Hot SpringsWorld Class High School

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Programs are available at all public schools in Arkansas, and HSSD is committed to maintaining ESOL resources and assistance of the highest caliber to students and families. Student diversity is one of the most important pieces of the identity and culture at HSSD. We are proudly providing an educational foundation to the most diverse student population in Garland County, where 11 languages are spoken among HSSD families. Learn more about the professional facilitators, specialized resources and tools, outreach events, and opportunities available to our HSSD families who are experiencing a language transition.

Four HSSD high school seniors were honored today at a Signing Event in our Mackey Theater, as they signed letters of intent with three Arkansas universities. Congrats to our following students who have achieved athletic and academic excellence in order to receive such promising offers: - Ramello Cason, to attend Ouachita Baptist University (Arkadelphia). - Eddie Miles, to attend Henderson State University (Arkadelphia). - Damain Walker and Deshun Doss, to attend Arkansas Baptist College (Little Rock).

Arkansas Jr. and Sr. Beta clubs gathered for State Convention January 24 - 26, 2019, a total of 25 HSSD students in 9th-12th grades competed as Sr. Beta Club members from HSWCHS. Events were hosted at the Hot Springs Convention Center. In all, 50 HSSD students qualified (42 from Jr. Beta Club and 8 from Sr. Beta Club) to compete at National Beta Convention in June, to be hosted in Oklahoma City. Huge thanks to Cheryl Long, Madeline Bull, and Melissa Bratton for the countless hours they spent helping our teams prepare. Congrats to HSSD Beta Clubs!

HSWCHS EAST students work to identify and solve real world problems and needs through highly advanced technology. Senior Madeline (Maddie) Scott and sophomore Ella Pace created a method for generating 3D models of cancer tumors to solve a doctor-patient educational gap. Their project was inspired by a brain-related tumor diagnosis for a friend, where they learned about the personal confusion and oftentimes shock that goes along with patients who receive serious medical news for the first time. Using a 3D printer, and knowledge gained from many dedicated hours of surgical observation and interviews with cancer patients, the ladies created a way to produce 3D models of cancer tumors so that doctors can provide tangible tumor models to patients. The project hit very close to home for the group when their own EAST Facilitator Mr. John Stokes received a cancer diagnosis, and used the technology during his own diagnosis and treatment.

HSWCHS Senior Jackson Ratcliff was surprised today with a presentation by McLarty Automotive Group of a $2,500 McLarty Drives Education Scholarship. Jackson was nominated for his excellent leadership skills, academic rigor, commitment to citizenship and responsibility, honorary participation in Arkansas Governor’s School and Boy’s State, and his community involvement through organizations including NJROTC, Boy Scouts, local food pantries, and more. “We look for the well rounded student … Jackson excels at everything and is everything you want in a model student and a young person. I could go on forever about the way that he contributes to this school and his community,” said Chris Phares of McLarty Automotive Group of Benton today, as the check was delivered. Congrats to Jackson and family!

HSWCHS Librarian Mrs. Shipman has been selected to serve on the Arkansas Teen Book Award Steering Committee by the Arkansas State Library. An honor for Mrs. Shipman and the HSSD, this four-year position allows her to contribute input and call attention to leading books for 7th-12th grade students across the state. She will also gain valuable insight about books, authors, opportunities, and more for the HSWCHS Library offerings and book collection. Begun in 2009, the Arkansas Teen Book Award is a cooperative effort between public and school libraries across the state that encourages reading by all students and targets young adult grade readers.

Remember your first job interview or public presentation? The process of preparing for and delivering an impressive interview is not an easy one, and usually not something that comes naturally to most. HSWCHS Oral Communications and Art Instructor Mrs. Lorrie Duke helps seniors prepare for that experience through a Senior Interviews event. She commissions professionals from the HSSD and the community to create mock interviews for students. Students are required to create full resumes, including references and letters of recommendation, to prepare for the event. Students receive real world feedback from interviewers regarding their resume, presence and delivery during the interview, and general guidelines for improvement.

The HSWCHS NJROTC (Navy Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps) unit is the oldest NJROTC program in the state of Arkansas, established in March of 1969. NJROTC serves as a character and leadership development program nationwide for high school students. New instructors to Hot Springs include Lieutenant Commander Sean Garrett and Senior Chief David Patti, both of whom bring distinguished Navy careers with them to the classroom. Their focus is on building disciplined, service-minded students, who are prepared for leadership and careers in whatever fields they choose. Currently, 115 HSWCHS students are part of the program. The HSWCHS NJROTC Color Guard is requested to events across the community and central Arkansas area. In competitions, our teams were also among finalists last year in physical fitness and air rifle meets.

Hot Springs World Class High School and Gardner STEM Magnet School have received Beating the Odds Awards for Math Growth at the elementary and high school levels from the Office for Education Policy at the University of Arkansas. Both schools are being honored by OEP because students demonstrated high growth in scores on the ACT Aspire in mathematics. Congrats to our world class students and staff across the HSSD!

Chartwells introduces new Student Choice Program to allow students to taste and then vote on new additions to the HSWCHS school cafeteria lunch menu. Student Choice kicks off 12/4 - 12/6 with tasting events - during normal student lunch schedules - where students will sample a variety of new menu items from different food station options. The menu that receives the most votes will be introduced in the cafeteria as a daily meal option.

The HSSD is a diverse community of student groups, talents, and organizations. We look forward to each holiday performance and event throughout December. Don’t miss a thing, with an all-inclusive HSSD Holiday lineup, below. All events hosted at HSSD schools, as well as the Holiday Extravaganza on 12/6, are free to the public and open to all.

For Giving Tuesday, the Little Rock-based professional tap dance company Untapped sends dance instructors to schools across Arkansas at no charge to work with students in dance classes. Savannah Boyce and Michael Roberson, professional dancers and dance instructors with Untapped, worked with HSSD dance students across the district today. They brought hands-on tap sessions and brief discussion of tap history to our classrooms.

In a heated competition, HSWCHS students faced off in front of a packed gymnasium yesterday in the first ever HSSD Civics Tournament. Mrs. Meggan Moody organized the event as an engaging way to prepare 9th-12th grade students for a new graduation requirement to pass the Arkansas Civics Exam. Congrats to the winning team of Juniors: Tremain Young, Anthony Mitchell, Angel Youngs, and Sevannah Lawson, who have received tickets and school transportation to the Memphis Grizzlies game on Saturday.

Southwest Central Regional Solid Waste Management District awards the #HSSD HSWCHS and Oaklawn Magnet Recycling Grants to help add recycling bins to both sites, and to build greater engagement, general awareness, and participation for recycling in the student body and community.

This month, 70 students (57 from 4th-8th grade and 13 from 9th-12th grade) from our four HSSD Beta Clubs attended a regional Beta Leadership Summit. It was a record breaking year, as HSSD clubs took home seven awards and qualified to compete at the National Beta Club Summit in five categories. Student groups are from Beta Clubs currently established at Park Magnet (4th-5th grade students), Oaklawn (4th-5th grade students), a combined team from Hot Springs Intermediate School (6th grade students) and Junior Academy (7th-8th grade students), and Hot Springs World Class High School (9th-12th grade students).

Hot Springs World Class High School EAST and Park Magnet second grade students collaborated for a Mini-Maker Faire event. The Maker Faire - which are events that feature innovation and experimentation across the spectrum of science, engineering, art, performance and craft - was part of bringing to life the Inventions Over Time Unit of Inquiry for second graders. EAST student teams used invention kits to design projects for younger students to interact with.

During an International Baccalaureate (IB) Celebration, HSWCHS honored students for various levels of participation or completion of courses within the IB Programme. IB is among the most rigorous and demanding college preparatory curriculums available in the United States, for both public and private schools. 230 HSSD 9th-12th grade students are currently participating in some level of IB courses.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a national initiative that requires states to offer courses that prepare students to be job ready, via whatever path they choose after graduation. CTE courses create a bridge between academics and career paths by directly connecting student learners through experiences like apprenticeships, internships, hands-on training and demonstrations, service projects, and other personal interaction with employers. Through of a series of curriculum changes, grants, and visionary leadership, HSSD is proudly offering world class CTE opportunities through full Career Academies. Most recently, a grant from the Arkansas Department of Career Education is continuing to evolve and add to the CTE offerings of HSSD.

Join us in celebrating our the HSSD community for 2018 Homecoming Week, October 8-12. Find a lineup of daily themes for all HSSD schools. We will also host a districtwide pep rally on 10/11 at Joe Reese Stadium (all students will travel via buses to HSWCHS). Festivities conclude on Friday 10/12 with a Homecoming Court Assembly in the morning and the Crowning Ceremony and Football Game (vs. Magnolia) later that evening. Thank you for being part of honoring our #HSSDTrojans!

Pumpkin Light Night is a FREE event for the whole family, on October 23. This gathering celebrates the programs, clubs, organizations, and many offerings of the Hot Springs School District. Bouncy houses, pumpkin displays, booths and activities, food trucks (food trucks charge for food), and entertainment fill our Trojan Field. Be part of celebrating HSSD students and the HSSD community at the 4th annual Pumpkin Light Night!

Governor Hutchinson and leadership from the Jobs for America’s Graduates program, Arkansas Department of Career Education, and other Arkansas business leaders presented the HSSD with a $25,000 Entergy grant check to fund a Jobs for Arkansas Graduates (JAG) program at Hot Springs World Class High School.

Upgrades completed to the HSSD High School cafeteria, allowing for more convenient access by students, and additional tasty options for all food palates.

Seminar Planning helps High School Students Design Personalized Plans for the Future

Garland County