Principal Newsletter August 2026
Mrs. McCollum, Principal
Note: Class Dojo only allows one parent to be added for all new students. Parents can then invite other family members you wish to add. Parents can request to join their child's class by joining our school at:
https://www.classdojo.com/ul/p/addKid?target=school&schoolID=586e569f2092caec58d495ea
Teachers will be in the building for In-Service week Monday, August 17. If you have any urgent questions, please contact office@artsacademyecs.org
** Folders are available for pickup starting tomorrow, Thursday, August 13th through Friday, August 20th between 8:30 am and 3 pm.
First Day Folders, which include your child's teacher, picture day order forms, volunteering requirements and other important information.
🎈Kindergarten folders will also be distributed at Kindergarten Meet the Teacher Night.
Student name tags with your child's teacher and other important information will be included in these folders. Putting a nametag on your child's shirt before they enter the building helps ensure they will get to their assigned classroom and teacher quickly to reduce first day anxiety.
The first day of school is devoted to getting to know our new friends and teachers, our school building and our expectations! Below are some noteworthy points to know before school starts! See the link for our Family Handbook at the bottom of this newsletter!
FOOD & BEVERAGES
- ALL STUDENTS EAT FREE! Breakfast and lunch are offered free to all students.
- What to bring - Healthy beverages and snacks.
- What to leave home - Candy, fast food, caffeinated or high-sugar/energy drinks are not permitted in school. Foods containing nuts or nut oils are not permitted to protect students who are at risk for serious allergic reactions to peanut exposure.
- Stanley Cups - Please do not send these tall, metal water bottles in with your child. They topple easily, spill and break, causing a disruption to the classroom setting. A refillable water bottle is fine, but should be clear plastic.
TECHNOLOGY
- What to bring - We understand that cell phones are provided to students as a safety measure for some of our families. During school hours, phones must be off and put away in the child's book bag.
- What to leave home - Recording devices, smart watches, i-Pads or gaming devices should not be brought to school. If they are needed for after-school hours, they must be off and put away.
MEDICATIONS
- What to bring - Medications with the required Medication Authorization form, signed by a doctor, must be brought in by the parent and handed to the school nurse.
- What to avoid - All medications not authorized by a doctor and provided to the school nurse must be left at home, including, but not limited to: inhalers, aspirin, ibuprofen, medicated creams or cough drops.
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
- Sign into the Jupiter portal and check all contacts. Make sure the names, relationship, number and emails are correct.
Did you know that some supply lists can cost parents hundreds of dollars each year? Many items on these lists are often the same supplies we provide anyway. At AAECS, we do not ask parents to purchase these items.
So what items can you get for your child? Here's a short list!
- A bookbag.
- Lunch box.
- Earbuds or headphones if there are specific ones you prefer.
- Kindergarten & 1st Grade: Change of clothes to keep in the bookbag or cubby.
- 🥤 NOTE: Please do NOT purchase a metal water bottle for your child. The "Stanley" style cups tip over easily, are loud when they fall and get broken, causing a disruption to the learning environment. If you want to purchase a water bottle, it must be clear plastic.
AAECS is proud to be a federally-recognized CEP School (Community Eligibility Provision), providing free meals for all students. AAECS does not prepare food on site. Our school breakfast and lunch is provided by Linton's Catering. Breakfast, lunch and milk is delivered daily. Hot lunches are kept hot and served fresh.
For summer enrollment, Federal Program applications open in July. Even though we don't charge for meals, families are encouraged to apply for the free meals program. There are other family community benefits available.
Apply for federal programs benefits such as EBT cards, daycare discounts or funding and more, via our School Cafe app!
Choose PA and enter "Arts Academy Elementary Charter School".
Do not choose Allentown School District.
Students frequently leave items behind or may pick up a similar-looking item that isn't theirs. Labeling your child's bookbag, lunchbox, coat, gloves, etc. with their name helps us find lost items quickly!
https://mobile.schooldismissalmanager.com/
Arrival begins at 8:15 am. Please arrive no earlier than 8:10 am.
Dismissal begins at 3:00 pm. Please arrive no earlier than 2:55 pm.
Our School Dismissal Manager (SDM) app allows parents to inform the school including the teacher directly, how their child is going home each day. There are default options, such as "Bus" and then exceptions allow the parent to make changes as needed, such as "Car Line", "Walker" or an early dismissal. All guardians registered in the SDM app then receive a notification when their child leaves the school.
SDM has been very successful at helping us manage a safe, efficient pickup procedure. It only works when everyone follows the process below.
- Arrive no earlier than 2:55 pm.**
- After pulling up in line, check in on SDM!
- Place your car line placard in your driver's side window as you pull near the front of the building.
- Your child will be brought to our car!
** We have space for a few cars in our lot. When parents arrive early, it pushes those who arrive on time out onto our surrounding streets. Allentown Parking Authority will ticket you if you are sitting on Union or Walnut Streets, and we will be held responsible for causing a safety hazard. To prevent this and to allow our staff to focus on preparing students for dismissal inside, parents will be turned away if they arrive prior to the specified arrival and dismissal times.
We appreciate your support! It's what helps us function safely and effectively!
Mr. Doerner, AAECS Instrumental Music Teacher
Our Instrumental Program is optional for students in grades 3-5 at no cost to families! Students participate in weekly lessons at school and take their instruments home to practice. This program is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. See Mr. Doerner at Back to School Night or message him at SDoerner@artsacadeyecs.org to learn about the various instruments available for students to choose from!
Effective July 2015, all school volunteers must obtain the required clearances. A volunteer is any adult serving in an unpaid position in which they are individually responsible for the welfare of a child or have "direct contact with children." For those who wish to be a volunteer, you are required to submit a Pennsylvania Criminal History Record(Act 34), a Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151) and FBI Federal Criminal History Record to our main office.
We strongly encourage families to get their clearances before the school year starts so you have them when a trip or event comes up! It can sometimes take a couple of weeks to get the forms in, but hten they are good for 5 years. The following are required for all volunteers:
Free for Volunteers. Must be updated every 5 years.
PA Child Abuse History Clearance
Free for Volunteers. Must be updated every 5 years.
Approximately $25.00-$30.00. USE CODE: 1KG6Q9
Register online at IdentoGO
* Fingerprinting is required for all volunteers who have not been a continuous resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the last 10 years. If you have been a continuous resident, you will be required to complete an official disclosure statement. Please complete the affidavit using the link below if this applies to you.
Fingerprint Affidavit; Disclosure Statement
Must be updated every five years.
All copies of updated results must be submitted through the online form or submitted to the Main Office.
School Dismissal Manager (SDM)
Class Dojo
Jupiter Parent Portal
Arts Academy Elementary Charter School
Email: office@artsacademyecs.org
Website: https://www.artsacademyecs.org
Location: 601 Union Street, Allentown
Phone: (610) 841-4560
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtsAcademyElementary
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artsacademyelementary/