SPARK Cowley

08/25/2026

REMINDER!

Ark City Parent Meeting is tomorrow evening from 6-7 pm at the Avery Learning Center located at 2500 N 15th Street.

Parents of incoming 6th grade nominees are encouraged to attend as well as any Hope Squad parent or anyone interested in learning more about this incredible program!

08/20/2026

Can this be anymore perfect? Kindness, compassion & unity❤️

The heartbeat of any community is the ability to bridge differences and come together for a greater good.

Ark City Hope Squad is planning to work side by side with Winfield Hope Squad to promote unity & connection during the Cowley Cup Football Game on September 4th in Ark City.

Rivalries will take a backseat as Hope Squad members will pass out free freezer pops together before and during the game.

Currently, Dillons in Ark City is accepting donations of freezer pops to promote this effort!

Purple or Blue - it makes no difference, we are ONE community.

08/18/2026

Va**ng has far surpassed cigarette use by teens. Can’t wait to see the results this funding will have in our community!

💙 What a great night at Ark City Middle School!

Tonight’s Stuff Your Locker event was PACKED, but one thing really stood out: how kind and considerate everyone was. People waited their turn, gave each other space, and were just genuinely pleasant. Kudos to Ark City Middle School students, families, and staff! 👏

We were also excited to grab a photo with Eric Burr, members of the Hope Squads of Cowley County, our RISE Cowley team, and even the school’s sweet support dog! 🐾💙

Through RISE Cowley’s Pathways work, the HOPE Squad received $10,000 to support prevention efforts, including program dues, a stipend, posters and printing materials, and prevention and cessation programming.

We are so excited to see what the HOPE Squad continues to build in Ark City. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible! 🌟

08/16/2026

Incredible news! 🚭

Arkansas City Middle School Hope Squad members please plan to meet in front of the office tomorrow at the beginning of “Stock Your Locker” at 6:30 p.m. for a quick photo with a big check as we are accepting a $10,000 grant to combat youth va**ng & ni****ne use.

Thank you!

08/15/2026

We NEED more positivity!! Way to go!!

All ACHS students are welcome to help Hope Squad Chalk the Walk before the first day of school!

Join your friends for a great time sharing messages of positivity & support on Tuesday, August 18th at 9 am in front of Arkansas City High School

Hope to see you there!

08/05/2026

So great to see this!!

💜💛 Thank You for Supporting ACHS Hope Squad! 💜💛

Arkansas City High School Hope Squad recently partnered with Arby's to raise funds that support the organization's mission. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, Hope Squad received a check for nearly $500 from a percentage of sales on July 21.

These funds will help offset the annual costs of curriculum and resources that allow Hope Squad to continue serving our students.

Hope Squad is a group of students nominated by their peers to promote hope, encourage help-seeking, and raise awareness about youth mental health both on campus and throughout our community.

A huge thank you to Arby's and everyone who stopped by to support this important cause. Your generosity is helping make a difference in the lives of our students!

💜💛 ¡Gracias por apoyar a Hope Squad de ACHS! 💜💛

Hope Squad de Arkansas City High School se asoció recientemente con Arby's para recaudar fondos que apoyan la misión de la organización. Gracias a la increíble generosidad de nuestra comunidad, Hope Squad recibió un cheque de casi $500, provenientes de un porcentaje de las ventas del 21 de julio.

Estos fondos ayudarán a cubrir los costos anuales del currículo y los recursos que permiten a Hope Squad seguir apoyando a nuestros estudiantes.

Hope Squad es un grupo de estudiantes nominados por sus compañeros para promover la esperanza, fomentar la búsqueda de ayuda y crear conciencia sobre la salud mental de los jóvenes tanto en la escuela como en nuestra comunidad.

¡Muchas gracias a Arby's y a todas las personas que participaron y apoyaron esta importante causa! Su generosidad está marcando una diferencia en la vida de nuestros estudiantes.

08/05/2026

Back to school is upon us!

As you are sifting through enrollment paperwork, pay close attention to the Kansas Communities That Care Student Survey Parent Permission Form.

Why is this important?

📈The results of the KCTC Survey are used to identify top priorities for youth prevention efforts in Cowley County.

💪The more surveys taken, the better we can identify substance use prevention needs, mental health needs, strengthening protective factors and reducing risk factors.

✍We must have 20% of all 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th graders in our county take the survey to obtain any actionable data. Our ultimate goal is over 60%.

🙁Cowley County has had no data from the survey for the last 2 years due to low participation rate.

Learn more about the survey at www.kctcdata.org Search Cowley County to see 2024 data for the most recent survey results for our area.

USD 470 - Arkansas City Public Schools USD 465 - Winfield Udall Schools Dexter Schools USD #471 in Kansas Central USD 462

07/30/2026

Investing in youth!! Way to go!

Being present has advantages!

Youth ages 10-18 who attend each of the upcoming YELL lessons at the Northwest Community Center Arkansas City, Ks from August 6th to October 1st will be entered into a drawing for 1 of 2 all you can ride bracelets at the Arkalalah carnival.

Be present, be positive and be ready to engage!

Thank you to Merchants In Motion for sponsoring these prizes!

If you are interested in donating a prize for future giveaways, please email Eric Burr at [email protected]

07/21/2026

ACHS Hope Squad will receive a percentage of the sales tomorrow at ARBY’S.
If you stop by for lunch or dinner, please mention Hope Squad for dine in, carry out or drive thru.
These funds will help us pay our annual dues to access curriculum and resources.
Thank you for your continued support of youth mental health initiatives in our community!

El Hope Squad de ACHS recibirá un porcentaje de las ventas mañana en ARBY'S.
Si nos acompañas para el almuerzo o la cena, por favor menciona Hope Squad al hacer tu pedido, ya sea para comer en el restaurante, para llevar o en el servicio de autos (drive-thru).
Estos fondos nos ayudarán a cubrir nuestras cuotas anuales para tener acceso al plan de estudios y a los recursos del programa.
¡Gracias por su continuo apoyo a las iniciativas de salud mental para los jóvenes en nuestra comunidad!

07/18/2026

What an outstanding opportunity to develop skills in our youth!!

Big News!!

YELL is coming to the Northwest Community Center Arkansas City, Ks starting August 6th!

The YELL program, initially developed at IXL Elementary, engages community organizations, clubs & individuals to provide life skills training to youth.

Topics include character building, leadership, communication, networking, career exploration, substance use prevention, personal safety, volunteerism and much more.

The program will be presented each 1st Thursday of the month during the center’s outreach program. All youth can attend but the target age is 10-18 years.

We are seeking out donations for prizes that can be offered as incentives for youth to attend consistently. Message this page or email Eric Burr at [email protected] if you are interested in donating or would like to volunteer to help.