
Ouachita River School District will be closed for Fall Break
No school in session for Acorn and Oden campuses
Monday, November 13th & Tuesday, November 14, 2023


Acorn Students Experience Careers with Be Pro Be Proud
On Friday, October 20th, Be Pro Be Proud Workforce Training Workshops Mobile Unit set up on the Acorn Public Schools’ campus for a full day of engaging simulations for students to “test drive” and gain experience and knowledge about various careers and occupations.
Be Pro Be Proud Workshop Tour Coordinators Cam Turney and Jimmy Rodden provided an educational tour guide of each simulator experience and trained a group of student ambassadors to partner with students on the simulator stations. AHS Ambassadors included: Harlei McCourtney, Sophie Strasner, Kora Carter, Matthew Lyle, Hunter Neal, Buddy Cusson, Nicholi Carrillo and Noah Holland. The following area business and industry partners joined the students and Be Pro Be Proud throughout the day; John Larucci, RMEC; Steven Holland and Billy Carmack, NIDEC; and David Young, Sterling Machinery.
Cam Turney began the presentation and gave an overview of high demand technical skilled trades’ occupations, training and education requirements to obtain certifications, salary and hiring trends in Arkansas and across the nation with student groups. Turney closed his presentation with his personal testimony and encouraged students to engage in the simulation stations to learn more about their career interests and skills and research options to further their education and training in a skilled trades area. Student groups toured the simulation stations which included; excavation, construction site, plumbing, electrical, commercial truck driving, electrical lineman, robotics, welding, and CNC machining.
During the lunch break, Jimmy Rodden and Cam Turney shared their experiences and engaged in conversation with the student ambassadors about their career interests. One of the highlights of the day included BPBP Student Ambassador and AHS Senior Noah Holland achieving the task of stacking items in a formation on the Tyson Robotics Simulator. Way to go, Noah!
After each student group toured the simulation workshop stations, Rodden and Turney referred students to visit the Be Pro Be Proud website at https://beprobeproud.org/ for more information and to complete the survey. Students were provided a free copy of the Arkansas Next PROS magazine Arkansas next PROS.
Thank you Be Pro Be Proud for coming to Acorn High School to meet with our students and providing such engaging and enriching experiences for our students!
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 Athletics wants to thank everyone that attended the chili supper and dessert auction last night!!!! You all showed your love for our school and it is greatly appreciated!!

ORSD Spotlight on Alumni!
Acorn High School Alumnus, Tyler Lyle completed welding certifications and is employed by American Piping & Boiler Works. Tyler travels around the country for the company working on various welding projects and jobs.
Congratulations, Tyler! We are proud of you!
Ouachita River School District...preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep


Reminder!!!
Athletics Chili Supper and Dessert Auction tonight at the Acorn Cafeteria starting at 5:00 PM:)


Mrs. Larucci's Class won the Traveling Attendance Trophy last week!
Attendance Matters! Every Person, Every Day!



AR Point Club
25 Point Club~ Bri Bohlman, Elle Branham, Levi Cearley, Jase Cooke, Canyon Davis, Ella Decker, Aaron Huff, Serenity Mashaney, Jaelyn McKee, Cash Morgan, Addyson Riggins, River Smith, Maddison Squires, Jayson Wheeler, & Abigail Wood
50 Point Club~ Josslyn Dandikar, David Tipton, & Xarentiy Vaughn
75 Point Club~ Lily Arender
200 Point Club~ Vee Mabry
Way to Go Super Readers!!









October Students of the Month
Kindergarten~ Finn Owens, Paisleigh Heath, & Kynlee McCormick
1st Grade~ Kyle Bontrager, Kashlyn Hollin & Eli Willeford
2nd Grade~ Valerie Rose & Maddie Powell
3rd Grade~ Amelia Tedder, Xadrian Vaughn, & Hayden Higgins
4th Grade~ Jax Ryles & Truitt Strother
5th Grade~ Brylin Clark & Isabella Willeford
6th Grade~ John Wood & Maddison Squires





What? A 100-foot-long Banana Split?
Thank you Mena Elks for sponsoring this yummy event for our students here at AES!











To Infinity and Beyond!
Buzz, Woody, and the Toy Story Alien Crew had a blast dressing up for our last day of Red Ribbon Week and Halloween! Hope you all had a fun evening! We would love for you to share photos of your costumes in the comments!



AHS Project Prevent is hosting a FOOD DRIVE to support the Acorn Schools' Backpack Program
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Acorn vs Mt Ida Basketball Games @ Acorn Gym
Suggested items for donations including the following single serving/indidivual size items:
- Juice boxes
- Bottled water
- Snack sticks
- Snack crackers
- Chips
- Granola bars
- Easy open canned meals (ravoli, mac & cheese, spaghetti, etc...)
- Fruit cups
- Peanut butter
- Bagged snacks
Thank you@


Acorn Elementary 4th Grade & Ode Maddox 4th & 5th Grade Students Learn About Vision
Kathy Rusert working with Acorn Elementary 4th grade students dissect sheep eyeballs to discover how light energy passes through the eye so we can see.
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!






Update: We have 2 blankets left to sell
ATTENTION ACORN TIGER FANS:
We ordered 100 blankets and have 16 Tiger blankets left!!!If you haven't purchased one and would like to, please contact Mrs. Holland in the AHS office.
Blankets should be in before Christmas!!!


AHS Band & Choir HONORING MILITARY
Inviting all branches of the United States Veterans & Active Military to be recognized and honored at the Acorn vs Oden Basketball Games
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Games start at 5:30 PM


Please come out tonight and support our Acorn Athletes!!!!!
Acorn Athletics Chili Supper and Dessert Auction


Oden PTO Hosts Halloween Carnival
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Bill Kelly Gymnasium
Oden Public Schools
135 School Drive
Oden, AR 71961
Pageant starts 3:00 PM
Carnival immediately following pageant
Food, fun, games for everyone! Come join the fun!


Acorn Archery Practice is canceled for Friday, October 27, 2023
Thank you!
Coach Brittney Moore
bmoore@orsd.k12.ar.us


Acorn Students Awarded Miss Polk County Winners
On Saturday, October 14th, the 2023 Miss Polk County Pageant was held and from a total of 59 contestants from 7 age divisions, ages 0-15 competed in gown only and the Miss division, ages 16-21, competed in private interview (50%), casual wear (20%), and evening gown (30%).
Paisley Laughlin, 5th grade student from Acorn Elementary School was awarded Best Dressed in the 10-12 years of age division/category.
Lily Arender, 5th grade student at Acorn Elementary School was awarded 2nd Runner Up in the Petite Miss Polk County category.
In the Petite Miss Polk County competition (10-12 years of age), Jozie Daniels, 6th grade student from Acorn Elementary School, was crowned Queen.
In the Miss Polk County competition (16-21 years of age), Kenzie Daniels, Senior from Acorn High School, was crowned Queen. In addition to being crowned Miss Polk County Queen, Kenzie also received the following awards and scholarships:
- Academic Leadership Award - $200 scholarship provided by AmeriChemm, LLC
- Volunteer Service Award - $200 Scholarship provided by Rotary Club of Polk County/Mena
- Overall Interview Award - $150 scholarship provided by Mena Tire Co.
- Overall Evening Gown Award - $150 scholarship provided by The Fair Lady Boutique
- Overall Casual Wear Award - $150 scholarship provided by Select Realty
- Miss Polk County $500 Scholarship - provided by Polk County Fair & Rodeo Association
- Miss Polk County $500 Union Bank Scholarship - provided by Union Bank for any technical school or college of choice
Kenzie and Jozie Daniels are siblings and cherish this honor and memorable occasion as sisters.
Congratulations to Kenzie, Jozie, Lily & Paisley! 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 CLASSIC - 10-27 & 10-28-2023
Acorn Classic Basketball Tournament will be held Friday, October 27th & Saturday, October 28, 2023 at the Acorn Gymnasium.
UPDATED SCHEDULE as of 10/27/2023 -
Friday 10-27-2023
5:00 PM Bergman vs. Cossatot River Girls
6:10 PM Bergman vs. Cossatot River Boys
7:20 PM Acorn vs. Blevins Girls
8:40 PM Acorn vs. Nevada Boys
Saturday 10-28-2023
2:00 PM Acorn vs. Bergman Girls
3:10 PM Acorn vs. Bergman Boys
4:20 PM Cossatot River vs. Mulberry Girls
5:40 PM Cossatot River vs. Mulberry Boys
Livestream links
Friday, 10/27/2023: https://youtube.com/live/jy8ABbHWwFw?feature=share
Saturday, 10/28/2023: https://youtube.com/live/mSTKLQIEccM?feature=share



AES AR Point Club
25 Point Club~ Addis Myers, Natalie Moore, Eli Leonard, Tiffanie Bodwell, Mark Kincaid, Mary Nichols, & Parker Quinn
50 Point Club~ Grady Bohlman, Olivia Slater, & Pierse Slater
75 Point Club~ Reese McBride
125 Point Club~ Evie Norris
175 Point Club~ Vee Mabry





