One Athens Connects April 2025

Mark your calendars with important dates to remember in April:

• April 16 - Progress Report Day
• April 25 - Professional Learning Day (no school for students)

View the ACS district calendar at acs-k12.org/calendar.

National School Librarian Day is celebrated on April 4th and we are so thankful for all of our amazing Media Specialists in ACS!

National Assistant Principals Week is April 7th-11th and we would like to take a moment to celebrate our amazing Assistant Principals in ACS!

• Mike Holt, Athens High School
  
• Carla Parker, Athens High School
  
• Leslie Sedberry, Athens Middle School
  
• Neil Turner, Athens Middle School
• Scott McCormick, Athens Intermediate School
  
• Paige Evans, Athens Intermediate School
• Crystal McNeal, FAME Academy at Brookhill
  
• Tenika Malone, HEART Academy at Julian Newman
  
• Nick Looney, iAcademy at Athens Elementary
  
• Darran Alexander, SPARK Academy at Cowart
  

And a special shout-out to our awesome Deans of Students across the district:

• Josh Fuqua, Athens Middle School
• Kendra Draper, Athens Renaissance School
• Jared Laxson, Athens High School

Progress reports for AHS and AMS students will be available in PowerSchool on April 16th. View student grades, attendance, assignments, class schedules, and more in PowerSchool Parent Portal. This web-based platform and app is accessible from any device with internet access (i.e. computer, tablet, smartphone). Learn more about PowerSchool Parent Portal at acs-k12.org/powerschool.

Friday, April 25th, is a Professional Learning Day for Teachers (no school for students). View the full academic calendar at acs-k12.org/calendar.

Check out the April breakfast, lunch, and snack menus. Special thanks to our Child Nutrition Program for preparing delicious and nutritious meals for our students each and every day. View and download at acs-k12.org/menu.

Class of 2025 Graduation Dates:

• Renaissance Virtual School May 13
  
• Athens Renaissance School May 13
  
• Athens High School May 15

Wear BLUE and join us on Tuesday, April 1, from 4:30 - 6:00 PM on the Athens Courthouse Square as we Light It Up Blue for Autism Awareness Month. This special event will include a bounce house, foam pit, balloon show, pizza, snow cones and snacks along with Athens City Police, Athens Fire Department and Limestone County Sheriff's Department vehicles . Mayor Ronnie Marks and Commissioner Colin Daly will sign a special proclamation for Autism Awareness month and light the Athens-Limestone County Courthouse blue. 💙

April is Autism Awareness Month. Autism and autism spectrum disorder affects an estimated 1 in 36. The autism experience is different for everyone, with each individual having a distinct set of strengths and unique abilities. During the month of April, we celebrate autism awareness, understanding, and inclusion.

The Limestone County Economic Development Association (LCEDA) 2025 LCEDA CTE Scholarship Fund deadline is approaching. This scholarship provides a $1,500 award to Limestone County residents pursuing careers in manufacturing, construction, information technology, or healthcare. Learn more and complete your application today at https://lceda.com/cte-scholarship-fund/.

Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, along with Athens City Schools Exceptional Services and Limestone County Schools Special Education, will host a "Senior Transition Night" on Tuesday, April 8. This event will be held from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM at the Limestone County Career and Technical Center and will feature information on Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Independent Living Centers, Community Rehab Partners, and more. If you are interested in attending, please register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5R66NZY . If you have any questions, contact nancy.adams@rehab.alabama.gov. or (256) 552-0742.

The Athens-Limestone County Track and Field Special Olympics will be held on Thursday, April 24, at Athens Stadium. Help support this special event through the Special Olympics T-Shirt Fundraiser. Visit https://www.athensathletics.com/Special_olympics2025/shop/home to place your order. If you have any questions or need more information, contact Charity Rogers at charity.rogers@acs-k12.org.

Congrats to the ACS Artists of the Month!

• Anderson Reece, AHS
  
• Martha Larios, AHS
  
• Ciara Pryor, AHS
  
• Anna Louise Chesnut, AHS
  
• Damien Cox, ARS
  
• Lillian Rush, ARS
  
• Emma LaCasse, ARS
  
• Hudson Matjazic, ARS
  
• Edyn Lyons, ARS
  
• Amaia Rivera, AMS
  
• Dakota Edwards, AMS
  
• AIS Limestone County Honor Choir: Ainsley Katzenberger, Alina Bracy, Braxton McCuiston, Mara Johnson, Serenity Long, Eian Lagunas, Lola Blair, Reese Beard, Ruthie Schumacher, and Piper Lawrence
  
• June Sowell, AIS
  
• Ellis Greene, BES
  
• Zion Bridgeforth, BES
  
• Camila Jacobs, CES
  
• Ivey Anne Bradford, JNES
  
• Dyllon Pough, JNES
  
• Rosalie Caruthers, AES
  
• Lainy Tucker, CES
  
• Sofia Perez, CES
  

Special thanks to our awesome Athens City Schools Fine Arts teachers who encourage and inspire these young artists! 🎶🎨🥁🎺🎷🎭

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate the PowerSchool cybersecurity incident. As previously communicated, PowerSchool, our district’s student information system, experienced a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to certain information in the PowerSchool Student Information System (SIS). The data breach was directed at PowerSchool internationally, and not at any particular school or system. Affected data may have included sensitive personal information such as names, addresses, and email addresses. Social security numbers were not involved. PowerSchool has recently distributed email notifications to students (or their parents/guardians if the student is under 18) and educators whose information was involved in the incident. This email includes complimentary identity protection and credit reporting service. For up-to-date information related to the incident, visit powerschool.com/security/sis-incident.

Students, are you interested in participating in sports and extracurricular activities at Athens Middle School and Athens High School during the 2025-2026 school year? If so, be sure to mark your calendars for important dates related to tryouts. More team dates will be announced soon. Check acs-k12.org/athletics for updates. Please note that all forms must be up to date in DragonFly Max. If you have any questions, please reach out to Linda.Moore@acs-k12.org.

Tickets and passes are available on the GoFan app or visit gofan.co/app/school/AL109

The following bags are permitted inside Athens City Schools Athletics Facilities:

• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC that do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" (tote bags, fanny packs, cross-body bags, etc.)
  
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziplock type bag or similar)
  
• Small clutch bags, with or without a handle or strap, that do not exceed 4.5" x 6.5" (approximately the size of a hand).
• Please note that individuals are limited to (1) clear bag plus (1) small clutch.

Fans are welcome to bring cameras, binoculars, and small seat cushions/pads, however, cases are not allowed. Know before you go. Learn more at acs-k12.org/athletics.

In an effort to make all Athens City Schools athletic event experiences GOLDEN for all spectators, fans and families, please take a moment to review the Golden Guidelines. Know before you go. Learn more at acs-k12.org/athletics. Thank you for supporting Athens City Schools Athletics. It's great to be a Golden Eagle!

Watch our Athens Golden Eagles HOME games on the NFHS Network. Subscription required. Visit www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/athens-high-school-athens-al for options. NFHS offers access to LIVE and ON DEMAND events, nationwide. View available events and learn more at www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/athens-high-school-athens-al. Please note that this is the only legitimate and authorized livestream for AHS sports (home games only). If you have any questions, please contact Linda.Moore@acs-k12.org.

Let's go Eagles! We wish all of our Golden Eagles the best of luck this season!

Athens Golden Eagle Booster Club invites you to participate in the AHS Booster Club Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, April 25. Proceeds benefit all of the athletic teams at Athens High School. If you have any questions, please call (251) 463-0036 or email athensboosterclub@gmail.com. For more information, including registration and payment information, please visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScD2-ylGV8MVgzgxcyRSUIu7J0C8kG52Wpmk4a8UGnphs9HEg/viewform.

Special commemorative bricks from the ACSF Legacy Brick Project make perfect gifts to celebrate a graduation, a teacher, retirement, and more. Bricks are placed on the Athens High School campus. Prices start at just $50. Order online at www.acsf.acs-k12.org.

Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is going on now. Visit acs-k12.org/kindergarten to learn more and complete the online enrollment process. Computers, assistance, and assistance in Spanish are available at the ACS Central Office on Mondays - Fridays from 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM. If you have any questions about Kindergarten Registration, please call (256) 233-6600.

The Miss Spirit of Athens Pageant will be held on Saturday, April 12, in the Athens High School APAC/Auditorium. This pageant is open to Athens/Limestone County residents and offers categories ranging from birth to 12th grade. Pageant registration deadline has been extended to April 4. For more information, including registration, visit the Miss Spirit of Athens Facebook page at facebook.com/missspiritofathenspageant If you have any questions, please email Dr. Parker at tyler.parker@acs-k12.org.

The Limestone County Bama Club is proud to present Do Right - The Stallings Standard on Sunday, April 13, at 2:30 PM at the Alabama Veterans Museum. This documentary on Coach Gene Stallings tells the story of Stallings’ career on and off the gridiron and his lasting efforts to help others that includes a focus on his impact through the support of the RISE Center on the UA campus. This nationally recognized early childhood education program serves young children with varying abilities and traditional learners. The film also includes stories of Stallings’ positive influence from former players and colleagues, including Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney and Lee Roy Jordan, among others. Proceeds from the screening and refreshment sales will support the Limestone County Bama Club scholarship program, the RISE Center, and University of Alabama Journalism department.

Tickets

• $30 - General Admission ticket
  
• $50 - VIP seating + refreshments
  
• $25 - Student ticket (18 & under)
  

Purchase your ticket today at https://www.eventbrite.com/.../do-right-gene-stallings...

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, 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!

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 (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.

ACS has implemented an extra measure of safety for students and parents. The "See Something, Say Something" Tip Line is a new way for students and families to anonymously share a potential safety concern toward an individual or school, including suspicious activity, bullying, and other student-related issues and safety concerns. This tip line is monitored by ACS Administration. Dial or text (256) 206-3065 or visit acs-k12.org/tip.

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

Our Athens City Schools Board of Education approved the 2025-2026 academic calendar at the December board meeting. You can also view the district calendar at acs-k12.org/calendar.

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!

988 is now the active phone number that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call, text or chat 988 to be connected to trained counselors who will listen and help, 24/7. This confidential support is for anyone in emotional distress or crisis. Learn more at 988lifeline.org. *The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-TALK) will always remain available for people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.

An easy way to add lunch money to your student account is through MySchoolBucks. Create or log in to your student account and view your student account balance and purchases. Funds can be added to your student's account at MSB on the web or download the MSB app. You may also submit a check to the school lunchroom. All checks must be made payable to Athens City Schools CNP or ACS CNP. Please write your child's name and homeroom on the check or envelope.

Find out if your family qualifies for Free and Reduced Lunch by completing the 2024-2025 Free and Reduced Lunch Application. Only one application is necessary per family. Families must re-apply each school year to potentially receive this benefit. Apply at acs-k12.org/freeandreduced. If you have any questions or need help with your Free and Reduced Lunch Application, contact Dr. Tandy Blackwell, Child Nutrition Program Coordinator, at Tandy.Blackwell@acs-k12.org or (256) 233-6600. Learn more about our ACS Child Nutrition Program at acs-k12.org/nutrition

Learn more at acs-k12.org/nutrition.

Do you have something you would like to see in a future newsletter? Please contact Christy.Hubbard@acs-k12.org.

View the latest edition of the One Athens Family Newsletter and other school newsletters across the district at acs-k12.org/news.