Need stress relief? Maybe you should visit Walker Elementary where EAST students and their teacher, Jo Huggins are installing a sensory walk. This one, tested by principal Lynn Ryan and installed on the school's Disney Day, is for stress relief. They are placing another in the kindergarten hall that is loaded with academics. EAST programs in nearly all of district schools are another reason Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
FREE School Meals for Take out on November 23rd.
#THEChoice
School Board member, Eddie Ramos, shares what is most important to him during this season. #WeAreThankful
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Springdale Schools is grateful for the dedication and creativity of our staff and educators! #WeAreThankful
Southwest Junior High's volleyball team packed 15 boxes to be delivered to children in other countries as part of Operation Christmas Child. Items were donated by parents in the community. It's the eighth year in a row that the Southwest volleyball team has participated in this project.
Kendra Clay, General Counsel, shared with us why Thanksgiving is so important. #WeAreThankful
After being given a nice piece of wood by a neighbor, Walker Elementary fourth grader Trystan Nolan utilized string art to make a beautiful display featuring the district logo. It was placed inside the front entry to the school. How does it feel to see your work on display? "Awesome," says Nolan, who learned string art in his Gifted and Talented class. #THEChoice
ZACH MILLER – SRO, HELLSTERN MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOUNG, HUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Zach Miller has been a national champion. His wife, Brittany, has been a national champion. They haven’t lost their zeal for competition and still frequently compete with each other.
“I met Brittany in college when both of us were members of our school’s skeet shooting team,” says Miller, who serves as the student resource officer at Hellstern Middle and Young and Hunt Elementary Schools. “I was on the 2011 national championship team. She was on teams that won four national championships. We have a competitive relationship.”
Zach and Brittany were both on scholarship at Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Missouri. It is the second oldest institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River, founded in 1827. The school’s clay pigeon shooting teams were so good that Zach only earned a spot on one national championship squad. Brittany was on four teams that won the title. Does that mean Brittany is a better shot?
Zach won’t concede on who shoots better but admits, “She is really good. We still shoot together some but it’s pretty expensive. The closest place to shoot is Bella Vista. But, we also enjoy hiking and this is a perfect time to go hiking in Northwest Arkansas.”
Miller enjoys just about anything outdoors. He grew up in McLeansboro, Illinois, a community of less than 3,000. His high school started a clay pigeon shooting team when he was a sophomore but he grew up “shooting clay targets in our backyard.
“Our high school team was good and I got a scholarship offer in the mail from Lindenwood. My parents and I visited the school and liked it. I had a double major, criminal justice and psychology. I kinda knew I wanted to become a police officer.”
His shooting skills certainly helped launch his career in law enforcement. Skeet shooting requires excellent hand-eye coordination as clay targets are mechanically flung in the air from two fixed stations at high speeds from a variety of angles. The shooter uses a shotgun to fire at the targets.
Miller would just as soon never use his shooting ability on the job, particularly now that he is an SRO. He is happy to be working in the schools and just as happy to be a member of the Springdale police force.
“I moved to Northwest Arkansas without a job,” Miller explains. “Brittany and I dated in college but we weren’t married yet. She got a job in Northwest Arkansas and I followed her here. She works in Tyson’s corporate office. I applied with the Springdale police department and got a job pretty quick. I came here straight from college and have been here since.”
Like most officers, Miller started on patrol. After four years on patrol he switched to becoming an SRO last year. His reason?
“I wanted to make more impact with kids,” says Miller, who is only 29 himself. “The reason I became a police officer was to make a difference and in schools an officer can be a positive role model. I’ve found that to be true.”
Miller is just completing his first month at Hellstern, Young and Hunt. He served as SRO at Jones and Westwood Elementary Schools and the Early Childhood Center before making the switch. How has the adjustment gone?
“Tommy Wright, who was my best friend on the force, just left as the SRO at Southwest Junior High to take a job as a realtor,” Miller says. “So, there were some adjustments made to make sure all the schools were covered. Everyone at Hellstern, Young and Hunt has been very friendly. They are easy to get along with. I’m still building relationships.”
Do students ever tell him they would like to someday be police officers?
“It happens all the time, particularly with elementary students,” Miller responds. “They look at you like you are a superhero. There’s a little less of that in middle school. It makes any officer feel great to have kids look up to him.”
It also makes officers feel great to belong to a solid police department.
“It is like a small brotherhood,” Miller says. “Even though Tommy is my best friend, I get along with all the officers. Everyone I work with has been great. This is a great community. Springdale provides excellent community support for the police. I am very lucky to be here.”
Springdale is lucky to have Miller. He and all the SROs are among the reasons Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Springdale Har-Ber (44), Springdale High School (24) and the Don Tyson School of Innovation (3) combined for 71 of the 250 Arkansas students who earned the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy for demonstrating proficiency in English and one or more other languages by high school graduation. Spanish was the second language for 70 of the district's students. One student mastered French. Congratulations! #THEChoice
FREE School Meals for Take out on November 23rd.
#THEChoice
FREE School Meals for Take out on November 23rd.
#THEChoice
ROBERT AINI – SRO, PARSON HILLS, BAYYARI, TURNBOW, HARP, TYSON, LEE, JONES ELEMENTARY
Do you need your helicopter fixed? Robert Aini is your man. Long before he became a member of the Springdale Police Department and a student resource officer, Aini was repairing helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I was living in California and didn’t like it,” says Aini. “It was too crowded. Traffic was horrible. So, I joined the military and served for 10 years. I was a helicopter crew chief. I didn’t fly the helicopters. I was the mechanic. So, I was in the air nearly every day when I served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We had a wide variety of missions, including taxiing solders. We would receive care packages from the United States and give hem to kids. When a kid in Iraq or Afghanistan was given a soccer ball, his eyes would get wide. Among the things they valued most were pencils. They loved pencils because it gave them the ability to draw and write.”
Passing out care packages and interacting with kids gave Aini a preview of what he would someday be doing.
“Kids are innocent,” Aini says. “Seeing them in Iraq and Afghanistan made me know I wanted to help kids. They are survivors. They don’t have anything and appreciate everything they receive. I didn’t grow up like that. My mom bought everything for me.”
Everything?
“Remember those Michael Jackson red jackets he wore when he sang ‘Thriller?’” asks Aini. “My mom bought one for me. I was so popular. It was really too hot to wear a jacket where we lived but I wore it anyway.”
Wearing a Michael Jackson jacket didn’t mean Aini grew up in wealth but he didn’t experience extreme poverty, either. He is a native of Chuuk, one of the Federated States of Micronesia. While different languages are spoken in the various Federated States of Micronesia, Aini learned English early in his academic career.
“I had a sixth grade teacher who was an international volunteer from New England,” Aini recalls. “She told us that English is the international language. I’ve always believed that. I am still learning English, though, even though I’ve spoken it for over 30 years. I like to learn the fancy words.”
His English was fine enough to allow him to go to Hawaii for college. He didn’t get far, though, and ended up working two jobs to afford living in Hawaii. He did that for seven years before moving to California.
“That’s when I decided to join the military,” Aini says. “Going to Iraq and Afghanistan was eye opening. They are two totally different cultures. People survive with nothing. Sometimes I wondered where they got food and water. I couldn’t survive there. I’ve seen the world and I don’t take anything for granted.”
He doesn’t take his job for granted. Serving as SRO for Parson Hills, Bayyari, Turnbow, Harp, Tyson, Lee and Jones Elementary, Aini did not move to Sprindale expecting to become a police officer.
“After I got out of the military I spent a year in Washington, then moved to San Diego,” Aini explains. “I had friends in Springdale and I visited there in 2005. Compared to California, there was no traffic. Springdale only had one Walmart then and I thought it was a very attractive, smaller town.
“When I came back in 2013, Springdale had grown. It still wasn’t like California, though. When I came back Gomez (Zackious, SRO at Lakeside Junior High) saw me and said I would be a good police officer. I was tired of wearing a uniform and wasn’t ready to wear another one.”
Zackious was persistent and persuaded Aini to take the test.
“I took the test and here I am,” says Aini. “This is a very rewarding job. It is totally different from the army. I love it. I started on patrol and liked helping kids so I became an SRO.
“When it comes to helping kids, though, I am only a backup. Give all the credit to the teachers, principals and staff members. They work very, very hard to educate and take care of the kids.”
In his sixth year on the police force and third as an SRO, Aini admits this year has been different because of the national pandemic.
“I hate wearing masks,” he says. “You can’t tell if people are smiling or not. In my first two years as SRO, I loved seeing the kids smile when I would see them. Now we have strict guidelines to make sure we keep everyone safe. It’s crazy, weird. The only time I don’t wear a mask is when I am at home.”
At home he has a daughter who is at Central Junior High. His son graduated from Har-Ber High School this past spring and just joined the Navy. Aini says, “He will grow into a young man in the Navy. He will be a different man in three months.”
When he is not enjoying family time with his wife and daughter, Aini likes playing softball and bicycling.
“Softball is very popular among the Marshallese,” Aini says. “I play with many of them when it is warm. I like to play fast pitch but it makes you mad when you get hit by a pitch. I also like biking. I really enjoyed my time on bike patrol.”
Aini is glad Zackious talked him into taking the test to become a police officer and values his career. He and all the district SROs are among the reasons Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Monitor Elementary benefits from a partnership with Crystal Bridges. Every Monday Crystal Bridges delivers 50 bags with five lunches, five breakfasts and five sets of snacks for students who are virtual or quarantined. Great partnerships are another reason Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.
Springdale Schools is thankful for our students and families! #WeAreThankful
Please see the following flyer for important information regarding testing options in Springdale.
Please see the following flyers for important information regarding testing locations. For Spanish translation please visit our Escuelas de Springdale page.
A video documentary crew was at Springdale High School today to interview video production instructor Rachelle Nichols. Nichols' students watched and were able to ask questions. Real life learning experiences help make Springdale Public Schools #THEChoice.
Springdale School District is thankful for our school staff and educators! Shannon Tisher, Assistant Superintendent, shared why Thanksgiving is significant to her. #WeAreThankful
Randy Hutchinson, School Board member, shares with us what he is thankful for during this season. #WeAreThankful
