Ouachita River School District

Mabry Honored for Teacher of the Year Leo Mabry, Acorn High School Special Education Teacher was honored and recognized as the 2022 Teacher of the Year at the Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce Community Awards Celebration. The event was held on Thursday, April 18, 2022 at the Ouachita Center on the UA Rich Mountain campus. Congratulations, Mr. Leo Mabry! Ouachita River School District is proud of you and grateful for all you do to serve the ORSD family of students, families and staff!

Mabry Honored for Teacher of the Year Leo Mabry, Acorn High School Special Education Teacher was honored and recognized as the 2022 Teacher of the Year at the Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce Community Awards Celebration. The event was held on Thursday, April 18, 2022 at the Ouachita Center on the UA Rich Mountain campus. Congratulations, Mr. Leo Mabry! Ouachita River School District is proud of you and grateful for all you do in serving the ORSD family - students, families and staff!

Acorn High School Senior Spotlight - Faith Harvey Congratulations and our best to you! Proud of you, Faith! Acorn High School Graduation Thursday, May 19, 2022 7:00 PM Acorn Gymnasium #orsdlifeprep

Acorn High School Senior Spotlight - Alivia Harper Congratulations and our best to you! Proud of you, Alivia! Acorn High School Graduation Thursday, May 19, 2022 7:00 PM Acorn Gymnasium #orsdlifeprep

Acorn High School Senior Spotlight - Mark Hannaman Congratulations and our best to you! Proud of you, Mark! Acorn High School Graduation Thursday, May 19, 2022 7:00 PM Acorn Gymnasium #orsdlifeprep

Reminder: Acorn Athletic Banquet When: May 10th, 2022 Time: 6:00 PM For: ALL Acorn Athletes Ticket Information: Athletes: Free All others: $6.00 per person - Tickets cover banquet meal. Hope to see you there!!!!!

Mrs. Lyle’s Food Safety & Nutrition and Food Production classes have been exploring various methods of cooking and storing meat, chicken, and seafood this week. Students learned to fabricate whole chickens. They also cooked fried chicken, carne picada, and Italian shrimp.

Please join us for a retirement celebration Honoring Mrs. Kathy Medford, Friday, May 13th from 3:00-5:00 PM in the Acorn Cafetorium.

Oden Kindergarten Registration is Friday, April 29th. Registration will be in the school library by the main office. Please check in at the main office and we will get you to Mrs. Thomas to register your kindergartener.

ATTENTION - Preschool Registration at ORSD! The Kathy Medford Preschool on the Acorn Schools’ campus is now 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 be current including 4 year old immunizations. If your child is 4 years of age by the date of the application, please make sure the immunization record submitted includes the current immunizations. * 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 Acorn! Our staff look forward to meeting and working with you and your child this upcoming school year! Kim Larucci, Director Applications are available through May at the Preschool and through August at Acorn Elementary and ORSD Administrative Office. For more information, contact: Kathy Medford Preschool Acorn Elementary School ORSD Administration (479) 216-1341 (preschool phone) (479) 394-4833 (479) 394-2348 143 Polk Road 96 | Mena, AR 71953

Acorn FCCLA Officers for the 2022-2023 school year have been selected: Kenzie Daniels-President, Kora Carter-1st Vice President, Damon Cruz-Vice President of Community Service, Paige Parnell-Vice President of Public Relations, Emma Arnold-Vice President of Membership, Eilam Holland-Vice President of Parliamentary Law. Congratulations, Students! An induction ceremony will be held on May 23rd.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day to our dedicated professionals who work diligently, tirelessly and selflessly to serve the students, families and staff of Ouachita River School District! We celebrate you! Connie Abernathy Andrea Bosch Tammi Faught Crystal Hill Raychel Hill Samantha Holland Shelley Staggs #orsdlifeprep

2A-4 District Softball and Baseball Tournament at Magazine Reminder: Acorn Lady Tigers will play TODAY, Wednesday, April 27th at 5:00 vs Magazine Acorn Tigers will play TOMORROW, Thursday, April 28th at 6:00 vs TBA

RMEC Selects McGee for Washington DC Youth Tour Acorn High School Junior Reed McGee has been selected to participate in the 2022 Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative chose McGee among a host of applicants to represent this region of Arkansas on the youth tour of Washington, D.C. in June 2022. Instrumental in starting the Youth Tour Program in Arkansas is credited to Mr. Alton Higginbotham, former president and chief executive officer of First Electric Cooperative Corp. Mr. Higginbotham stated that the program attracts the “best and brightest” of Arkansas’ youth and believed that in addition to learning about the federal government, the program gives our youth a better understanding of the important role of the electric cooperatives. The annual tour has been sponsored by Arkansas’ electric cooperatives since 1990 for Arkansas youth. Approximately 40 high school juniors with chaperones attend the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas’ Youth Tour and are selected by the state’s electric distribution cooperatives through essay contests and an interview process. During the tour, the group visits historic sites such as Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Institution, Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the U.S. Holocaust Museum and the U.S. Capitol. They also visit and meet with members of the Arkansas Congressional Delegation. Congratulations, Reed! We are proud of you! #orsdlifeprep

Acorn High School Senior Spotlight - Cole Hair Congratulations and our best to you! Proud of you, Cole! Acorn High School Graduation Thursday, May 19, 2022 7:00 PM Acorn Gymnasium #orsdlifeprep

The Acorn School Reunion Association would like to extend an invitation to Acorn past and present students, employees, and graduates for the 21st Acorn School Reunion - Saturday, June 18, 2022 - 1:00 - 4:00 PM. The Reunion will be held in the Acorn Cafetorium on the Acorn Schools campus - 143 Polk Road 96, Mena, AR 71953 Registration letter with additional information and contacts included.

Updated Brackets for 2A-4 District at Magazine

Last week, Acorn and Oden students in Mrs. Lyle’s Lifespan Development class received their Heart Saver CPR/AED certifications from the American Heart Association after completing training with ORSD nurse, Leigh Garner.

Reminder for Acorn Elementary Parents!! The last day of after-school tutoring is April 28, 2022.

Owens & Meaders to Attend AR Governor’s Scholastic Honors Day Oden High School has announced that two of its seniors have been given the honor of attending the 2022 Arkansas Governor’s Scholastic Honors Day. Emily Owens, daughter of Barry and Amy Owens and Brooke Meaders, daughter of Dustin and Bethany Meaders have been selected to attend this annual prestigious event in May at the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock. Owens and Meaders will represent Oden High School along with other top, high-achieving and outstanding seniors represented from high schools in Arkansas. In the fall 2022, Brooke Meaders plans to attend the University of Arkansas Fayetteville and Emily Owens plans to attend the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain. A video highlighting seniors represented will be available at a later date this spring and a link will be provided and shared. Congratulations, Emily & Brooke! We are proud of you! #orsdlifeprep