Family Orientation will be held on Wednesday, September 2 to give all ACS families an opportunity to visit their children’s classrooms, meet their teachers, and become better acquainted with changes in student arrival and departure procedures and new health and safety protocols. A new video describing the many new health and safety measures will also be showing throughout the Orientation event, which will run from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Due to the need to practice safe social distancing, families have been put into smaller groups to arrive at the Family Orientation during a specific time-frame based on the first letter of their last name.

“This has been a challenging summer to put all of the new health and safety protocols in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, but we are anxious to share the days with our ACS family again,” said Upper School Principal Meg McHale in an August 26 email sent to parents with students in the 6th to 12th grades announcing the new Family Orientation event.

Elementary Principal Gail Alford sent a similar email on August 26 to parents of students in kindergarten to 5th grade. “In years past, we always had a New Family Orientation, but this year we felt that all families should be informed about the changes in drop off/pick up, expectations for your children in the classroom and during lunch, as well as other safety measures we are taking,” Alford said.

Remote Learning Students will be able to pick up their Chromebooks and textbooks during their scheduled time slot.

We encourage parents and students to view the video (posted below) to become more familiar with our new safety procedures for the upcoming school year. Featured in the video are Admissions Director Jessica Martin and several students — 9th grader Noah Gibbs, 6th grader Kiara Loo, 2nd grader Eric Macpherson, and 11th grader Haley Whedbee.

Following are the scheduled times for families to attend the Family Orientation, based on the first letter of their last name:

First letter of last name              Time of Orientation

A – B                                                 3:00pm – 3:40pm

C – E                                                 3:40pm – 4:20pm

F – H                                                4:20pm – 5:00pm

I – L                                                  5:00pm – 5:40pm

M – O                                               5:40pm – 6:20pm

P – S                                                 6:20pm – 7:00pm

T – Z                                                 7:00pm – 7:40pm

We will be following up the Family Orientation with information for the families who cannot attend the event as well as detailed pick-up and drop-off information, Extended Care changes, and information and general first day of school updates.  Please note that Extended Care will NOT be available until Thursday September 10th, please make arrangements to have your child picked up at dismissal at 12:30 p.m. Before care will be available beginning the first day of school on September 8th at 7 a.m.

Please continue to keep ACS faculty and staff in prayer as we move into the new school year teaching the students spiritually and academically so they are equipped and prepared to know, love and serve the Lord fully!  It is our joy to be able to spend this year ahead with you and your family.