The Sandbox

A newsletter for families and friends of iAcademy @ AES!

May 15, 2023

Important Upcoming Dates

  • May 17: Ice Cream Parlor for the 4th nine weeks
  • May 17: 3rd Grade Violin Recital
  • May 18: Last Kona Ice Day
  • May 19: All library books DUE
  • May 19: Pre-K Graduation
  • May 19: Last Day for Latchkey
  • May 24: AR Day
  • May 25 Field Day (Last Day for Students)
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Last Day for Latchkey - May 19

Family Survey

We need your help! We are looking for feedback from families as we plan for next school year. Please take a few minutes to respond to this survey!

Thank you!


Family Survey

Lost and Found

We have LOTS of items in the Lost and Found. These will be available all week in our lobby area. If you want to come look through the items, you can come to the main entrance and ring the doorbell. Mrs. Carr will let you in to the lobby area! All remaining items will be donated at the end of the week!

Menu Changes for May

Please make note of the following menu changes for the month of May!


Tuesday, May 16 - Corn dogs

Friday, May 19 - Pizza Hut


Monday, May22 - Club sandwich

Tuesday, May 23 - Pizza Hot Pockets

Wednesday, May 24 - Chicken sandwich

Thursday,May 25 - Ham (or,turkey) & cheese sandwich

LAST Kona Ice is THURSDAY!

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Summer Opportunities!

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Athens Limestone Public Library Summer Fun!

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Bus Concerns & Questions

If you have questions or concerns about students and the bus, please feel free to reach out to the bus garage with questions. The director of transportation is Mike Bishop and he can be reached by email at mike.bishop@acs-k12.org. The number for the bus garage is 256-233-6637.

In the afternoons after school dismisses, sometimes our phones at AES are not manned so you may need to reach out to the bus garage directly with questions!

Special Opportunity for any students with special needs!

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Legacy Bricks

Athens Elementary School invites you to become a permanent part of the new Athens Elementary School campus by purchasing a commemorative brick to recognize students, teachers, family, and friends in the Athens community.


Engraved on your commemorative brick could be a family name, student or alumnae, teacher, staff member, business or organization. You could choose to honor someone special or place a brick in memory of a loved one. Bricks can be donated to memorialize a special moment or achievement, such as graduation, the first class or a memorable event. Maybe you have a favorite quote or saying that could become a part of this special space. Engraved bricks also make wonderful gifts.


The bricks are incorporated into the design and displayed at the entrance area to the beautiful new Athens Elementary School. Your brick donation will serve as a visible reminder of your commitment and connection to the excellence and ongoing achievements of Athens City Schools.


Often a brick is donated as a gift to someone special. For this occasion, brick certificates are available for purchase. Each certificate is an additional $12. You can also purchase a duplicate brick as a keepsake or a smaller souvenir brick to keep as a memento.


One hundred percent of the proceeds go to support our teachers and students at Athens Elementary School.

Together, we can make a difference for Athens Elementary School.


Brick Sizes & Pricing

4” x 8” - $50

On the 4" x 8" brick, you have the option of writing up to three lines with 21 characters per line.

8" x 8" - $100

With the 8" x 8" brick, you have the option of writing up to six lines with 21 characters per line.

Brick text will be in all capital letters and centered on the brick. Please note that spaces, punctuation marks and other symbols count as characters.



To purchase: Click the link below to place your customized order. You can pay through cash or check dropped off or mailed to our school or by visiting our website at www.acs-k12.org/aes and click the "Pay Fees" button. Please include a valid phone number on all checks.


Questions? please call or email Mrs. Tedford at 256-233-6609 or Amanda.tedford@acs-k12.org

We Love Our New School (New AES)

Visitors to Our Building

Anytime you come to our campus during the school day, please come to the main entrance and ring the doorbell for assistance. Please do not try to enter through any other door and do not go past the office. To ring the doorbell - make sure to push hard until you hear the chime! This is what lets Mrs. Carr know that there is a visitor at the door!


Checking In or Checking Out

If you need to check in or check out your child, please come to the main entrance and ring the doorbell. Our office staff will buzz you in. Come into the office. We have a QR code posted and a website where you can electronically check in or check out your student. You may do this on your own phone or we have an iPad available.


Anytime you arrive after 7:45 am you will need to come inside to check your child in.


We are excited to open up our lunchtime for visitors! All visitors must check in at the main office before heading to join your child in the lunch room. Just a reminder - if you bring any outside restaurant food to your child it needs to be in a lunchbox or brown paper sack. When lunch is over, please return to the office to sign out before you leave.

Communicating with Your Child's Teacher

Our teachers communicate with families in a variety of ways.


  • Each day students bring home a GOLD FOLDER in their backpack. This folder contains important information for students from the teacher. Please check the Gold folder daily.
  • SeeSaw is an online tool we use to communicate student's work and information from the class. Your teachers sent home information on joining your child's class Seesaw.
  • Email is a great tool for communicating with your child's teacher. Please know that they may not be checking email during the day so if there is something time sensitive call Mrs. Carr in the office.

Ways We Communicate!

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

Want to stop receiving messages from iAcademy?

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!

General School Information

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Community Partnerships

iAcademy Innovation Lab Powered by WOW!

2021-2022 Partner In Education: Listerhill Credit Union

Get the Free App Now!

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.

Our Administrative Team

Mr. Nick Looney, Assistant Principal

Disclaimer

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.