School Newsletter: April 24 - 28, 2023

Important Dates:

✔️April 24th-May 12th: K-3 RTA Testing

✔️April 28th: K-5 Field Day

     K-3: 8:15-11:30

     4-5: 12-2

**Regular arrival and dismissal procedures.

**Parents may attend and check their student from field day.

✔️May 4th-5th: 3rd MAP Testing

✔️May 15th, 16th, and 17th: K-2 Asynchronous Days (virtual)/ 3-8 EOG Testing (in person)

✔️May 19th: ARS 8th Grade Social hosted by ARS 8th Grade Parents

    Time: 7-9 PM

     Location: The Upper Room (Downtown Statesville)

     Cost: $15 due by 5/1/23 (Cash to MS Front Office or Venmo: @Andrea-Sain-1)

*Please contact Tai McMiller: [email protected] to sign up and volunteer!

✔️May 22nd-23rd: 4-8 MAP Testing

✔️May 22nd: 3rd RTA Testing

✔️May 24th: K-3 Closing Ceremony (see times below)

*Families are invited and students can be checked out early.

✔️May 25th: 4-8 Closing Ceremony (see times below)

*Families are invited and students can be checked out early.

✔️May 26th: Last Day 5K & Report Card Pickup (Soccer Complex)

*More information to come!

*This is a family event and students must be accompanied by an adult!

RAP Corner (Renaissance Association of Parents):

Uniform inventory is available for purchase anytime: https://www.arsnc.org/rap/

If you are interested in volunteering please contact RAP at [email protected]

New Attendance Form:

Please see email from Mrs. McMiller.

Please see the new attendance form under the parent resources tab of the school's website: https://www.arsnc.org/parents

Summer Camp Information:

Registration for Summer Care will open on MyPaymentsPlus on April 3rd

click here to see the camp offerings

Rising 4th Grader Camp

July 24-27

9:00-11:30 am

$100

Students will learn how to navigate life as a 4th grader while participating in STEM activities, engaging in critical thinking math problems, and dynamic reading discussions.

Registration Form Here

Pokemon Camp 

Kindergarten-6th $125

6/12/23-6/16/23 9:00am-12:00pm

 Pokémon Camp has science experiments, outdoor play, playing and learning of the game, math, art, and the development of their own Pokémon creations.  Register with Mrs. Odom   [email protected]

Sports and Fitness Camp 

Rising Kindergarten-rising 9th $125

6/5/23-6/9/23 9:00am-3:00pm

This will be our 17th year doing a Sports and Fitness Camp at ARS. We play a number of Sports and games ranging from Soccer to Bowling. This will also be our first year using our new gym! Please email Mr. Davis to reserve your spot soon. [email protected]. 

Custodians of ARS

Rising Kindergarten-Rising 8th $120

7/24/23-7/27/23 9:00am-2:00pm

Learning how to keep school clean and safe as well as pride in self.

Email Mr. Saunders to register [email protected] 

Book Bonanza

Rising 2nd and Rising 3rd $125

7/10/23-7/14/23 9:00am-12:00pm

The camp would be a mini-version of book club. No required reading ahead of time. Each day would have a theme such as "Berenstein Bears" Monday, "Arthur" Tuesday, etc...Students would enjoy activities centered around a set of books. Reserve your spot by emailing Mrs. Spicer   [email protected]

Board Game Bonanza

Rising 4th, Rising 5th, Rising 6th grade  $125

7/10/23-7/14/23 1:00pm-4:00pm

Students would have a large variety of board games to play with peers during camp. Campers would have the option to try different games during the time period and learn new games as well. Chess, Sorry, Guess Who, Racko, Monopoly Jr, Monopoly, Clue, Connect Four and others. Each day would start with a lesson on a specific game, then the rest of the time would be for students to pick games of their choice to play. It would also include a 30 minute outside break. Reserve your spot by emailing Mrs. Spicer   [email protected]

3-D Art Camp

Rising 5th and Rising 6th grade

$120 $20 non-refundable deposit for supplies

6/5/23-6/9/23 9:00am-12:00pm

Let's explore the many materials of Art with an emphasis on 3-D materials, including sewing and fabric, wood assembly, and clay. 

Reserve your spot by emailing Ms. Ingersoll. [email protected]

Let's Paint a Mural

Rising 7th and Rising 8th 

$120 $20 non-refundable deposit for supplies.

6/12/23-6/16/23 9:00am-12:00pm

Campers will learn how to design and paint a mural for ARS.  Reserve your spot by emailing Ms. Ingersoll. [email protected]

Kindergarten Camp 

Rising Kindergarten

7/24/23-7/27/23  $100

Get ready for Kindergarten with a fun filled week with Pete the Cat! 

Email Mrs. Oliphant to reserve your spot!  [email protected]

ARS Read to Achieve Camp **by invite only

Rising 2nd-4th Free

6/5/23-6/22/23 (RTA Test for 3rd only 6/23/23) 8:00 am-2:00 pm

Invited students will continue to work on their reading skills and third graders will get to retake the RTA test. The invitation to this camp is based on the criteria laid out by NC Read to Achieve Law. 

Families will get more information in mid-May.

Red Ticket Winners:

Thank you to all our students who are following our 

Core Values of ARS IS EVERY day!

A for Academic Excellence,

R for Respect,

S for Safety,

I for Integrity,

S for Support.

Academic Excellence: Do your best 100% of the time.

Respect: Respect yourself, peers, staff, school, and community.

Safety: Keep yourself and others physically and emotionally safe.

Integrity: Do the right thing, even when no one is looking.

Support: Find ways to help support your peers, school, and the local community.

Congratulations to our Red Ticket Winners:

Maximus Castillo, Titus Childress, BB Gordon, Eli Lackey, Caliana Benitez, Weston Yonce, Daniella Fernandez, Noah Sitnic, Noah Sharpe, Noel Torres, Judah Cox, Rylee MacDougall, Aubree Sims, Calyce Smith, Michael Hartman, Brennon McMiller, Lily Bafford, Solomon Jimenez, Willy Murdock, Ethan Filip, Ryder Smith, Cruz Chick, David Discua, Londyn Young, Noah Parrish, Brennan Smith, Kendrah Levy, Mason Mills, Kendall Scott, Keilah Webb, Kaleigh White, Cilicia Miller, Liam Nobinger

Intermediate School Needs:

*Kleenex

*Clorox Wipes

*Pencils

*Hand Sanitizer

Backpack Program Needs:

We are in need of the following items as we look to provide food to students through the end of the school year.

-Oatmeal/ Grits packets

-Juice Boxes

-Individual Chips

-Fruit Snacks

-Applesauce

-Individual Snacks

-Individual Cereals

-Granola Bars

-Mini Water Bottles

Great Summer Opportunities:

Green Room Community Theatre

Green Room Community Theatre

FREE Summer Reading Opportunity:

Team up with Head Coach and Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Mitchell for READCamp 2023.

Follow on social media at @readwithmalcolm for special READCamp bonus activities and live events with Malcolm. Follow the steps below to register.

Step 1: Visit the Official READCamp Website.

Step 2: Choose “SIGN UP”.

Step 3: Complete your Registration. Select “Educator,” “Parent/Guardian” or “Other.”

Step 4: Arrive at your READCamp Account Page. Review your Welcome Email.

Step 5: Select “Add a Student” from the Top Right Menu Grid.

Step 6: Assign your child their username and password.

Step 7: Review the READCamp Resources Section for additional tools and activities.

Step 8: Your kids log their books in the online Playbook or on the printed book logs provided.

Step 9: When your kids log 8 books, they automatically receive a personalized. certificate as a READCamp

Champion. If they complete 12 books, they get an MVP Certificate.

Final Step: Have a SUPER SUMMER with READCamp.

Who's Who:

Mr. Jim Duffey: Executive Director K-8

Mrs. Danielle Cusick: Elementary School Principal K-3

Ms. Amanda DiGangi: Assistant Principal & Curriculum Director K-8

Mrs. Tai McMiller: School Counselor K-8

Dr. Maria Rector: Exceptional Children Director K-8

Mrs. Sandy Durham: Administrative Associate ES 

Mrs. Brianna Massey: Administrative Associate MS

Mrs. Emily Greene:Administrative Associate IS

Mrs. Anita Waugh: Administrative Associate/HR K-8

Mrs. Kathy Shipman: Student Data Manager

Mrs. Kelli Houston: School Nurse

Mr. Doug Griffith: Technology Director K-8

Ms. Tina Farewell: Before and After School Director  K-8

Mr. Dereck Baker: Athletic Director grades 6-8

RAP (parent volunteer organization): [email protected]

Our Mission:

Our mission is to ensure a standard of academic excellence by providing a nurturing environment that allows each child to reach their fullest potential as students and citizens.

Learn more about ARS here.