January

Dear Parents and Guardians,

January brings a fresh start to the calendar year and an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reset. The idea of New Year’s resolutions reminds us that growth doesn’t require perfection—just intention. As we approach the midpoint of the school year, this is a natural time for students and adults alike to check in with ourselves and consider what is going well and where we may want to refocus our energy.

Mid-school year offers a chance to set a new goal, refine an existing one, or simply recommit to healthy habits that support learning and well-being. Whether that goal is academic, personal, or social, small, realistic steps can lead to meaningful progress over time. We encourage students to approach this next stretch of the year with a mindset of self-help, resilience, and persistence.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we support our students in learning, growing, and finishing the school year strong.

Warm regards,
Paul Clark
Middle School Principal

Olivia Wallace

Mia Ennis

Austin Brauen

Lucia Eddy

"This school year, we move forward with momentum, using our power to grow, learn, and lead.
We embrace freedom to think creatively, adventure in discovering new ideas, and abundance in knowledge, kindness, and opportunity.
Together, we take risks, support one another, and celebrate progress as we move confidently toward our goals."

The Importance of Regular School Attendance

Regular school attendance plays a vital role in a student’s academic success, social development, and overall well-being. Every day a student is present at school is an opportunity to learn, connect with peers, and build routines that support long-term success.

Why Attendance Matters

When students attend school consistently, they are better able to:

• Keep up with classroom instruction and assignments

• Build strong relationships with teachers and classmates

• Develop important habits such as responsibility and time management

• Feel more connected and confident within the school community

Even missing a few days each month can add up to significant learning gaps over the course of the year.

The Impact of Poor Attendance

Chronic or frequent absences—whether excused or unexcused—can affect students in many ways, including:

• Academic struggles: Missed instruction can make it harder for students to understand new concepts and keep pace with their peers.

• Increased stress: Falling behind often leads to frustration, anxiety, and reduced confidence.

• Social challenges: Students who are frequently absent may feel disconnected from classmates or miss important social interactions.

• Long-term effects: Attendance patterns established early can influence future school success, graduation rates, and post-secondary opportunities.

How Families Can Help

Families play a crucial role in supporting regular attendance by:

• Establishing consistent bedtime and morning routines

• Scheduling appointments outside of school hours when possible

• Encouraging students to attend school even on days when they feel tired or unmotivated

• Communicating with the school if there are ongoing challenges affecting attendance

We’re Here to Support You

If your child is struggling with attendance due to anxiety, health concerns, or other challenges, please reach out. The school counseling team is available to partner with families, connect students to resources, and develop plans that support consistent attendance and student success.

Together, we can help every student make the most of each school day.

Warmly,

Mary Beth Hardie

The Chapter One Pageturners team earned first place at their competition in Alexander last month.

Our amazing team of third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders read an impressive collection of literature—four chapter books, one graphic novel, three picture books, and a poem—and demonstrated outstanding comprehension and recall. Their hard work paid off as they answered the most questions correctly in a contest that included teams from Warsaw, Alexander, and two teams from Pavilion.

In a nail-biting finish, Attica clinched the victory by just one point, securing the top spot. We are incredibly proud of their dedication, teamwork, and love of reading!

12/24/25-1/2/25 Holiday Recess

1/6/26-7th and 8th grade Math Competition

1/9/26-5th and 6th grade Fun Night, 6:00-8:00

1/10/26-Ignite Conference, 9:00am-4:00pm

1/16/26-Ag in the Classroom

1/24/26-Lego Robotics Competition, 9:45am at LeRoy HS

1/30/26-7th and 8th grade Fun Night, 6:00-8:00

1/31/26-Pancake Breakfast

1/5/26-Yearbook Club Meeting

1/5/26-Ski Club

1/7/26-Maple Team Practice, 3:10-5:30

1/7/26-Yearbook Club Meeting

1/9/26-5th and 6th grade Fun Night, 7:00-9:00

1/12/26-January Night Meeting

1/12/26-Ski Club

1/26/26-Ski Club

1/30/26-7th and 8th grade Fun Night

To help keep all students safe and healthy, please remember the following important health office reminders:

• Notify the school nurse of any new medical conditions, allergies, or medication changes.

• Please call the Health Office when your child will be absent from school for any reason.

• Ensure that emergency contact information is current and up to date.

• All medications must be brought to school by an adult, be properly labeled, and include appropriate documentation.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school community healthy.

Mental Health Check-In

January can be a challenging month emotionally for students and families. Shorter days, changes in routine, and post-holiday transitions can impact mood and energy levels.

• Encourage open conversations with your child about stress, sleep, and emotions.

• Monitor changes in behavior, motivation, or mood.

• Please reach out to the school counselor or nurse if you have concerns or feel your child may need additional support.

We are here to help and support your child’s well-being.

Winter Wellness Tips

As winter weather continues, a few simple steps can help students stay comfortable and healthy:

• Dress students in layers to stay warm outdoors and comfortable indoors.

• Label coats, hats, and gloves to help return lost items.

• Encourage adequate sleep and balanced meals to support immune health.

Flu Season Update: 2025–2026

This flu season has seen an increase in cases associated with a highly contagious influenza strain. Symptoms may be more intense than in a typical flu season.

Common Flu Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

• Sudden high fever

• Sore throat

• Body aches and muscle pain

• Cough

• Extreme fatigue

• Headaches

• Chills and sweating

• Nasal congestion

• Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea in some children)

Recommendations for Families

• Testing: Because flu symptoms can resemble COVID-19, testing may be recommended. Rapid tests for influenza A, B, and COVID-19 are available.

• Treatment: Antiviral medications may be effective if started within the first 48 hours of symptoms. Consult a healthcare provider if symptoms are severe or worsening.

• Prevention: Staying up to date on vaccinations and practicing good hygiene (handwashing, covering coughs, staying home when sick) can help reduce the spread.

This flu season requires extra awareness, and we appreciate families taking steps to protect their children and our school community.

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s health for the 25-26 school year, please call Mrs. Cooley at 585-591-0400 extension 1214 or email at tcooley@atticacsd.org.

Welcome Back! January has arrived and as we wind down from a busy holiday season, we are excited to have students back in the building with us after winter recess. The cafeteria staff are hard at work preparing classic comfort foods to get us through chilly days. Students will enjoy many of their favorite menu items this month, along with a few new recipes, and an array of homemade soups!

This month's menu is bringing a new element to our Middle/High Cafeteria. We are excited to announce we will now be featuring TWO daily entrée items, along with our usual daily choices. With this comes the re-opening of our smoothie bar on NY Thursdays, where students will be able to make their own smoothies for lunch. Additionally, we will be trying out some great homemade pizzas on Fridays – be sure to check them out! Monthly menus can be found on the school website under the dining tab.

Money can be added to student accounts for the use of purchasing 2nd lunch or ala carte items by sending cash or check (made out to ACS lunch fund) to the cafeteria. There is no fee associated for adding funds to an account using this method. As always, funds can also be added using myschoolbucks.com, but a service fee is applicable. Students should have a note on file specifying how funds can be spent. If you have questions or concerns regarding this process, please reach out to the cafeteria at (585)591-0400 ext. 1495.

“Feeding Kids is a Work of Heart!”

Mrs. Kayla George

Interim Food Service Manager

585-591-0400 ext. 1195

A Heartfelt Thank You to the Attica Correctional Officers

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Attica Correctional Officers for their incredible generosity and support of our students during the holiday season. Through their kindness, the officers donated $1,200 to help support students across the district.

Thanks to this generous contribution, several officers were able to visit our schools and personally distribute gifts and essential items to students. Their presence and thoughtfulness helped make the holiday season brighter and more meaningful for many of our students and families.

This act of generosity reflects a strong commitment to our community and a shared belief in supporting the well-being of our students. We are truly thankful for the compassion and care shown by the Attica Correctional Officers, and we appreciate their continued partnership and support.

The district is requesting that all student drop off and pick up for arrival and dismissal take place in the parent loop and that families no longer park along the side of the road on route 238.

Morning Drop-Off Procedures: (7:45-8:20 am) Cars should enter the parent drop off/pick up loop (far left loop) and continue to the designated drop off area. Once you enter the designated drop off area, please let your children out on the right hand side of the car, and have them cross utilizing crosswalk 29. All students being dropped off by parents will enter the school through door 29. Please proceed to exit the loop making sure to yield to any bus traffic. No vehicle traffic will be allowed in the Bus loop. There will be staff to direct students and traffic to ensure student safety.

Afternoon Pick-Up Procedures: (3:10-3:30 pm) Cars should pull into the parent drop off/pick up loop and line up along the median. Do not double-park in the far-left lane; this will enable cars to pull away once a student is picked up in the designated pick up area. Dismissal starts at 3:10 pm and exit doors 28-30 will be open. Students are able to use crosswalks 29 and 30 to cross to the parent loop to be picked up in the designated pick up area. All traffic must yield to busses at all times. There will be staff to direct students and traffic to ensure student safety.

We are aware that not all cars will be able to fit in the parent loop during our afternoon pickup. Once the lot is full we are asking all families to use the overflow lot off of route 238 adjacent to the stadium until the parent pick-up lot is no longer full. Students will also be encouraged meet any parents in the overflow lot as a walkway is connected to our secondary campus and the overflow lot. No cars will be allowed to park on route 238 during dismissal and will be monitored by our school resource officer and our local law enforcement agencies.

We thank you again for your cooperation with these changes to our procedures and look forward to promoting a safe environment for all of our students and families.