Alma staff are getting ready for the new school year — and that includes being prepared for emergencies! This week, team members from across the district participated in CPR training to ensure they're ready to respond when it matters most. Even better — Assistant Superintendent Dr. Wood and Science Specialist Zach Thomas led the training after recently becoming certified CPR instructors themselves! We’re proud of our staff’s commitment to safety and student well-being as we gear up for another great year!
This week, educators from each campus, along with district administrators, participated in a dynamic professional development session led by Claire Murray of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET). The session, "Elevating Coaching," focused on empowering teachers to take on leadership roles within their schools by utilizing student work to enhance instructional practices.
This training equips participants with the certification required to serve as mentors for both year-long residency students and novice teachers in their first, second, and third years of teaching.
Claire shared research-based strategies centered on student data analysis, reflective practice, and planning — all designed to foster the professional growth of early-career educators.
We extend our sincere thanks to Claire and the NIET team for their partnership and commitment to our instructional teams. We look forward to applying these practices throughout the school year to support teacher development and student success.
This training equips participants with the certification required to serve as mentors for both year-long residency students and novice teachers in their first, second, and third years of teaching.
Claire shared research-based strategies centered on student data analysis, reflective practice, and planning — all designed to foster the professional growth of early-career educators.
We extend our sincere thanks to Claire and the NIET team for their partnership and commitment to our instructional teams. We look forward to applying these practices throughout the school year to support teacher development and student success.
Hey Bookmobile Fans! As we wrap up the summer, we’re no longer checking out books during the final stops. The last day of the Bookmobile is next Wednesday, July 30th — be sure to swing by, say goodbye, and return any books you still have! Thanks for a great summer of reading!
Starting with the 2025–2026 school year, Arkansas’s “Bell to Bell, No Cell” law goes into effect — and Alma Schools will be following it. Students will not be allowed to use personal devices (like phones, smartwatches, or tablets) during the school day — from the first bell to the last. There are exceptions for emergencies, IEPs, and extracurricular needs. Alma's updated policy is now available in the Student Handbook and online. Make sure to talk with your student so they’re ready for this change. Full details here: www.almasd.net/page/bell-to-bell-no-cell
Now accepting ads for the Airedale Football Program! Whether you want to recognize a local business or celebrate a senior student, this is a great opportunity to show your support. To reserve your spot, contact Amie Nicholson at (479) 632-4791 or ANicholson@almasd.net. You can also access the form by visiting https://5il.co/3m9io. The deadline to submit is Friday, August 15, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this Airedale tradition!
Summer break doesn’t mean the learning stops for our incredible teachers! Alma Middle School educators Jennifer Pitts and Ashley Combs are attending Reading Beyond Words: Seeing to Understand through Visual Literacy — a 3-day arts integration conference at Crystal Bridges, hosted in partnership with Focus 5. This powerful event brings together educators from across the country and across content areas, all exploring how visual literacy can deepen student understanding. Way to go, Mrs. Pitts and Mrs. Combs!
Substitutes, we’re gearing up for a great year — and we want you with us! Join us for the Alma School District Substitute Workshop on Thursday, July 24 at 10:00 AM in the Union at Alma High School. Whether you're brand new or returning for another year, this is your chance to get refreshed on daily procedures and connect with our team. Don’t miss it — we’re excited to kick off the year with you!
The Bookmobile has been rolling through the community, spreading joy, stories, and snacks all summer long! In addition to our usual books and meals, we’ve been thrilled to partner with Urrutia Family Dental and Buffalo City Soaps, who donated special items to share with kids. Pediatrics Plus also pitched in with hygiene kits and goodie bags for everyone on board. It’s been an amazing summer so far — and there’s still time to join the fun! The Bookmobile will be out and about through July 30th.
Summer fun isn’t over just yet, but the countdown to a brand new school year has officially begun! Mark your calendars with these important dates to help your family get ready. On August 7th, all campuses will host an Open House from 3:30 – 6:30 PM — a great chance to meet teachers, tour classrooms, and get everything in place for a smooth start. Then on August 11th, students will participate in Great Start, a special day designed to help ease into the new year with a little extra support. (More details coming soon!) Kindergarten students will not participate in Great Start, but instead, we’re offering a Kindergarten Open House that same morning from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Kindergarten families are also invited to attend the district-wide Open House on August 7th — or feel free to join us for both! Finally, the big day is almost here—the first day of school is August 13th, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back for an amazing 2025–2026 school year. Get those backpacks ready — it’s almost go time!
Hey Alma families — we’ve got a few tuition-paid spots open in our Pre-K program! Give your child a strong start with a high-quality early learning experience right here at Alma School District. If you're interested, be sure to follow the link below to access the waiting list and submit your information. LINK: https://www.almasd.net/o/aps/page/pre-k-information
It’s that time of year — back-to-school shopping is here! School supply lists are now ready to view, so you can get a head start on preparing for a great year ahead. Check out your school’s list and stock up on the essentials! LINK: https://www.almasd.net/page/school-supply-lists
BIG NEWS FROM NASHVILLE! Twenty-eight Alma High School students proudly represented our community at the National Technology Student Association Conference in Nashville! Students attended inspiring leadership sessions, participated in the beloved TSA pin trade tradition, and showcased their incredible STEM and engineering skills on the national stage. HUGE congratulations to Xavier Herzig, Carter Seals, and Jack Snell for bringing home FIRST PLACE in Video Game Design! Your creativity, teamwork, and innovation are next-level! We also want to give a special shout-out to Mrs. Jeana Parker for being selected as the Arkansas TSA Advisor of the Year! Your dedication and leadership continue to inspire students across the state. We’re so proud of all our Airedale TSA members who continue to lead with excellence, passion, and professionalism.
No Bookmobile this Friday, July 4 - she's off for the holiday! Stay safe, keep reading, and we'll see you Monday! 🚐💨
Alma public schools, in compliance with Education general administrative regulation (Edgar) 34 cft 76.734, will destroy the special education records and 504 plans of students whose special education services were terminated on or before June 30, 2019. Parents, guardians, or students have the right to obtain a copy of any data in their folder. Please call the office of special education at (479) 632-4717 or come by the Alma School Administration Annex at 1023 Hwy 64 East in Alma before August 15 to obtain records or to receive more information pertaining to this matter.
Our Alma High School Band is hitting the road soon for an unforgettable experience — performing in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. on July 4th! We’re so proud of these talented students as they represent Alma on a national stage. Let’s send them off with love, support, and Airedale pride! Watch the Parade: Catch the performance live through the FOX Local app (available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and more), or stream the full recording later at july4thparade.com/watch. The parade begins at 11:45 AM ET.
We’re excited to welcome Melinda Bailey back to Alma School District! An Alma native and proud 1988 graduate of Alma High School, Melinda has served the Alma School District for many years — 12 years as a classroom teacher, 15 years as the AIS Media Specialist, and 2 years as the District Test Coordinator. After taking time off to be with family and travel, she’s ready to return to the place she loves. With a lifelong passion for special education, Melinda is excited to join the Alma Intermediate School team once again — this time as a Special Education Teacher! Melinda and her husband of 36 years, Greg, still call Alma home, and we’re so glad to have her back with the Airedale family.
Our National History Day competitors had an incredible week at the national contest at the University of Maryland, June 9-12! In between competitions, students explored our nation’s capital — visiting landmarks like the National Archives, Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian museums, the Capitol (with a visit to Senator Boozman!), the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and many more. AHS Competitors: Riley Bender, Logan & Morgan English, Layla Hendrix, Xavier Herzig, Ava Mendez, Carter Seals, Jack Snell;Teacher: Mary Joslin. AMS Competitor: Jenna Rogers. Way to represent Alma on the national stage!
We’re excited to welcome Kelsey Stone to Alma Middle School as a Social Studies Teacher and 8th Grade Head Volleyball Coach! Kelsey is from Fort Smith and a graduate of Van Buren. She and her husband, Brett, have two daughters, Madden and Merritt. This will be her 9th year in education. She previously taught and coached at Rogers Heritage and spent the last 7 years at Ozark as a technology teacher and Head Volleyball Coach. Kelsey says, “I am so excited to be teaching social studies and coaching middle school volleyball here at Alma!” Welcome to the Airedale family, Coach Stone!
Coach Cal is in the house! We were excited to welcome Coach Cal and the Razorbacks to Charles B. Dyer Arena today for a special satellite camp! This camp gave Arkansas basketball fans a unique opportunity to learn directly from Coach Calipari and the Razorback coaching staff. Participants worked on basketball fundamentals in an intensive, hands-on environment — and even picked up drills they can take home to keep improving their skills. It was an awesome day on campus — thank you to everyone who came out to be part of it! Check out Facebook for more pictures.
Three Alma High School students recently attended the State Officer Leadership Academy (SOLA) at Arkansas Tech University! SOLA brings together state officers from all Career Tech Student Organizations (CTSO) for leadership training. Throughout the week, students worked on elevator speeches, shared how CTSOs have shaped their lives at a special luncheon with state leaders and industry professionals, and gained valuable skills in workshop planning, parliamentary procedure, social media, and gratitude. These experiences will help them lead and inspire the next generation of CTE students. Representing AHS were: Brenna Morris – Arkansas TSA President. Kylee Wallis – Arkansas TSA Secretary. Noel Parker – Arkansas TSA Sergeant at Arms.
