Please remember our Fall Festival is this Saturday! I know a lot of us have athletic games, etc. to attend; however, if you can stop by, please do!
Our web site is in the process of being updated with some improvements. For example, the teacher web pages have been updated and a Teacher Wish list has been added. The Teacher Wish list is a link to a page that teachers will update with items they need and would like to have donated. A School Survival Items link has also been added to the chalkboard. This link will show items that our school always needs like plates, utensils, dry erase markers, etc. throughout our school year. Please look for this link on the home page of our web site and remember that donated items are tax-deductible.
Our Governing Board will be sending home a very important letter soon. Please look for this letter toward the end of this week or the beginning of next week, as it has important information about your student’s safety!

to turn in your Box Tops to Boxtop Birdie in our school hallway. You can turn in the Tyson Labels to Boxtop Birdie as well; we get 24 cents per Tyson label!! We also have a Campbell’s box on the Volunteer table for the Campbell’s Labels. Thank you for helping!

to nominate a teacher at ACS that has demonstrated superior ability to foster excellence in your student(s), please stop by our front office to pick up a nomination form. The last day to accept nomination forms is tomorrow, Friday, October 28th.

Dates to remember:

• Friday, October 28- Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Saturday, October 29- Fall Carnival, 11:00- 3:00; Please note the time change!
• Monday, October 31-
• Friday, November 4- Teacher In-service Day- No students
• Friday, November 11- Teacher In-service Day- No students
• Monday, November 14- Governing Board Meeting, 6:00
• Tuesday, November 22- Dress Down Day
• Wednesday, November 23- Teacher Comp Day for Parent/Teacher Conferences- School Closed
• Thursday, November 24- Friday, November 25- Thanksgiving Break- School Closed

Have a great weekend!

Kindra Whitmyre-Nelson
Dean of Academy Charter School
email: nelsonk@academycharter.org
web: http://www.academycharter.org/deannelson

We have had a big week of volunteering around ACS! Thanks for starting right back again volunteering after Fall Break. I hope everyone is planning to attend the Fall Festival on Saturday. A lot of folks have spent a great deal of time and effort preparing a wonderful time for you and your students!

I have received a very good response on my request for Vision and Hearing volunteers. I still could use a few more volunteers…..the screenings are on November 17th and November 18th. I need more volunteers for November 17th. I have two shifts each day—they are 8:30 to 11:30 and 12:15-3:30. At the beginning of each shift, there will be a brief training period. Please let me know if and when you can help with these screenings.

A big thank you to Brenda Knight for getting the volunteer bulletin board set up. By the end of next week, you should start seeing pictures of some of our wonderful volunteers. I would also like to thank Lisa Douglas for preparing a mailing for the office this week. Mauri Mays has been doing a great job helping me keep track of volunteer hours this year—thanks, Mauri.

If you are the parent of an 8th grade student and would like to be involved in the graduation committee this year, please let me know as Mrs. Nelson is going to schedule a meeting soon to start planning for this event.

Thanks for continuing to “Make a Difference” at ACS!

Anne Belfrage
Volunteer Coordinator
belfragea@academycharter.org

1. If your child did not get vaccinated at the ACS clinic, there are other options.
2. Call your pediatrician or primary care physician ASAP to see if they have children's doses available.
3. Go on www.immunizecolorado.com and look up a clinic nearest you.
4. Go to Larkspur Fire station #161 (9414 Spruce Mt. Rd. Castle Rock 303-681-3284) this Saturday from 9:30-12:00 pm. They will vaccinate children 4 years and older without a prescription. Pneumonia vaccinations are also available for ages 18 and older.
5. If the above options do not work, the flu clinic company we worked with said hat they will try to save us some children's doses. Contact Jaynee Hodgkins at JMHodgkins@msn.com to see if this can be arranged.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ACS PARENTS
REGARDING CARPOOL AND YOUR CHILDRENS’ SAFETY!

We need your help with carpool because your children’s safety is at risk. Dean Nelson has pointed out numerous times in her weekly newsletter column how not following the rules for carpool could potentially and dangerously impact the safety of our students.

Carpool procedures during arrival and dismissal at ACS are outlined on pages 12 and 13 in the yellow parent handbook that was given out during registration. As stated, “the carpool is operated by the school as a courtesy to parents.” Not following the correct guidelines during morning and afternoon carpool is putting our students at risk. Carpool could be eliminated altogether if we do not make a concerted effort to follow the rules.

Click here for the designated carpool route. Those parents choosing not to use carpool MUST park in the parking lot and walk their children in when dropping them off in the morning, and accompany them back to their car when picking them up after school.

Dropping your child off anywhere other than the carpool line is prohibited. We have had too many cases of children running across the parking lot, being narrowly missed by cars that are exiting the carpool line.

Please remember to keep your speed down and drive slowly throughout the entire parking lot, not just when you are near the school building.

Effective immediately, all parents participating in carpool must follow the prescribed route. When walking your children in during morning arrival or picking them up inside after school is out, you are requested to park your car and use the designated crosswalks. Cones will be placed to deter traffic from using the center lane in the parking lot closest to the school.

Working together and following the proper procedures, we can all make ACS and its parking lot a safe place for our students. Thank you for your cooperation!

ACS Governing Board

Christmas Wreath and Greens Sale

Our first fundraiser this year, selling wreaths and fresh evergreens from Sherwood Forest Farms, will hopefully provide a great start for the 8th graders going on the Washington, D.C. Trip this year and their fundraising efforts.

Order forms went out before Fall Break to give everyone a head start on their orders. We will also have a table set up in the school lobby during Parent/Teacher Conferences (October 27th & 28th) to take additional orders from school families.

All orders must be turned into the office by November 3rd. We will receive the wreaths and other items after Thanksgiving between November 29th and December 9th.

BARN CANDLES ARE BACK!!!

The 8th graders are selling candles for their Washington, D.C. Trip. We will be selling them thru November. Orders will be turned in before Thanksgiving and the candles will arrive before you go on Christmas Break. There are 60 varieties to choose from. They are triple scented and burn for 120 hours. The candles sell for $15 each. There is also a punched tin shade for $15 and a candleholder for $10. We have 27 different samples to check out before you order.

We will be selling candles along with the wreaths and evergreens during Parent/Teacher Conferences (October 27th & 28th). We will also have a table set up at the Fall Carnival.

If you have any questions, please call Cay Schweers, 303-660-5235

Thank you for your support!

Middle School Basketball Starting

There will be a parent meeting next Wednesday, November 2, from 6:00-6:45 PM in the cafeteria. All parents of girls or boys interested in playing basketball for ACS need to attend. We will be reviewing the parent/player handbook, answering any questions and meeting with the coaches.

The first day of practice for girls and boys basketball will be Monday, November 7. If your child did not play a fall sport, he/she will need to have a physical form signed by their doctor before being allowed to practice. All necessary forms will be available at the meeting on November 2, or can be picked up in the office. If you have questions, please contact Lisa Arnell, Arthletic Director, arnelll@academycharter.org.