Dear Claxton Caregivers,

As we head into the final weeks of the school year, Claxton is buzzing with excitement and celebration! From memorable student adventures to End-of-Year Showcases, there’s so much to look forward to—and we warmly invite all families to join us for these special events. This week’s Pollinator is packed with important updates: EOG testing info, Field Day details, promotion ceremonies, transportation sign-ups for 2025–2026, and a call for volunteers to help make it all happen.

We still need volunteers for Field Day on Friday, 5/30, especially for 4th and 5th grade events—please check the sign-up sheet! We’re also seeking help with setup and cleanup for Kindergarten and 5th Grade Promotion Ceremonies on June 5th and 6th.

A quick reminder for K–2 families: recess and play center schedules may be adjusted during testing days to maintain a quiet environment for our 3rd–5th grade students. We appreciate your flexibility and will do our best to ensure that all students still enjoy outdoor recess and playtime.

Grab one of the last yearbooks online before they’re gone—and don’t forget to “sign” Mr. Garrity’s farewell yearbook page with a message of appreciation.

We're also spotlighting AANHPI Heritage Month book recommendations, an upcoming Town Hall meeting, and ways to advocate with Children First/Communities In Schools. Plus, take a moment to view the attached “Cause to Continue” flyer recognizing the impact of AmeriCorps Project POWER members—like our very own Mr. B!

Looking ahead to next year, our FTO is already gearing up and would love to welcome new members and fresh ideas. Big thanks to this year’s team leads and volunteers who make Claxton shine!

🐝 Check Out This Week’s Pollinator

Warmly,

Corey Simons

Monday, May 26th

• Memorial Day Holiday No School

Tuesday, May 27th

• Makeup EOG Testing (5th Science Only)

Wednesday, May 28th

• Reading EOG (3rd-5th Grades)

Thursday, May 29th

• Math EOG (3rd-5th Grades)

Friday, May 30th

• Field Day

EOY Dates:

📅 May 26 –No School
📅 May 28 – Reading EOG (Grades 3–5)
📅 May 29 – Math EOG (Grades 3–5)
🏃 May 30 – Field Day!

🎓 June 2, 10:00–12:00 – 1st Grade End-of-Year Celebration
🎓 June 3, 1:15–2:20 – 4th Grade End-of-Year Celebration
🎭 June 4 – Variety Show
🎓 June 4, 12:45–2:00 – 3rd Grade End-of-Year Celebration
🎓 June 5, 9:30–11:30 – Kindergarten End-of-Year Ceremony
🎓 June 5, 12:00–2:00 – 2nd Grade End-of-Year Celebration
🎉 June 6 – 5th Grade Promotion, 5th Grade Walk @ 8:15 AM, Half-Day & Last Day of School!

Planning for next school year? If your child will be riding the bus when school begins, please complete the 2025–2026 Transportation Request Form by June 29, 2025.

👉 [Transportation Request Form 2025–2026]

✅ Who Should Complete This Form?

• Students who will regularly use ACS bus transportation

• Students with new school assignments or address changes

• New bus riders for the 2025–2026 school year

🚫 Who Should NOT Complete This Form?

• Students receiving special transportation services (please contact your child’s teacher or caseworker)

• Out-of-district students (ACS transportation is only available within district boundaries)

🚍 Important Guidelines:

• Only home addresses listed in Infinite Campus are eligible for bus service

• No bus stops will be made at workplaces or convenience locations

• Students may only ride their assigned bus – no passes for alternate routes

• Temporary bus passes may be issued for emergencies, at the discretion of school administration

• Dual placement, sports, and extracurricular travel are not eligible for transportation service

🕐 After-School Program Notes:

• Bus transportation to approved ACS after-school programs is not guaranteed during the first 10 days of school

• Stops to non-home locations or with fewer than 10 students may be limited

• After-school transportation requests will be reviewed after capacity audits

📧 What Happens Next?
You’ll receive an email by August 8th with your child’s bus assignment.
Details on how to sign up for Student Bus Planner Alerts through the Chipmunk Bus Planner App will also be included.

🔹 Note: All submissions will be verified through Infinite Campus before processing. Late forms will be reviewed, but transportation on the first day of school cannot be guaranteed.

Thank you for partnering with Asheville City Schools Transportation – we’re proud to provide safe, reliable service for our students!

All 3rd–5th grade students are required to take End-of-Grade (EOG) tests. Please prioritize on-time attendance—especially on testing days!

Students who miss a test will likely miss scheduled fun events in order to complete make-up testing. Let’s work together to ensure every student has the opportunity to show what they know and enjoy all the exciting activities ahead

Preparing for the North Carolina End-of-Grade (EOG) tests involves consolidating the key concepts and standards learned throughout the year. Students will typically participate in focused review sessions, practice tests, and skill-building exercises to become familiar with the test format and content. Parents, teachers, and students all play a critical role in carving out time to review lessons aligned with state standards and providing ample opportunities for review. To ensure success, it's important for students to engage in strategies that allow them to apply their knowledge through hands-on activities and collaborative learning. Additionally, parents and guardians can support their child’s preparation by creating a productive study environment at home, encouraging regular review in the weeks leading up to the EOGs, and offering help with more challenging topics. By following these strategies, students can approach the EOGs with confidence, well-prepared to demonstrate their academic skills.

To assist with preparation, these pages provide access to materials and content for review, along with daily questions you can ask your child at home.

Please click on the links below for practice materials and helpful resources:

• NCDPI Grade 3-8 End-of-Grade Information
• NCDPI EOC Test Information
• Approximate EOG/EOC Cut Scores for Achievement Levels
• Released EOGs (Released test items from previous years)
• Released EOG Forms and Supplemental Materials
• Released EOC (Released test items from previous years)
• Released EOC Forms and Supplemental Materials

Looking for ways to keep your child engaged and supported over the summer? Asheville City Schools has compiled a collection of free and low-cost summer learning and enrichment opportunities for students and families.

📘 Explore the ACS Summer Resources Google Site
You'll find activities, local programs, academic support, and more to help make this summer fun, enriching, and stress-free!
👉 Click here to visit the ACS Summer Resources Site

📎 Printable Flyer for Families
A flyer with summer resource highlights will also be included in report cards—keep an eye out!
👉 Click here to view the flyer

Let’s make it a great summer of learning and fun! 🌈

Hey families! We’re getting ready for our GLOW DANCE for 3rd–5th graders, and we could use a few helping hands! The kids will be at the Glow Dance from 1:00-2:20 pm on Monday, June 2nd. We’re looking for volunteers to help set up, decorate, work the photo booth, and clean up after the fun. This is a special celebration of all our students’ hard work during EOG testing, and we want to make it an awesome afternoon for them. If you’re able to lend a hand, we’d be so grateful—thanks for considering helping out! ♡

Promotion Ceremonies - Thu 6/5 and Fri 6/6 - We could use a few more volunteers to set up and clean up the Kindergarten and 5th Grade promotion ceremonies, especially from K and 4th Grade families! Sign up sheet is here.

Yearbooks - We have just a couple more yearbooks left! Grab yours by purchasing through our website -- they will be delivered to classroom teachers. And big thanks to Claxton parent Jessica Hunter -- this year was her TENTH(!) year creating the Claxton yearbook!

"Sign" Mr. Garrity's Yearbook - We will miss Mr. Garrity so much! FTO will print farewell messages from students, families, and staff to put inside Mr. Garrity's yearbook -- add your message here!

Next Year! Our FTO events and programs can't happen without team members to plan and lead these efforts. We are always looking for new ideas and team members (see this year's team descriptions here), so please reach out to claxtonfto@gmail.com with feedback or interest in helping with an FTO project or event next year. Big thank yous to this year's team leads, and our many event volunteers!

Parents and caregivers want their children to thrive in school—to be engaged and excited about learning, to build meaningful relationships with their teachers and peers, and to develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed academically.

However, understanding what children should know and be able to do by the end of each grade—and how to have meaningful conversations about it with their children and teachers—hasn’t always been easy.

These Family Guides take the guesswork out of the process. They provide clear, practical information and tools to help parents and caregivers support their children’s learning in literacy and math—the foundation for all academic success.

With these Guides, families can take an active role in their children’s education, advocate effectively, and build strong partnerships with teachers. By working together, students, families, and educators create the support system children need to truly thrive.

We want to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our ACS staff every day. If you know a staff member who has gone above and beyond as a dedicated CREW member or demonstrated exceptional qualities that align with our Three Promises—Creating a Sense of Belonging, Engaging in Challenging and Relevant Material, and Making Every Second Count—please fill out this form to nominate them. Let’s recognize the incredible work happening at Claxton!