Communications & Emergencies

Communications for Students & Parents

The common modes of communication between the Middle School Office and groups of students and/or parents are:

1. The ACS Athens website (www.acs.gr) contains additional information about Athletics and the Student Success Center, a section with information for parents, and the school calendar.

2. Special Announcements are sent via email to students and parents.

3. A Principal’s coffee is held periodically throughout the year; all parents are invited. 

4. A Middle School Announcements page is in Moodle for the students.

The Principal must also approve any letters, flyers, or brochures (print or electronic) before distribution to students, faculty, or parents.

Communications from Parents

Parents are requested not to contact their children on cell phones during school hours. They may contact them through the MS Main Office or the Assistant Principal's Office.

When school-related questions, issues or problems arise; parents should follow one of the chains of command in communicating with the school depending on the type of situation.

Academic Support: Faculty → Counselor → Division Chair →Principal

Behavioral Support: Faculty → Assistant Principal/Counselor →Principal

Social/Emotional Issues: Counselor →Counseling Coordinator →Principal

Athletic Issues: Coach →Athletic Director →Principal

Co-curricular Issues: Program Coordinator → Student Life Officer→ Counseling Coordinator

Guests

The Middle School welcomes guests who are visiting Athens and wish to observe our school in action. We recognize, however, the visitors to the classroom can disrupt the normal learning environment; thus, we limit guests to one-day visits. Only Middle School-age students who are visiting from outside the Athens area are invited to be our guests. Students who wish to bring a guest to school are required to bring a note from their parents prior to the day of the visit and to obtain prior permission from the Principal. Approval must be granted by the Principal a minimum of 24 hours prior to the guest’s arrival. No guests are allowed during times of testing and final examinations. Please be aware of the COVID-19 Guidelines for admitting visitors on campus.  Check our website for updated restrictions as they change frequently.

Temporary School Closure

The obligations of ACS Athens Middle School under this Agreement may be suspended immediately without notice during the periods that the School must close of Force Majeure events including, but not limited to, fire, acts of God, war, governmental action, terrorism, epidemic, pandemic, outbreaks of infectious disease, any other public health crisis, or any other event beyond the School’s control. If such an event occurs, the School’s duties and obligations under this Agreement may be suspended or postponed until such time as the School, in its sole discretion, may safely re-open. A Force Majeure event will not entitle the parent(s), guardian(s), or other financially responsible party/parties to a tuition refund. The aforementioned explicitly waive their claims of unjustifiable enrichment.

Whenever possible, official announcements of school closure will be made in advance through email, SMS text, and/or on the school’s website. The Academy Office maintains an emergency phone tree, which will allow administration and faculty members to contact all Academy families in the case of an emergency closure.

In addition, parents can call the school at 210 639-3200 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or the ACS Athens Security Office at 210 639-3555 before or after these hours for information. To this end, each parent should ensure that an up-to-date phone number and email address are accurate in their Skyward parent portal.

Communicating with Teachers

If students need to communicate with their teachers they must use their ACS Athens email account to do so.

School Cancellation

Whenever possible, official announcements of school cancellation will be made in advance. In addition, parents can call the school at (210) 639-3200 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or the ACS Athens Security Office at 639-3555 before or after these hours for information. The Academy/Middle School Office utilizes Skyward to send messages to all ACS Athens families in case of a cancellation and these  announcements may also be sent via e-mail, sms,  and posted on our website.

Emergency Evacuation

Several times a year, emergency evacuation drills are held. Specific directions and evacuation maps are posted in each classroom to indicate the emergency exit route. Common sense and cooperation are key elements in any emergency evacuation.

Students are expected to:

• Be familiar with exit route

• Respond quickly with full attention and cooperation given to their teacher or supervisor.

• Walk quickly and silently (without talking).

• Stay in formation to the left and right sides of the corridor and staircase as they proceed to their exit.

• Remain clear of the building as directed by the teacher or supervisor.

• Remain quiet once outdoors and cooperate fully with attendance taking procedures.

• In case of a fire or earthquake during passing time or Middle School lunch: students must use the nearest exit and report to the front basketball court or the back field where staff will meet them and take attendance. 

Emergency Procedures

Emergency procedures and evacuation maps are posted prominently in each classroom. Students must keep aisles clear of books, backpacks, etc. in ANY emergency, this is a hazard.  Additionally, teachers review the evacuation procedures and routes with students on the first day of school. 

In an emergency evacuation, all students need to exit and follow directions quietly. If evacuation is necessary, students are expected to follow their teacher in an orderly fashion to designated areas. Students are expected to remain with their classes until receiving further instructions.

In case an evacuation is necessary during lunch or break times, all Middle School and Academy students must go to the tennis courts,  the front basketball court or backfield and line up in alphabetical order by grade level. Teachers and staff are there to assist and take attendance.  Everyone needs to stand clear of the buildings and line up towards the center of the designated area.

Everyone needs to stand clear of the buildings and line up towards the center of the designated area.

Evacuation Destinations

Middle School Evacuation routes:

Emergency Evacuation During Class

Middle School students will quietly exit the building behind their teacher and move to the Tennis Courts. Students line up behind the teacher. Remain in line quietly and wait for directions.  

Gym or Pool: Quietly exit the building behind your teacher and move to the backfield. Line up behind the teacher. Remain in line quietly and wait for directions. 

Middle School Evacuation during Passing Period, Lunch, Before/After School

Exit the nearest door. 

• If you are closer to the backfield, go directly there and line up alphabetically. Attendance will be taken by faculty assigned to that area.

• If you are closer to the front courts, go directly to the Tennis Courts  and line up alphabetically. Attendance will be taken by faculty assigned to that area

Academy Evacuation routes:

• Academy Rooms 101, 102, 103, 105, will go out to the Academy courtyard through the front door of the Academy.

• Room 104 and the offices located between the Academy and the Theater building will exit left and proceed to the front courtyard. 

• Rooms 207, 209, 210, 211, and 208 will go out through the ground floor, exit the front door of the Academy and line up on the volleyball courts along the wall. 

• Rooms 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, and the Arts classrooms from the 3rd floor will exit through the 2nd-floor side doors of the Academy and down the Library staircase towards the front volleyball courts and then line up along the wall.

• Rooms 212 and 213 will exit through the Administration staircase and proceed to the volleyball courts along the wall.

Academy and Middle School Library:

• Academy and Middle School classes in the Library as well as all non- teaching personnel will exit through the Library entrance and proceed down the Library staircase to the front courtyard and basketball court. 

• Middle school classes will go out to the front Middle School Tennis Courts.

Theater and Gym evacuation routes:

• Individuals in the Theater, Theater Lobby, or Atrium area will exit through the Atrium side door to the back soccer field.

• Gym classes will go out the back door of the gym and proceed to the back soccer field.

Annex Building evacuation routes:

All classes and offices will evacuate to the front courtyard.

Music room evacuation routes:

Academy classes exit the Portables and proceed to the area under the olive tree in the center of the front courtyard.