Families,
Interested in the Bobcat Academy? There are currently only 12 spots left for students in grades 3-5! Please follow the link and complete the pre-registration form now if your child wants to attend this FREE after school program.
https://forms.gle/JfydZb6fFtzAB9TZ6
Apply to be a substitute at #BobcatNation!
Dear Bobcat Staff,
The best school year yet is right around the corner! We are very excited to have everyone back on Monday, August 7th! We invite each of you to participate in the following “colors days” to symbolize a unified staff and add some fun to the week.
Sara Girkin is entering her 11th year teaching in public school; seven of those years were at Berryville teaching 10th & 12th grade English. She has also homeschooled and been a volunteer teacher at co-ops for 5 years. Ms. Girkin will be teaching 9th and 11th grade English this year. Let’s welcome her to the Bobcats!
Ms. Girkin’s daughter, Adriana, will be entering 9th grade at BHS. They have a boxer named Drax. Most of their family lives in this area, so they are happy to be back home!
“I taught in Prague, Czech Republic my first year of teaching. I have loved living and traveling all over the U.S and Europe and believe everyone should take the opportunity to travel if they can, “ Ms. Girkin said. She also enjoys kayaking, gardening, reading, cooking, attending church, spending time with friends and family. When asked why she chose education as a career path, she said, “Growing up I was inspired by those teachers who were passionate about learning, cared about their students, and challenged them to get out of their comfort zone and grow; I strive to be that teacher for my kids.”
We are excited to have Ms. Girkin join our team this year!
Complete your child's meal application and be entered into a drawing!
Get ready to welcome Larisa Laguna to the Berryville School District! Ms. Laguna will be teaching ESL at the middle school. She was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and recently graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith. Larisa loves spending time with her family. She has two girls and two boys of her own and also has four sisters and two brothers. “We are a very tight knit family and almost every weekend we spend precious time together.”
Ms. Laguna’s hobbies are reading books and art. She loves to draw, paint, garden, and spend time outdoors. A fact about Larisa is that she went through the education system as an ESL student. “I can personally relate to many of our students’ struggles. I have made it my mission in life to help and positively affect as many lives as possible,” she stated. Larisa chose education because “this is a career that provides the opportunity and privilege to impact and make a difference in the lives of our children and young adults. I also chose this career because it will give me an opportunity to continue to learn and grow as a person.” Welcome to Berryville, Ms. Laguna! We are glad you’re here!
New! This year, families are able to submit the Free and Reduced Meal Application online.
https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application?identifier=FPYUZY
The 2023-24 Free and Reduced Applications that can be printed are linked here:
English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZHV0kusRfFNMVVs1Sj7HQ3_dTGKr9s0Y/view?usp=drive_link
Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZXsqV73KR3gsgGArZLB4bqc_F7JAIsHk/view?usp=drive_link
Apply to be a substitute at #BobcatNation!
We're thrilled to announce the new app for Berryville Public Schools! It's everything Berryville Public Schools, in your pocket.
Download for Android https://bit.ly/3ID3V14
Download for iPhone https://apple.co/41BWFex
Students who are new to the Berryville School District should enroll on August 3rd.
🏫 All Open House and Student Orientation events will be scheduled for August 10. Each school will post details on their Facebook Pages before August 1.
⭐️Many of our office staff do not return to work until August 1.
Cole Moix, a Harrison native, will be the new Choir and Music teacher in Berryville this year. Welcome to the Bobcats!
Mr. Moix graduated from Henderson State University and said he wanted to teach in the area because his mom and sister are close by. He also has a cat, Juno, who keeps him company at home. Moix enjoys taking landscapes while hiking and is known for singing on a regular basis. When writing a fun or unique fact about himself, Mr. Moix said, “my pinky fingers are double jointed!”
He chose education because of his choir directors and having the desire to provide a musical experience for students that’s similar to what he had when he was in school.
We are excited to have Mr. Moix on our team!
Let’s welcome Ms. Cecilia Doss to the classroom! Cecilia will be teaching 8th grade math at the middle school this year.
An Arkansas State University graduate, Ms. Doss enjoys running, playing music, watching any and all sports events, and ministering to youth at church. “I am currently training for a triathlon! I can also play the piano, guitar, and percussion. I am also an ardent Kansas City Chiefs fan,” Doss said when asked about her interests.
She chose education because of the reward it can bring. “It is one of the most rewarding things to be able to help someone grow and mature on their learning journey. Being a teacher gives me the opportunity to do this, while also growing alongside my students every step of the way!”
Join us in welcoming Ms. Doss!
All staff members return to school on August 7! Businesses/individuals wishing to donate to the staff give-away drawings that will be held that day need to drop off items by August 1 to the central office or high school office. Thank you for supporting our teachers and staff!
Apply to be a substitute at #BobcatNation!
Great news for #BobcatNation ! Tonight, the school board of education approved purchasing school supplies for students. Students and their families will still be responsible for organizational items such as backpacks, trapper keepers, etc... Elementary students will need to purchase headphones. They can be purchased at school for $5. Intermediate students bringing water bottles need to use clear bottles.
Contact information is provided on the bottom of the form if you need additional information.
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Samantha Burke was raised in Berryville where she attended school, K-12. She is a college graduate of the University of the Ozarks. Welcome back home, Ms. Burke!
She chose education because “every single day is an opportunity to grow and learn more. I love the prospect that there might be more for me to know than yesterday. I hope to inspire more kids to become lifelong learners and never shy away from curiosity. I am so excited to touch these babies minds and hearts. I can’t wait to learn just as much from these kiddos as they learn from me!” Samantha will teach kindergarten. In her spare time, she likes to do yoga, dance, hike, attend music festivals and spend time with friends and family. She says, “I am a fur mama of my adorable tabbie T’Challa and my big Rottweiler, Saber.”
Ms. Burke doesn’t have children of her own, but she does have a little brother going to first grade this year. “He is my pride and joy, and I’m so excited to be closer to him as he continues to grow as a learner.” Join us as we welcome Ms. Burke back into the Bobcat family!
We have a new high school counselor to welcome onboard! Micki Marshall is a member of First Baptist Church of Valley Springs and serves as the Sunday School secretary. She also helps out with Wednesday night children’s programs and Vacation Bible School in a similar role. “If I am not at church or school, I am probably watching sports somewhere. The thrill of competition, whether high school or college, excites me. Post season play is my favorite. I hope to travel more in the future. There are so many places that I would like to visit. Two of my favorite places that I have been to are Pike’s Peak in Colorado and on the beach at Destin, Florida.”
Ms. Marshall comes to Berryville with 24 years of experience---15 in the classroom and nine as a counselor. She is a University of Arkansas graduate and holds a Counseling and Leadership master’s from Arkansas Tech University. “In the counselor role, I love to help students discover what they want to be after high school and help them achieve that goal.”
She is an avid Razorback fan and also enjoys photography and crafting. “I like to make t-shirts and hope to expand my crafting expertise in other areas.” A unique fact Ms. Marshall shared was that she believes she might be the only person in the history of the game Monopoly to break her collar bone while playing the game. “It involved being five and leaning a little bit too far back in my chair,” she said. Welcome to Berryville, Ms. Marshall!
Apply to be a substitute at #BobcatNation!
Public Release Statement for Free and Reduced Meals linked below
The applications will be available online this year. We will post the online application on August 1. (You will still be able to complete a paper application when you enroll your child or during open house events.)
English - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YvEsyAelcyPMEeps-7qMnJiCV2OcBEw3/view?usp=drive_link
Spanish - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z2t0Y9yYrA-QtSXjM0QMudATp5qzt0xN/view?usp=drive_link
