ATLAS — Way to go, Goza Middle School! We completed summative assessments for writing, reading, math, and science in April. Goza had 38 8th-grade students take the Algebra I End-of-Course Exam. We finished with an average over 99% of students tested!

"Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart." - from Aesop's fable, "The Lion and the Mouse." We'd like to recognize our volunteers who helped with afternoon activities during state standardized testing. Thanks to our parents, Dr. Bryon Martin and his Recreation students at Henderson State University, and Ouachita Baptist University students. Also, a thank you to Mrs. Nancy Harrell for connecting Ms. Miller with student volunteers from HSU and OBU. Their presence made management of our events very easy. It truly takes a village when entertaining middle school students.

Goza's Future Business Leaders of America

Goza Middle School FBLA members competed at the 2024 State Leadership Conference in Little Rock on Monday, April 29. These students were eligible for the state events based on their performance at the District IV Conference.

The following students were recognized at the SLC and qualified for the 2024 FBLA National Leadership Conference in Orlando:

Jadyn Thompson - 1st place - Elevator Speech

Spirit Golden - 2nd place - FBLA Mission & Pledge

Tiana Berry - 3rd place - Exploring Business Issues

Jack Copeland - 3rd place - Exploring Computer Science

Abigail Crocker - 3rd place - Interpersonal Communication

Izabella Morris - 3rd place - FBLA Concepts

Zoey Windham - 3rd place - Community Service Presentation

The members were accompanied by Goza FBLA Adviser Lakesha Berry, Jequetta Berry, and Sharon Ford. Congratulations to all of you!

Celebrating our fantastic Paras!

We celebrated our wonderful paraprofessionals on National Paraprofessionals Day Wednesday, April 3. Sharon Ford, Angela Whitworth, and Beverly Meeks do so much here for us here at Goza, along with their regular duties. They were gifted with their favorite Sonic drink and a $25 Walmart gift card.

They were also recognized at the April School Board meeting with a Badger Pride Award. Principal Tisha Hunter nominated the group and shared that they “are truly unsung heroes. They help create an inclusive, supportive, and adaptive learning environment that enables all students to thrive. We are immensely grateful for their compassion, expertise, and the profound impact they make every day. Our school shines brighter because of their efforts.”

Thank you for all that you do!

Purple Up! for Military Kids Day

April is the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community. ADE designated Friday, April 19, as Purple Up! Day to recognize military children and their families.

More than 14,000 Arkansans served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Many serve on active duty while others serve in the reserve forces and the National Guard. More than 6,100 military children are enrolled in Arkansas public schools.

Goza Middle School and Arkadelphia High School were recently named Purple Star Schools. Every campus in the district was encouraged to wear purple that Friday to recognize the unique academic and social challenges children of military families face, and the sacrifices they make because of their parent’s military service.

Glasses, glasses everywhere!

Eclipse — We want to thank the Clark County Library and Dawson Education Cooperative for their eclipse glasses donation. Students received their glasses during their 7th period class the Friday before the eclipse, just in time for viewing on Monday, April 8, 2024. We were lucky enough to be in the path of totality. School was out that day so that students, faculty, and staff could enjoy the eclipse with friends and family.

GMS Winter Guard

Students view World War I loan box

Mrs. Armstrong, one of Goza's 7th and 8th-grade social studies teachers, reserved a World War I Traveling Loan Box in April from the McArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History Museum for her students to view. It was entitled, “A Soldier's Haversack: The American Doughboy Experience, 1917-1918."

The loan box had a replica uniform, books, propaganda posters, canned goods from the era, and more.

She also brought World War I-era cookies that were reminiscent of the sweets people ate when wartime rationing made sugar and fat in short supply. Students sampled strawberry thumbprint cookies and lemon drop cookies.

Twins — Goza Middle School boasts six sets of twins in the building this school year. Two sets are brothers, and the other four sets are brothers and sisters! Our twins are: Ka'Mauri and Tristian Roberts (7th grade), Rashad and Dashad Williams (6th), Olivia and Owen Lippert (7th), Spirit and Spencer Golden (8th), Emoree and Kameron Purifoy (7th), and Elijah and Gage Zomalt (8th). What a treat to have this many twins in the building!