🎭 It’s FOOTLOOSE week at Alma School District!
We couldn’t be more excited for the talented students of Airedale Theatre as they finally bring their hard work to the stage! Performances run from Thursday through Sunday — don’t miss your chance to see the show!
✨ Airedale Theatre Presents: FOOTLOOSE
📅 Thursday, Dec. 4 | Saturday, Dec. 6 | Sunday, Dec. 7
⏰ 7 PM (Thu & Sat) & 2 PM (Sun)
📍 Skokos Performing Arts Center-Alma
🔥 The explosive movie musical bursts onto the live stage with new songs alongside iconic hits from its Oscar-nominated score — celebrating youth, connection, and the power of forgiveness.
🎟️ Get your tickets here: skokospac.org
We couldn’t be more excited for the talented students of Airedale Theatre as they finally bring their hard work to the stage! Performances run from Thursday through Sunday — don’t miss your chance to see the show!
✨ Airedale Theatre Presents: FOOTLOOSE
📅 Thursday, Dec. 4 | Saturday, Dec. 6 | Sunday, Dec. 7
⏰ 7 PM (Thu & Sat) & 2 PM (Sun)
📍 Skokos Performing Arts Center-Alma
🔥 The explosive movie musical bursts onto the live stage with new songs alongside iconic hits from its Oscar-nominated score — celebrating youth, connection, and the power of forgiveness.
🎟️ Get your tickets here: skokospac.org
AHS Students Offering Holiday Gift Wrapping Fundraiser
Alma High School TSA and HOSA students are hosting a holiday gift wrapping fundraiser to support their upcoming competitions.
Gift Drop-Off Information
- Now–Dec. 17: Drop off unwrapped gifts at the AHS Office (please place items in a trash bag or laundry basket labeled “to/from”).
- Dec. 18–19: Drop off at the AHS Student Union from 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Pricing
- $2 per item
- $1 per item if you provide your own wrapping paper
- Payment accepted at drop-off or pick-up
- CashApp: AlmaTSA
Let our students help you save time — and support future student leaders in the process!
🎄 Alma Shines at the Arkansas State Capitol! 🎄
The Arkansas Department of Education is celebrating the unique spirit of communities across the state through the Arkansas Celebrates America250 Ornament Initiative — and Alma is proudly represented!
Students from across our district created ornaments showcasing the history, architecture, and spirit of Alma. Three designs were selected to represent our schools at the Capitol:
🏆 K–4 Winner: Knox Chronister (1st Grade)
🏆 5–8 Winner: Bentley Whitwam (7th Grade)
🏆 9–12 Winner: JulieAnn Sivage (10th Grade)
These winning designs have been printed as ornaments and are now displayed on a Christmas tree inside the Arkansas State Capitol through early January.
🔗 View all ornaments from across the state and search by school district using the top-right search bar on the site: https://sites.google.com/pdarkansas.net/aca250-state-capitol-ornament/home
🎄 Check out the photo below of the final tree on display!
The Arkansas Department of Education is celebrating the unique spirit of communities across the state through the Arkansas Celebrates America250 Ornament Initiative — and Alma is proudly represented!
Students from across our district created ornaments showcasing the history, architecture, and spirit of Alma. Three designs were selected to represent our schools at the Capitol:
🏆 K–4 Winner: Knox Chronister (1st Grade)
🏆 5–8 Winner: Bentley Whitwam (7th Grade)
🏆 9–12 Winner: JulieAnn Sivage (10th Grade)
These winning designs have been printed as ornaments and are now displayed on a Christmas tree inside the Arkansas State Capitol through early January.
🔗 View all ornaments from across the state and search by school district using the top-right search bar on the site: https://sites.google.com/pdarkansas.net/aca250-state-capitol-ornament/home
🎄 Check out the photo below of the final tree on display!
Recently, one of our Alma buses headed out to help a Fountain Lake School District trip route after their bus stalled — making sure their students got back to campus safely and comfortably.
This week, our Transportation Department received this envelope full of handwritten thank-you letters from the students we helped — and wow… they made our day!
Some of the notes said things like:
📨 “If you didn’t help us, we probably would have been stuck there for 20 hours.”
📨 “You’re the reason a bunch of kids weren’t stuck on a hot bus overnight. You made my wish for home come true.”
📨 “Without you, our parents would have had to drive 2–3 hours to get us.”
📨 “Not all heroes wear capes. You saved us that day!”
A huge thank-you to the Fountain Lake students for their kindness — and an even bigger thank-you to our Alma Transportation team for always stepping up when others need a hand.
This is what community looks like. 🚌💛💚
This week, our Transportation Department received this envelope full of handwritten thank-you letters from the students we helped — and wow… they made our day!
Some of the notes said things like:
📨 “If you didn’t help us, we probably would have been stuck there for 20 hours.”
📨 “You’re the reason a bunch of kids weren’t stuck on a hot bus overnight. You made my wish for home come true.”
📨 “Without you, our parents would have had to drive 2–3 hours to get us.”
📨 “Not all heroes wear capes. You saved us that day!”
A huge thank-you to the Fountain Lake students for their kindness — and an even bigger thank-you to our Alma Transportation team for always stepping up when others need a hand.
This is what community looks like. 🚌💛💚
Our Alma Quiz Bowl teams are looking sharp! A huge thank-you to Wave Rural Connect for sponsoring the custom shirts and to Graphic Services for bringing them to life. Our students are geared up to show off their knowledge, teamwork, and Airedale pride. Go, Airedales!
📅 Reminder: Geno’s Give Back Night is Coming Up! Tomorrow! Geno's Pizza in Alma is partnering with the Alma School District Child Nutrition Department for a Geno’s Give Back Night on December 2nd from 4–8 PM to help support meal debt relief. Swing by, grab a delicious dinner, and support a great cause! 🍕❤️
Thanksgiving Across Alma School District! Today, students at every campus came together to enjoy a special Thanksgiving meal! From turkey and gravy to all the classic sides, it was a wonderful day to celebrate and share in the holiday spirit. A huge thank you to our incredible Child Nutrition staff for making this feast possible!
Happy (early) Thanksgiving, Airedales!
Happy (early) Thanksgiving, Airedales!
Last week, Mrs. Walden took five Alma Intermediate School students to the ArkMEA Honor Ensemble, where they spent the day rehearsing, memorizing their music, and preparing for an exciting performance. That afternoon, they joined around 200 students from across the state to perform under the guidance of clinician Lisa Hatfield, showcasing their dedication, talent, and love of music in a unique experience!
🎭 THIS THURSDAY at 7 PM! The Airedale Theatre Department proudly presents The Disappearance of Maud Crawford at the Skokos Performing Arts Center - a gripping stage adaptation of one of Arkansas’s most fascinating unsolved mysteries. Come out and support our talented students as they bring this story to life!
Mark your calendars! Geno's Pizza in Alma is partnering with the Alma School District Child Nutrition Department for a Geno’s Give Back Night on December 2nd from 4–8 PM to help support meal debt relief. Grab dinner and give back! 🍕❤️
Alma Intermediate School’s 3rd graders had an exciting surprise on Thursday when Smokey the Bear stopped by for a special visit! Accompanied by members of the Cass Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center, Smokey helped bring fire safety to life. A Job Corps representative read a Smokey the Bear story that had students listening closely and learning how they can help prevent wildfires. The visit brought plenty of smiles — after all, it’s not every day you get a visit from Smokey himself! Alma School District is grateful to the Cass Job Corps team for making this fun and memorable experience possible for our students.
Thanksgiving Break will take place Monday, November 24th through Friday, November 28th. During this time, all schools and district offices will be closed. Classes will resume on Monday, December 1st. The Alma School District wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
ALMA CHILD NUTRITION IS COOKING UP A FESTIVE TREAT!
Next week, our Child Nutrition team will be serving a special Thanksgiving meal across all campuses! Students can look forward to some of the season’s favorite flavors — including turkey and gravy, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, chocolate pudding, and pumpkin pie.
Menus may vary slightly by campus, but one thing’s for sure — it’s one of the best days of the year in Child Nutrition!
🦃 Thanksgiving meals will be served Thursday, November 20.
To see your student’s exact menu, visit this link: https://menus.healthepro.com/organizations/820
Next week, our Child Nutrition team will be serving a special Thanksgiving meal across all campuses! Students can look forward to some of the season’s favorite flavors — including turkey and gravy, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, chocolate pudding, and pumpkin pie.
Menus may vary slightly by campus, but one thing’s for sure — it’s one of the best days of the year in Child Nutrition!
🦃 Thanksgiving meals will be served Thursday, November 20.
To see your student’s exact menu, visit this link: https://menus.healthepro.com/organizations/820
Students in Ms. Hall’s third grade class celebrated Election Day by learning all about voting and the importance of making your voice heard! They created voter registration cards, filled out ballots, and cast their votes in two delicious classroom elections — with Cheeseburgers and Donuts taking the win!
We might be a couple of months into the school year, but it’s not too late to apply for Free & Reduced Meals! Every family is encouraged to submit an application — you could still qualify for valuable benefits this year.
👉 Apply today: https://www.almasd.net/o/asd/page/free-and-reduced-information
👉 Apply today: https://www.almasd.net/o/asd/page/free-and-reduced-information
This week, Dr. Wood and district principals completed learning walks at Alma Primary School. These visits provided an opportunity to apply the skills learned in recent training with NIET and to develop a common language as an instructional leadership team.
During the learning walks, principals focused on what students were doing and saying in the classroom. Observations included how students engaged with lessons, collaborated with peers, and demonstrated understanding of key concepts. The goal was not to evaluate teachers, but to reflect on student learning and the instructional practices that support success across the district.
Dr. Wood noted that the visits offer valuable insight into how district initiatives are being implemented and how leaders can better support teachers. “It’s powerful to see the great things happening in our classrooms every day,” Dr. Wood said. “These walks give us the chance to celebrate what’s working and identify areas where we can continue to grow together.”
The district plans to continue these learning walks throughout the year to strengthen collaboration, consistency, and shared leadership across all schools.
During the learning walks, principals focused on what students were doing and saying in the classroom. Observations included how students engaged with lessons, collaborated with peers, and demonstrated understanding of key concepts. The goal was not to evaluate teachers, but to reflect on student learning and the instructional practices that support success across the district.
Dr. Wood noted that the visits offer valuable insight into how district initiatives are being implemented and how leaders can better support teachers. “It’s powerful to see the great things happening in our classrooms every day,” Dr. Wood said. “These walks give us the chance to celebrate what’s working and identify areas where we can continue to grow together.”
The district plans to continue these learning walks throughout the year to strengthen collaboration, consistency, and shared leadership across all schools.
Having trouble logging in to Rooms?
Good news — the issue has been resolved!
The recent login problem affecting iPhone (iOS) users has been fixed, and you should now be able to access the app without any issues.
If you’re still having trouble:
• Close and reopen the app to reset your session
• If that doesn’t work, delete and reinstall the app to clear the login cache
Thank you for your patience while this was being worked out!
Good news — the issue has been resolved!
The recent login problem affecting iPhone (iOS) users has been fixed, and you should now be able to access the app without any issues.
If you’re still having trouble:
• Close and reopen the app to reset your session
• If that doesn’t work, delete and reinstall the app to clear the login cache
Thank you for your patience while this was being worked out!
📣 Parents & Guardians: It’s Parent-Teacher Conference Week!
Here’s what you need to know:
- Thursday, October 16: Teacher Work Day + Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences — No school for students.
- Friday, October 17: Parent-Teacher Conferences (all day) — No school for students.
Pre-K families: Pre-K students will attend school as normal both days.
You can view both the Pre-K and District Calendars at the link below.
LINK: https://www.almasd.net/documents/school-calendars/787919
Here’s what you need to know:
- Thursday, October 16: Teacher Work Day + Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences — No school for students.
- Friday, October 17: Parent-Teacher Conferences (all day) — No school for students.
Pre-K families: Pre-K students will attend school as normal both days.
You can view both the Pre-K and District Calendars at the link below.
LINK: https://www.almasd.net/documents/school-calendars/787919
On October 2, district leaders, principals, and curriculum specialists participated in NIET Learning Walk Training, a professional development opportunity through the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching.
This training helps school leaders strengthen teaching and learning by conducting short, non-evaluative classroom visits focused on instructional growth and student engagement.
The following day, October 3, NIET staff developers joined Alma school leaders on campuses across the district to put their new skills into action — observing, collaborating, and supporting teachers in their continued pursuit of excellence.
A huge thank-you to NIET and our dedicated staff for their hard work, collaboration, and commitment to continuous improvement across all Alma schools!
This training helps school leaders strengthen teaching and learning by conducting short, non-evaluative classroom visits focused on instructional growth and student engagement.
The following day, October 3, NIET staff developers joined Alma school leaders on campuses across the district to put their new skills into action — observing, collaborating, and supporting teachers in their continued pursuit of excellence.
A huge thank-you to NIET and our dedicated staff for their hard work, collaboration, and commitment to continuous improvement across all Alma schools!
October Board Meeting Recognitions
We’re celebrating our incredible staff and leaders this month!
Alma Primary School – Recognized for fostering a strong foundation for lifelong learning through dedication and care.
⭐Honorees: Jessica Gillingham, Erin Sanders, Melissa Ellifrits, Amanda Nelson, Jennifer Schneider, Ashley White
Alma Intermediate School – Recognized for launching the 5th Grade Ambassador Program, creating meaningful leadership opportunities for students.
⭐Honorees: Madison Yates, Shelbi Thomas, Allie Smith
Alma Middle School – Recognized for providing nutritious meals and a welcoming environment that supports student success.
⭐Honoree: Jill Boyd
Alma High School – Recognized for exceptional teaching and demonstration of Illustrative Mathematics. Her dedication, positive attitude, and impact have inspired fellow Alma High School math teachers.
⭐Honoree: Amanda Atwell
National Principal Month
This October, we celebrate the leadership, dedication, and care of our principals who make a difference in every school:
Brian Kirkendoll – Alma High School
JD Coursey – Alma Middle School
Jennifer Lyon – Alma Intermediate School
Shawn Bullard - Alma Primary School
Thank you to all of our staff and principals for the impact you make on our students every day!
We’re celebrating our incredible staff and leaders this month!
Alma Primary School – Recognized for fostering a strong foundation for lifelong learning through dedication and care.
⭐Honorees: Jessica Gillingham, Erin Sanders, Melissa Ellifrits, Amanda Nelson, Jennifer Schneider, Ashley White
Alma Intermediate School – Recognized for launching the 5th Grade Ambassador Program, creating meaningful leadership opportunities for students.
⭐Honorees: Madison Yates, Shelbi Thomas, Allie Smith
Alma Middle School – Recognized for providing nutritious meals and a welcoming environment that supports student success.
⭐Honoree: Jill Boyd
Alma High School – Recognized for exceptional teaching and demonstration of Illustrative Mathematics. Her dedication, positive attitude, and impact have inspired fellow Alma High School math teachers.
⭐Honoree: Amanda Atwell
National Principal Month
This October, we celebrate the leadership, dedication, and care of our principals who make a difference in every school:
Brian Kirkendoll – Alma High School
JD Coursey – Alma Middle School
Jennifer Lyon – Alma Intermediate School
Shawn Bullard - Alma Primary School
Thank you to all of our staff and principals for the impact you make on our students every day!
