Ouachita River School District

ORSD hosted technology specialist Tyra Hobson for Google certification level 1 and 2.

ORSD hosted DMESC math specialist Andria Miller today. Several members of the math team K-12 learned about the new math standards and the summative test, ATLAS.

Are you interested in being a substitute teacher for the new school year? ESS will be hosting two hiring timeframes on July 12, 2023 on the Ouachita River School District campuses - Oden and Acorn. Wednesday, July 12th ODEN Campus - 10 - 11:30 AM Wednesday, July 12th ACORN Campus - 1:30 - 3:30 PM See attached flier for details.

ORSD School Counselors Linda Heath, Apryl Philpot and Tammy Young attended the 2023 ArSCA Conference in Hot Springs. The conference hosted a variety of sessions on topics to equip school counselors with tools and strategies for serving students, families, staff and schools. ArSCA is the Arkansas School Counselors Association and this year's theme was, "You Don't Have To Wear A Cape To Be A Hero...You Just Have To Care." Thank you, ArSCA for a great conference!

ATTENTION: ORSD Parents Important Announcement - see attached

Oden Preschool Awarded Early Literacy Grant Mrs. Kimberly Gray-Robertson, Director of the DMESC Oden ABC Preschool was recently notified as one of the grant recipients from the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of Arkansas Community Foundation.

Ouachita River School District - Acorn and Oden campuses will be closed Tuesday, July 4, 2023 in observance of Independence Day

Acorn JR & SR Boys Team Camps going on this summer!

So proud of Mrs. Toby Hollin for receiving AEEA Outstanding Educator of the Year! She uses the Outdoor Classroom to teach her students science concepts and life skills while having fun. We are blessed to have her as part of our AES team. Congratulations, Mrs. Hollin!

With summer here, it’s time to think about keeping children healthy while school is out. Mena High School will be providing free meals to children during the summer. Please see the Mena Public Schools Facebook page or Food Service Information on the Mena School District website https://www.menaschools.org/page/food-service-information for more information on ordering meals. There are no income requirements or registration. Anyone age 18 or younger may eat. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Ouachita River School District 2023-2024 Calendar

Are you interested in being a substitute teacher for the new school year? ESS will be hosting two hiring timeframes on July 12, 2023 on the Ouachita River School District campuses - Oden and Acorn. Wednesday, July 12th ODEN Campus - 10 - 11:30 AM Wednesday, July 12th ACORN Campus - 1:30 - 3:30 PM See attached flier for details.

Acorn Teacher Named AEEA Outstanding Educator of the Year Toby Hollin, Acorn Elementary 5th & 6th Grade Science Teacher has been named Outstanding Educator of the Year for the Arkansas Environmental Education Association (AEEA). Hollin was chosen among a host of applicants and recognized for the use of the Acorn campus outdoor classroom for instruction. The recognition ceremony will be on June 6, 2023. “I am very humbled and honored to even be considered for this award! We have so many great educators in our state. I am just glad our outdoor environment stood out and so proud of our students working so hard to help it become a great space to learn!”, stated Hollin. AEEA’ s mission champions access to environmental education, builds community among professionals, provides support to educators, and drives excellence in the field of environmental and outdoor education in Arkansas. Congratulations, Mrs. Hollin! We are proud of you! #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!

Ouachita River School District - Acorn and Oden campuses will be closed Monday, May 29, 2023 in observance of Memorial Day

ATTN: ORSD Parents/Guardians: The Department of Human Services (DHS) has begun sending renewal packets to those at risk of losing coverage. The first round of terminations began in April for those who are ineligible or who did not provide the requested information.

Attention Acorn Tiger Families!!!

ORSD Career Connect: Partnering for Student Success On May 1st, Ouachita River School District hosted their Inaugural ORSD Career Connect event in partnership with Western Arkansas Planning & Development District for Acorn and Oden High School seniors. The event was held in the Mary Davis Gym from 9-11:30 a.m. with over 60+ career representatives from business, industry, agencies, organizations, military branches, and higher education institutions. The Ouachita River School District Career Connect event for seniors included seniors identifying their postsecondary plan and career pathway, completing a career profile and resume, and participating in job interviews with our career partners. Career pathways were grouped by occupational clusters to help our career partners more effectively target and identify students for interviews to facilitate opportunities for employment, internships, apprenticeships, 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 partners and our District! Ouachita River School District would like to extend our gratitude to the career representatives and partners that participated in this year’s event. Thank you for sharing your time, talents and important information with our students in helping them be better prepared 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 Career Connect: Partnering for Student Success On May 1st, Ouachita River School District hosted their Inaugural ORSD Career Connect event in partnership with Western Arkansas Planning & Development District for Acorn and Oden High School seniors. The event was held in the Mary Davis Gym from 9-11:30 a.m. with over 60+ career representatives from business, industry, agencies, organizations, military branches, and higher education institutions. The Ouachita River School District Career Connect event for seniors included seniors identifying their postsecondary plan and career pathway, completing a career profile and resume, and participating in job interviews with our career partners. Career pathways were grouped by occupational clusters to help our career partners more effectively target and identify students for interviews to facilitate opportunities for employment, internships, apprenticeships, 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 partners and our District! Ouachita River School District would like to extend our gratitude to the career representatives and partners that participated in this year’s event. Thank you for sharing your time, talents and important information with our students in helping them be better prepared 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!

AHS Senior Signing & Commitment Day Acorn High School held their annual Senior Signing & Commitment Day on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. The event was held in the Acorn Gymnasium with the event hosting numerous partners from colleges/universities, military, and business/industry for Acorn High School seniors to be recognized for their postsecondary commitments and scholarship offers. Each graduating senior was recognized for their postsecondary commitments to the following: Ashlee Arce - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Cyrus Auer - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Elijah Badger - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Luis Basilio - University of Arkansas Little Rock & U.S. Army Ally Bissell - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Johnathan Bodkin - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain & Sterling Machinery Braylan Bohlman - Champion Christian College Kadi Caldwell - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Sky Carmack - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Ryle Cole - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Mikayla Cook - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Colton Cox - Workforce Dakota Cunningham - Workforce Isabella Cunningham - Workforce John Austin Davis - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain & U.S. Forest Service Evelynn Ellis - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Zachary Frost - Workforce Brookelyn Goss - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Charish Hill - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Timothy Clayton Hobbs - National Park College Ericka Holliday - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Riley Jennings - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Westin Johnson - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Michael Laing - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Raylin Lane - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Olivia Maechler - University of Arkansas Fort Smith Destiny Mabry - Workforce Westen McEntire - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain & B & W Advanced Electric Preston Reed McGee - Arkansas Tech University Landyn Miller - Workforce Rachael Miller - Workforce Paige Parnell - Arkansas Tech University Addyson Prewett - University of Arkansas Fort Smith Chevy Ragain - Workforce Jamie Dane Richardson - University of Arkansas Cossatot Lori Richardson - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Braven Rodgers - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain & NIDEC Motor Corporation Aubrey Jonah Rogan - Central Baptist College Makayla Sandoval - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Harley Simon - Workforce Gavin Strother - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Dakota Sullivan - Workforce Isaac Tedder - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Alex Treat - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Casey Van Meter - Northwest Arkansas Community College Brightwater Culinary Andrew Watts - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain & Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative Rachael Weddle - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Emily Whorton - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Jayden Willborg - University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Carter Wolfenbarger - Workforce Thank you to our postsecondary partners for higher education programs, training and career opportunities and scholarship offers for our seniors! Congratulations, AHS Class of 2023! We are proud of you! #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!

The Oden High School Awards Assembly will be held tomorrow, May 16th, at 6pm in the Bill Kelly Gymnasium. Light refreshments will be served afterward. Everyone is invited to attend; students who are receiving awards have been notified.