News, accomplishments and more from central Arkansas Schools

The Little Rock School District is expanding! Plans are already underway to open a new middle school in the fall of 2016. The west Little Rock campus will be housed in the former Leisure Arts location and will serve sixth graders in the first year with grades 7-8 opening in subsequent years.

Initially, the existing office building will be converted into a temporary space, while a large warehouse is being converted into the permanent facility. The school will serve students from elementary zones for Fulbright, Terry and Roberts elementary schools. Superintendent Baker Kurrus also announced that a new high school in southwest Little Rock is in the works.

Break a leg, kids. In January, The Anthony School Drama Students attended the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta and brought home several awards. Each student group in attendance performed for a panel of theater professionals, took part in interactive workshops led by Broadway and West End professionals, and enjoyed a concert by festival headliner Darren Criss of “Glee” fame.

This past November, the children at Pulaski County Special School District’s Daisy Bates Elementary School had breakfast with a very special visitor—the Governor of Arkansas! Gov. Asa Hutchinson and State Representative Charles Blake, along with representatives from the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Arkansas Midwest Dairy Council, visited the school to see the Breakfast in the Classroom program in action. Principal Matt Mellor explained how teachers have embraced the program and shared the impact that the nutritious morning ritual has had on student attendance, behavior and achievement.

Exciting news at your school? Send an email to BNeel@LittleRockFamily.com to be considered for the next School Crossings column.