To the Members of ASMSA’s Community of Learning:
For the second year in a row, ASMSA is excited to join other member institutions within the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS) to participate in the Challenge Success Stanford Survey of Adolescent School Experiences. Challenge Success is a research study on students’ social, emotional, and physical well-being, as well as on students’ educational goals and their views on the academic climate and expectations at their school and at home.
This special cohort presents an important opportunity for ASMSA not only to better understand the needs of our student population but also to benchmark our growth in a variety of areas to that of the schools most like us throughout the country. The survey provides important insights related to a variety of projects that serve to improve and strengthen the overall student experience and climate at ASMSA.
Assessing and understanding the climate of a school is crucial for ensuring a positive learning environment for students and a supportive workplace for faculty and staff. The climate of a school refers to the collective beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of the people who make up the school community, including students, teachers, administrators, and parents.
Simply put, a positive school climate promotes academic success. When students feel safe, supported, and included in their school environment, they are more likely to engage in learning and achieve their full potential. Research has shown that a positive school climate is associated with improved academic performance, reduced absenteeism, and increased graduation rates. Secondly, a positive school climate supports social and emotional development. Students spend a significant portion of their day in school, and their interactions with peers and adults can significantly impact their social and emotional well-being. A school with a positive climate provides students with a sense of belonging, promotes positive relationships, and supports their social-emotional learning.
By prioritizing the development of a positive school climate, schools can create a culture of respect, collaboration, and support, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for all members of the school community. The challenges of the past few years resulting from the pandemic have finally brought student well-being to the forefront of the minds of educators across the country. Without a doubt, being a teenager is stressful. Those natural stressors are magnified at times through the demands of the ASMSA experience. That makes it all-the-more important that we strive to support, nurture, and listen to their needs each step of the way.
Sincerely,
Corey Alderdice ASMSA Director
Office of the Director
March 2022 Quarterly Report
Corey Alderdice, ASMSA DirectorBy the Numbers
• April 14, 2023, will mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of Act 1305 of 2003. The bill both established ASMSA as a campus of the University of Arkansas System as well as adding “fine and performing arts” to the School’s legislated mission.
• More than 30 alumni attended a mixer event in northwest Arkansas in late February. The Association for Alumni and Friends is planning an Alumni Day at the Races at Oaklawn on Saturday, April 29th .
• ASMSA’s 29th Commencement Ceremony honoring the Class of 2023 will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 4 p.m. at Bank OZK Arena in the Hot Springs Convention Center.
94th Arkansas General Assembly
Members of the Arkansas General Assembly convened in January for the biennial legislative to consider bills and appropriations for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Senate Bill 144, an Act for the University of Arkansas System and Various Divisions (including ASMSA), has been filed but has not yet been considered by the Joint Budget Committee.
Preliminary budget planning will begin later this month for FY24. Year to date reports from the Department of Finance and Administration indicate strong sales and use tax collections, which account for the majority of ASMSA’s funding under the Educational Excellence Trust Fund. This should result in a net increase in funding, which will not only allow for employee merit salary increases but also for the school to keep up with the costs of products, services, utilities, and other contracts due to inflation.
Much attention and discussion has been given to the Senate Bill 294, also known as the LEARNS Act. This legislation has been the signature cause of Governor Sanders and has the majority of members in each chamber signed on as co-sponsors for the bill. The Senate has offered preliminary approval of the bill, though has requested amendments for clarity be made in the House. Passage is expected by the middle of the month. While the majority of issues addressed in the bill have little bearing on ASMSA, the potential for continued growth in online learning that has been a part of the School’s activity and mission since 1999 is of particular note.
While the legislation raises the base salaries for teachers statewide to $50,000, the potential impact on district salary schedules is unclear. Representatives of ASMSA’s various affinity groups have requested legislators include ASMSA faculty in these discussions. Because the state’s commitment in new funding is only to raising the base which ASMSA already exceeds additional support is unlikely. A copy of the letter sent to members is attached to this report.
SB294 is only an outline of the themes and programs inherent in the LEARNS platform. There will be a variety of other appropriation bills, such as that for ADE, that must receive a ¾ majority of each chamber for passage. A fiscal impact statement was filed by ADE that
estimates the first-year cost of the program at just under $300 million, with only half of that figure being “new” monies from the state. The second-year costs will be $343 million, with $250 million of that amount as new money. Critically, year three costs including full availability of the Education Freedom Accounts to all families were not supplied in the fiscal impact statement.
Facilities and Campus Master Planning
Site work is now underway for the construction of the new Campus Administration Building. While the contractor estimates completion of the approximately 11,000 square foot project by the end of 2023, campus leadership is taking a cautious approach to the timeline and is targeting completion in late March 2024. This would provide appropriate time to transition offices to the new facility, refurbish the first floor of the current Academic and Administration Building for faculty, and relocate their offices from the Pine Street Wing of the hospital complex by the end of May 2024. The goal is to return to the hospital complex to the City of Hot Springs on June 30, 2024.
Work is nearing completion on the renovation of two rooms in the Student Center into an apartment for the Assistant Dean for Student Life. The lack of a true apartment space with a kitchen has been a significant challenge for recruitment and retention of ASMSA’s senior-most live-in position. With the selection of Dr. Colin Jno-Finn last summer, campus leadership made a commitment to improve the space to recognize the importance of this professional position.
Work will begin shortly on three enhancements to the current Academic and Administration Building. Seale Construction submitted the low bid to the replace the roof on the building. A contract has also been signed to modernize the fire monitoring and alarm system in the building. Per the request of the Governing Council, new plumbing will be installed to replace the existing water fountains throughout the building with modern bottle filling stations. The estimated cost of that project is $18,000 and will be completed in the coming months. In all, the School and City of Hot Springs have invested nearly $1 million over the past three years in ensuring the future viability of ASMSA’s primary academic building. Campus leadership is working with the City of Hot Springs and University of Arkansas System to transfer the building to the System at the May 2023 meeting.
ASMSA is exploring a potential purchase of the former Mountain Valley Warehouse building located on the interior of the ASMSA campus adjacent to the Student Center along Cedar Street. The building could serve as potential gymnasium and fitness center after renovations. An estimated cost for such as renovation is unclear at this time but will be considered as part of the 2030 Campus Facilities Plan.
ASMSA receives $100K grant from Oaklawn Foundation for Selig Hall Auditorium
The School announced a $100,000 grant from the Oaklawn Foundation during a ceremony in February held on the school’s campus. The grant was dedicated for the Selig Hall Auditorium as part of a $5.5 million restoration of the former St. Joseph Hospital convent and chapel complex, which was completed in September 2022, converting the spaces into additional residential housing for students, a campus mental health hub with offices for professional counseling staff, a new student union, and an auditorium. The renovated facility is named in honor of former Hot
Springs Mayor Helen Selig, who was among the earliest and most vocal proponents of bringing the school to the city.
The Oaklawn Foundation has previously supported projects at ASMSA, including making a $300,000 grant in December 2016 that was used toward the construction of the $4.5 million Creativity and Innovation Complex, the first new academic building constructed on campus in the school’s history.
Blue and You Foundation Grant to Develop Campus Farm and “Green Space”
ASMSA received a $75,000 grant from the Blue and You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas that will allow the school to develop a health education curriculum that integrates several subject areas. The curriculum will include STEM fields, farm-to-school activities, and hands-on agricultural experiences to expose students to new and healthier food options. ASMSA will use the grant to also purchase a vertical hydroponic system to create an on-campus farm. As students learn about ways to better incorporate a healthier lifestyle through better nutrition, they will use the vertical towers to grow food which can be used in the school’s cafeteria as well as with student programs in the community kitchen located in Selig Hall. ASMSA’s Outreach Department will invite school districts statewide to bring younger students for field trips to campus for a hands-on experience as well as incorporate the farm into the institution’s summer camp program. The Blue and You Foundation is a charitable foundation established and funded by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield to promote better health in Arkansas.
Faculty Honored in First Advancement Cycle
Fourteen faculty members at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts have earned promotions through the school’s new Faculty Advancement Plan. The Faculty Advancement Plan is designed to empower faculty members to reach their full potential through goal-setting and recognition of excellence. In addition to developing depth within their content area, the plan emphasizes breadth and balance across three domains academic, service, and professional achievements. It provides a financial benefit for those who complete the process.
The plan establishes three faculty ranks Instructor, Instructor of Distinction, and Instructor of Excellence. Instructor is the entry-level rank for all new full-time faculty members. Instructors may apply for either of the higher ranks by attaining points based on a rubric that takes into account the faculty members’ campus involvement and accomplishments both within and outside of the classroom.
Faculty base salary is determined by the level of degree they hold upon being hired $47,000 for a bachelor’s degree, $53,000 for a master’s degree and $60,000 for a doctoral degree.
By earning higher ranks, educators may increase their base pay by as much as $10,000. Faculty members who attain the Instructor of Distinction designation have an additional $5,000 added to their base salary. Those who earn the Instructor of Excellence rank receive an additional $5,000. An educator may forgo the Instructor of Distinction rank and apply directly for Instructor of Excellence, which requires additional points in the rubric, and earn a $10,000 increase in their base salary. As many school districts struggle with teacher shortages, the Faculty Advancement
Plan is a proactive approach to ensure ASMSA’s faculty compensation remains competitive on the state and national level.
Discussions on the development of a Faculty Advancement Plan began about three years ago. ASMSA’s enabling legislation previously stated that teachers could not hold tenure nor rank. Act 354 of 2021 of the Arkansas General Assembly struck the language about rank. The ASMSA Governing Council subsequently began work on developing a draft plan for the program. Through the work of a select committee, the plan was completed, submitted to the University of Arkansas System for direction and comment, and later approved by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees at its May 2022 meeting. Faculty members were able to submit an application for consideration for the first time this fall. Application deadlines were September 1, and each one was considered by the Faculty Advancement Committee.
The committee approved promotions for 14 faculty members to be considered for the rank of Instructor of Excellence. Those promotions were approved by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees at its November meeting. Faculty members who were granted the rank of Instructor of Excellence, their highest degree, and their department included:
• Carl Frank, Master of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science;
• Caleb Grisham, Master of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science;
• Whitney Holden, Ph.D., Science;
• Bryan Ieamsang, Master of Arts, Arts and Humanities;
• James Katowich, Master of Fine Arts, Arts and Humanities;
• Dan Kostopulos, Ph.D., Arts and Humanities;
• Patrycja Krakowiak, Ph.D., Science;
• Walt Levisee, Master of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science;
• Ron Luckow, Master of Arts, Arts and Humanities;
• Nicholas Seward, Master of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science;
• Shane Thompson, Master of Science, Science;
• Jack Waddell, Ph.D., Science;
• Lindsey Waddell, Ph.D., Science; and
• Brad Wreyford, Master of Fine Arts, Arts and Humanities.
Special Project Workgroups to Address Campus Needs and Opportunities
There are several projects on the horizon for ASMSA that will benefit from the diverse talents, perspectives, and expertise of our faculty and staff. Faculty and staff were invited to express their interest in assisting the following groups in the months ahead. Some employees were asked to join specific groups based on the core roles at ASMSA though campus leadership wanted participation to be as inclusive as possible across these discussions. Groups may also be asked to present their work to the four Governing Council Committees should there be overlap.
Campus Safety Plan: With a renewed interest nationwide in school safety and recent recommendations from an Arkansas panel of professionals, the time has come to take a fresh look at campus safety. In addition to reviewing policies and procedures, the group is invited to make recommendations on additional training, equipment, or other resources that ensure the
safety of our students and employees. Dr. Rheo Morris and Dean Flynn will co-chair this working group.
Early Entrance (Sophomore) Pilot Review: ASMSA will admit our fifth cohort of students this spring through the Early Entrance Pilot program. As we begin planning for the next recruitment cycle and exiting the pilot stage, input on the program to date, admissions requirements, and overall goals for sophomore entry will be beneficial. Bret Vallun and Jason Hudnell will cochair this working group.
2030 Facilities Plan: The Campus Administration Building is the final major project that allows ASMSA to exit the former hospital complex and complete the first phase of the campus transformation originally envisioned in 2008. As we begin to think about life post-hospital as well as deviations from the 2008 plan, input is needed to set priorities for the next stages in the redevelopment of campus and, by extension, downtown Hot Springs. Director Alderdice will chair this working group.
2024 Solar Eclipse: April 8, 2024, will be a big day for Hot Springs with the community and other parts of the state in the path of totality. Various community groups are already working on plans that are expected to welcome thousands of visitors to town. Because of our commitment and expertise in STEM education, ASMSA has an opportunity to help participate and even lead statewide efforts for this event. Dr. Brian Monson will chair this working group.
30th Anniversary Committee: Stakeholders will begin to see elements of the 30th Anniversary celebration roll out over the coming weeks. As the school celebrates this milestone occasion, we want to ensure all parts of the community of learning past, present, and future are part of the festivities. Nia Rieves will chair this working group.
Hudnell Named Director of Admissions
Jason Hudnell has been selected to serve as ASMSA’s Director of Admissions Hudnell previously served as the Director of Athletics at National Park College in Hot Springs from 2016-22, while also acting as head men's basketball coach for three of those seasons (2017-20) in addition to being Dean of Enrollment. Hudnell earned his undergraduate degree from Ouachita Baptist University and a Master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Arkansas Tech University.
Governing Council
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts
200 Whittington Ave
Hot Springs, AR 71901
To the Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen of the Arkansas Legislature:
With the recommendation in front of the 94th Arkansas General Assembly to raise salaries of K-12 educators across the state by as much as $4,000 – a welcome step amidst a national landscape of dwindling support for teachers across the board – we hope that the Legislature would consider the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts in any discussions surrounding base compensation adjustments for K-12 instructional faculty.
There are numerous things that make ASMSA a unique institution, one set apart from other high schools in the state: our rigorous curriculum taught by our talented, dedicated, highlyqualified faculty; our place as a statewide, residential high school available to high-achieving and high-potential students; and, a center for continued training for teachers across the state through our outreach. Also unique about the institution is its funding model. We are not recipients of standard millage formulas available to other ADE-supervised school districts in the state, and we are funded through the University of Arkansas System appropriation
This uniqueness means we are not considered part of the “traditional” K-12 system, and we do not receive per-pupil funding. Any base pay increases, merit bonuses, and the like, would originate from within the institution’s exiting operational budget and funds. The best approach to underwrite continued salary support for our outstanding, accomplished faculty would be an ad hoc adjustment to ASMSA’s Revenue Stabilization Act allocation. Doing so would match anticipated salary needs going forward.
ASMSA serves as a beacon and exemplar for the state of Arkansas as ASMSA’s students represent a vast majority of Arkansas’s counties These are excellent, engaged students who deserve the best and strongest possible educational experiences in a unique residential environment. In order to continue to attract and maintain faculty members who are experienced, published, and innovative scientists and engineers, faculty members who are award-winning and published scholars, artists, writers, composers, and performers, and inveterate educators committed to lifelong learning themselves, we must ensure that base salaries remain competitive with statewide K-12 salaries.
We, the Governing Council of ASMSA – a governing and advisory body representing the collective faculty and staff throughout the institution – along with the leaders of ASMSA’s campus affinity groups, request the 94th Arkansas General Assembly assist the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts to remain a unique institution and beacon of excellence by supporting fair teacher compensation in line with other high schools throughout Arkansas and the mid-South region. We look forward to working with our legislative delegation and the Legislature in total to help ASMSA remain a crown jewel in the Diamond State.
Cordially, we remain,
Dr. Thomas Dempster, Faculty and Staff Governing Council President Tim Barnes, Chair, ASMSA Board of VisitorsTricia Curreri, ASMSA Foundation Fund Board of Ambassadors Chair
Amy Stvartak ('10), Association for Alumni and Friends of ASMSA Chair
Dr. John Kyle Day, Parents Advisory Council Chair
Talana Small ('23), Student Government Association President
Corey Alderdice, ASMSA Director
Members of the ASMSA Governing Council
Academic Affairs
March 2023 Quarterly Report
Stuart Flynn, Dean of Academics
Employees reported back to campus on January 3rd for a week of professional development, and we delayed meeting classes until January 9th to help limit possible Covid transmissions that might have occurred over the Christmas holiday. Fortunately, we did not experience the spike in transmissions that we saw in January 2022, and only a few staff and students quarantined as a result, with no one missing significant time away from campus As we continue to assess the changes to educational processes brought on by Covid, ASMSA’s Teaching & Learning Committee has focused discussions on how, in the future, we might serve students and families who seek options for virtual instruction, including the possibility of offering virtual AP courses. We plan to build and develop those courses over the next twelve months.
By the Numbers
• Six National Merit Scholarship finalists.
• Three student qualifiers for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
• 113 students took the ACT on-campus on February 28th .
• 4 students were named U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates.
Science Fair
On February 23rd and 24th, ASMSA hosted the West Central Regional Science Fair in person for the first time in two years. Science Fair represents the culmination of our STEM students’ research projects, and students competed for seventeen special awards and twelve category awards: Animal Science, Behavioral and Social Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical, Engineering: Materials & Bioengineering, Environmental Science, Medicine & Health Science, Microbiology, Physics/Astronomy, and Plant Science. Fifty-two ASMSA students received recognition for their research projects.
Accreditation Review
On Friday, March 3, ASMSA hosted representatives from our concurrent credit partner, the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS), and the lead reviewer with the Higher Learning Commission. ASMSA academic leadership began preparing for the visit in September and worked closely with UAFS academic leadership to organize the visit and ensure thoroughness in our meetings and written responses. HLC’s visit to campus included meetings with ASMSA administrators, instructors, students, and staff and will also involve follow-up meetings between ASMSA and UAFS academic leadership as we continue developing the concurrent partnership.
Academic Job Searches
Searches are currently in progress for new instructors in Foreign Language, Chemistry, Multimedia and Digital Arts, and Music Finalists for the Foreign Language position were on campus February 23rd and March 2nd , and we interviewed a Chemistry candidate on February 28th. We are still in the process of reviewing applications for Multimedia and Digital Arts and
Music. Campus visits include meetings with Human Resources and the Dean of Academics, a second interview with respective hiring committees, lunch with departmental representatives, and presentations to students and faculty. These searches reflect recent retirements, continued growth of our academic programs, and the need to expand our faculty to offer students even broader opportunities for academic exploration.
Student Progress Reports
The Academic Office compiled the Spring Semester’s first progress report on February 10th. Our Student Success Coordinators (SSCs) intervened with students whose grades fell below a C and with students who had multiple missing assignments. Early semester interventions include parent contact, meetings with instructors, tutoring, and required study hall for students who are behind because of missing assignments. We will compile our 3rd quarter progress report on March 10th, and at that point students will be placed on academic probation for grades below a C in any course. Students on academic probation must attend study hours in the CIC, which includes study sessions with Peer Mentors, must meet weekly with their SSCs, and must attend teacher tutoring sessions at least once a week for those courses where grades drop below a C.
Office of Student Life
March 2023 Quarterly Report
Rheo Morris, Ph.D., Dean of StudentsThe ASMSA office of Student Life welcomed students back to campus on January 8th. We are now preparing for SLAMT and Prom We have staff recruitment season.
By the Numbers
• There have been sixty-two students who have participated in mental health services since the beginning of the school year.
• Students completed nine hundred and sixty service hours for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• Fifty-eight students will travel to Natchitoches LA to participate in SLAMT.
Student Leader Selection
Student Leader selection has begun for the 2023-2024 school year and is open to all Juniors. The fours positions are Community Leader, Admissions Delegate, Student Ambassador, and Peer Mentor. The Community Leader and Peer Mentor positions will focus on our internal stakeholders (enrolled students). On the other hand, the Admissions Delegate and Student Ambassador positions will focus on our external stakeholders.
Mental Health Hub
The Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Masters Social Worker have conducted 66 individual counseling sessions and 1 crisis intervention for the month of December They have conducted 53 individual therapy sessions, 2 crisis interventions, and 1 group therapy session in January. In February they conducted 82 individual therapy sessions, 1 crisis intervention and 4 group sessions.
Programming
This quarter’s programming focused on MLK Jr Day, life skills, and stress relief.
The Fun Friday programming included a Chopped cooking competition and a Minute to Win it game night. We organized a line dance class, a bowling trip and several smaller social events.
As a part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, each student completed approximately 4 hours of service. These activities included walking in the MLK parade, removing graffiti in the National Park, cleaning parks around the city, both city and National Park, helping at various churches in the community and clean up on campus and at other schools. Some students also visited nursing homes where they entertained residents, played games with them, painted nails, and demonstrated how to send emails and otherwise use a computer. The day then concluded in a school-wide assembly featuring Ms. LaTaschya Harris who spoke to the students on their impact and worth in society while explaining why Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. received a day in his honor.
Fifty-eight students will travel to Nachitoches, LA on March 3-5 to participate in friendly extramural games between the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) and
the Texas Academy of Math and Science (TAMS). This event known as SLAMT, previously was an acronym for Schools of Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri, and Texas, but now stands as just the name since some of those schools no longer participate or even exist. Students will participate in basketball, volleyball, soccer, flag football, ultimate frisbee, and tennis. There will also be a spirit section where our dance club will participate.
Prom will take place on April 22 in the CIC under the theme “Grecian Nights”. Students will be provided a full meal as well as desserts and finger foods. Parents and Alumni are encouraged to donate dresses, help with hair and make-up or even assist with check in. The “After Prom” events will also take place on campus to keep the cost of tickets between $25-$35 per person.
Office of Admissions and Outreach
March 2023 Quarterly Report
Jason Hudnell, Director ofAdmissions
The Office of Admissions and Outreach is closing in on the end of another recruiting cycle. March 1 marks the deadline for applications to be considered for the 2023-2024 academic year. Semi-finalist will be taking part in interview weekends on April 1 and April 15. This spring will also bring the return of hosting our Japanese friends in both March and April.
By the Numbers (As of Monday, February 27)
● 129 submitted applications for
Fall 2023
● 245 applications have been started by students for Fall 2023
● 243 people attended a Preview Day session in January or February
● 37 students participated in a Field Trip or MASH-up event on ASMSA campus
ASMSA serves as Platinum Sponsor for AGATE conference
ASMSA was proud to be the exclusive Platinum Sponsor for the 2023 AGATE conference held in Little Rock, Arkansas. This sponsorship not only allowed us the opportunity to speak to the entire group of attendees but also to host an informational booth as well as conduct a breakout session. These networking events are crucial as we continue to foster our relationships within the gifted and talented community in the state.
Science + Arts Cafe by Betty Brown
The Science+Arts Cafe talk was “Miyazawa Kenji” by Betty Brown. The event was hosted on Facebook Live. Facebook analytics indicated 348 unique individuals were engaged with the streaming event. The Science+Arts cafes are excellent opportunities for ASMSA faculty and staff to engage with our community and with prospective students. ASMSA is blessed to have a number of outstanding faculty who are experts in their respective fields. These types of events allow ASMSA the platform in which to display the wealth of expertise and knowledge that we have on hand. We hope to return this event to a live audience in the 2023-2024 academic year.
Summer at ASMSA Slate Set, Application Process Open
Rising sophomores throughout Arkansas are invited to apply for Summer At ASMSA, a weeklong free residential summer camp at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts in downtown Hot Springs. Summer At ASMSA participants will spend a week exploring a variety of exciting and fun topics. Campers will participate in hands-on session during the day, enjoy a variety of fun activities in the evenings and live in the Student Center during the week. Summer At ASMSA will be held Sunday, June 11, through Saturday, June 17, 2023. Each of the camps is free with no costs for tuition, meals or housing. Campers are selected through a competitive application process. Priority application deadline is April 10, 2023.
Camps being offered this summer include:
AEGIS Environmental Science and Biotechnology Camp will allow participants to gain handson experience in molecular biology laboratory techniques while exploring the ecology and geology of the Ouachita Mountains region. Conduct field research and lab analysis while you sequence ant DNA, find a crystal, and learn how to evaluate the health of our ecosystems in Hot Springs National Park.
AEGIS Anime! Origami! Hiragana! is a Japanese language and culture camp. Participants will learn how to introduce themselves, make some Japanese food, count yen, and more while exploring some of the cultural norms and unique aspects of Japanese society. Students will leave camp with the tools and knowledge to continue learning Japanese independently.
Computer Science Camp presents the many faces of computer science through hands-on experiences in a variety of programming contexts. Do you want to learn more about computer programming, game design, and more? Join us for our computer science camp where you will learn to make animations, program micro:bits, and more! Participants will culminate the week in a “Capture the Flag” competition.
Studio Arts Camp is an activities-based initiative to help grow students’ excitement about the arts while building their portfolios. Students will engage in different processes including observational drawing, collage, painting, ceramics, and more.
Engineering Camp will help students learn how things work and create their own designs. Learn about all types of engineering, from nuclear to electrical at this hands-on camp. Students will learn how to solder, use design thinking, and much more.
Upcoming events
The spring will be busy for ASMSA Admissions and Outreach.
March 9-15 ASMSA will host 6 students and 1 chaperone from Kita High School located in Hanamaki Japan.
March 14-16 ASMSA will be a sponsor/vendor for the EAST conference in Hot Springs
April 1 and April ASMSA will conduct admissions interviews for incoming students.
April 5th ASMSA will host the Math Olympiad for middle school students.
April 22-25 AMSA will host 8 students and 2 teachers from Tennoji High School in Osaka, Japan.
Human Resources
Nia Rieves, Director of Human Resources & Campus CultureThe ASMSA Office of Human Resources continued with recruitment efforts, hosted employee engagement events, organized professional development opportunities, expanded the wellness program, and initiated the performance review process.
By the Numbers
• Seven positions (four academic) actively recruited for FY24.
• Forty-nine applications received as of 3/1 for academic positions.
• Fifty-six employees participated on teams for the January engagement event.
• Seventeen employees signed up for the new wellness activity.
Recruitment
Advertising for the upcoming academic year vacancies began in mid-December and review of applicants began in full force in January. Qualified candidates for academic positions were interviewed via Zoom for the first round of interviews then top candidates were invited to campus for second interviews and classroom presentations. Below is the status of advertised positions:
Studio Arts Instructor-Lola Warren has accepted offer effective 8/1/23
French Instructor-Second finalist to visit campus on 3/2/23.
Chemistry-Interview scheduled for 3/1/23.
Multimedia & Digital Arts Instructor-Advertisements began 2/18/23.
Director of Finance-Jason Hudnell has accepted offer effective 3/1/23.
Development office-Advertising will begin in March for an Annual Giving & Special Event Coordinator
Residential Life Department-Advertising continues for Residential Life staff.
Employee Engagement
ASMSA holds a monthly celebration for birthdays on campus to recognize our employees and invites the campus to join in. This creates an opportunity to interact with colleagues while recognizing employees.
We hosted a welcome back breakfast in January for employees to begin the Spring semester On January 6, we hosted a pizza lunch and a bowling event at Central Lanes for employees. Teams of three competed against colleagues while non-participants cheered teams on. This event created an opportunity for employees to interact away from campus and build community.
Professional Development
Professional development opportunities were offered in January as art of welcome back week. Topics included active shooter assessments and training and managing 504 plans.
Performance Reviews
Faculty and staff performance reviews for 2022 began on February 15 Workday training was assigned to employees and managers in preparation for reviews. Annual performance reviews
are an opportunity for employees and managers to discuss job responsibilities, achievements over the past year, and areas for improvement as well as setting goals for the upcoming year.
Wellness Program
The wellness program activities for Spring 2023 began in January and February. Strength Training for employees meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays offering full body workouts using weights and interval training to build endurance, strength, and conditioning. Yoga meets on Wednesday afternoons and is open to employees and students to provide an opportunity to focus, relax, and work on flexibility.
The wellness program expanded by adding Tai Chi for employees this semester. Classes meet on Mondays and help participants to maintain strength, flexibility, and balance, and is often described as “meditation in motion”.
We are working with the Hot Springs National Park to obtain necessary permits and permissions to hold a Pi Day 5k at Whittington Park on March 15. Employees and students will be challenged to walk/run a 5k in recognition of National Pi Day on March 14.
Student Government Association
February 2023 Quarterly Report
Talana Small, SGA PresidentWe have had a slower start to the new year but we are incredibly excited to see what these next few weeks hold as the school year comes to an end. The year started with a bang with an intense election introducing a lot of new faces to the SGA force. We are delighted that so many of our peers have been inspired to take on the SGA torch of leadership and act as representatives for their classmates and we already see a promising future full of hard work and dedication. There are quite a few intriguing things in store for the final quarter with new and creative events being planned by the Student Interest and Wellness committee, and calls for public feedback from the Handbook and Student Affairs committees and we are excited to see how the plans they have started creating unfold and help our community grow. In terms of E-Board’s long term goal of student engagement, we are pleased to say that we have witnessed the students of ASMSA get more and more involved and we can’t help but look forward to the last few weeks of school where we can fully look back and reflect on how far we have come.
SGA Updates by Committee
To welcome the new and old representatives to the spring semester, we hosted another retreat. This time, in efforts to negate some of the confusion of last year and continue to build on communication and togetherness, we had a mock general assembly and did some team building exercises. We also discussed the rules and expectations of the school year and held brief committee meetings in order to plan the rest of the semester. Here’s a brief summary of some of the ideas for the coming few weeks.
Student Interest and Wellness
Student Interest and Wellness has planned a rest and relaxation day dubbed “standardized resting” for students to take a load off after science fair and the mandatory junior ACT as well as a color run and ice cream day during March
Handbook
This semester will really pick up for the Handbook committee as students become more involved after seeing how SGA has worked in the first semester. One thing we are particularly looking for is a few potential questionnaires and polls to send out. We are excited to see how the year unfolds.
Student Affairs
Student affairs is shifting its focus to the bills that have already passed and seeing how they are affecting the student body. Through student polls and close work with the handbook committee, they are finding out general student opinion on things ranging from privileges to student leader positions and E-Board is hoping to use some of the information to use in our Finalization committee.
Finalization
Finalization committee has gathered 6 representatives to their respective portions of the student body. There are 2 senior, junior and sophomore representatives from each side of the building. Finalization was created to help advocate for specialized bills and plans-of-actions created by SGA. This newer committee will be meeting towards the end of this semester in order to discuss the year’s changes and places we can improve as we usher in the new Executive Board.