The Wolves' Den-Semester 1 Issue 9
Parent Edition-10/15/2021
MISSION STATEMENT
VISION STATEMENT
To teach and support students in developing their voice, their passion, and their sense of community as they strive to become successful and productive citizens in our society.
Welcome from our Principal, Mrs. Brand
Welcome to the WOLVES' Den where our students are Working On Leadership and Various Educational Strategies! We look forward to working with each family to provide a supportive safety net for our students. Each week, we will send out a newsletter to share updates for The Academy.
Every Wednesday, unless noted by the district, will be a late start day. Classes will begin at 9:20am. If your child is a bus rider, their bus will allow an hour later than the normal school days. We will dismiss at the same time, 3:25pm.
At dismissal, car riders and drivers will not be dismissed until our buses have loaded and are leaving campus. This will prevent parents from driving around the buses during loading and exiting campus. As a reminder, all student drivers MUST complete and submit a copy of their Aliveat25 completion certificate. If they drive on campus without an AFS parking permit, their car is subjected to be towed at the owner's expense.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Brand @ pbrand@lexrich5.org or Mr. Moses @ smoses@lexrich5.org or (803) 575-5300.
The Academy for Success Supports Survivors and Honors the Heroes of Breast Cancer
Richland County Mask Ordinance
The ordinance gives the Richland County Fire Marshal's Office the ability to enter schools in Richland County and issue a citation with a $25 fine to any person who is not wearing a mask. Any citation issued to a student will be sent to his/her family.
Our School-Wide Initiative is READING!
Be A Reading Role Model
Your child walks like you, talks like you, and absorbs everything you do. So set the right example when it comes to reading. If you want your child to be a good reader, be one yourself!
Surround yourself with reading material
Books don't belong only in libraries and classrooms. Make the written word a part of your living space, with books, magazines, and newspapers readily available throughout your home.
Draw attention to all the things you read.
Provide a bibliography for the things you talk about: When you explain why the sky is blue or who the first president of the United States was, tell your child which book helps you know these facts. you'll show him how knowledge is largely shaped by the things we read and how reading connects us to the world.
Buy or borrow books together
Whenever you're going to the library or bookstore, let your child come along. Even if you aren't looking for anything in particular, practice the art of book browsing and admiring. Make an event out of it and she'll learn to be exhilarated by the sight of books.
Don't be a solo reader
Open up conversations through reading by pausing to read an interesting fact aloud or wonder what an unfamiliar word means. Knowing that the reading experience is not a solitary activity will motivate reluctant readers.
Read for leisure
Show that reading isn't work. Cuddle up with a good book and you'll model how reading can be just the thing to make your day.
Bring something to read everywhere you go
From the office to home, or even the living room to the bedroom, make sure you're equipped with reading material — for yourself and your child. You never know when you'll have some downtime. Show him that reading is a constructive (and fun!) way to pass the time.
Emphasize the universal importance of reading
Librarians, teachers, students, mechanics, lawyers, doctors, architects, athletes… everyone reads. Show your child that reading is part of everyone's life by reading diverse works that serve different purposes. Consider cookbooks, television manuals, online magazines, and cereal boxes. Make a habit out of living through reading.
Scholastic Inc. (2007). Be a Reading Role Model. www.scholastic.com. For more reading tips, advice and ideas, please visit www.scholastic.com/parents.
Counselor's Clique
Mrs. Caldwell, AFS School Counselor
Monthly I share tips for life’s success with AFS’s students in the one place they choose to assemble several times a day, the restroom. That seems to be a common place for students to hang out with their friends. The information I chose to tape on the bathroom door is entitled “Toilet Talk.” The Toilet Talk series shares tips and lessons on how to be successful in life.
September’s “Toilet Talk” was focused on College Readiness. These tips encouraged students to prepare for college by doing the following; keep your grades up, Do your research, Utilize your school counselor, Practice taking the initiative, and “Wipe Away” worrying about college. Each of those tips has suggestions as to how they could do what the tip states.
October’s Toilet Talk highlights Bullying Prevention Month. Students are encouraged to exercise empathy, stay out of tech drama, and practice responsibility.
Children, by nature, want to make their parents proud. This month I encourage you to tell your child one thing you are proud of in them. On a personal note, I try to plant words of encouragement into my children on a daily basis by asking them, “What do I expect”? Their response is always, “greatness”. We end with I love you and then they are off to conquer their challenging day.
“Greatness is rarely achieved in good days, it’s achieved in times of adversity and overcoming it”. -Author unknown
Parent Needs Assessment
We are looking forward to supporting your child's academic, career, and social/emotional growth this year. The Academy For Success school counseling office will address each of those growth areas in the classroom as well as school-wide. In addition, individual and small group counseling will address these areas more specifically to fit the students' individual needs of students. In order to accomplish this, I need your help for no one knows your child and their needs better than you. If if you have any questions or concerns, please call Mrs. Caldwell at (803) 575-5312.
The Outreach Committee Needs YOU!!!
The Outreach Committee needs you! Our mission is to partner with parents and guardians so that we can provide you with the necessary resources to have an active role in your child’s education. Please click on the link below to complete a brief 6 question survey. We will enter everyone that completes the survey into a DRAWING!
Reentry Update
Using guidance from DHEC received on July 29, 2021, District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties has created Five Levels of Mitigation Guidance for the operations of schools. Each level is intended to help schools communicate, prepare, and implement mitigation strategies to reduce transmission of COVID-19.
We are currently operating in the YELLOW level:
Level Two protocols in place, with the following additions/changes:
- Utilize a consistent seating arrangement in the cafeteria or other common indoor area
- Visitors limited to front office areas
- Field trips suspended. Special consideration to be given to athletic events, as well as high school students that need to attend internships and complete class assignments off campus.
- Quarantine students at 3 feet or closer proximity (if a cluster occurs, stricter quarantine may be required).
Just in case..
Dress Code
Headbands
Dress Code
Friendly Procedural Reminders
- Students may enter the building at the main office entrance at 7:50. The bell will ring at 8:15 for the day to begin.
- When dropping your child off, please do not make a U-turn in front of the building. You should drive around the parking lot and drop them off at the main office.
- Masks are encouraged to be worn when entering and exiting the building, the hallways, and when you are not able to social distance. They should cover both the nose and mouth.
- Dress code with IDs: Shirts should be tucked in, pants should not sag, and ID required around the students neck at all times. Hoodies should not have an emblem larger than the size of a quarter.
- Students will not be allowed to eat breakfast in class after 8:15 (HS students) and 8:20 (MS students). They will be given 5 minutes to eat their outside breakfast before going into the class. All items will need to be discarded before entering the class.
- Our water fountains are not accessible. We encourage your child to bring a water bottle and refill it throughout the day at the water stations. The water bottle should be sealed. No open containers are permitted in the building.
- No cell phones should be visible during instruction. Students should not be allowed to use their phones after 8:20. If they need to make a call, they should receive a pass to the front office.
- 10:10 rule: No student movement during the first and last 10 minutes of the periods (2nd, 4th, 6th, and 7th). A staff member will escort students to the restroom.
- No movement during 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 8th periods.
Important Upcoming Dates
Late Start: October 20, 2021. All classes will begin at 9:20.
End of 1st Quarter: Thursday, October 21, 2021
Breast Cancer Awareness Recognition: Wear pink OR a breast cancer awareness shirt with appropriate bottoms (no leggings/jeggings/rips in jeans above the knee) and your school issued ID. No temporary IDs permitted on Friday, October 22, 2021
Teacher Workday and Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences begin: October 29, 2021
Fall Break: November 1, 2021
November 7, 2021 - Time Change - Turn Your Clocks back One Hour
Connect with us!
Email: pbrand@lexrich5.org
Website: https://www.lexrich5.org/afs
Location: 11629 Broad River Road, Chapin, SC 29036, USA
Phone: (803) 575-5300