ACS Newsletter May 4, 2025

J. Marquice Miller
May 4
7 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

Greetings, Coyote Families.

We are in the home stretch! This year has flown by! We had a wonderful week and are also looking forward to Teacher Appreciation Week. This is the last week for Test Prep for 3rd -7th Grade EOGs. Thank you for making sure your students are here on time.

Please make sure students are adhering to the dress code. There have been some inappropriate outfits this past week. We want to ensure students are dressed to learn and not be a distraction to classmates.
While Carline has been BEAUTIFUL in the afternoon, it is again becoming and remaining an issue with tardiness in the morning. Please help us by arriving before 8:10 so that you can get into the carline, and students can be counted present.
We are in the heart of testing season. This means students need to be present and on time more than ever to have the best review and the best chance for success on EOY and EOGs.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK IS HERE!

We are looking for parents and small businesses who want to donate to our Teacher Gifts! During the week, teachers and staff can win a prize (a gift of their choice) from our stash! These gifts vary in denominations, but are all gifts that our teachers and staff will love.

(For businesses interested in donating, we have a letter to provide for tax purposes)

Although we have a lot for our teachers, it's not too late to add to the giving! If you are interested, please email us or message us on Facebook! You can also send funds directly to our PTO President. Please make all donations by Friday, May 2nd. You may also drop off with the Admin team or at the front office!

Thanks for your support!

PROJECT CELEBRATIONS COMING UP!

We are looking forward to the 3rd Trimester Project Celebrations this week! We will be piloting the new KidAccount event login for safety and convenience. That grade level will receive separate information. In the meantime, please make sure you let your teachers know if you have siblings who will be dismissed early as well. We will make sure the process is streamlined for the front office as much as possible. Also, remember Carline will be significantly shorter on these days, so please arrive a bit sooner if you can, in the afternoon.

SEUSSICAL WAS MAGICAL!

If you missed the Seussical, you missed a treat! SUPER proud of our stusnets, for singing, remembering lines, the set and the coustumes. Special Thanks to Ms. W, Ms. Mooring, Mr. Tribotte, and Mrs. Lane for all of the Behind the Scenes work done for the Music and Theatre students!

PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION

I just wanted to express my sincere thanks to the staff and students for the love shown on National Principals’ Day. ACS was the best decision Ive made in my career, and I am grateful that I get to do this journey with you all! Words can’t express my gratitude, not just for last week, but because I get to lead the best School in North Carolina! You all ROCK!

MAY’S COYOTES OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to our May Coyotes of the Month! We have some great student leaders in ACS!

PACK LEADERS OF THE MONTH

Thank you to our staff for Leading the Pack!

PRINCIPAL FOR THE DAY!

One of the bonuses for Principal Day was a competition on the 5th grade team, to select the "Principal for the day!" Meet Miss Tatum! She ran a tight ship, did the morning announcements, presented 'Coyote of the Month' awards, and even helped with carline. She is well on her way to being an amazing Administrator!

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

May is Finally here…..It’s Mental Health Awareness Month!!!

“Mental health is wealth, especially during Mental Health Awareness Month. The stigma around mental health and treatment has long existed, even though this has started to change. Still, people hesitate to seek help or even talk about it with their loved ones for fear of being judged and facing unnecessary backlash. Simple logic dictates that if we are hurt anywhere, we must seek treatment to get better. This applies to both our mental- and physical well-being.” -National Today

Please read the May is Mental Health Awareness Month document to learn ways that you & your family can take part in ending mental health bias and discrimination, and help build a healthy nation that celebrates children's strengths.

Cindy Gittens, MSW, LCSW

School Social Worker/Mental Health Specialist

DRESS CODE

With the weather warming up, we need to make sure students are still following dress code and are covered. This week, there were many short shorts, covered with oversized sweatshirts that drew questions, as well as crop tops, and shoulders out. Just a general rule of thumb, we need to make sure students are covered from neck to knees. See the attachment below as it relates to the dress code and other reminders.

Reminders about dress code, attendance, and lunch :)

MY HOT LUNCHBOX

Make the process easier. Download the app! See the instructions below!

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!

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 arriving on Time. 8:10

COYOTE CAFE

This Thursday will be our last Coyote Cafe of the year. Please stop by the Elementary gym for a final treat to help us provide for the families who benefit from our ACS Food Pantry. Thank you for your support!

CARLINE UPDATES & CHANGES

Here are a few reminders about KIDaccount, our new Carline App:

KIDaccount

Morning & Afternoon Carline Policies and Procedures

PTO UPCOMING EVENTS

Special thanks to A. McPherson for an Awesome year with ACS and PTO partnership!

Contact: alamancecommunityschoolpto@gmail.com for more information.

CHALK THE WALK!

ACS SPORTS UPDATE

2025-2026 SCHOOL CALENDAR

*The Board approved the 2025-2026 calendar in November. It can be found on our website and is included here as well.

2025-2026 SCHOOL CALENDAR

“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 to foster good communication so we can continue to build the caring and inclusive community that so 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.

GENESIS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL UPDATES

Genesis Before & After School Updates:

Late Pick Up from School

Students not picked up by :45 after will be transferred to the Genesis After School Program. Please pick up your child at the overflow door. Parents/guardians will be charged an after care fee to be determined by how often this occurs and how late the student is picked up, due at the time of pick up via cash, cashapp, or venmo.

School Communications - How to Receive Texts/Phone Calls and Emails from ACS

Last September, we completed the transition to a new school communication software called SchoolMessenger. This change is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the way we communicate with you and ensure that you receive timely and accurate information about school news, events, and your child's education.

The new software offers several improved features, including:

SchoolMessenger App: Receive instant notifications about school events and important announcements.

Custom Notification Preferences: The SchoolMessenger app also allows you to manage your notification preferences for various types of communications including General, Emergency, Attendance and more.

SMS Opt-In: Opt-In to receive text messages by sending a quick text message to our school’s shortcode.

To help you navigate this transition, we have linked a few resources:

SMS Text Opt-In Flyer: Opt-In to receive texts from SchoolMessenger using the QR code or short code text instructions in this flyer.

SchoolMessenger App Parent User Guide: The SchoolMessenger app allows schools and school districts to inform guardians and students about school-related emergencies, school closures, attendance or other school-related issues. The SchoolMessenger app sends and receives notifications straight to mobile devices or desktops.

To download the app, please visit your app store for iOS or Android.

Important: If you already have an email address that the school has on record, use this email address when you sign up for your account in the app.

Please note: We will not be implementing Groups, Teacher Messaging or Teacher-Created Groups at this time.

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 positively 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 day.

It is also a way to support your student and other students by assisting with workstations or a small group, helping with clerical tasks or lunch, and/or something as simple as reading a book to the class. You do not have to be an educator to volunteer, and everyone is welcome! Please click on the ACS Volunteer Form Link below to find ways that you can volunteer to help support our school! https://forms.gle/6iPiTAYNhm14BezV6

WE ARE HIRING! Looking to build the team!

We are in search of Elementary, Middle, and Substitutes for ACS! If you or someone you know would be a good fit for ACS, please apply through our website under the ‘Employment’ tab (see link below) and email a resume to Mr. Miller at jmarqmiller@alamancecommunityschool.net

LINK TO APPLICATION

IMPORTANT DATES

4/22 - 5/12	K-4 EOY mClass Reading Tests
5/5 - 5/9	Teacher Appreciation Week
5/12 - 5/16	EOGs for grades 3-7
5/23	Last day of school for students!