Evening Star Elementary School

Fall Picture Day is TOMORROW, Thursday, October 10th. Individual student pictures will be taken for the yearbook. To pre-purchase a package, add personalization, or choose a background option, please visit the following website: https://www.strawbridge.net/ The picture day code for ESE is FM457388. You can also sign up for picture day notifications through this link. https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/evening-star-elementary-school/fall-pictures-10-12-2023-36/optIn If your child is absent on picture day or just needs a do-over, we will have picture retakes on November 14th. Check out our October Parent Newsletter for more information: https://secure.smore.com/n/v1jxg

Today is the day!! We are so excited to have our owls back in their home away from home. Share with us why “ESE is the place to be!” in the comments below. Additionally, here are some quick reminders to prepare you for the first day of school! *Car riders, please be patient with us. Not only will it take a couple of weeks to establish our dismissal routine, but we are anticipating a large number of car riders, especially during the first few days of school. The car line will be long and can take up to an hour or longer to get through while we teach our students the dismissal routine. *To request new bus service or to see your bus route for this fall, download the BusQuest app and submit a request. Bus times may fluctuate, so be sure to check your child’s route information prior to the start of school. One important note for your family; once you sign up for transportation service with BusQuest, you’ll still use the BusCompass app to see real-time updates and to know when the bus is within three bus stops of your child’s stop. Instructions for both apps were sent in our Welcome Back Parent letter. *Send a water bottle and snack with your child. *Doors open at 7 A.M., and the tardy bell will ring at 7:30 A.M. We can't wait to hear from you why “ESE is the place to be!” Please share with us in the comments below. Let's GOOO OWLS!

Can you believe TOMORROW, Wednesday, Aug. 14th, we will kick off our 1st day of the 2024-2025 school year together?! We are ready to have our little owls back in their nest here at ESE. On the eve of the first day of school, we want to remind you of a few things regarding arrival and dismissal during the first two weeks of school. Our staff members have put together a short informational video for you. Please check your email for this video link. Your child's safety is our top priority. Please understand the car rider line will take some time for the first few weeks. As of right now, we are anticipating well over 450+ car riders. Your patience is appreciated! 1. Remember - ALL car riders must have the 24-25 ESE Car Rider Pass (handed out at Open House) displayed in their front windshield. 2. Traffic will be heavy for the first few days of school. Please leave early, give yourself plenty of extra time, and be patient. 3. Expect heavy traffic this week. You will also encounter many children walking to school, so be on the lookout for them. 4. Expect school buses to be delayed. The first week of school is always a period of adjustment for our bus drivers and students alike. Students will be late getting to school and home, but we'll work through delays quickly. 5. Remember, children will be boarding and exiting school buses. Watch for them and never go around or pass a stopped school bus. 6. Put away your cell phone in school zones and parking lots. It is against the law to use your cell phone in a school zone. Our school zone spans from the Scissortail neighborhood down W. Pleasant Grove Road/Haxton Road past Gaston Road. This includes our car-rider line. Our school car rider staff need your full attention to keep all students safe. 7. Only right turns onto Pleasant Grove Road are permitted during the hours of 7:00-7:30 and 2:30-3:30. If a car turns left onto Pleasant Grove Road, it shuts the entire car rider line down. Thank you for doing your part and helping us keep our car line moving safely and quickly. 8. Please keep our crosswalks clear. We have crosswalks at: *The corner of Pleasant Grove Rd and Roberts Rd. *Front entrance of the car line for our students who live off of Gaston Rd. *​Two in the parking lot. *One in the car line at the front entrance of the building. Please refer to your transportation handout provided at Open House for additional details.

2 More Days and our little owls will return to our ESE Nest! 🦉 Evening Star is the place to be for so many reasons. One of those being our parents! 💙Our parents diligently partner with our staff to ensure our students have a rich learning environment with many opportunities. Our ESE PTO and families have a significant impact in ensuring every dollar raised benefits every owl. Thank you, ESE Parents & PTO, for making ESE the BEST! Check out this list of how your input and funds were used over the past five years: 2 sets of swings, a gaga pit, a hover net climbing structure, book sets for literacy, $10,000 for library books, playground shade structure, picnic tables, soccer goals, robotics & drone kits, Beam projector, $10,500 in funds divided among classroom teachers for additional instructional materials, and a climbing wall.

Can you believe Open House is tomorrow?! The staff at Evening Star is counting down the hours until we get to meet you and your little one. We know you are excited, too!

Evening Star Elementary is the place to be not only because of our incredible families, students, and staff but also because of our continued community partnerships. Over the past five years, various business partners have poured into us by donating goods and/or services for our events, staff, and families. We are better because of them! Let’s thank them for their support by continuing to support their businesses. #ESEBetterTogether

Only 5 more days until the first day of school! 🥳 Did you know that Evening Star Elementary was featured on the Arkansas Department of Education website because of the meaningful access we provide throughout our school building? We are committed to ensuring each student we serve receives the support they need to reach their full potential and soar in every way. Last year, we were also one of the first elementary schools in our district to implement the Circle of Friends program.

Did you know that Evening Star Elementary is an Arkansas R.I.S.E. Model School?! Based on the observations of the State Assessors and evidence provided, we are a RISE Model School not only because of the incredible reading instruction provided by our staff but also the culture of reading evident in our school, homes, and communities.  R.I.S.E. (Reading Initiative for Student Excellence) Arkansas encourages a culture of reading by coordinating a statewide reading campaign with community partners, parents, and teachers to establish the importance of reading in homes, schools, and communities. Goal 1: Sharpen the focus and strengthen instruction.  Goal 2: Create community collaboration.  Goal 3: Build a culture of reading! * Click on the following link to learn more about R.I.S.E.: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/rise-arkansas *Family Resources: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/rise-arkansas/rise-family-resources Thank you for continuing to foster a love of reading in your home. 

7 more days until the first day of school. 🎉Who is getting excited?! Did you know that in September of last school year, according to NICHE, ESE was #1 of 488 Best Public Elementary Schools in Arkansas? We are beyond proud and know this is only possible because of the fantastic parent and school partnerships we have formed since opening our doors in 2019. ESE is the place to be! So much to be proud of! #1 of 488 Best Public Elementary Schools in Arkansas #373 of 50,783 Best Public Elementary Schools in America

Did you know that on December 1, 2023, ESE was recognized as a Model PLC at Work School? This is an incredible accomplishment! ESE is now one of about 500 schools/districts in the US and Canada to receive this incredible honor. This recognition is a true testament to the collaborative work of our ESE team and their persistent focus on student and adult learning within and beyond our school building.

At Evening Star, we are dedicated to empowering our students through five core values: teamwork, integrity, growth, empathy, and enthusiasm. Chosen in 2019 with input from families, students, staff, alumni from the class of 1948, and community members, these values are the foundation of our school culture. They guide how we learn, grow, and interact, fostering a respectful and understanding environment that drives academic excellence. You can feel the impact of these values as soon as you step through our doors! All of our owls embody our mission by empowering one another to be their best selves by soaring for the stars in every way. Evening Star remains committed to a legacy of excellence that positively influences the community around us.

It's officially time to begin our 10-day countdown to the 1st day of school! 🥳 As we embark on our sixth year at Evening Star Elementary, we are thrilled to continue celebrating the long-lasting Evening Star legacy with all of you. Did you know that the name of Evening Star Elementary honors the charming original one-room schoolhouse known as Evening Star School? Established in 1884, this historic and quaint schoolhouse was nestled less than a quarter mile from our present location. We’re thrilled to keep building lasting memories with all our owls through our cherished school traditions.

📅Mark Your Calendars - Our ESE Open House is officially 1 month away and we cannot wait to see all of our Evening Star Owls! August: 12th - 💙Open House & Canned Food Drive (Watch social media for more details.) Please attend the session by the First Initial of your child’s LAST NAME Kindergarten Open House Times: *12:00-12:45 p.m. Last Names A-G *1:00-1:45 p.m. Last Names H-O *2:00-2:45 p.m. Last Names P-Z Sensory Friendly Open House - Invite Only *3:00-3:45 p.m. 1st-4th Open House Times: *3:45-4:20 p.m. Last Names A-G *4:25-5:00 p.m. Last Names H-O *5:10-5:45 p.m. Last Names P-Z *Please attend the session assigned by the First Initial of your child's LAST NAME. We have designated times for grade levels due to limited parking and the sheer size of our student body. Additionally, designated time blocks allow our staff the opportunity to spend a little more time with families in smaller groups and answer specific questions as it relates to your little owl. Note: *August 14th -⭐The FIRST DAY of SCHOOL🦉 *August 27th - 8:30 a.m. PTO Meeting & 9:30 a.m.1st Volunteer Training

Happy Wednesday, ESE Families! We hope everyone's summer is off to a great start. As we prepare for the 2024-2025 school year, we wanted to send some information and reminders your way. Click HERE to read our 2024-2025 School Year Information and Reminders newsletter.

Evening Star Families, As you know, due to the significant storm damage caused throughout our school district, school for the 2023-2024 session will not resume. We are currently working on a plan for the pickup of students' belongings. Please stay tuned for more information sometime tomorrow. In the meantime, we hope everyone is safe!! We do have some ESE staff members who were impacted by various degrees due to the storms. Fortunately, our building is in good shape, and so is our playground. If your family needs support, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help! Stay safe, Principal Williams Our mission is Evening Star Elementary - Where owls empower each other to be our best selves by soaring for the stars in every way.  Our vision - We are committed to continuing a legacy of excellence that impacts the world around us.

Attention 4th-Grade Families! Your little owl is about to spread its wings and leave the Evening Star nest. We would love for you to join us for a special event on Thursday, May 30th, specifically for 4th-grade students and parents. Please RSVP by May 23rd. To RSVP, check out the email from your child's homeroom teacher that was sent on May 14th. Siblings may join the clap-out at 1:45 p.m.

It's ESE's Annual Student Appreciation Week. Join us for some fun spirit days on Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday. ESE Parents & Guardians, we would love for you to send your little owl a note to school for them to open on Friday. Watch for an email from your child's homeroom teacher.

🎉As of last Friday morning, we had collected 533 cereal boxes. Our Kindergarten students are currently in the lead with 154 boxes, and the second grade isn't far behind. We will be collecting boxes until Wednesday, May 22nd. Our goal is to collect enough cereal boxes to line our hallways, 4th grade to Kindergarten, with a cereal Domino run to celebrate the kindness and generosity of ESE students and families. Our Annual Cereal Domino Run will take place on Friday, May 24th. Last year, we collected 625 boxes. I want to challenge our ESE Owls to beat last year's collection total. If every family donates just 1 box of unopened ceral we will surpass our goal. Keep those cereal boxes rolling in!

Let's create a chain reaction of kindness, one donated cereal box at a time! The Annual ESE Cereal Drive kicks off Monday, May 13th! We will be collecting boxes until Wednesday, May 22nd. Our goal is to collect enough cereal boxes to line our hallways, 4th grade to Kindergarten, with a cereal Domino run to celebrate the kindness and generosity of ESE students and families. Our Annual Cereal Domino Run will take place on Friday, May 24th. Are you curious to see what a massive Domino cereal run looks like? Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=204351761436390

🌟Attention 2024-2025 Incoming ESE Kindergarten Families!🌟 We hope you can join us on May 14th for our official Kindergarten Signing Day.✏️ Students will have an opportunity to meet some of our staff and make some new friends while our parents learn all about the day in the life of a kindergartener. We can't wait to meet all of our future little owls. 🦉