Hope Academy of Public Service

HOPE – Students who will attend the Hope Academy of Public Service for the first time in the 2018-2019 academic year were introduced to the unique school that is HAPS here Tuesday evening.\r\n

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Students and parents were given an orientation briefing at Hempstead Hall on the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana campus by HAPS Principal Dr. Carol Ann Duke, Hope Schools Superintendent Bobby Hart, and HAPS Parent Advisory Council President/Zone 5 School Board Representative Linda Haynes.\r\n

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Duke presented data from the Year One ACT Aspire test administration which showed HAPS students scoring 12 points above state English scores; 17 points above state ELA scores; 19 points above state reading levels; 17 points above state writing levels; even with state math scores; six points above state STEM scores; and, 13 points above state science scores.\r\n

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“How did we do that?” Duke posed. “We concentrate on teaching and learning every day.”\r\n

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She stressed the nature of the HAPS experience as one that is unlike any other grades 5-9 campus in Arkansas because of its public service core values.\r\n

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“Public service is in our name,” Duke said.\r\n

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Among requirements for both students and parents are “Public Service Saturdays,” eight dates during the academic year in which students and parents are involved in public service within the community. Those dates for the 2018-2019 academic year include Aug. 25, Sept. 29, Oct. 27, Nov. 10, Jan. 12, Feb. 9 (campus dance), March 30, April 27, and May 4.\r\n

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Duke said “Public Service Saturdays” dates will not conflict with “away” game schedules for athletic events on those weekends.\r\n

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HAPS has launched two new programs in its second year of operation, including a new Environmental and Spatial Technology elective and a robotics program. Duke said the school also offers an instrumental music elective as part of the Hope Bobcat Bands program; has a campus library; and offers ninth grade students one concurrent studies class at UAHT per semester.\r\n

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“A student can leave this campus in the tenth grade and go into high school with a total of six hours of college credit,” Duke said.\r\n

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That opportunity is expanded at Hope High School through its concurrent studies program in grades 10-12 which offers free college credit classes in conjunction with high school studies. HHS students have the potential to graduate from high school and earn an associate’s degree at the same time free of cost.\r\n

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Duke said a proposed expansion of that opportunity through a grades 10-12 program housed on the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana campus is in early development.\r\n

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The HAPS student body will include 52 fifth graders; 55 sixth graders; 58 seventh graders; 48 eighth graders; and 46 ninth graders in the fall class, she said.\r\n

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HAPS incorporates 1:1 technology for students with all textbooks and materials downloaded so that cell phones or personal devices are not necessary on campus, although they are allowed, but are collected at the beginning of each class and returned at the end of each class. Duke said school supplies are furnished free of cost to students, and backpacks are not necessary, although they are allowed.\r\n

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Grades at HAPS differ from Clinton Primary School in that they are based upon a 100-point scale representing letter grades from A-D, Duke said.\r\n

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And, while there is no school uniform requirement at HAPS, there is a dress code which prohibits jogging, stretch, sweats, and pajama pants; slides, house shoes, flip flops, and high heels; shoes with lights, sounds or wheels; jeans or pants with holes; hats or hoodies in the building during the school day or events.\r\n

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Collared shirts (polo or button down styles) of any color with small print or logos are allowed, as are tee shirts with non-controversial graphics. Pants should be denim, cotton twill or chino fabric worn with a belt; and shorts, shirts, or dresses must be knee length or longer. Dresses or tops worn with leggings must reach the knee, Duke said.\r\n

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The school day at HAPS begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m., but the campus opens at 7:15 a.m., with breakfast served free of cost until 7:50 a.m.\r\n

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Car line arrivals and departures are on Seventh Street behind the campus, and bus line arrivals and departures are on the Washington Street bus circle, Duke said.\r\n

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Classes at HAPS will follow the HPSD calendar, and the first day of school for the 2018-2019 academic year will be Aug. 13.\r\n