Southside School District is located approximately five miles from
Batesville Arkansas on the outskirts of White River. The school
district has an estimated 1400 children enrolled in Kindergarten through 12
grade.
Southside Preschool has more than doubled in size since last school year, with
90 children currently enrolled. Some of those children are enrolled
in the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program and some are paid
for by tuition.
Southside School District has made a commitment to early childhood by
providing curriculum to all of our regulated childcares (private, faith
based, home based) off campus. They receive their curriculum once a month
year round. Studies show that the children who were receiving the
curriculum scored 58% higher on the Iowa Early Learning Inventory than the
children who did not receive the curriculum.
We also have an HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters;
children 3 to 5 years) Program which enrolled 80 children. This program,
free for children who are eligible, is so successful that plans are being made
for expansion. The district also began to provide their own early childhood special
education services to children who qualify.
We currently have a before- and after-school program called TRACKS (teaching
responsibility, attitude, courtesy and kindness to school age children.
This program has an array of collaborating partners such as: 4H, Batesville
Area Art's Council, media center at Southside and Independence County
Library,and includes a number of features including gymnastics, swimming, and
community service.
The newest project we have taken on this school year was our Kinder Camp.
This camp is designed for children who had never been enrolled in preschool.
Kinder Camp is held a one week before school starts. This camp helps
children become aware of the campus, the teachers, principal, buses and
general school routines. It was a huge success!
