Siloam Springs School District

This week is Winter Homecoming! ❄️ On Thursday, these exceptional young men and women will visit each of our campuses, waving to their adoring fans along the way 😉 On Friday, we’ll wrap up the celebration with our Homecoming Pep Rally at the high school at 2:45 p.m. The pep rally is open to the public; however, all guests must check in through the high school front office and present a valid driver’s license. The excitement continues Friday evening with home basketball games beginning at 4:00 p.m. and running into the night. Add in testing across some of our buildings and Valentine’s festivities, and we’ve got ourselves one very full week! #Limitless

This week, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the INCREDIBLE school counselors who support, guide, and advocate for our students every single day. Their compassion, dedication, and commitment make a lasting difference in our school community.

Thank you to Heather, Chelsea, Kristen, Cruz, Judith, Morgan, Brendan, Desi, Leslie, Mary, and Joel for all that you do—listening, encouraging, problem-solving, and always showing up for our students and staff. We are truly grateful for each of you! Help us show them some love this week 👏 #Limitless

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Maria Barrientos, a cherished member of our school family, who passed away yesterday. Maria’s educational journey was marked by dedication and excellence, and for 14 years, she served the Siloam Springs School District with deep passion and care for students.

Principal Eumia Fullerton shared, “Maria was one of the most dedicated teachers I have ever known. She had a big heart, an unmatched work ethic, and a genuine concern for both the academic and emotional well-being of her students. She truly believed education was essential to a child’s success.”

Former Principal Josh Killian reflected, “Maria was the heart of Southside—often the first face families saw and a steady presence they trusted. Her decision to return to school to earn her teaching degree speaks volumes about her character and love for others. She will be deeply missed.”

Our thoughts are with Maria’s loved ones and all who were impacted by her life. Counseling services will be available to support students and staff during this difficult time. You can find Maria’s obituary and information regarding services at the link below: https://tinyurl.com/8kx5m6wr

We will also be holding a Celebration of Life Service in honor of Maria, which is open to the public. Additional details can be found in the flyer below.

We're back, baby! 🥳 School will be in session tomorrow, Friday, January 30, with limited rural bus routes. Our Transportation Department will contact families on affected routes directly. We can’t wait to see your smiling faces tomorrow, Panther Nation!

There will be NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Thursday, January 29th. We understand that many main roads are clear and that this decision may be frustrating for some. However, we ask that you consider the back roads where many of our students live, which remain icy and unsafe. At this time, we cannot safely send buses on those roads. Thank you for understanding, Panther Nation.

Today’s Guest Teacher Orientation has been cancelled. We will share a new date as soon as it is rescheduled. At the Siloam Springs School District, we proudly refer to our substitute teachers as Guest Teachers—because when you work with us, you’re not just filling in, you’re our guest. We truly value our Guest Teachers and appreciate the time and care you give to our students and schools. To learn more about how you can become a guest teacher and invest in our students click here: https://www.siloamschools.com/page/guest-teaching

There will be NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28th, due to many back roads still being slick and dangerous. Safety is our top priority—for buses, students, and families—and the roads aren’t quite safe enough yet. Thank you for your understanding ❄️

We are trying to keep things lively with our "No School" posts. 😅 There will be no school tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27, due to inclement winter weather. No angry elves over here, though! Transportation Director Mr. Avery is all smiles 😉—and we’re sure many of our students are, too! Sledding, snow ice cream, hot chocolate, TV time....bring it on snowmageddon!

There will be NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Monday, January 26th, due to winter weather. Stay safe and warm, Panther Nation! ❄️

Today, we had the absolute honor to host the Western Benton County Partnership at Allen Elementary! The WBCP works collaboratively with municipalities, elected officials, school districts, and businesses to foster an environment that attracts investment, creates jobs, and enhances the quality of life for the residents of Western Benton County. They wrapped up their time together with a tour of our Panther Daycare, which is an opportunity for SSSD staff members to have high-quality care at half the price of comparable daycare facilities. Thank you to all of our local representatives, city leaders, and community members for coming today! #Limitless

The Siloam Springs School District is closely monitoring meteorological reporting systems and upcoming winter weather. At this time, schools and bus routes will operate on a normal schedule today, Friday, January 23, 2026. If conditions change, families and staff will be notified promptly. We will continue monitoring weather conditions throughout the weekend and will communicate any potential impacts for next week.

If you believe you may have accidentally blocked or stopped receiving our mass communication messages through SchoolStatus, simply text START to 939393 to resubscribe. Please note: If you have recently changed your phone number and have not yet updated it with your child’s school, this option will not work. The resubscribe feature only applies to phone numbers already on file in our system.

It’s still National School Board Appreciation Month ‼️ And we want to once again shine a spotlight on these five exceptional individuals. Each month, they tour our schools, sit down to enjoy a school meal together, learn firsthand what our students are being taught and how they’re being taught, and lead school board meetings where critical decisions are made to move our district forward.

Our district offers the opportunities and resources of a larger school system—especially compared to others along Highway 59—while still holding tight to the hometown values that make our community special. This board truly reflects that spirit. We’d bet most of our board members know you, your kids, and your mama and daddy. (ha!)

We are incredibly thankful for this dedicated group. Please join us in celebrating them! Thank you, Heath, Chris, Aric, Brian, and Mary Ann. 🎉 #Limitless

Heads up! We are rescheduling a few games due to impending winter weather.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Standing ovation worthy! If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, we highly encourage you to catch SSHS’s Junie B. Jones: The Musical. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, perfect for all ages, and a true crowd-pleasing classic. The next show times are:

- Today, Friday, Jan 16th - 7pm
- Saturday, Jan 17th - 7pm
- Sunday, Jan 18th - 3pm

Click here to buy tickets (Adults $10, Children $5): https://osp.osmsinc.com/SiloamSchools/BVModules/CategoryTemplates/Detailed%20List%20with%20Properties/Category.aspx?categoryid=PH703

Couldn't have said it better ourselves. We are taking a moment (while the weather is still nice) to remind parents of our Inclement Weather procedures. This time last year, we had already had several snow days and were enjoying hot chocolate in bed! With Arkansas weather, you just never know what's around the corner. Things to remember if snow/ice hits:

- Our Superintendent and other Directors start assessing roadways as early as 4:30 am sometimes. They each take a section of our city and start driving (any and every road). They keep in mind that buses have to drive it, high school students, staff, and parents. They also keep a close eye on the weather stations and the advice that is given.
- Calling a snow day is never easy. Half of the town will say, "I used to walk 5 miles, up and down hills both ways. The roads are fine. Send them!" While the other half is thankful for the caution and safety.
- As soon as Superintendent Patrick assesses everything, hears back from other leaders, and takes in what the weather stations are saying, parents will be notified via our school's communication platform within 10 minutes by text message/email. We then post on our websites, socials, and update news stations.
- May 26th - June 1st are our already built in make up days, if we end up needing to use them. We encourage parents not to schedule summer vacations that start after the typical last day of school (May 22nd). Arkansas weather is unpredictable - we could have several snow days we need to make up.

Yesterday, our school board members toured Allen Elementary, starting at Panther Daycare—an on-site, discounted childcare option for employees that truly brings the smiles! They also visited classrooms to see learning in action, where our teachers engage students by meeting them at their level and making learning fun. 🥳 The day wrapped up with the monthly school board meeting, where Allen Elementary students with perfect attendance led the Pledge of Allegiance, and we recognized our Employees of the Month, Liz Fuentes and Michele Markovich. The board also unanimously approved the names of our two middle schools for next year: the current Siloam Springs Middle School will become Middle School South, and Siloam Springs Intermediate School will become Middle School North, aligning with our Northside and Southside Elementary schools. #Limitless

Today is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day! 🚔 Our School Resource Officers are so much more than an added layer of safety in our schools. They are trusted listeners, friendly faces, quick with a joke or a smile, and a steady, reassuring presence for our students and staff. And sometimes, they even come with a fuzzy, wiggly head to pet (we 💙 you, K9 Cyber!). If you see any of these outstanding gentlemen today, please take a moment to say thank you. Our schools—and our entire district—are stronger because of the incredible support of our Police Department and dedicated SROs. #Limitless

Sergeant Josh Fritz – SRO Supervisor
Officer Jon Herrington
Corporal Jeremy Brown
Officer Tyler Underwood and K9 Cyber
Officer Francisco Bonilla
Corporal Dan Newton
Officer Tyler McVay

January is National School Board Recognition Month, and today we pause to say thank you to the leaders who help guide our district forward.

What makes a school district truly great is not only the dedication of its staff but also the leadership that supports, challenges, and believes in them. We could not continue making meaningful strides for our students without the guidance and commitment of our School Board of Education. Each of these individuals brings something unique to the table, but one thing remains constant: a shared commitment to doing what is best for our children. That will never change.

A big thank you to Heath, Chris, Aric, Brian, and Mary Ann for your leadership, service, and unwavering support of our students, staff, and community. We appreciate you—big time. 🐾 #Limitless

REMINDER ❗ The School Board meeting will be NEXT Tuesday, January 13th, at 5:30 pm inside the admin building board room (3050 Cheri Whitlock Dr). 🟢Click here to watch live: http://bit.ly/4o4sjM1