Elementary students competed against one another at Meet the Eagles to see who could collect the most signatures from the ABHS athletes.

The ABHS Eagles kicked off the 2010 fall sports season Tuesday, with the annual Meet the Eagles night hosted by the ABHS Athletic Booster Club. The event, complete with a hamburger and hot dog cookout, was held at Eagle football field, where the stands were packed with eager Eagle fans.

To help involve the elementary students, the Booster Club held a competition where the young Eagles were encouraged to gather as many signatures as possible from the ABHS athletes.

Athletes from all of the fall sports including elementary football, elementary cheerleading, junior high football, junior high cheerleading, varsity football and varsity cheerleading were all introduced. In addition, athletes participating in golf, tennis and cross country were also recognized.

The ABHS Eagle Marching Band, under the direction of Rusty Hart, performed the ABHS fight song and other music to entertain the crowd.

ABHS principal, Randy Goldsmith, and head football coach, Brad Helm, encouraged fans to show their spirit and support for our ABHS Eagles this season. He also encouraged fans to help cheer during the games.

The ABHS Eagles will kick off their 2010 Season at Conway Christian tonight at 7:00 p.m.  We hope to see all of our fans join us for a great night of football.

Miss Clements' K3 class proudly shows their bears after finding them in the teacher work room.

We’re going on a BEAR HUNT!!!  We’re going to catch a BIG ONE!!!  It’s such a beautiful day, and we’re not scared!!

Mrs. Walsh’s and Miss Clements’ K3 classes had a bear hunt Thursday, September 2, in celebration of the letter “B.”  Each student came to school with a teddy bear. While no one was looking, all the bears escaped.  When the K3 students discovered their teddy bears were missing from the classroom, they started looking everywhere in our classroom.   Until……..someone found a bear paw clue in our classroom.

The bear clues sent us all around the school.  We visited the basketball gym, bistro, music room, office and the teacher work room.  At last, we found those silly bears resting on a couch in the teacher work room.  The K3 students were all smiles when finding their teddy bears.  After hunting the bears, the K3 students enjoyed their bears at the teddy bear tea party.

Mrs. Walsh's class enjoys a teddy bear tea party after finding their bears.

]]> http://www.arkansasbaptistschoolsystem.info/featured/bearhunt/feed/ 0 http://www.arkansasbaptistschoolsystem.info/general/els/ http://www.arkansasbaptistschoolsystem.info/general/els/#comments Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:54:40 +0000 rbennett http://www.arkansasbaptistschoolsystem.info/?p=2564 As the world becomes smaller, education expands. This school year, Arkansas Baptist is privileged to have students from around the world enrolled in the elementary as well as the high school.

In 2006, Arkansas Baptist had its first large group of international students — South Korean students. Captain Lee, the pastor of the Korean Ministry at Little Rock’s First Baptist Church, brought the students to Little Rock.  Since then, a steady stream of students from South Korea, Vietnam, China, South Africa and Austria have come to Arkansas Baptist.

“Our students have done an excellent job welcoming these new students and likewise our new international friends have enriched Arkansas Baptist,” Randy Goldsmith, high school principal, said.

Students have enjoyed learning the language and customs of the international students as well as getting to know them personally. Many Arkansas Baptist students include our international students in their lives outside of school.  “We’ve seen our students make lasting bonds that span the globe,” Goldsmith added.

Jennifer and Nate Ragsdill read with their son Ethan during Read to Me Day.

Last Friday, the first grade hosted their first annual “Read to Me” Day. Parents were invited to bring stuffed animals, blankets and books to read with their children in a celebration of reading!

The two first grade classes found quiet places in the sanctuary to read and spent an hour reading with their parents or teachers. The first grade school year is essential to a child’s reading development and parental involvement in reading instruction is a key factor in a child’s success.

What a wonderful way to start the school year and promote parental involvement in reading!

K4 student Will Driver enjoys some quiet time in the book center in Mrs. Hogue's classroom.

In the spring of 2010, Mr. Bennett challenged the elementary teachers to create two “memory maker activities” for each grade level.  One activity was to take place in the fall semester and one in the spring semester.  These activities were to be in addition to the usual class projects, field trips, parties and celebrations that take place during the year.  The only instructions given by Mr. Bennett were “the activities should be tied to something being studied in the classroom and allow the students to be creative, and have fun.”  The activities give the students an opportunity to take a break from the grind of everyday school assignments and enjoy a special moment in time with their classmates.  Listed below are the activities for fall semester.

Fall “Memory Makers”

2010

K3
Name:   Bear Hunt and Teddy Bear Party
Date:   September 2^nd
Time:   10 AM (about 1 hour)
Location:   All-over-the-building
Objective:   Children will learn where things are located in the building and learn about things that starts with the letter “B.”

K4
Name:   Book Character Day
Date:   October 28^th
Time:   9:30
Location:   Chapel
Objective:   Students will dress up like storybook characters.  They will develop a love for reading.

K5
Name:   Luau
Date:   September 17^th
Time:   9:00 – 10:30
Location:   Outside of Door #2
Objective:   Conclusion to the Ocean unit
Needed:   3 parent volunteers, sand, floral leis, food for snack-fruit, marshmallows, pretzel

1^st Grade
Name:   Reading Buddies Day
Date:   August 27^th
Time:   1:00 – 2:30
Location:   Sanctuary
Objective:   Parents partner with their children to read and spend time together in a relaxed atmosphere.

2^nd Grade
Name:    “The Obedience Play”
Date:    September 24^th
Time:   TBA (30 minutes)
Location:   Chapel
Objective:    Correlate with the study of the Ten Commandments
Needed:   Parents to help build props

3^rd Grade
Name:   Creating Paper Mache Animals
Date:   October 21-28
Time:   TBA (About 7 total hours)
Location:   In the Classroom
Objective:   To create animals showing why they fit in certain classes of species
Needs:   Flour, salt, water or liquid starch, newspaper, small balloons, masking tape, cardboard, tempera paint, brushes, and cups.  Several volunteer parents needed to assist with project.

4th Grade
Name:   Exploring the USA
Date:   November 12^th
Time:   1:00 – 3:00
Location:   Classroom
Objective:   To learn more about individual states and create a travel poster
Needs:   A few volunteer parents and computer teacher, poster board, pencils, paper, glue, scissors, markers, pictures, facts—students will collect items and bring to class.

5^th Grade
Name:   Speechmasters
Date:   November 1-7
Time:               45 minutes per day for 5 day (TBA)
Location:         Classroom
Objective:        To enhance writing and speaking skills.
Needs:             Mrs. Erwin will assist students with writing speeches and everyone will  participate in speechmasters “meetings”.  Props, forms, stopwatches provided by teacher.

6^th Grade
Name:              Tree Search
Date:               TBA (Week of September 20-24)
Time:               9:00 – 12:00
Location:         Down by the creek bank, CFLC game room,
Objective:        The students will able to identify different trees by characteristics of leaves.
Needs:             Tables, tape, sharpies, paper, bags, snacks, “journey of Life video” Leaf information for matching and disposable cameras.  The students will be divided into 3 groups.  The 3 groups will rotate between watching the “Journey of Life” video and eating snack, playing games in the game room and collecting and identifying leaves and trees along the creek bank.

There’ll be a silent auction with priceless gifts and live auction featuring vacations on a Cruise Boat, to white sandy beaches on the Gulf Coast and to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, at the palatial Four Seasons resort.  We’ll auction off one-of-a-kind works by Arkansas’ own world-class impressionists Barry Thomas and Pat Matthews.  You can even bid on guided duck hunt at the Old School Lodge in St. Charles, Arkansas.

All the proceeds from the Bash go to directly support the Arkansas Baptist Academic Program.  Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased by calling 658-3949.  Sponsorships are available.

The junior high Eagles offensive attack lead by 8^th grade quarterback Riley Perkins, 9^th grade running back Jack Hanson and receiver Blake Burgess gave the fans hope for a magical season. The junior Eagles have 32 players on the 8^th and 9^th grade team and another 18 players on the 7^th grade team.  Head Coach and

Arkansas Baptist Athletic Director Billy Goss said, “I like the effort I saw from these young players.  We have 7 more practices to get ready for our opening game.  We really need to work defensively on improving our tacking and running to the ball.  I feel good about this group.”

The varsity Eagles football team took the field after at the end of the junior high game.  The 29 man squad is young and inexperienced. However, the Class 3A Eagles gave the Class 4A Dragons all they wanted during the scrimmage.  First-year Head Coach Brad Helm and his assistant coaches were very excited about the effort shown on the field.

The defense looked much improved as the Eagles kept the Dragons out of the end zone during the scrimmage.  Coach Helm , “We are still learning what it takes day in and day out to be a championship style program.  Our players gave a great effort tonight, but we will need to be better in every phase of the game to beat Conway Christian in the opening game.”

The Eagles will be lead by a small but aggressive senior class.  These seniors will be counted on to provide the leadership needed to carry the Eagles into the play-offs.  They are: Daniel Amaro, Will Betzner, Harrison Files, Brandon Garner, Jonathan Moon, Markham Robertson, Greg Smith and Colin Sparks.

The varsity golf team opened their season in Conway with a tri-meet against Conway and Little Rock Central.  Arkansas Baptist shot a team score of 159 to tied Conway High School with Little Rock Central finishing a distance 2^nd with a 174.  Leading the way for Arkansas Baptist was defending over-all Arkansas High School State Champion Luke Carpenter.  Luke, along with James Simms, shot a 37 and Corbin Renner shot a 38 in the 9-hole contest.  The golf team is seeking their 4^th State Championship in the past five years.

The Cross-Country team is coached by Michale Flatt.  The team will run its’ first meet at Mills Park in Bryant on September 13^th.  Coach Flatt is new to Arkansas Baptist and is unsure of what to expect from his younger runners.

All our fall athletes need your support.  Please take the time to come out and watch some exciting sporting events.  All athletic schedules can be found on the school Web site under athletics.

Clay Brown shows off TootsieTail .

Clay Brown is sharing his pet, Tootsie Tail, with his class.  Tootsie Tail, a leopard gecko, moved into Mrs. Somers’ second grade classroom August 20. Tootsie Tail is at home in his fine aquarium that is decorated with a desert motif.

The students were fascinated as they watched their new pet enjoy a cricket breakfast.  Clay explained that Tootsie Tail was so named because his thick tail is “as big as a Tootsie Roll.”

So, I found myself on the golf course playing in Baptist Health’s “Bolo Bash Golf Tournament.” The day was not so much about golf as it was a history lesson.  Mr. Hagan wanted to make sure I understood how and why Arkansas Baptist was founded, and how it had impacted the lives of so many families.  Mr. Hagan told me of a Tuesday morning in 1980 when he and Dr. John Wright, who was then the Senior Pastor at Little Rock’s First Baptist Church, toured a seemingly empty church building.  As they walked through the facility, Mr. Hagan asked Dr. Wright what was missing.  For Mr. Hagan, the answer was simple — people. He told Dr. Wright, “We have this beautiful new facility, and only a few people use it during the week.”  Mr. Hagan had a dream for filling an empty facility with young people and children who would receive a Christian education. Thus, the Christian school we now love and cherish was born. Some 30 years later, the lives of so many have been impacted and changed because of leaders like Calvin Hagan, Dr. John Wright and countless others.

In my five-plus years at Arkansas Baptist School, so many parents of our graduates have told me that their return on investing in an Arkansas Baptist education has lived on beyond their child’s college years.  Our approach to education, grounded in developing faith, knowledge, wisdom and understanding, has a return that lives on beyond this life.  The bottom line: At Arkansas Baptist, preparing for the future begins anew every day through character development and renewing children’s minds.   Our wonderful students are taught to be God-centered in every decision they make.  That is a rich and wonderful living legacy.

Dr. Jim Lagrone, LRFBC Senior Pastor

Welcome Back!

On behalf of the School Board let me welcome you to an exciting new school year!  We are happy to serve and look forward to meeting you during the next several months.  Never hesitate to call or contact any of us.

My wife and I arrived home from a wonderful church service on a recent Sunday evening, it had cooled down to a balmy 117 but the a/c in my car was meeting my needs, to a garage door that would not open.  Our power had gone off and would not return until after midnight.  We then learned that neither of us had a house key in our possession.  Standing at a locked door without a key is not pleasant when it is 129 degrees outside.

Facing a new school year is like opening a door to new experiences and relationships.  Lessons will be learned.  Stress will be real. Victories will be won.  Challenges will rise.  Don’t forget to bring your key to success.  You do not want to be locked out!

Jim Lagrone
Senior Pastor