In this final Apple Seed newsletter of the school year, we look back briefly to consider what we have accomplished together as a community: Our school came together for our children and faculty by giving to the Annual Giving Campaign and the Auction, volunteering your time, creativity, and energy generously, and working together to keep our children healthy during yet another year of this global pandemic. This summer, we wish you time with loved ones, books you can't put down, backyard adventures and beyond, and much deserved rest. There's more before we get to the last day of school! We look forward to what is still in store: Wednesday, June 8 A day of celebration for our students. We are so proud of them! We are grateful to the many parent volunteers who are making this fun day happen. Free dress for all ACDS students on Wednesday! 11:30am dismissal for ALL students except 8th graders. There is no after-school care. Carpool will run as usual. 8th grade students will return to school by 3 pm from Great America. Festivities Planned - Pre-K - 5th grade: Carnival
It's Carnival time for our Pre-K through 5th grade students! Pre-K students will enjoy games in their play yard, and Grades 1-5 will enjoy the Candyland-themed Carnival on the Blacktop! - 6th and 7th grades: The Plex
Competing in groups, 6th and 7th graders will climb the rock wall and play Dodgeball, Broomball, NERF Wars, and Volleyball at The Plex. Parent volunteers will drive carpools, and everyone will wear masks in cars. - 8th grade: Great America & Breakfast
The 8th grade will celebrate together with breakfast off-site at the Country Inn and then will travel by bus to Great America for a day of fun. Reminder: Pre-approved parent volunteers will be on campus on June 8 to help run the Carnival games. All parent volunteers will be COVID tested on June 7. Click here for the full list and details. | SPECIAL NOTE: Thank you to our Apple Seed Newsletter Editor-in-Chief Ms. Michelle Laine who devoted countless hours and late evenings to putting out this weekly communication for our community week after week, all school year. We're grateful. | | | Part III of A Journey Toward Cultural Humility is Live! We hope you enjoyed Parts I and II to date or if you planned on listening to all 3-parts in one go, this binge-worthy series on DEI is ready for you. We hope you learn as much as the hosts did! LISTEN 2022 Summer Reading Studies show that you can help prevent the “summer slide” by encouraging your child to read at least 8 high-interest books this summer. On our Summer Reading webpage, parents can find curated and recommended books grouped by grade level. Students entering grades 5-8 have required reading: 5th Grade: Wonder by R.J. Palacio
6th Grade: Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate
7th Grade: The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles + 1 book of their choice
8th Grade: 1 book from the Contemporary Classics list and 1 from the Dystopian or Realistic Fiction list Click here for more information on required reading. Library Books: Psst…if you have not returned your library books, now is your chance! Please turn them in before Wednesday, June 8. (Birthday books need not be returned right away unless your child is done enjoying them.) ACDS Summer Camps Update Come one, come all to check out our Summer Camps booth at the Blacktop Bash tonight! Children can even play against Pokemon enthusiast, Mr. J! - Session C: Planetary Science & Rockets Camp - Now rising 5th graders can join this exhilarating camp run by geologist and rocketeer Mr. Mike Laine and our very own science specialist Mr. Paul Justiniano. There are just 5 SPOTS LEFT!
- Session B: “Gotta catch ‘em all!” If you recognize this catchphrase, this new summer camp offering may be just the ticket to a fun summer for your child. The Board Games & Pokemon Summer Camp is perfect for Pokemon cards and board game enthusiasts or for those wanting to learn to play more games. Led by Mr. Justiniano for children entering first grade and up.
LEARN MORE REGISTER NOW Calendar Reminders Tuesday, June 7 - COVID testing on campus for ONLY
- Those involved in the Graduation ceremony inside the FEC (8th g. students, Faculty & Staff, and the 7th grade ushers)
- Parents volunteering on Wednesday, June 8
Wednesday, June 8 - Early dismissal at 11:30 am for all students in Pre-K through 7th grade (8th grade is off campus); no after care
All About Uniforms Lost & Found 
The Lost & Found is overflowing! Please stop by the racks outside the Auditorium to look for your child’s lost items. All items remaining after June 8 will be laundered and added to the Uniform Exchange or donated. Uniform Exchange 
Before delivering any donations to the Uniform Exchange, please carefully assess the condition of the clothing. Donations must be in clean, excellent or like-new condition -- please do not donate clothing that is worn, discolored or damaged. Unwanted donations require our volunteers to spend extra time sorting and packing separate loads for Goodwill. Please support our Uniform Exchange volunteers by disposing of unwanted worn items elsewhere. Uniform Guidelines During the pandemic, ACDS made the decision to loosen our expectations about uniforms during a challenging time. This fall, however, we will return to our community expectation that students come to school in uniform. To clarify what this looks like, we will send an updated Uniform Guidelines to our families in June. Uniform Ordering Production and shipping delays continue to be a reality and impact school uniforms. We advise placing your Lands End uniform order sooner rather than later to receive items in time for the 2022-2023 school year. For example, PE uniform bottoms for those entering grades 5-8 are already backordered. THANK YOU This past year has served as a true testament to what an amazing community we have here at ACDS. Supported by incredible board members, innovative and resilient Event Chairs, and dedicated parent volunteers, we reimagined beloved traditions and created new ones. Every time we asked parents to step up and help out, they answered the call. Whether it was setting up for Back to School Events, Pumpkin Carving, The Gratitude Celebration, Middle School Socials, donations for the Faculty Appreciation Holiday Luncheon, The Talent Show, Grade Level Sponsored Faculty Brunches, Middle School EDGE Day, Carnival, The Plex, and Great America Day, so many of you volunteered time and time again. Many of those activities could not have happened without the assistance of countless volunteers who helped prepare COVID Test Tubes and distribute tests on a weekly and sometimes twice-weekly basis. We are beyond grateful, and we are humbled to have had your support. I would like to take this opportunity to give a final heartfelt thank you to our board members who are completing their terms. Katie Tuvell, Co-President Sandie Ettinger, Board Administrator Kelly Richards, iVolunteer Coordinator Crystal Joyce, Communications Your tireless passion and dedication to supporting the ACDS community set a high bar. Thank you for an incredible year. With gratitude, Jennifer Billante
PSA Co-President | | | | LOVING THE NOW. READY FOR NEXT. | | | |
