out. Deb Hight is a teacher at Washington Junior High School. Her daughter is battling cancer right now, but the mother-daughter duo still took a moment to Choose Love outside of their cancer clinic. The reality is this life can be tough. But so are you. Live each moment with courage, compassion for others, offer forgiveness and show gratitude. The Choose Love formula is a game changer.
We plan to share more pictures like these leading up to Choose Love Day in Bentonville on November 9. #whereexcellencelives




Kindergarteners at Vaughn Elementary are learning what plants need to survive, and it seems we all might be a houseplant! Give us sunshine, water and fresh air, right? Love seeing teachers like Shannon Johnson at Vaughn promote learning in the great outdoors. #whereexcellencelives





We're once again offering our most popular lunch and learn on the topic of online safety. Mark your calendars now for this powerful discussion with Benton Co Prosecutor Nathan Smith. You'll learn more about online dangers and how to better protect your kids. Bring a sandwich from home or grab a bite in the drive-thru, and join us. #whereexcellencelives


A big thank you to Arkansas State Senator Bart Hester and Arkansas State Representative Jim Dotson for spending time in the halls of Bentonville Schools last week. The two toured classrooms in our newest and oldest schools led by our principals and education specialists. We're grateful for our state lawmakers that spend time learning and listening. #whereexcellencelives





Last call for Choose Love tees! You can still get yours until this THURSDAY! Go to https://mypaymentsplus.com/welcome and look for Choose Love 2022.
#whereexcellencelives



Twenty National Merit Semifinalists...more than any district in Arkansas. Bentonville Schools is #whereexcellencelives


Kim Sence is our Extra Mile Award recipient for September. She has served Bentonville Schools for 31 years. Three decades of encouragement, compassion and love for our students. Currently, Kim works in the office at Apple Glen Elementary where she's known as Mama Kim. Kim was nominated by her colleague Emily Jones for this award. In her nomination, Emily shared with us how Kim does so much for so many with the most beautiful attitude. Kim, thank you for your selfless words and deeds.
If you know someone who consistently goes the Extra Mile in service to the families of Bentonville Schools, nominate him or her at bentonvillek12.org under About Us. #whereexcellencelives


Can you see yourself doing this? That's the question Bentonville High School students were able to explore today thanks to a fully loaded career technical learning semi-truck. Through virtual reality headsets, students explored careers in transportation, mechanics, construction, welding and robotics. The campaign is sponsored by Be Pro Be Proud to introduce high school students to meaningful careers they can begin immediately after high school. #whereexcellencelives





This is big. #whereexcellencelives


Jenny Sorey founded Hub of HOPE in 2016. Before starting her organization, Jen served the vulnerable and oppressed through the work of various organizations both internationally and domestically. Jen heard the words "modern slavery" and "human trafficking" for the first time in 2011 and realized most of the individuals she had served throughout her life had been vulnerable and at a high risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. Please grab lunch and join us TOMORROW for this critically important conversation. Human trafficking is absolutely an issue in Northwest Arkansas, and we must protect our children. #whereexcellencelives


It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do or where you’re doing it, Choose Love! Much respect for the Los Angeles Rams for wearing Choose Love helmet decals in a game this week. Save the date of November 9 for our Choose Love Movement celebration on the Downtown Bentonville Square. #whereexcellencelives


