E.M. Holt Back to School Reminders
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year at E.M. Holt Elementary. We would also like to extend a special welcome to all of our new Wildcats and families joining us from Alexander Wilson this school year.
It is hard to believe that in a few weeks we will begin the 2026-2027 school year. For nearly 99 years, E.M. Holt has maintained a rich tradition of community support, family involvement, and high academic standards, and we are excited about the upcoming school year. We invite you to join us in making this year a huge success for your children.
Upcoming Dates
1st-5th Meet the Teacher Night: Thursday, August 20th, from 5-7 p.m.
First Day of School (1st-5th Grade): Monday, August 24th.
Kindergarten Staggered Entry: Students will attend on their assigned day.
Kindergarten Meet the Teacher Night: Wednesday, August 26th, from 5-6 p.m.
Class Rosters
Our class rosters are now finalized. You can view your child’s teacher assignment in Infinite Campus starting Monday, August 10th, provided your child's registration is complete. Please ensure all 2026-2027 school forms are submitted in the portal to confirm we have your current contact information and permissions on file.
Infinite Campus & Back to School Forms
It is essential to complete all Back to School forms accurately in Infinite Campus to provide us with critical medical and emergency contact info. Please ensure your contact details are updated daily to receive important school calls, emails, and texts. More information is available on our website: https://www.abss.k12.nc.us/page/infinite-campus
Supply Lists
Our supply lists have been updated for the 2026-2027 school year. Click here to access the updated supply lists for each grade level.
Bus Information
Bus route information for the 2026-2027 school year will be shared at our Meet the Teacher Night on August 20th. ABSS is also introducing the “Here Comes the Bus” app, which allows you to track your student's bus and receive alerts about delays or estimated arrival times. You can download the free app from the Google or Apple app stores. For setup instructions, please visit our Back to School webpage at https://www.abss.k12.nc.us/o/abss/page/back-to-school or review this informational flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AdX-Rh9hm2k2JTJ5mW-qSUP4jiN9Ot4U/view?usp=sharing
Student Change of Transportation
Need to request a transportation change for your child? Please complete our online form before 2:00 p.m. to ensure we can notify your student before dismissal. You can access the form here.
Car Riders & Traffic Pattern
Please review this video for an overview of our car rider traffic pattern.
Car rider tags are required for afternoon pickup; please ensure yours is clearly displayed. You can pick up tags for 1st–5th grade students at Meet the Teacher on August 20th. Kindergarten tags will be available during your child’s assigned staggered entry day.
Arrival Procedures
Before School Care: The program opens at 6:30 a.m., with students moving to classrooms or breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Please keep the left lane clear before 7:20 a.m. for morning care families.
General Arrival: Students not enrolled in the morning program should arrive after 7:20 a.m. to wait in the designated "pit" area. Double-lane traffic and staff-assisted unloading begin at 7:20 a.m. Please ensure all students are in their classrooms by 7:50 a.m.
Car Rider Guidelines: For a safe and efficient drop-off, please have your child ready with their backpack before pulling up to the cone. For safety, students must unload from the passenger side only. Do not pass other vehicles in the unloading line, and drive carefully through the parking lot.
OpenGate Weapons Detection System
The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. Beginning this school year, all elementary schools in ABSS will be participating in a program using the OpenGate® Weapons Detection System. As students arrive each morning, they will walk through the OpenGate system before entering the school building. All visitors will also be required to walk through the OpenGate system before entering the building. Screening stations will be located at our main entrance and student entrance, and all students and visitors will enter the building through one of these locations.
To help make arrival as smooth as possible, we ask that you take a few minutes to clean out your child's backpack each day. Please remove any unnecessary items. Before walking through the OpenGate system, students will also be asked to take the following items out of their backpacks:
Laptops
Tablets
Three-ring binders
Metal spiral notebooks
Metal lunchboxes
Umbrellas
Eyeglass cases
Our staff will be available each morning to guide and assist students through the process. For additional information regarding the OpenGate Weapons Detection system, please visit the ABSS website: https://www.abss.k12.nc.us/o/abss/page/weapons-detection
Dismissal Procedures
Traffic Patterns: Traffic entering before 2:00 p.m. should stay in the right lane to allow for through traffic on the left. Starting at 2:00 p.m., traffic may use double lanes.
Dismissal Time: Students are dismissed at 2:35 p.m.
Car Rider Tags: Please ensure your car rider tag is clearly displayed. If you need a new tag, please notify our staff.
Pick-up Safety: For safety and efficiency, if your student is not ready or if you need to assist with buckling, please pull forward to the designated crosswalk area. Please follow all traffic arrows and staff directions while in the parking lot.
Explorer Before and Afterschool Updates
If you need to enroll your child in the Explorer Before and Afterschool Care program, click here to find more information. ABSS is currently using a new payment system for the Explorer Before and Afterschool care. If your child is new to our school or the Explorer program, payment options will become available the week before school starts.
Breakfast and Lunch Information
Payments: Pay online at https://www.k12paymentcenter.com/
Menus: View the breakfast and lunch menu at https://abss.nutrislice.com/menu/em-holt-elementary
Free and Reduced Lunch: We encourage all families to complete the free and reduced lunch application. Even if your child qualified in the past, you must complete the form each year. You can complete the application online at https://www.lunchapplication.com/
We thank everyone for helping to make it a great start to the school year!