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ACS Newsletter May 10, 2026
- J. Marquice Miller
- 5 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Greetings, Coyote Families.
We are down to our last 2 weeks! Testing Week is upon us! We are so proud of all of the hard work that our staff and students have put in this year. Now it is time to put pen to paper and show what we’ve learned. Please read this newsletter in its entirety so that we can make sure this week goes smoothly
One main change is that students will NOT be admitted after 8:30 on days they are testing! We are all hands on deck for state testing, and students cannot enter the testing room once testing has begun.
Another thing to remember is that students will not be allowed to be dismissed early until testing is complete. Unless it is an emergency, students will not be allowed to leave the room until testing is complete.
TESTING TIME
We are entering testing season, a critical time for students to solidify their learning and prepare for their End-of-Year (EOY) and End-of-Grade (EOG) assessments. More than ever, it is essential for students to be present and on time each day to fully engage in review sessions, participate in targeted practice, and reinforce key concepts. Consistent attendance ensures they receive the support and instruction needed to build confidence and maximize their chances for success. Let’s work together to create the best possible learning environment and set our students up for achievement! Here is how you can help your child do their best on Test Day!
Before the Test
Be prepared. Our school will send out information on testing dates and which grade level will be testing.
Give your child a chance to practice. If your child has trouble taking tests, try practicing test questions and studying new words. Sample questions can be found on the FSA Students and Families website. Keep the sessions short, and set small, manageable goals so that the extra practice boosts your child's confidence (Narang, 2008)
On Test Day
Make sure your child gets a good night's sleep and eats a healthy breakfast. Many teachers report that students who don't do well on tests haven't gotten enough sleep, and haven't eaten breakfast on the morning of the test. Doing both of these things will ensure that your child is working at full capacity (Narang, 2008). Keep in mind that all of our students receive free breakfast. Just make sure that they arrive early enough to give your child enough time to eat before their test.
Remain positive . Staying calm will help your child stay calm. If they get nervous about the test or is likely to experience anxiety during the test, help them practice some relaxation techniques that they can try once they are taking the test (Narang, 2008).
Keep to your regular routine. Experts say that dramatic shifts from a child’s routine can have a negative impact on performance. That’s especially true for younger students who take comfort in regular bedtime rituals and meal routines.
Encourage your child to do their best. Encouraging words and a positive attitude about your child’s test performance will go a long way toward calming test jitters. If you are anxious about your child’s performance, you may send the message that you think she is not capable or is unprepared to do well.
Make sure your child is in attendance and on time on test days. Attendance is important every school day, but especially on test days when students get the opportunity to “show what they know.”
Contact your child’s teacher if special circumstances may have affected test performance. A child’s or parent’s illness or a family crisis may keep a student from doing her best work on a test. Communicate your concerns to your child’s teacher.
After the Test
Let your child know that you appreciate that they did their best. Your encouragement will help your child gain confidence and encourage their best work.
VERY IMPORTANT
On testing days, students will not be permitted after 8:30. We have limited staff to house students who miss the Window for entry. We will not be able to allow students in the rooms once testing has started. Please make sure you are on time and gracious to the staff that will will be enforcing this next week!
Date | Grade Levels | Assessment |
Monday, May 11, 2026 | 3rd - 4th Grade | Reading EOG |
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 3rd - 4th Grade | Math EOG |
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | 5th & 8th Grade | Science EOG |
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 5th - 8th Grade | Reading EOG |
Friday, May 15, 2026 | 5th - 8th Grade | Math EOG/ Math 1 EOC |
TEACHER APPRECIATION WAS GREAT!
Thank you all for helping us celebrate our teachers. They have all worked so hard this year and reserved all of the love they were shown last week!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
The next two Wednesdays will be early release as normal. The first two Wednesdays in May will be Full Days. Remember, these are days needed to make up for time lost to Snow and Tornado warnings, and this was the better choice than adding days to the end of the year.
The following Wednesdays will now be full days:
May 13th
The last day of school will now dismiss at 12:15!
Let's celebrate our first PACK leaving the DEN!
COYOTE CAFE
The Coyote Cafe will be open every Thursday until May 21st. Please help our ACS Ambassadors raise funds for our food pantry every week by buying fresh fruit, crackers, granola bars, juice boxes, flavored water, and other delicious treats in the elementary gym during morning carline. Thank you for your continued support.
GENESIS BEFORE/AFTERSCHOOL UPDATE!
ACS SPORTS UPDATE
2026 ACS Sports Awards Ceremony:
" A night to celebrate our Stars."
We are coming to the conclusion of our 25-26 Alamance Community School Athletic Year! We will celebrate all of our athletes' seasons, accomplishments, coaches, and families on this night! We will celebrate our first full year of competitive conference play and our second full season as an interscholastic program!
Save the date, this event will be held on Wednesday May 20, 2026 5:00 pm-6:45! We look forward to celebrating our ACS Athletes!
ACS SPORTS PHYSICALS 26-27:
5th Grade Families, if you have a 6th grader for the 26-27 school year who may be interested in trying out for any of ACS athletics teams, please begin to schedule physical appointments as soon as possible.
As we enter the summer, often primary care physicians are booked. We want to ensure your new middle school athlete(s) do not have any delay in their tryouts. Have a question about middle school athletics?
Questions/Concerns about ACS Middle School Sports:
ACS AD Contact: dlong@alamancecommunityschool.net
Sports Physicals & Concussion Forms Link Below:
HS SPORTS Transition:
8th Grade Families, If you have an 8th grade student that will be transitioning to HS in Fall 2026', and would like more information on High School Sports please reach out to me. I am here to assist in our Coyotes transition to HS School no matter what school they may attend in Fall 2026!
" Once a Coyote, Always a Coyote"
Questions/Concerns about High School Transitions:
ACS AD Contact: dlong@alamancecommunityschool.net
Darius J. Long, M.S.M.
MS-PE/Athletic Director
Alamance Community School
336.270.5052 (ext. 505 )
VOLUNTEERING
We have loved having so many volunteers in the classroom! Thank you for supporting our students and staff!
Volunteerism at our school is a way for you, parents and guardians, to learn more about ACS, engage in a positive way with your child’s teachers, and witness firsthand the hard work and dedication that all our staff - teachers, assistants, support staff, and administrators demonstrate each and every day.
It is also a way to support your student and other students by assisting with workstations or small groups, helping with clerical tasks or lunch, and/or reading a book to the class. You don't have to be an educator to volunteer, and everyone is welcome. Please click on the ACS Volunteer Form Link below to find ways you can volunteer to support our school.
26-27 School Calendar
*The Board approved the 2026-2027 calendar at the last board meeting. It can be found on our website and is included here as well for your convenience. Please
Looking for Members to Join our Team.
As we reach our final capacity (Full 8th Grade class, New electives, added Administration support, etc.), we will add to our ACS team.
Interested or know someone who might be?
Please complete the application below!
Let’s work together to support our students — every day, in every way!
“COYOTE PACK” FACEBOOK GROUP
Current & NEW families, join our Official ACS "Coyote Pack" Facebook Group. In addition to our newsletters and teacher communications, we use this page to communicate important information during the school year. The ACS Coyote Pack FB group is a positive way to connect staff and parents/caregivers, fostering good communication to continue building the caring and inclusive community that many of us want for our students, staff, and families. The ACS Coyote Pack FB group is where you can ask questions, and our staff & involved families can answer questions and provide correct information. Families NEW to ACS are welcome to join as soon as they complete their registration in SchoolMint. Request to join today:
While everyone is invited to join, please be mindful of what is posted. The goal is increased information and positivity.
What have I missed?
Click HERE to access all of the weekly Updates and Reminders for ACS!
IMPORTANT DATES
5/11 - 5/21 | EOG Testing Date Grade Levels Assessment Monday, May 11 3rd - 4th Grade Reading EOG Tuesday, May 12 3rd - 4th Grade Math EOG Wednesday, May 13 5th & 8th Grade Science EOG Thursday, May 14 5th - 8th Grade Reading EOG Friday, May 15 5th - 8th Grade Math EOG/ Math 1 EOC Tuesday, May 19 3rd Grade Reading Read to Achieve Re-test Monday, May 18 - Thursday, May 21 3rd - 8th Grade Make-up Testing & ELA & Math Re-tests |
5/20 | ACS 2nd Annual Sports Banquet |
5/21 | 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony |
5/22 | Last Day of School |
PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS
If you have missed any of the previous newsletters, here are the links.