Dear ACS Families,
It’s been another busy and exciting week at ACS! 🔥 In recognition of Fire Prevention Month, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Leonia Fire Department for a special fire safety assembly. Our children learned important lessons about fire prevention and staying safe, and we are grateful to the firefighters for taking the time to visit and share their knowledge with our school community!
Meanwhile, our campfires are officially up and running! These special gatherings are a wonderful way to bring our TRACK values to life as we practice kindness, cooperation, respect, and responsibility while building connections and creating memories together. We love seeing our children put these values into action in meaningful ways!
As we wrap up another wonderful week, we hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter and catching up on all the exciting learning experiences and special moments happening around ACS.
Wishing all of our ACS families a fantastic weekend filled with happiness, relaxation, and quality time together. We look forward to another great week ahead!
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We are excited to share a glimpse into the first two weeks of our new Gifted and Talented (G&T) program for our fourth-grade students! Our goal is to provide meaningful opportunities for students to stretch their thinking, solve problems, explore new ideas, and make connections between their learning and the world around them.
Each class begins with engaging critical-thinking activities where students can choose from games like Brain Builders, Rush Hour, the 24 Game, and Kanoodle, along with a variety of puzzles. These challenges encourage students to think strategically, try different approaches, and build persistence as they work toward solutions.
Students are also diving into project-based learning through real-world questions that encourage curiosity and investigation. Recently, they explored the question, “What choices make a seasonal product stand out from everything else on the menu?” Through coffee shop research, students shared their findings, identified patterns, and considered how presentation, creativity, and customer appeal influence the products businesses offer.
As our program continues to grow, we are focused on creating learning experiences that encourage students to go beyond finding the right answer. We want them to ask thoughtful questions, support their ideas with evidence, consider different perspectives, and reflect on their thinking. We are excited to see our fourth graders embracing these new challenges and look forward to sharing more highlights as they continue exploring, creating, and learning through our G&T program! 🌟
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From classroom learning to creative projects and everything in between, here’s a glimpse of what’s happening at ACS! |
It’s hard to imagine ACS without Mr. Steve! As he begins his retirement, we wanted to make sure he knew just how much he means to our school community. From our students who love seeing him each day to the staff and families who appreciate all he does, Mr. Steve has made a lasting impression on so many of us.
Our first graders prepared a special surprise for him, reciting a retirement poem they prepared just for Mr. Steve at the end of lunch. It was such a sweet moment and a wonderful reminder of the connections he has built with our children. We are going to miss seeing him around ACS, but we are so excited for him as he begins this next chapter. Enjoy every minute, Mr. Steve! You will always have a special place in our ACS family. ❤️
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In recognition of Fire Prevention Month, ACS welcomed the Leonia Fire Department for an exciting, hands-on fire safety assembly! 🚒 Students learned important strategies for staying safe in the event of a fire, how to recognize firefighters in their protective gear, and how these everyday heroes are there to help them. They even experienced a simulated fire scenario and had the opportunity to see and touch a real fire truck! 🔥
A huge thank you to the Leonia Fire Department for making these important safety lessons engaging, memorable, and fun for our students!
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Our Grade 1 and Grade 2 students explored what it means to show up for one another! Through stories and conversation, students reflected on how they can be helpers, show kindness, and live out our TRACK values each day. From small acts of kindness to being there when someone needs us, our students are learning that building a strong school community starts with each of us. We love seeing our TRACK values come to life through the everyday choices our students make! |
Staying safe and balanced in our digital lives starts in the classroom and continues at home! This fall, Mrs. Ryu and Mrs. Almeida partnered to deliver essential cyber safety and digital well-being lessons across our grade levels. Below, you will find key tips on establishing family rules, utilizing parental controls, and encouraging healthy online behavior. |
Important information, reminders, and procedures to help our ACS families stay informed. |
Did you know that recess is an important part of your child's learning and development? While it may look like a break from the classroom, play provides valuable opportunities for children to grow socially, emotionally, physically, and academically.
Through outdoor play and time with friends, children practice cooperation, problem-solving, communication, conflict resolution, and self-regulation. Running, climbing, and exploring help build coordination and physical strength, while unstructured play encourages creativity, independence, and confidence.
Recess also gives children an opportunity to reset, release energy, and return to classroom learning feeling refreshed and ready to focus. From negotiating the rules of a game to including a classmate in play, some of the most meaningful learning happens beyond the classroom walls!
Looking to learn more? Explore these helpful resources for families:
At ACS, we know that learning happens everywhere, and recess is an important part of helping our students grow into healthy, confident, and well-rounded learners. Play matters! 💚
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The safety and security of our students and staff is always our top priority. To help us maintain a safe, welcoming, and secure school environment, we ask all visitors to follow our visitor procedures.
🪪 Visitor Procedures
All visitors must:
- Enter through the Main Entrance on Broad Avenue.
- Present a valid government-issued ID upon arrival
- Have their ID processed through our Raptor visitor management system.
- Receive a visitor pass and lanyard, which must be worn and visible at all times while in the building.
- Be escorted by a Leonia Public Schools staff member at all times.
- Exit through the Broad Avenue entrance when leaving the building.
🚨 Important Reminder
Visitors who refuse to provide valid identification will not be permitted to enter the building.
These procedures help us know who is in our building and allow us to maintain a safe environment for everyone.
Please note: These identification and visitor procedures do not apply to large parent and community events where alternative entry procedures may be communicated in advance.
Thank you for your partnership and for helping us keep ACS a safe and welcoming place for all! 💙
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As we begin a new school year, we want to remind families about our expectations for personal internet-enabled devices during the school day.
In alignment with state law and the district’s “Off and Away” policy, students are expected to keep personal internet-enabled devices off or silenced and stored out of sight throughout the school day.
What does this include?
- 📱 Smartphones
- ⌚ Smartwatches
- 🎧 Earbuds
- 💻 Tablets and other internet-enabled personal devices
When does this apply?
The expectation is in place from the time students arrive at school through dismissal at 2:45 PM.
What about technology for learning?
When technology is needed for instruction, students will use district-issued devices. This allows technology to enhance learning while helping us create classrooms where students can remain focused, engaged, and connected with their teachers and classmates.
We ask families to take a few minutes to review these expectations with your child. Starting the year with a shared understanding helps us create a positive, focused, and respectful learning environment for everyone.
📄 For complete details, please review:
Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us make ACS a place where students can learn, grow, and be fully present each day!
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Regular attendance is an important part of your child’s success at school. Every day of learning matters! Being in school consistently gives students the opportunity to participate in classroom lessons, build relationships, practice communication and critical-thinking skills, and stay on track academically.
We understand that there are times when a child needs to be absent. We encourage families to monitor attendance and be mindful of how missed school days may impact learning. Research shows that missing more than 10% of the school year (approximately 18 days) can have a lasting impact on a student’s academic progress.
📝 A Few Important Attendance Reminders
All absences are recorded. Whether an absence is excused or unexcused, if your child is not in school, the absence will be reflected in their attendance record. Attendance is a legal record of whether or not your child is present in our care.
When your child is absent, please communicate the reason for the absence. This information helps us understand your child’s attendance history and determine whether additional support may be needed.
📞 How to Report an Absence
If your child will be absent, please notify the school and provide:
- Your child’s name
- Teacher’s name
- Reason for the absence
You may report an absence in any of these ways:
The school will make a reasonable attempt to contact a parent/guardian regarding all student absences, including one-day absences. If you have already notified the school, an additional call is not necessary.
⏰ Late Arrivals & Early Dismissals
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Arriving after 8:45 a.m.: Students must report to the Main Office upon arrival.
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Early dismissal: A parent/guardian must come to the Main Office to sign the student out.
💙 Working Together
Our goal is to partner with families to support consistent attendance and student success. If your child begins to experience frequent absences, tardiness, or early departures, the school may reach out to discuss attendance and determine whether additional support is needed.
Thank you for helping us make every school day count! Your partnership makes a difference in your child’s learning and success at ACS.
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For details on class schedules, teacher wishlists, the online store, gift cards for your child to purchase books easily, and more, go to www.acshsa.org/2026fallbookfair.
The book fair is open for family shopping on Wednesday (10/21) from 6-7pm; and don’t miss out on Storytime and Donuts. Register here to help us ensure we have enough donuts to share!
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Carry all your book fair treasures in your very own ACS tote bag. Put all your favorite books inside! |
This is a special chance to get beautiful family portraits while supporting ACS – just in time for holiday cards and year-end memories! Book your family photo session here. There’s a limited number of sessions remaining! |
Keep in Touch with our HSA!
* Click here to learn how to get ParentSquare messages in the language of your choice * Click here to support our school and donate to the ACS HSA
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Here’s what’s happening next at Anna C. Scott! |
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281 Broad Ave.
Leonia, NJ 07605
Phone: (201) 302-5200
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