Athens High School

Empire Studios will be here next Wednesday, November 4th to take make up pictures. Pictures will start at 1:00 and last until around 2:00.

Applications for the Academy of Craft Training – North Alabama’s 2027–28 school year are now open!

ACT offers several skilled-trade pathways aligned with the needs of industry here in North Alabama. Students learn from industry professionals, and we have a proven track record of connecting students with local companies through paid internships and job opportunities.

Apply here:
https://share-na2.hsforms.com/1p53EW-8yS0mjnKl-DXJ5MA41l0lb

Students can also visit academyofcrafttraining.org or scan the QR code on the flyer to apply.

Lunch & Listen with Superintendent Patton

Students are invited to join Superintendent Beth Patton for Lunch & Listen on Thursday, November 12, in the Athens High School Cafeteria. During A, B, C, or D lunch, grab your lunch and a seat at the table for a conversation about your school. Bring your thoughts, questions, and ideas - your voice matters, and she can't wait to hear what you have to share!

CONGRATS to Coach Mike Young, Athens High School History Teacher, on being selected to the WHNT Educator Honor Roll! Coach Young was anonymously nominated for his passion for teaching and dedication to making a difference in the lives of his students. What a well-deserved recognition!

CONGRATS to the AHS Pride of Athens Majorettes on earning both the Best in Class and Best in Show awards at the Pride of Hayden Marching Festival.

CONGRATS to the newest members of the Athens High School Spanish Honor Society!!

Athens High School recently administered the Edmentum Exact Path diagnostic assessments in Math, Reading, and English Language Arts. These assessments establish a baseline of student performance and help teachers identify academic strengths and areas for improvement.

What do these results mean:

Baseline Data: The initial assessment provides a starting point for measuring student growth.

Instructional Support: Teachers will use results to guide instruction and identify areas where students may need additional support.

January Benchmark: Students will take the diagnostic again in January to measure midyear growth toward grade-level proficiencies.

Students were encouraged to take their time and do their best on each assessment. These results are not a final judgment of a student's ability; they help us determine how to best support continued learning and academic success.

We encourage you to talk with your student about the importance of effort, participation, and continued growth. Thank you for partnering with us to help every student succeed.

Eleventh-grade students recently participated in a MOCK ACT. Student scores for the MOCK are available. Students should log in to their CAMP account (testing.campcollege.org) using their state ID number and password. Please contact Gia Russell if you need this information.

Writing scores are also available on the secure.princetonreview.com/account/instutionalsignin

Tide to Success is for current high school students in grades 9-12. This self-paced, six-hour online course is designed to help students prepare for the ACT, gain the strategies and content necessary to navigate the test, and explore college planning fundamentals.

Tide to Success is FREE for in-state students.

Learn more about program requirements, registration deadlines, and session dates at crimsoncompass.ua.edu

Help honor our veterans through the annual Field of Flags and Poppy Fundraiser, sponsored by Rho Kappa National Social Sciences Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society.

From Mon. October 19 through Tues. November 3, sponsor a flag for a minimum donation of $2 or purchase a handmade ceramic poppy for $5. Poppies are made by AHS National Art Society students, and quantities are limited!

Flags will be displayed for our Veterans Day ceremony on November 10. All proceeds benefit local veterans through VFW Post 4765.

See a Rho Kappa member or Mrs. G to participate. Thank you for supporting our veterans!

Please note- two unexcused tardies to school and/or class will void an exam exemption for that class.

Repeated instances of tardiness will result in disciplinary action.

AHS cheerleader tryouts will be in February 2027. Requirements for Varsity tryout include a backhandspring. For Junior Varsity tryouts, a backspring is strongly suggested.

Check out our website to find out more information about the Clubs and Organizations we have here at AHS! https://ahs.acs-k12.org/activities/clubs

Attendance:

Please be aware of attendance procedures.

Any 9th or 10th grade student should turn in any attendance notes to the Freshman Office. Mrs. Johnson- King, administrative assistant, will collect and file attendance notes. Ninth (9th) and tenth (10th) grade students should check in and/or out from the Freshman Center Office.

sharon.johnson@acs-k12.org

Any 11th and 12th grade student should turn in any attendance notes to the Attendance Office. Mrs. Holly Hargrove will collect and file attendance notes. Eleventh (11th) and twelfth (12th) grade students should check in and/or out from the Attendance Office.

holly.hargrove1@acs-k12.org

Absences, tardies to school, any check ins and/or check outs require written explanation. All written explanations must be received within three days of the absence.

Attendance excuses should include the students full name and grade.

ABSENCES

Excused Absences

Absences are excused for the following:

• Illness
• Death in immediate family
• Inclement weather which would be dangerous to the life and health of the child as determined by the principal
• Legal quarantine
• Emergency conditions as determined by the principal
• Administrative Approval – Prior permission of the principal upon request of the parent or legal guardian
• Suspension

Athens City Schools allows a student to be absent from school for any of the above reasons for five days per semester provided the parent has verified this in writing upon the student’s return to school. Any absence for illness beyond five days during a semester must be confirmed by a physician’s document in order for the absence to be excused. Otherwise, absences beyond five will be considered unexcused.

Note: Students that check-in and check-out must provide a written note with the reasons stated above to be considered excused.

Athens High School expects students to be in class and ready to learn by each bell.

Tardy to school: School begins at 8:15 am.

A student will receive a tardy if he/she arrives at AHS any time AFTER the 8:15 am bell. School tardies are excused or unexcused. Students are required to submit a written reason for the tardiness to either the 9-10th-grade attendance office or the 11-12th-grade attendance office.

Written excuses require the student's first and last name and reason and must be submitted within 3 days of the tardiness. Please note- two unexcused tardies to school will void an exam exemption for that class.

Tardy to class: Students are expected to utilize the allotted time between classes for travel and restroom breaks. Students should be in class and ready to learn by the bell. A student will receive a tardy to class if they are not in the classroom, seated by the bell. Hall sweeps occur periodically throughout the year. Two unexcused tardies to class will void an exam exemption opportunity for students.

Students who are tardy to school or to class must see an Attendance Secretary (Mrs. Johnson-King or Mrs. Hargrove) to receive a pass to enter class.

Students will receive disciplinary referrals for tardies to school or class that are deemed unexcused.

Athens High School will follow an in-house procedure for these infractions.

Athens High School

• Classes Begin at 8:15 AM

• Classes End at 3:20 PM

Attendance is recorded for each block or period daily, and more than 15 minutes missed is considered an absence.

• Late arrivals should report to the Attendance Office to check-in.
• Checkouts shall be conducted through the Attendance Office. NOTE: Check-outs can NO LONGER be phoned in. All Checkouts must be submitted in writing, in-person, or by email (by the email listed in PowerSchool).
• All checkout notes must be submitted by the start of the school day.
• Any missed school will be categorized as an excused absence, excused tardy, unexcused absence, or unexcused tardy.

There are no student check-outs after 2:30 pm from the Front Office or Freshman Center.

Athens City Schools is proud to continually invest in the safety and security of our students. ACS recently installed vape detectors on our Athens High School campus as both an effective solution as well as a vape deterrent. These sensors monitor air quality and notify the administration of the location where vaping chemicals and/or smoke are present. A reminder that any student who is suspected of vaping is subject to disciplinary procedures as outlined in the Athens City Schools handbook. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to the Athens High School administrative team.

Dress Code

GRADES 6-12

• Shoes must be worn in school for student safety. Bare feet, heelys, house shoes, boots with chains, steel toes, or other metal reinforcements decorations are not allowed.

• Except for religious or medical reasons, head coverings may not be worn on campus. (This includes, but is not limited to, hats, sweatbands, visors, hairnets, hair rollers, scarves, toboggans, hoods, bandannas, sunglasses, etc.).

• All students are required to wear their hair in such a manner that it is not considered disruptive, unkempt, unclean, or impairing to the vision, or disruptive to the educational environment.

• No attire with written or printed reference to any type of alcoholic beverage, illegal substance, lewd, vulgar, indecent, or sexually suggestive subjects may be worn.

• Students are not to wear clothing that reveals the body in an inappropriate manner.

  • NO transparent or see-through attire.

  • Backless, one-shoulder, off-the-shoulder, midriff, crop-top, low-cut (front or back), or halter-type blouses will not be allowed.

  • Sleeveless athletic jerseys are acceptable if a short sleeve t-shirt is worn under the jersey.

  • No blouses with open backs/sides or low fronts will be allowed.

  • Appropriate undergarments must be worn at all times and must not be visible.

  • All tops must have 2-inch minimum width shoulder straps.

• Garments that extend to within 3 inches of the top of the knee will be allowed.

• All clothing should be neat, clean, and in good repair.

• No clothing with holes higher than 3 inches above the knee will be allowed.

• When tights, leggings or leotards are worn, the garment worn over them must fall below the hips and adequately cover the front and back private areas.

• Pajamas are not allowed.

• No jewelry or other items are allowed that pose a safety risk and/or a distraction to the educational process. Tattoos that are vulgar, gang related, obscene, or that cause a distraction to the learning environment, must be covered.

• Excessively large/tight clothing will not be permitted.

• Chains/spikes or spike jewelry or belts with chains or spikes are not allowed.

• Clothing must be worn as the manufacturer intended.

• School officials will determine the appropriateness of attire.

• Any clothing/appearance that disrupts the teaching and learning process is prohibited.

Violation of the Dress Code policy shall be documented and result in disciplinary action as follows:

• First offense: Warning, and the student will return to class if the violation can be corrected.

• Second offense: In-school suspension for the remainder of the day, and parent notification of the violation and future consequences if additional violation

• Third offense: In-school suspension for three (3) days and parent notification of the violation and future consequences if additional violation

• Fourth offense and all subsequent offenses: In-School suspension for 5 days plus one (+1) day added for each offense thereafter.

Note: the fourth violation a nd beyond are considered defiance of school authority and are not treated as dress code offenses.

Pajama Pants- not allowed (examples of pics below, but not limited to just these examples)

Holes above the knee in pants- not allowed

Midriffs (or crop tops)- not allowed

Dresses and shorts too short

See Something, Say Something

https://www.acs-k12.org/departments/communications-public-relations/tipline