Conway, SC -  I hope everyone had a great weekend and stayed warm in this cold weather. It brings me back to the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, where I am from.  

Second, I want to express my thanks to everyone who has reached out to me with well wishes and words of love and support since the announcement on Friday about me leaving ACA at the end of this school year. I have told people for two years how special this place is and your support has just reinforced that belief. 

And, it is not just me who sees how special ACA is. Just last week one of the food truck vendors came to me to talk about how great it is for him to bring his truck to our school. 

"Your students are so respectful and kind," he said. "We take our food trucks all over and people are so rude and disrespectful, but we love coming to ACA because everyone is so respectful." 

I was so proud of our students and school! This is what makes ACA different! A school where students, staff and parents respect each other and lift each other up.

December Student of the Month: Lily Edwards

Ms. Jones talked about how amazing Lily is as a student. 

"She is always on task and focused in class. She very rarely needs help on her assignments, but when she does she asks clarifying questions. She also helps other students when they do not understand."

December Citizen of the Month: Kyleigh Dale 

Mr. Lefke made the nomination with a story about her community service efforts.

"She is always looking to help with chores and projects around ACA. She has earned a bunch of community service hours so far this year with recycling, watering plants, planting bushes and more."

Overall, she has earned 15 hours of community service credit in just four months this year.

PowerSchool Parent Portal

If you have not set up a parent portal account in PowerSchool, please contact Cathy Koontz at ckoontz@acaarmada.org. She will email you instructions specific to your child's PowerSchool account. Having this account lets you view your student's current grades and attendance, as well as having access to your student's teachers' email addresses.

Important Dates

Due to Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday, we will not have school on Monday, January 20. Monday is also Inauguration day with the swearing in ceremony scheduled for Noon. This is a great time for families to spend time together to talk about how our Republic operates and listen to the speeches to learn who our new President has planned in the coming weeks and months.

Also, Tuesday, January 21, is a flex day at ACA. This is a great opportunity for students to come to school and get caught up and receive tutoring help. Tutoring times are 10 to 11:30 a.m. and again from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Flex day students will get assignments on google classroom and if they do the work they will be marked present and if they don't do their assignments they will be marked absent.

Tutoring Opportunities 

I am happy to let you know we have hired a math tutor who will be available every Tuesday, Thursday and every other Friday starting this semester. Her first day is tomorrow. The tutoring will be available during 4th period, from 10:48 to 11:41 a.m., and 5th period, from 12:08 to 1:01 p.m. 

Teachers are available for tutoring once a week during their office hours. Each teacher's office hours are available on their syllabus. Also, all of your teachers are available for tutoring between sessions, from 11:41 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. each day. 

ACA Cell Phone Rules 

No cell phone use is permissible during class time. 

Cell Phone Policy

Classroom Expectations

• In order to provide the best learning environment to all students, cell phone usage is prohibited in the classroom.  Students will be expected to place phones in the designated location in the classroom as per their teacher.  Students that choose not to follow the expectations will receive a referral to administration.

ACA Guidelines With Cell Phone Use

• No cell phones or ear buds used during class time.
• Keep class time focused on academics and free from cell phone distractions.
• Parents do not text or call your child(ren) during class time.
• Use your academic session as a "break" from cell phone use and social media.
• Be part of the solution for a positive school environment.
• We are 1:1 technology with chromebooks.
• Our goal is to achieve this expectation with the least restrictive measures and/or consequences
• Cell phone violations will follow school disciplinary actions.

Reminder, ACA's rigorous curriculum, high expectations, and modified day require your complete focus and attention. We want to support our teachers and educational environment by eliminating distractions from cell phone use. We also want our student body to participate in face-to-face social interactions, crucial for the development of communication and interpersonal skills.

Thank you for your cooperation and adherence to school policy to ensure a safe environment.

2025-26 School Year 

If you have not paid the $130 fee to save your spot for next year, please do that ASAP. This locks your spot for next school year. We are filling up fast with new students and we will for certain have a waiting list very soon. If you don't pay for your spot, please do not be upset if you are put on the waiting list. 

Driving Reminder

Please make sure everyone is driving safely on school campus and on Bear Bluff Road.

We have had some close calls. If a student is driving recklessly on school grounds they could lose their parking permit. 

Parent Forums

This Friday we have a home basketball game and we will host a parent forum from 5:30 to 7 p.m. If you know anyone who is interested in ACA, this is a great opportunity to learn more about our school and get a tour of the facility. We plan to have a Parent Forum in conjunction with each home basketball game over the next few weeks.

Edmentum 

Please make sure you are completing your Edmentum classes by the due dates.  Edmentum is a virtual course curriculum platform representative of a true in-person class curriculum. All assignments need to be completed, just like an in-person course. Additionally, tests, unit activities, and course activities are summative assessments just like traditional tests, projects, and papers in an in-person course, and all must be completed. All assignments contribute to a students' overall grade.

Guidance Information

Juniors and Seniors

Please make sure you have at least two Dual Enrollment classes scheduled for the next semester. Please notify Dr. McKinley asap if you do not. 

Mrs. Douglas will be auditing senior graduation requirements. If you are concerned about your classes, please reach out ASAP. 

Testing Information

• The ACT is offered at ACA on February 28, 2025, (Flex Day) at no cost. Visit act.org for a free practice test!
• The SAT is offered at ACA on March 21, 2025, (Flex Day) at no cost. Visit collegeboard.org or khanacademy for free SAT test prep. 
• We are working to provide our own test prep soon at ACA! 

Dual Enrollment Information

College is now in session! 

Every student must have an appointment to visit with Dr. McKinley moving forward. Be sure to complete the form on the QR code to expedite the process. No visits on Mondays and Fridays. Please send emails on Mondays and Fridays and they will be answered as soon as possible.

Attendance Quiz 

Each DE class has an Attendance Quiz that must be completed by Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. If not completed by the due date, students will be dropped from the class.

Drop/Add

The last day to drop a college class without penalty is Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.

Colleges are closed on Monday, January 20,  in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

ACA has a Flex day scheduled for Jan. 21, and it is extremely important for all DE students to check in on their platforms: Blackboard and d2l for assignments.

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 10 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.