PK-6 Principal's News to Know

Hello ACS Elementary Students! 🍁

Hello!! This month is full of fun, learning, and new adventures. As we move through the season, let’s continue to show kindness, curiosity, and teamwork—remember, “Together We Lead: Our Road to Success.”

We can’t wait to see all the creativity, laughter, and growth that this month brings. 💙

— Mrs. Smith,

PK–6 Principal

• 11/14/25-Jr. Drama Production-Little Mermaid! @6:00 PM

• 11/15/25-Jr. Drama Production-Little Mermaid-2:00 PM

• 11/24/25- Half Day of School

• 11/25/25-Half Day of School

• 11/26/25-No School-Thanksgiving Break!

• 11/27/25- No School-Thanksgiving Break!

• 11/28/25-No School-Thanksgiving Break!

Grade Level Newsletters

September Newsletters

Counselor News-with Mrs. Harris!

🚸 A Note from the Security Office – Mr. Groves

As the weather starts to turn (who knows, maybe we’ll have a mild winter! 😉), it’s a good time to remind everyone about a few safety basics around campus.

• Crosswalk Safety: Please make sure we’re all using the designated crosswalk areas, especially as the days get darker and snow or rain can reduce visibility. Using the crosswalk helps drivers see pedestrians more easily and keeps everyone safer.

• Morning Drop-Off: Things have been going smoothly—thank you! Just a reminder to stay alert to pedestrian traffic and be patient during busy times. A few extra seconds of care make a big difference for everyone’s safety.

We’ll share another reminder as we get closer to spring, but for now, thank you for helping us keep our campus safe for all!our building safe and secure while getting to know students, staff, and families. Be sure to say hello if you see him around—he’s looking forward to becoming a familiar and friendly face in our school community!

Health Office

🩺 A Note from the Health Office

As we head into the cooler months, here’s a quick reminder about some health basics that make a big difference! 😉

• Hand hygiene: Encourage frequent hand washing to help stop the spread of germs.

• Healthy eating: Plenty of fruits and veggies help keep our immune systems strong.

• Hydration: Drinking enough water is key—pale yellow or clear urine is a good sign you’re well hydrated.

• Sleep: Aim for at least 7–8 hours each night for optimal rest and wellness.

When to Keep Kiddos at Home

We want every child to feel their best so they can do their best! If they’re genuinely ill, they simply can’t be at their best—especially if they’re spending a good part of the day in the bathroom with diarrhea. Nurse Smith always does her best to help students stay in school when possible, but sometimes rest and recovery at home are the best medicine for everyone.

Upcoming Dental Visits

Dental information papers came home this past Friday. We’re so lucky to partner with Mosaic Health and their traveling dental service! If you’d like your child to participate, please return the completed form with all required information. Students will be scheduled during the school day for their dental visit.

We do need at least 15 students to participate for Mosaic Health to join us. If we don’t reach that number, we’ll let families who signed up know right away.

Thanks for helping us keep our students healthy, happy, and ready to learn! 😄

🍎 What’s Cooking in the Cafeteria!

Free Breakfast and Lunch Program:

Our free breakfast and lunch program continues to be a wonderful way to start the day—helping students fill their bellies and fuel their minds for learning. A healthy breakfast sets the tone for better focus, energy, and success throughout the school day!

In October alone, we served an average of 151 breakfasts and 266 lunches each day. Thank you for joining us and making our meal program such a success!

We love seeing our students show kindness and care for one another through our sharing cart. Any unopened food is left on the cart for other students to enjoy. Our PK–12 students do a fantastic job of avoiding waste and being mindful about sharing what they don’t eat—way to go, kids! 👏

Our students also help compost their leftover fruits and veggies! The blue bucket in the cafeteria is where they place their extras, knowing that Mr. Kramer and his agriculture class will collect them to use in compost for the school’s raised beds in the spring. It’s a great way for students to see how their efforts help the environment and the garden! 🌱

Here’s a peek at what’s coming up on the menu:

• November: Buffalo Chicken Rice Dip with Tortilla Chips, plus our Fall Celebration Meal featuring BBQ Chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy.

• December: Crispy Drumsticks with creamy mashed potatoes—perfect for the cozy winter season!

Just a reminder that breakfast and lunch are free for all students each day. We offer many entrée choices, along with fresh fruits and vegetables daily.

We love serving our students delicious, nutritious meals that help fuel their learning! 😋

If you have questions, please contact Cathy Shutt at 607-295-7471 ext. 1143 (after 1:00 p.m.).

We’re excited to share that our Backpack Program is still welcoming families! This program provides weekend food support for students and families who could use a little extra help, making sure everyone has the fuel they need to thrive.

We currently have a few spots available and would love for all to be filled. Backpacks are sent home each week with food for the weekend and returned on Monday to be refilled. Typical items include peanut butter, canned soup, fruits and veggies, and boxed macaroni and cheese—all thoughtfully packed to help our students stay nourished and ready to learn.

If you’re interested in joining or would like more information, please reach out to Mrs. Coddington at 295-7471, ext. 1140. All inquiries are kept confidential, and we’re happy to welcome any family who could benefit from this support. Together, we make sure no student goes without!

Transportation Dept.

🚌 A Note from the Transportation Department

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve received a few calls about buses not stopping in the AM at certain homes or bus stops. Just a quick reminder that students need to be outside and ready when the bus arrives. If no student is visible, the bus will not stop—this is part of our district transportation policy.

For your convenience, we’ve attached the Parent/Student Transportation Handbook (Eng.)/Parent/Student Transportation Handbook (Span.).

Seat Belt Safety Reminder

You may be hearing news about school bus safety following the recent bus crash in Leander, Texas. While seat belts on school buses are not yet required, we are strongly encouraging students to use them whenever they are available.

In that accident, there were 42 passengers on board, but only 6 were wearing seat belts at the time of the rollover. It’s a powerful reminder of how important this simple step can be.

Please take a moment to encourage your child to wear their seat belt on the bus — and in any vehicle. A quick buckle can make a big difference in keeping everyone safe.

Blue Jay Reading!

Reading Challeng!

Reading Challenge Recap: We have wrapped up our October mystery picture reading challenge. Students enjoyed listening for clues to the mystery picture and reading to earn pieces of the picture over the course of the month.  We received 168 pumpkin papers each equaling 10 books or 10 chapters in a chapter book.  Thank you so much for encouraging such wonderful participation! Our picture even came to life on Halloween with Dog Man Smith making an appearance to each classroom!

December BJR Activity: Classrooms will be transforming the main hallway into a winter village! Each class will read a story and design a piece of the village based on the book they read. We are looking forward to seeing the books come to life!

Fundraiser Reminder: Thank you for registering for our yearlong School Store fundraiser! So far, we have raised $2,100 towards Blue Jay Reading challenges and events. This opens up possibilities for visits from well-known authors and exciting reading challenges in the future! Please continue to shop through your School Store link as you begin holiday shopping!

International Dinner-What a Tasty Success!!

🌎 Celebrating Cultures at ACS!

A huge thank you to our ACS families who made, donated, and served delicious foods from their cultures! Our recent event was a great success, and we so appreciate families coming out to enjoy the wonderful flavors and sense of community. Cultures represented included Hispanic, Lebanese, Brazilian, and French.

Guests were treated to Mexican favorites like tamales, tacos, and enchiladas; a variety of hearty soups, including a special Christmas soup and Lebanese squash and lentil soup; and a delicious selection of desserts, cinnamon hot chocolate, relaxing hot tea, exotic punch, and other treats. Fun activities included henna tattooing, cultural music, and the event wrapped up with a piñata for our youngest participants.

A special thanks to our high school students in the International Club, led by Tina Broderick, our High School Counselor, and Jaclyn Ford, our ELL teacher, for helping make this celebration possible.

It was a joyful celebration of culture, food, and togetherness—thank you to everyone who contributed!

After School Clubs!

📚 Did You Know?
We offer after-school academic support for students! 2:45-3:30, students relax, have a snack, and socialize. 3:30-5:00, students are assisted in completing hoemwork, by our talented staff.

Students can sign up in P4G and stay after school to enjoy a snack and homework help in a supportive environment. It’s a great way to get extra assistance, stay on track, and build confidence! If you have questions or want more information, please reach out to Mrs. Jenny Reynolds, at jreynolds@arkportcsd.org

✏️ Spelling Bee Time is Here!

Our 3–8 graders have been meeting with Mrs. Houy during lunch to learn all about the Spelling Bee—and she’s been nonstop!

So many 3–5 grade students even skipped social time in the cafeteria to grab their lunch and head to the library for details. The goal? To compete in our local spelling bee on Tuesday, February 10th, 5:30–8:00 PM—and maybe move on to the next level! Over 30 students in just 3rd-5th grade!!

Standing in front of classmates takes courage, and we are so proud of all our students being risk-takers and stepping up to the challenge.

Good luck to everyone! Stay tuned for more updates as the big day approaches!

Students in Mrs. Stearns’ class and Mr. Kramer’s Agriculture class are about to experience farming in a whole new way—without ever leaving ACS!

ACS was recently awarded a grant to explore the cycle of our food-"Farm to Table", and with the award, we purchased two hydroponic planters. Our Agriculture students in Mr. Kramer’s class assembled the planters—thank you, kiddos!—and then rolled them into the cafeteria so the whole building can watch the progress of our growing food. Right now, the planters are just cycling water, but seedlings will be going in soon-stay tuned!!

Mrs. Stearns’ and Mr. Kramer’s classes will grow fresh produce that will eventually be used in school lunches. What an amazing, hands-on learning experience for all our students!

Every day, our students show creativity, teamwork, and pride in their school. Whether they’re solving problems academically or socially, collaborating with classmates, or lending a hand by grabbing a broom to help clean up the cafeteria, they constantly impress us with their leadership and kindness. Students have also been enjoying new options once they finish lunch—playing cards, drawing, and coloring with friends.

This fall has brought so many reasons to smile. Our Ag in the Classroom visit gave students the chance to explore how incredibly versatile corn is—from food to fuel to textures and forms they could see and feel. Students in grades 3–8 also took an important step by signing the promise to stay drug free—demonstrating courage, commitment, and care for their futures.

We’ve also had some wonderful family moments. Our 4th-grade caregivers joined us for a fun pumpkin-carving activity, filling the cafeteria with creativity, laughter, and memories we know students will hold onto.

We continue to celebrate the little moments that make our school feel like home. Our Fall Fling parade filled the halls with amazing costumes, and our faculty and staff joined in the fun too. Students raced to reveal the mystery picture during our reading challenge, and many showed bravery and enthusiasm by signing up for this year’s spelling bee. In the cafeteria, our hydroponic garden is flourishing, giving students hands-on experience with growing their own food. And our International Dinner brought families together for an evening of shared dishes, shared cultures, and shared community.

How lucky we are to be here together.
We are Arkport!

💛 A Full Day of Sweet Moments at ACS

Last Friday, November 7th, was a busy, but incredibly rewarding! I started in PK during rest time, doing something I haven’t done in years—rubbing little backs to help them fall asleep. It was easily the sweetest half hour of my day.

Later, I got to see these kiddos again while subbing for Mrs. Wilson, who was escorting our older students to All-County Choir. Just when I thought the best part of my day was over, I enjoyed singing, dancing, and storytime with these cuties.

The day wrapped up with a bittersweet yet wonderful ending at the ACS National Honor Society Banquet, where current NHS members inducted this year’s new members. My last two children here at ACS had the honor of inducting their classmates—what a beautiful way to celebrate achievement, community, and friendship.

A little reminder to all PK/Kinder parents—time flies, parenting is hard, and these moments are precious. Enjoy it all!

Look at my little turkeys flapping and dancing-if this doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will!

It's a great day to be a Blue Jay!