Conway, SC – We have rounded the corner of Independence Day and are rapidly moving toward the start of the 2024-25 school year at Atlantic Collegiate Academy. While there is still plenty of time to enjoy the beach and other summer activities, here are a few items to be aware of in the coming weeks.
First, we will have a Parent Forum on July 16 at Beach Church. We'll gather in the church lobby at 5:30 p.m. If you know of anyone interested in potentially joining the Armada, this is a great opportunity to get information you will need. We have a few spots remaining in all four classes, but I expect we will be full in one or two grade levels before school starts.
The next big date on our schedule is July 29. That is the date when we expect to begin moving into our new school building on Bear Bluff Road. During the week of July 19 our phone lines may be down for a couple of days as we move from Beach Church to our new home. I plan to be back from a trip to Wisconsin next week and will get some updated photos and drone video to share with everyone.
When the calendar turns to August, things will really begin to pick up. Our faculty and staff will report August 1-2 to begin setting up their classrooms and preparing to welcome students to our new school. Teacher workdays will continue August 5-9.
The first date for students is August 7, which will be our onboarding day. Students will be able to come to campus to pick up their class schedules, tablets and parking passes. We will also have school t-shirts available for purchase. If you are a returning student who has outstanding fees to take care of, these fees will need to be paid before you will be able to pick up materials for the new year.
If you are a new student at ACA, you must present a copy of your immunization records prior to receiving your class schedule and other materials.
It is critically important that you pay attention to the scheduled times for you to come to the school.
- SENIORS (12th Grade) – 10-11 a.m.
- JUNIORS (11th Grade) – 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- SOPHOMORES (10th Grade) – 2-4 p.m.
- FRESHMEN (9th Grade) – 4-6 p.m.
Returning students will be happy to know that most of our teachers from last year are returning this fall, but we have also added to the returning group with some very talented new faculty members who I am sure you will be excited to get to know.
This group will be led by our first Dean of Academics at ACA, Jason Keller. Mr. Keller comes to ACA from Ten Oaks Middle School, so many of our students may already know him. He taught Social Studies at Ten Oaks and at the Horry County Virtual School. He will teach History in addition to his role as Dean of Academics and he will be a member of the football coaching staff.
Other new members of the faculty include Kelly Jones (DE Science), Falicya Crace (DE English), Sarah Eddy (Math/DE Science), Colleen Ryan (Science), Dan Beall (History), Shelbria Wiley (Special Education) and Shane Douglas (Guidance Counselor).
Our first day of school will be Monday, August 12, and that will be part of what we call "Fleet Week" when we begin the process of laying the foundation for our school culture, including our Armada Way A.N.C.H.O.R.
- Accountable to our own success
- Notable in our achievements in the classroom, on the field, and in the community
- Capable of overcoming the challenges we face
- Humble in our approach to problem solving and success
- Optimistic about our futures
- Respectful of others in all we do
That A.N.C.H.O.R guides us in everything we do and has helped us to develop a tremendous culture in just one year.
I have attached a copy of our 2024-25 Academic Calendar for you to have. The calendar is also available on our school website.
If you are planning to participate in Athletics this year, you will be receiving information from your coaches very soon, if you haven't already, regarding preseason workouts, practice and meetings. Members of the ACA football team have already been busy this summer, getting stronger and faster in preparation for our first season as a member of the South Carolina High School League.
Head Coach Antoine Rivens along with assistant coaches Santuan Stanley, Jordan Thomas and Terrance Butler have been busy with workouts, camps, speed training and conditioning all summer. There have been various camps for position groups all summer and that continues next week with the OL/DL groups and the skill position players in separate camps at Trinity Collegiate.
The Armada will begin official team practice in preparation for the season on August 2. The team will participate in scrimmages at Marlboro County High on August 10 and at Lakewood High on August 16. There will be a Preseason Kickoff Celebration on August 14 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel.
Our football season will officially get started on Friday, August 23, at Mountain View Prep, which is a new school opening this year in Spartanburg.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. I can't wait to see all of you soon!
Mike Lorenz
Principal
About Atlantic Collegiate Academy: Atlantic Collegiate Academy (ACA), located in Myrtle Beach, S.C., serves high school students in a safe, small and family-centered setting. Our students seek the opportunity and challenge of rigorous curriculum, high academic standards and elite athletics while also earning up to two years of college credit. ACA serves students in grades 9-12 using an honors curriculum in 9th and 10th grades with a dual enrollment curriculum in 11th and 12th grades.
Learn more about ACA by visiting our website at AtlanticCollegiate.Academy and by following us on social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
