1000 x 90

From Desk of ACS Supt. Burleson, Summer Ends Aug. 18

From the Desk of ACS Supt. David Burleson

August 1, 2014. In just a few short weeks summer will come to an end, and on August 18, Avery County Schools (ACS) will open its doors to students for a brand new school year!  I truly hope that students and families have been able to spend time together making some great summer memories.

Supt. Burleson
Supt. Burleson

ACS has had a productive summer in many ways.  We completed a successful summer school enrichment where 400 students were able to engage and enhance their reading, math and science skills.  Summer enrichment was facilitated under the leadership of Ruth Shirley, Patti Franklin, Justin Carver, and Dr. Todd Griffin.  Outstanding staff and volunteers worked with our students each day to ensure that optimal progress was made and success achieved.  I want to personally thank everyone that invested in this summer school experience including our bus drivers, child nutritional staff and parents.

In addition to the summer school enrichment, our district has readied our schools to welcome an anticipated enrollment of over 2,200 students for the 2014-2015 school year.  We have approximately 350 qualified staff in place to teach and guide our students as well as some new teachers to instruct in our classrooms.  In order to prepare the new staff for ACS, each will attend a three-day New Teacher Orientation beginning on Aug. 14 at the Board of Education Central Services.  Staff will be introduced to the philosophy of the Avery County Schools, offered information to help them become a master teacher, and give them an opportunity to prepare their classrooms for their students.  Please join us as we welcome our new staff to the ACS family.

As you make plans to return to school in August, I would like to invite you to a Back to School Bash on August 16, at Land Harbor in Linville from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Avery County Schools (ACS) along with Land Harbor of Linville and many community stakeholders are sponsoring a day where students can receive FREE school supplies and information vital for a safe, successful school year.  Currently, over 60 percent of our students qualify for free/reduced lunch and 33.9 percent of our children under 18 live below the federal poverty line. These numbers indicate the imperative need to join as a community to help each other as we begin another school year. The event will offer safety demonstrations from local fire, police and rescue agencies, ACS informational packets, school registration forms, free/reduced lunch applications, information about student health and insurance, fun activities, FREE haircuts, clothing, backpacks, refreshments and much more!  The day promises to offer back-to-school assistance for our families as well as a time to celebrate the start of a brand new school year.  For additional information, contact 828-733-6006 or marthadavis@averyschools.net.

ACS is committed to offer the very best education and services possible for our children.

Our mission as a school system is to graduate every student from high school globally prepared for life in the 21st century through supportive relationships with students, parents and community.  Thank you for helping us develop relationships that support our students and schools that enable us to ensure that each child will successfully reach their graduation day. We are always filled with gratitude when we see our students and graduates representing our county as good productive citizens.

In closing, it is my hope and prayer is that this school year will be the best ever for our students and for our county.  Please remember that our Central Office has an open door policy, and we encourage your phone calls, visits and input.  We are always open to suggestions on how we can better serve our community.  Together, we can “grow bright futures one child at a time.”

Sincerely,

David Burleson

Superintendent