Mrs. King's College and Career classes recently welcomed a special visitor as the Army National Guard stopped by to speak with them. During the visit, representatives from the Army National Guard shared insights about career opportunities, educational benefits, and the skills gained through military service. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and learn firsthand about the experiences of those serving in the National Guard. The visit provided valuable information for those considering military service as a potential career path. Mrs. King emphasized the importance of exposing students to diverse career options, stating that guest speakers like the Army National Guard help students make informed decisions about their futures.
Sip Into Something Sweet This Valentine’s Day! 🍓🥛
This Valentine’s Day, show your love for school food with a refreshing treat — strawberry milk! It will be available at all school locations on Friday, February 14th, so don’t miss out!
Did you know?
✅ Strawberry milk is a great source of protein, calcium, and potassium.
✅ Flavored milk can actually help kids consume less sugar overall.
✅ It provides the same essential nutrients as white milk — with a fun twist!
Be sure to grab a carton and enjoy this sweet surprise! Will you be trying it? Let us know! 💕
Alma High School was buzzing with excitement as we hosted the 5A West Junior High Regional Tournament! Both our 9th grade Quiz Bowl team and Alma Middle School (7th/8th grade) team brought their A-game, competing with skill and determination. Shoutout to Michael Linimon for earning All-Tournament honors — way to go! It was an awesome experience for our Quiz Bowl players, filled with fun, teamwork, and brainpower. Huge thanks to Mr. Bridges for always going the extra mile to support our students and make events like Quiz Bowl unforgettable!
Literacy in Action! We’re putting the spotlight on literacy with the help of Mrs. Reeves, our District Literacy Specialist! Whenever exciting literacy moments happen in our classrooms, we’ll be here to share them with you. First up: Miss Shores' 1st Grade Class! As a first-year teacher, Miss Shores is already making a big impact! She led her students through an engaging lesson on phonemic and phonological awareness — key foundational skills for becoming strong readers. Her students were all in, fully engaged in the learning process! Next up: "Show Down" in Action! In this fun and interactive activity, students secretly wrote their answers on whiteboards before revealing them to Miss Shores. This exciting game, part of the Skills Block in the EL Curriculum, gave students a chance to practice previously taught phonics skills while Miss Shores collected data to track their progress. Way to go, Miss Shores and her 1st graders! Stay tuned for more Literacy in Action! 🚀📖
Alma Choir State Qualifiers Hit the High Notes at All-State Workshop!
This past Saturday, January 25th, the Alma High School choir state qualifiers headed to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville for an awesome, all-day All-State workshop! The students worked hard to fine-tune their musical skills and get ready for their All-State Choir auditions. They had the chance to jam with U of A’s choral professors, student conductors, and staff, plus they were treated to an amazing performance by the university’s chorale that left everyone feeling inspired!
Slam Dunk Story Time keeps growing and thriving! This past Friday, between the girls' and boys' varsity basketball games, more than 75 excited kids gathered for an energetic and fun-filled story time. The event emphasized the power of community, with Dr. Urrutia serving as the guest reader. Kids left with big smiles, a sweet treat, and a brand-new book to take home. Mark your calendars for January 7, when Alma's mayor will be our special guest reader!
Several spring sports schedules are now available on our website! You can find them under the 'Athletics Calendars' section in the documents tab or by visiting the individual sport pages on the respective building pages. We’re excited for an incredible spring sports season — Go Airedales! LINK: https://www.almasd.net/documents/athletic-calendars/712756.
Join us on Friday, January 24th, during halftime of the varsity boys basketball game to honor Dr. Schlabach for his dedicated service to the Alma community and the Airedales. A reception will be held in the Arena Hospitality room at 5:15 PM before the games.
The Alma High School Senior Quiz Bowl team participated in a tournament this week at the Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperative. We’re thrilled to announce that Alma secured 4th place! Additionally, Cooper, Kyle, and Ayden earned spots among the top 10 highest-scoring individuals, with Ayden achieving an impressive 3rd highest overall score in the entire tournament. Congratulations on a fantastic performance!
The Alma School District is making great progress with the Alma Forward 2040 initiative. As part of this effort, we are working to craft a new mission statement or slogan that embodies the district's values and vision. Staff members were invited to share their input, and this week, teacher representatives from each campus participated in a focused workshop to refine the ideas. During the session, the group reviewed various components of the Alma Forward 2040 initiative, identifying key words that resonate with our mission. They then worked in two teams to develop slogans of eight words or less based on these concepts. Through further discussion, the focus was narrowed to statements of six words or less. Each team selected their top two statements, and the group voted to determine the final two slogans to present to the entire staff for consideration. The next step will be a staff-wide vote, and we’re eager to share the final outcome with the public soon. In the meantime, check out our teachers collaborating on this meaningful project!
Slam Dunk Storytime was a slam dunk success, nearly tripling in size at Tuesday night’s varsity basketball games! The energy was off the charts, and we’re pumped to keep the excitement going. Huge shoutout to Alma Primary School Media Specialist Amanda Shores for being our MVP guest reader — she totally rocked it! 🏀📚🎉
Livestream Sponsorships - Be part of the Airedales action! Is your business interested in becoming a livestream scoreboard sponsor? Here’s your chance to connect with the community and support the team! As a sponsor, your business will enjoy: Your logo displayed on the livestream scoreboard during game day (example below). Public Service Announcements (PSAs) throughout the broadcast. Social media shout-outs to boost your visibility. Don’t miss this opportunity to support the Airedales and showcase your business. Contact Jerrod Burns at mburns@almasd.net or (479) 632-4791 to get started!
Last week at the Varsity basketball game, we kicked off our very first Slam Dunk Storytime! This new initiative is a fun way to encourage reading while students enjoy the excitement of the game. We invited all children to join us in the hospitality room for a brief read-aloud session, not just those from our home team. We’re thrilled to report that the event was a huge success, with 16 children in attendance, all of whom were fully engaged and excited throughout the story. Mr. Bullard did an outstanding job reading aloud, keeping the young audience captivated. After the story, the children received a treat from Scruffy to enjoy during the game. If you missed it, no worries! Slam Dunk Storytime will be held at every home varsity game, with new guest readers each time. We hope to see you there!
January marks School Board Appreciation Month! We want to express our sincere thanks to the devoted members of the Alma School District Board of Education for their steadfast dedication to our students, staff, and community. Your leadership and vision truly make a difference each day! Let’s take a moment to acknowledge their hard work and service!
SCHEDULE CHANGE: Due to anticipated inclement weather, the Junior High basketball games originally scheduled for Thursday, January 9th, have been rescheduled to Wednesday, January 8th. The times and locations will remain the same, with the only change being the date. Thank you for your understanding!
The Christmas festivities at Alma School District have come to a close! Thank you for making this season so special. We hope your break is filled with rest, relaxation, and plenty of fun. Wishing you all a happy holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you back on campus on Tuesday, January 7th.
Congratulations to Our Spelling Bee Champions! The Alma Intermediate School is proud to announce the students who will represent Alma at the county spelling bee on January 18th in Van Buren: 4th Grade: Connor Green and Faith Hamel and 5th Grade: Harper Weaver and Charlotte Shores. Additionally, Kenzie Nigh (5th grade) will serve as the alternate.
A big round of applause to these outstanding students for their hard work, dedication, and impressive spelling skills. We are so proud of you and can't wait to cheer you on at the county level!
Grinch Day was a huge hit at Alma Intermediate School! Students celebrated with themed snacks, including "Who-Hash" and "Grinch Juice," while watching the classic original version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The highlight of the day was a surprise visit from a certain mischievous green visitor, who brought a touch of chaos to the festivities. It was a wonderful way to bring holiday cheer and create lasting memories for everyone involved. Great job, Alma Intermediate, for making the season so magical!
Last week, the Skokos Performing Arts Center-Alma celebrated their recent membership with the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon-cutting ceremony! We are incredibly proud of this amazing venue and everyone who contributes to making it such a special place for our community. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out their incredible lineup of entertainment and events by visiting skokospac.org. Don’t miss out on all the great performances — they’re worth seeing!
Gingerbread Fun at Alma Primary School! The holiday spirit was in full swing today as our kindergarten classes dove into a sweet and festive activity — creating gingerbread masterpieces! With icing, candy, and creativity flowing, the students had a blast bringing their gingerbread creations to life. To make the day even more special, some families joined in the fun, sharing laughter and making cherished memories together. What a delightful way to celebrate the season! Great job, kindergarteners! 🎄🍭🎉 For more images, be sure to visit the Alma School District Facebook page!
