Asbell Elementary

Hello Asbell Families!

April is here, and we are heading into one of the most important and exciting stretches of our school year. We have several key events ahead, including our One School, One Book wrap-up and celebration, state testing for all grade levels, and field trips. Kindergarten registration is also open through April 17, and we are already looking ahead to welcoming our newest Roadrunners. Please take a few minutes to review the important dates below and help your child be prepared, especially during testing windows. We are grateful for your partnership as we finish this last semester strong, together.

April 2 - Kindergarten Walton Arts Center Field Trip 11:00-12:30pm

April 3 - March Courage Roadrunner Rally/House Party

April 5-10 - Assistant Principal Appreciation Week!

April 20-24 - Kindergarten - 2nd-Grade Summative Testing*

April 23 - Apple Seeds Donation Day!

April 24 - Holiday - No School for Students

April 27-30 - 3rd-4th Summative Testing 8:15 - 12:00 Daily*

April 29 - Second Grade Walton Arts Center Field Trip 9:30am-11:00am

April 30 - April's Perseverance Roadrunner Rally 2:00pm (Thursday)

*Please arrive to school on time and avoid doctor's appointments during these weeks.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Baureis
Principal, Asbell Elementary

Our One School, One Book journey with Charlotte’s Web is in full swing, and it has been something special to see unfold across our school and in your homes. Each day, our students are not just reading a story, they are building real connections with Wilbur, Charlotte, Fern, and the entire barnyard. They are feeling the worries, the hope, and the joy right alongside the characters.

We will wrap up our reading together on April 13. Students should return their Reading Logs and BINGO boards by April 15 to be eligible for prizes. Our school-wide celebration will take place on April 30th at our Roadrunner Rally at 2:00pm, and we look forward to welcoming families to join us as we celebrate this shared experience and recognize student participation.

Thank you for reading alongside your child and making this a priority at home. You are a key part of what makes this experience meaningful. Because of you, this story has reached beyond the classroom and into conversations, routines, and memories that will last.

As we come to the end of this journey, we are reminded of what this story teaches us about friendship, kindness, and the power of words. More than anything, it shows us what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose. That is exactly what we have built at Asbell.

Ask your child about their House! They should know their house color and hand signal. Possibly they might know their house chant/cheer. To find our more about the House System check out the Ron Clark Academy - the original house system! Our House System helps students feel connected and part of a team. Students earn points for showing kindness, leadership, good behavior, and hard work. Houses take part in fun activities and friendly competitions throughout the year. The goal is to build teamwork, school spirit, and a strong sense of belonging for every student. Your child will remain in this house for the remainder of their time at Asbell! This will continue to grow year after year with school-wide celebrations and competitions.

Kindergarten Registration

Registration Opens
Monday, March 2 – Friday, April 17

Kindergarten Registration Checklist:

Proof of Address
• Lease agreement or current gas, electric, or water bill

Proof of Age
• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Baptismal certificate
• Parent affidavit of birth
• Previous school records
• Military ID

Immunization Records

Social Security Card

Physical Exam
• Physical exam dated within the last two years

Register Online: preregistration.fayar.net

Register In-Person:
300 S. Ray Ave., Fayetteville, AR
7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Mon – Fri

For more information: 479-445-1665

We can’t wait to welcome our newest bulldogs!

Watch for more information soon regarding Asbell's Kindergarten Kickstart taking place May 7th from 8:30-4:30!

State Testing and Attendance:

• K-2 will test in small chunks of time April 20 - 24
• 3rd - 4th grade will test from 8:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m. on April 27th - 30th
• Please make sure your student is well rested, at school, and on time during these dates.

Attendance Facts:

• Chronic Absence Starts Early: Absenteeism in kindergarten and first grade predicts poor reading by 3rd grade and higher dropout rates later.
• 10% Rule: Missing 10% of school (around 18 days) is considered chronic and harms academic performance.
• It's More Than Just Being Present: Good attendance builds strong reading skills and leads to better grades and test scores.

Asbell wants to encourage attendance by offering two attendance challenges:

1. Each month, we will award every student who has perfect attendance and no tardies with a certificate and a coupon for a free kids’ meal at Cane’s Chicken. Tardies include both morning and afternoon arrivals. Absences include excused and unexcused.
2. If a student misses five days or fewer and has three tardies or fewer between January 12th and May 1st, they will earn a full-day field trip to the Amazeum on May 4th, along with playtime at a park in Bentonville. Tardies include late morning arrival or leaving campus before the end of the day. The total of five missed days and three tardies includes both excused and unexcused absences. If a serious medical condition requires an extended absence, or if a child has scheduled therapy appointments, these absences and tardies will not count toward the totals. However, documentation from a doctor must be provided.

Spring Photos have been sent home. If you choose to purchase, please follow the instuctions that were sent along with the photo packets. If you DO NOT want to purchase your students photos, no problem! Just please send the photo package back to school and return to your child's teacher.

Mark your calendars, NWA FOOD BANK Distribution day will be APRIL 20th. In addition, APPLE SEEDS Donation day is April 23rd! Further details coming soon!

As we continue our focus on Growth in Motion, this month we are highlighting the impact of healthy sleep routines on student learning and well-being.

Consistent sleep is one of the most powerful ways to support your child’s success at school. When children are well-rested, they are more focused, better able to manage emotions, and more prepared to engage in learning throughout the day. Establishing a predictable bedtime routine helps signal to the brain and body that it is time to wind down and rest.

One of the most important factors in strong sleep routines is limiting access to phones and screens in the evening. The light from screens can interfere with the body’s natural sleep cycle, making it harder for children to fall asleep and stay asleep. We encourage families to create screen-free time at least 30–60 minutes before bed and to keep devices out of bedrooms overnight when possible.

Simple routines such as reading together, taking a bath or shower, or having a calm conversation about the day can help children settle in and end their day on a positive note.

When students come to school well-rested, they are more ready to learn, more patient with others, and more confident in their ability to tackle challenges. Thank you for partnering with us to build habits at home that help every child grow, both in and out of the classroom.

This fall, Asbell Elementary will officially launch our themed programming focused on developing the whole child through mental and physical wellness. We are Asbell Elementary - Growth in Motion! Our goal is to strengthen habits that support focus, resilience, movement, and healthy relationships so students thrive both academically and socially. Throughout the year, we will continue sharing simple, practical strategies families can use at home, from nutrition and sleep routines to mindfulness and active play. When school and home work together to support wellness, students show up ready to learn, connect, and grow.

Capturing Kids Hearts defines Asbell's word for the month of April PERSEVERANCE as giving extra effort, staying determined, and working hard to achieve goals. Perseverance can be encouraged by pushing through challenges, learning from failures, and using positive self-talk.

• Encouraging Effort: Challenge your children to keep going, even when tasks are difficult.

• Learning from Failure: Teach them that mistakes are part of the learning process and a step toward future success.

• Modeling Behavior: Model resilience yourself and share stories of overcoming challenges.

• Goal Setting: Work towards both small and large goals to build long-term stamina.

CKH English Parent Newsletter Link

CKH Spanish Parent Newsletter Link

Camp War Eagle Summer Camp is filling up fast. Do not wait until the last minute to sign your child up for fun adventures this summer. Applications and information can be found at www.campwareagle.org and paper applications are located in the foyer at Asbell. I can also put paper applications in your child's backpack if needed. You can request this by emailing me at cameron.magness@fayar.net. Fees are based on a sliding scale income and most students are able to go for only $20! Do not miss this amazing opportunity and give your child activities to do over the summer break by signing up today!!!!

Camp War Eagle is offering family tours in April!!!!!! If you are interested in taking a tour of Camp War Eagle please sign up for one of the two dates offered in April using the QR code found here.

Dear Families,

Happy April from the Music Room! We are excited to continue building strong musical foundations as we move into the final stretch of the school year. Here’s what each grade level is working on this month:

Kindergarten
Kindergarten students will begin learning songs for their Kindergarten Celebration on May 5th at 8:30 AM. We are also continuing to explore melody and early solfege concepts through singing and movement.

1st Grade
First graders are continuing to practice reading notes on a two-lined staff while reinforcing solfege patterns using sol, mi, and la. We are building confidence in recognizing high and low sounds and connecting them to notation.

2nd Grade
Second grade is expanding their solfege knowledge to include sol, mi, la, and do while continuing to read notes on a three-lined staff. Students will also begin a unit on world music and instruments of the orchestra, including listening and learning about The Four Seasons by Vivaldi.

3rd Grade
Third graders are working toward mastery of all solfege pitches and reading all notes on the staff. They will also explore world music and instruments of the orchestra, with a special focus on Peter and the Wolf, connecting instruments to characters and musical themes.

4th Grade
Fourth grade students are continuing their recorder practice as they prepare for an exciting upcoming student-only field trip to the Fayetteville High School Performing Arts Center. They will participate in Carnegie Hall’s Link Up: The Orchestra Swings concert with the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra. During this live performance, students will sing, play recorder from their seats, and engage with a full orchestra—an unforgettable musical experience!

Fourth grade is also beginning preparation for their 4th Grade Celebration on May 19 at 8:30 AM. Thank you for supporting your child’s musical journey! We love making music together each week.

Musically,
Pam Pittman
Music Teacher

As the school year begins to wind down, be on the lookout for your student’s portfolio to be sent home. Our Asbell artists have been working hard this year and they have created some amazing pieces.

In the final weeks of the school year, there will be a greater focus on conservation in art class. We will be learning about environmental stewardship and how to reduce, reuse, and recycle while creating in the art room.

Our Kindergarten artists have been learning all about trees and their importance to our environment. They have created a variety of lovely artworks focused on trees.

First grade artists have been working on pieces focused on bees. They have learned about the importance of these pollinators and the art these students are producing are beautiful.

Second grade artists have been learning about fish and the importance of clean waterways. They are getting to experience the art technique of printmaking. They have created fish “stamps” and will use these to complete their works as well as create a mural featuring every fish created by second grade.

Third grade will kick off their first week back from spring break by learning how to make paper. We go through A LOT of paper in the art room and strive to recycle as much scrap as possible. Rather than just sending the scrap to the recycling center, we have decided to try to make our own paper! This is sure to be a fun, interactive learning experience.

Although not focused on conservation, fourth grade will be jumping into an equally important project that combines art and music. These artists will be creating works to be displayed at their Link Up concert in May. They will create visual representations of a song that will be featured at the concert. This project is always so much fun as we can see the variety of ways these students visually interpret the music they are hearing.

Finally, as part of our work to increase our conservation efforts, we will be collecting any and all plastic bottle tops. These can be any size or any color. Please rinse the caps and send them to school with your child to be collected at the art room. Thank you and watch out for a special work featuring these lids!

Hello, Asbell families. For the month of April, we are focusing on Library book returns and chapter book checkouts. As we approach the end of the year, we have several students that have late or lost books that need to be returned to library. Please ask your child if they know where their library books are and if they have returned them each week to library. This will allow your child to check out a new chapter book each week. We are encouraging all 2nd - 4th graders to check out chapter books that they can read in library this month. This will help each student build essential literacy skills.

Messages will be sent through school status if a student has a late or lost book.

Asbell Elementary Physical Education – April Newsletter

Spring is in full swing and we are having an absolute blast in P.E.!

We are continuing our soccer unit and students are doing an incredible job developing their foot skills. Throughout this unit, we are focusing on dribbling with control using different parts of the foot (inside, outside, and laces), passing with accuracy and learning how to move safely and effectively in game situations. It has been so fun watching students grow more confident using their feet instead of their hands and they are really starting to understand spacing, teamwork and basic game strategy. Most importantly, they are encouraging one another and showing great sportsmanship while having fun!

As we move further into April, we will begin introducing our track and field unit for all grade levels. Our primary focus will be with 4th grade students as we start preparing for the upcoming track meet.

Track Meet Information:

• Date: May 12th
• Location: Fayetteville Track at Ramay Junior High
• Time: During the school day
  More detailed information will be shared soon!

We are excited to help students build endurance, learn proper running techniques and experience different track and field events. It’s always a highlight of the year!

Thank you for your continued support of Asbell P.E. program!!

— Asbell Elementary P.E.

It's never too early to order a yearbook! To order:

Visit www.treering.com/validate

Enter Asbell's Passcode: 1016947069144218

The cost is $20.93.

We love TreeRing because of the FREE custom page option. Upload photos from your computer, phone, Facebook, Google Drive and more. This is a great way to preserve memories of your child at this age.

Breakfast and Lunch Menus can be found at our website here.

Thinking about lunch next year? Don’t let the rising cost of food get you down! Many children in the school district may qualify for free meals or for reduced priced meals based on household size and income criteria. You can see if you are eligible for meal benefits by clicking here or going to https://www.myschoolapps.com/Home/

For more information, please visit this link or call the front office and ask for assistance. We are happy to help!

We love for our students to be fed and happy in the mornings! Mornings can be super busy, so if you don’t have time for breakfast at home they can always get breakfast at school. If your student is eating breakfast, please drop them off before 7:50am, so they have plenty of time to enjoy breakfast!

Date: April 21, 2026

Time: 6:00–7:30 pm

Join University of Arkansas students and nonprofit partners for a family-friendly evening focused on fun, health, and connection. Families will enjoy dinner and receive a culturally relevant “dinner in a bag” to take home.

Activities include:
• Games and prizes
• Face painting
• Free health screenings
• Access to community resources
• Free dinner

.

Fun and Creative Outdoor Activities for Boys and Girls K–6th Grade

Dates: June 1 – July 31
Time: 9:00 – 5:00
Prices: Varies

Activities:

• Field Trips
• Recreational Activities
• Arts & Crafts
• Swimming
• Enrichment & Life Skills

Location:
Yvonne Richardson Community Center
240 E. Rock Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701

Register here: (QR code on flyer)

Hosted by the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas and the Yvonne Richardson Community Center

Grades: Rising K–6th

Location: Butterfield Trail Elementary School
Address: 3050 Old Missouri Road, Fayetteville, AR 72703

Dates: June 15–19, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM–3:00 PM

Cost: $285 (before discounts)
Payment plans available until April 16, 2026

Program Description:
Camp Invention is a hands-on STEM summer program led by qualified educators. Students explore creativity, problem-solving, and innovation through team challenges and design activities.

Discount Codes (cannot be combined):
Save $25 with code FUN25 (expires March 11, 2026)
Save $20 with code FUN20 (expires April 28, 2026)
Save $30 with code SIBLOVE30 (for 2 siblings)
Save $40 with code SIBLOVE40 (for 3 or more siblings)

Sibling discounts available at: invent.org/cisave

Register: invent.org/cisave

Camp Director:
Brittney Mohr
Email: brittney.mohr@fayar.net

This list will grow as the year progresses and is subject to change!

FPS District Calendar can be found here!

April 2 - Kindergarten Walton Arts Center Field Trip 11:00-12:30pm

April 3 - March Courage Roadrunner Rally

April 5-10 - Assistant Principal Appreciation Week!

April 10 - Charlotte's Web Farm on Playground (Novel Culminating Event!)

April 15 - Tax Day!

April 20 - 24 Kinder - 2nd grade Summative Testing. Avoid Dr. Appointments during these dates.

April 27- 30 3rd/4th Summative testing 8:15 - 12:00 daily. Avoid appointments during this time.

April 23 - Apple Seeds Donation Day!

April 24 - Holiday - No School for Students

April 29 - Second Grade Walton Arts Center Field Trip 9:30am-11:00am

April 30 - April's Perseverance Roadrunner Rally 2:00pm (Thursday)

May 1 - Asbell Fishing Derby Field Trip for All Grades

May 4 -8 - Teacher Appreciation Day!

May 4 - Attendance Reward Amazeum Field Trip!

May 5 - Kindergarten Celebration

May 7 - Kindergarten Kickstart (for incoming Kindergarten students who have registered! 8:30-4:30)

May 7 - Spring into Summer Block Party 4:30-6:00pm

May 12 - Apple Seeds Donation Day!

May 12 - Fourth-Grade Track Meet

May 13 - Field Day + Senior Walk

May 14 - FHS Graduation

May 15 - Fourth-Grade Track Meet (Rain Date)

May 19 - Fourth-Grade Celebration 8:30-9:30am

May 20 - Pre-K Celebration 9:00-10:00

May 20 - Last Day of School for Students + Integrity Roadrunner Rally

We are always here to help and answer any questions you may have. Feel free to reach out to us through any of the following contact methods. Visit our website at https://asbell.fayar.net/o/aes. Watch for weekly newsletters from your teachers and monthly newsletters from the principals. Follow us on social media, too!

Instagram - asbellroadrunners

Facebook - Asbell Elementary

• Email:

• Jamie Baureis, Principal: jamie.baureis@fayar.net
• Marjo Burk, Assistant Principal: marjo.burk@fayar.net
• Stephanie Alkire, Administrative Intern: stephanie.alkire@fayar.net
• Cameron Magness, Counselor: cameron.magness@fayar.net
• Shanice Porter, Administrative Assistant: shanice.porter@fayar.net
• Chrissy Feinstein, Nurse: christine.feinstein@fayar.net