The Blast

Ms. Shelia (right), Ms. Christy (center), and Ms. Pam (left) work hard every day to prepare and deliver breakfast as well as serve lunch for Team SPARK. They also help students scan their bar codes as they go through the lunch line. And they do it all with big smiles! We are thankful for these ladies because they feed us healthy meals and encourage us with their positive energy

Asking about lunch time is a great way to start a conversation with your child about school. You can ask them about our lunch ladies, or you can ask about what they ate from the menu items, who sat next to them, and/or what they talked about about at the table. Talking to your child about what happens at lunch and school in general helps you to be connected to school and shows your child that you care about what they experience throughout the day. It also shows that you value school. I hope you enjoy all the interesting comments you'll hear about lunch this week!

Aug.24-Sept. 2: Aimsweb+ Formative Assessment

August 25: Board of Education Meeting

September 5: Labor Day Holiday (no school)

September 11: Grandparents Day

September 16: Health Heroes flue vaccines for kids

September 23: Professional Learning Day/No school for students

October 4: 2nd Grade field trip to Cathedral Caverns

October 10-14 : Fall Break

October 19: Reports go home for first 9-week grading period

October 27: Kindergarten field trip to Birmingham Zoo

October 31: Halloween party

Our students spend the entire day learning, so having them here on time and avoiding checkouts is extremely important. Here are some general reminders to help support good attendance for your child:

• Our school day is 7:45 a.m. until 2:45 p.m.
• Parents should bring students who arrive late to the office to check them in.
• Check-outs are conducted through the office.
• Any missed school will be categorized as an excused absence, excused tardy, unexcused absence, or unexcused tardy.
• Excessive absences and tardies will subject the student and parent to truancy policies and procedures

Read the full attendance policy for Athens City Schools here:

Student-Parent Handbook Grades PreK - 5

Student-Parent Handbook Pre-K - 5 (Spanish)

PTO is in the middle of our annual membership drive. Join before August 31st so you don't miss any important information. A reminder and membership form will be sent home Friday, August 26th.

PTO has a Facebook Group! First, become a member of the SPARK Academy at Cowart PTO. Then look for the SPARK PTO group on Facebook and request to join. PTO members will be granted exclusive access to this group that will keep you informed about school events and ways to support our school.

Here are other ways to support PTO:

• Volunteer to be a Room Parent. Room parents help with volunteer opportunities and planning Halloween and Christmas parties for their child's class.
• Don't want to be a Room Parent? That's ok. You can still provide support when the Room Parents reach out to you and support our fundraisers when they take place. Every action makes a positive impact.

SPARK PTO Officers:

Case Bearden, president

Pam Hipolito, vice president

Kelly Nave, secretary

Riley Greene, treasurer

1701 W. Hobbs Street

Athens, AL 35611

Email: lorian.charles@acs-k12.org
Website: acs-k12.org/CES
Location: 1701 West Hobbs Street, Athens, AL 35611, USA
Phone: 256-233-6627
Facebook: facebook.com/SPARKAcademy
Twitter: @SPARK_STEM