Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education September’s Arkansas Celebrates America250 Content: Arkansas and the American Journey

Memo Information

Memo Number
LS-26-014
Memo Date
9/3/2025
Memo Type
Informational
Unit
Office of Learning Services
Regulatory Authority
Response Required
NO
Attention
Assistant Principal; Assistant Superintendent; Communications Manager / Director; CTE Coordinator (COOPs and regular school districts); Curriculum Coordinators; Data Stewards (SIS; eSchool; eFinance; TRIAND); District Coordinators (ALE; Homeless; ESOL; SDFS & Foster); Early Childhood Coordinator; Equity Coordinators (Disability/Race/Gender/National Origin); General Business Managers; Gifted & Talented Coordinators; Parent Involvement Coordinators/Facilitators; Principals; School Counselors; Special Education Supervisor; Superintendents; Teachers; Technology Coordinators

Primary Contact Information

Memo Reference

Memo Text

The Journey Across Arkansas dashboard is the hub for ACA250 content. September’s theme, Arkansas and the American Journey (Content Focus: Humanities), is now available.

September Theme: Arkansas and the American Journey

In celebration of the U.S. Constitution and our nation’s freedoms, students are invited to reflect on Arkansas’s connection to liberty, democracy, and self-governance—values that shaped the nation in 1776 and continue to guide Arkansans today.

  • Learn about Arkansas’s path to statehood and its role in shaping the Union.
  • Explore civic traditions, patriotic symbols, and Arkansas voices that strengthen communities.
  • Engage in acts of service supporting democracy and civic life.

Educators will find standards-aligned, classroom-ready resources, including Celebrate Freedom Week connections and projects. 

Compass Expedition: The Founders Museum

In partnership with the national America250 Commission, Arkansas educators now have access to The Founders Museum, highlighting the key people and events leading to the American Revolution. Digital exhibits and K-12 classroom resources can support collaborative discussions around our founding documents and leaders with a culminating project for students to generate their own Declaration of Values.

Navigator Expedition: Ornament Project

One of ACA250’s most visible opportunities for students is the “Arkansas Celebrates My Community” Ornament Project, and we want schools across all systems to participate.

  • Each school may submit up to three ornaments (K–4, 5–8, 9–12).
  • Designs should reflect the theme “Arkansas Celebrates My Community.”
  • Selected designs will be printed and displayed on a holiday tree at the State Capitol from mid-November–January.

Details and templates are available here.

Meet Semi & Quinn!

The Semiquincentennial itself is a morphology lesson:

  • Semi = half
  • Quin = five
  • Cent = hundred   
  • -ennial = years

The Semiquincentennial is America’s “250th anniversary.”

To bring this to life, ACA250 introduces Semi and Quinn—Arkansas’s state dogs and expedition guides. Semi is an adventurous explorer of landscapes and natural wonders. Quinn is a thoughtful storyteller of history and civic traditions. They make morphology fun and connect the science of reading to history, science, and math!

Share Your Journey:

We encourage schools and communities to share ACA250 activities using #ACA250 on social media. Educators, families, and partners may also send highlights to america250@ade.arkansas.gov for a chance to be featured.

ACA250 Dashboard: https://america250.ade.arkansas.gov

Share your story: america250@ade.arkansas.gov

For a printable one-page overview: Arkansas Celebrates America250

Celebrate online with #ACA250

 

 

 

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