Ouachita River School District

2024-2025 Career Fair Expo On February 4th, area high schools from Polk and Montgomery Counties in partnership with the following event sponsors; University of Arkansas Rich Mountain, Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce and Dequeen-Mena Education Service Cooperative hosted the 2024-2025 Career Fair 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, 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 - Computer Systems & Business Programs - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain - Nursing Programs - University of Arkansas - Welding Program - University of Arkansas - Advanced Manufacturing/Machine Tool Technology Program - USDA - U.S. Forest Service - Progressive Therapy - Tyson Foods, Inc. - Healthy Connections, Inc. - Dequeen/Mena Education Service Cooperative - USDA - NRCS Rich Mountain Conservation District - Union Bank - 24-Hour Fitness - Arkansas Division of Workforce Services - Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Arkansas Department of Transportation - University of Arkansas Medical Services - Cancer Institute - City of Mena - Mena Fire Department - Mena City Police - Polk County Sheriff’s Department - Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce - Student Management Group - Exchange Program - Aleshire Electric - Sterling Equipment - Mena Regional Health System - The Mena Star & Ouachita Trading Post - Ouachita Broadcasting - Nidec Motor Corporation - Repops - Ouachita Children’s Coalition - Queen Wilhelmina State Park - Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative - Southwest EMS - Camp Ozark - US Army National Guard - National Park College - Polk County Farm Bureau Area high schools will be hosting the annual CAREER CONNECT - Reverse Career Fair for seniors on Wednesday, April 2nd - 9:00 AM - 11:00 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, 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! #orsdlifeprep

Acorn to Host the 2-A Junior High District. Come on out and support all these wonderful teams. Especially your Acorn Jr Tigers, who play February 10th @ 515 pm, and your Acorn Jr Lady Tigers, who play February 12th @ 4 pm.

ORSD - Acorn High School Celebrates Senior Athletes On Friday, February 7th, Acorn High School Class of 2025 athletes were recognized during the AHS Senior Night ceremony by a great crowd of family, friends and supporters. Parents escorted the senior athletes in the recognition ceremony prior to the Acorn Lady Tigers and Acorn Tigers senior basketball games versus Danville on the Mike Jackson Court in the Acorn Gymnasium. The following AHS seniors in attendance were recognized: Chanity Hall Sydney Holliday Aiden Kimp Kolbi McCourtney Raegan McCourtney Fredrick Metcalf Rebecca Moore Hailee Shores Caden Tarkinton Colton Taylor Jordan Wagner Congratulations, AHS Seniors! We are proud of you! #orsdlifeprep

Congratulations to Mrs. Brittney Moore and Mrs. Toby Hollin for receiving the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Education Grant . This grant will be used to purchase archery equipment. We appreciate all of your time and effort you have spent in working with our archery team.

Happy National School Counseling Week! Thank you, Mrs. Tammy Young and Mrs. KyLynn Ledbetter! We appreciate everything you do to support our students and ORSD!

Oden Jr Boys & Both Sr teams will travel to St. Paul on February 7, 2025, to play @ 5 pm.

Acorn Jr Girls, Sr Girls, & Sr Boys will host Danville @ Acorn February 7, 2025 with games beginning @ 5 pm. Acorn will be celebrating their Senior Athletes following the Jr Girls game.

Acorn Home game against Whitesboro has been canceled due to the opposing team having the Flu.

Attention Acorn Tigers Fans: Games against Whitesboro tonight have been cancelled for this evening due to the opposing team having flu.

Acorn Senior Teams are set to host Whitesboro @ Acorn on February 6, 2025, with the JV Senior Girls game beginning at 5 pm, followed by the JV Senior Boys game. Then the Sr Girls and then Sr Boys games to follow.

Acorn Campus Valentine's Day drop-off times. We ask that you drop gifts off between 830 am - 1pm. Balloons and Glass will NOT be permitted on the bus.

AHS Senior Aiden Kimp Signs UARM XC On Thursday, January 30, 2025, Acorn High School Cross Country athlete Aiden Kimp signed with the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Cross Country (XC) and Track Teams for the 2025-2026 season. Kimp has competed in cross country on the Acorn High School cross country and track teams at the local, conference, regional and state levels during his high school career. Kimp was All-District XC Meet and District Champion, 2nd in Regional Meet, 3rd in State XC Meet, and 2nd Overall in the River Valley All-Star XC Meet. Congratulations, Aiden Kimp! We are proud of you! 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!

Just a friendly reminder! ORSD - Acorn and Oden campuses will be in regular session on the following make-up days from inclement weather in January 2025: Monday, February 10, 2025 - 7:45 AM - 4:13 PM Monday, March 10, 2025 - 7:45 AM - 4:13 PM

ORSD Spotlight on Alumni! AHS Alumni Spotlight – Nicholi Carrillo AHS Spotlight on alumnus is Nicholli Carrillo. Nicholi Carrillo is currently training and serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. Congratulations, Nicholi! We are proud of you! Ouachita River School District...preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep

Myers Cruizzers Players of the Game Acorn vs Hackett February 4, 2025 @ Acorn Gym Congratulations, Addi, Chanity & Fredrick!

Acorn Athletics to celebrate their Senior Athletes!! Friday, February 7th, 2025. Celebration to directly follow the Jr Girls game that begins at 5pm!! Come out to help us celebrate!

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT ACORN & ODEN Campuses SCHOOL CHOICE Deadline: May 1, 2025 ORSD SCHOOL CHOICE FY2026 Steps to complete the process include: 1 - Complete the APPLICATION FOR SCHOOL CHOICE TRANSFER https://www.ouachitariversd.org/page/arkansas-public-school-choice-act-of-2015 2 - On or before May 1, 2025 deadline, submit the completed application. Applications may be delivered or mailed to the Acorn campus or Oden campus or the Ouachita River School District Administration Office.

Acorn Jr Girls and both Sr Teams to host Hackett on February 4, 2025, @ 5 pm.

Oden Jr Boys and Both Sr teams are set to host Mt. Ida Lions on February 4, 2025 with games beginning at 5:30 pm.

National School Counseling Week is February 3rd - 7th, and at ORSD, we are proud to recognize and celebrate our outstanding school counselors. We are incredibly fortunate to have three dedicated professionals who go above and beyond for our students daily: Tammy Young at Acorn High School, Apryl Philpot at Oden High School, and Kylynn Ledbetter, who serves both Acorn and Oden Schools. Their hard work, compassion, and commitment to student success impact our school community. Thank you for all that you do!