Page 3 - TR Hometown Saline County June 2017

TRI-LAKES EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE • HOMETOWN SALINE COUNTY
SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017 3TT
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Gretchen Bush, 14, explains to Gov. Asa Hutchinson an assignment called “Alice” she completed in Brenda Qualls’ coding class at Bryant High School.
LIFETIME
OF LEARNING
Saline County schools leading the way in learning
BY CODY GRAVES / SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
With four bustling school districts, the students of Saline County are preparing for the future with new technology, new facili- ties and new ways of thinking.
BAUXITE SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Bauxite School District will open a new wing of Pine Haven Elementary School this fall. The new wing adds 10 classrooms, including a new music class- room and a large art room. The building features state-of-the-art technology and gives the growing district more space for its elementary students. Superintendent Matt Donaghy said new facilities help show the students they are cared about.
Leanne Pinkerton has been named dir- ector of academic affairs for the dis- trict. Pinkerton has been an educa- tor for 21 years and has taught high school English in Sheridan, been a literacy coach in Benton and served as an assistant principal and dir- ector of federal programs for the past two
years in Bauxite. She said her main focus will be building relationships with stu- dents and the faculty.
“I’m really excited to start this new pos-ition,” she said. “I feel like it’s going to give us an opportunity to sharpen our focus on student achievement scores.”
This year, Bauxite also started a new club, the Tech Team, in March. This group, which is for grades six through 12, learns a variety of computer trou- bleshooting and repair skills, along with learning how to use Google appli- cations. Pinkerton said the main goal for the Tech Team is for the students to pass the Google Certified Educator exam. She said the Tech Team also helps the district’s information-technology offi- cer with his duties, whether it is replacing a screen or replacing a battery. Pinkerton said it’s important for students to learn on a vari- ety of devices because when they leave high school, they will need to know how to use
SEE LEARNING, PAGE 4TT
ZEE BH2460KW as low as
$8430
A Month 60mo @ 3.99%
• 23hp Kawasaki motor
• 3 year motor warranty
• 3 year bumper to bumper
warranty on machine • 48” Cutting deck
BLACKHAWK BH2460KW as low as $14049
A Month 60mo @ 3.99%
• 3 year motor warranty • Kawasaki 24hp motor • 4 year bumper to bumper warranty on machine • 9mph ground speed • Full in store service • 60”deck