One Athens Connects

It's National School Breakfast Week! Athens City Schools is proud to offer a healthy school breakfast to our students each day. Breakfast helps to keep our students fueled and ready to “dig in” to learning. A healthy breakfast can help students with their focus, memory, and academic achievement! Take a look at our menus at acs-k12.org/nutrition.

Kindergarten Registration for the 2023-2024 school year opens soon! Information and details regarding eligibility, required documentation, registration process, and more can all be found online at acs-k12.org/kindergarten. For more information, visit acs-k12.org/kindergarten.

COME JOIN OUR TEAM! Mark your calendars for the Athens City Schools Job Fair! This event will be held on Monday, March 20, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM in the Athens Middle School Cafeteria. Don't miss this awesome opportunity to explore your possibilities in joining the #oneathens family! Learn more at acs-k12.org/jobfair

Preparing children for success begins early. Athens City Schools is proud to offer two Pre-K programs: Alabama First Class Pre-K Program and Eagles Nest Inclusion Pre-K.

Each program has its own unique admission requirements, application, tuition, and selection process. Pre-K registration runs January 15, 2023 through March 22, 2023. Learn more about each program and apply at www.acs-k12.org/prek. For registration help in Spanish, contact (256) 233-6600.

LIMESTONE COUNTY-WIDE PRESCHOOL FAIR
If you would like more information about preschool within Athens City Schools as well as throughout Limestone County, be sure to mark your calendar for the Limestone County-Wide Preschool Fair. This annual event will be held on Thursday, March 16 from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Emmanuel Baptist Church. You will need proof of residence, birth certificate insurance card, immunization record, and proof of household income. For more information, contact Andrea Mayer at (256) 232-5353 ext. 5220 or Karen Jared at (256) 606-2224..

The Limestone County Economic Development Association and Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce are now accepting applications for the 2023 LCEDA/ALCOC Scholarship. This scholarship opportunity is geared toward building our future workforce and is available to Limestone County residents who are pursuing a degree in advanced manufacturing, construction, healthcare, or information technology. Available to local high school seniors as well as those who are going back for additional education. The online application can be found here. Apply by April 14, 2023.

Scholarship opportunity to attend a full week of Space Camp for Leading Students in Alabama (SALSA). Open to students ages 12-14. Click here to learn more. Click here to apply.

Application closes Friday, March 31st, at 11:59 pm.

iAcademy at Athens Elementary School invites you to become a permanent part of their new campus by purchasing a commemorative brick to recognize students, teachers, family, and friends in the Athens community. The bricks are incorporated into the design and displayed at the entrance area to the beautiful new school. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to support our teachers and students at iAcademy at Athens Elementary School. Two brick options are available: 4” x 8” - $50 (includes up to three lines with 21 characters per line) and 8" x 8" - $100 (includes up to six lines with 21 characters per line).

• To place your iAcademy at Athens Elementary brick order, click here or visit www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/athenses.
• To pay for your brick, you can either drop off payment at iAcademy at Athens Elementary School or visit website at www.acs-k12.org/aes and click the "Pay Fees" button.

Thank you for supporting iAcademy at Athens Elementary!

As our community is growing, ACS is making plans and preparations for the anticipated increase in enrollment at all of our schools.

We just recently completed the construction of our new iAcademy at Athens Elementary. This $19 million dollar school, located at 515 N. Madison Street, encompasses 66,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 600 students. Our students have had a great start to the second semester in their new "home".

Our next focus will be to add classroom space to HEART Academy at Julian Newman Elementary. Our HEART family will be moving into the Clinton Street campus at the end of the school year. ACS is currently working with architects on a plan for the renovation that will house 700-750 students. Check out the preliminary drawings of the renovated HEART at JNES below.

• Adding additional classrooms to increase capacity at Athens Intermediate School (4th-5th grade).
  

• A new building will be needed in the future for our Athens Renaissance School as they grow and expand their offerings.

• An additional elementary school in the eastern portion of the district will be needed in the future.

  
  

Athens High School Golden Eagle Band presents the inaugural "Miss Spirit of Athens" Pageant. This pageant will be held on Saturday, April 8, in the Athens Middle School auditorium. Categories for ages birth - 12th grade. Learn more and sign up at acs-k12.org/pageant. If you have any questions, please email Tyler.Parker@acs-k12.org.

STUDENTS Are you interested in being a part of sports and extracurricular activities at Athens Middle School and Athens High School during the 2023-2024 school year? If so, be sure to mark your calendars for important tryout information. More team dates coming soon. View acs-k12.org/athletics for more information.

It's time for SPRING SPORTS! View all sports schedules at acs-k12.org/athletics. Purchase tickets and passes on the GoFan app or at gofan.co/app/school/AL109

In an effort to make all of our Athens City Schools athletic event experiences GOLDEN for all spectators, fans, and families, the Golden Guidelines will be implemented during the 2022-2023 school year:

• All children in 8th grade and below and non-school-age children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
• All students are expected to be seated and in the stands unless visiting the concessions or restrooms.
• Students are not permitted to loiter in groups outside of the seating area.
• Students who do not follow the ACS Athletic Facilities guidelines will be required to sit with the adult they arrived with or asked to leave the game.

Our goal is to always have a safe and enjoyable environment at our stadium, gymnasiums, fields and more. We appreciate your cooperation. If you have any questions, please reach out to Linda Moore, Athletic Director, at Linda.Moore@acs-k12.org.

Our Athens City Schools Board of Education recently approved the 2023-2024 ACS Academic Calendar. Click below to download or view at acs-k12.org/calendar.

PowerSchool Parent Portal is a web-based platform and app that can be used to access information such as student grades, attendance, assignments, class announcements, class schedule and more. Parent Portal is accessible from any device with internet access (i.e. computer, tablet, smartphone) or download the app for free. Learn more about PowerSchool Parent portal at acs-k12.org/powerschool. If you have any questions, please contact your school.

Kids and Kin is a FREE statewide program that provides resources and training to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and older siblings who provide child care for the children of a relative. Kids and Kin offers a wide range of helpful topics in a small and supportive group setting. If you have any questions, contact Tammie Hill, Family Guidance Center, at thill@familyguidancecenter.org or call 1-800-499-6597, ext. 211. Learn more at www.familyguidancecenter.org. Kids and Kin is provided by the Family Guidance Center of Alabama and funded by the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

Take a peek at all of the exciting things go on in ACS. Be sure to follow ACS and your schools on Social Media and download the free ACS app.

We love sharing about all of the amazing things that are happening in our schools and in the lives of our outstanding students and employees! Do you have a story, event, award/ recognition or something cool going on with your student that you would like to share with our #oneAthens community? Please click here or email Christy.Hubbard@acs-k12.org.

Click here to view a previous edition of the One Athens Family Newsletter.