🏈 Airedale Football is BACK!
The Airedales kick off the season tomorrow with a scrimmage against Southside at Southside. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
🎟️ Digital ticketing only:
https://gofan.co/event/6571394?schoolId=AR72396
Let’s go, Airedales! 🐾
The Airedales kick off the season tomorrow with a scrimmage against Southside at Southside. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
🎟️ Digital ticketing only:
https://gofan.co/event/6571394?schoolId=AR72396
Let’s go, Airedales! 🐾
Airedale families, we know it’s HOT!
With these temperatures, afternoon bus rides can feel extra long. Today, we’re happy to provide cold bottled water for our bus riders to help keep students cool and hydrated on the ride home!
A big thank you to our Transportation team for getting everything iced down and ready to go. Stay cool, Airedales!
With these temperatures, afternoon bus rides can feel extra long. Today, we’re happy to provide cold bottled water for our bus riders to help keep students cool and hydrated on the ride home!
A big thank you to our Transportation team for getting everything iced down and ready to go. Stay cool, Airedales!
📚 Help Us Find Missing AHS Yearbooks!
As the Skokos Performing Arts Center-Alma prepares for an upcoming reunion event, Alma School District is asking our community to help locate Alma High School yearbooks from the following years:
1971, 1972, 1974, 1962, 1958, 1951, 1949, and all years from 1947 and earlier.
If you have one of these yearbooks to donate or temporarily lend, please contact Alma School District or drop it off at the Administration Building.
Thank you for helping us preserve our school’s history!
As the Skokos Performing Arts Center-Alma prepares for an upcoming reunion event, Alma School District is asking our community to help locate Alma High School yearbooks from the following years:
1971, 1972, 1974, 1962, 1958, 1951, 1949, and all years from 1947 and earlier.
If you have one of these yearbooks to donate or temporarily lend, please contact Alma School District or drop it off at the Administration Building.
Thank you for helping us preserve our school’s history!
Two days down, and we’re off to a great start! From one campus to the next, our students and staff have filled these first two days with plenty of smiles and special moments. Here’s to a wonderful school year ahead!
Two great shirt options are now available for Alma students, families and fans!
🐾 Team Scruffy Shirts - $12
Available for Alma students in kindergarten through fifth grade. As an added perk, students can wear their Scruffy shirt to receive free admission to most home Alma athletic events!
View the Team Scruffy order form:
https://aptg.co/HMJfKn
🏈 Battle of the Bone Shirts - $15
Get ready for this annual rivalry tradition and help pack Airedale Stadium in black! Shirts are available for students, staff, families and fans.
View the Battle of the Bone order form:
https://aptg.co/z_GP8Q
Sizes are limited, so order early! Each order form includes sizing, payment options and additional details.
🐾 Team Scruffy Shirts - $12
Available for Alma students in kindergarten through fifth grade. As an added perk, students can wear their Scruffy shirt to receive free admission to most home Alma athletic events!
View the Team Scruffy order form:
https://aptg.co/HMJfKn
🏈 Battle of the Bone Shirts - $15
Get ready for this annual rivalry tradition and help pack Airedale Stadium in black! Shirts are available for students, staff, families and fans.
View the Battle of the Bone order form:
https://aptg.co/z_GP8Q
Sizes are limited, so order early! Each order form includes sizing, payment options and additional details.
This Friday, August 14, join us at 7:30 PM at Airedale Stadium for a night full of school spirit, excitement, and Airedale pride!
We’ll introduce our 7th–12th grade athletes and activities, including band, football, dance, cheer, volleyball, cross country, and tennis. We’ll also celebrate our younger Airedales by introducing our 2nd–6th grade tackle football players and cheerleaders!
Following the introductions, get ready for the second annual Big Dog–Little Dog Game, where our 3rd- and 4th-grade Little Airedales will take on the high school football team!
Bring your family and friends, and join us this Friday as we kick off another exciting year of Airedale athletics and activities!
We’ll introduce our 7th–12th grade athletes and activities, including band, football, dance, cheer, volleyball, cross country, and tennis. We’ll also celebrate our younger Airedales by introducing our 2nd–6th grade tackle football players and cheerleaders!
Following the introductions, get ready for the second annual Big Dog–Little Dog Game, where our 3rd- and 4th-grade Little Airedales will take on the high school football team!
Bring your family and friends, and join us this Friday as we kick off another exciting year of Airedale athletics and activities!
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS TOMORROW!
The 2026–2027 school year officially begins tomorrow for our K–12 Airedales! Before heading to bed tonight, take a few minutes to make sure your family is ready.
🚌 Transportation
Double-check your student’s bus route, pick-up time, and transportation plan. Please remember that routes may run a little slower during the first few days as everyone settles into a routine.
➡️ https://www.almasd.net/page/transportation
⏰ Arrival & Dismissal Times
Review your child’s campus handbook for school hours, arrival and dismissal procedures, attendance information, and other important expectations.
➡️ https://www.almasd.net/documents/state-required-information/student-handbooks/452404
🍎 Breakfast & Lunch
Take a look at what’s being served and talk with your child about their meal plans for tomorrow.
➡️ https://menus.healthepro.com/organizations/820
💳 Meal Payments
Parents may add money to student meal accounts online through MyPaymentsPlus. New users will need to create a profile before making a payment.
➡️ https://www.almasd.net/o/asd/page/mypaymentplus
🥪 Free and Reduced-Price Meals
Families are encouraged to complete a meal application. Until an application is processed, households are responsible for the full price of meals.
➡️ https://www.almasd.net/page/child-nutrition-services
📱 Stay Connected
Make sure you have the Alma Schools app downloaded and notifications turned on. Rooms will be our primary tool for classroom and school-to-home communication throughout the year. Pre-K and kindergarten families, please stay tuned - we are still working to provide you with Rooms access!
➡️ https://www.almasd.net/o/asd/page/rooms-support
A Few Final Reminders for Tomorrow:
✅ Pack backpacks and lay out clothes tonight.
✅ Label lunchboxes, water bottles, jackets, and other belongings.
✅ Make sure your child knows how they will get home.
✅ Allow extra time for heavier traffic and longer drop-off and pick-up lines.
✅ Get a good night’s rest - we’ll see you in the morning!
You can also find these resources, school supply lists, health information, enrollment details, and more in our Back-to-School Hub:
🔗 https://www.almasd.net/page/back-to-school-hub
We appreciate everyone’s patience and flexibility as our students, families, drivers, and staff settle into a new routine. We can’t wait to welcome our Airedales tomorrow for an amazing first day! ✏️📚🚌
The 2026–2027 school year officially begins tomorrow for our K–12 Airedales! Before heading to bed tonight, take a few minutes to make sure your family is ready.
🚌 Transportation
Double-check your student’s bus route, pick-up time, and transportation plan. Please remember that routes may run a little slower during the first few days as everyone settles into a routine.
➡️ https://www.almasd.net/page/transportation
⏰ Arrival & Dismissal Times
Review your child’s campus handbook for school hours, arrival and dismissal procedures, attendance information, and other important expectations.
➡️ https://www.almasd.net/documents/state-required-information/student-handbooks/452404
🍎 Breakfast & Lunch
Take a look at what’s being served and talk with your child about their meal plans for tomorrow.
➡️ https://menus.healthepro.com/organizations/820
💳 Meal Payments
Parents may add money to student meal accounts online through MyPaymentsPlus. New users will need to create a profile before making a payment.
➡️ https://www.almasd.net/o/asd/page/mypaymentplus
🥪 Free and Reduced-Price Meals
Families are encouraged to complete a meal application. Until an application is processed, households are responsible for the full price of meals.
➡️ https://www.almasd.net/page/child-nutrition-services
📱 Stay Connected
Make sure you have the Alma Schools app downloaded and notifications turned on. Rooms will be our primary tool for classroom and school-to-home communication throughout the year. Pre-K and kindergarten families, please stay tuned - we are still working to provide you with Rooms access!
➡️ https://www.almasd.net/o/asd/page/rooms-support
A Few Final Reminders for Tomorrow:
✅ Pack backpacks and lay out clothes tonight.
✅ Label lunchboxes, water bottles, jackets, and other belongings.
✅ Make sure your child knows how they will get home.
✅ Allow extra time for heavier traffic and longer drop-off and pick-up lines.
✅ Get a good night’s rest - we’ll see you in the morning!
You can also find these resources, school supply lists, health information, enrollment details, and more in our Back-to-School Hub:
🔗 https://www.almasd.net/page/back-to-school-hub
We appreciate everyone’s patience and flexibility as our students, families, drivers, and staff settle into a new routine. We can’t wait to welcome our Airedales tomorrow for an amazing first day! ✏️📚🚌
A few sweet highlights from the first day of Pre-K! ✏️🖍️💚💛
Thank you to our families for entrusting us with your precious little ones on this exciting first day - and to our amazing teachers who are already loving, encouraging, and teaching them so well. We’re looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, growing, and making memories together! 🐾
Thank you to our families for entrusting us with your precious little ones on this exciting first day - and to our amazing teachers who are already loving, encouraging, and teaching them so well. We’re looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, growing, and making memories together! 🐾
📚 Find the Right Book with Lexile® Reading Levels!
Finding a book that is the right fit can make all the difference in building reading skills and confidence. Alma School District has leveled our library collection using Lexile® measures to help students find books that match their reading ability.
We encourage students to choose a book that is “just right” - one that provides the right balance of challenge, growth, and confidence.
Families can find their student’s most recent Lexile level through the Atlas portal. For additional support, please reach out to your student’s Literacy teacher.
📖 Looking for your student’s next great read?
Explore Lexile® Find a Book through the Lexile & Quantile Hub to search for books based on reading level and interests, explore vocabulary by chapter, and make reading an engaging part of everyday life.
Start exploring today:
🔗 Hub.Lexile.com/Find-A-Book
Happy reading, Airedales!
Finding a book that is the right fit can make all the difference in building reading skills and confidence. Alma School District has leveled our library collection using Lexile® measures to help students find books that match their reading ability.
We encourage students to choose a book that is “just right” - one that provides the right balance of challenge, growth, and confidence.
Families can find their student’s most recent Lexile level through the Atlas portal. For additional support, please reach out to your student’s Literacy teacher.
📖 Looking for your student’s next great read?
Explore Lexile® Find a Book through the Lexile & Quantile Hub to search for books based on reading level and interests, explore vocabulary by chapter, and make reading an engaging part of everyday life.
Start exploring today:
🔗 Hub.Lexile.com/Find-A-Book
Happy reading, Airedales!
🎉 That’s a wrap on Open House! 🎉
We had so much fun seeing our halls filled with students, families, and excitement for the new school year! 💚💛
Thank you to everyone who came out to meet teachers, visit classrooms, reconnect with friends, and get ready for an amazing year ahead. We can’t wait to see our students back in the halls!
Bring on the 2026–2027 school year! 🐾
We had so much fun seeing our halls filled with students, families, and excitement for the new school year! 💚💛
Thank you to everyone who came out to meet teachers, visit classrooms, reconnect with friends, and get ready for an amazing year ahead. We can’t wait to see our students back in the halls!
Bring on the 2026–2027 school year! 🐾
Join us Friday, August 14 at 7:30 PM at Airedale Stadium for a night full of school spirit, excitement, and Airedale pride!
We will be introducing our 7th through 12th grade athletes and activities, including football, dance, cheer, volleyball, cross country, and tennis. We are also excited to continue celebrating our younger Airedales with the second year of introducing 2nd through 6th grade tackle football and cheer!
Following the student and athlete introductions, get ready for the second annual Big Dog - Little Dog Game, where our 3rd and 4th grade Little Airedales will take on the high school football team!
Bring your family and friends and join us for a fun night as we kick off another great year of Airedale athletics and activities!
We will be introducing our 7th through 12th grade athletes and activities, including football, dance, cheer, volleyball, cross country, and tennis. We are also excited to continue celebrating our younger Airedales with the second year of introducing 2nd through 6th grade tackle football and cheer!
Following the student and athlete introductions, get ready for the second annual Big Dog - Little Dog Game, where our 3rd and 4th grade Little Airedales will take on the high school football team!
Bring your family and friends and join us for a fun night as we kick off another great year of Airedale athletics and activities!
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!
🎉 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! 🐾
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.
🚐📚 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! 💛
💛 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!
🐾 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!
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
📢 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!