Jan 145 min read

ACS Weekly Newsletter 1/14/24

MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR

Dear ACS Families,

We are now accepting applications for prospective students (NOT current students) for grades K-7 for our Admissions Lottery for 2024-25. The open enrollment application period for NEW students (students not currently attending ACS) began at midnight on January 1, 2024 and will continue through February 29, 2024 at 11:59 pm.

As you know ACS will grow to K-8 in 2025-26! So, please tell your friends and family that they can visit our website sections on "Our School" and "Admissions" for valuable information about ACS and the admissions process for NEW students. Here is the link for prospective NEW Families to apply: https://alamancecommunityschool.schoolmint.net/welcomeback

Students that are currently enrolled at ACS and returning for the next school year (2022 - 2023) DO NOT need to re-apply for admission.

There is one more opportunity on February 16 for prospective NEW families to tour the school. For more information and to register for the February 16 tour, please visit the following link.

https://www.alamancecommunityschool.net/school-tours

If you have a student that is currently attending ACS and they have a sibling that you would like to attend ACS in 2024-25, you MUST apply for their sibling to attend if they do not already attend this school year.

LINK TO APPLY FOR A SIBLING NOT CURRENTLY ATTENDING ACS: https://alamancecommunityschool.schoolmint.net/welcomeback

Last, but not least, the admission lottery will be held virtually on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 12:00 noon. A link for the Lottery will be posted on our website as we get closer to that date.

Best,

Leslie

Leslie Paynter, M.Ed.

Managing Director

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear ACS Families & Staff,

It was another great week at Alamance Community School! Check out a few highlights from the week:

Get excited and mark your calendars! Grade levels are working on their next projects and have determined their dates for the Project Celebrations (posted below) in March. Students are becoming experts on force and motion, rocks and minerals, economics, and more!
We held our first tour of the year for potential new families this week and had the chance to showcase our school. Our next tour will be on February 12 at 12:00 pm.
mClass benchmarking began this week for K-3 students.
5th and 6th grades launched a Coyote Carline Fast Pass Raffle. The date to enter ended Friday, and the drawing will be held this Tuesday. Winners will be notified via email and/or phone call.
5th and 6th grades also hosted a Winter Dance to help raise funds for their trip to D.C. next month. It was a big hit for students and staff! We look forward to doing more things like this in the future.

We will be closed on Monday, January 15 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The 15th is his actual birthday and is celebrated on the 3rd Monday of January each year. Born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929, King would have been 95 this year. I encourage you to take time to reflect on his contributions and celebrate his leadership and courage. While his words are powerful, let them not just be words we quote on the third Monday of January. Let them move us to action.

"I don't want his words to just be alive in someone's mouth. I want them to be alive in their life." Bernice A. King, daughter of MLK, Jr.

Thank you for all you do to support our school!

Best,

Jamie Miller, Principal

IMPORTANT DATES:

January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No school)

January 16: Yearbook Photo RETAKES

Tuesday, Jan 30: Grades 3 & 4 NC Reading Check-In B

Thursday, Feb 1: Grades 3 & 4 NC Math Check-In B

Tuesday, Feb 6: Grades 5 & 6 NC Reading Check-In B

February 8: ACS Cheer Showcase 5:30-6:00pm

Thursday, Feb 8: Grade 5 & 6 NC Math Check-In B

Friday, Feb 9: Grade 5 NC Science Check-In B

February 15: Family Conference Day (NO SCHOOL for students)

February 16: Teacher Workday (NO SCHOOL for students)

February 16: ACS Tour for Prospective Families 12:00-1:00 pm

Project Celebrations by Grade Levels:

K -March 8 at 11:00

1st - March 13 at 11:00

2nd - March 8 at 1:30

3rd - March 15 at 1:30

4th - March 12 - 1:00

5th - March 15 at 11:00

6th - March 6 at 10:30

*The Board approved the 2024-2025 calendar in November. It can be found on our website and is included here as well.

Grades 3-6 NC Check-Ins (NCCI) - Late January/Early February

NC Check-Ins (NCCI) are interim assessments that are aligned to North Carolina grade-level content standards (for reading and mathematics) and North Carolina Essential Standards (for science).

The main purpose of NC Check-Ins is to provide students, teachers, and parents with immediate in-depth action data and a reliable estimate of students’ current performance on selected subsets of content standards. Students in grade 3-6 will take these short classroom assessments up to three times throughout the school year to provide you, your student, and their teachers with information about your student’s understanding of content areas. This will help you and your student’s teacher understand what he or she knows and can do so additional instruction can be provided.

Our second round of NCCI’s will take place, according to the following schedule:

Tuesday, Jan 30: Grades 3 & 4 Reading
Thursday, Feb 1: Grades 3 & 4 Math
Tuesday, Feb 6: Grades 5 & 6 Reading
Thursday, Feb 8: Grade 5 & 6 Math
Friday, Feb 9: Grade 5 Science

REMINDERS

YEARBOOKS ARE ON SALE!

Visit https://www.strawbridge.net/ and under the button “Order Pictures and Yearbooks” and use CODE 115739

When picking up and dropping off students, you MUST use the carline. Exceptions are made in special situations (examples: student with special needs or student on crutches, Carline Fast Pass raffle winner). These situations are pre-approved with the administration. Running late or not wanting to wait in the line are NOT acceptable reasons. If you are running late to an appointment or want to avoid waiting in line, you can utilize our contracted Before/After School program, Genesis Athletics.
You must use the morning carline UNTIL the cones are put up. Once the cones are up and carline is closed, you need to park and walk your student to the door. Please use the carline for everyone's safety.
If it is 8:15, students need to be signed in by their grown-up. We go by the time on an iphone which might differ from what is in your car or on the sign-in computer.

*These procedures are outlined in our handbook. It is the caregiver's responsibility to follow these expectations and problem-solve issues related to getting students to and from school while following school procedures and expectations.

POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL

Attention 5th and 6th grade Families! You should have received information about how to log in to the Parent Portal. We hope this will help you stay informed and involved regarding your child's work habits, performance, and progress as they learn to adjust to the expectations and grading system that begins in 5th grade.

PTO NEWS

Tuesday the 16th from 5:00-8:00 is our January dinner fundraiser at the Graham Zaxby's, located at 501 South Main Street! It will also be THIRD GRADE Competition Night! Place your order inside, at the drive thru, or on the app, and 10% of the purchase will be donated to the PTO. If you are joining us for the dinner fundraiser, there is nothing more for you to do than grab a bite to eat between 5:00 and 8:00pm. If your student is a Third Grader, make sure you pop into the dining room to drop their name into their teacher's cup on the fundraiser table in order to make your visit count in the competition. The class with the highest participation wins a catered lunch!

Our Winter Wellness Drive is coming soon: January 22nd through 26th! We will be collecting antibacterial cleaning supplies, tissues, snacks, and bottled water to help support the school's efforts to keep everyone feeling their best. Be on the lookout for more information to come home this week!

NOW HIRING FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR AND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2024-2025

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 Jamie Miller at jmiller@alamancecommunityschool.net

LINK TO APPLICATION