Welcome Back, ACS Families! 🦁💛

We are so excited to welcome our ACS students back for another wonderful school year! We hope everyone has enjoyed a fun and restful summer. Our staff has been working hard to prepare for a year filled with learning, growth, connection, and plenty of opportunities for our students to shine.

As we get ready for the first day, please take a few minutes to review the important arrival and dismissal information below.

📅 First Day of School — Thursday, September 3

Students may begin entering the building at 8:35 a.m., with classes beginning at 8:45 a.m.
Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4 are single-session days.

• Students in Pre-K and Kindergarten will be dismissed at 12:45 p.m.
• Students in Grades 1–4 will be dismissed at 12:50 p.m.
• Lunch will not be served on these days.
• Pick-up will take place at the same location as your child's drop-off/entrance.

🇺🇸 Labor Day Reminder

There is no school on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

Our first full day of school will be Tuesday, September 8, when we will begin our regular school-day schedule.

Beginning Tuesday, September 8, our regular dismissal schedule will be:

• Pre-K & Kindergarten: 2:40 p.m.
• Grades 1–4: 2:45 p.m.

🚗 Morning Drop-Off

Our morning drop-off process is STOP, DROP, AND GO. Please remain in your vehicle and allow your child to exit safely from the passenger-side door onto the sidewalk. Students should then proceed directly to their designated entrance.

Children should never exit a vehicle onto the street or walk between vehicles. This creates a serious safety concern.

Please also remember that vehicles should not be parked or left unattended around the school during arrival or dismissal. This helps keep traffic moving safely and ensures that emergency vehicles can access Highland Street and Crescent Avenue if needed.

📍 Drop-Off Locations

• Pre-K — Mrs. Pano/Mrs. Sailer & Mrs. DaSilva: Fort Lee Road
• Pre-K — Mrs. Fahey & Mrs. Louca: Playground
• Kindergarten: Highland Street, near the flag pole
• Mrs. Zagen/Mrs. Adermach & Mrs. Vardoulakis: Highland Street, near the flag pole
• Mrs. Marrone & Mrs. Doherty: Fort Lee Road
• 2nd Grade: Highland Street doors, near the corner of Crescent & Highland
• 3rd Grade: Broad Avenue doors
• 4th Grade: Crescent Avenue doors

🚶 Dismissal & Pick-Up

Students will be dismissed from the same doors through which they entered the building.
If you are picking up children from multiple grade levels, please let your children's teachers know. Your children will be brought to the café, where they can be released to you through the café doors.

If your child has a specific need that requires your vehicle to access Highland Street at dismissal, please contact the ACS Main Office so we can make appropriate arrangements.

Please note: Crescent Avenue is closed to all traffic between 2:30–3:00 p.m. The only vehicles permitted to enter Crescent Avenue during this time are residents of Crescent Avenue and Highland Street.

🚌 After-School Programs

If your child will be attending an outside after-school program, we will be sending out a form for families to complete, sharing the details of the program during the first week of school. 

🏠 Walking Home

Families of students in Grades 3 and 4 who would like to give their child permission to walk home independently can complete the appropriate form, which is available in Genesis.

Thank you in advance for helping us make arrival and dismissal safe, smooth, and efficient for everyone. We know that the first few days may take a little extra time as everyone gets into a routine, and we truly appreciate your patience and cooperation.

We can't wait to see our students back at ACS! ❤️

Here's to a fantastic school year!

Magdalen Neyra
Principal, Anna C. Scott Elementary