Marion School District

09/01/2026

We look forward to seeing all our families at Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday!

As a reminder, conferences will be held from 1-7 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 3) at all district campuses. This is a non-student day.

Also, please remember that there will be no school on Friday (Sept. 4) or Monday (Sept. 7) as we commemorate Labor Day.

Additionally, Tuesday, Sept. 8, will be a staff professional development day with no school for students. Students will return to class on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

For more information, please contact your child’s school!

08/31/2026

Project-Based Learning in ALE: Engaging Students Through Meaningful Learning

Students in our K–12 Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) are putting learning into action through Project-Based Learning (PBL)!

Across both our traditional and hybrid programs, students are participating in meaningful learning experiences designed to strengthen academic skills while encouraging creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication.

Project-Based Learning provides students with opportunities to explore real-world questions and challenges, apply skills across content areas, and demonstrate their learning in authentic ways. From our youngest learners to our high school students, projects are designed to meet students at their individual levels while providing opportunities for continued growth and success.

For our ALE students, this approach is especially valuable. PBL allows educators to provide differentiated, student-centered learning experiences while helping students build confidence, independence, and ownership of their learning.

Whether learning takes place in a traditional classroom or through our hybrid program, our goal remains the same: to provide every student with meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and experience success.

We are proud of the curiosity, creativity, and hard work our students continue to demonstrate. In ALE, we know that learning does not always have to look the same to be meaningful and our students continue to show us just how much they can accomplish when given opportunities to learn by doing.

08/28/2026

🔴🔵 PRIORITIZING THE WORK THAT MATTERS MOST 🔵🔴

Our District Guiding Coalition and Building Administrative Teams came together this week to do some important work -- prioritizing the many pieces of our work that lead to student success.

Great schools don’t happen by accident. They are built when leaders work collaboratively to determine what matters most, what deserves our greatest focus, and how the pieces of our work fit together to create strong systems across every school.

Through discussion, collaboration, and a little hands-on sorting, our teams worked to organize and prioritize the practices that support effective instruction, strong PLCs, meaningful intervention, coaching and feedback, and continuous improvement.

When we are clear about our priorities, we can be more intentional about where we invest our time, energy, and leadership.

08/27/2026

Check out our full-page ad in this week's edition of The Evening Times!

Text from the ad:

What does it mean to be a Patriot?

A Patriot is someone who is called to something bigger than themselves. To believe. To serve. To sacrifice. It is about doing the work that needs to be done -- pushing beyond what is easy, rising to the challenge, and becoming something greater.

To engage. To empower. To excel.

Being a Patriot is about doing what is hard and achieving what is great. It's about having the courage to test your limits, the resilience to persevere, and the resolve to turn setbacks into steps forward.

You see this spirit in our classrooms, in our arenas, on our fields, and on our stages. You see it in the way our students learn, compete, create, lead, and serve. At Marion, our students are rising to meet the moment, growing through every challenge, and preparing for success in whatever future lies ahead.

We have what it takes. We are Patriots.

08/25/2026

The Marion School District will transition to a fully cashless payment system for all athletics events beginning this Thursday (8/27/26). The change is intended to improve safety and provide greater convenience for both event attendees and workers. Under the new system, all admission and concession purchases at Marion School District athletic events, regardless of location, will be cashless.

The new system will be in place for Thursday’s varsity volleyball game against Valley View and junior high football games against Wynne. Tickets for all Marion events can be purchased using this link: https://gofan.co/app/school/AR19331

All event tickets will be sold digitally through GoFan. Attendees may purchase tickets in advance at GoFan.co or through the GoFan mobile app. For added convenience, a QR code will be available at event entrances, allowing guests to purchase tickets directly from their phones. Staff members and point-of-sale systems also will be available at the gate to assist guests who need to purchase tickets when they arrive.

The cashless system will mirror the systems now used at most college and professional sporting events, concert venues, movie theaters, and many high schools.

To learn more, visit the link below:
https://www.msd3.org/article/3093156

The Marion School District will transition to a fully cashless payment system for all athletics eve...

08/19/2026

📚✨ UFLI in Action! ✨📚

Ms. Coleman’s students at VPA were hard at work during UFLI! Using letter tiles, students practiced building and changing words while strengthening the connection between sounds and letters. Ms. Coleman modeled the routine, provided explicit prompts, and gave students hands-on opportunities to practice both encoding (spelling) and decoding (reading).

We love seeing students actively manipulating letters, thinking about sounds, and building strong foundational reading skills one word at a time! ❤️🔤👏

Way to go, Ms. Coleman and our young readers!

08/17/2026

The fall sports season is here, and the Marion School District is reminding fans to abide by the district’s guidelines for attendance at athletic events.

Anyone attending Patriot athletic events should follow the following guidelines:

• Fans/students are to adhere to all Marion School District and AAA Guidelines, policies, including the student dress code. Those choosing not to do so may be required to leave without a refund.
• A clear-bag policy is in effect. Guests may carry a small clutch bag, Ziploc-style bags, or clear plastic bags measuring less than 12”x6”x12”. Prohibited items include purses bigger than a clutch bag, all backpacks (including clear backpacks), diaper bags, binocular cases, camera bags, computer bags, f***y packs and cinch bags, luggage of any kind, briefcases, large seat cushions that exceed 16”, and any seat cushions with pockets, zippers, compartments, or covers. More details here: https://aptg.co/j9-7Td
• Preschool children and students in grades K-6 will not be allowed to attend games without adult (beyond high school age) supervision. Students in grades 7-12 must have a school ID to attend games. Students without an ID will be denied entry into the game.
• Parents are responsible for their children; please keep small children with you.
• Good sportsmanship should be displayed at all times. “Booing,” cursing, and/or offensive language or gestures are not allowed.
• Students choosing to leave the event will not be allowed to re-enter.
• Students are not to loiter in the restrooms, concession area, ramps, etc.
• Fans/students are to sit on the side they enter. You will not be allowed to “roam” between the visitor and home sections.
• No outside food or drink will be allowed in the venues.
• Parents are responsible for transporting their children from the event in a timely fashion. Beyond 30 minutes of the event concluding, any student who has not been picked up will have their student ID confiscated and denied access to future events.

For more information, follow the link below: https://www.msd3.org/article/3078579

08/10/2026

The Marion School District has named Jennifer Snyder as its new Director of College, Career & Military Readiness, bringing one of Arkansas' most respected career and technical education leaders to the district.

Snyder brings more than a decade of leadership in career and technical education to Marion. Most recently, she served six years as Career and Technical Education Coordinator for Crowley's Ridge Educational Service Cooperative, where she provided leadership and support for CTE programs serving 19 school districts across Northeast Arkansas. Prior to that, she taught in the Jonesboro School District, earning recognition as the ACTE Arkansas and Regional CTE Teacher of the Year before being named a national finalist for the honor.

In her new role, Snyder will lead the district's efforts to expand opportunities that prepare students for success after graduation. She will oversee Marion's CTE programs, dual credit opportunities, industry-recognized credentials, work-based learning experiences, postsecondary partnerships, and the district's new Air Force JROTC program.

For more, follow the link below:

The Marion School District has named Jennifer Snyder as its new Director of College, Career & Milit...

08/10/2026

08/07/2026

We’re grateful for community partners who continue to invest in our students!

This week, members of our team visited the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas in Jonesboro to receive a generous $5,000 donation from Swept Away, our school district's janitorial services partner. The donation was made specifically to support students in the Marion School District.

These funds will be used to support our food pantry during the 2026-27 school year, providing additional support for students and families in need.

We’re thankful to Swept Away for their continued generosity and commitment to our students. Partnerships like this make a real difference in our schools and community!