A huge thank you to all who attended the Meet the Airedales and Community Open House events on Friday night. It was fantastic to see the stands of Airedale Stadium filled once again! We are excited about the upcoming fall sports season. Go Airedales!

On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of celebrating Kim Dickens, who was recently chosen as an Arkansas Teacher of the Year State Semi-Finalist. The 2025 Arkansas Teacher of the Year semi-finalists were announced on August 5, 2024, by the Arkansas Governor's Mansion. Among them was Kim Dickens, marking the first time in Alma School District's history. This program, which is part of the National Teacher of the Year initiative, recognizes educators for their exceptional teaching and leadership abilities. The selection committee will visit each of the four state semi-finalists, and the 2025 ATOY will be announced this fall. The state winner will have the opportunity to apply for the national program. Mrs. Dickens, we are rooting for you!

During the summer, our high school theater students had the opportunity to attend the International Thespian Festival at Indiana University. Throughout the week, they took part in various competitions and achieved great success. Impressively, they garnered seven superior and four excellent ratings in categories such as solo acting, solo musical performance, duet musical performance, group musical theater, solo musical dance, and group musical dance. Their group musical dance presentation from the musical "9 to 5" was even considered for the showcase at the closing ceremonies. Gia DeWitt made Alma High School proud by becoming the first Thespy Winner with her solo dance from "Million Dollar Quartet." Additionally, the school's technical team, the PAC Mules, emerged victorious in the backstage technical challenge. Representing the State of Arkansas, the theater students delivered an award-winning one-act performance, "Sorry, Wrong Number," live at the festival. We are immensely proud of the theater department's achievements!

A former employee of Alma School District has been dedicated to a special project at Alma Intermediate School for the past year. Hidden within the school's busy corridors lies a tranquil outdoor classroom, an undiscovered treasure for many. Lou Cagle, who previously held the role of District Administrative Assistant at Alma Schools, devoted many years to the district. Following retirement, she pursued her passion for gardening and is now utilizing her skills as a master gardener.

Tom Perry was the mastermind behind the garden's creation, offering his landscaping expertise to the district over an extended period. A weathered plaque in his honor, inscribed with "It's all about the kids," was concealed beneath layers of neglect and weathering. Lou took the initiative to uncover the plaque and relocate it to a prominent location, ensuring its visibility to all.

Lou has invested significant time and resources into rejuvenating the garden, with support from various contributors. The PTO graciously donated a water pump and a substantial amount of mulch, while the Alma Women’s League provided financial backing. West-Ark Sod from Barling also contributed crucial gardening supplies. Lou hopes for ongoing parental and community involvement to bring her envisioned plans to fruition. She plans to engage parents through a garden Wishlist, allowing them to contribute items like birdhouses, feeders, soil, seeds, and more. Her ultimate aim is to involve parents and staff in the garden, enabling them to share in the rewards alongside the students.

One afternoon in the garden, Lou was joined by a group of students facing challenges. They were tasked with assisting Ms. Cagle with various duties. Lou observed their remarkable helpfulness, despite their behavior struggles. “Every child should have a place like this, especially those in need of an outlet,” Lou remarked. "I encourage teachers to bring their students here. Every student who visits the garden is captivated by the waterfall, enjoying watching and feeding the fish."

Throughout her time at Alma School District, Lou fostered many meaningful relationships. One such connection was with a former Alma student, Heather Helfrich, who attended the opportunity school and touched Lou's compassionate spirit. Heather now resides at the Hope Campus, honing her artistic talents. Her artwork was featured in a silent auction at the annual Art on the Border event in Fort Smith. Lou invited Heather to the garden to enhance the space with her artistic touch, bringing her vision to life and contributing to the garden's revitalization.

"It's a place where children can learn and have fun." We express our deep gratitude to Lou for her invaluable contributions. We eagerly anticipate the garden's future, hoping it will flourish as a serene retreat for all visitors.

Alma FFA and Van Buren FFA are joining forces for a unique Battle of the Bone Rivalry Competition! We aim to gather supplies for two local animal shelters in Crawford County. The list of items needed for the donation drive can be found below. We are excited to have as much support as possible for this initiative! The FFA chapter that doesn't come out on top will contribute 4 hours of community service to one of the shelters – a win-win for the shelters indeed! Thank you for your ongoing support of Alma FFA and for helping us secure a victory over Van Buren FFA!

Alma Middle School Student Council is offering Airedale Merchandise for sale. Check out the items available for purchase online at https://rockhousedesigns.com/collections/alma. One of the options is a light cream shirt with "In My Airedale Era" printed on it.

A visual display of our town's history is now on display in the Skokos Performing Arts Center Art Gallery.

Curated by Chuck King and Dr. Mike McSpadden, Alma: A Visual History is presented by the Alma Education and Arts Foundation. The gallery is open to the public for viewing at no charge. The collection includes rare photographs and memorabilia dating from the mid 19th century and forward.

The installation also places emphasis on Fayetteville Avenue through the decades. It is the intention of the curators to add to the collection, as other photos and related items are discovered. along with the hope of finding a permanent home for the collection. The public is invited to submit photos, documents, and related items for inclusion in the collection.

Special thanks to those who have contributed to the installation thus far; Dr. Mike McSpadden, The City of Alma, Alma School District, Alma Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, Dr. Samuel Webb (Webb Eye Care) Gary Perry, and the Morgan Nick Foundation.

ALMA: A VISUAL HISTORY

Skokos Performing Arts Center Gallery

103 E. Main, Alma

Now through September 24th.

Free of Charge

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00am-12pm & 1:00pm-4:30pm or by appointment.

Access through the main entrance of the Performing Arts Center. For security reasons, call in advance to secure your entry: (479)632-2129

Scruffy shirts are priced at $12, and Battle of the Bone shirts at $15. Look out for order forms coming your way. Purchase your official Airedale gear at aire-looms! Note: Extended sizes will incur an extra charge.

Mr. B is BACK! This podcast is created by the Alma School District GT program. It is our goal to educate you about the GT community and what it means to be gifted by having various guests who work in the field of gifted and talented education, as well as having our students on as guests to provide their insights on various topics. In this episode, Mr. B. sits down with Jen Lyon, the new principal of the Alma Intermediate School. Mrs. Lyon talks about her background, the plans she has for AIS, and many other things. For those of you who want the "inside scoop" on the principal, this is a great way to get to know her. We hope you enjoy the episode, and remember to never be afraid to embrace your inner weirdo!

Passes are now on sale and can be purchased at the administration building with cash or check only.

Alma Golf marked their victory at Glenwood Country Club with a celebratory dinner at the Fish Nest. Carson Curd and Parker Morland achieved season-best scores of 79 and 84, respectively, while Grady Farmer excelled as the Medalist with a score of 71. Congratulations to the team on their outstanding performance!

It's time to sign up for Alma Youth Football! See the images below for all the details, QR codes, and more. You can also access the sign-up portal by clicking the links below. Go Airedales!

• Travel is $50 with siblings being $10
• City is $30 with siblings being $10

River Valley League (3rd-6th): https://RVFootball24.eventbrite.com

City League (1st-6th): https://CityFootball.eventbrite.com

Kevin Taylor, a seasoned sportswriter, has 42 years of experience, with 22 years dedicated to the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith. He is the author of two books, "Tiger Boogie!" and "Stat Daddy," and is happily married to Mardi Taylor. They have two children, Logan (19) and Landon (15). Kevin serves as an online teacher at Alma Schools since 2015 and also works as a sports reporter for Alma Schools since 2020. In recognition of his outstanding service, he received the 2021-22 Wadie Moore Distinguished Service Award.

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