⚠️ School Closing
Conway Schools will be closed Monday & Tuesday, January 26th & 27th, 2026, due to inclement weather and bad road conditions. Please stay safe and warm Wampus Cats!
We will continue to monitor the road conditions and will communicate further school closings or delays as necessary.
Weather Update: Monitoring Conditions for Friday
Good evening Conway Public Schools,
We are continuing to closely monitor the incoming weather system and will evaluate updated conditions tomorrow morning as forecasts continue to change.
If weather conditions warrant, we may pivot to a two-hour early release on Friday to ensure the safety of our students, staff and families. Should that occur, the following dismissal times would apply:
Elementary Schools: 1:15 p.m.
Secondary Schools (Middle Schools, CJHS, & CHS): 1:30 p.m.
If an early release is implemented, end-of-day dismissal procedures would remain normal, buses would run their regular routes, and all after-school activities and programs would be canceled.
We will communicate any decision as soon as it is made. Please continue to monitor your email, phone messages, and district communication channels for updates. If no additional communication is issued, schools will follow their regular dismissal schedules.
Our team will continue monitoring the weather throughout the weekend and will provide updates regarding any additional school closings or delays as needed.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we prioritize safety. Please stay safe and warm.
Sincerely,
Conway Public Schools
⚠️ Weather Update | Conway Public Schools ⚠️
We are closely monitoring the potential for inclement weather beginning Friday and continuing into the weekend. District leadership, along with our maintenance and transportation teams, are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
Any changes to the school schedule will prioritize safety. Stay tuned for updates through automated calls/texts, email, app notifications, social media, local news outlets, and conwayschools.org. Be sure to download the CPSD App and turn on the notifications for information if you haven’t already!
📌 Review inclement weather procedures:
👉 https://www.conwayschools.org/page/inclement-weather-information
❄️ City of Conway Warming Centers ❄️
As temperatures drop, the City of Conway has opened warming centers for those in need:
• Don Owen Sports Center | 10 Lower Ridge Rd
Open 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. (overnight check-in at 7:00 p.m.) | No pets
• McGee Center | 3800 College Ave
Open 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. | No overnight stays | No pets
• Conway Emergency Shelter | 1116 Gum St
Overnight check-in begins at 4:30 p.m. | 18+ | First come, first served
📞 Questions or donations: Office of the Mayor at (501) 450-6110
Please look out for one another and stay safe.
#CPSDSafety #WeatherAlert #ChampionsForKids
Check out our January 2026 School Board Meeting Recap! https://conwaypublicschools.edurooms.com/engage/conway-public-schools/newsletters/january-2026-school-board-meeting-recap
❄️ Winter Break Reminder (Dec 22–Jan 2)
All CPSD schools and offices will be closed for Winter Break December 22–January 2.
We’ll see you back on Monday, January 5, 2026! Stay warm and enjoy the holidays! ⛄🎁
Please make sure your child turns in their Starbooks reading card by tomorrow. Late cards cannot be accepted.
Reminder: Students are welcome to turn in their cards at any time during the month.
We can’t wait to celebrate all of our amazing readers at the Starbooks Café next Wednesday! 📚☕✨
Check out our December 2025 School Board Meeting Recap! We recognized our Champion Student of the Month, Coach Buck James for AR Sports Hall of fame, CLE Garden of the Year, and the board approved our 2026-2027 school calendar!! https://conwaypublicschools.edurooms.com/engage/conway-public-schools/newsletters/december-2025-school-board-recap
Please remember that students are welcome to turn in their cards at any time during the month.
Thank you for your support! 📚✨
CPSD Snow/Inclement Weather Information: It is the season for winter weather! CPSD is and will be closely monitoring weather conditions, roads, and bus routes today and future weather events. Any changes to the school schedule will prioritize the safety of our students, staff, and parents. Stay tuned for updates via automated calls/texts, email, app notifications, social media and conwayschools.org for the latest info. Please review procedures at https://www.conwayschools.org/.../inclement-weather....
🦃 Thanksgiving Break Reminder!
CPSD will be closed for Thanksgiving Break from November 24–28. Schools and offices will reopen on Monday, December 1st.
Enjoy your time with family and friends! 🧡
#ChampionsForKids #ProudPastPromisingFuture #ThanksgivingBreak #WeareCPSD #WampusCats #LittleCats
🎉 Ellen Smith Elementary is turning 100! 🎉
Established in 1925, Ellen Smith Elementary has spent a full century shaping minds, inspiring growth, and serving as a cornerstone of the Conway community. This year, we are proud to celebrate 100 years of learning, leadership, and legacy—and we want YOU to join us!
Celebration Event
Friday, December 5th
6:00 PM
Ellen Smith Elementary – Conway, AR
As we honor a century of excellence—and the incredible impact that Ellen Smith herself had on education—we also want to hear your stories.
📣 Were you a student or alumni of Ellen Smith? Did you know Ellen Smith personally?
Share your memories, moments, and photos with us using this form:
👉 https://forms.gle/a2PLcoYDTfNGcjVk7
Come celebrate 100 years of community and history with us! 💙✨
Check out this interview with Ellen Smith Elementary Principal Shannon Riner!
🎖️ Veterans Day – Honoring All Who Served
Today and every day, we honor the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. 🇺🇸
A special thank you to the veterans within our CPSD family—your dedication and service inspire us all.
We are proud to recognize all veterans for the sacrifices they’ve made to protect our freedoms.
#ChampionsForKids #ProudPastPromisingFuture #VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans #CPSDStrong
🍎 Help Support the Wampus Cat Pantry! 🐾
We’re excited to share a new resource available this year for Conway Public Schools families — the Wampus Cat Pantry, which helps provide food and basic necessities to families in need through school referrals.
You can help us make a difference in one of the following ways:
🥫 Donate Food:
Purchase items from our list and drop them off at Courtway Middle School or Ida Burns Elementary School.
🛒 Shop Online:
Order directly from our Amazon Wish List and have items shipped straight to the pantry.
💙 Give a Monetary Donation:
Mail tax-deductible donations to:
Conway Public Schools
Attn: Wampus Cat Pantry
2220 Prince St.
Conway, AR 72034
(Make checks payable to “Conway Public Schools” and write “Wampus Cat Pantry” in the memo line.)
📦 Pantry Wish List Includes:
Mac & cheese, pasta, ramen, canned meats and soups, breakfast items, peanut butter, jelly, snacks, and more!
For additional information or questions about how to donate, contact Claudia Courtway (courtwayc@conwayschools.info) or Laney Doan (doanf@conwayschools.info).
Read more about the launch of the Wampus Cat Pantry and how it’s serving our Conway families here: https://www.conwayschools.org/article/2530644
🔗 Additional Community Resources: https://fcl.org/community-resources/
#WampusCatPantry #ConwayCares #ConwayPublicSchools #CommunitySupport
Our next round of Starbooks cards are due to the library by 3:00 PM this Thursday!
Kona Ice is coming to Ellen Smith on Thursday Oct 30th.
Use the attached QR code to place your student’s order, or follow the link below.
https://customer.kona-ice.com/#/K3081592038
Color changing novelty cups and Character cups are available for $6 and $7
Sour powder and ALL NEW CANDY SPOONS are $1
Kona Ice refillable plastic cups may be refilled for $4 (if you pay and forget to send it they will receive a $4 Classic. Please make sure the cups are clean and not cracked. We do not replace broken cups)
The ordering deadline for this event is Wednesday at 9pm sharp!
Note: Please remember to add your student’s name when you select their teacher from the drop down list, otherwise it will be blank!
Kona Ice donates a portion of all sales from this event to your student’s school
We are so excited to welcome everyone to our Grand Event on Tuesday, October 28th! We’ve had an amazing response, especially from our 3rd grade families, and we’re looking forward to celebrating together.
Because so many families have RSVP’d, we’re asking Mrs. Clevenger’s class to help us with crowd control by attending at a slightly different time.
If possible, please plan to come from 10:30–11:10 a.m. instead of the earlier time.
This small adjustment will help make the event more enjoyable for everyone — thank you so much for your flexibility and support!
-Mrs. Henderson
School Librarian