Ouachita River School District

Acorn Schools Backpack Food Program Wednesdays - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Remaining distribution days for June & July 2024 Wednesday, June 19 Wednesday, June 26 Wednesday, July 3 Pick up will be at the Acorn High School Office (479) 394-5544 - AHS Office

ORSD Now Hiring Paraprofessional Oden K-12 Schools Inquiries, contact: William Edwards, II, ORSD Assistant Superintendent (870) 326-4311 Oden K-12 Schools 135 School Drive Oden, AR 71961

ORSD Now Hiring Math Teacher - 5th Grade Acorn Elementary School Inquiries, contact: Jerrall Strasner, ORSD Superintendent (479) 394-2348 ORSD Administration Office 143 Polk Road 96 Mena, AR 71953

ATTENTION - Preschool Registration at ORSD! The Oden ABC Preschool on the Oden Schools’ campus is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year! Your child must be 3 years of age on or before the August 1, 2024 deadline. In order to complete registration, you must submit all of the following documentation: * Proof of Income (2023 tax information, if available) If not available or income changed from 2023 to current status due to a possible income change, a current month’s check stubs (30 days prior to date of application) may be accepted for proof of income. Due to program eligibility guidelines, proof of income from check stubs cannot be older than 30 days prior to application. If 2024 taxes are accurate, please provide a copy for proof of income. * Immunization Record - Must be current including 4-year old immunizations. If your child is 4 years of age by the date of the application, please make sure the immunization record submitted includes the current immunizations. * Birth Certificate * Social Security Card * Proof of Health Physical - physical within the past year will be sufficient until expiration - a physical is not required upon registration but needs to be done as soon as possible and proof submitted for enrollment to be processed. Without proof of physical, the student will be moved to the waiting list. *Utility Bill or Statement - verifying current address All documents listed above (in bold) are required to be submitted to process registration and enrollment. THANK YOU for your interest in our preschool program at Oden! Our staff look forward to meeting and working with you and your child this upcoming school year! Kimberly Robertson, Director Applications are available now through August at Oden K-12 Schools’ Office. Please complete the form link: https://forms.gle/z977VR8e7mkTG6uw6 For more information, contact: Oden ABC Preschool (870) 490-1195 (preschool phone) Oden K-12 Schools (870) 326-4311 135 School Drive | Oden, AR 71961 #orsdlifeprep

2024-2025 Acorn Preschool Registration To register, child must be 3 or 4 years of age on or by August 1, 2024. The following documentation is needed for registration: - Birth certificate - Social Security card - Current immunization record - Current physical - Verification of household income & address - Completed application. Applications may be obtained from the Acorn Elementary School office. Acorn Preschool Kathy Medford Preschool Building 143 Polk Road 96 Mena, AR 71953 (479) 394-4833 x, 416

THANK YOU, Mena Regional Health System!! Acorn Schools' received generous donations from Mena Regional Health System to supply the Backpack Program! Thank you! #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

Ouachita River School District - closed on Memorial Day Acorn and Oden campuses will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2024 in observance of Memorial Day

ORSD Spotlight on Alumni! Acorn High School Alumnus, Jeb Willborg completed a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas in May 2024. He received the distinguished honor and recognition for Outstanding Bachelor of Science in Education in Physical Education Award. Congratulations, Jeb! We are proud of you! Ouachita River School District...preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep

Attention AHS Senior Athletes If you did not pick up your sports banner(s) from the office or your senior night poster, please stop by the high school office today or before noon tomorrow to pick it up:)

Ouachita River School District Celebrates Employees of the Month The following staff were voted ORSD Employees of the Month by their peers for the month of May 2024 and were recognized at the ORSD May Board Meeting: Nicole Edwards and Patty Carmack Congratulations! #orsdlifeprep

Acorn Students Compete in National Poetry Contest Acorn High School students in grades 8th, 10th & 11th submitted poetry to the 18th Annual National Student Poetry Contest offered by the America Library of Poetry. The students have the opportunity to win over 62 prizes including cash, laptops, tablets, shopping sprees, and Amazon gift cards. They also have the opportunity to be published in a poetry anthology this fall. Several former students of AHS have received the honor of publication through this contest. Results will be published this fall. AHS students submitting poetry in May 2024 include: 8th grade: Adalyn Bohlman Jaylen McQueen 10th grade: William Bloodworth Dodge Couture Lauren Cruz Isabella Fowler Irene Gilhousen Chloe Kelley Tazanna Haggard KaitLynn Ledbetter Brookelyn Lewis Lacy McEntire Macy McEntire Zane Newton Summer Nix Brooke Osufusen Lyndsey Powell Lana Revels Victoria Squires 11th grade: Rebecca Bloodworth Congratulations to all competitors! #orsdlifeprep

Oden Woods and Waters Club Spring Fishing Tournament Oden Woods & Waters Club, Oden High School's outdoor education and recreation club, held their annual Spring Fishing Tournament on North Fork Lake on Saturday, May 11th. Food and prizes were provided to club members, parents and guests. A spinning reel combo, tackle box, and a Walmart gift card were awarded to the three anglers who landed the largest bass. All anglers received various fishing tackle, camping gear, and outdoor equipment. Prizes were partially donated by Big T's and former Oden Woods and Waters Member Jeffery Stovall. Food was donated by Mena Walmart. Pictured from left to right are OWWC Sponsor William Edwards, club members Emma Gray, Bellanova McLoud-Silcocks, Raina McLoud-Silcocks, Tristen McLoud-Silcocks, Hayden Allen, Tegan Gray, Hayden Robinson, Owen Hill, Clay Carmack, Eric Aldridge, and guest Jordan Carmack (photo by Kim Gray). Weigh In OWWC Sponsor, William Edwards, weighs-in fish for OWWC Club Member Owen Hill. Owen Hill won first prize for the largest bass. Weigh In-Emma Gray OWWC Member Emma Gray, weighs-in her fish. Emma finished in the top four. Weigh In-Hayden Allen OWWC Member Hayden Gray, weighs-in his fish. Hayden finished in the top four. Top Four The top four anglers from the tournament pictured from left to right are Hayden Allen, Emma Gray, Tegan Gray, and Owen Hill (photo by Kim Gray). Alumni Mentorship and alumni sponsorship are values ingrained in the club's culture. This year's tournament involved OWWC Alumni Travis Gray, Kim Robertson, William Edwards, Jeffery Stovall, and (not pictured) Tommy Beshears. Congratulations to all competitors and thank you to our alumni and community for your support! #orsdlifeprep

AHS Alumni Spotlight - Jacob Cottman Jacob Cottman is employed by Tyson of Grannis and works in Harvest Room Labor Department. Congratulations, Jacob! We are proud of you! #orsdlifeprep

AES would like to give a big thanks to Upward Bound for donating a bike for our End of the Year Paw Drawing, which Kyzer Daughtery won. Students earned tickets for good behavior and making good choices throughout the school year. Those tickets were collected all year long and names were drawn for prizes.

Acorn High School Class of 2024 Spotlight - Autumn Yoakem Congratulations, Autumn! Proud of you! AHS Commencement Ceremony Thursday, May 16, 2024 7:00 PM Acorn Gymnasium

Acorn High School Class of 2024 Kenzie Daniels, Valedictorian Sophie Strasner, Salutatorian Kenzie Daniels is the daughter of Jon and Lisa Daniels. Her higher educational goals including attending the University of Arkansa Fort Smith in the Myles Friedman Honors Program to pursue an APRN and advanced degree for her career as a Nurse Anesthetist. Sophie Strasner is the daughter of Jerrall and Misti Strasner. Her higher educational goals include attending Ouachita Baptist University to pursue a BA in Communication Disorders and advanced degree in Speech & language Pathology for her career as a Speech Therapist. Congratulations, Kenzie and Sophie! #orsdlifeprep

Students and teachers celebrated, "Grandma Davis". She has worked in Acorn Elementary's First Grade with Mrs. Priddy as a part of the DMEC Foster Grandparent program for the past 13 years. Grandma Davis' kindness, compassion and dedication to our students has truly influenced us all and will be dearly missed as this is her final year with the Grandparent program. Thank you, Grandma Davis, for your service and love towards the students. Your contribution to the school community is truly appreciated.

Acorn High School Class of 2024 Spotlight - Paige Smedley Congratulations, Paige! Proud of you! AHS Commencement Ceremony Thursday, May 16, 2024 7:00 PM Acorn Gymnasium

ATTENTION: ORSD Parents Reminder to pay your child’s meal charges by Friday, May 17th . You can pay at your child’s building, the ORSD Administration Office or online at www.ezschoolpay.com