The Sandbox

• August 8 - August 9: School Supply Drop Off on the Front Porch
• August 10: First day of School for Students!
  
• August 10-12: Kindergarten Phase In Days (Details below)
• August 10-12 - Photo Booths
• August 10: Latchkey Begins

School starts on August 10th at 7:45am!

Our doors open to students at 7:15am. Students may be dropped off beginning at that time. All students need to be at school NO LATER THAN 7:45.

Beginning this year, doors will be locked at 7:45 and you will need to come into the building after that time to check them in. If students arrive to school after 7:45 they are considered tardy. A parent MUST walk them in at that time to check them in!

You should have received a letter at either open house or through the mail indicating what day your kindergartener will attend this week. Kindergarten students will only attend one (1) assigned day during this period. Please call the school office if you have not received a letter yet!

This “Phase In” schedule as a way to make your child’s adjustment to the school setting and the daily routines easier. It will also provide an excellent opportunity for your child to get to know the teacher in a smaller group setting.

Wednesday, August 10 ― 1/3 of kindergarten students attend from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Thursday, August 12 ― 1/3 of kindergarten students attend from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Friday, August 13 ― 1/3 of kindergarten students attend from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Monday, August 16 ― ALL kindergarten students attend from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

We believe utilizing this “Phase-In” schedule will help to get our new kindergarteners off to a GREAT start. Please do not hesitate to call the school office if you have questions.

All students must be enrolled before school starts and have a complete file on record.

• For New Students: Make sure that all documents have been uploaded into PowerSchool Enrollment. Please call Mrs. Carr in the office with questions or for help. She can be reached at 233-6609.
• For Returning ACS students: families should have received an email from PowerSchool with Returning Student Registration instructions. This email contains your student’s unique Snapcode information which is required to complete the re-enrollment process. Make sure to check your SPAM folder if you don't see it. For questions or help, please contact Athens City Schools at (256) 233-6600 or mike.orear@acs-k12.org or Mrs. Carr in our office at 256-233-6609.
  

If you have already enrolled your student(s) in PowerSchool, please bring the original immunization record to iAcademy at AES. An updated immunization record is required to be on file for each student enrolled in iAcademy at AES. You may drop off the immunization record for your student beginning August 2nd between 8:00am-3:00pm.

If your student is a returning iAcademy at AES student and you already have turned in a copy, you may need to submit a new copy if your child has recently been to their physician and has received updated immunizations.

The federal waiver that enabled schools to provide meals at no cost to students ended on June 30, 2022. School lunches will no longer be free for all Athens City Schools students.

Find out if your family qualifies for Free and Reduced Lunch by completing the 2022-2023 Free and Reduced Lunch Application. Only one application is necessary per family. Families must re-apply each school year to potentially receive this benefit. Click Here or visit acs-k12.org/nutrition to apply.

2022-2023 ACS Student Daily Lunch Pricing:
$2.75 - PAID (Family does not qualify for free or reduced lunch)
$0.40 - REDUCED (apply to see if your family qualifies)
$0.00 - FREE (apply to see if your family qualifies)

Remember, beginning August 10, 2022, families who do not qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch should plan to pay the $2.75 daily lunch rate. 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.

Be ready for the first day of school - apply to see if your family qualifies today!

Transportation on the first day of school

• If you are bringing your child to school on the first day, we recommend that you use the carline. Parking is very limited on our current campus. If you choose to walk your child in to school on the first day, please park in a designated parking space and walk them in to the building. All visitors must leave on the 1st day by the start of the school day at 7:45am.
  
• Carline information can be found below! If you didn't pick up your carline tag at open house, you will receive it on the first day of school.
• If your child is a bus rider, buses will pick up at the assigned location and time. If you don't know your bus pickup information, please call Mrs. Carr at 256-233-6609.

Our Pre-K Carline and K-3 Carline procedures are shown below so please make sure you look at the information for your child! Please be patient the first few days as everyone figures out how carline works!

A few important tips to remember!

For Pre-K Carline

• Follow the signs directing traffic for carline.

• Keep Crosswalks Clear (do not park on them).

• PreK dismisses at 2:00pm

• Pull forward from the pickup location to the Pre-K Loading Zone to buckle in your child and proceed to the Pre-K exit (turn RIGHT and exit alongside K-3 carline).

• The person picking up must have a car tag. Otherwise they will need to come to the door and show a picture ID.

For K-3 Carline

• K-3 parents remain in your cars during carline.

• Adhere to those directing traffic

• Keep Crosswalks Clear (do not park on them)

• If you arrive early to carline, please do not block both lanes - keep it open for through traffic. And please do not block the Pre-K carline exit.

  We ask that you don't arrive any earlier than 2pm to wait for carline to start. We share the campus with another school and traffic will be very crowded this year.

• PreK dismisses at 2:00pm

• The person picking up must have a car tag. Otherwise they will need to come to the door and show a picture ID.
  
• If you walk up to pick up your child, please park in a designated parking space and bring the carline tag with you and wait for a staff member to help you.

We know that communication is vital to parents and students and it is something we take very seriously at iAcademy.

This newsletter will be a great source of information for you regarding all things related to iAcademy. We will send it out through our Blackboard communication system every Monday throughout the school year. It is sent via text, email, Twitter, 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 and Twitter 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 - Amanda Tedford - amanda.tedford@acs-k12.org

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

If you are receiving emails & messages from iAcademy and would like to no longer receive them - follow the link below to find out how to "opt out". There is also information on this page about how to use the app and verify and update your contact information!

Click HERE for opting out and communication info!

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: amanda.tedford@acs-k12.org
Phone: 256-233-6609
Twitter: @awtedford

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

Some links on this page will let you leave the school and school district site. The linked sites are not under the control of the school/district, and the school/district is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. The school/district is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement of the site by the school/district.

Email: amanda.tedford@acs-k12.org
Website: acs-k12.org/AES
Location: 601 South Clinton Street, Athens, AL, United States
Phone: (256) 233-6609
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/athenselementary
Twitter: @AthensElem