School Announcements 2023/2024
It is that time of year, again! We are so excited about the upcoming year and the possibilities that await us.
In an effort to provide you with answers for frequently asked questions, we have put together this summary of information. If you can think of other questions you might have, please email wrightm@mtree.k12.ar.us and we will possibly add it to this overview!
Safety
Safety our #1 priority. We are one of the smallest districts in the state that employs a school resource officer. Our district is grateful for the opportunity to work with our Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office on this important position. Our S.R.O. is Officer Ray Harsson and he is in his 2nd year with the district.
On the first day of teaching training, we will review and work through our safety procedures with our teachers. These procedures will be reviewed and practiced throughout the year. Our emergency action plan includes multiple scenarios as we try to be prepared for everything. Each school will have multiple lock-down drills where we will bring in local and state law enforcement and other emergency personnel to provide us with feedback on how to improve. We also have monthly safety drills such as fire and tornado drills.
We have teams on both campuses who are trained in CPR and first-aid.
Over the past few years, we have installed monitoring systems at our entrances that require visitors to be allowed into our buildings. Each campus has a vestibule where visitors are held. We do not allow anyone past the vestibules unless they are escorted by school personnel.
This year, we are adding to our safety features by installing new fencing around the elementary playground and gates at the back of the high school. We will also install additional keyless entry systems around our school.
If you ever have safety concerns, please do not hesitate to let us know.
Start and End Times
The start of the school day at the elementary school is at 7:50 a.m. Breakfast starts being served at 7:15 a.m. School is dismissed at 3:05 p.m.
The start of the school day of high school is at 7:55 a.m. Breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m. School is dismissed at 3:10 p.m.
If your child is in K-6, you will drop-off in the loop in front of the elementary. Please remember that 6th Street is a one way street from 7:00 a.m. through 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. through 3:30 p.m. and the speed limit is 10 m.p.h.
At the high school, please drop off your student under the awning in front of the building. Please enter on the right.
Communication
We try to get information to you using several different avenues.
First, we have a text message that goes out each week (typically Sunday afternoon) updating you on the upcoming week’s events. At the bottom of this text, we also include events that are happening within the next month. If you receive this text, I would suggest programming the number into your phone as Marked Tree Schools. If an emergency ever arises like a cancellation or we are just sending you a reminder, you will see that the text came from MTSD and won’t mistake it for spam.
Secondly, we understand that some of you don’t utilize or like social media. We get it. Therefore, we have an app that you can download from the App Store for Apple users or from Google Play. Just search “Marked Tree Schools, AR” and download. We also suggest turning on notifications. Notifications will only be utilized when we need to get information to you, quickly.
However, we do use social media as a way to distribute information. Search for us on these social media outlets:
We use social media as a tool to get information to you. However, we try our hardest to spend our school days ensuring that learning occurs. If you have questions or concerns, please call or email. If you use a message through a social media app, it could be days before we see it.
Another way we try to inform you is our marquees on each campus. We try to post major events that are within one month of occurring and events that are happening that week.
Finally, we have an automated call system. Please make sure we have accurate contact information. As long as we have a working phone number, you should get any texts messages or phone calls. If you aren’t getting our text messages or phone calls, please make sure you fill out an updated contact sheet at Open House or call us and we can update it for you!
Bus routes
Our bus drivers, their route, and time of departure from the bus garage are listed below:
Sgt. Perry
Route: Hwy. 75S
Departure Time: 6:45 a.m.
Ms. Booth
Route: Hwy. 149, Broadmouth, Black Oak
Departure Time: 7 a.m.
Nurse Charlene
Route: Old Payneway Rd., Henderson, Poinsett, Riverside, Mallard, Trestle, Bright Beginnings Day Care
Departure Time: 6:50 a.m.
Ms. Miles
Route: Anderson, Adams, Johnson, Hines, Monroe, Chicago, Tyler, Madison, Deacon Jones, Jefferson, Wiley Ave., Lindsey, Louis, Bell’s Academy
Departure Time: 7 a.m.
Coach Wright
Route: Hwy. 308, Wigginton, Allen, Ader, Grant, Sycamore, Poplar, Nathan, Finch, Dustin King Dr., Division, Union, Broadway, Elm, Gary, Pecan, Capps Road, Briar Estates, Owen, Sneed
Departure Time: 6:55 a.m.
Supplies
No supplies will be needed. We will take care of all of those needs for you. The two things we think you should purchase would be a backpack and a water bottle.
Food Service
We recognize that times are tough for everyone! At Marked Tree School District, everyone eats free! This is one way we try to help serve you.
In an effort to provide our students with a more enjoyable experience, we have partnered with Taher Food Services. We have posted our menus for next month on our webpage.
We hope to create a dramatically different experience for our students. There are several surprises coming. A couple of sneak peaks…the high school will have coffee bar and pastry bar for breakfast, there will be more choices on each campus, and a soft-serve yogurt machine!
One thing we did in the past was allow parents to come eat with your elementary student. Our elementary cafeteria is substantially smaller than what we previously had, so we are working on a schedule where you can come eat lunch with your child! Keep your eyes peeled for details!
School Calendar
You can access the 2023/2024 school calendar by clicking here:
https://www.markedtreeschools.com/article/1076866
Mental Health Services
Our school partners with Delta Behavioral to provide counseling for our students who might need it. We are extremely excited about this new partnership and hope you will reach out to us, if interested.
Viewing Student Grades and Absences
On our website, we have a button that will allow you to login and check your student’s grades and absences. If you don’t have your login or password, please feel free to contact us. This site will not be active until after the first full week of school.