Oden K-12 Schools will receive a financial award totaling $17,809.66 through the Arkansas School Recognition Program as a result of their student achievement on state-wide testing. The program requires a committee consisting of the principal, a teacher elected by the staff, and a parent representative selected by the local parent organization to determine how the financial reward will be used. The recognition program requires that the financial reward be used for one or more of the following: nonrecurring bonuses to the faculty and staff, nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or materials to assist in maintaining and improving student performance, and temporary personnel for the school to assist in maintaining and improving student performance.
Congratulations ORSD - Oden Campus!
Committee members pictured from left to right are elected teacher representative Stephen Olmstead, Principal Elicia Bergum, and selected parent representative Jessi Shores.
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Acorn Homecoming SPIRIT WEEK
Week of Tuesday, December 16th - Friday, December 19th
Tuesday, December 16th - Tacky Tourist
Wednesday, December 17th - Camo vs Animal Print
Thursday, December 18th - Holiday Classics
Friday, December 19th - Blue/Gold
Acorn Homecoming Ceremony
Friday, December 19th
5:00 PM
Acorn vs Horatio Basketball Games to follow ceremony
The Acorn 7th Grade Lady Tigers and Tigers will travel to Horatio on December 6th to compete in the 7th Grade Jamboree! 🏀
Come out and support our teams as they represent Acorn with pride and determination!
📅 Game Times: To be announced.
Let’s go, Tigers! 💛💙
The Acorn Jr. Lady Tigers and Jr. Tigers will travel to Waldron to compete in the Waldron Junior High Tournament from December 8th-13th. 🏀
Come out and pack the stands to cheer on our Tigers as they battle for the title of Tournament Champions!
📅 Game Dates and Times: To be announced.
Let’s go Tigers! 💛💙
The Acorn Tigers travel to face the Magazine Rattlers on Friday, December 5, 2025. Tip-off begins with the JV Senior Boys at 5:00 p.m., followed by the Senior Girls and Senior Boys.
Come out and cheer on the Tigers as they battle it out on the court!
Please note: It is Magazine’s Homecoming, so the game may start a bit later than 5:00 p.m.
Mr. William Edwards II, Mr. Dewayne Taylor, Mrs. Apryl Philpot and Mrs. Tammy Young attended the Learn & Learn event hosted by Nidec Motor Corporation in Mena on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. The administrative leadership team at NIDEC provided important information about the company’s future expansion, workforce and career opportunities, benefits, training and education opportunities, etc…The event included a facility tour by starting from the beginning stage of production to the finished product for shipment.
The discussion and dialogue as community partners was invaluable! We are grateful for the opportunity and invitation to share in this experience and to share with our students!
Thank you, Nidec Motor Corporation for partnering with Ouachita River School District to better prepare students for life!
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Thursday, December 11, 2025
6:30 PM - doors open at 5:45 PM
Mary Davis Gym - Acorn campus (143 Polk Road 96, Mena, AR 71953)
Bake Sale and Concessions Available
Presented by:
Acorn Elementary 5th & 6th Grades
Acorn High School 7th - 12th Grades Band & Choir
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🎄 AES Presents: Christmas at the OK Corral 🤠
Acorn Elementary is excited to invite you to our Annual Elementary Holiday Musical – Christmas at the OK Corral!
Join us Tonight in the Acorn New Gym for a festive evening of music and fun!
🎬 Performance Schedule:
Kindergarten & 1st Grade: 6:00 PM
2nd – 4th Grades: 7:00 PM
🎤 Speakers and actors will stay for both performances.
👕 Student Attire:
Students should wear a white t-shirt, jeans, and boots (if they have them). Each student will receive a red bandana upon arrival.
We would love for everyone to come out, enjoy the show, and support our amazing students as they share the spirit of Holidays—Western style!
Friday, December 19th
9-11 PM
Acorn Cafetorium
Acorn High School Students in grades 9th -1 2th (only) may attend with purchased ticket.
Ticket - $10 per person
Ticket must be paid and registration MUST be completed before lunch on Thursday, December 18th.
For tickets and registration, contact: Kristina Johnson (Acorn High School).
479-394-5544, kjohnson@orsd.k12.ar.us
HERFF JONES will be on campus tomorrow to meet with seniors and juniors.
Senior meeting is at 9:00 AM in the Testing room.
Junior meeting is at 9:30 AM in the Testing room.
“Get ready for game night! The Oden Timberwolves will host the Nevada Blue Jays at home on December 2, 2025. Action tips off with the Junior Boys at 5:00 p.m., followed by the Senior Teams. Come out and pack the gym to cheer on your Timberwolves!”
Acorn Elementary is excited to invite you to our Annual Elementary Holiday Musical – Christmas at the OK Corral!
Join us Thursday, December 4th, in the Acorn New Gym for a festive evening of music and fun!
🎬 Performance Schedule:
Kindergarten & 1st Grade: 6:00 PM
2nd – 4th Grades: 7:00 PM
🎤 Speakers and actors will stay for both performances.
👕 Student Attire:
Students should wear a white t-shirt, jeans, and boots (if they have them). Each student will receive a red bandana upon arrival.
We would love for everyone to come out, enjoy the show, and support our amazing students as they share the spirit of Holidays—Western style!
ORSD - Acorn and Oden campuses ATLAS INTERIM TESTING
Week of Tuesday, December 2nd - Friday, December 5, 2025
In the best effort to help students be ready and better prepared for this week's upcoming ATLAS INTERIM TESTING, students need to do the following:
- Get plenty of rest & sleep
- Practice & review
- Eat healthy meals & snacks
- Be mentally prepared
- Be at school each day and arrive on time
Students MUST bring their school -issued Chromebook fully-charged to school each day for testing. Thank you for partnering with Ouachita River School District to ensure testing week is a success!
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Winter Break Announcement
The Ouachita River School District – Acorn and Oden Campuses will be closed December 22nd through January 5th as we celebrate the Holiday Season with our families.
Staff Development Meetings will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026
The Monday Program for students will not be in session on Monday, January 5, 2026
School resumes on Tuesday, January 6, 2026
The ORSD family wishes you peace, joy, and happiness throughout this holiday season! 🌟
The Acorn Sr. Lady Tigers and Sr. Tigers will travel to Booneville to compete in the Booneville Senior High Tournament from December 1st-6th. 🏀
Come out and pack the stands to cheer on our Tigers as they battle for the title of Tournament Champions!
📅 Game Dates and Times: To be announced.
Let’s go Tigers! 💛💙
Grateful for our students, staff, families & community!
The Ouachita River School District mission is to provide a safe, caring environment where everyone learns and grows to be prepared for life.
See
Everyone
Receive
Victory
Everyday
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2025-2026 Career Expo
On November 20th, area high schools from Polk and Montgomery Counties in partnership with the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Community College and area, regional and statewide businesses, industries, organizations and agencies hosted the 2025-2026 Career Expo event in the Dick and Frances Carver Grand Hall of the Ouachita Center on the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain main campus. The event was from 9-11:00 a.m. with over 75+ career representatives from business, industry, agencies, organizations, military branches, and higher education institutions.
High school juniors and seniors from each of the five high schools were represented: Cossatot River School District - Cossatot River High School and Umpire High School, Mena School District, Ouachita River School District - Acorn High School and Ouachita River School District - Oden High School. The event involved career representatives sharing information, training and career opportunities both current and future for students to learn about and help develop their postsecondary plans. Students were tasked with asking questions and obtaining signatures from career representatives they met with during the event in an effort to facilitate opportunities for employment, internships, apprenticeships, job shadow experiences, education, and training based on students’ career pathways, skills, and career goals. Students also learned about potential career and occupational pathways to explore as a result of this experience. The event was a huge success for students, career and community partners, and school districts.
A huge “THANK YOU” to our community partners and career representatives in attendance:
- University of Arkansas Rich Mountain - Cosmetology Program
- University of Arkansas Rich Mountain - Advanced Manufacturing Machine Tool Program
- University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Library Services - PreEducator Program
- USDA - U.S. Forest Service
- Progressive Therapy.
- Healthy Connections, Inc.
- Dequeen/Mena Education Service Cooperative
- Union Bank
- Chambers Bank
- City of Mena & Mena Fire Department
- Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce
- Mena Regional Health System
- The Mena Star & Ouachita Trading Post
- KENA & KQOR Broadcasting
- Repops
- Queen Wilhelmina State Park
- Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative
- Southwest EMS
- US Army National Guard
- US Marine Corps
- US Army & Army Reserves
- National Park College
- Heavy Equipment Operating Academy
- Select Realty
- Polk County Developmental Center
- Choctaw Nation Careers
- Cossatot River State Park
- We Believe Nationwide Roofing & Exteriors
- Cypress Creek Forestry
- JLM Delivers (Trucking)
- UA Cooperative Extension Service
- Central South/Southwest Carpenters Millright
- Arkansas Workforce Connections
- Bradley’s Garage
- Western Arkansas Planning & Development District
Area high schools will be hosting the annual CAREER CONNECT - Reverse Career Fair for seniors on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 - 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM in the Ouachita Center on the UA Rich Mountain main campus. This event will involve seniors from five high schools participating in interviews and providing their resume to career and community representatives. Career and community representatives interested in participating in the reverse career fair event to interview seniors, please contact: Tammy Young at (4790 394-5544, x.104 or tyoung@orsd.k12.ar.us
Our school districts and counselors would like to extend our gratitude to the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain, DeQueen-Mena Education Service Cooperative, Western Arkansas Planning & Development District, Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce and all of the career and community representatives and partners! Thank you for sharing your time, talents and important information with our students in helping them be better prepared for life!
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Queen: KaitLynn Ledbetter
Maid of Honor: Kylee Johnson
Senior Maid: Kira Dejarlo
Senior Maid: Victoria Squires
Junior Maid: Lanee Shaddon
Junior Maid: Mylee Sharp
Sophomore Maid: Ashlin Ford
Sophomore Maid: Adalyn Bohlman
Freshman Maid: Bailey Myers
Freshman Maid: Annabelle Daniels
Congratulations to the AHS Homecoming Royalty Court!
AHS Homecoming Ceremony
Friday, December 19, 2025
5:00 PM - Acorn Gymnasium
Basketball games start after ceremony
