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!
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
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.
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.
We’re excited to share that ALL FOUR Alma School District campuses have been nominated for 2025 Best of River Valley!
Let’s show our Airedale pride and support our schools by casting your vote!
✅ Vote here: https://www.votebestofrivervalley.com/
📅 You can vote once a day — every vote counts!
Please join us in welcoming Garrison Jensen to the Alma School District! Garrison is joining the team at Alma Intermediate School as a Special Education Teacher. A proud 2018 graduate of Alma High School, Garrison holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Ouachita Baptist University and a Master’s Degree from Arkansas State University, both in education. As a lifelong learner, he is passionate about improving education and making a positive impact wherever he can. Now beginning his fourth year in education, Garrison shared, “I’m happy to be back home and excited to see what the future holds!” Welcome back, Mr. Jensen — we're glad to have you!
Bookmobile Update! It’s the first day on the road, but we’ve hit a small bump! On the way to the intermediate school, we had a mechanical issue — five hoses in the undercarriage were damaged and the engine won’t run. We’re switching to a different bus for the day! While service will be limited, we will still be delivering meals and have a small selection of children’s books available. Thanks for your patience — and happy Monday! Check out the official schedule below!
We made it, Alma! The school year is officially over, and summer break has begun. A huge thank you to all of our amazing students, staff, and families for making this year one to remember. From classrooms to ballfields, concerts to competitions — you’ve all made us proud. Now it’s time to trade homework for sunshine, early mornings for late nights, and cafeteria lunches for cookouts and popsicles. Whatever your summer plans may be — vacations, staycations, or just soaking up the sun — we hope it's full of fun, laughter, and relaxation. Enjoy every minute, stay safe, and we can’t wait to see you back in the fall. Happy Summer from Alma School District!
Get ready, Alma — the Bookmobile is hitting the road again, and it's bringing the magic of reading right to your neighborhood! Starting June 2, our big green bus full of books will be making its way across the district with shelves stacked high with awesome reads for all ages. From laugh-out-loud chapter books to page-turning mysteries, epic adventures, and colorful picture books — there’s something for every reader on board. Let’s make this a summer full of stories.
Heads up, parents and students! As we wrap up the school year, the cafeteria will be serving a Manager's Choice menu during the final week. Menus may change, so stay updated by checking here: https://www.myschoolmenus.com/organizations/820.
There was plenty to celebrate at this month’s school board meeting! Julianna Tufts and Kacie Ramsey were recognized for their Chamber Choir’s achievement of Best Overall in the 5A Division at the state level. Congratulations on this incredible achievement! Erin Mills, Mary Joslin, and Stephanie Hall, along with a couple of their students, were honored for their leadership and dedication to History Day at Alma High School. Their hard work played a key role in making the event a success and supporting the students’ impressive accomplishments. The board also recognized outstanding staff across the district: Classified Employee of the Year: Ashley Dean, Belinda Bowen, Lauren Wakefield, Janet Camden, and Basil Kenner. Teacher of the Year: Danny Hobson, Debby Barrett, Emily Engelke, and Amanda Shores. Child Nutrition Employee of the Year: Gidget Goodwin. We’re proud to celebrate the talent and dedication of our students and staff who continue to make Alma Schools a place of excellence!
Huge thanks to the Center for Hearing and Balance for bringing their mobile screening trailer to Alma School District this week! Staff had the opportunity to receive free hearing tests, and we appreciate their commitment to supporting our health and wellness.
