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Back To School Information: 2019-2020

Back to School Information for the 2019-2020 School Year

We are excited to begin a new school year. The Anderson County staff and I would like to welcome everyone back for a great school year focused on our theme “Because I Said I Would,” which is about goal setting, commitment to the goals we set for ourselves and being our best self.  Every administrator has set a goal to help positively impact Anderson County students and school staff will be asked to do the same as we open the new year. They’ve completed (administrators) and will complete (teachers and staff) “Because I Said I Would” commitment cards and when goals are accomplished the cards are returned to show completion and “Promise Stories” may be shared.  We challenge and encourage our students and families to set a goal they want to accomplish during the school year as well. We’d love to hear about the goals and know when it is accomplished. When goals are set and commitments are made, they get accomplished. The administrative team, teacher leaders and I are excited to share this with our students, families and staff. Commitment goals can be shared on the school and district Facebook pages.  We’d love to hear about your goals and accomplishments throughout the school year.  

With the new school year comes a few new changes that we’d like everyone to be aware of in preparation, as we start school August 8.   The Anderson County Board of Education approved two qualifying schools for the federally funded CEP program. Saffell Street and Sparrow Early Childhood Center will participate and receive free breakfast and lunch for all students.  Adult meal prices will stay the same. Anderson County Food Service has two new web based options for students and families planned for the start of school. First, free-reduced meal applications will be able to be filled out on-line. Paper applications will still be provided as needed as well.  School menus will be accessible in an online application. Director Ronnie Fields is hopeful to get both operational by August 1st.  Please check Anderson County website for details and updated information on August 1st.    

The Anderson County Board of Education approved the 2019-2020 Student Code of Conduct to include edits from new legislative changes and state laws.  First, the Terroristic Threatening definition as defined in KRS 508:078, outlines such threats to our students and school staff as totally unacceptable, not to be tolerated and states that legal charges will be pursued for felony terroristic threatening in the second degree for anyone, including students, who make such threats.  The yearly copy of the Code of Conduct will be sent home the first day of school or be given at open house. It gives notification to students and families that felony threats are chargeable as well as the penalties of Class C and D felony violations. Secondly, the Tobacco, Alternative Nicotine or Vapor Products adherence to KRS 438 has been outlined.  It states that students shall not be permitted to use possess any tobacco product, alternative nicotine product or vapor product as defined in KRS 438.305 on or in all Board property at all times, including any vehicles owned or operated, leased or contracted for use by the Board or while attending or participating in any school related trip or student activity.  This includes parents, guardians, school employees and the general public as well. The discipline matrix for Disciplinary Options for Student Misbehavior has been updated to reflect both statute changes. The Code of Conduct is to be signed by students and parents or guardians. 

SB 1 has many school district and school level changes.  Director Ronnie Fields is the District Safety Coordinator as required of KRS.   District administration met July 11th and July 17th to finalize plans that will be immediately implemented and set a timeframe to implement the requirements that are mandated at later times.  Many of these statute requirements were already being implemented. Training requirements from KDE will be conducted when received. All school staff have been trained in Active Shooter training by Kentucky State Police as well as Stop the Bleed training by local Emergency Medical Staff.  

Transportation changes will be clarified in another article (Transportation Articlefor families to review prior to the start of school. Please contract Transportation Director Tim Gabbard or Director Travis Harley for questions.  The bus garage number is 839-2507.  

Reminder: Traffic is always backed up during the first day or two of school on each campus. Please be patient with our school staff as they work hard to load buses and car riders in a safe and timely manner. Your help is greatly appreciated in advance.  




Anderson County Schools

Back to School Information

2019-2020


Hours of Operation for each School

Sparrow Early Childhood Center:

  • 8:05-2:35—Instructional Day 

  • Doors open for car riders—7:30 AM 

  • AM Pre-school dismisses at 11:05 AM

  • PM Pre-school begins at 11:35 AM

  • Buses begin dismissing at 2:35 PM

  • Kindergarten car riders dismiss at 2:35 PM

  • Pre-school car riders dismiss at 2:35 PM

Parent Orientation: August 1st at 5:00pm

Open House: August 6 from 4:00 to 6:00pm


Emma B. Ward Elementary:

  • 8:00-3:05—Instructional Day

  • Doors open for car riders—7:25 AM using the rear entrance 

  • Car riders dismissed—3:05 PM

  • Before school child care—6:00 AM

  • After school child care—until 5:30 PM

Open House:  August 6th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm


Robert B. Turner Elementary:

  • 7:50-2:55—Instructional Day

  • Doors open for car riders—7:20 AM on the front side of the building (busses only in rear)

  • Car riders dismissed—2:55 PM

  • Before school child care—6:20 AM 

  • After school child care—until 5:45 PM

Open House:  August 6th 

K:  4:00 to 7:00 pm

1st& 2nd:  5:00 to 5:45 pm

Principal Welcome: 5:45 to 6:00pm

3rd, 4th & 5th grades:  6:00 to 7:00pm


Saffell Street Elementary:

  • 7:55-2:55—Instructional Day

  • Doors open for car riders—7:20 AM (Enter through Cafeteria doors on south side of building.)

  • Car riders dismissed-2:55 PM (All students will exit through the cafeteria doors

  • Before school child care- 6 AM 

  • After school child care- until 5:30 PM

Home Visits:  August 6th from 12:00 to 3:30pm

Open House: August 6th from 5:00 to 6:30 pm


Anderson County Middle School:

  • 7:50-2:55—Instructional Day

  • Doors open for car riders—7:15 AM (all grades drop off in the rear of the school)

  • Car riders dismissed—approximately 3 PM (6th and 7th grades pick up in the rear; 8th grade picks up in the front.)

  • No child care

Open House dates:  

6th Grade:  July 29 from 5:30 to 7:00pm

7th Grade:  July 31st from 5:30 to 6:30 pm

8th Grade:  August 1st from 5:30 to 6:30pm


Anderson County High School:

  • 8:00-3:10—Instructional Day
  • Doors open for car riders—7:20 AM.  (Drop off for ACHS will be in front of the 9th grade annex.
  • Car riders dismissed—3:10 PM

Freshman Orientation, T. I.P.S., BCTC Orientation, and First Day Fair is Monday, August 5th.  Parents are encouraged to attend to complete student verification form, buy parking passes, pay fees, submit free and reduced lunch forms and submit health forms.  

First Day Fair – 12:00 to 3:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 pm 

Freshman Orientation – 6:30 pm in Gym A

BCTC Orientation – 7:30 in Auditorium 


APEX Academy:

  • 8:00-3:05—Instructional Day

  • Doors open for car riders at the  Academy Entrance on the Southwest corner of the main building—7:20 AM

  • Dismissal for car riders at the same location—3:05

    Open House and Orientation – August 5th 6:00 to 8:00pm 

    Note: Apex Academy MAY be relocated to the ACHS Annex in Café B for the 2019-2020 school year due to renovations if necessary.  



Back to School Fest

The Annual Anderson County Schools Back to School Fest is scheduled at Anderson County Middle School on Thursday, July 25th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  


School Supply Lists

School staff works to minimize school supplies lists for students and families.  For convenience, school supply lists for grades K-8 are at our local Wal-Mart, on Facebook and School Websites. Students in grades 9-12 need paper and pencil on the first day. Those students will receive class supply lists in each class syllabus. (Note: The TI-84 calculator is used in all ACHS math classes and is allowed for use on the ACT test. This is a good tool for any high school student to have).

ACHS Website      ACHS Facebook: @ACBearcats

ACMS Website      ACMS Facebook: @acmsmustangs

Emma B. Ward Website      Emma B. Ward Facebook: @emmabwardelementary 

Robert B. Turner Website      Robert B. Turner Facebook: @turnerelementary

Saffell Street Elementary Website      Saffell Street Elementary Facebook: @SaffellStreetElementary

Sparrow Early Childhood Center Website      Sparrow Early Childhood Facebook: @ACSECC


Attendance Information 

Compulsory attendance laws require any child who has enrolled in kindergarten or is between the ages of six, as of October 1 of this school year, and 18 except those specifically exempted by statute, to enroll and be in regular attendance in the schools to which they are assigned.

Students who are absent have three days to provide a valid excuse for their absence or the absence officially becomes and unexcused absence.  A student who is absent or tardy on three or more occasions without a valid excuse is considered a truant.  Truancy can result in being required to attend court and can result in significant fines.  

Students need to be in school every day, on time every day, unless there is a valid reason for absence or tardy.  Valid reasons will be listed in the student handbooks provided to each student. After 10 total absences, a doctor’s note, or other official validation will be required to excuse an absence.  Please note, ACHS policy allows only three days to be excused by parent notes per trimester.


Enrollment Process

Most Kindergarten students will be assigned to attend the Early Childhood Center. Parents may enroll Kindergarten students at ECC or the Board of Education. These students must be five years old on or before August 1 of the year of enrollment. To complete registration parents must provide a birth certificate or other reliable proof of age and identity, a Kentucky Immunization Certificate, a physical, an eye exam by an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist, and a dental exam.    If you have additional students you wish to enroll at other levels, the paperwork should be completed at the Board of Education. The information will then be forwarded to avoid filling out duplicate forms. Currently, three Kindergarten classes are assigned to meet at Robert B. Turner Elementary. Those Kindergarten students assigned to RBT live in this attendance area or meet other criteria that warrant their enrollment there.

Those seeking pre-school enrollment may enroll at the Early Childhood Center directly.  All pre-school students in the district are served there.

Families enrolling students in grades 1-5 shall begin by filling out enrollment and household paperwork at the Board of Education which is located on By-Pass 127 in front of Emma B. Ward Elementary.  

Students in grades 1-5 will be assigned to either Emma B. Ward Elementary, Robert B. Turner Elementary, or Saffell Street Elementary based on where they live.  District boundary information is available on the district website. There are designated flex areas where students may be assigned to one of two schools. Those assignments are made based on availability along with other provided information. .

If you are enrolling for grades 6-8 you may enroll at Anderson Middle School.  A new physical is required prior to entering 6th grade.  Grades 9-12 may enroll at the high school.  

If you have students at more than one grade level, the most efficient place to begin is the Board of Education. Information can be forwarded to each school.


Information Changes

If you have moved or changed phone numbers please contact the school or board of education to notify us of this change.  Some address changes could result in a change of placement at the elementary level. All students must attend the school to which they are assigned unless a change of placement request is completed and approved by the DPP.


Non-Resident Attendance

Students who do not live in Anderson County but wish to attend Anderson County Schools must first complete a Non-Resident Student Application.  Acceptance is based on 1) sufficient classroom space, 2) a signed non-resident state contract on file with the student’s district of residence, and 3) the student meets non-resident admission criteria.  This criterion includes a record of good, punctual attendance, a record of success in school, and a record that indicates no history of being involved in disciplinary problems. The parents and students are required to meet with the principal and the principal shall recommend to the DPP whether to accept the non-resident student.  Currently, there is no tuition fee.


Home School

Any parent who desires to educate their child or children at home must first establish a bona fide school for the students and then notify the Director of Pupil Personnel (DPP) by completing a form or by letter stating the name of the home school, the address, the student’s name, date of birth, and grade.  There are forms available for this at the board office.



No Pass/No Drive

State Law regulates that students who are 16 or 17 years old who become academically deficient and/or accumulate too many unexcused absences shall be reported to the Transportation Cabinet for revocation of their driver’s license or driver’s permit.  Students who lose this privilege may not be reinstated until the end of the next trimester.

Child Care

Each of our elementary schools operate before and after school child care for a fee.  The Early Childhood Center offers a wrap-around program for their students. Information on these programs is available at each school.