ACS Newsletter November 7, 2026

1 hour ago

6 min read

Updated: 6 minutes ago

Greetings, Coyote Families!

This was an awesome week of Project Celebrations. We are looking forward to another great week at ACS. As we begin our winter sports season, here are just a few updates and reminders!

Our Basketball Jamboree will take place this Monday. This is a great introduction to the team and their skills, and a way to build the fanbase for the season! The First Home Game will be Tuesday! Come out and help our Coyotes #ProtectTheDen!

There will be no school for staff or students on 11/11 (Veterans Day).

We will also have makeup pictures on Friday, 11/13, for anyone who missed picture day earlier in the fall. Please read the entire email for information about this week.

Attraction Coupon Fundraiser

We are excited to offer our families and friends the opportunity to purchase the 2026 Attractions Coupon Books. The book includes a free 12-month Savings App with thousands of additional local and national coupons! Everyone can save a lot of money, and help us raise much needed funds for the ACS Athletics Department! For every 5 books you sell, you get 1 book FREE!

EASY WAYS TO SELL AND PURCHASE BOOKS...FREE SHIPPING!

ORDER/SELL BOOKS ONLINE with a CREDIT/DEBIT card:

● Go to SAPayNow.com/289407

- Select “Have my book” to pay with a credit/debit card for the book sent home

- Select “add another book” to order additional books

➔ SaveAround will ship orders directly to you and your supporters if you select “Ship book(s) - FREE SHIPPING”

➔ Seller will deliver your order to you at the end of our sale if you select "I have my book/Seller will deliver at end of sale”

● Post, email, and text our SAPayNow.com/289407 link to family, friends and coworkers so they can purchase books! They will enjoy saving money and supporting our group too!

ORDER/SELL BOOKS with CASH OR CHECK:

● Please complete all customers’ order information and your Seller’s information on the order envelope.

● Please make checks payable to ACS Attractions Coupon Fundraiser.

● Safely Return the completed order form with cash and checks to your group leader.

● Pay for and keep the book sent home. Your additional orders paid for with cash, checks or online will be sent home at the end of our sale.

If you did not sell or purchase books:

1. Please return the book sent home by 10/30/26.

2. Any unreturned book will incur a $25.00 fee to your students' infinite campus account.

If you have any questions, please contact Coach Long dlong@alamancecommunityschool.net

Orders & Payments Are Due By: 11/13/2026

Remember, safety first! Parents, please sell to relatives, neighbors and coworkers.

Many THANKS for supporting ACS Athletics!!!

Middle School Choir Showcase

I want to extend a massive thank you to everyone who joined us for our 1st Trimester Choir Concert on Friday! Seeing our auditorium packed with supportive families made an already special evening even brighter. Having watched our music program evolve over the years, witness key milestones, and raise the bar each term, seeing our middle schoolers command the stage with such poise and artistic maturity was an absolute joy.

The praise from the auditorium was immediate, and our parent community captured the excitement far better than I can. Here is a sample of the heartwarming feedback shared after the final bow:

"I’ve been coming to these concerts since my oldest started four years ago, and tonight was on an entirely different level. The blend, the pitch, and the sheer confidence up on that stage completely blew me away. You could tell how hard they worked!"
"Honestly, I came expecting the usual adorable but slightly unpolished middle school performance, but I was completely floored. The energy in the room was unbelievable, and the harmonies were tight. Truly phenomenal work by the director and students!"
"Whatever changed in the rehearsals this trimester worked magic. Past concerts were sweet, but this one felt like watching a high school or collegiate choir perform. Absolute goosebumps from start to finish!"

A huge thank you to Mr. Clawson for his incredible musicality, leadership, and for just being an AWESOME addition to the ACS team! We are so grateful for the energy, passion, and fresh expertise he brings to our students every single day. We can't wait to see what the music department accomplishes next! Up Next will be the Elementary Music Concert in December. Stay tuned!

Coyote Sports Corner

Alamance Community School

Winter Sports Tryout Week 12 11/9-11/13

11/9 2nd Annual Coyotes Countdown (Basketball & Cheer Jamboree) 4:30 pm

195 Kronbergs Ct. Haw River, NC 27258 Admission $5 (All) Concessions Available

11/10 Home Girls Basketball vs. Alamance Christian School 4:15 pm

195 Kronbergs Ct. Haw River, NC 27258 Admission $5 (All) Concessions Available

11/10 Home Boys Basketball vs. The Hawbridge School* 5:45 pm (PMAC)

195 Kronbergs Ct. Haw River, NC 27258 Admission $5 (All) Concessions Available

11/11 Veterans Day Observance (No School Staff/Students)

Coaches Corner:

" Let's get excited! Our 2nd Annual Coyotes Countdown will be a blast! Come pack the stands out to meet our 2026-27 Basketball Teams! We will have cheer performances, 3-point contests, fan contests, prizes and more." Darius Long , ACS Athletic Director

Attractions Coupon Fundraiser:

Our Attractions Coupon Fundraiser will conclude on Friday 11/13/26! Purchase a coupon book today for only $25! Buy 5 Books we'll give you one for Free! They make great gifts and stocking stuffers. Every purchase benefits ACS student-athletes!

Coyote Parent Pack:

Winter Sports Parents our team is working to update Winter Sports Fees on Infinite Campus Accounts. Keep an eye out for this $25 Winter Sports Fee on Athletes account!

PMAC News: Follow PMAC Sports in every season: https://www.piedmontathletics.net/

Coyote Cafe!

Please stop by the Elementary Gym every Thursday from 7:45-8:15 am for a delicious snack or drink for only $1. All proceeds benefit the ACS Food Pantry.

ACS 2026-27 Yearbooks are on sale now!

Guarantee you receive a copy of the 2026-27 ACS Yearbook!

Don't Miss Out - Order Today!!

We do not order extra copies, so please make sure you order and pay online if you want a copy.

$36 each - online only - Deadline is March 15, 2027!

How to Purchase

Visit the ACS Yearbook Store
Click the Order Button
Enter your student's information, then click add to Cart
Then proceed to the checkout process when ready.

New this year - Donate a Book!

Donations are greatly appreciated and offer all students the opportunity to have a keepsake of their school year forever. As you proceed through the checkout process, there is an option to Donate a Book as well. Please consider adding one or more donated yearbooks to your purchase if you can, and we will make sure donated books go to students who are unable to order. Thank you!

All yearbook orders are shipped in bulk to the school in the spring and will be distributed by ACS before the end of the school year.

https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/yb115739

Important Update: New Attendance Codes & Procedures

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) recently introduced new attendance tracking codes to help schools maintain more precise records. Here is what you need to know about how tardies, checkouts, and attendance codes are tracked at ACS:

• 3-Day Window for Notes: As outlined in our ACS Parent-Student Handbook, written excuse notes must be submitted within three (3) school days following a student’s return to school for an absence, tardy, or early check-out to be considered excused.

• Medical Notes Requirement: All tardies and early checkouts will be recorded as unexcused until an official doctor or dentist note is provided. Please submit all medical notes by uploading them directly through our Student Absence Form within that 3-day window.

• New Checkout Codes:

1P – Used when a student is checked out after the halfway point of the instructional day for a lawful reason (e.g., medical appointment).

2P – Used when a student is checked out after the halfway point of the instructional day for an unlawful reason.

• Understanding How Codes Work: Attendance codes show the specific reason a student missed instructional time, which is separate from whether they are officially absent under state law. For instance, if your child is checked out early after completing more than 50% of the instructional day, an Unexcused Early Checkout code is logged. These early checkouts will show up in attendance screens and the Campus Parent Portal, it does not count as an official absence in state reporting or core attendance, but does reflect instructional time that the student missed.

If you have any questions about these updated procedures or need help with the Student Absence Form, please feel free to reach out to Leslie Jewell.

“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 effective communication and helping continue building the caring and inclusive community that many of us want for our students, st

aff, 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.

Remember: Start with an email if that can get your question answered better from a teacher or administrator!