GREETINGS FROM SPARTAN LANE

Happy summer, Spartans!

It has only been a few weeks since our students and colleagues started the holiday, but we have already made a lot of progress on our campus. The Erwin Hall work is on schedule, and our Lower School students and teachers will benefit greatly from these improvements. Grading and leveling is well underway on the new tennis complex, and we are preparing to repave a significant portion of our roads and parking lots. We are also welcoming a record number of campers to our campus for summer programs, so Spartan Lane is a very busy place!

Our teaching teams are also hard at work reviewing curriculum and instructional plans for the coming year. In fact, we estimate that over 700 hours of professional development work will be put in over the summer months in an effort to enhance our teaching and learning. As you may have heard, intentional changes have been made in every teaching team from K3 through fifth grade in order to maximize our teachers’ strengths and our students’ growth. We are excited to see the positive impact this will have on our school culture and community. 

At our end-of-year PSO post-planning luncheon, we shared the news of faculty transitions, including three Spartans who have been with us for ten or more years: art teacher Melissa Rackley, third grade teacher Kristin Barnett, and Spirit Store manager Holly Belger. If you happen to see them, please thank them for their service to our school and wish them well on their new adventures. We also announced that Mark Cunningham will be retiring after the 2024-2025 academic year. He is looking forward to a very productive year ahead on Spartan Lane, and there will be more news about our future leadership transition plans before the end of the summer. Read more.

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

ATHLETIC UPDATE FOR JUNE 2024

There's a lot going on this summer on campus, especially with regard to our athletic programs--from scrimmages, practices, and tournaments to conditioning and training, Spartan Lane is a busy place! Click here to learn more about summer dates to remember, updates and improvements to facilities, and even the latest news on Graham Blanks' quest to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris!

SUMMER LEARNING WEBSITE (rising K3-12)

REQUIRED & CHOICE SUMMER LEARNING INFORMATION

The Summer Learning website is live! Please note that there are assignments and recommendations for each grade level. Questions? Contact your child's division office directly.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2024-25 DATES TO REMEMBER

The 2024-25 school year will be here before we know it, so you may want to go ahead and mark your calendar for some of these important back-to-school events. Questions? Contact your child's division office directly. Have great summer and we'll see you in August!

SENIOR PORTRAIT INFORMATION (CLASS OF 2025)

Athens Academy uses Bentley Photography exclusively for all senior drape/tuxedo yearbook photos. As a courtesy to our families, we are offering rising seniors the option to schedule a brief on-campus photo session this summer in the Chambers Center boardroom. Times are available on Wednesday, July 31, and Wednesday, August 7. Click here to register for an on-campus photo appointment. The on-campus sitting fee is $35 and can be paid by cash, check, or credit card. Families may also opt to schedule a photo session at the Bentley Photography Studio in Winder (770-867-2853, bentleyseniors@gmail.com). If you have any questions, please contact Bentley Photography directly.

PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM COMMENCEMENT 2024

If you are interested in purchasing photos from last Sunday's graduation ceremony at the Classic Center, please click here. The password to access the photos is 53903Classof2024. If you have any questions, please contact Bentley Photography directly at 770-867-2853 or bentleyseniors@gmail.com.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE A GIFT!

Click here to make a gift to the Annual Excellence Fund before the fiscal year ends on July 31! Athens Academy's fiscal year runs August 1-July 31, and we appreciate your annual participation! Every gift helps to support our students, teachers, and programs here on Spartan Lane. Click here to pay with PayPal, Google Pay, Venmo, or credit card today. Questions? Email DeDe Guest.

ADVERTISE WITH ACAD!

Event sponsorships and advertising with Athens Academy are great ways to highlight your business while supporting the Spartans. We have many different advertising packages and opportunities available! Click here for our advertising brochure. Questions? Email DeDe Guest.

UPCOMING EVENTS

School Store Summer Hours: July 24 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; August 5-9 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Summer Uniform Resale - Wednesday, July 24 and Wednesday, August 7 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the Chambers Center Lower Level

 Class of 2025 Senior Portraits (On Campus) - Wednesday, July 31 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. and Wednesday, August 7 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration link above)

New Student Orientation, Grades 9-12 - Monday, August 5 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Myers Gallery/Science & Art Building

Grade 9 Orientation - Wednesday, August 7 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Bertelsmann Presentation Hall

Preschool New Family Orientation - Thursday, August 8 from 9:30-10:00 a.m. in the Harrison Performance Hall

Preschool Orientation Rotating Events - Thursday, August 8 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. in the Harrison Center

Lower & Middle School New Family Orientation (Grades 1-8) - Friday, August 9 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. in the Harrison Performance Hall

Back-to-School Drop-In, Grades 1-8 - Friday, August 9 from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

First Day of School - Tuesday, August 13 at 8:05 a.m. (Grades 5-8) and 8:10 a.m. (K3-Grade 4, Grades 9-12)

Lower School Parent Afternoon - Sunday, August 18 from 1:00-2:15 p.m. in the Harrison Performance Hall

Middle School Parent Afternoon - Sunday, August 18 from 2:30-4:15 p.m. in the Bertelsmann Presentation Hall

Back-to-School Parent Coffee - Tuesday, August 20 from 8:00-9:15 a.m. in the Farmer Field House

Upper School Parent Evening (parents only) - Monday, August 26 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the Bertelsmann Presentation Hall

Tenth Annual Athens Academy Holiday Market - Wednesday, November 20 (4:00-6:00 p.m.) and Thursday, November 21 (8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) in the Sinkwich Spartan Center

Athens Academy seeks excellence with honor in the educational and personal experience of each student.