Puts ‘Every Kid’ mission into practice
Cutter Morning Star Elementary School provides approximately 350 Pre-K through sixthgrade students a first-class education in a small school setting.
With a student-staff ratio of
14 to 1, Cutter Morning Star students are afforded the individualized attention and personalized learning opportunities that help our school put its mission of “Every Kid. Every Day. Whatever It Takes” into real practice.
Supported by evidence-proven resources, including up-todate advances in the use of technology for learning, the Cutter Morning Star Elementary School’s curriculum and instructional program focuses on three outcomes for students: Mastery of a rigorous curriculum that prepares the student for academic success; Acquisition of critical thinking skills that fosters lifelong learning; and Development of The Habits of Success that include the social-emotional skills necessary to support academic achievement and well-being.
Taught by a team of welltrained and highly qualified teachers and specialists, students who attend Cutter Morning Star Elementary School have access to:
• Award-winning gifted and talented classes.
• Extra supports for struggling students including, after-school tutoring.
• Special education programs.
• Intervention specialists who provide small group and individual academic support throughout the school day.
• Summer enrichment programs.
• Coding and MakerSpace classes.
• Pewee athletic programs for girls and boys in grades 3-6.
• Breakfast in the classroom.
• All school supplies provided, including individual Chromebooks.
• Hands-on science lessons in our two science labs.
• Our very own student-produced YouTube news station “Eagles on Air.”
• Eagle Power Pack Program and Clothes Closet and School Garden.
• Art, music, physical education and band classes.
• Book fairs and reading support activities in the library.
• Educational field trips.
• Affordable on-site after school childcare.
• Full-time school guidance counselor and school-based mental health providers.
• Occupational and speech therapy.
• EPIC family and parent involvement.
And Cutter Morning Star is the only elementary school in Arkansas to implement the nationally regarded Summit Platform for our fifth- and sixthgrade students. Utilizing the resources provided through the Summit Platform, our team of fifth- and sixth-grade teachers provide the attention and support that middle school students need to be highly engaged in their own learning. Teachers deliver content through a coupling of direct instruction and project-based learning so that students are able to master content, knowledge, and skills at their own pace while developing the research skills, study habits, and self-efficacy needed to prepare them for success in high school and college.
Soon construction will begin on a new high school. This is truly a community project that will reflect our vision for the future.
“Established in Community, Eagles Engage, Educate and Enrich Every learner to soar for Success!” is a newly adopted mission statement for our school. We believe that we can build on the traditions and foundation created here for decades and transform that into an exciting future with a new high school as beacon for past and present Eagles.
“At CMS High School our motto is OUR CHOICES. OUR PATHS. OUR LIVES. We want the high school experience that the student chooses not choose it for them,” said Principal Nathan Sullivan, who is in his third year. “Let the student make choices about their learning path, then let the adults remove the obstacles.”
Our students are recreating the traditional high school experience by working during the school day with some of those jobs being on campus, taking concurrent credit through National Park College, gaining aviation credit hours through Henderson State University, gaining electrician apprenticeships through College of the Ouachitas, and top-notch instruction from award-winning teachers.
Our students have all of those opportunities along with a thriving athletic department including, golf, fishing, football and archery, to name a few. Our fishing team brought back a state championship in high school fishing this year; “way to go” to Hunter Nelson and M.J. McIntyre. Our choir is the largest growing program on campus with several state qualifiers. Our band is growing as well and participates in events throughout the county and state.
Flexmod scheduling, in its third year, allows our staff and students a unique experience. This scheduling helps build on our “community strong” culture by offering students a comprehensive way to utilize their time. This gives students more flexibility in the way they choose their learning paths.