The countdown to the new school year is officially ON! Swipe through the graphics below to see what's coming up, and grab the Great Start schedule for August 10 below!
Key Dates:
🏫 Aug 6: District-Wide Open House (3:30 PM – 6:30 PM)
✏️ Aug 10: Kindergarten Open House (8:30 AM – 11:30 AM)
🚀 Aug 10: Great Start for Grades 3, 6, & 9 (See schedule below)
🖍️ Aug 11: FIRST DAY OF PRE-K!
🎒 Aug 12: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (K–12)!
⏰ Great Start Schedules (Monday, Aug 10):
Alma Intermediate (3rd Grade)
7:30 AM: Doors open (Parents may walk students to morning area)
8:00 AM: Released to classrooms (Parents may walk to room door)
11:05 AM: Lunch
12:10 PM: Parent Pick-Up | 12:15 PM: Bus Dismissal
Alma Middle School (6th Grade)
7:45 AM: Doors open
8:30 AM: 1st Period starts
12:27 PM: Dismissal
Alma High School (9th Grade)
7:45 AM – 8:10 AM: Arrival & Breakfast
8:10 AM – 8:25 AM: Opening at Skokos PAC
8:25 AM – 11:50 AM: Tours & Schedule Run-Through
11:50 AM – 12:25 PM: Lunch at Student Union
12:15 PM: Parent Pick-Up | 12:25 PM: Bus Dismissal
Tag an Airedale parent below so they don't miss these times!
🔗 BACK TO SCHOOL HUB: https://www.almasd.net/page/back-to-school-hub
Key Dates:
🏫 Aug 6: District-Wide Open House (3:30 PM – 6:30 PM)
✏️ Aug 10: Kindergarten Open House (8:30 AM – 11:30 AM)
🚀 Aug 10: Great Start for Grades 3, 6, & 9 (See schedule below)
🖍️ Aug 11: FIRST DAY OF PRE-K!
🎒 Aug 12: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (K–12)!
⏰ Great Start Schedules (Monday, Aug 10):
Alma Intermediate (3rd Grade)
7:30 AM: Doors open (Parents may walk students to morning area)
8:00 AM: Released to classrooms (Parents may walk to room door)
11:05 AM: Lunch
12:10 PM: Parent Pick-Up | 12:15 PM: Bus Dismissal
Alma Middle School (6th Grade)
7:45 AM: Doors open
8:30 AM: 1st Period starts
12:27 PM: Dismissal
Alma High School (9th Grade)
7:45 AM – 8:10 AM: Arrival & Breakfast
8:10 AM – 8:25 AM: Opening at Skokos PAC
8:25 AM – 11:50 AM: Tours & Schedule Run-Through
11:50 AM – 12:25 PM: Lunch at Student Union
12:15 PM: Parent Pick-Up | 12:25 PM: Bus Dismissal
Tag an Airedale parent below so they don't miss these times!
🔗 BACK TO SCHOOL HUB: https://www.almasd.net/page/back-to-school-hub
Welcome, Airedale Academy Cohort of 2026! 🎉
Today we officially kicked off Airedale Academy and welcomed our newest Team Airedale members to the Alma School District family! We’re so excited to have this amazing group joining us as they begin a new chapter of inspiring, supporting, and making a difference for our students.
Please help us give the Airedale Academy Cohort of 2026 a warm Team Airedale welcome! 🐾
Guardians of students who attended an Alma School during the 2025-2026 school year should have received a Returning Student Registration email. Please review the information provided, make any needed updates, and complete the registration process before Open House on Thursday, August 6.
If you have not seen this email, please check your spam or junk folder, as these messages and registration links sometimes get filtered there.
This registration process applies only to students who were enrolled in Alma School District last year. Families with new students should follow the new student enrollment process.
Thank you for helping us ensure we have accurate information for the start of the new school year!
If you have not seen this email, please check your spam or junk folder, as these messages and registration links sometimes get filtered there.
This registration process applies only to students who were enrolled in Alma School District last year. Families with new students should follow the new student enrollment process.
Thank you for helping us ensure we have accurate information for the start of the new school year!
🐾 New Role Announcement
Alma School District is excited to announce that Sara Hubbs will be stepping into a new role at Alma High School!
Sara brings 12 years of teaching experience to her new position, and this school year marks her fourth year serving the Alma School District. Throughout her career, she has worked with students in grades 7–12 as a literacy teacher, dyslexia and reading interventionist, and cheer coach.
A graduate of Van Buren High School, Sara earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and a Master of Science in Library Media and Information Technologies from the University of Central Arkansas. She is passionate about fostering curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of reading and learning while helping students develop strong critical thinking and information literacy skills.
Outside of school, Sara enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, reading, cooking for friends and family, and visiting the beach.
In her new role, Sara looks forward to continuing to grow as an educator while serving as a compassionate and enthusiastic resource for students and staff. She is excited to collaborate with teachers to strengthen instruction by connecting students with meaningful print and digital resources, building research and information literacy skills, and using technology to enhance learning.
Please join us in congratulating Sara on her new role! We’re excited to see the continued impact she will make for the students and staff at Alma High School.
Alma School District is excited to announce that Sara Hubbs will be stepping into a new role at Alma High School!
Sara brings 12 years of teaching experience to her new position, and this school year marks her fourth year serving the Alma School District. Throughout her career, she has worked with students in grades 7–12 as a literacy teacher, dyslexia and reading interventionist, and cheer coach.
A graduate of Van Buren High School, Sara earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and a Master of Science in Library Media and Information Technologies from the University of Central Arkansas. She is passionate about fostering curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of reading and learning while helping students develop strong critical thinking and information literacy skills.
Outside of school, Sara enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, reading, cooking for friends and family, and visiting the beach.
In her new role, Sara looks forward to continuing to grow as an educator while serving as a compassionate and enthusiastic resource for students and staff. She is excited to collaborate with teachers to strengthen instruction by connecting students with meaningful print and digital resources, building research and information literacy skills, and using technology to enhance learning.
Please join us in congratulating Sara on her new role! We’re excited to see the continued impact she will make for the students and staff at Alma High School.
🎉 Just ONE week from today until Open House! 🎉
Can you believe it? The excitement is real, and we can't wait to welcome our students and staff back for another amazing school year!
As you prepare for the first day, don't forget to visit our Back-to-School Hub - your one-stop resource for everything you need to start the year off right! You'll find school supply lists, Open House information, registration resources, calendars, and more.
LINK: https://www.almasd.net/page/back-to-school-hub
We can't wait to see everyone next week. Go Airedales! 🐾
Can you believe it? The excitement is real, and we can't wait to welcome our students and staff back for another amazing school year!
As you prepare for the first day, don't forget to visit our Back-to-School Hub - your one-stop resource for everything you need to start the year off right! You'll find school supply lists, Open House information, registration resources, calendars, and more.
LINK: https://www.almasd.net/page/back-to-school-hub
We can't wait to see everyone next week. Go Airedales! 🐾
Summer learning doesn't stop for our educators!
This week, our 3rd grade math teachers are diving deep into professional development - rolling up their sleeves to analyze assessments, align them to state standards, and calibrate achievement level descriptors so every assessment truly reflects student understanding.
It's this kind of behind-the-scenes work that ensures our students are set up for success from day one of the new school year. Proud of our teachers for choosing growth, even in the summer!
This week, our 3rd grade math teachers are diving deep into professional development - rolling up their sleeves to analyze assessments, align them to state standards, and calibrate achievement level descriptors so every assessment truly reflects student understanding.
It's this kind of behind-the-scenes work that ensures our students are set up for success from day one of the new school year. Proud of our teachers for choosing growth, even in the summer!
Sharing best practices beyond our district!
We're proud of Alma Middle School Principal Mr. Coursey for presenting at the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA) Conference in partnership with McNair Middle School. Together, they shared successful middle school instructional practices and highlighted the impact of the Schools to Watch program.
Thank you, Mr. Coursey, for representing Alma with excellence and for sharing innovative strategies that are making a difference for students - not only in our district, but across Arkansas. Your leadership continues to inspire others in education!
We're proud of Alma Middle School Principal Mr. Coursey for presenting at the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA) Conference in partnership with McNair Middle School. Together, they shared successful middle school instructional practices and highlighted the impact of the Schools to Watch program.
Thank you, Mr. Coursey, for representing Alma with excellence and for sharing innovative strategies that are making a difference for students - not only in our district, but across Arkansas. Your leadership continues to inspire others in education!
Alma School District Career & Technical Education teachers recently attended the Arkansas ACTE State Conference in Benton, where they participated in professional learning, networking, and statewide Career & Technical Education updates.
Throughout the conference, our educators attended sessions focused on new CTE initiatives, connected with teachers from across Arkansas, and participated in CTSO meetings to bring back fresh ideas for our classrooms.
"I enjoyed networking with the other business educators and bringing home new strategies that will benefit both our students and community members," said Alma High School business teacher Ashtan Sieber.
We are also proud to share that, through Perkins funding, several Alma teachers were awarded new classroom equipment to enhance hands-on learning opportunities for our students.
We appreciate our CTE educators' commitment to continuous learning and their dedication to providing students with relevant, high-quality career and technical education experiences.
Throughout the conference, our educators attended sessions focused on new CTE initiatives, connected with teachers from across Arkansas, and participated in CTSO meetings to bring back fresh ideas for our classrooms.
"I enjoyed networking with the other business educators and bringing home new strategies that will benefit both our students and community members," said Alma High School business teacher Ashtan Sieber.
We are also proud to share that, through Perkins funding, several Alma teachers were awarded new classroom equipment to enhance hands-on learning opportunities for our students.
We appreciate our CTE educators' commitment to continuous learning and their dedication to providing students with relevant, high-quality career and technical education experiences.
Great things continue to happen for Alma School District at the AAEA Summer Conference! 🎉
Michael Bridges, Alma School District’s GT & AP Coordinator, was selected as the Arkansas Association of Gifted Education Administrators (AAGEA) Administrator of the Year and was recognized during the AAEA Summer Conference.
Congratulations to Michael on this well-deserved honor! His leadership, dedication, and commitment to supporting gifted and advanced learners make a lasting impact on our students and schools.
Pictured: Michael Bridges with Superintendent Kevin Hesslen and Assistant Superintendent Brian Kirkendoll.
Michael Bridges, Alma School District’s GT & AP Coordinator, was selected as the Arkansas Association of Gifted Education Administrators (AAGEA) Administrator of the Year and was recognized during the AAEA Summer Conference.
Congratulations to Michael on this well-deserved honor! His leadership, dedication, and commitment to supporting gifted and advanced learners make a lasting impact on our students and schools.
Pictured: Michael Bridges with Superintendent Kevin Hesslen and Assistant Superintendent Brian Kirkendoll.
On Monday, the Alma High School NJROTC Color Guard had the honor of presenting the colors during the opening session of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators Conference in Little Rock. We are proud of these students for representing Alma High School with pride and professionalism!
🚐📚 Final Week of the Bookmobile! ☀️
We’re rolling into the final week of our summer Bookmobile season! A huge thank-you to everyone who has hopped aboard this summer to check out books, find new favorites, and keep the pages turning.
This week, we’ll be focused on returning books, but meals will still be available at our scheduled stops!
If you still have books checked out, be sure to return them during our final week. We’d love to see you one more time before the Bookmobile rolls away for the summer!
Thank you for making this summer of reading so special! 💛
We’re rolling into the final week of our summer Bookmobile season! A huge thank-you to everyone who has hopped aboard this summer to check out books, find new favorites, and keep the pages turning.
This week, we’ll be focused on returning books, but meals will still be available at our scheduled stops!
If you still have books checked out, be sure to return them during our final week. We’d love to see you one more time before the Bookmobile rolls away for the summer!
Thank you for making this summer of reading so special! 💛
Congratulations, Lindsey Johnson!
Lindsey was recently recognized as an AAC Top Performing Career Coach at ACTE!
Her recognition honors her for having the highest number of students in the state who submitted applications for enrollment during the 2025 Arkansas Applied Campaign.
We are so proud of Lindsey and her dedication to helping students take the next step toward their futures!
Lindsey was recently recognized as an AAC Top Performing Career Coach at ACTE!
Her recognition honors her for having the highest number of students in the state who submitted applications for enrollment during the 2025 Arkansas Applied Campaign.
We are so proud of Lindsey and her dedication to helping students take the next step toward their futures!
💛 Community Shout-Out: Thank You to Our Generous Partners!
We are so grateful for the wonderful community partners who have helped us provide hygiene bags to students served by the Alma Bookmobile this summer!
A special thank-you goes to Pediatrics Plus - Alma for organizing this effort and for putting together and bagging all of the items. Thanks to their leadership and the generosity of Delta Dental of Arkansas, Courtyard by Marriott Fort Smith Downtown, and Buff City Soap, students have received bags filled with essential items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, and soap.
Thank you to each of these partners for helping make a difference in the lives of our students. Your generosity and support help us provide resources that go beyond books and meals, and we are so grateful for your investment in the children and families we serve through the Alma Bookmobile!
We are so grateful for the wonderful community partners who have helped us provide hygiene bags to students served by the Alma Bookmobile this summer!
A special thank-you goes to Pediatrics Plus - Alma for organizing this effort and for putting together and bagging all of the items. Thanks to their leadership and the generosity of Delta Dental of Arkansas, Courtyard by Marriott Fort Smith Downtown, and Buff City Soap, students have received bags filled with essential items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, and soap.
Thank you to each of these partners for helping make a difference in the lives of our students. Your generosity and support help us provide resources that go beyond books and meals, and we are so grateful for your investment in the children and families we serve through the Alma Bookmobile!
🐾 New Role Announcement
We’re excited to announce that Tabor Merritt will be taking on a new role at Alma Intermediate School as a 5th Grade Science teacher!
A 2020 Alma High School graduate, Tabor is an Airedale through and through and is excited to continue serving the Alma School District in this new role. She is looking forward to joining the AIS team and sharing her passion for learning with 5th-grade students.
Outside of school, Tabor enjoys spending time with her family and reading. She and her husband, Evan, were married in November, and she is excited for all that this new chapter has in store!
We’re excited to see Tabor take on this new opportunity and look forward to the positive impact she will continue to make with our students!
We’re excited to announce that Tabor Merritt will be taking on a new role at Alma Intermediate School as a 5th Grade Science teacher!
A 2020 Alma High School graduate, Tabor is an Airedale through and through and is excited to continue serving the Alma School District in this new role. She is looking forward to joining the AIS team and sharing her passion for learning with 5th-grade students.
Outside of school, Tabor enjoys spending time with her family and reading. She and her husband, Evan, were married in November, and she is excited for all that this new chapter has in store!
We’re excited to see Tabor take on this new opportunity and look forward to the positive impact she will continue to make with our students!
📚 Professional Development Spotlight: Lisa Neihouse
From June 21–27, Lisa Neihouse participated in the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) program, “The Most Southern Place on Earth: Landmarks of Delta History.”
Lisa described the experience as “one of the most impactful professional development experiences in my career,” adding, “I learned so much that I am still processing.”
Highlights included visiting Dockery Farms, the B.B. King Museum, the Lorraine Motel, the Stax Museum, the National Civil Rights Museum, and Fannie Lou Hamer's gravesite.
One of the most emotional and empowering moments was hearing from Reverend Wheeler Parker Jr., the last surviving witness to the night Emmett Till was taken from his family and later murdered.
We are proud to support educators like Lisa as they continue to learn, grow, and bring meaningful experiences and new perspectives back to our students and classrooms. ❤️📚
From June 21–27, Lisa Neihouse participated in the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) program, “The Most Southern Place on Earth: Landmarks of Delta History.”
Lisa described the experience as “one of the most impactful professional development experiences in my career,” adding, “I learned so much that I am still processing.”
Highlights included visiting Dockery Farms, the B.B. King Museum, the Lorraine Motel, the Stax Museum, the National Civil Rights Museum, and Fannie Lou Hamer's gravesite.
One of the most emotional and empowering moments was hearing from Reverend Wheeler Parker Jr., the last surviving witness to the night Emmett Till was taken from his family and later murdered.
We are proud to support educators like Lisa as they continue to learn, grow, and bring meaningful experiences and new perspectives back to our students and classrooms. ❤️📚
🎓 Celebrating Our 2026 AP Scholars 🎓
Alma High School is proud to recognize these outstanding students for their exceptional performance on the Advanced Placement (AP) Exams! Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to academic excellence are truly worth celebrating.
🏅 AP Scholars
Scored a 3 or higher on 3 or more AP Exams.
🏅 AP Scholars with Honor
Scored a 3 or higher on 4 or more AP Exams, with an average score of at least 3.25 on all exams.
🏅 AP Scholars with Distinction
Scored a 3 or higher on 5 or more AP Exams, with an average score of at least 3.5 on all exams.
Congratulations to all of our AP Scholars! Your achievements represent an incredible level of dedication and academic excellence. We are so proud of you!
Alma High School is proud to recognize these outstanding students for their exceptional performance on the Advanced Placement (AP) Exams! Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to academic excellence are truly worth celebrating.
🏅 AP Scholars
Scored a 3 or higher on 3 or more AP Exams.
🏅 AP Scholars with Honor
Scored a 3 or higher on 4 or more AP Exams, with an average score of at least 3.25 on all exams.
🏅 AP Scholars with Distinction
Scored a 3 or higher on 5 or more AP Exams, with an average score of at least 3.5 on all exams.
Congratulations to all of our AP Scholars! Your achievements represent an incredible level of dedication and academic excellence. We are so proud of you!
🐾 Welcome to the Airedale Family!
Alma School District is excited to continue introducing new members of our Airedale family for the upcoming school year.
Please join us in welcoming Jacob Coursey, who will be joining the team at Alma Primary School as an SDC teacher. Jacob will also be coaching Junior High football in the fall and Senior High softball in the spring.
About Jacob: Jacob is a 2021 graduate of Alma High School and is excited to begin his first year in education right here in the Alma School District. He is passionate about making a positive impact on students and athletes both in the classroom and on the field. Jacob recently married his wonderful wife, Sydney, and the couple has a dog named Nash. He is excited to return to the Alma community and looks forward to building relationships with students and athletes throughout the school year.
We’re excited to welcome Jacob back to the Airedale family and look forward to the positive impact he will make with our students, athletes, and community!
Alma School District is excited to continue introducing new members of our Airedale family for the upcoming school year.
Please join us in welcoming Jacob Coursey, who will be joining the team at Alma Primary School as an SDC teacher. Jacob will also be coaching Junior High football in the fall and Senior High softball in the spring.
About Jacob: Jacob is a 2021 graduate of Alma High School and is excited to begin his first year in education right here in the Alma School District. He is passionate about making a positive impact on students and athletes both in the classroom and on the field. Jacob recently married his wonderful wife, Sydney, and the couple has a dog named Nash. He is excited to return to the Alma community and looks forward to building relationships with students and athletes throughout the school year.
We’re excited to welcome Jacob back to the Airedale family and look forward to the positive impact he will make with our students, athletes, and community!
📢 Reminder for Families: Make Sure Your Student Is Fully Enrolled!
As we prepare for the upcoming school year, please make sure all required enrollment documents have been submitted to your child’s school office. Students will not be placed in a classroom until all required documents have been received and enrollment is complete.
📚 Kindergarten students must have the following turned in:
✅ Birth certificate
✅ Immunization records or approved exemption
✅ Social Security number
✅ Physical exam documentation
✅ Proof of residency
📚 New 1st & 2nd grade students:
✅ Signed and returned record release forms
✅ Student’s Social Security number
If you have questions or need assistance completing enrollment, please contact your child’s school office. We’re excited to welcome our students back for a great year!
As we prepare for the upcoming school year, please make sure all required enrollment documents have been submitted to your child’s school office. Students will not be placed in a classroom until all required documents have been received and enrollment is complete.
📚 Kindergarten students must have the following turned in:
✅ Birth certificate
✅ Immunization records or approved exemption
✅ Social Security number
✅ Physical exam documentation
✅ Proof of residency
📚 New 1st & 2nd grade students:
✅ Signed and returned record release forms
✅ Student’s Social Security number
If you have questions or need assistance completing enrollment, please contact your child’s school office. We’re excited to welcome our students back for a great year!
Alma School District was proudly represented at the ADE Summit 2026 in Hot Springs this week!
Assistant Superintendent Mr. Kirkendoll and Sara Hubbs, Media Specialist and Literacy Facilitator at Alma High School, were invited to present during the Schools on the Move session, sharing insights on what high-growth principals know and do. Following a visit to Alma High School by the Arkansas Department of Education's Office of Innovation in May, they were invited to join the panel and share their work with school leaders from across the state.
Alma High School Principal Mrs. Moore also represented the district as a panelist, joining a Career & Technical Education Coordinator and a Computer Science Director to discuss strategies for integrating core academics into Career and Technical Education programs.
We are proud of these outstanding leaders for representing Alma School District and showcasing the great work happening in our schools!
Assistant Superintendent Mr. Kirkendoll and Sara Hubbs, Media Specialist and Literacy Facilitator at Alma High School, were invited to present during the Schools on the Move session, sharing insights on what high-growth principals know and do. Following a visit to Alma High School by the Arkansas Department of Education's Office of Innovation in May, they were invited to join the panel and share their work with school leaders from across the state.
Alma High School Principal Mrs. Moore also represented the district as a panelist, joining a Career & Technical Education Coordinator and a Computer Science Director to discuss strategies for integrating core academics into Career and Technical Education programs.
We are proud of these outstanding leaders for representing Alma School District and showcasing the great work happening in our schools!
🍎 Calling All Alma Substitutes 🍎
We're excited to kick off a new school year! Join us for our Substitute Workshop & Training on Tuesday, July 21 at 11:00 a.m. in the Union at Alma High School.
Whether you're new or returning, this workshop will help you get ready for a successful year. We can't wait to see you there!
We're excited to kick off a new school year! Join us for our Substitute Workshop & Training on Tuesday, July 21 at 11:00 a.m. in the Union at Alma High School.
Whether you're new or returning, this workshop will help you get ready for a successful year. We can't wait to see you there!
