January 2024

 Message from the Principal:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well and that your new year is off to a fantastic start. As we embark on an exciting journey in 2024, I wanted to take a moment to highlight some important upcoming events and share a few reminders for our collective success.

Upcoming Events:

• The daily bell schedule for the first two weeks of the second semester will include a longer seminar block:

8:00 - 9:15 1st block (75 minutes)

9:18  2 minute warning bell

9:20 - 10:15  SEMINAR (55 minutes)

10:18  2 minute warning bell

10:20 - 11:35  2nd block (75 minutes)

 11:38  2 minute warning bell

11:40 - 1:35  3rd block with Lunch (115 minutes)

11:40 - 12:05  Lunch A  Science, FACS, Art

12:10 - 12:35  Lunch B  Math & English

12:40 - 1:05  Lunch C  SS, World Language, ESL, Business

1:10 - 1:35  Lunch D  PE, Music, Health Science, Ag, T&I, ROTC

1:38  2 minute warning bell

1:40 - 3:05  4th block (85 minutes) 

• During the first two weeks of school in seminar, students will complete the following activities:

  • • Workkeys skill development for all Seniors

    • Practice ACT for all Juniors 

    • Real Money. Real World for all Sophomores

    • ExactPath Testing for all Freshmen

    • Xello Career Development Plan for all Freshmen

    • Class meetings for all students with Registration Information

• We will return to our normal daily bell schedule with Flex on Monday, January 22nd.

• Progress reports will go home with students from each class on Tuesday, January 30th.

• Parent registration presentations and elective fair at ACHS on Thursday, February 8th.

• The first day of practice for the Spring sports season is Wednesday, February 14th. Games start on Monday, February 26th. All athletes must have an active physical on file to participate.

• Prom will be here before we know it. Please be sure to review these requirements with your child:

REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTENDING PROM

1. In order to attend the prom, a student cannot miss (9) or more days in ANY class during 1st or *2nd semester without medical documentation (*up to the day before prom during 2nd semester). 

2. In addition, a student must have passed 3 out of 4 classes during 1st and 2nd semester to attend the prom. 

3. Students that do not meet both of the above requirements will not be allowed to attend the prom. No refunds will be given if a student has purchased a ticket already.

**Students enrolled in Credit recovery during 2nd semester must have completed 70% of the course in order to be eligible to attend the prom.

Reminders:

• Regular attendance is crucial for academic success. Please ensure your child attends school daily and informs the school in case of any unavoidable absences.

• Open lines of communication between parents and teachers greatly contribute to a student's success. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher with any concerns or questions. I encourage you to monitor your child's grades via Parent Portal. If you do not have access to Parent Portal, please contact Stacy Davis - Data Manager.

Sincerely,

Jacob Lail

Principal

#BLUECOLLARGOLDSTANDARDS

Digital Citizenship - ACS Monthly Parent Newsletter

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Important Reminders

• PowerSchool Parent Portal-  If you do not already have access, please contact Stacy Davis in the main office. She can provide you with information on how to sign up for access. Parent Portal is the primary means of monitoring your child's attendance and grades.

• Academic Calendar- Click here for the 2023-2024 Alexander County Schools Academic Calendar.

• Progress Reports-  Progress reports will be sent home with students on the following dates:

  • •   1/30, 2/20, 3/12, 4/16, 5/7

• High School Attendance Policy-  Students missing (9) or more days in a semester-long class will not receive credit for the course unless the student makes a 70 or higher on the EOC, CTE State Assessment, and/or teacher-made exam and earns a passing grade (60) for the course.

• Exam Exemption- Students may earn the opportunity to be exempted from final exams each semester in classes NOT giving an EOC or CTE exam by meeting the following attendance requirements:

Final Grade # of absences (excused and unexcused) 

A 4 or less

B 3 or less

C 2 or less

Students will be marked absent if they are exempt from exams and choose to be absent from school for the exam.  If students do not want absences showing on their final transcripts, they must come for exams. Any student that is suspended Out-of-School is not eligible for exam exemption. Students cannot make up time to be eligible for exemption from any exam.  

• ACT (11th Graders)- For ALL 11th Graders on February 27th.

• Workkeys Testing (12th Graders- February 19 - March 15th. The WorkKeys is an ACT assessment which is administered to all North Carolina 12th grade CTE completers. Students who score platinum on the Workkeys will receive a free Prom ticket!

• Prom - Moretz Mill in Hickory on May 11th, 7:00-11:00 PM

• FFA Banquet- In the ACHS Cafeteria on Thursday, May 16th. Time TBD.

• Honors Graduation Ceremony- This ceremony will be held on May 19th at 3:00 PM in the auditorium.

• Scholarship Ceremony-  This ceremony will be held on May 24th at 8:30 AM in the auditorium 

• Awards Day- This event will be held on May 24th in the gymnasium. Time TBD

• Important Graduation Update- The class of 2024 Commencement Date is Friday, June 7th at 7:00 PM in the football stadium. Graduation practice is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Thursday, June 6th. Practice is required for all seniors planning to walk.