Ouachita River School District

Oden Campus Announcement: K-6 students participating in tonight's Christmas musical need to be here at 5:45 in the high school music room. Choir and band students need to be here at 5:30 in the high school music room. The Musical Performance starts at 6:00 in the gym. The Live Nativity Play will immediately folllow.

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 November 2023 and were recognized at the ORSD November Board Meeting and will be at the upcoming December Board Meeting: Crystal Hill, Jennifer Barrett, Andy Bosch, Kim Posey, Sherri Powell, and Keith Willsey. Congratulations to all! #orsdlifeprep

Acorn Elementary will not have after-school tutoring the week of December 18, 2023.

2023-2024 AHS Homecoming Ceremony Acorn High School 2023-2024 Homecoming Ceremony and Junior Girls, Senior Girls and Senior Boys basketball games were held on Friday, December 8, 2023. The homecoming royalty court represented included the following from both Acorn Elementary School and Acorn High School: 1st Grade - Nova Sullivan, Flower Girl escorted by River Smith, Crown Bearer 1st Grade - Olivia Slater, Flower Girl escorted by David Tipton, Necklace Bearer Josey Dollar, Freshman Maid escorted by Regan Larucci, Freshman Kimberly Cline, Freshman Maid escorted by Eilam Holland, Freshman Kylee Johnson, Sophomore Maid escorted by Aaden Bissell, Sophomore KaitLynn Ledbetter, Sophomore Maid escorted by Kaden Carter, Sophomore Rebecca Moore, Junior Maid escorted by Blake Moore, Freshman Kohlea Carmack, Junior Maid escorted by Colton Taylor, Junior Sophie Strasner, Senior Maid escorted by Noah Holland, Senior Jordyn Prewett, Senior Maid escorted by Sean Rios, Senior Ava Smith-Hawley, Senior Maid of Honor escorted by Payton Davis, Senior Reigning 2022-2023 Queen Paige Parnell, escorted by Gage Davis, Sophomore Senior 2023-2024 Homecoming Queen Daisy Dollar escorted by Jasper Dollar, 8th Grade Reigning Queen Paige Parnell presented the Queen’s necklace and crown as she crowned Senior Queen Daisy Dollar. Queen Daisy Dollar shared her sentiments and gratitude to the student body for their vote and support as this year’s AHS Homecoming Queen. Acorn vs Foreman homecoming basketball included junior girls, senior boys and senior girls games. Homecoming festivities also included a dance held on Saturday, December 9th. Congratulations, Acorn 2023-2024 Homecoming Court! #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!

VFW Post #4451 Recognizes AHS Essay Winners & Teacher of the Year Acorn High School students were recognized and honored for their winning essays in the VFW Post #4451 (Veterans of Foreign Wars) 2021 Voices of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Essay Contests. Acorn High School English Teachers: Mrs. Amy Slater and Mrs. Kelly Slaten facilitate the essay contests for students. The students were recognized on November 21st at a ceremony hosted at the VFW Post American Legion Hall. The following students were awarded prizes for their essay rankings: Voices of Democracy Essay Rebecca Bloodworth, AHS Junior - Awarded 1st Place - $600 Matilda Grant, AHS Freshman - Awarded 2nd Place - $500 Kaitlynn Kedbetter, AHS Sophomore - Awarded 3rd Place - $400 Patriot’s Pen Essay Drew Mabry, AHS 7th Grader - Awarded 3rd Place - $100 Mr James Spradlin, AHS History Teacher was recognized as VFW High School Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to Mr. Spradlin and our AHS Tigers’ essay winners! #orsdlifeprep Photo 1 - l to r; Amy Slater, Rebecca Bloodworth, Kaitlynn Ledbetter, Matilda Grant, Drew Mabry and Kelly Slaten. Photo 2: Mr. James Spradlin, Acorn High School History Teacher 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 Alumni Scholarship Fundraiser Baked goodies & silent auction tonight, Friday, December 8th at AHS Homecoming games! Proceeds support Acorn Alumni Scholarship! Concession opens at 5:30 PM!

Acorn Homecoming Ceremony & Basketball Games vs Foreman Friday, December 8th Acorn Gymnasium Homecoming Ceremony - 5:00 PM Acorn Junior Girls, Senior Girls and Senior Boys games to follow Acorn Alumni Committee will be selling goodies and accepting donations for annual scholarship! 2023-2024 AHS Homecoming Royalty Queen: Daisy Dollar Escort: Jasper Dollar Maid of Honor: Ava Smith-Hawley Escort: Payton Davis Senior Maid: Jordyn Prewett Escort: Sean Rios Senior Maid: Sophie Strasner Escort: Noah Holland Junior Maid: Kohlea Carmack Escort: Colton Taylor Junior Maid: Rebecca Moore Escort: Blake Moore Sophomore Maid: Kylee Johnson Escort: Aaden Bissell Sophomore Maid: Kaitlynn Ledbetter Escort: Kaden Carter Freshmen Maid: Kimberly Cline Escort: Eilam Holland Freshmen Maid: Josey Dollar Escort: Regan Larucci Reigning 2022-2023 Queen: Paige Parnell Escort: Gage Davis Crown & Jewel Bearers: David Tipton & Olivia Slater River Smith & Nova Sullivan Congratulations to maids and escorts for this year's Acorn Homecoming Royalty Court!

The Oden K-6 elementary, high school choir and high school band Christmas musical will be December 13th at 6:00 p.m. in the gym. Students should be here by 5:45 p.m. Elementary students will go to the high school room 1 and 2, where teachers will be there to get them lined up. The annual Oden High School Nativity play will follow the elementary musical on December 13th at 6:45 in the Bill Kelly Gymnasium. The Oden Baptist Church will provide hot chocolate and cookies after the Live Nativity Play.

AHS National Honor Society Inducts New Members On October 9th, Acorn High School National Honor Society held an induction ceremony to welcome new members. National Honor Society is a prestigious honor organization recognizing members for academic achievement, leadership, and service. The program included: Welcome by President Ava Smith-Hawley, Pledge of Allegiance by Parliamentarian Kenzie Daniels and invocation, description of NHS characters by each current NHS Officer, and Ceremony Closing by Michelle McGee, AHS National Honor Society Advisor. Refreshments were served at the close of the ceremony. The 2023-2024 AHS National Honor Society Officers and Members At-Large are: President: Ava Smith-Hawley Vice President of Service: Payton Davis Vice President of Scholarship: Shay Allen Secretary: Kora Carter Treasurer: Meera Henry Reporter/Public Relations: Daisy Dollar Parliamentarian: Kenzie Daniels Members At-Large: Sarah Tedder Noah Holland Annabella Tedder Rileigh Husted Sophie Strasner Nehemiah Auer Rebecca Bloodworth Kohlea Carmack Christian Christiana Damon Cruz MaryClaire Laing Hailee Shores Caden Tarkinton The 2023-2024 Inductees are: Lauren Cruz Isabella Fowler Ireen Gilhousen Chloe Kelley Kaitlynn Ledbetter Zane Newton Summer Nix Lyndsey Powell Taylor Watts Karli Davis Congratulations, AHS National Honor Society Members & Inductees! 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!

ORSD Spotlight on Alumni! Acorn High School Alumna, Abigail Nance is serving and enrolled as a sophomore in the United States Naval Academy. Midshipman Abigail Nance is beginning her 4th semester in Aerospace Engineering at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Over the past year and a half, she has been part of a 3D printed rocket fuel research project and is working on a satellite project (RSat) with a robotic arm that will be tested on the ISS in January of 2024. Her endeavors and experiences at the US Naval Academy have also included being on a submarine, weeklong experiential learning in the US Marines, flown in many SIMS and was a backseater in a T38 jet, traveling across the United States working on various projects with groups, clubs, and multiple trainings. She is looking forward to starting her career as a naval officer upon graduation. Congratulations, Abigail! We are proud of you! Ouachita River School District...preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep

Acorn High School 2023 Homecoming Maids, Maid of Honor & Queen Queen: Daisy Dollar Maid of Honor: Ava Smith Hawley Senior Maid: Jordyn Prewett Senior Maid: Sophie Strasner Junior Maid: Kohlea Carmack Junior Maid: Rebecca Moore Sophomore Maid: Kylee Johnson Sophomore Maid: Kaitlynn Ledbetter Freshmen Maid: Kimberly Cline Freshmen Maid: Josey Dollar Congratulations, AHS Homecoming Maids, Maid of Honor and Queen! AHS Homecoming Friday, December 8, 2023 5:00 PM, games immediately following homecoming ceremony Acorn vs Foreman Acorn Gymnasium

On Friday, December 1st, Oden Schools hosted a magic show electrical safety presentation by Scott Davis of Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. Thank you, Mr. Davis for a great presentation! Ouachita River School District....preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep

Congratulations Acorn Lady Tigers on runner-up in the finals of the Scranton Tournament! The finals were held on Saturday in Scranton with the Acorn Lady Tigers facing off with the Dover Lady Pirates. The final score in overtime: Lady Tigers 56 and Lady Pirates 58. Great job, Coach Jackson and the Lady Tigers! We are proud of you! Ouachita River School District...preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep

Oden Homecoming Spirit week is Dec. 4-8! Go Wolves!

AHS Homecoming Dance Saturday, December 9, 2023 7PM - 10PM Acorn Cafetorium Tickets - $10 per person Grades 9th - 12th Must purchase tickets from AHS Office no later than noon on Thursday, December 7th.

ORSD Spotlight on Alumni! Acorn High School Alumna, Raeghan Weddle graduated from US Army Boot Camp in 2022. Upon graduation, she went into AIT (Advanced Individual Training) in 2022-2023 and graduated as an Army Medic and currently serving in the US Army Reserves. Raeghan is enrolled at UA Fort Smith majoring in psychology and biology. In the UAFS ROTC Program, she is known as Cadet Weddle. Raeghan was recently awarded the Minuteman Scholarship for her commitment to service and leadership. Congratulations, Cadet Raeghan Weddle! We are proud of you! Ouachita River School District...preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep

Acorn Elementary Quiz Bowl students competed at the bi-county elementary Quiz Bowl tournament today at UARM. Acorn A won 2nd place. They will be advancing to the DMESC Quiz Bowl finals at a later date.

AHS Homecoming Celebrating Spirit Week! Monday, Dec 4th Pajama Day Tuesday, Dec 5th Rhyme Without Reason Day Wednesday, Dec 6th Ken & Barbie Day Thursday, Dec 7th Throwback Day Friday, Dec 8th Blue & Gold Day Show your school spirit for homecoming week!

Acorn Music Department presents CHRISTMAS CONCERTS! Acorn Choir Concert Grades 5-12 Thursday, December 14th 7:00 PM Mary Davis Gym - Acorn Campus Acorn Band Concert Grades 7 - 12 Friday, December 15th 7:00 PM Mary Davis Gym - Acorn Campus Please mark your calendar for the events!

There is still time! Students in 5th and 6th grade need to turn in their participation form about the upcoming Christmas musical. Please have the form turned in by Friday, Dec. 1st. More forms are coming home today!