A Message from the Principal

Gator Families,

Check out the upcoming events.

September 18th - Cluster Night at Weddington High School

September 21st - Optional Teacher Workday

September 22nd - Gatorthon - Coin Wars

September 23rd - Gatorthon - Hair Spray

September 25th - Fall Pictures

September 30th - Progress Reports Go Home

Parents should use this link to report a student absence.

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 week!

🚀 GATORTHON IS BLASTING OFF! 🐊 As of Wednesday (8/16), we’re already 25% of the way to our $60,000 goal! That’s an amazing start, Gators — keep it going! A few updates from Mission Control:

🛰 The Squishies Are… LOST IN SPACE!

Our squishies have taken a slight detour somewhere in the galaxy. 😬 We’ve sent the Chomper Rocket out to find them and hope to have them in your kiddos’ hands very soon. Thanks for your patience!

🪙 COIN WARS START TUESDAY!

Start checking those couch cushions! The grade level that collects the most money will win a popsicle party at recess! And despite the name, you’re definitely not limited to coins — bills are excellent rocket fuel, too! 🚀

** Important: Coin Wars donations do NOT count toward classroom participation. To count toward your child’s class participation, donations must be made through your student’s individual fundraising page.

🙌 HELP US WITH THE FUN STUFF!

We need volunteers to help make Gatorthon happen! Sign up HERE.

🍗 CHICK-FIL-A spirit night is 9/24 at Waverly. You will need to order using the App and the code is SPIRIT. Save yourself from cooking next Thursday and help Antioch in the process!

📸 PICTURE DAY IS COMING!

The PTO also provides volunteers to help Picture Day run smoothly. Sign up HERE.

** All volunteers must be approved by UCPS. Complete your volunteer approval HERE.

Let’s keep fueling that Chomper Rocket — $60K, here we come! 🚀🐊

Please include the following information when emailing me with a question or concern.

• Child's Name
• Teacher Name
• Grade and
• Your phone number

This information will allow me to respond to your question or concern more quickly. Parents may access all archived messages on the school website. Our school phone number is 704 296-3005. I strongly encourage you to listen to your voice message before returning a missed call from the school. Antioch Elementary has nearly a hundred staff members and it is sometimes very difficult for our office staff to determined who called you. Please note that our school receives many phone calls each day.

The theme for this year’s contest is “North Carolina Agriculture”. The contest is open to public school students in grades K-5 to create artwork featuring agriculture grown, raised, caught, or made in our state. I have attached contest information in both English and Spanish. Deadline for entry is Friday, December 11, 2026. Winners will be announced in March 2027. Winners and their teachers will be recognized during an awards reception at the Got to Be NC Festival in May 2027.

You can find the winners, finalists, and honorable mentions from last year’s contest on the NC Farm to School website:

https://www.ncfarmtoschool.com/programs/nc-farm-to-school-calendar/

To find out more about agriculture in North Carolina, visit the NC Ag Statistics website at https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/agricultural-statistics.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful entries your students will create.

Here are other art contests you may want to consider:

Soil & Water Conservation District conservation contest – Offered at the state level, each county office decides what contest(s) they will offer. You can find more information on the website or at your local Soil & Water Conservation office.

https://ncaswcd.org/index.php/conservation-education/environmental-poster-and-essay-contest/

Aviation Art Contest – The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation hosts the North Carolina Aviation Art Contest each year. It offers children ages 6-17 who live or attend school in North Carolina the chance to explore different aspects of aviation. Find more information here:

https://www.ncdot.gov/divisions/aviation/aviation-art-contest/Pages/default.aspx

To ensure our attendance records are as accurate and timely as possible, we are transitioning to the UCPS digital reporting system.

Parents may click this link to report an absence.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work to make our school processes more efficient for everyone!

Weddington High School JV Girls Lacrosse Coach Needed!

Get your lacrosse stick out and get back on the field with a talented and enthusiastic group of players eager to grow and learn from you! Official Practice starts in spring. 10 game season. Preseason is currently underway! Questions about stipend,time commitment, next steps…Please email Weddingtongirlslax@gmail.com

We do not allow school supplies or personal items to be dropped off at the Front Office after 7:30am.

We will only accept prescription glasses, medication, and lunches. Please note: lunches must be dropped off by 10:00am. If you do have to bring a lunchbox after your student reports to school, please put their name and the teacher’s name on the outside of it so we can get it to the correct person. There will be a table designated for the lunchbox to be left on in the front lobby of the school. This is to avoid constant interruptions in the classrooms throughout the day. If the student did not bring the item to school in the morning, they can plan to bring it with them the following day. Thank you for understanding the reasoning behind this request.

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.

Car Rider Signage: We encourage parents to use large bold lettering for car rider signs and to hold them up because they cannot be seen when laying on the dash. As well as to stay in their lane unless otherwise directed because students are called out based on the order of the lane their car is in when they pull into the lot.

Kindergarten and First Grade car riders will be dismissed beginning at 1:50pm through the STAFF LOT car rider line. 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 2:05pm on the BUS LOT. 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 DO NOT GET IN LINE FOR 4-5 DISMISSALS UNTIL 2:05PM.

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
3. 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 21st - Families with the last name of F-K

Week of September 28th - Families with the last name of L-Q

Week of October 5th - Families with the last name of R-Z

Week of October 12th- Families with the last name of A-E

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.

Parents may add funds to their child's lunch account by using this link www.k12paymentcenter.com.

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.

The amount of time that students spend engaged with computers, smart phones, and television is a concern for many parents. What our children are viewing on these devices is an equally important concern. Antioch Elementary is committed to use ipads and chromebooks to enhance learning for students. Our teachers recognize the value of instructional time and they are committed to use electronic devices to assess students and to enhance learning in the classroom. Teachers are required to follow guidelines with regard to videos for student consumption.

Click here to view the North Carolina Public Screentime Guidance

At Antioch Elementary we as our staff to do the following:

1. Use this Screen Time: Educator Reflection Tool.

1. Monitor Time and Application Use for Screen Time.
2. Intervene when appropriate to keep the learning focused.

This information is ONLY for families with Third, Fourth or Fifth Grade Students.

Union County Public Schools provides a chromebook for all students use in grades third, fourth, and fifth. The district includes a 30-dollar Annual Technology Fee which includes limited Accidental Damage Insurance Coverage for Chromebooks.

• The fee may be waived if the student qualifies for Free Lunch (parent/guardian must provide letter from Child Nutrition to school.) Payment options: online using the link below, cash or check made payable to school.
• Accidental Damage to the Chromebook is at no cost to the student.
• Non-accidental damages will result in the cost of repairs and/or possible loss of computer privileges.
• Fees are due by August 31, 2026.
• Fees are recorded in the PowerSchool Student Information System with outstanding fees shown on the report card.
• Parents/Guardians are responsible for the cost of lost ,stolen, or intentionally damaged devices

****INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER ADAPTERS, BATTERIES, INTENTIONAL DAMAGE, OR LOST/STOLEN DEVICES ****

Click here for directions to pay your child's Technology Fee

We are looking for parent volunteers to assist with making copies and preparing paperwork. If you are interested, please indicate your availability below. Mrs. Tenney will contact you directly to set up your specific time and schedule. Thank you for supporting our teachers and staff!

Click here to volunteer for this project.

Parents will be invited to volunteer at the school. 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.

September 21st - Optional Teacher Workday

September 22nd - Gatorthon - Coin Wars

September 23rd - Gatorthon - Hair Spray

September 25th - Fall Pictures

October 2nd - Gatorthon - Send your Teacher to the Moon

October 9th - Book Fair Family Shopping Night

October 13th - Book Fair - Browse B4 School - Parents and Students

October 19th - Teacher Workday - No School

October 22nd - Health & Wellness Day

October 23rd - Trunk or Treat

October 29th - Ninja Nation