Arcadia Parent Newsletter

Arcadia Elementary School is dedicated to educating all students to the highest levels of academic achievement, to enable them to reach and expand their potential, and to prepare them to become respectful, resourceful, responsible, and resilient members of society.

Dear Arcadia Families, 💙💛🐘

Thank you so much for your continued love, support, and commitment to Arcadia Elementary School! We are truly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you in educating and caring for your precious children.

As we move closer to the middle of the school year, I want to encourage every parent to schedule a conference with your child's teacher to discuss their progress in reading and math. Ask questions about your child's strengths, areas where they may need additional support, and specific things you can do at home to help them grow academically.

Remember, we can accomplish great things when we work together! Our goal is to ensure that every scholar receives the support, encouragement, and instruction needed to be successful.

We Need EVERY Family to Join Our PTA!

We are asking EVERY Arcadia family to join our PTA! Membership is only $10.00 per family.

We need your voice, your ideas, and your involvement! Our PTA plays an important role in strengthening our school community and creating meaningful experiences for our scholars. Every family has something valuable to contribute, and we want YOU to be a part of making Arcadia the best school it can be!

Together, we can make a difference!

Attendance Matters!

Thank you for making attendance a priority! Our school doors open at 7:30 a.m., and students should be in their classrooms ready to learn by 7:55 a.m.

Students arriving after 7:55 a.m. must be signed in by an adult.

We love celebrating our Attendance Scholars who demonstrate perfect attendance by being at school every day, all day, with no late arrivals or early checkouts.

Remember, every school day matters, and every instructional minute counts! Please continue helping your child develop strong attendance habits.

Student Safety Is Our Priority!

The safety of our scholars is extremely important to us. Please remember these procedures:

• Morning Arrival: Do not allow your child to exit your vehicle and walk across the crosswalk alone. If using the crosswalk, please park in a designated parking space and walk your child safely across.

• Student Checkouts: Students may not be checked out after 2:00 p.m.

• Afternoon Dismissal: Please remain in your vehicles and follow our regular dismissal procedures.

Thank you for helping us keep every scholar safe!

Helping Your Child Succeed at Home

Parents, you are your child's first and most important teacher! The little things you do each day make a tremendous difference in their learning.

Here are a few ways you can help:

• Read together for at least 15 minutes every evening. Ask your child questions about what they read.

• Check homework folders nightly and make sure assignments are completed.

• Practice math skills and encourage your child to explain how they solved a problem.

• Talk about school each day. Ask your child what they learned and what they enjoyed most.

• Encourage positive behavior. Remind your child to show respect, follow directions, make good choices, and always give their best effort.

• Celebrate growth! Remind your child that mistakes are part of learning and that hard work and perseverance lead to success.

When families and schools work together, our children WIN!

Let's continue working together, encouraging one another, and celebrating every accomplishment as we strive to MAKE THAT A ARCADIA!

WE ARE ARCADIA STRONG! 💙💛🐘

Have a wonderful and blessed week!

Best,
G. Wright
Principal, Arcadia Elementary School

Upcoming Dates

Oct. 26- 30- Red Ribbon Week

Nov. 6, 2026- Progress Report

Nov. 11, 2026- Veterans Day (No School)

Nov. 13, 2026- Career Day

Nov. 19, 2026- Thanksgiving Luncheon(All Grades)

Nov. 19, 2026- PTA Night at 5:30 (Kindergarten and 4th grade)

Nov. 23-27, 2026- Thanksgiving Holidays (No School)

Thank you again for your continued support, encouragement, and partnership. Together, we can ensure that every Arcadia student feels safe, loved, supported, and ready to learn each day.

With appreciation,

G. Wright, Principal
Arcadia Elementary School

“If they do not learn the way we teach, we must teach the way they learn.” — O. Ivar Lovaas

2026-27 Code of Conduct book is online!

Students will not come home with a paper version of the TCS Code of Conduct and Resource guide this school year. That is because we are going "paperless."

A PDF copy of the 2026-27 Parent/Student Code of Conduct is available for download through the following link: TCS Code of Conduct. If you prefer to still have a paper version, they will soon be available upon request from your child's school office.

To help ensure the highest quality learning environment for all students, we strive to have minimal interruptions to the classroom schedule. One simple, yet powerful way to help boost this high-quality learning environment is to have your child dropped off at school before 7:45 am. In this way, they are able to eat breakfast, unpack their things, and start the day smoothly. Any students who arrive after 7:55 am will be marked tardy. In the event that you are running late and arrive after 7:55 am, you will need to accompany your child to the Front Office and sign them in. If you need any assistance with this process, please give us a call.

A second powerful way to help promote a positive, uninterrupted learning environment is to channel all communications with the teacher through email or any digital apps that the teacher may use. Some examples of this would be the Remind app or Class Dojo. When your child's homeroom teacher sends you an invitation, please confirm your invitation promptly and keep yourself up to date with everything that is happening in the classroom.

Below is a reminder for parents and for students about the TCS Dress Code, which is found in the TCS Student Code of Conduct:

The primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and parents or guardians. The following rules concerning dress and grooming are mandatory for all students attending Tuscaloosa City Schools. Students who fail to follow these rules will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in Code of Conduct 1.13, “Non-conformity to Dress Code.”

Section 1: Students "Must" Wear:

• Shirts: Must be opaque fabric. Must cover midriff and not be low cut in front or back.

• Bottoms: Pants, sweatpants, joggers, shorts, skirt, dress, leggings. Must be opaque fabric. Dresses and skirts must be fingertip length. Shorts, including athletic shorts, are allowed, but may not be less than a 3” inseam. Genitals and buttocks must be covered at all times.

• Shoes: Activity-specific shoes are permitted (for example for sports or TCTA classes.) Shoes that are secured to the foot and do not easily fall off are highly encouraged for safety reasons.

Section 2: Students "May" Wear:

• Hoodie sweatshirts, although hood cannot be worn over head.

• Fitted pants, including leggings, yoga pants and “skinny jeans” are allowed as long as it meets requirements in section 1.

• Ripped jeans, as long as underwear is not exposed, and rips are not above fingertip length.

• Tank tops, as long as underwear or midriff is not exposed.

• Athletic attire, as long as it meets requirements in Sections 1 and 3.

• Clothing with commercial or athletic logos provided they do not violate Section 3 below.

Section 3: Students May NOT Wear:

• Garments that reflect violent language or images.

• Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity) or the use of same.

• Hate speech, profanity, pornography.

• Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class.

• Clothing where underwear is exposed. Undershirts/camisoles cannot be worn alone as shirts.

• Spaghetti straps, or strapless tops, unless otherwise covered.

• Bathing suits.

• Hats or head coverings except as a religious observance or as allowed on special days or for certain athletic or class requirements.

• Pajamas, except when allowed on special days.

• House slippers or shoes intended for indoors only.

• Sunglasses (indoors.)

• Metal-spikes on shoes or metal-toed shoes, except for when needed for a class such as at TCTA.

The Tuscaloosa City Schools will be shifting to ParentSquare for all mass communications and family communications next school year. This is the company that owns Remind, but the ParentSquare platform offers a lot more.

While we are currently using a combination of Parentlink for mass communications from principals/the district, plus apps like Remind, GroupMe, ClassDoJo and others for family communications, utilizing ParentSquare for all comms next school year will mean that parents will be able to utilize one app to get all their communications in one place, in a social media-like feed. That includes communications from principals, from the district, from teachers, coaches, etc.

Parents do not have to have the app to get the information, and they can get a compiled "newsfeed" type information through text or email. We can still use Smore with the ParentSquare platform.

We will shift to ParentSquare this summer, before the start of the 2026-27 school year. Before then, you'll start to hear more information and receive links to log in to your account.

Last month, an anonymous reporting system called "Say Something" from the Sandy Hook Promise went live for the Tuscaloosa City Schools. "Say Something" is linked on our district website, school website, and we have posters and other signage around the schools.

People can help save lives by reporting observed threats, behaviors, actions, and harassment. Here are examples of some of the most common behaviors and incidents to report:

• Acts of violence, with or without weapons
• Verbal or physical abuse, assault or harassment
• Sexual abuse, assault or harassment
• Threats seen on social media
• Bullying, fighting, harassment or intimidating behaviors
• Bragging about weapons or a planned attack
• Depression, anxiety or loss of self-control
• Hopelessness, excessive guilt or worthlessness
• Reckless behavior, theft and petty crimes
• Social isolation or withdrawal
• Substance or alcohol abuse
• Suicide threats, cutting or other self-harm
• Any other troubling situation or behavior

Attendance Reminders

Please make sure that all students report to school each day. Students should be in their seats ready to learn by 7:55 a.m. in order to receive valuable information. When a student is tardy, the parent must check the students in at the office. If a student is absent, the parent must send a parent excuse or a doctor's excuse with in 72 hours. There will be no checkouts after 2:00 p.m.

TARDIES

Elementary students who accumulate six or more tardies during the year will be required to submit an official statement to the courts or a physician explaining each absence for the remainder of the school year. Failure to provide an official statement will result in an unexcused absence.

Safety Reminder: Report, don't repost.

If you see a threat on social media, especially coming from a student or relating to a school, report it. Let law enforcement, school resource officer, a teacher or school administrator know as soon as possible. Reposting doesn't help, but reporting it can. Remember if you see something, SAY SOMETHING! Parents, please speak with your child(ren) about how important it is to report.

It is important to remember that if you or your child see or hear something concerning, please report it to your school's principal. It can be the first step to saving a situation from becoming dangerous. Again, "See Something, Say Something!"

At Arcadia Elementary, the safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority. We have established a variety of procedures to maintain a secure environment. Both our students and staff actively participate in monthly drills, including fire, storm, and lockdown exercises. Additionally, our comprehensive, school-wide safety plan includes:

• Weekly safety reviews
• "See Something, Say Something" initiative
• Daily safety announcements
• Ensuring all doors remain locked and are not propped open
• Detailed crisis response plans for faculty
• A dedicated Tuscaloosa City Police Officer stationed in our building

We are committed to creating a safe and supportive atmosphere for everyone in our school community.

• Remind your child about positive behavior expectations on the school bus. Student must follow bus expectations for the safety of all students on the school bus.
• When dropping off students for school in the morning, please make sure to use the car line. For the safety of our students, we can not drop off students in the parking lot.
• Please use our crosswalk when crossing the street to bring students to the door.
• All visitors must sign in using RAPTOR system before moving beyond the front lobby to enter the building.
• A current ID is required anytime a student is being checked out.
• Students are not allowed to check out after 2:00 p.m.
• All discipline and safety measures will be strictly enforced. NO EXCEPTIONS!
• A threat to self and other will be handled according to the Tuscaloosa City Schools Code of Conduct, state laws, and/or mandates.
• Safety drills will be practiced monthly, included but not limited to backpack searches, fire drills, lockdown drills, and severe weather drills.
• If students see something, they must say something
• If someone is bothering a student, the student must tell any adult in the building.

We've had more than one incident recently of students bringing toy guns to school. We want to remind TCS families and students that this goes against the TCS Code of Conduct and can carry serious repercussions, as it is a safety concern. Families, please talk to your children and make sure they know that toy guns of any kind are never allowed on school property.

Dear Parents,

Please fill out the needs assessment here https://forms.gle/3E7pynniyYnZgKrB9. This is an opportunity for you to express you needs for the counseling program. We are working on controlling our emotions this month at Arcadia. I am so excited to be getting in the classrooms and seeing your students!

Bullying and Conflict – What’s the Difference?

Sometimes people think that bullying and conflict are the same thing, but they aren’t. In one way or another, conflict is a part of everyday experience, in which we navigate the complexities of how we interact. Typically minor conflicts don’t make someone feel unsafe or threatened. Bullying, on the other hand, is when someone is hurt by unwanted words or actions, usually more than once and has a hard time stopping what is happening to them.

During open house I will share information about HALT. It is a way that parents and students can report bullying when it occurs. This is the link to use to make a report.

https://www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/Page/2264

This article is an excellence resource for strategies that parents can use to improve your child's math skills. https://www.nwea.org/blog/2018/parent-strategies-for-improving-their-childs-math/

Attached, you will find an Alabama Numeracy Act Quick Guide for Families. The digital version as well as brochure printing instructions can be found below.

Digital version: OMI-ALABAMA NUMERACY ACT-QUICK GUIDE FOR FAMILIES-SEPTEMBER 2023

Please click the link for additional resources to help your student improve their reading skills.

https://secure.smore.com/n/fp2wk

Help support your school by ensuring that your student reads reach night for at least 20 minutes. This will greatly improve their reading fluency as well as reading comprehension.

Be sure to visit to click the link, tuscaloosareads.com for reading engagement tips

The Alabama Literacy Act Review

Watch the short video HERE to learn about how the Literacy Act impacts your current and/or upcoming third grader's educational pathway. The attached link provides answers to frequently asked questions pertaining to the Alabama Literacy Act.

For more information you can also visit: https://www.alabamaachieves.org/

Click on the video for important information about the Alabama Literacy Act in Spanish.

We are looking for parents who have ideas to share to help grow our PTA. Join PTA and become an active member. Come to PTA meetings and share ideas.

PTA Membership is $10 per family.

Mrs. Gladys Wright (Principal) - gwright@tusc.k12.al.us

Mrs. Shalonda Reed (Assistant Principal) shreed@tusc.k12.al.us

If you have questions or need assistance please contact your child's teacher or our school leaders: Gladys Wright, Principal-gwright@tusc.k12.al.us and Shalonda Reed, Assistant Principal-shreed@tusc.k12.al.us