Ouachita River School District

ORSD Preschools - 1st Day of School - August 15th Acorn Preschool Kathy Medford Preschool Building 143 Polk Road 96 Mena, AR 71953 Phone: (479) 394-2348, x. 416 OR (479) 394-394-4833 Acorn Elementary Office 1st Day of Preschool - Thursday, August 15th *Bus transportation will be available starting Tuesday, August 20th. Oden Preschool Oden Preschool Building 135 School Drive Oden, AR 71961 Phone: (870) 490-1195 OR (870) 326-4311 Oden Schools' Office 1st Day of Preschool - Thursday, August 15th Open house, registration, parent meetings and screenings will be conducted on August 15th. Friday, August 16th will be for registration and screenings. *Bus transportation will be available starting Tuesday, August 20th.

ATTN: ORSD Parents & Students The first day of classes on the ORSD - Acorn and Oden campuses for the 2024-2025 school year is Tuesday, August 20th for grades K-12 . School week and hours are 7:45 AM - 4:13 PM - Tuesday - Friday. Mondays are available and sign up will be set up at Open House events on each campus, Thursday, August 15th. We are excited and looking forward to serving you in the upcoming school year! #orsdlifeprep

ORSD Now Hiring Acorn Preschool position: Paraprofessional

Preschool Openings - Acorn and Oden Preschool Contact: Acorn Preschool Kathy Medford Preschool Building Phone: (479) 394-2348, x. 416 OR (479) 394-394-4833 Acorn Elementary Office Oden Preschool Oden Preschool Building Phone: (870) 490-1195 OR (870) 326-4311 Oden Schools' Office

Ouachita River School District - Acorn High School CTE Instructors Jim Pennington, Ricky Dollar & Mindy Lyle and School Counselor Tammy Young in attendance for the ArCTE 2024 Summer Conference. Mindy Lyle was recognized for state and national awards she received this year in the career and technical education field and her service on the ArCTE Board. Congratulations, Mindy! Arkansas Career and Technical Education (ArCTE) is a division of the national organization of Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE). The ArCTE Summer Conference is packed with hands-on sessions to provide valuable tools, resources and experiences to enhance and enrich instruction and practicum experiences in the classroom, course development, and career application. The conference hosts career and technical industry leaders and partners sharing knowledge and skills required to better prepare our future workforce and leaders. The ORSD Team is excited to share what we learned with our students and parents to help students be better prepared for life! #orsdlifeprep

Acorn Senior Class of 2025 will have their Senior Portraits taken on Friday August 9th in the Old Main Auditorium starting at 8 am. Letters with a scheduled time and details have been mailed, so be on the lookout for it! The casuals backdrop is a pattern of tan, cream, and sand colors this year. We will also be taking the senior athletes banner pictures during this timeframe. Contact Glynda Pearce at gpearce@orsd.k12.ar.us or text @ 479-234-0614 for questions or clarifications. We're going to have a fantastic Senior Year!

ATTN: ORSD Parents & Students Ouachita River School District will host a public meeting on Thursday, August 15, 2024 from 6:00 - 6:30 PM on both Acorn and Oden campuses. School starts on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 for grades K-12 on the Acorn and Oden campuses. School will be in session during the school year Tuesdays-Fridays, 7:45 AM – 4:13 PM. School on Mondays with a different timeframe than regular school days will be available starting the week beginning August 26th. A sign-up will be available at Open House events on both campuses for Monday school day. Basic school supplies will be provided for K-12 at Acorn and Oden campuses. Please check with your child’s building office and staff at Open House events for other supplies that may be needed or utilized and not provided by school such as; backpacks, water bottles, binders, etc.. We look forward to welcoming and serving you this year! #orsdlifeprep

Acorn Schools Backpack Food Program Available for all students enrolled at Acorn Schools 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM on designated dates Remaining distribution days for July 2024 Thursday July 11 Wednesday, July 17 Wednesday, July 24 Pick up will be at the Acorn High School Office (479) 394-5544 - AHS Office

AHS Seniors Awarded State Association Scholarships Kora Carter, AHS Class of 2024, was awarded a scholarship from the AACIA Graduating Senior Scholarship Program from the Arkansas Association of Curriculum and Instruction Administrators. Criteria for scholarship includes a graduating senior pursuing a degree in education. Carter plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Education, specializing in special education at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith for a career as a Special Education Teacher. Kenzie Daniels, AHS Class of 2024, was awarded a scholarship from the Arkansas Association of Pupil Transportation (AAPT) Scholarship Program for the Ben Farmer Scholarship. Criteria for scholarship includes a graduating senior who has or had a family member involved in the pupil transportation industry. Daniels plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Arkansas Fort Smith and advanced degree for a career as a nurse anesthetist. Sophie Strasner, AHS Class of 2024, was awarded a scholarship from the Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) Scholarship Program. Criteria for the scholarship includes a graduating senior from high school in Arkansas and must be a child, grandchild, adopted child, or stepchild of a current or retired county employee of Arkansas. Strasner plans to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Ouachita Baptist University and an advanced degree for a career as a Speech Pathologist. Congratulations, Kora, Kenzie and Sophie! We are proud of you! #orsdlifeprep

AHS Senior Zach Neugent built a desk for the Acorn Gym office from recycled and reclaimed lumber! Great work, Zach! #orsdlifeprep

Attention Oden Class of 2025! Heritage Photos will be taking Senior Portraits (Cap & Gown and Formals) next Wednesday, July 10th, from 11am-1pm in the cafeteria. There is a $20 fee for the session. (Make checks out to Heritage.) Pictures for senior basketball banners will also be taken that day. Contact Mrs. O with any questions!

ATTN: Hiring Substitutes! Monday, July 8th, ESS will be hosting an informational session and training. We would love to have you join us as a substitute! Visit ESS.com to start your application and be sure to register in advance using one of the links below. Register Now Oden Campus Register Now Acorn Campus

In observance of Independence Day on Thursday, Jully 4, 2024, Ouachita River School District - Acorn and Oden campuses will be closed

ATTENTION: ORSD Parents & Guardians See attachment for notice on descruction of SPED records and timeline.

ORSD Spotlight on Alumni! Acorn High School Alumnus, Trysten Richey is a senior at Southern Arkansas University achieving academic honors for the Spring 2024 SAU Dean’s List. Richey is majoring in K-12 Physical Education and Health. Congratulations, Trysten! We are proud of you! Ouachita River School District...preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep

ORSD Now Hiring Oden K-12 Schools positions: Paraprofessional Custodian Acorn Preschool position: Certified PreK Teacher

ORSD Spotlight on Alumni! Acorn High School Alumnus, Brody Webb is a senior at Southern Arkansas University achieving academic honors for the Spring 2024 SAU Dean’s List. Webb is majoring in Agricultural Business. In addition to his academic honors, Webb and members of the SAU Rodeo Team have qualified for the College National Rodeo Finals in Casper, Wyoming. Congratulations, Brody! We are proud of you! Ouachita River School District...preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep

22nd ACORN SCHOOL REUNION SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024 Acorn Old Main Gym/Auditorium 1:00 - 4:00 PM Registration begins at 1:00 P.M., general meeting will begin at 2:00 P.M, and fellowship will be through 4:00 P.M. Contact your classmates, teachers, and staff to encourage them to attend! The classes of Acorn High School Class of 1983 and Class of 1984 will be recognized and honored this year. For more information and event details, contact: Margo Reed Kimp (Class of 1969) margokimp@gmail.com 479-243-5435 Cheryl Anderson Boyd (Class of 1983) cboyd1964@yahoo.com 479-243-6648 Acorn School Reunion letter & contacts attachment

AAA Dead Period - Athletic Facilities & Fields Closed June 23 - July 6, 2024 All AAA (Arkansas Athletic Association) member schools will observe an annual mandatory two (2) week athletic dead period. During this time, coaches (licensed teacher coaches and registered volunteers) shall be prohibited from engaging in any type of activity involving student athletes whether it be practice, training, weight lifting, competition or travel. Further, school athletic facilities will be closed to student athletes during this period. Acorn and Oden campus athletic facilities and fields will be closed during the weeks of June 23 - July 6, 2024.

Ouachita River School District FY2025 Calendar