Gentry Public Schools
Ensuring all Students Connect, Learn, and Succeed
❤️ PIONEER FAMILIES: IMPORTANT REMINDERS!
What a great first week! As everyone settles into the school routine, here are a few quick reminders to help keep things running smoothly:
🚌 Flashing Red, Kids Ahead! — Please stop for school buses with flashing red lights, slow down in school zones, and stay alert for students and staff in crosswalks.
🚗 Traffic & Car Lines — Thank you for your patience! The first few weeks are always a little slower as drivers, staff, and students settle into routines and first-day traffic eases. It gets smoother each day, and we appreciate everyone working together!
📋 School Forms — Please complete and return any forms sent home so we can keep important student and family information current.
⏰ Morning Drop-Off — Please keep your campus drop-off times in mind. Staff supervision begins at the established time for each school.
💬 Stay Connected with Rooms — Use Rooms in the Gentry Pioneers App to stay connected with teachers, coaches, sponsors, and activities.
📵 Bell-to-Bell, No Cell — Arkansas law requires restrictions on student cell phone and covered personal device use during the school day. Please help us reinforce these expectations with students.
🤝 Bullying Prevention & Reporting — We are committed to a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment. If you have a concern, please contact your child’s school directly so we can help.
✅ Attendance Pro — Our new attendance system makes it easier for families to report absences and provide documentation when needed.
📅 GMS/GHS Handbook Review Night — Tuesday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m. in the GHS Auditorium. All K–12 parents and guardians are welcome!
📖 Back-to-School Guide — Bus routes, traffic flow, drop-off/pickup procedures, contact information, and other helpful resources are available on our website.
☎️ Questions or Concerns? We’re Here to Help! — Reaching out directly to the staff member closest to the situation is often the quickest way to receive accurate, timely information. Our website and "Who to Call" page can help you find the right person.
🤖 Can’t Find What You Need? — Try the AI Chatbot on our district website to quickly find information and answers to common questions.
📧 More detailed information, including helpful links, has also been emailed to families.
Thank you for a great first week and for partnering with us! We are thankful you chose Gentry Public Schools and excited for the year ahead.
Have a wonderful weekend, and Go Pioneers! ❤️🤍
The Pioneer Reminder is back. View it here or click the link to view: https://canva.link/n9a5rfdcp5qp8ke.
Looking for an event that isn’t listed yet? Feel free to reach out to the teacher, coach, or sponsor associated with the activity. They can help make sure the event information gets where it needs to go so our calendar stays current.
Looking for an event that isn’t listed yet? Feel free to reach out to the teacher, coach, or sponsor associated with the activity. They can help make sure the event information gets where it needs to go so our calendar stays current.
What a great start to the school year! ❤️🤍
With Day 1 in the books and Day 2 underway, we simply want to say thank you! We are incredibly grateful for our students, staff, families, and the entire Gentry community. Thank you for your patience, flexibility, encouragement, and support as everyone settles back into the school routine.
From our families and staff to local businesses, organizations, and community members, so many people play a part in making Gentry a great place to live, work, learn, and grow. We are thankful for each of you and especially thankful that you have chosen Gentry!
As we close out the first week, be watching for additional communication with a few important reminders and helpful resources for the year ahead. We know the beginning of school comes with a lot of information, and we want to make it as easy as possible to find what you need.
And remember—we’re here to help! Our website makes it easy to find the right person, get connected, and find answers. If you reach out and do not receive a response within 24–48 business hours, please kindly follow up as needed. We want to make sure your questions or concerns reach the right person and are addressed.
We are grateful beyond words and excited for what’s ahead. We’re off to a great start, Pioneers! ❤️
📣 Meet the Pioneers Update
Meet the Pioneers will be held inside the gym tomorrow night.
With the anticipated heat, we are making this adjustment in advance to avoid potential heat-related delays or cancellations and help keep the evening on schedule.
🌭 Hot dog meals will still be available from the gym concession stand.
Please note that while we will do our best to stay on schedule, times are tentative, so arrive early to be safe and make sure you don't miss the event or group you're coming to see.
Click the link in the comments for the updated schedule.
We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night! Go Pioneers!
Meet the Pioneers will be held inside the gym tomorrow night.
With the anticipated heat, we are making this adjustment in advance to avoid potential heat-related delays or cancellations and help keep the evening on schedule.
🌭 Hot dog meals will still be available from the gym concession stand.
Please note that while we will do our best to stay on schedule, times are tentative, so arrive early to be safe and make sure you don't miss the event or group you're coming to see.
Click the link in the comments for the updated schedule.
We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night! Go Pioneers!
It’s not too late to join the Pioneer team!
We’re still looking for great people to join our school community. Take the next step and apply today at https://bit.ly/3DWI4DG.
We’re still looking for great people to join our school community. Take the next step and apply today at https://bit.ly/3DWI4DG.
Gentry Public Schools officially opened its doors for the 2026-27 school year Wednesday, bringing more than 1,800 students back to classrooms across the district for a day filled with familiar traditions, reunions and new beginnings. Read more here: https://www.gentrypioneers.com/article/3071900
Welcome to another exciting year at Gentry Public Schools! Whether you're returning or joining the Pioneer family for the first time, thank you for trusting us with your child's education. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with you.
Gentry continues to grow because of the strong relationships, positive culture, and partnership between our schools and community. That success is built every day through communication, trust, teamwork, and a shared commitment to doing what is best for students.
As we begin the school year, questions or concerns may occasionally arise. When they do, we encourage families to start with the person closest to the situation, such as your child's teacher, coach, or school office. Most questions can be resolved quickly at that level. This helps ensure everyone has accurate information, allows us the opportunity to understand the situation firsthand, and gives us the chance to work together toward a solution. If you don't receive a response within 24–48 business hours, please follow up with the appropriate building administrator or supervisor.
We've worked hard to make it easy to find information and connect with our team. Visit GentryPioneers.com and select Contact Us to find staff contact information, use the search feature to quickly locate information, or ask our AI Chat Bot for assistance.
To our returning families, thank you for continuing to make Gentry such a special place. To our new families, welcome to a community that values strong relationships, positivity, and working together to support our students, schools, and community.
Thank you for your partnership and support. We look forward to another outstanding year together. Go Pioneers! ❤️
🚌 School Safety Reminder!
Please slow down and stay alert around our schools, buses, and crosswalks. Flashing red lights mean STOP and always watch carefully for students crossing the road or using crosswalks. A few extra seconds of patience can make all the difference. Thank you for helping keep our Pioneers safe! ❤️
Please slow down and stay alert around our schools, buses, and crosswalks. Flashing red lights mean STOP and always watch carefully for students crossing the road or using crosswalks. A few extra seconds of patience can make all the difference. Thank you for helping keep our Pioneers safe! ❤️
☀️ Back-to-School Reminder!
With the August heat, please encourage students to bring a water bottle to school and stay hydrated throughout the day. Clear water bottles are encouraged, but if your student has a different type, no worries! If a student does not have a water bottle, we will make sure they have access to water. 💧 We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!
With the August heat, please encourage students to bring a water bottle to school and stay hydrated throughout the day. Clear water bottles are encouraged, but if your student has a different type, no worries! If a student does not have a water bottle, we will make sure they have access to water. 💧 We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!
📸 Gentry Athletics Sideline Media Passes
As Gentry Athletics continues to grow and our programs receive more attention from local and regional media, we are implementing a simple sideline media credential process for home football games.
Sideline access will be reserved for approved media members and photographers covering Gentry Athletics for a legitimate media purpose. This is a common practice that helps us safely manage an increasingly busy sideline while protecting our student-athletes, coaches, officials, media members, and the overall game environment.
Media members and photographers interested in sideline access should apply through the Gentry Athletic Department. Contact information and the Media Pass Application can be found on the Gentry Athletics webpage linked in the comments. Credentials are limited based on available space and event needs, and all approved media are expected to follow Gentry Athletics and Arkansas Activities Association guidelines.
We appreciate the growing interest in our student-athletes and programs and look forward to continuing to share the great things happening in Gentry Athletics!
Go Pioneers!
As Gentry Athletics continues to grow and our programs receive more attention from local and regional media, we are implementing a simple sideline media credential process for home football games.
Sideline access will be reserved for approved media members and photographers covering Gentry Athletics for a legitimate media purpose. This is a common practice that helps us safely manage an increasingly busy sideline while protecting our student-athletes, coaches, officials, media members, and the overall game environment.
Media members and photographers interested in sideline access should apply through the Gentry Athletic Department. Contact information and the Media Pass Application can be found on the Gentry Athletics webpage linked in the comments. Credentials are limited based on available space and event needs, and all approved media are expected to follow Gentry Athletics and Arkansas Activities Association guidelines.
We appreciate the growing interest in our student-athletes and programs and look forward to continuing to share the great things happening in Gentry Athletics!
Go Pioneers!
🛡️ Continuing to Invest in Safety
Today, Gentry Public Schools staff participated in districtwide safety and emergency preparedness training as part of our continued commitment to student and staff safety.
The training was provided by Strategos International, an organization with approximately 25 years of experience providing safety and security training and more than 600,000 people trained across 1,500+ organizations. Today’s training focused on general awareness, preparedness, communication, and response strategies for school staff. Trainers included retired educators and law enforcement professionals from Arkansas and Missouri, bringing experience from both school and public safety settings.
We were also grateful to have our School Resource Officers participate alongside our staff throughout the training. Their involvement and continued partnership are an important part of our approach to school safety. Today’s training was designed to supplement the knowledge, planning, and coordination already in place with our local law enforcement partners who serve our schools and community.
We believe in continually investing in every part of the student and staff experience, and that includes providing our employees with opportunities to learn, prepare, and work alongside the professionals who help keep our schools and community safe.
Thank you to our staff, trainers, School Resource Officers, and local law enforcement partners for investing the day in our schools and students.
Go Pioneers!
Today, Gentry Public Schools staff participated in districtwide safety and emergency preparedness training as part of our continued commitment to student and staff safety.
The training was provided by Strategos International, an organization with approximately 25 years of experience providing safety and security training and more than 600,000 people trained across 1,500+ organizations. Today’s training focused on general awareness, preparedness, communication, and response strategies for school staff. Trainers included retired educators and law enforcement professionals from Arkansas and Missouri, bringing experience from both school and public safety settings.
We were also grateful to have our School Resource Officers participate alongside our staff throughout the training. Their involvement and continued partnership are an important part of our approach to school safety. Today’s training was designed to supplement the knowledge, planning, and coordination already in place with our local law enforcement partners who serve our schools and community.
We believe in continually investing in every part of the student and staff experience, and that includes providing our employees with opportunities to learn, prepare, and work alongside the professionals who help keep our schools and community safe.
Thank you to our staff, trainers, School Resource Officers, and local law enforcement partners for investing the day in our schools and students.
Go Pioneers!
We are excited to announce Werner Gil as a new Paraprofessional at the Primary School. Werner Gil brings more than 37 years of full-time ministry experience, serving people of all ages and backgrounds. His passion for supporting children and youth has most recently been reflected in his work with children in foster care and other vulnerable youth.
Inspired by his daughter's dedication to the Gentry School District, Werner is excited to give back to the community his family now calls home. Outside of work, he enjoys music, woodworking, and spending time with his wife, three children, and three grandchildren.
Charlie Bird graduated from college in Idaho before moving to Northwest Arkansas in 2024. After five years creating financial studies for residential communities, he discovered a passion for education while serving as a substitute teacher at Gentry Public Schools. Charlie is excited to join the district as a full-time teacher and continue making a positive impact on students and the community. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, photography, and gardening.
🎒 $16,000 FOR READY DAY ONE!
A great school year starts with being ready — and thanks to Sharing & Caring of Benton County, every Gentry Public Schools student will have the supplies they need to do just that. ❤️
Sharing & Caring has pledged $16,000 to Gentry Public Schools’ Ready Day One initiative, helping ensure that all 1,800+ Gentry students receive their teacher-requested, high-quality school supplies at no cost to their families.
That means no shopping lists. No searching multiple stores for the right supplies. No wondering whether every student will have what they need.
Instead, every Pioneer walks into the school year ready to learn. 📚✏️
“Every child deserves to walk into the classroom on the first day of school with confidence, knowing they have exactly what they need to learn alongside their peers,” said Thomas Blackwell, Executive Director of Sharing & Caring of Northwest Arkansas. “We’re honored to stand alongside Gentry Public Schools in making that possible.”
And that’s exactly what Ready Day One is all about.
The program was piloted last year with our kindergarten through second-grade students, and teachers saw the difference — students arrived prepared, supply shortages decreased, and more valuable instructional time was available from the very first day.
Now, thanks to incredible community partners, Ready Day One is districtwide.
🙌 Thank you to Sharing & Caring of Benton County for investing $16,000 in Gentry students!
And thank you to the growing list of community partners helping make this vision possible, including Tucker Chiropractic, Simmons Foods and Arvest Bank.
This is what happens when a community comes together for kids.
Because Ready Day One is about more than pencils and notebooks. It’s about removing barriers, creating opportunity and making sure every Pioneer starts the school year with confidence.
❤️Together, we’re making sure every student is ready from Day One. Ready more about the program and the contribution in the comments.
#ReadyDayOne #GentryPioneers #GentryPublicSchools #CommunityStrong #GoPioneers
A great school year starts with being ready — and thanks to Sharing & Caring of Benton County, every Gentry Public Schools student will have the supplies they need to do just that. ❤️
Sharing & Caring has pledged $16,000 to Gentry Public Schools’ Ready Day One initiative, helping ensure that all 1,800+ Gentry students receive their teacher-requested, high-quality school supplies at no cost to their families.
That means no shopping lists. No searching multiple stores for the right supplies. No wondering whether every student will have what they need.
Instead, every Pioneer walks into the school year ready to learn. 📚✏️
“Every child deserves to walk into the classroom on the first day of school with confidence, knowing they have exactly what they need to learn alongside their peers,” said Thomas Blackwell, Executive Director of Sharing & Caring of Northwest Arkansas. “We’re honored to stand alongside Gentry Public Schools in making that possible.”
And that’s exactly what Ready Day One is all about.
The program was piloted last year with our kindergarten through second-grade students, and teachers saw the difference — students arrived prepared, supply shortages decreased, and more valuable instructional time was available from the very first day.
Now, thanks to incredible community partners, Ready Day One is districtwide.
🙌 Thank you to Sharing & Caring of Benton County for investing $16,000 in Gentry students!
And thank you to the growing list of community partners helping make this vision possible, including Tucker Chiropractic, Simmons Foods and Arvest Bank.
This is what happens when a community comes together for kids.
Because Ready Day One is about more than pencils and notebooks. It’s about removing barriers, creating opportunity and making sure every Pioneer starts the school year with confidence.
❤️Together, we’re making sure every student is ready from Day One. Ready more about the program and the contribution in the comments.
#ReadyDayOne #GentryPioneers #GentryPublicSchools #CommunityStrong #GoPioneers
We are here to help!
Have questions as we get ready for the new school year? Be sure to check out the “Who to Call” section of our Back-to-School Guide on our website. It can help point you to the right person to get the answers you need!
🔗 Back-to-School Guide linked in the comments.
We can’t wait to see our Pioneers! ❤️🤍
Have questions as we get ready for the new school year? Be sure to check out the “Who to Call” section of our Back-to-School Guide on our website. It can help point you to the right person to get the answers you need!
🔗 Back-to-School Guide linked in the comments.
We can’t wait to see our Pioneers! ❤️🤍
We are excited to announce Gina Blankenship as a new Paraprofessional at the Primary School. Gina Blankenship holds a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and brings more than 25 years of experience working with children, including 12 years as a classroom teacher and 15 years as a home daycare provider. She is excited to return to a smaller school district, where she values the close relationships among staff and has already felt warmly welcomed.
Outside of school, Gina enjoys spending time with her three children and extended family, camping, serving in her church by teaching children's classes and playing the piano, and visiting family in Oklahoma.
Outside of school, Gina enjoys spending time with her three children and extended family, camping, serving in her church by teaching children's classes and playing the piano, and visiting family in Oklahoma.
We are excited to announce J Dorsey as our new Biology Teacher at the High School. J Dorsey brings several years of experience in science education, most recently serving in an Alternate Learning Environment. Before entering education, he worked as a plumber, serving the Northwest Arkansas community.
Education is a family passion, as both his wife and oldest son are educators. He is excited to join the Gentry School District and contribute to its commitment to student success. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, and cheering on his son at football games.
Education is a family passion, as both his wife and oldest son are educators. He is excited to join the Gentry School District and contribute to its commitment to student success. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, and cheering on his son at football games.
🚌 School Buses Are Back on the Road – Help Keep Our Students Safe!
As the new school year begins, thousands of Arkansas students will be riding school buses each day. Every stop matters, and every driver plays an important role in keeping our children safe.
When a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, Arkansas law requires all drivers to stop from both directions, even on most four-lane roads. Drivers must remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the stop arm is retracted, and the bus begins moving again.
Please remember:
🛑 Never pass a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing.
📏 Stop at least 30 feet from the bus.
🚸 Watch carefully for students crossing the street or walking near the roadway.
📵 Put your phone down and stay focused, especially in school zones.
These laws exist because a child's life depends on them. A few extra moments of patience can make all the difference in helping every student arrive safely at school and return home each afternoon.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our Pioneer students—and all Arkansas students—safe. ❤️🚌
#GoPioneers #SchoolBusSafety #DriveSafely
As the new school year begins, thousands of Arkansas students will be riding school buses each day. Every stop matters, and every driver plays an important role in keeping our children safe.
When a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, Arkansas law requires all drivers to stop from both directions, even on most four-lane roads. Drivers must remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the stop arm is retracted, and the bus begins moving again.
Please remember:
🛑 Never pass a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing.
📏 Stop at least 30 feet from the bus.
🚸 Watch carefully for students crossing the street or walking near the roadway.
📵 Put your phone down and stay focused, especially in school zones.
These laws exist because a child's life depends on them. A few extra moments of patience can make all the difference in helping every student arrive safely at school and return home each afternoon.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our Pioneer students—and all Arkansas students—safe. ❤️🚌
#GoPioneers #SchoolBusSafety #DriveSafely
We are excited to announce Kristen Chappell as a new Special Education Paraprofessional at the Primary School. Kristen Chappell is a military veteran who previously spent 10 years working in financial crimes for the Walmart Home Office before taking time away from her career to focus on raising her children.
After joining the school district as a substitute, she quickly discovered a passion for working with students. Outside of school, Kristen teaches dance at Studio B, enjoys photography, reading, and serving in her church, and loves spending time with her family and their four pets. She looks forward to supporting students, staff, and families in her new role.
After joining the school district as a substitute, she quickly discovered a passion for working with students. Outside of school, Kristen teaches dance at Studio B, enjoys photography, reading, and serving in her church, and loves spending time with her family and their four pets. She looks forward to supporting students, staff, and families in her new role.
📣 HAC Grade Access Update
HAC is now available for middle and high school families to access student grades. Access codes have been emailed to new families, and returning families should use their existing HAC login credentials. If you have questions or need help accessing your account, please contact your child's school for assistance. You can find an information page in the comments.
HAC is now available for middle and high school families to access student grades. Access codes have been emailed to new families, and returning families should use their existing HAC login credentials. If you have questions or need help accessing your account, please contact your child's school for assistance. You can find an information page in the comments.
