AES News

• October 13: Class pictures and make-up school pictures
• October 14: Report Cards Sent Home
• October 20: 3rd Grade Storytelling Festival
• October 21: Cheerleader Spirit Sales
• October 22: Be Creative Day (details below)
• October 26-30: Red Ribbon Week
• October 28: Early dismissal day for students
• October 29: Cheerleader Spirit Sales
• October 30: Halloween parties (more info below)

Remake Day is for students who were absent on the original fall portrait day, new students, or those would like their portraits redone.

There is no separate order form for group portraits this year. The option to purchase a group portrait will be included on your Spring Picture Day order form.

For more information on how to prepare, please visit www.butlerstudio.net/athens

Click the button below to learn about this FUNdraiser that is one of our students' favorites!

Forms will go home a few days before the 22nd.

Forms and money will be turned in on the day of the event.

On Friday, October 30th, we will have several fun things happening as we head into the holiday weekend. School appropriate costumes will be allowed (no masks, blood, etc) and we will have our annual costume parade that morning to let students see everyone's costume. Students will then have an opportunity to "trick or treat" in the cafeteria before heading back to class. If you'd like to donate a bag or two of candy for our trick or treat, our PTO would be very thankful! You can send it with a note in your child's backpack to let us know it's for the trick or treat on 10/30.

Finally, on the afternoon of 10/30, we will have our Halloween parties. For PreK classes, parties will begin at 1pm. For K-3 classes, parties will begin at 1:45pm. Parents are allowed to attend and may choose to check out your child from the classroom teacher after the party if you wish. You may contact your child's teacher for more information. Please remember there should be no parking in our car line lanes during parties. We will run dismissal as normal at 2pm for PreK and 2:45pm for K-3.

Carline:

• NEW POLICY for 26-27: For arrival/dismissal, walkers must be true walkers. Parents should not park on campus and exit the vehicle for drop off or pickup. In order for a student to be a walker, the parent must walk to our campus. Thank you!
• Stay in your car the entire time. Please do not get out to help your child out of the car. Our staff will help if needed.
• If you need to buckle or unbuckle your child, you will need to pull into a designated parking spot.
• Please have your child ready to exit out of the right side of your car - this is the safest place for your child to exit your car.
• Only enter campus off of 3rd Avenue. Do not enter campus off of Madison Street.
• Follow the directions of the school staff.
• There is NO PARKING along the curb in front of the school during carline times (7:15-7:45 and 2:00-3:00)
• Have your child ready to get out of the car at morning drop off. Students kindergarten age and up should open their own door and exit to the sidewalk when your car stops at the drop off area.
• When you are exiting the drop off area, wait for the cars in front of you to pull into the left lane to exit the parking lot.
• Make sure to have your child's car line tag displayed in your window. Pre-K please also display yours during morning carline so we can identify our PreK kiddos that may need help out.

Bus Pickup and Drop Off:

• Make sure your child knows their bus # (or bus color) and where they go when dropped off.
• If your child is kindergarten age, there MUST be someone waiting on them at the bus stop.
• All bus riders have a bus tag on their backpack. Do not remove this tag.
• Buses sometimes run early or late depending on traffic. Buses may be running up to 15 min early or late so make your plans accordingly.
• Make sure to read the bus rules and expectations in the student handbook available HERE. You can read it on the school website by clicking HERE.

One of the most important things you can do for your child’s success is to make sure they are at school on time and every day. Consistent attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student achievement. When students miss school, even just a few days here and there, it adds up quickly and can impact their learning, confidence, and sense of belonging.

New Year, New Focus on Timeliness

At Athens Elementary, the school day begins promptly at 7:45 a.m., and instruction starts immediately. Students who arrive late often miss critical morning routines and instructional time that can set the tone for the entire day. Students may not be checked out after 2:15pm each day. This is to ensure PreK carline runs smoothly, the office does not become crowded with late-day checkouts, and dismissal procedures can proceed uninterrupted.

New Tardy Policy: Every Minute Counts

Just like absences, tardies are categorized as excused or unexcused based on the reason and documentation provided. Here’s what’s new this year:
For every three tardies, one available parent excuse note will be forfeited. This is a change designed to reduce chronic tardiness and ensure students are consistently present and ready to learn from the start of the day.

Understanding Excused vs. Unexcused Absences

Athens City Schools allows up to 5 parent-written excused absences per semester. These may include things like illness, a death in the immediate family, or pre-approved family needs. Beyond those 5 days, a doctor’s note is required for any additional absences to be considered excused. If no documentation is provided, the absence will be marked as unexcused—even if the student is sick.

Also important:

• Notes must be turned in within 3 days of your child returning to school.

• Five or more consecutive days out of school require medical or legal documentation—regardless of how many parent notes remain.

E-Learning Days (Grades K–5)

We understand that sometimes families have unique opportunities or situations arise. ACS allows up to five E-Learning Days per semester, with prior approval. These days must be requested at least 3 days in advance, and students must be in good academic and behavioral standing to qualify. E-Learning Days may not be used on the first day of school.

Truancy: What Happens if Absences Add Up?

Unexcused absences and tardies can lead to legal consequences under Alabama law. Here’s how truancy is addressed:

• 1–2 unexcused absences: You’ll receive a letter.

• 5 unexcused absences: You must attend an Early Warning Meeting at school.

• 7 unexcused absences: A legal petition may be filed in Juvenile Court, which could result in fines or other legal actions.

We don’t want that for any of our students or families. Our goal is to partner with you to support regular attendance and remove barriers where we can. If you're facing challenges getting your child to school, please reach out to us. We're here to help.

Let’s make every day count this year at AES.
If you have any questions about attendance or how it may affect your child, please contact our office. Working together, we can help every student start strong, stay on track, and succeed!

Please note the following guidelines:

• Lunch Visitors will be allowed on Fridays. Visitors need to make a reservation at least 1 day in advance to let your child's teacher know you will be coming. Reservations may be made at the following link or by scanning the QR code in the main office: https://forms.gle/dntM4scYhB1W3x3ZA
• Lunch visitors must be on your child's approved pickup list. We limit the number of visitors to a maximum of 2 per student (this is due to space in the cafeteria).
• While in the building, visitors should only go to the cafeteria and only stay in the building for your child's lunch time. Do not go to any other classrooms or spaces in the building.
• Visitors should not use the children's restrooms at any time that they are in the building. There are 2 designated adult restrooms on either side of the cafeteria.
• If you are an approved PTO member (after the first PTO meeting for the year)- you may come any day of the week to have lunch with your child. Please still fill out the reservation form so we know to expect you.

Anytime you come to our campus during the school day, please come to the main entrance and ring the doorbell for assistance. DO NOT try to enter through any other door.

Checking In or Checking Out

If you need to check in or check out your child, please come to the main entrance and ring the doorbell. Our office staff will buzz you in. Come into the office. We have a QR code posted and a website where you can electronically check in or check out your student. You may do this on your own phone or we have an iPad available.

Anytime you arrive after 7:45 am you will need to come inside to check your child in.

2025-2026 Free and Reduced Lunch Application are now open. Only one application is necessary per family. Learn more and apply at acs-k12.org/freeandreduced. Families must re-apply each school year to potentially receive this benefit. If you don't re-apply then your child will be charged for lunch each day.

2025-2026 ACS Student Daily Lunch Pricing:

• $2.75 - PAID (Family does not qualify for free or reduced lunch OR did not re-apply for this year)
• $0.40 - REDUCED (apply to potentially qualify)
• $0.00 - FREE (apply to potentially qualify)

All students receive FREE breakfast each day!

If you have any questions or need help with your Free and Reduced Lunch Application, contact Dr. Tandy Blackwell, Director of Child Nutrition, at Tandy.Blackwell@acs-k12.org or (256) 233-6600. Paper applications are also available at acs-k12.org/nutrition.

Our teachers communicate with families in a variety of ways.

• Each day students bring home a GOLD FOLDER in their backpack. This folder contains important information for students from the teacher. Please check the Gold folder daily and make sure to send it back to school every day.
  
• SeeSaw is an online tool we use to communicate your student's work and information from the class. Your teachers sent home information on joining your child's class Seesaw.
• Email is a great tool for communicating with your child's teacher. Please know that they may not be checking email during the day so if there is something time sensitive call Mrs. Carr in the office at 256-233-6609. Any afternoon transportation change must go through Mrs. Carr in the office or you can send a written note in your child's gold folder.

This newsletter will be a great source of information for you regarding all things related to AES. We will send it out through our Blackboard communication system every Monday throughout the school year. It is sent via text, email, Facebook and posted on our website as well.

We also send out reminders about upcoming dates/events through the Blackboard communication system. If you are not receiving these communications, please call the office and speak with our registrar Vickie Carr. If you have signed up via email and haven't received them, check your spam folder. If they are coming to your spam you may need to add our emails to your address book. There is also an app you can download. Information on the app is at the bottom of this newsletter.

We use Facebook as a one-way communication where we can post announcements because we cannot monitor the social media posts during the day. If you need us, the best way to reach us is via phone or email. Please don't ever hesitate to reach out to us!

Principal - Nick Looney - nick.looney@acs-k12.org

Assistant Principal- Mallory Ray - mallory.ray@acs-k12.org

Link to Online Free and Reduced Application

Link to Online Meal Payment

Link to Menus & ACS Child Nutrition Page

Never miss a weather alert, school closing or important update. Download the ACS mobile app to stay connected at all times. Use the app to check calendars, lunch menus, and receive "push" notifications about school events and weather emergencies. Download the free app today at the App Store for iPhones or Google Play for Android devices. Search "Athens City School System."

Be sure to allow alerts, pushes and banners in your phone settings under "notifications" to properly receive notifications. In the app settings, please select the schools from which you wish to receive updates. Contact our office with any questions. 256.233.6600.

Email: nick.looney@acs-k12.org
Phone: 256-233-6609

Email: mallory.ray@acs-k12.org

Phone: 256-233-6609

Email: nick.looney@acs-k12.org
Website: https://aes.acs-k12.org/
Location: 515 North Madison Street, Athens, AL, United States
Phone: (256) 233-6609
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/athenselementary