Communications for Students & Parents

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

1. The ACS Athens website ( www.acs.gr ) contains additional information about Athletics and Student Affairs, 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 on Tuesdays periodically throughout the year; all parents are invited.

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 classes. They may contact them during morning break (10:05-10:15) or lunch (12:36-1:24) or before and after school.

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.

Chain of Command

• Academic Issues: Faculty → Counselor → Division Chair → Principal

• Behavioral Issues: Faculty → Vice-Principal → Principal

• Social/Emotional Issues: Counselor → Counseling Coordinator → Principal

• Athletic Issues: Coach → Athletic Director → Principal

• Co-curricular Issues: Advisor → Vice Principal → Principal

If an issue is not resolved to the parent's satisfaction, they should then contact the next person in the chain of command. Skipping people in the chain of command only slows the process of resolution.

Guest students

Students may be permitted to bring a guest to school only if the guest is a former ACS Athens student. The guest may only come for one day and not during exam weeks. The conditions for approval of a student guest are as follows: the parents of the ACS Athens student must write a letter to or email the Principal asking for permission for their child to bring a student guest. This letter should be written at least two days prior to the guest's arrival on campus and should state the reason why the ACS Athens student would like to have a guest on campus for that day.

The visiting guest must respect the educational environment and not distract other students, faculty or the academic program. Each request will be carefully reviewed by the Principal and a decision will be made based on what is best for the student body as a whole. Unfortunately, same day requests will not be approved.

Temporary School Closure

Such closures could be the result of the following:

• Civil disturbances

• Immediate threats to the school

• Excessive traffic and/or unsafe driving conditions

• Inclement weather

• Strikes

• Mandated, but unexpected, government-declared holidays/closures

Whenever possible, official announcements of school closure will be made in advance through e-mail, SMS text and/or on the school’s website. The Academy Main 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 on file.

Emergency Evacuations

Several times a year, emergency evacuation drills are held. Specific directions are posted in each classroom and are reviewed with students by each faculty. Common sense and cooperation are key elements in any emergency evacuation.

1. Follow the direction of your teacher.

2. Quietly follow these directions so you can hear and react to subsequent directions.

3. Stay with your class/group and await further instructions.