Graduate Arkansas -

Graduate Arkansas staff members visited the Laman Library in North Little Rock and donated over 20 prom dresses for students in need. While delivering the dresses, our staff had the pleasure of seeing the parent of one of our graduates. Thank you to the Laman Library for providing an opportunity for students to find their perfect attire for prom. Thank you also to Chenal Valley Church for supporting this effort and providing the dresses that allowed us to make this generous donation.

ATLAS Testing for English, Math, and Science kicks off next week! If you have not signed up for a testing date and location, please use the link below to sign up! Please reach out to your advisor for any questions or additional support! We look forward to seeing you next week! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFCC-oG3BTyI6tOfjzDhjR-T3JKV_wkbWEapE5bOtUvEmnng/viewform All participants will receive a gift card to one of the following restaurants: Sonic 🌭 McDonald's 🍔 Chick-fil-A 🐔 Burger King 👑 Wendy's 🍽️

Apply to the TOCA Online program by Wednesday, May 1! We're looking for high school students of color interested in learning languages and cultural exchange to apply for our next cohort of TOCA Online! Thanks to Qatar Foundation International and our TOCA community, our programs are zero-cost to students and families. In the TOCA Online program, students study Arabic, Spanish, or French, led by our NaTakallam Language Partners (LPs) dispersed throughout the world in Kenya 🇰🇪, Ghana 🇬🇭, Venezuela 🇻🇪, Uruguay 🇺🇾, Turkey 🇹🇷, and Jordan 🇯🇴. As a TOCA Online Language Fellow, students will: 🌍 📚 Study Arabic, French, or Spanish over the course of 10, two-hour classes (20 hours in total) taught by NaTakallam LPs throughout the world who are native speakers of their language. 🗣️ Take part in two Refugee Voices workshop sessions. 🌐 Participate in three virtual exchange sessions with youth based outside of the U.S. 📄 Develop a student community-based project plan. 💻 Take part in self-paced online course modules on topics such as understanding social identity; defining culture; non-verbal communication; exploring global interconnectedness; and more! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. All the best, Melquin Ramos Director of Virtual Initiatives melquin@teensofcolorabroad.org

Arkansas United is hosting Immigrant Integration Fairs on April 7th (reach out ASAP for this date) in Springdale and May 11th in Little Rock! These are excellent opportunities for immigrants in Arkansas to access valuable resources and services, completely free of charge. April 7th from 10am-2pm at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Springdale May 11th from 10am-2pm at Plaza Frida in Little Rock. Both fairs will feature: Legal navigation and a legal clinic Health screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes) and connections to care Assistance with obtaining an ITIN, filing taxes, and starting a small business Information on local job opportunities and resources for entrepreneurs Scholarships for DACA, Residency and Citizenship application fees Arkansas United will also be collecting any labor complaints to follow up on. Don't miss this chance to get support to reach your full potential! Want to get involved? Arkansas United is looking for volunteers and booth sponsors. Contact operations@arkansasunited.org or call (479) 763-2822 to learn how you can help. Please share widely and we hope to see you at one of these impactful events! Let's build a stronger, more integrated community together.

We are proud to have Assistant Principal Donesia Steward as a member of our education community, and we are grateful for the profound impact she makes daily. Her dedication to her role and her school serves as an inspiration to us all. Please join us in celebrating Assistant Principal Donesia Steward and all the incredible assistant principals who work tirelessly to support our students and schools. Your leadership and commitment to education are invaluable. Happy National Assistant Principal Week!

Check out the April issue of our "G.A. Today" newsletter.

We are heartbroken to share that over Spring Break, one of our student's homes caught fire, leaving their family in a difficult situation. They are in need of clothes and furniture to help rebuild their home and start anew. If you are able to donate gently used items or clothing, please drop them off at the school office or contact Mrs. Brittany Honeycutt (brittany.honeycutt@graduatearkansas.org) to arrange a pickup. Any help would be greatly appreciated as we rally around this family in their time of need. Thank you for your support and generosity during this challenging time.

Attention Graduate Arkansas Families, Spring Break is here! Our students will be on break from Monday, March 18th through Friday, March 22nd. Classes will resume on Monday, March 25th. We hope our students enjoy a fun, restful and safe week off. If you have any questions, please contact the school office at (501) 500-9270. Happy Spring Break!

Graduate Arkansas would like to thank Ms. Bridgett Edmondson from Bridges Workforce Solutions for speaking with our scholars about the workforce! Bridges Workforce Solutions is a workforce development program that provides training and development through real-world work experience to young adults ages 18-26 years old.

Are you planning to take the ACT in April, June, or July? TRIO EOC has an exclusive offer just for you! Students can use the promotional voucher code to receive a $5 discount on an upcoming test date. Hurry, this special offer is only available until March 24, 2024. That's not all! If you register for the April test, you will also get access to a FREE post-test event presented by Kaplan. Plus, you can purchase the Test Information Release (TIR) to help boost your test prep. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to save and excel on your ACT test. Register now and take advantage of these incredible benefits!

Testing week for 9th and 10th graders has officially kicked off! This week, students have been taking the ATLAS Writing Assessment, where they have had the opportunity to showcase their writing abilities. If you missed any of the testing days, please sign up for a make up day using the link below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgK3mIoJ0guSNAxIqNYKOj6YctJxsBu_QowpKoU5v6qzHsRA/viewform?usp=sf_link Please reach out to your advisor for any questions or additional support. We look forward to seeing you!

We celebrate March as School Breakfast Month to highlight the role that the USDA's School Breakfast Program plays in ensuring that all Arkansas students are healthy, active, and ready to learn every day so they can thrive.

IMPORTANT The ATLAS Writing Test will begin next week, March 4th-7th. This assessment is mandatory for all 9th and 10th graders. Please arrive on time to your testing location. If you have not signed up for a testing date, please use the link below to get registered for your test. https://forms.gle/hksocRGM7SGjNFW77 Students and parents, please reach out to your advisor if you have any questions or need any support. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Graduate Arkansas will be closed Monday, February 19, 2024 in observance of Presidents' Day.

Attention Juniors and Seniors Interested in Healthcare Careers! UAMS is offering an amazing summer program called HEALERS that provides hands-on healthcare experience for high school students. The program allows you to shadow medical professionals in various departments at UAMS and learn directly from them. Spaces are limited so make sure to apply soon before the deadlines hit! This is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in the healthcare field and help inform your future career decisions. Check out the HEALERS details and application at the link below: https://uamshealth.com/patients-and-guests/volunteer/volunteering-at-uams-medical-center/teen-programs/

Celebrating the legacy of Milton Pitts Crenchaw, a trailblazer in aviation and a significant figure in Black History in Arkansas. #BlackHistoryMonth #ArkansasHistory #LegacyofExcellence

Parents, be sure to check out the February issue of our "G.A. Today" newsletter.

Graduate Arkansas's Inclement Weather Make-Up Days Announced

Graduate Arkansas is hosting two Community Awareness Meetings on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 for parents and students aged 14-22. The meetings will provide information about our alternative learning programs for dropout prevention, credit recovery, and accelerated pathways to high school graduation. The first meeting is at 4:30pm at the Marianna Civic Center in Marianna, AR. The second meeting follows at 6:00pm at the Fellowship Community Church in Forrest City, AR. Graduate Arkansas will share details on who they serve and how their programs can provide individualized education options for students who learn differently. Interested parents and students can contact Graduate Arkansas by phone or email to learn more before attending.

Remembering the courage and resilience of the Little Rock Nine, whose bravery in the face of adversity paved the way for desegregation in education. Their legacy continues to inspire us to stand up for equality and justice. Happy Black History Month!