It’s time for the 6^th Annual ACS Bike-a-Thon!  Please mark your calendars for Friday, May 8 and join us from 9:00am – 12:00pm at Ada Hayden Park for a fun morning outside enjoying God’s creation. This outing is a great way for ACS students to participate in raising support for their school and strengthen their bodies. Each class will set a goal for how many laps they would like to ride. The student who rides the most laps and raises the most money in each class will win a prize. Students will ask friends and family to either pledge an amount for each lap they ride or give a donation for their participation.  

On Friday, April 24, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. all children who will turn five by September 15th are invited to attend “Kindergarten Roundup” at ACS. Our Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Baedke, is geared up and eager to give the children a chance to experience Kindergarten in the Kindergarten room. A western round-up theme will carry throughout the activities the students participate in during a fun morning in Kindergarten! Please bring your future Kindergartner to the west (parking lot) door. One of the assisting teachers will be there to greet the children at 8:45 and bring them to the Kindergarten room. She will bring the children to the west door to meet their parents at 11:15. 

The community is invited to visit Ames Christian School on Thursday, March 5th during our "Community Open House" from 9 am - 2 pm and in the evening from 5:00-7:30pm for a Chinese buffet and our "Classroom Showcase” event.

On March 5th from 9am- 2pm interested parents are invited to tour the school and observe our Preschool, Early Kindergarten, Kindergarten, First, Second, Third/Fourth, Fifth/Sixth and Music classrooms in action during a typical school day.  The Administrator and staff will be available to meet you and answer any questions you may have about ACS.

The event will begin with a Chinese buffet from 888 Restaurant starting at 5:00pm for Preschool families and 5:45pm for Elementary families. The "Classroom Showcases" will begin at 5:30pm and end at 7:30pm. Every fifteen minutes a classroom will present a showcase in which the teacher and students interact with the school community in a creative, academic way.  Families will receive a schedule detailing the times each showcase occurs in order to experience and participate in all the classrooms.  In addition Administrator, Peggy Smith, teachers, and ACS board members will be available to talk to you about the curriculum, core values, financial aid, and any other questions you may have.  Anyone in the Ames and surrounding communities, who is interested in ACS, are encouraged to tour the school, participate in the meal, and experience the classrooms.

Ames Christian is a member of the Association of Christian School International (ACSI) and in the process of obtaining ACSI accreditation. ACS provides academic excellence through personalized Christian education from a Biblical Worldview perspective through gifted, mentoring teachers, in a safe, disciplined learning environment to the children and families of Ames and the surrounding communities. Our student body represents many church denominations. 

ACS offers a half day and full day Preschool program for three and four year old children.  We also offer a five day afternoon Early Kindergarten program for four or five year olds. Our Early Childhood is licensed by the state with a four star QRS (Quality Rating System) rating.  The nurturing staff strives to meet the needs of the whole child. 

Our outstanding Elementary school serves students from Kindergarten to sixth grade.  We provide academic excellence in a safe, disciplined learning environment. We encourage students to become lifelong learners and strive to equip them to think, learn, discern, and act according to Biblical truth in order to embrace and fulfill God's unique purpose for their lives. Teachers model and infuse Biblical truth throughout the curriculum and activities at school. Students also participate in music, art, technology, chapel, and physical education classes. Parents have the option to enroll students in our afterschool Spanish integration program once a week. Parents are an integral part of our school's success.

 "I am excited for the community to come tour, observe, and participate at ACS. It’s a great opportunity to observe our dedicated teachers educate, model, and mentor their students from a Biblical perspective. Last year this event was a night to remember,” said Mrs. Smith.

Please save this date, March 5, on your calendars. We look forward to meeting new families as well as spending time with our current families.

Ames Christian Academic Kindergarten/Early Kindergarten parent information meeting will be held on Thursday, February 26, at 6:30pm in the Kindergarten room at Ames Christian School. 

Ames Christian offers Personalized Christian Education with academic excellence provided by gifted, mentoring teachers in a safe, disciplined learning environment. The parent meeting will begin with Peggy Smith, ACS Administrator, welcoming the parents and providing information about the school’s academic excellence, philosophy, mission, vision objectives, scholarship program, and enrollment procedure. She will introduce Academic Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Carol Baedke, and Early Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Julie Long to the parents. Mrs. Baedke's has taught at ACS for sixteen years. She taught first and second grade for nine years and is in her seventh year of teaching kindergarten. Mrs. Long is in her seventh year of teaching Early Kindergarten.  They will address the importance of readiness skills, go through the schedule of a typical day in their classrooms, and explain the difference between the two Kindergarten programs.  

Current Kindergarten parents will share about their child’s experiences at ACS and answer questions. Curriculum will be available for parents to view, the teachers will answer questions, and parents may tour the school. Childcare will be provided for families during the evening.   Please call the school office if you plan to attend and need childcare.

There will be a Parent Association meeting in the multipurpose room on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 6:00 PM to provide information about the school board’s plans for fall of 2015. All Ames Christian School parents are encouraged to attend and child care will be provided. Please let the office know if you will utilize child care on that evening by Friday, January 30, so we can provide adequate staff.

As you may recall, the school board made the decision last year to add seventh grade starting fall of 2015. This meeting will be an opportunity for you to hear more specifics about the school board’s vision for the future of the school, gain information about what preschool through middle school will look like at ACS, and ask questions.

We will also provide an update on the accreditation self-study process, progress, and how you can be involved. Accreditation is an all-encompassing task that will require a massive effort, but in the end will be very beneficial to the school. We appreciate any help you can provide

Are you tired of the cold winter and want to enjoy a fun event with your family and friends.  Come join other families at Family Game Night, Friday, January 16, from 6:30-8:00. This event is intended for elementary families to play games together as a team, team up and play with other families, or play against other families. 

The staff desires that all the students enjoy recess by keeping warm and dry.  Please watch the weather carefully to make sure your student is prepared for winter weather and can enjoy recess. These are the Winter Recess Apparel Requirements:

• Complete outdoor winter apparel (boots, hats, mittens, and coats) is required for students to participate in recess activities. Hoods can be worn if they tie and stay securely on the students head.  To play in the snow students must wear snow pants. We recommend students wear snow pants daily to keep warm.
• Shoes are allowed when the sidewalks and parking lot are completely free of water, ice, or snow. 
• Incomplete outdoor apparel will result in no playground privileges and the student will be required to sit on the bench to watch.
• Snow boots can’t be worn in the building, if a student doesn’t have shoes at school parents will be called to bring shoes. Please make sure you child has an extra pair of shoes and socks in their locker at all times.

Inclement weather usually accompanies winter and potentiates the possibility of ACS having school delayed, dismissed early or closed to keep everyone safe. All closings, late starts, and early dismissals will be announced to the media stations WHO 13, KCCI 8, and WOI 5 (these stations alert radio stations including WHO1040 AM and KASI AM). Please tune into these stations, check their websites and sign up to receive a free text on your cell phone that will alert you when the school delays, dismisses early, or closes.

The following is critical information related to how the school day may be adjusted during severe weather.

• School delay or “late start”: A two hour delay allows time for weather to improve and school to be held. Elementary classes begin at 10:15 and there is no morning preschool. Students are not allowed to enter the building or wait on school grounds unsupervised before the 10:00 a.m.  Full Day Preschool will remain open its normal operational hours as long as the weather permits travel.  If weather conditions don’t improve a delay may result in the school closing
• School closing:  If Ames Christian is closed due to inclement weather by 6AM, both the Elementary and Early Childhood will be closed. 
• Early dismissal:  Early dismissal occurs if the weather conditions deteriorate during the school day. Parents will be notified by email, the media, and the alerts on their cell phones when severe weather requires an early dismissal. The Full Day Preschool and Aftercare Program will remain open as long as weather permits travel. The administrator will stay advised of the weather conditions and make that decision.