The Airedale Update

Alma School District earned Bronze for Best Public School System, and Alma Middle School earned Gold for Best Middle School in the 2026 Best of River Valley awards! Thank you to everyone who voted and continues to support our schools, students, and staff. These honors reflect the support of a community we’re grateful to call home!

Here’s to the team behind the wheel! As National School Bus Safety Week wraps up, we’re giving a special thank-you to our Alma School District bus drivers and transportation team for getting students safely to school and back home each day. Let’s keep safety rolling all year by staying alert, giving buses space, and reminding students to follow their driver’s directions!

From learning tools to local support, Alma families had plenty to explore at the Parent Resource Center at Alma Intermediate School! The event wrapped up last Friday after bringing educational resources, school-specific information, and community organizations together in one convenient spot. A special thank-you to school counselor Mrs. Wagner for organizing it all and to our community partners, including those who traveled to join us, for sharing their time and knowledge with our families!

Lunchtime took a turn under the big top last week! Our cafeterias celebrated National School Lunch Week with a circus theme featuring colorful decorations, special menu items, and plenty of fun. Take a peek at the festivities across our campuses, and join us in thanking our cafeteria teams for bringing the theme to life and making lunchtime special for our students!

The Pride of Alma Marching Band earned 2nd Place Overall among 14 competing bands at the Maple Leaf Marching Festival in Carthage, Missouri, on Saturday, October 17!

In preliminary competition, the band earned 1st Place in Class B, along with Best Music and Best Percussion in its class. A 4th Place Overall finish in preliminaries secured a spot in the evening finals, where the band moved up to finish 2nd Overall.

Congratulations to our band students and staff on their hard work and success! The Pride of Alma now prepares for the State Marching Contest on Tuesday, November 3.

Congratulations to the students recognized at this year’s Miss Alma High School pageant! Kambreah Spencer was crowned Miss Alma High School, Kinsley Peters earned 1st Runner-Up and People’s Choice, Alexandria Steelman earned 2nd Runner-Up, and Kyler Goodwin was named Miss Photogenic. Thank you to all of our contestants for being part of this special evening!

Four Alma Middle School students have been named finalists in the Arkansas Peace Week Youth Art Contest! Congratulations to sixth graders Katelyn Greenwood and Emily McCartney and eighth graders Bentley Whitwam and Annabella Ledbetter. The contest received hundreds of entries from across the state, highlighting students’ creativity and messages of peace.

Artwork will be displayed at the Arkansas State Capitol November 8–14. Award winners will be announced during an event at the Capitol Rotunda on Saturday, November 14, at 1 p.m. The exhibit and awards event are free and open to the public.

Alma High School’s Educators Rising officers are building their leadership and educator skills! On October 14, they represented AHS at the State Leadership Conference in Little Rock, where they attended sessions on team building, fundraising, and leadership, and connected with members from across Arkansas. These officers returned with fresh ideas to strengthen their chapter and enthusiasm for the work ahead!

What could life after high school look like? For 32 Alma seniors, a trip to ATU Ozark’s Tech It Out offered a chance to explore the possibilities! Accompanied by Mrs. King and Mrs. Johnson, students discovered campus programs and learned how their interests could lead to future education and careers. The day also brought an exciting bonus: Blaze Sigler won a scholarship! Congratulations, Blaze!

There’s still time to help fill stockings for our local deployed troops! Donations for members of the 142nd FAB have been extended through Veterans Day, November 11. Drop off items at Alma Primary School or Alma Intermediate School. Suggested donations include jerky, candy, nuts, chips, single-serve drink mixes, playing cards, travel-size toiletries, and other nonperishable items small enough to fit inside a stocking. Thank you for helping bring a little comfort from home to those serving away from their families!

Alma School District is looking for families interested in hosting an international student for a semester beginning in January. Students will attend Alma High School and become part of their host family’s everyday life, sharing traditions, learning about another culture, and building lasting connections.

Host families provide a bed and meals. Students cover their school and personal expenses and carry their own health and liability insurance.

For more information, contact Eileen Parham at EParham@almasd.net or 479-462-5100.

A year full of memories, all in one book! Preorder your 2026–2027 Alma Middle School yearbook for $40. Scan the QR code in the graphic to reserve your copy!

Celebrate your senior and help preserve the memories of Alma High School! Seniors and their families can purchase senior ads to recognize their student’s accomplishments and mark this special milestone. Local businesses are also invited to purchase an ad to show their support for our students and school. Use the button below to purchase a yearbook or ad.

Alma FFA Supporters and Alumni, Inc. will host the Mister Lucky fundraiser concert featuring Jocko Deal on October 31 from 7:30–10:30 p.m. at The Auction House, 5701 Alma Highway in Van Buren. Enjoy an evening of music while supporting Alma FFA members. Costumes are optional but encouraged!

Alma FFA members will serve hot dogs and hamburgers, and drinks will be available. Tickets are $20 per person, or a table for six may be reserved for $150.

For tickets or table reservations, contact:

• Stephanie Brister: 479-790-3630

• Brister & Kannett Law Firm: 479-632-2446

• Simon Family Dentistry: 479-430-7049

Alma Middle School and its Student Council invite veterans and their families to the annual Veterans Day Program! The morning will begin with breakfast at 8:15 a.m., followed by a program at the Alma Performing Arts Center honoring the courage, sacrifice, and service of our nation’s veterans. Veterans and their families planning to attend breakfast are encouraged to register using the information on the flyer or by accessing the link below. We look forward to sharing this special morning with you!

Join us at Charles B. Dyer Arena on Monday, October 26, at 6 p.m. for an open basketball scrimmage between Arkansas Tech and Northeastern State University! Admission is $5, with all proceeds supporting Airedale Basketball.

Calling all future Lady Airedales! Join the Lady Airedale varsity soccer team for a free soccer camp for AIS girls in grades 3–5 on Tuesday, November 3, from 3:30–5:00 p.m. at the field at the AIS track. Varsity players will walk campers from the building to the field for an afternoon of soccer drills, friendly competitions, and skill building alongside the team! Register your camper using the QR code on the printed flyer or the link below.