Ouachita River School District

ATTN: ORSD Parents & Students Ouachita River School District will host a public meeting on Thursday, August 18, 2022 from 6:00 - 6:30 PM on both Acorn and Oden campuses. We look forward to welcoming and serving you this year! #orsdlifeprep

ORSD Leadership Team Attend AAEA Summer Conference Ouachita River School District Administration attended the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA) 47th Annual Summer Conference on July 25-26, 2022 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. This year's conference theme - “Love Public Education: Changing the Narrative”. Photo l to r: Acorn High School Principal Dewayne Taylor, ORSD Curriculum Coordinator/Acorn Preschool Director Davelynn Lane, Acorn Elementary Principal Beth Jackson, ORSD Federal Programs Coordinator/Instructional Facilitator Kathy Medford, ORSD Superintendent Jerrall Strasner, Oden Schools’ Principal Elicia Bergum, and ORSD Assistant Superintendent William Edwards. #orsdlifeprep

ORSD - 2022-2023 Student School Meal Prices FREE Breakfast: No charge per meal Lunch: No charge per meal REDUCED Breakfast: .30 per meal Lunch: .40 per meal PAID Breakfast: $ 1.00 per meal Lunch: $ 2.00 per meal Parents, the ORSD EZ MEAL ONLINE APPLICATION is available for you to complete and process your application. Only one application per family is needed. Link on ORSD website: https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ApplicationScreen.aspx This link will open on August 1, 2022 for the 2022-2023 school year application to be completed. Also, if you qualify for REDUCED or PAID meal prices, you can access the EZ SCHOOL PAY link to pay and track your child’s meal charges status. Link on ORSD website: https://www.ezschoolpay.com/Login.aspx?District=9485702 For more information, contact the following for assistance: Acorn Elementary School & Acorn High School Contact: ORSD Administration Office - Tammi Faught at (479) 394-2348 or tfaught@orsd.k12.ar.us Ode Maddox Elementary School & Oden High School Contact: Oden Schools - Crystal Hill at (870) 326-4311 or chill@orsd.k12.ar.us www.ouachitariversd.org

Attention Acorn FCCLA Members!! We are having an Outdoor Movie Night at Acorn High School with homemade ice cream next Friday, August 5th starting at 8pm If you are an Acorn FCCLA member or interested in becoming one during the 2022-2023 school year, please join us! If you plan on attending, please rsvp to Mrs Lyle. mlyle@orsd.k12.ar.us

Kathy Medford, ORSD Federal Programs Coordinator was recognized for 35 years of service at the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators Summer 2022 Conference. Congratulations, Mrs. Medford! #orsdlifeprep

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