A Message from the Principal

Gator Families,

Check out the upcoming events.

August 12th - New Family Orientation @ 10:00am

August 14th - Kindergarten Assessments- Signup Genius Forthcoming

August 20th - Open House

• 11:00am - Noon - Last Name A-K (Curriculum Presentation in classroom at 11:40am)
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm - Last Name L-Z (Curriculum Presentation in classroom at 5:10pm)

August 24th - First Day of School

• Kindergarten Staggered Enrollment - Verify your child's first day with the teacher

Click here to view the Student Handbook.

Thank you for supporting our school - working together as one team on one mission, we are meeting needs, challenging minds, and celebrating accomplishments.

Until next time… Have a great day!

Tom Childers, Principal

Antioch Elementary offers a variety of onsite and offsite afterschool opportunities. Click here to view the list.

The Antioch Elementary Parent Teacher Organization does a tremendous job of supporting our school with events and funds to enrich the educational experience of your child. Please consider getting involved. You can visit the PTO website by clicking this link.

As we look ahead to the 2026-2027 school year, we have some very important information to share regarding our morning arrival and afternoon dismissal times. After careful consideration and discussion between Union County Public Schools leaders and community partners, we will not have a traffic director at our school this year at arrival and dismissal times. We are confident that through collaboration and cooperation between school staff and families, we will successfully navigate this change. You will notice “Right Turn Only” signs as you exit our campus. With safety in mind, we expect that all staff members, parents of students, and other visitors will adhere to this requirement, as it is in place to promote safety and efficiency. We recognize that these changes in our arrival and dismissal routines may create logistical challenges for you and your family, so we encourage those of you who drive your children to school to plan for this change and to provide yourself with plenty of extra time, particularly in the first few weeks of the school year. Click this link to view maps to further describe the new traffic pattern and our car rider line.

Morning drop-off begins at 7:00am and students are recorded as tardy if they are not in their classroom by 7:30am. Parents should follow the direction of our staff at all times and should NOT pass other cars as this poses a significant safety risk for pedestrians. All walkers should cross the traffic lanes ONLY at the designated crosswalks. Our bus lot is available for morning drop off as well as parking once the buses have departed. Our staff will direct you into this area once it is available.

Parents may park and walk their child to the front door. Our school safety protocols will prohibit parents from walking their child to the classroom.

Kindergarten parents are encouraged to arrive between 7:30am - 7:45am during their child's staggered enrollment day. You may park and walk with your child into the gym by entering the doors from the bus lot. Our staff will greet your child and escort them to class. Traffic will be much lighter during this time and you will have an opportunity to take a picture and say goodbye to your little one.

Staff members and Volunteers will be strategically located throughout the building to ensure that all students arrive at class safely. Your child's teacher will receive them at the classroom door and welcome them to the new school year.

All exterior doors, interior doors, and windows will remain locked throughout the school day. Each staff member has multiple ways to communicate with the office in the event of an emergency. Safety zones have been established on the grounds of our campus to ensure that proper supervision is maintained at all times. Our students and staff will participate in monthly safety drills to practice our response in the event of an emergency. All students will also participate in a safety meeting each semester to discuss appropriate behavior and how students should respond if a situation makes them feel uncomfortable.

Our school has very specific dismissal procedures to ensure the safety of students and staff as well. All transportation changes must be provided in writing to your child's teacher. You may contact Mrs. Graham, our receptionist (cathy.graham@ucps.k12.nc.us) in the event of an emergency. Please do not email the teacher during the school day for a same day transportation change. The teacher may not be available to check his/her email and your message may go unnoticed.

Please note: Frequent transportation changes increases the potential for mistakes by our staff. Each student's daily dismissal method is documented and maintained at the school in the event of an emergency.

Students who are afternoon walkers will be dismissed through the door at the end of the Kindergarten Hallway. Parents must come to the door to request their students. Please complete this form when someone other than the parent is picking up your child from the walker door.

Kindergarten and First Grade car riders will be dismissed beginning at 1:50pm through the STAFF LOT car rider line (see map). Parents who also have students in grades second through fifth should NOT arrive at this time as your child will NOT be available for dismissal.

Second and Third Grade car riders will be dismissed beginning at 2:00pm through the STAFF LOT car rider line (see map). Parents who also have students in grades fourth and fifth should NOT arrive at this time as your child will NOT be available for dismissal.

Fourth and Fifth Grade car riders will be dismissed beginning at 2:10pm on the BUS LOT (see map). Parents who also have Kindergarten through third graders may pick all students up at this time. Fourth-Grade and Fifth-Grade students will be seated with their younger siblings in the gym and cafeteria and must be picked up from the BUS LOT.

Please review the information below if your child is planning to ride the school bus this year.

• Parents should begin by clicking here to watch the introductory video.

• Parents may use this link and then click on REAL TIME BUS INFO link to access the Edulog Parent Portal Smartphone App.

Where's My Bus?

Get the information you need from the transportation department without having to make a phone call. Receive timely messages or bus delay information. Access all of your students through one secure login.

The Edulog Parent Portal smartphone app helps you receive information about your child’s school bus ride.

It allows you to:

1. Access designated bus stop times and locations,
2. See real-time information about the location of your child’s school bus, and

1. Receive notifications when the bus is getting close.

Parents are permitted to have lunch with their child. We ask that you do not come to school for lunch during the first few weeks of school. Your child's birthday would be an exception ONLY on Monday - Thursday. Students may have two visitors due to seating limitations. Lunch with your child is open on Monday through Thursday ONLY. Visitors are NOT Permitted on Friday.

Family Lunch Rotation:

Week of September 7th - Families with the last name of A-E

Week of September 14th- Families with the last name of F-K

Week of September 21st - Families with the last name of L-Q

Week of September 28th - Families with the last name of R-Z

Each classroom teacher has made seating arrangements for you. If seating in the cafeteria is not available, parents may be asked to eat in the courtyard. Please plan your visit accordingly with respect to the weather.

Parents are permitted to bring in a birthday treat for students to celebrate their child's birthday. All treats must be commercially prepared. I would suggest scheduling this with your child's teacher to prevent multiple treats on the same day. Our staff is responsible for supervising students and eating lunch during the lunch period. I urge parents to come to school during lunch on your child's special day if you are sending in birthday treats and pass out the individually prepared items to your child's classmates. This will take a tremendous burden away from your child's teacher. Please remember that items must be commercially prepared and individually packaged. Please DO NOT send in items that require cutting. Our school does not permit candles or signing happy birthday in the cafeteria.

Please note: Frequent transportation changes increases the potential for mistakes by our staff. Each student's daily dismissal method is documented and maintained at the school in the event of an emergency.

Students who are afternoon walkers will be dismissed through the door at the end of the Kindergarten Hallway. Parents must come to the door to request their students. Please complete this form when someone other than the parent is picking up your child from the walker door.

Kindergarten and First Grade car riders will be dismissed beginning at 1:50pm through the STAFF LOT car rider line (see map). Parents who also have students in grades second through fifth should NOT arrive at this time as your child will NOT be available for dismissal.

Second and Third Grade car riders will be dismissed beginning at 2:00pm through the STAFF LOT car rider line (see map). Parents who also have students in grades fourth and fifth should NOT arrive at this time as your child will NOT be available for dismissal.

Fourth and Fifth Grade car riders will be dismissed beginning at 2:10pm on the BUS LOT (see map). Parents who also have Kindergarten through third graders may pick all students up at this time. Fourth-Grade and Fifth-Grade students will be seated with their younger siblings in the gym and cafeteria and must be picked up from the BUS LOT.

The first day of school for students will be on Monday, August 24th. Kindergarten students will have staggered enrollment during the first week of school and your Kindergartener will ONLY attend school ONE DAY during the first week of school. This day will be assigned when the teacher contacts you to introduce themselves. No Kindergarten students will attend school on Friday, August 28th.

Click here to view the Kindergarten Frequently Asked Questions.

Antioch Elementary is seeking parents to serve on the School Improvement Team.

Please complete this form if you are willing to serve as the SIT representative for your child's grade level. This team meets six times throughout the year to discuss issues about our school. Interested parties should submit their information by noon on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. If necessary a ballot will be shared with our parents to select the representatives. The first meeting of the year is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9th. Meetings will begin at 2:30pm and end no later than 4:00pm. Meetings are scheduled for the following dates:

• September 9th
• October 14th
• November 11th
• January 13th
• February 10th
• March 10th.

Click here to submit your interest for the 2026-2027 Antioch School Improvement Team

Please be aware of these guidelines as you are shopping for back to school clothing.

• Extremely short shorts, skirts or dresses are not permitted. (Please check to ensure all shorts, dresses, and skirts are long enough to reach the tip of your child’s middle finger with the arms stretched straight down the side of the leg.) Students wearing shorts/skirts of an inappropriate length will be sent to the office to call their parents and request appropriate clothing.
• Students may not go barefoot: flip-flops, slides, and shoes with cleats or rollers are not allowed. Children should not wear shoes without ankle straps. This is particularly important as we have physical activity daily. Crocs, slides, and slippers are prohibited at Antioch due to slipping and playground hazards.

Parents will be invited to volunteer at the school and will also be permitted to eat lunch with your child. If you would like to become a volunteer for Union County Public Schools, complete a volunteer application. Once your application is submitted, you will receive an automated email correspondence instructing you to confirm your email address. Additionally, you will receive an automated email when your application is approved or denied.

Room Parents will obtain your email information and create a distribution list to share class news. The room parent may contact you regarding donations for class celebrations, special activities, staff gifts as well as class news. Parents may opt out of room parent emails if they wish.

August 12th - New Family Orientation @ 10:00am

August 14th - Kindergarten Assessments

August 20th - Open House

• 11:00am - Noon - Last Name A-K (Curriculum Presentation in classroom at 11:40am)
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm - Last Name L-Z (Curriculum Presentation in classroom at 5:10pm)

August 24th - First Day of School

• Kindergarten Staggered Enrollment - Verify your child's first day with the teacher

September 3rd - BOG - Third Graders

September 3rd - Room Parent Meeting at 9:15am in the cafteria

September 7th - Labor Day - No School

September 11th & 12th - Beauty and the Beast Auditions

September 14th - Gatorthon Kickoff

September 21st - Optional Teacher Workday

September 22nd - Gatorthon - Coin Wars

September 23rd - Gatorthon - Hair Spray

September 25th - Fall Pictures