Ouachita River School District

July 22, 2022 ORSD Summer Update Video message: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pxf9RJpqS9Vd0aAB1AYVW_718B3dqnoj/view Notes: - Thursday, August 18, 2022 - ORSD Public Meetings on Oden & Acorn campuses - Open House events will be held at each campus and more information will be posted and parents will be contacted about times/locations, etc.. - School meals for 2022-2023 Year - The Federal assistance for all students to receive free lunches that was provided in 2020-2021 & 2021-2022 school years will not be provided this year, according to the notice to school districts. Parents will need to complete meal application provided in school registration packet the first week of school and submit to your child’s school building at the start of school. Also, parents are encouraged to use the EZ Meal app on the District website - www.ouachitariversd.org - The ORSD Calendar for 2022-2023 School Year reflects changes approved with an alternative days calendar. School will start on Monday, August 22, 2022 and school hours will be 7:50 AM - 3:20 PM. - ORSD provides basic school supplies this year. Donations are welcomed. Students will need to bring their own backpack and water bottle. You can find out more information from your child’s school building office. - Be informed and stay informed of updates through the Ouachita River School District App which connects you to the District website, social media, and SMS messaging. If you need to update your cell phone contact information, please reference new or updated information in your child’s registration packet. - Next week, a letter from ORSD is scheduled to arrive in the mail to parents referencing upcoming year information and details. We look forward to serving you in 2022-2023! Mr. Jerry Strasner, ORSD Superintendent Mr. William Edwards, II, ORSD Assistant Superintendent

ATTENTION: Parents of Ouachita River School District Special Education Records - Direct & Indirect Services

ATTENTION - Preschool Registration at ORSD! The Oden ABC Preschool on the Oden Schools’ campus is accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year! Preschool slots are limited! Your child must be 3 years of age on or before the August 1, 2022 deadline. In order to complete registration, you must submit all of the following documentation: * Proof of Income (2021 tax information, if available) If not available or income changed from 2021 to current status due to a possible income change, a current month’s check stubs (30 days prior to date of application) may be accepted for proof of income. Due to program eligibility guidelines, proof of income from check stubs cannot be older than 30 days prior to application. If 2021 taxes are accurate, please provide a copy for proof of income. * Immunization Record - Must include current immunizations for child’s age – 3 or 4 year old. * Birth Certificate * Social Security Card *Proof of Health Physical - physical within the past year will be sufficient until expiration - a physical is not required upon registration but needs to be done as soon as possible and proof submitted for enrollment to be processed. Without proof of physical, the student will be moved to the waiting list. *Utility Bill or Statement - verifying current address All documents listed above (in bold) are required to be submitted to process registration and enrollment. THANK YOU for your interest in our preschool program at Oden! Our staff look forward to meeting and working with you and your child this upcoming school year! Kim Gray, Director Applications are available at Oden K-12 Schools’ Office. For more information, contact: Oden ABC Preschool (870) 490-1195 (preschool phone) Oden K-12 Schools (870) 326-4311 135 School Drive | Oden, AR 71961

Acorn Elementary School RISE Arkansas Award Winner Ouachita River School District Acorn Elementary School was recognized as a 2022 RISE Arkansas Award Winner at the 2022 Arkansas Department of Education Summit on July 12, 2022 at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas. On hand to receive the award included ORSD Superintendent Jerrall Strasner, ORSD Curriculum Director Davelynn Lane and ORSD Dyslexia Interventionist Judy Newcomb. Davelynn Lane served as Acorn Elementary Principal during the implementation of RISE Arkansas Initiative. Lane stated, “This year, 31 schools applied and 10 schools received the award.” Since 2017, 36 schools have received the award. The Reading Initiative for Student Excellence, RISE Arkansas fosters a culture of reading through a statewide reading campaign collaborative coordination of partnerships with communities, homes, and schools. This initiative is based on the science of reading, research, and data collection. Reading is a fundamental skill that impacts all aspects of our lives. One of the goals of RISE Arkansas is to “sharpen the focus and strengthen instruction” by bringing evidence-based teaching practices to the classroom through training. In an effort to promote the continued growth of RISE Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Education recognizes schools who have successfully implemented these practices for their students. Congratulations to Acorn Elementary Schools! Ouachita River School District…preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep

Ouachita River School District will be providing basic school supplies for students enrolled at Acorn and Oden Schools for the 2022-2023 school year. Students will need to provide their own backpack and water bottle, if they choose to bring either to school.

The Oden campus of Ouachita River School District is accepting applications for a Bus Driver. If interested, please contact: William Edwards (479) 216-2251

Meet YOUR Oden Timberwolf Family - Stephanie Olmstead!

Acorn High School FACS Teacher Receives AR CTE Award Mindy Lyle, AHS Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher was recognized and presented with the Arkansas Career & Technical Education 2022 New Teacher of the Year Award at the Arkansas Department of Education Summit held at the Hot Springs Convention Center, July 11-13, 2022. The Arkansas CTE New Teacher of the Year Award recognizes the finest career and technical teachers at the middle/secondary level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students, and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities. Mrs. Lyle teaches courses in the Family & Consumer Sciences CTE Pathway at Acorn High School and also serves as the FACS Advisor. Congratulations, Mrs. Lyle! The ORSD family is so proud of you! #orsdlifeprep

The few members of the Oden Leadership team had the opportunity to learn from and meet Dr. Marsha Tate today at the ADE Summitt.

ATTENTION - Preschool Registration at ORSD! The Kathy Medford Preschool on the Acorn Schools’ campus is accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year! Your child must be 3 years of age on or before the August 1, 2022 deadline. In order to complete registration, you must submit all of the following documentation: * Proof of Income (2021 tax information, if available) If not available or income changed from 2021 to current status due to a possible income change, a current month’s check stubs (30 days prior to date of application) may be accepted for proof of income. Due to program eligibility guidelines, proof of income from check stubs cannot be older than 30 days prior to application. If 2021 taxes are accurate, please provide a copy for proof of income. * Immunization Record - Must include current immunizations for child’s age – 3 or 4-year old. * Birth Certificate – original presented to obtain copy. * Social Security Card – original presented to obtain copy. *Proof of Health Physical - physical within the past year will be sufficient until expiration - a physical is not required upon registration but needs to be done as soon as possible and proof submitted for enrollment to be processed. Without proof of physical, the student will be moved to the waiting list. *Utility Bill or Statement - verifying current address All documents listed above (in bold) are required to be submitted to process registration and enrollment. THANK YOU for your interest in our preschool program at Acorn! Our staff look forward to meeting and working with you and your child this upcoming school year! Davelynn Lane, Director Applications are available at the Ouachita River School District Administrative Office. For more information, contact: Kathy Medford Preschool Acorn Elementary School ORSD Administration (479) 394-2348, x. 416 (479) 394-4833 (479) 394-2348 (preschool extension) Address: 143 Polk Road 96 | Mena, AR 71953

WillSub Substitute Training Meeting will be conducted onsite at Ouachita River School District on the Acorn and Oden campus locations on the following date: Wednesday, July 27, 2022 Oden Campus 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Acorn Campus 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Register via QR code on flyer

Meet YOUR Oden Timberwolf Family - Nicole Edwards!

Parents/Guardians: If your child was enrolled in the Ouachita River School District (Acorn or Oden Schools) and qualified for Free and Reduced lunches for the 2021-2022 school year (based on their meal application status or SNAP eligibility) and they have missed school due to COVID-19, then you may qualify for a Pandemic EBT Benefit. To find out if you qualify, please complete the application found in the link below before July 29th. DEADLINE TO APPLY IS JULY 29, 2022 Below is the application link. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNK0HlA5Jqe4IVahmm2XGf8sdVbt5JyvqZwMEFvEPtTNQ1Yw/viewform

Meet YOUR Oden Timberwolf Family - Kevin Nance!

Summer Vacation “Look who I ran into! The Bohlman Family and Edwards Family “bumped” into each other while waiting in line for the MYSTIC FALLS ride at Silver Dollar City during their family vacations. We hope that all of our ORSD families are making memories this summer! We look forward to seeing everyone in August!” William T. Edwards II

ORSD Counselors Attend ArSCA Conference The Arkansas School Counselors Association (ArSCA) Conference was held June 27-29, 2022 in Hot Springs. ORSD School Counselors Linda Heath, Apryl Philpot and Tammy Young participated in professional development training workshops and sessions on a variety of topics to provide continued support in serving and engaging students, parents, families, staff and community partnerships in the 2022-2023 school year. ORSD Counselors are members of the ArSCA Southwest Region. ArSCA supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on academic, personal/social and career development. Ouachita River School District…preparing students for life! #orsdlifeprep

Arkansas PBS Rise and Shine Summer Learning Returns July 5th https://www.myarkansaspbs.org/riseandshine

Staff members from Ouachita River School District participated in Professional Crisis Management Association training on the Oden campus as part of ACT 1084. The training took place on June 20, 21, and 22. The twenty-two-hour course taught participants crisis prevention strategies, de-escalation strategies, re-integration strategies, personal safety techniques, transportation procedures, and immobilization procedures.

Meet YOUR Acorn Tiger Family - Jordan Powell!

Meet YOUR Acorn Tiger Family - Makenzie Conatser!