The Wolves' Den
Parent Edition, March 8, 2025, Sem. 2, Qtr. 3, Issue 8
Welcome to the Academy for Success
Welcome to the second semester at AFS. We are looking forward to having many events for our students during the second semester in addition to the core academic curriculum. Information will be sent out weekly in our school newsletter!
If you are dropping your students off at AFS, the earliest that they can be dropped off is 7:50am on a regular start day and 8:50am on a late start day. Please do not drop your students off at the cafeteria UNLESS there is a staff member present. As a reminder, students can not be on Spring Hill High School premises without supervision from an AFS staff member. This would be considered trespassing. Students should be dropped off at the cafeteria until 8:05am. After 8:05am, you should drop them off at the main office.
Every Wednesday, unless noted by the district, will be a late start day. Classes will begin at 9:15am. Students can arrive on campus and report to the cafeteria at 8:50am. If your child is a bus rider, their bus will run an hour later than the normal school days. We will dismiss at the same time, 3:25pm.
PLEASE DO NOT PASS THE PARKED CARS OR BUSES parked in the dismissal line.
As a reminder, all student drivers MUST complete and submit a copy of their Aliveat25 completion certificate. If they drive on campus without an AFS parking permit, their car is subjected to be towed at the owner's expense.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Brand @ pbrand@lexrich5.org or Mr. Paul @ jpaul@lexrich5.org or (803) 575-5300.
ATTENDANCE MATTERS!!! We need you to show up in true AFS fashion! We will have a district-wide attendance competition. We will have an Attendance Spirit week! Let's show them the Pride of the PACK!!
Dress Down Pass Requirements
Students will need to wear their…
School issued ID (no sticker copies are permitted)...YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BUY ONE ON THE MORNING THAT YOU DRESS DOWN.
Jeans, jogging pants, shorts, etc.
No rips or tears in the thigh area
Rips are permitted from the knees and below
No pajama bottoms, leggings, jeggings, or biker shorts
Shorts will need to be the length of your lanyard.
IF you arrive at school and you are not in the dress code, you will change into your uniform so bring it...just in case.
No crop tops, tank tops, or any shirts that display a negative message
Hooded clothing items can be worn, BUT the hood should not be worn
Monday - Construction/Neon Day
“We are working on attendance every day”
Tuesday - Favorite Team
“We team up to have great attendance”
Wednesday - Camo Day
“Don’t let absences sneak up on you”
Thursday -School Spirit Day-Ex. Irmo (Black and Yellow), DF (Green and White), Chapin (Blue and White) OR shirts that represent those school
“We show up for each other”
Friday - Pajamas
P.B.I.S. Expectations
PBIS EXPECTATIONS: Each week, our teachers focus on different PBIS expectations. In the coming week, we will focus on the hallway and spirit week expectations.
Reminder: Student Technology and Device Expectations
We encourage our parents and guardians to become familiar with District Policy JICJ and to review the information with their students.
Proviso 1.103 which states, “To receive state funds allocated for State Aid to Classrooms, a school district shall implement a policy adopted by the State Board of Education that prohibits access to personal electronic communication devices by students during the school day. For purposes of this provision, a personal electronic communication device is considered to be a device not authorized for classroom use by a student, utilized to access the Internet, wi-fi, or cellular telephone signals.”
Students may use phones and other personal electronic devices at AFS up until 8:15 AM and after 3:25 PM . Students may not use phones, air pods, headphones or any other personal electronic devices during the instructional day, during lunch, in the hallways between classes, or in restrooms. Personal electronic devices must be silenced and out of sight throughout the school day. Please do not rely on your student’s cell phone or similar device as a primary means of communication during the school day as he or she should not have access to engage in communication. We recommend your student’s device is turned off while in storage of the bookbag so that there is power later in the day when he or she is able to access a cell phone after the 3:25PM bell.
We are happy to take a message for your student through our front office at 803-575-5300. Students are also able to call home from the front office if necessary. AFS is not responsible for damage incurred to cell phones or other personal devices on school property. If a family believes another family owes damages concerning a device, that matter must be handled through the appropriate law enforcement officials.
If a student is in violation of District Policy JICJ, the device(s) will be confiscated and turned into administration until the end of the school day and the D5 Code of Conduct will be applied. If there are multiple issues involving a cell phone/personal electronic devices with a student, parents/guardians may be required to pick up the device(s) from the school.
Please contact me if you have nay further questions,
Mrs. Brand
A Parent's Guide to Emergency Communications
Important Upcoming Dates
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday-March 10-14, 2023
- Students received an email if they are to attend W.I.N. (What I Need) Social Studies or Science Academic Coaching. Please check your email. If did not receive it, you will report to your 1st choice for Club LEVEL UP!!
- Attendance Spirit Week (Read the dress down requirements)
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 - LATE START WEDNESDAY
- LATE START DAY-You can begin being dropped off at 8:50 AM at the cafeteria
- Classes begin at 9:15
Friday, March 14, 2025-Teacher Workday
Monday, March 17, 2025-PBIS PACK Party (During 1st period (MS) or DEN (HS)
Tuesday, March 18, 2025-End of the 3rd Quarter
Friday, March 21, 2025
- Academy Day Schedule
After School Tutoring
If you need academic assistance, please complete this Google Form. I have attached the days that the teachers will stay after school to provide academic coaching.
Seat Time Recovery
Attendance is key to the success of all students. Students are expected to receive 120 hours of seat time instruction. If a student accumulates more than 10 unexcused absences in any course, they will receive a FA. Even if they are passing the class, they will fail due to having more than 10 unexcused absences. Students must recover the seat time after school. Every hour that they recover for that course, they will recover 1 day of instruction. This can be done on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday afternoons.
The cost for seat time recovery is $15 per recovery hour. You will need to complete the seat time recovery form to stay after school.
If you have questions about your child's absences, please email your child's teacher or call Mrs. Davenport, our attendance secretary at 803-575-5300.
Attendance Reminder
Our school day begins at 8:15am for high school and middle school. Students will be marked tardy if they arrive after that time. Students will sign themselves in through the front office.
Students need to be signed out for early dismissal by someone on their approved list. Anyone signing out a student for dismissal must provide a photo ID.
There will be NO early dismissal after 3:10 PM.
Please remember to provide documentation for your student's absences within 3 days of their return. This can be a parent's note or a doctor's excuse. You may upload any excuses to the Google Attendance Form link that's below this message.
Per District Policy, parent notes for illness can only be accepted within the first ten absences. If your student has over ten absences, it must be either pre-approved by the Principal or a doctor's note must be provided in order for the absence to be excused.
Report an Absence, Late Arrival, Early Dismissal
School Issued IDs
Parents and Guardians,
It is very important that your student wear their ID appropriately each school day. If the student does not have an ID, they can purchase a temporary ID for $1. If the student has lost or misplaced their permanent ID, a replacement ID can be purchased for $5.
We are unable to accept checks, debit cards or credit cards. Please send cash with your student to make a purchase of a temporary ID or replacement permanent ID.
1st infraction: Warning and item issued at no cost
2nd infraction: Warning and item issued at no cost
3rd infraction: MBI ($1 fine)
4th-6th infraction: MBI (Lunch Detention and $1 fine)
7th infraction: Referral (1 hour After School Detention and $1 fine)
8th infraction: Permanent ID issued ($5 charge)
Dress Code
Friendly Procedural Reminders
- Students may enter the cafeteria for breakfast at 7:50am on non-late start days. If your child arrives to school after 8:05am, the student should be dropped off at the front doors of the Academy for Success and report to the main office.
- Student can wear a mask if they choose to do so. If a student needs a mask, they may get one at the front office. Masks should cover both the nose and mouth.
- IDs should be visible around the students' neck/an armband from the Den Store.
- The bell will ring at 8:15am for the school day to begin.
- No cell phones should be visible during instruction. Students should not use their phones after 8:15am. If they need to make a call, they should receive a pass to the front office.
- 10:10 rule: No student movement during the first and last 10 minutes of the class block..
- No movement during 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th blocks for high school and 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th blocks for middle school.
- Dress code with IDs: Shirts should be tucked in, pants should not sag, and ID required around the students neck at all times. Hoodies are not allowed to be worn after 8:15am. Sweatshirts should not have an emblem larger than the size of a quarter.
Connect with us!
Email: pbrand@lexrich5.org
Website: https://www.lexrich5.org/afs
Location: 11629 Broad River Road, Chapin, SC 29036, USA
Phone: (803) 575-5300