ACS Newsletter September 20, 2026

21 hours ago

8 min read

Greetings, Coyote Families!

Thank you all for another great week.

While we have been All-Paws-In recently, I do want to highlight a few unsung heroes! Our PTO exec board is second to none! From setting up in the wee hours of the night and on weekends, extra communication, positive reinforcement, & all things Parent support at ACS, we are lucky to have you, Mrs. McPherson, Ms. Alston, and Mrs. Butler! The Admin team and school community really appreciate you and all that you do! Though not all pictured, thank you to all of the PTO parent volunteers who helped make this weekend a success!

If you have not joined the PTO, you are missing out! It's also not too late. For $15, you can also be a positive part of the ACS community! More information below!

Coyotes of the Month (September)

Congratulations to our September Coyotes of the Month! Keep leading the pack! Stay tuned for our October nominees!

A message from our Managing Director

Dear ACS Families & Staff,

Yesterday, I received some great feedback and information from a fantastic and supportive parent about our communication on social media, and I wanted to reach out to share my thoughts and hopefully address any misconceptions or perceptions.

The goal of our school and, likewise, our Coyote Facebook group has always been to build a kind and empathetic community. We know this is a great way for our staff and families to share information about upcoming events, school, staff, and student successes, and to answer general questions. The use of social media also presents risks and entails responsibilities, especially as we want to be good role models for our children and students. When members join the group, all of us, staff and parents, have agreed to the group rules. As a gentle reminder, I have listed the rules at the end of my message.

I believe the proper channel for most concerns is to address them personally, not via social media on the Coyote Group Facebook page, where everyone can see and comment.

If you have a concern involving a grade level, a staff member, or another student, it is inappropriate to post it on the Facebook page. When someone posts, as you know, it is incredibly easy to identify the student, grade level, and/or staff member the poster is referring to. I am often amazed by how much information I can learn about someone (a parent or staff member) when I “Google” them.

Please know that if a negative post or comment is deleted, we are not trying to censor communication. When posts are deleted or declined, feedback is usually provided to the poster as to why it was removed. We want to hear from you and are willing to address your concerns, but we must do so through the correct communication channels. All that being said, I know there have been times when a post was possibly deleted, and maybe it should not have been deleted. Sometimes the concern is about subsequent comments on the post; we can also make improvements in this area.

You can utilize the 2026 - 2027 ACS PARENT STUDENT HANDBOOK as a resource for some of your questions, and when you have a concern, it is best practice to follow the guidelines and the processes for Family & School Communication listed in the handbook. Please note that posting on social media is not one of the strategies. Also, you can refer to our Social Media Policy if needed. My rule of thumb… if I am questioning whether I should send the email or make the post, I don’t.

Last, but not least, every ACS employee - teachers, support staff, and administrators- is committed to your students’ academic and social/emotional growth. I know that when we support and work together, as a team, great things happen for our students. So, let’s all work together and support each other to ensure our students are successful!

Best,

Leslie Hall Paynter, M.Ed.

ACS Managing Director

The Coyote Facebook Group Rules Are:

The page is for positive interactions about ACS-sanctioned events, sharing of student successes, & questions about school-related things, such as carpooling, and general parenting stuff for our Coyote families.
Before you post, ask yourself,’Is this something your child's teacher or administrator should answer?’ If your answer is yes, please contact them directly. Staff welcome your questions & know that there are times when you may have concerns. We prefer and need you to go directly to the teacher or staff member with a concern.
This is not the page to air all your grievances about other parents, students, staff, or the school. Again, if you have an issue, go directly to the source.
This is not the page to post rumors and speculation. If you have a concern/question, contact the school and ask. It is far better to get correct information directly from the source than to have to correct misinformation.
Do not post your political views and opinions or to sell non-ACS related items &/or services.
If a post or comment provokes conflict and is deemed inappropriate by the group's administrators & moderators, it will be deleted.
Conflicts and negative comments should not be welcomed or encouraged in this Facebook group.
Bullying of any kind isn't allowed, and degrading comments about race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, or identity will not be tolerated.
We're all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let's treat everyone with kindness and respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required.
If a post/comment doesn't meet the requirements, the post/comment will be deleted by the group administrators. If the behavior continues, the poster will be removed from the group for the remainder of the school year.

ACS Second Annual Family Fun Day!

Our second annual Fall Family Fun Day was a major success! Thank you to all of the staff, students, and families who came out! Huge Shoutout to Mr. & Mrs. Beck, pulling double duty, with the best wings in the area!

Coyote Student Leaders of ACS

**Congratulations to the 26-27 4th Grade Student Ambassadors for ACS!**

Congratulations to our Middle School Student Council!

Coyote Cafe!

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

Coyote Sports Corner

Alamance Community School

Fall Sports Week 5 9/21-9/25

9/21 Home Boys Soccer vs. Clover Garden School 4:00 pm

633 Corregidor St, Mebane, NC 27302

9/21 Away Co-Ed Cross Country vs. Gorman Christian Academy (PMAC Schools)

3315 E. Geer Sr. Durham, NC 27704

9/24 Home Girls Volleyball vs. Gorman Christian Academy (8th Grade Night) 4:15 pm

195 Kronbergs Ct, Haw River, NC 27258

Admission $5 (All) Concessions: $3 and under

9/24 Away Boys Soccer vs. Burlington Christian Academy 4:00 pm

3715 Rural Retreat Rd, Burlington, NC 27215

Week 4 Recap:

-Boys Soccer hosted Blessed Sacrament in 7-0 loss

-Soccer would finish the week strong 6-3 win over Grace Christian Academy! Jackson T. 4 goals in the game!

- Cross Country Asha P. 1st place of 9 girls & Ayden P. 1st place of 27 boys in PMAC Meet #3. - Girls Volleyball would secure wins at home vs. The Hawbridge School & The Burlington School!

- Coyotes Volleyball is 7-0 in conference play and #1 overall in PMAC!

Coaches Corner

" Congrats to our Boys Soccer Team on securing their first victory of the season. "

Darius Long , ACS Athletic Director

Coyotes in HS:

Congrats to former Coyotes Abigail Davis (c/o 30') and Ethan "Yoshi" Miyano (c/o 30') for making the Volleyball & Boys Soccer Team at Clover Garden High School!

Coyote Parent Pack:

Fall Sports Parents, athletes, $25 Fall Participation Fee is ready for payment. Required for all ACS student-athletes. Please check your athletes' Infinite Campus account to make payment today.

ACS Fall Athletes are competing in athletics, and benefit from nutritious snacks. If you would like to support our Fall ACS athletes with healthy snacks and drinks like waters, oranges, Nutri-Grain bars, Gatorade zero, salt-free pretzels, trail mix, and more, please email me directly at dlong@alamancecommunityschool.net

#protectthepack

Morning Traffic Safety and Law Enforcement Presence

To address recent questions, prevent misinformation, and reduce unnecessary negativity, I want to provide accurate information regarding our School Resource Officer (SRO) coverage. Please know that we are doing everything within our control to ensure the safety of our students and staff while maintaining a strong partnership with the Graham Police Department.

ACS has an agreement with the Graham Police Department for a daily SRO, and I have successfully applied for the Safer Schools Grant each year since our school opened in 2020. Historically, ACS has consistently received SRO coverage except when an officer was sick or responding to an emergency.

These recent staffing challenges are not unique to ACS. Other schools in our area have also experienced reduced law-enforcement coverage. While we often hear about the teacher shortage, there is also a significant shortage of first responders across North Carolina—particularly in our area.

The Graham Police Department has also experienced limited off-duty officer availability because a local business has hired officers for private security. That contract is expected to end in September, and the department anticipates that regular school coverage will improve afterward. ACS remains a top choice among officers for SRO assignments.

The department will continue making every effort to provide an officer during morning and afternoon carline. However, emergencies and active incidents must take priority. I remain in direct communication with Assistant Chief Sisk and will continue advocating for consistent coverage.

We appreciate our continued partnership with the Graham Police Department and remain committed to taking every reasonable step to maintain a safe and secure learning environment.

A Few Requests for Parents:

Middle School Exit: Please allow cars exiting the Middle School lot to merge into traffic when the line is long to keep things moving smoothly for everyone.
Stay in Your Vehicles: Please remain in your cars at all times during carline. Even if we appear shorthanded, we ask that parents do not step out to assist. Attempting to help with traffic flow—while well-intentioned—can compromise safety and hold up the line if it does not align with our established process.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support.

“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.

*Update*

The ACS Coyote Facebook group is designed to foster a kind, supportive community by highlighting school successes, sharing event information, and facilitating general discussions among parents. To maintain this environment, members are reminded that social media is not the appropriate platform for airing grievances, spreading rumors, or addressing specific concerns regarding staff, students, or grade levels. Issues of this nature must be addressed through official communication channels, such as contacting the relevant staff member directly or consulting the Parent-Student Handbook.

To preserve a safe and respectful space, the page is strictly moderated in accordance with group rules and school policy. Group administrators will actively delete any posts or comments that violate these guidelines, provoke conflict, or contain inappropriate content. Individuals who repeatedly disregard these standards will be addressed directly and face removal from the group. Parents with specific inquiries or concerns are encouraged to reach out through official channels, where administration and staff remain committed to answering questions and working together to support every student's success.