Ouachita River School District

ATTENTION: ACORN Students, Parents, Staff and Community IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - Bus Routes In assessing the current road conditions, buses are not able to travel on the following bus routes (side roads) - this will impact bus travel on the following dates and times: Tuesday, January 14th - afternoon/drop off Wednesday, January 15th - morning/pick up Polk Road 70 - Posey Hollow bus route - Danielle Powell bus route Polk Road 76 - Posey Hollow bus route - Danielle Powell bus route Polk Road 676 - Posey Hollow bus route - Danielle Powell bus route Racetrack Road - Dewayne Taylor bus route Polk Road 189 - Sam Horn bus route Polk Road 76 East - Sam Horn bus route Polk Road 54 - Ransom Road - Jackye Simon bus route Treasure Lane - Sherri Wright bus route The bus routes above are in reference to the ORSD - ACORN campus only. Respectfully, Jerrall Strasner, ORSD Superintendent

ATTENTION: ORSD Students, Parents, Staff & Community UPDATE: MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2025 Ouachita River School District - Acorn and Oden campuses will be in session on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. School will resume for regular scheduled hours: 7:45 AM - 4:13 PM. Buses will run only on main roads that are cleared on their scheduled routes. If you are unable to meet at your scheduled bus stop or bring your child to school due to the road conditions, please contact your child's building office. Staff, please contact your building administration if you are unable to travel to campus or will be delayed. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in partnering with ORSD in exercising caution to ensure safety. Respectfully, Jerrall Strasner, ORSD Superintendent William Edwards, II, ORSD Assistant Superintendent

Acorn Junior Teams are set to compete in the Umpire Junior Tournament beginning Wednesday, January 15th. Jr Girls first game will be @ 330pm, Jr Boys first game will be @ 430pm, Both teams will take on Kirby Trojans. If they win their first round they will be back in action in Umpire on Saturday, January 18th. Brackets have been attached. Come out and support the Junior Tigers!

Acorn Jr Girls & both Senior Teams will be in action Tuesday, January 14th @ 5 pm in The Acorn New Gym against Hector.

Acorn Game VS JC Westside has been Canceled for Monday, Jan. 13th. It will be rescheduled at a later time! Stay safe & warm in this cold snowy weather!

ATTENTION: ORSD Students, Parents, Staff and Community DATE: SUNDAY, January 12, 2025 Due to poor road conditions and with the safety of our students , families and staff of utmost importance, ORSD - Acorn and Oden campuses will be closed on Monday, January 13, 2025. At this time, the plan is for school to resume on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 regular school hours - 7:45 AM - 4:13 PM. An update will be shared as we monitor conditions on Monday in preparation for Tuesday. Respectfully, Jerrall Strasner, ORSD Superintendent William Edwards, II , ORSD Assistant Superintendent

January is Board Appreciation Month The Ouachita River School District family would like to express our gratitude and appreciation for our District School Board! Chris Tedder, President Cheryl Boyd, Vice President Gene Monk, Secretary Rhonda Anderson Annette Hays Jason Neugent Lana Philpot Thank you for leading and serving Ouachita River School District well! #orsdlifeprep

WEATHER PERMITTING!!!! Game schedule has changed! Acorn Jr Girls & Seniors will travel to JC Westside Monday, January 13th!! Games will begin at 5pm.. WEATHER PERMITTING!!

ATTENTION: Acorn High School Students - Virtual Program Acorn High School Students enrolled in Virtual Program this semester are not required to but may attend on Monday, January 13th and Monday, January 20th. Please contact the Acorn High School Office at (479) 394-5544 if you have questions or need additional information. Respectfully, Dewayne Taylor, Acorn High School Principal

Attention Acorn Parents and Family! Due to school closing for inclement weather, the Class Pictures are rescheduled for next Thursday January 16th. Stay safe and warm.

ATTENTION: ORSD Students, Parents, Staff & Community WEATHER UPDATE ORSD - Acorn and Oden campuses will be CLOSED for Thursday, January 9, 2025 and Friday, January 10, 2025 due to inclement weather. The make-up day for Thursday, January 9, 2025 is scheduled for Monday, January 13, 2025. The make-up day for Friday, January 10, 2025 is scheduled for Monday, January 20, 2025. Make-up days on the Mondays listed will be full day school sessions - 7:45 AM - 4:13 PM. If the situation changes, updates will be posted and sent via District messaging system. Please check messages and posts for current updates! Respectfully, Jerrall Strasner, ORSD Superintendent William Edwards, ORSD Assistant Superintendent

ATTENTION: ORSD Students, Parents, Staff & Community With the impending weather forecast, we are closely monitoring the situation in the event of inclement weather that would impact school closure or delays. We will review the weather data throughout today and evening. Any decision to close or delay school for ORSD - Acorn and/or Oden campuses will be posted on social media (ORSD Facebook page) and messages will be shared via text communication through our District messaging system. Respectfully, Jerrall Strasner, ORSD Superintendent William Edwards, ORSD Assistant Superintendent

The Polk County Spelling Bee will be held February 26, 2025, at 9:00 am in the AES Gym!

AHS Harlei McCourtney Honored for AHSCA West All-Star Team Acorn High School Alumna Harlei McCourtney was recognized and honored for her athletic achievement as a member of the 2024 AHSCA West All-Star Girls Basketball Team. The all-star game, West vs East was played on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at the Farris Center on the University of Central Arkansas campus in Conway, Arkansas. The West Team defeated the East Team with a final score of 73-68. Acorn High School recognized Harlei McCourtney and a plaque of her jersey worn in the game will be on display in the Acorn Gymnasium. Harlei continues her basketball career at National Park College as a member of the Lady Nighthawks Team. Congratulations, Harlei! We are proud of you! Ouachita River School District....preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep Ouachita River School District Through a safe, caring, and serving environment, students learn, grow, excel, and succeed...this is our mission in preparing students for LIFE!

Acorn Campus Class Picture Day. Thursday, January 9th, 2025. Acorn Elementary will have Class pictures; Acorn High School will have Class & Group Pictures. Order forms will be sent home with your student tomorrow.

Oden Jr Boys & Sr teams set to travel to Umpire January 7, 2025 Play starts @ 530 pm

Acorn Jr Boys & Sr Teams set to play Mountainburg @ Home @ 5 pm on January 7, 2025

AHS Honors Athletes In December 2024, Acorn High School athletes were recognized for their achievements in the following sports - softball, cross country and track: Aiden Kimp - 2024 All State 2A State Cross Country Championships Harlei McCourtney, Josey Dollar, Tori Squires and Kloee Husser - 2024 All State 2A Track 4 x 200 Relay (Raegan McCourtney accepting award for Harlei McCourtney) Annabella Tedder - 2024 All State 2A 1600 and 3200 Caden Tarkinton - 2024 All State 2A 800 meter KaitLynn Ledbetter - All State 2A Softball Noah Holland - 2024 All State 2A 300 Hurdles (not pictured) Congratulations to these outstanding athletes! We are proud of you! Ouachita River School District....preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep Ouachita River School District Through a safe, caring, and serving environment, students learn, grow, excel, and succeed...this is our mission in preparing students for LIFE!

12-13-2024 Acorn vs Oden Cruizzers Players of the Game JR Boys Clay Carmack - Oden Beau Rodgers - Acorn SR Girls Sydney Holliday - Acorn Kloee Husser - Oden SR Boys Ethan Gilbert - Acorn Chase Hobbs - Acorn Luke McAnelly - Oden Congratulations! We are proud of you! #AEStigersSERVE #OHSwolvesSERVE

Acorn Junior Wins 2nd in Arkansas Peace Week Art Contest In the fall 2024 semester, Arkansas Arts Council: The Arts in Education (AIE) Program hosts Arkansas Peace Week Youth Art Contest that is open to Arkansas students in grades 1st - 12th. In 2023, over 2,000 submissions were received from all over Arkansas. Submissions for this year were to address the following theme: “What does peace mean to you?” Art entries should depict a more peaceful community. Acorn High School Junior Brooke Osufsen entered the Arkansas Peace Week Art Contest and won 2nd Place for 11th grade entries! Her art entry titled, “Girl in Water” is shown in the photo with her award certificate for 2nd place and a check for $25. Congratulations, Brooke! We are proud of you! Ouachita River School District....preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep Ouachita River School District Through a safe, caring, and serving environment, students learn, grow, excel, and succeed...this is our mission in preparing students for LIFE!