The AIG nomination window opens September 14 at 9 a.m. and closes September 25 at 4 p.m.

Nominate your child if you would like them considered for identification in a second area (ELA or Math), or if they are not currently identified and you would like them considered for ELA and/or Math. You do not need to nominate a child already identified in both.

All nominated students are reviewed by the School-Based Committee for Gifted Education, which looks at academic history to decide whether to refer a student for evaluation.

Nominate through the AFES AIG Fall Nomination form. Late nominations may be held for the winter window in December. Questions: Lisa Drager (ldrager@wcpss.net) and Alyssa Johnson (akjohnson@wcpss.net).

Two days of seminars and keynotes at Leesville Road High on Saturday, September 19 and Monday, September 21, with Jimmy Casas and Joy Kelly.

Saturday focuses on family and community involvement; Monday focuses on staff professional development. Lunch and free resources provided.

The AFHS Homecoming Parade runs during the school day on Friday, September 18. Middle and elementary students will watch and cheer on the floats and band.

Early checkouts end at 1:30 p.m. that day. Roads will be blocked and campus access limited until the parade is over, so please plan around it if you have afternoon appointments.

Community members are not permitted on campus during the event. The preferred viewing spot for parents is between The Local and the light on Evans Road. Parking is not available for parents on any school campus.

All students receive either Story Works or Scholastic News as part of their ELA instruction, and families are asked to pay a fee covering the expense.

Pay online at SchoolCash Online, or send cash or a check to the school.

Reading logs are off to a great start. Logs come home on Fridays, and the expectation is that every student reads at home for at least 100 minutes each week. Just 20 minutes a day makes a real difference to fluency, comprehension, and a love of reading.

Ms. Yunker encourages families to take an active role rather than only monitoring the log: reading together and talking about books is what builds strong, confident readers. Try simple strategies before, during, and after reading each night to help your learner think about and make meaning from what they read.

Looking for ideas? Try 10 Things You Can Do to Raise a Reader.

A message from Ms. McConnell: if you have any lightly used plastic grocery bags, please consider donating them to the art room!

Starting November 2, parents are welcome to join their students for lunch. There will be a few reserved tables in the cafeteria as well as outdoor seating available.

This is meant to be a special treat rather than a regular routine — lunchtime is an important opportunity for students to build friendships and practice social skills.

If your child is absent, please email attendance314@wcpss.net with your student’s name, grade, teacher, and the reason for the absence — and attach a note if applicable.

Questions? Please reach out to Ms. Middleton.

A few reminders from Ms. Yunker as we settle into the new year:

Arrival: Students should arrive by 9:10 a.m. so they are in their classrooms and ready for instruction at 9:15 a.m. Students go directly to their classrooms — staff are on hand to guide younger students who are unsure where to go.

Early checkout: If your child needs to leave early, please plan to do so before 3:15 p.m. After 3:15 you will be asked to wait until the dismissal bell rings.

Birthday treats: Students may not bring food items to celebrate birthdays.

Transportation changes: Please call the front office rather than messaging your teacher — teachers are busy during the day and may not see TalkingPoints or email right away.

Walkers: The walker system has changed slightly this year, in response to situations last year where younger students left campus without an older sibling or adult. To be a walker your child must have a completed permission form; they then receive a Walker tag for their grade level.

Tags: Please keep bus, carpool, and walker tags on backpacks all year, and make sure your carpool number is clearly visible on arrival – that is how staff know which students to bring out.

Carpool: Expect it to run slower the first few days as everyone learns the routines. Within the first few weeks, dismissal should finish around 4:05 p.m.

New to AFES? Many answers can be found in the Student Parent Handbook.

Congratulations to our newly elected officers for the 2026–2027 school year: President Jennifer Shannon, Vice President Alicia Rogers, Secretary Cherie Bartell, and Treasurer Sarah Brack.

See the full Board of Directors and committee leads on our About Us page.