ACS Connect

Mark your calendars with important dates to remember in July. View the full academic calendar at acs-k12.org/calendar.

Athens City Schools will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. View the district calendar at acs-k12.org/calendar.

We are excited to welcome Mr. Toby Harrison to the Athens City Schools Board of Education. Mr. Harrison assumed his new role in the District 4 seat at the June 13 ACS Board of Education meeting. Learn more about Mr. Harrison and the ACS Board of Education at acs-k12.org/board. We are grateful to all of our ACS Board Members for their willingness to serve our students, schools, and community!

Check out the ACS Back to School Hub for school supply lists, important dates, district calendars, free and reduced lunch applications, and more. Visit acs-k12.org/backtoschool and check back often for updates. Be sure to follow your schools on Facebook and visit them on the web for more information.

View the 2024-2025 ACS Academic Calendar at acs-k12.org/calendar.

Athens City Schools is pleased to announce a Learning Partnership with Athens State University! This partnership applies to all ASU programs, including certificates, adult degree completion, and graduate degrees. Benefits include discounted tuition on all online and traditional classes, waiver of the application fee and complimentary evaluation of previously earned educational credits and training/professional certifications/portfolio for consideration of transfer credit. This special benefit is for Athens City Schools employees and their immediate family. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Tammie Brand at tammie.brand@acs-k12.org. For more information about the ASU admission process, visit admissions@athens.edu. View the full list of learning partners at athens.edu/learningpartners.

Get a jump start on Back-to-School shopping. View shopping lists at acs-k12.org/supplies. The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday weekend will be held on Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21.

Athens City Schools Board of Education Central Office will be open Mondays -Thursdays from 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM from May 28, 2024 - July 25, 2024. Call us at 256-233-6600 or visit us on the web at acs-k12.org.

If you need bus service for your K-8th student, you must sign up through Returning Student Registration (Re-Enrollment) or New Student Registration. Learn more at acs-k12.org/transportation. Reminder that bus service is not available for Athens High School or Athens Renaissance School students. If you have any questions, contact ACS Transportation at (256) 233-6637.

Check our latest progress of our HEART Academy at Julian Newman Elementary School! Athens City Schools broke ground on the construction site of the new JNES on March 20, 2024. The state-of-the-art building, designed by McKee and Associates and built by Lee Builders, Inc., will encompass more than 85,000 square feet and house over 700 students.

Features include:

• 29 Standard Classrooms

• 3 Special Education Classrooms

• 6 Shared Classroom Spaces

• 1 Music Classroom

• 1 Art Classroom

• HEART Lab

• Cafeteria

• Media Center

• 2 Storm Shelters for students, faculty and staff

• 2 Renovated Gymnasiums

We look forward to welcoming our HEART Academy at JNES students to their new home in the fall of 2025! Check out the progress at acs-k12.org/progress.

As you drive by Athens Intermediate School, you will notice that our 20,000-square-foot construction project is well underway. This addition will include 6 standard classrooms, 2 special education classrooms, and a multi-use gymnasium with a storm shelter for our 4th and 5th grade students, faculty, and staff. We anticipate this project to be completed by January 2025. Check out the progress at acs-k12.org/progress.

View all open positions in the ACS family through HireTrue, the new Alabama State Department of Education Applicant Tracking System. Athens City Schools is currently seeking teachers (elementary, high school, and special education), bus drivers, behavior specialist, child nutrition, custodians, substitutes, and more. Visit acs-k12.org/careers to view all open positions in ACS.

Athens City Schools has recently been awarded Cognia ® Accreditation! Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers. Cognia, formerly AdvancED, nationally recognizes districts that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meets the needs of learners, and effective leadership. This achievement underscores our commitment to providing high-quality education and continuous improvement.

Cognia conducts a rigorous evaluation that includes a comprehensive review of educational practices, leadership, and performance standards. Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org.

Athens City Schools is proud to be a progressive, high-quality school system that is committed to empowering all students for lifelong success in a rapidly changing world. This highly regarded accreditation is a testament to the dedication of our staff, the hard work of our students, and the support of our community.

Athens City Schools has partnered with SecondLifeMac (SLM) to offer our one Athens family and community the opportunity to purchase refurbished iPads and Macbooks at a discounted rate. SecondLifeMac will fill orders on a first-come, first-served basis.... while supplies last. To access the SLM Community Sale, please visit go.secondlifemac.com/AthensCity. Use promo code ATHENS24 and receive $20 off and free shipping! All orders must be placed by August 2. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email SecondLifeMac at hello@secondlifemac.com.

The Full Tummy Project of Athens and Limestone County, in partnership with Church of the Highlands, will host a drive-up food distribution for children in Athens and Limestone County on Saturday, July 13. This special event will held in the Athens Middle School parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis from 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM or until resources run out. Full Tummy bags will consist of two breakfast items, lunch items, dinner items, snacks, and fruit cups. The Full Tummy Project is a non-profit organization working to combat youth hunger in our community. Full Tummy connects schools with churches, businesses, and organizations that purchase, pack, and fill weekend food bags for children throughout the school year.

The Athens-Limestone Public Library Foundation and the Athens Storytelling Festival is proud to host storyteller Carol Cain at the Athens-Limestone Public Library! Carol Cain will take you around the world with her folk tales, own tales, and wacky songs that celebrate libraries and a love of reading.

Thursday, July 18

• 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Let the Adventure Begin
• 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Student Story Workshop
• 6:00 PM Family Night

Friday, July 19

• 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM - More Adventures With Carol Cain

Honor a graduate of the Class of 2024 with a special commemorative brick from the Athens City Schools Foundation Legacy Brick Project. Brick prices start at just $50. Order online at acsf.acs-k12.org/bricks. Thank you for supporting the Athens City Schools Foundation.

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 aes.acs-k12.org and click the "Pay Fees" button.

Thank you for supporting iAcademy at Athens Elementary!

Are you interested in learning more about opportunities related to military service and academies after high school? If so, then please mark your calendars to attend Military Service and Academy Day, hosted by Congressman Dale Strong. This event will provide the opportunity to speak with representatives from West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Marion Military Institute, JROTC, Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force/Space Force, and Coast Guard. You will also have a chance to learn more about service academy eligibility requirements and congressional nominations.

Military Service and Academy Day

August 17 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Huntsville High School Gymnasium

RSVP to dylan.smith2@mail.house.gov

Lots of exciting things going on in ACS! Be sure to follow ACS and your school(s) on Social Media and download the free ACS app!

Download the Athens City Schools app today for access to school news, calendars, notifications, quick links, and more! The ACS App is available for free in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Search for “Athens City Schools”. Be sure to set your "phone" settings to RECEIVE/ALLOW notifications. Once you download the ACS app, click "Follow Your School" to receive notifications from the district and your selected school(s).

REGISTER TODAY FOR SUMMER FUN! Check out acs-k12.org/camps for dates, details, and registration. If you have any questions, contact Linda.Moore@acs-k12.org. Learn more at acs-k12.org/camps

Mark your calendars for Friday Night Lights! Homecoming will be held on September 27. Senior Night will be held October 25.

Governor Ivey invites Alabama K-8 students to join her for the Summer Reading Challenge, going on now through July 31. To participate, grade-eligible students may write a letter to Governor Ivey, sharing what their preferred summer reading book was and why it was their favorite. Click HERE to learn more.

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 (256) 724-2554. 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.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Alabama Be Healthy School Grant Program. Applications are due July 19, 2024. Click HERE to learn more.
• Alabama Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition Shade Structure Grant. Applications are due August 9, 2024. Click HERE To learn more.
• Steelcase Foundation Grant geared toward the following areas: accessible, quality learning experiences, multi-generational support, advocacy, and engagement, removal of barriers and systemic impediments and/or arts + cultural experiences that enhance young people’s learning, engagement, and sense of belonging. Inquiries are due September 29, 2024. Click HERE to learn more.
• Daniel Foundation Education and Youth Grant - Letter of Intent due October 24. Click HERE to learn more.
• Dekko Grant for Early Childhood Development, Middle Childhood Development, Adolescent Development, and Community Development. Click HERE to learn more.

Visit acs-k12.org/employees for useful employee links and information.

RSA would like to make you aware of their supplemental retirement plan RSA-1 Deferred Compensation. Whether you are a new employee or an employee who is getting ready to retire, it is to your advantage to participate in the RSA-1 Deferred Compensation Plan. Please watch the short video found here to find out more about the plan and how to enroll. Enrollment forms are located in the back of the RSA-1 Member Handbook. For additional information, contact RSA by email rsa1info@rsa-al.gov or toll-free 1.877.517.0020. RSA-1 representatives are available Monday-Friday 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m. Members can also view this information on the RSA-1 page on the RSA’s website: https://www.rsa-al.gov/rsa-1/.

Reminder that ACS requires that all social media pages/accounts that represent ANY team, club, or organization affiliated with our school system be approved by the school principal AND registered with the Office of Communications. The purpose is to ensure that all school-associated social media is managed, monitored, and maintained while providing trusted and accurate information. Athens City Schools currently only authorizes the establishment and use of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts on behalf of the school system. To register an account, check on the registration status or create an account, please contact Christy at christy.hubbard@acs-k12.org or (256) 233-6602. Click HERE to learn more.

If your certificate is set to expire this summer, you should have received renewal information from Tammie Brand. If you did not receive this message, please contact Tammie at tammie.brand@acs-k12.org or ext. 1101. If you are unsure of when your certificate expires, click HERE to view your information or reach out to Tammie Brand.

Visit acs-k12.org/employees for useful employee links and information, including employee calendar, forms and more.

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 in your classroom that you would like to share with our #oneAthens community? Please click here or email Christy.Hubbard@acs-k12.org.

Have something you would like to see in a future employee newsletter? Please send it to Christy.Hubbard@acs-k12.org.