Oct 29, 20236 min read

ACS Weekly Newsletter 10/29/23

MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR

Dear ACS Families & Staff,

On Monday, October 23, 2023, this letter/information was sent via email to all our ACS staff & families. Hopefully, everyone read the information that I sent on Monday regarding the revised calendar and winter break beginning earlier for students so that staff can move into the cottage and set up classrooms before the winter break begins. However, I want to ensure that everyone has this important information, so I am also including it in this week’s newsletter.

After meeting with our contractor, we are hopeful that this is the last time I will need to send information about a revised cottage timeline. As many of you know, the issues that we have had with our cottage (modular) vendor has been ongoing and has been the source of the delays. Their inability to provide workers and their lack of urgency have been a source of great concern and frustration. I can assure you that they will not be the vendor to construct Cottage #2.

The good news is that we believe we have a realistic timeline with some “wiggle” room if there is a delay. Our contractor thinks that we may get our CO the week of November 27. Once we receive the CO, there will be a great deal to coordinate and move into the cottage. We will need to get all of the big furniture moved in and set up by the furniture company, which will take several days. Fortunately, the furniture company has been able to store the majority of the furniture for us since July. Next, we will need to move all of the furniture and materials that we have stored in our current building, the 5th & 6th grade classrooms, and more!

As I previously stated in my July and August letters to families and staff, this will require us to use some inclement weather days to accomplish this endeavor, and we want to give as much notice as possible to our families.

Therefore, last week, the Board approved for us to allow students to begin their winter break early and make Tuesday, December 12, an Early Release Day with dismissal at 11:45 AM so that we can begin to move classrooms and offices.

Students will be out of school for the remainder of the week on Wednesday, December 13, Thursday, December 14, and Friday, December 15. Students will return to school on Wednesday, January 3, and our 5th and 6th graders will finally be in the cottage!

Please see the attached Revised 2023 - 2024 Calendar that reflects the changes, and you can also find it on our website using this link: 2023-2024 ACS Calendar - Board Approved & Revised 10.19.23

I have spoken with Evelyn Kreiley, the Director of Genesis Athletics, since we know that beginning the break early might be great for some, but others may need a childcare option. Evelyn and her staff are willing to run a Winter Wonderland Camp from Tuesday, December 12 - Friday, December 15, for approximately 30 students.

The camp will operate on:

Tuesday, December 12: 11:45 AM - 4:00 PM (Early Release for Students & Winter Break Begins for Students)
Wednesday, December 13: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
Thursday, December 14: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS) &
Friday, December 15: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)

If you register your child for the camp by 11/15/23, the cost will be $99. Registering after 11/15, the cost of the camp increases to $125. You can register for the Winter Wonderland Camp using this link: https://www.hisawyer.com/genesis-athletics/schedules/activity-set/556512

Again, the revised schedule for students is:

Tuesday, December 12: Early Release at 11:45 AM & Winter Break Begins for Students
Wednesday, December 13 - Friday, December 15: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS/STAFF WORK DAYS FOR MOVING
Wednesday, January 3, 2024: First Day Back to School for Students After Winter Break

We know that the cottage and construction project has been quite frustrating, especially for our displaced staff and students; however, there is a “light at the end of the tunnel”! We truly appreciate your support!

Best,

Leslie

Leslie Paynter, M.Ed.

Managing Director

IMPORTANT DATES:

October 30-November 8 - Boosterthon Fundraiser and Spirit Weeks

November 8 - FUN RUN! (grade level times coming soon)

November 17: Picture Day (rescheduled due to construction delays).

Project Celebration Dates:

Kindergarten: 10/31 at 11:00
2nd: 11/3 at 1:30
3rd: 11/2 at 1:30
4th: 11/7 at 1:30
5th: 11/3 at 11:00
6th: 11/7 at 11:00

FOOD PANTRY

Here is a message from Mrs. Kellie:

First Grade did an amazing job collecting food during their Farmer's Market Project Celebration! Our food pantry has been reloaded with all sorts of great meals for our families. Thank you for your generosity. We'd also like to give a big shout-out to our wonderful volunteers. Without them, getting the backpacks out to families would be very difficult. Your help is greatly appreciated.

ATHLETICS

We had a great turnout for the Cheerleading Interest Meeting! If your 5th or 6th grader is interested in joining, please sign up using the link shared by homeroom teachers. If you did not receive the link, reach out to Coach Long: dlong@alamancecommunityschool.net.

Athletics Fundraiser:

HELP! We still have Attractions books that have not been returned! Please return those ASAP. Books that aren't returned mean less profit, which will greatly impact our Athletics fundraising efforts. Please check your child's bookbag, the car, and around the house to see if you have an Attractions book that needs to be returned.

GENESIS

So that the ACS staff can get everything moved into the cottage before the winter break, during the December Staff Workdays, we will be offering a Winter Wonderland Camp from Tuesday, December 12 - Friday, December 15.

The camp will operate on:

Tuesday, December 12: 11:45 AM - 4:00 PM (Early Release for Students & Winter Break Begins for Students)
Wednesday, December 13: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
Thursday, December 14: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS) &
Friday, December 15: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)

If you register your child for the camp by 11/15/23, the cost will be $99. Registering after 11/15, the cost of the camp increases to $125.

You can register for the Winter Wonderland Camp using this link: https://www.hisawyer.com/genesis-athletics/schedules/activity-set/556512

With the changes in the cottage timeline, we may forgo Giving Back Day this year, which makes us sad, but we are going to try and put together an event for families in January and/or during the spring.

Special thanks to our Gardening Club for sprucing up our planters by the front door!

PTO NEWS

We've got a little bad news but a lot of good news this week. I'll start with the bad and confirm that we have had to cancel our Fall Scholastic Book Fair and Family Fun Night due to construction delays. Please continue to support your classroom teachers by ordering from their Scholastic catalogs, and we can't wait to shop with you all at the Spring Book Fair: April 8th-12th!

Now, on to the GOOD!

Our Texas Roadhouse Gift Card fundraiser will continue for one more week, so get those orders in by Friday, November 3! Gift cards can be used at any Texas Roadhouse location, including our Burlington location on ACS Texas Roadhouse fundraiser nights--yes, we still earn 10% of your dinner purchase amount even when you pay with a gift card!

Monday, October 30th, Skate Night finally returns! We look forward to seeing all of our friends there!

Our October Zaxby's Night earned the PTO $260! Thank you so much to all who participated! This month was the competition of the Fifth Grade. Congratulations to our winning Fifth Graders, Mrs. Frank's class! (Pictured here enjoying their victory prize!) As the class with the highest participation, Mrs. Frank's class won themselves a catered lunch courtesy of the Graham Zaxby's.

Next month is the Fourth Grade competition on Tuesday, November 14th!

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteerism at our school is a way for you, parents and guardians, to learn more about ACS, engage in a positive way with your child’s teachers, and witness firsthand the hard work and dedication that all our staff - teachers, assistants, support staff, and administrators demonstrate each and every day.

It is also a way to support your student and other students by assisting with workstations or a small group, helping with clerical tasks or lunch, and/or something as simple as reading a book to the class. You do not have to be an educator to volunteer, and everyone is welcome! Please click on the ACS Volunteer Form Link below to find ways that you can volunteer to help support our school! https://forms.gle/6iPiTAYNhm14BezV6

NOW HIRING FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR

If you or someone you know would be a good fit for ACS, please apply through our website under the ‘Employment’ tab (see link below) and email a resume to Jamie Miller at jmiller@alamancecommunityschool.net

LINK TO APPLICATION