Asheville 1st day of school: What to know about menus, pickup times, safety protocols
ASHEVILLE - Besides getting pencils, notebooks and new outfits ready, here are some other things to know about Asheville City Schools' first day on Aug. 28. The Citizen Times collected back-to-school information that parents and guardians may need to know, including school start times, safety protocols and lunch menus.
Start times, pickup times
Elementary schools start at 8 a.m. — parents can drop their students off starting at 7:15 a.m. Elementary school ends at 2:35 p.m.
Middle and high school starts at 8:30 a.m. — if students are being dropped off, they can get there as early as 8 a.m. Schools end at 3:30 p.m.
Drivers should be aware that streets around certain schools like Hillside Street near Claxton Elementary, and Victoria Road near Asheville High School might have heavy traffic around these drop off and pickup times.
What's on the menu?
City schools brought on Chartwells, a privately owned food and beverage service, for the 2023-24 school year — what's on the menu for the first day?
For K-5 breakfast there's the option of whole grain donut holes, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Rice Chex, apple cinnamon cheerios or golden grahams. For the sides students may have string cheese, bananas and apple juice.
Pre-K offers breakfast as well. On the first day the schools will serve their Pre-K students mini cinnamon waffles ― the lunch menu isn't yet available.
The breakfast menu for Asheville Middle and High schools is the same as elementary, except there's a chicken biscuit sandwich option instead of the whole grain donut holes.
Breakfast prices for all grades are $1.50.
More: Buncombe County Schools students will get free breakfast and lunch at start of school year
For elementary lunch the main entree is a classic cheeseburger in a bun. Alternate entrees available to students are a toasty cheese sandwich and a hummus and feta wrap. For the sides there's steamed broccoli florets, baked crinkle fires, wild greens salad, sliced cucumbers, apples or chilled peaches.
Elementary school lunch prices are as follows:
Student reduced price lunch: 40 cents.
Student full-price lunch: $3.25.
For the first 21 days, secondary menus will be the same, ACA spokesperson Dillon Huffman told the Citizen Times Aug. 23. Lunch at the middle and high school level look similar to the elementary schools' lunch except students have the option of pizza every day.
Middle and high school lunch prices:
Student reduced price lunch: 40 cents.
Student full-price lunch: $3.50.
Parents can put money on their student's meal account online at K12PaymentCenter or students can pay in cash or a check, according to the school's website.
More: Asheville City Schools votes to privatize school meals for the 2023-24 school year
Safety protocols
Below is a list of items that are prohibited for a student to bring to school, according to the Asheville City School board policy website.
Loaded and unloaded firearms, including guns, pistols and rifles.
Explosives, such as dynamite cartridges, bombs, grenades and mines.
Knives, including pocketknives, bowie knives, switchblades, dirks and daggers.
Slingshots.
Metal knuckles.
BB guns.
Air rifles and air pistols.
Stun guns and other electric shock weapons, such as Tasers.
Razors and razor blades (except those designed and used solely for personal shaving).
Fireworks, gun powder, ammunition or bullets.
Mace, pepper spray and other personal defense sprays.
"A student who finds a weapon or weapon-like item, who witnesses another student or other person with such an item, or who becomes aware that another student or other person intends to possess, handle, or use such an item must notify a teacher or the principal immediately. Middle and high school students may also utilize the anonymous safety tip line for reporting risks to the school population," the Asheville City School Board policy website said.
The safety protocols for events, such as sporting events, in the 2023-24 school year were updated as follows:
More: 3 Tasers found at Asheville Middle School in one day, principal says
Bags no larger than 6 inches by 4 inches are allowed within event venues for all attendees. Size exceptions will be made for individuals with medical conditions and those who are with young children.
Students in grades eight or lower must be with and adult who is 18 or older while attending events that are not at their home school.
Law enforcement and school personnel will be at events to perform security checks and metal detectors may be present at some events.
Anyone noticing suspicious activity or individuals is encouraged to report it to event staff, security or law enforcement.
Pets are not allowed at school-wide events or on school property.
Additional info parents should know
The Code of Student Success is an important document to ACS that outlines "the values, expectations, and guidelines that guide our students' behavior and interactions within our school communities. By familiarizing yourself with this document, you not only help ensure a safe and inclusive atmosphere but also actively contribute to your child's success," Huffman said.
In the handbook, new ACS Superintendent Maggie Fehrman wrote a letter addressing parents and students.
"To ensure a conducive learning atmosphere, we have developed a comprehensive Student Code of Success that outlines the guidelines, expectations, and values we cherish as a school community," Fehrman wrote.
This handbook contains a school directory, information on the Board of Education including when they meet and how public comment works, it lays out the roles and responsibilities of students, parents, staff members and the board. It also states the rights that families and students have and policies on how poor student behavior is handled.
To learn more about the Code of Success visit District Operations / 23-24 Student Code of Success (ashevillecityschools.net)
Huffman also reminds parents and guardians to download the parentsquare app.
"ParentSquare is a unified communication platform that offers a whole host of tools that allows district, school administrators and teachers to more effectively communicate and engage with families and students," Huffman said.
Some features of the app include:
Mass notifications and urgent alerts.
Attendance notifications.
Teacher and classroom communication.
Direct messaging with two-way translation.
Forms and permission slips.
Appointment sign-ups (parent-teacher conferences, technology pick-ups).
Calendar events and ability to RSVP.
Volunteering and classroom supply sign-ups.
More: Student vaccine exemptions across Asheville, Buncombe schools some of highest in NC
More: Asheville City Schools welcomes 95 new staffers this fall; Who are they?
McKenna Leavens is the education reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at mleavens@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter @LeavensMcKennna. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville City Schools 1st day of school Aug. 28
