Dear AO Families,
Welcome back to the 2023-2024 school year! Each new school year brings feelings of excitement and anticipation and we are thrilled to be welcoming everyone back this year! For children and families that are new to AO, we welcome you! For those returning, welcome back! We hope that you will find the following information helpful. We are looking forward to a great year!
School-wide Theme
This year, we will be celebrating the theme of Kindness.
UPDATED INFORMATION: Open House
We will be having Open House for Kindergarten - 5th Grade on Tuesday, September 12 from 4-6 pm. Please plan to park in the back parking lot and enter through the gym and primary entrance doors.
We are very excited to be able to meet our students and families. It is going to be a great school year.
Teacher Assignments:
Make sure that you know your login information to PowerSchool. You will need this to log in throughout the year to check on your child’s academic progress. PowerSchool is also where you will view who your child’s teacher will be for this school year. If you need help, please call the school.
First Day of School
First Day of School and School Hours for Students: The first day of school for all 1st-5th graders is Monday, September 11. If you have a kinder student, please remember they are on a staggered entry schedule for Monday and Tuesday. Student hours are 7:50 A.M. to 2:35 P.M. School doors open at 7:20 A.M. Parents should not drop off students before 7:20 A.M. as there is no supervision for students unless their child is registered in AO Club.
Breakfast and Lunch
If you would like your child to purchase meals at school, you will either need to put money on their online account, or you will need to secure a free/reduced lunch status by filling out the required forms. There is a link to online accounts on our AO webpage. We are encouraging all families to complete an online lunch application for this school year. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households must complete the application which is on our website. It is also listed here. https://www.lunchapplication.com/ You must fill this out each year. If you have any questions, please reach out to our front office.
Bus Transportation: If your child is eligible for bus transportation, your child’s bus number, bus stop location, and time of AM and PM stops will be available at Meet the Teacher. Note that the bus stop times may need to be adjusted by the Transportation Department in the first few weeks of school or throughout the school year due to updates and route changes. Thank you, in advance, for your patience and flexibility. If you have questions or need to change your child’s transportation, school staff will be available during Meet the Teacher, or you can contact us at 336-538-6030.
First Week of School
Parents will be able to walk their child to class if they choose to during the first week of school during the times of 7:30 - 7:50 AM. Parents will need to park in the Fairview United Methodist Church parking lot. Parents and students will meet a staff member at the corner of the parking lot and be escorted across and enter the building using the gym door. Parents will need to sign in and wear a visitor's sticker. To begin our instructional day, parents will need to exit the building at 7:50 when the tardy bell rings. Beginning Monday, September 18, all 1st - 5th Grade students will need to walk themselves to class. There will be staff in the hallways to help direct them. Beginning Monday, September 25, all Kindergarten students will need to walk themselves to class. There will be staff in the hallways to help direct them.
Arrival and Dismissal
A.M. - Both the Walker line and Car rider line will begin at 7:20 and close promptly at 7:45. Walkers will park in the parking lot of Fairview United Methodist Church. Students will meet a staff member at the corner of the parking lot and be escorted across. This is the same procedure as last year.
Car riders are to be dropped off at the gym doors on the ballfield side of the school building. Please make sure your child is prepared to exit the car. Our staff stops unloading car riders using the gym doors at 7:45 AM. If the gym doors are closed, you must park in the front of the school parking area and walk your child to the front office. If the 7:50 AM tardy bell has rung, then parents will need to sign in their child before they can go to class.
Dismissal - Buses and car riders are dismissed beginning at 2:35.
Walkers - Parents will need to sign up to utilize the walker plan. Even if you signed up last year, you will need to sign up again for this school year. The signup link is located on our school website. This is a requirement to use this option. Parents will park in the Fairview United Methodist Church parking lot and make a line at the corner. Please do not cross until a staff member motions that you are allowed to cross over. This is the same procedure as last year.
Car riders are to be picked up at the gym doors on the ballfield side of the school building. All cars will need to display their AO-issued car tag to pick up your child using the car rider line. If you do not have your car tag, you will be asked to pull around to the front and come inside the office where we will be happy to help you. This is to ensure the safety of our students.
Note: All families will receive one free AO car tag at Meet the Teacher. You may request one additional free car tag using the link on our website. If you need more than these two free car tags, they are available for purchase at $2.25 per car tag. All you need to do is fill out the link on our website.
Students remaining after 3:00 will be brought to the office for parents to come in and sign their child out. Also, remember that students who need to be picked up early from school for appointments must be checked out of the office before 2:00 pm to avoid safety concerns during dismissal.
Other Information
Standards-based Grading: Beginning this school year, AO will formally switch to Standards Based Grading. As a reminder, we no longer give averaged ABC letter grades on a quarterly basis. Instead, we look at students’ mastery of individual skills and standards throughout the school year. Please contact your child's teacher or administration if you have any questions about this feedback system. Also, please be sure you have set up your child’s Parent Portal account and check it regularly so that you can keep track of your child’s learning journey and mastery progress. If you need assistance setting up your child’s Parent Portal account, please contact our front office for assistance.
Class Dojo: This year, we will be using Class Dojo for communication. All families need to connect to Class Dojo to receive important notifications and information. You will also be able to communicate directly with your child’s teacher. While this is a great communication tool, please understand that our teachers are busy during the school day teaching students and meeting during their planning period, therefore teachers will not be able to respond immediately to questions via the app. Any transportation changes will still need to be communicated via a note in the morning or a phone call to the office by 12 pm.
See you soon!
Mrs. Millspaugh, Principal