Gravette Upper Elementary

📚 Join us for a family night focused on how to beat the “Summer Slide” before it begins. Families are invited to learn practical ways to support reading and math at home this summer, with bonus tips woven into backyard-style games and a community kickball match! 📅 Tuesday, May 6, 2025 ⏰ 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM 📍 Gravette Upper Elementary Cafeteria and Playground The concept of the summer slide has been on researchers’ radar since at least 1996, when one of the first comprehensive studies on the phenomenon was published. The study showed that kids lose significant knowledge in reading and math over summer break, which tends to have a snowball effect as they experience subsequent skill loss each year. A more recent study of children in 3rd to 5th grades also showed that students lost, on average, about 20 percent of their school-year gains in reading and 27 percent of their school-year gains in math during summer break. This event makes learning feel like play while giving parents easy, everyday tools to help their children retain academic skills through the summer. Don’t slide back, step up! 🦁🧡 #LionPride #GravetteSchools

Yesterday, on National Administrative Professionals Day, Michelle Newbill was honored with the A Cut Above award and a surprise visit from the school board at Gravette Upper Elementary! Last month, staff were invited to nominate a colleague who stands out in the 3 A’s: Attendance (reliable and present), Attitude (brings a positive spirit), and Action (goes the extra mile). Michelle was recognized by several coworkers who spoke to her steady leadership in the front office and her ability to juggle responsibilities that keep the entire building on track. The nomination reads, “Michelle juggles so many responsibilities and never misses a beat. She helps in so many ways, and always puts others first.” Her reliability and knowledge of the building have made her the go-to person for so many over the years. Her award, a custom metal plaque, was designed and built by Mr. Malott and his students in the Gravette High School Agricultural Science workshop. Precision-cut, welded, and hand-painted, each plaque is a one-of-a-kind keepsake that honors the excellence we see in our staff every day. Thank you, Michelle, for being A Cut Above! 🦁 #LionPride

🥚 The Easter Bunny stopped by with something sweet, joining our team to make the day complete! With goodies in hand and joy all around, the Courtesy Committee shared appreciation abound. Staff were surprised with sweet treats and smiles, thank you, Courtesy Committee for going the extra mile. Our staff is supported for all that they do, we’re grateful for a team that always comes through. Then the Bunny played kickball before hopping away, and spread joy all around to cap off the day! 🦁🧡 #LionPride #GravetteSchools

👟 Families and kids are invited to join Newsong Church and Samaritan’s Feet for an Easter celebration, where children can receive new shoes and socks, enjoy bounce houses, games, lunch, drinks, and snacks (weather permitting) 📅 Saturday, April 19, 2025 ⏰ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 📍 Newsong Church 1690 Gamble Rd., Centerton, AR 72719 Samaritan’s Feet is a 501(c)(3) organization that serves and inspires hope by providing shoes as the foundation for a spiritual and healthy life. Thanks to the generosity of our community members and organizations, students of Gravette Schools may have the option to accept a new pair of athletic shoes and new socks. Please note: This is a first-come, first-served opportunity for students who did not register for shoe sizes by April 15, 2025.

🎵 The 5th grade musical program "We Celebrate America" is coming up next week! All 5th grade students from Gravette Upper Elementary will take the stage to honor the spirit and history of our nation. 📅 Thursday, April 17, 2025 ⏰ 6:00 PM (Students arrive by 5:50) 📍 Gravette High School Performing Arts Center Students should wear red, white, and blue to help bring the patriotic theme to life. Let’s come together to support our students as they sing, speak, and shine in celebration of America! 🦁🧡 #LionPride #GravetteSchools

🎉 The winner of our raffle basket from today’s Breakfast and Books event at Gravette Upper Elementary is Hayden from Mrs. Roach’s 3rd grade class! Thanks to everyone who joined us this morning and supported our Courtesy Committee. 🍪📚🦁 #LionPride #GravetteSchools

🍪 During our Breakfast and Books event on Tuesday, April 8 from 8:00–9:00 AM, we’ll also be hosting a Bake Sale and Basket Raffle to support our Courtesy Committee. Bring cash or pay with Zelle to grab a treat, enter the raffle, and shop the book fair with your student, all in one stop! 🦁 Sweeten your Tuesday morning at Gravette Upper Elementary! All proceeds go directly to supporting our school. We appreciate your generosity! #LionPride #GravetteSchools

🥚 Ozark Community Hospital is hosting an Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt to support community healthcare! Join the Gravette community for a special Easter Brunch hosted by Ozarks New Hope to raise funds for Ozarks Community Hospital’s new radiology equipment. 📅 Sunday, April 20, 2025 🕗 Brunch: 8 AM – 1 PM 🐣 Egg Hunt: 1 PM 📍 OCH Annex, 1101 Jackson Street SW, Gravette, AR 🎟️ $10 per person — cash, check, or card accepted. 💝 All proceeds benefit Ozarks Community Hospital. Ozarks New Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting the health and well-being of our region through funding for local clinics, hospitals, and caregivers. Come enjoy good food and family fun while making a difference in our community!

📚 Don’t miss out on the upcoming book fair at Gravette Upper Elementary! It’s happening next week, April 7-11, during school hours. 🦁 Plus, join us for Breakfast and Books on Tuesday, April 8 from 8:00-9:00 AM. Parents can shop with their kids during this special event! If you didn’t RSVP, you’re still welcome to shop, but please note that breakfast will only be available for those who RSVP'd as the grocery order has already been placed. 📖 Shop online anytime! Our online fair is open now: https://www.gravetteschools.net/guebookfair We look forward to seeing you at the fair! #LionPride #GravetteSchools

📢 Summer Opportunity! Camp War Eagle’s Mobile Day Camp is coming to Decatur at the end of June! This is a great chance for kids to experience fun activities, make new friends, and enjoy a summer camp close to home. From Mrs. Pitts at GUE, a Camp War Eagle Ambassador! Visit https://www.campwareagle.com for more information.

🍎 Gravette Upper Elementary is now accepting nominations for this year's Teacher of the Year awards. https://www.gravetteschools.net/toty25gue Our school and other schools in the district will recognize one exceptional teacher, and one district winner will go on to represent us in the Arkansas Teacher of the Year competition. Nominees must have at least three years of teaching experience in Gravette and must not have won in the past four years. Tell us why you nominated your teacher! Submit your nomination by April 11, 2025 at https://www.gravetteschools.net/toty25gue #LionPride #GravetteSchools

🎉 Gravette Upper Elementary students cashed in their PBIS points for a glow-tastic time at the 3rd quarter reward party. Points are earned throughout the quarter for positive behavior and good choices, and students can spend them on special rewards like this one. Hard work lit up the room—and so did they! 🧡🦁 #LionPride #GravetteSchools

☀️ Tomorrow, students at Gravette Upper Elementary can "Spring Into Break" with a fun dress-up day! Break out your favorite vacation or school-appropriate beach attire: Hawaiian shirts, sunglasses, sun hats, flip-flops, or even a full tourist look with a camera and fanny pack. Let’s send off the season in style before Spring Break begins! 🌸🏝️ #LionPride #GravetteSchools

🎨 Art Show Tonight! Gravette students from every grade have been working for months on their masterpieces, and we're excited to see the community come out and support these kids! See you tonight from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the Event Center @ Ozark Community Hospital.

🎨 Don't forget: The Gravette Schools Art Show is this Thursday! Our students have been working hard, and now it’s time to celebrate their creativity! 📅 Thursday, March 13 ⏰ 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM 📍 Event Center @ Ozark Community Hospital Come see the work they’ve created and show your support for our student artists! More details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/3038709192954217 🖼️ See you there! #LionPride 🧡

NOTICE: 21C After School Program will be closed on Tuesday, March 18th, and Thursday, March 20th, for Parent Teacher Conferences.

It's time for the March Staff of the Month! Each month, we recognize staff members whose work shapes the daily experience of our students, and who make Gravette Upper Elementary a better place by being here! This month, we’re celebrating: Certified Staff of the Month: 👏 Steven Smith (Music Teacher) Bringing energy and creativity to the classroom, you help students find their rhythm and confidence. Thank you for sharing the joy of music every day! 🎶 Classified Staff of the Month: 👏 Carissa Lewallen (Paraprofessional) Your support in the classroom makes a real difference for students and teachers alike. Thank you for the patience, care, and encouragement you bring to each day! Help us celebrate them in the comments! 🎉🦁 #StaffOfTheMonth #LionPride

Congratulations to our March 🏅 Leaders of the Month! 🏅 Olympia, Keira, Teegan, and Jenna were recognized at the March assembly for demonstrating Habit 6: Synergy! These students show how working together creates better results than working alone. They set a great example for their peers by valuing teamwork, respecting different perspectives, and combining the strengths of everyone involved. As a reward for their leadership, each honoree received a free Sonic slush. Great job, leaders! Working together makes our schools stronger. 🦁🧡 #LionPride

🎨✨ Gravette Upper Elementary students have been hard at work, creating art they can’t wait to share at the District Art Show this coming Thursday! Each piece reflects their creativity, effort, and fledgling experimentation for self-expression. Students have spent months learning about famous artists, color theory, and technique, discovering their own ways to make their artwork unique. Mrs. Knuckles has worked with every class to share her knowledge and passion for the arts, and our kids are ready for their time to shine! The Gravette Schools Art Show will be their moment! Come celebrate the talent of GUE artists on Thursday, March 13, from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Event Center @ Ozark Community Hospital. Let’s show these young artists how much their work matters! Check out the event on Facebook with this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/3038709192954217 🖼️ See you there! #LionPride 🧡

We had such a great time at our March Assembly today! The festivities kicked off with a celebration of students who embodied February’s Habit of the Month: Synergy! Because when we work together, we go further. March’s Habit of the Month was revealed to be: Sharpen the Saw. It's a reminder to take care of ourselves, find balance, and keep growing! Then, we counted up the Pop Top Drop totals from last month, and wow our students CAN crush it when it comes to collecting pop tabs! ♻️👏 🥉 3rd Grade: 11,551 🥈 4th Grade: 20,001 🥇 5th Grade: 28,352 We also welcomed our Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) to the stage! These great dads will be at our schools in their yellow shirts, helping out and making a positive impact. To top it all off, the students who earned the most Lexia units got a sweet reward: pieing teachers in the face! 🥧😂 Shoutout to Mr. McVay, Mrs. Taylor, and Mrs. Boyd for being such great sports! What a way to start the month! Keep up the hard work, Lions! 🧡🦁 #LionPride