Important Information for the 2024-2025 School Year

Important Back to School Dates for 2024

August 2

• The final day to register a student and/or request bus transportation to have a route by the first day of school. Requests after this date will not be accommodated until after September 2. 

August 12

• Teacher assignments/schedules will be available in Infinite Campus for students in grades 1-12.
• Bus route information will be available in Infinite Campus by the end of the day (EK-12 only).

August 14

• AHS – Back to school check-in.
  • 12th grade: 8:30 -11:30 am
  • 11th grade: 12:30-3:30 pm

August 15

• Preschool – Teacher assignments will be available in Infinite Campus for PK students.
• AHS – Back to school check-in.
  • 10th grade: 8:30 -11:30 am
  • 9th grade: 12:30-3:30 pm

August 20 

• AMS – Get to know the building and walk your schedule from 6-7 pm. No tour guides nor teachers will be present. Principals will be present to meet and greet students and families. 

August 21 

• Elementary – Back to School Night with orientation for new families and school supply drop off (grades EK-5 only) in your school building from 5-7 pm. 

August 23

• Elementary – classes begin for EK-5, classes dismiss (K-5) at 2:45 pm.
• AMS – orientation for all 6th grade students and 7th/8th graders who are new to the District, dismissal at 1:45 pm.
• AHS – orientation for 9th grade students, dismissal at 1:35 pm.

August 26

• Classes in session for grades EK-12, regular dismissal times for all buildings.

August 27

• No classes for Kindergarten students. EK meets as normal. Teacher assignments will be available for kindergarten in your Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

August 31

• Preschool – Bus route information will be available in Infinite Campus for PK students..

September 2

• Labor Day – No school (all buildings closed)

September 3

• Preschool – First day of preschool

September 3-6

• Elementary – Mini conferences will be held after school each day (scheduling instructions will be sent at a later date). Elementary schools will be dismissed this week at 12:45 pm. Conferences are held from 1:15 to 3:15 pm.

As we approach the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, we are excited to share with you some important information to ensure a smooth and successful start for our students. This includes key details regarding the academic calendar, annual notices, school supply lists, transportation, and more. These items will help you and your student prepare for the year ahead. Read on for more essential information.

Transportation Information

For families utilizing bus transportation, please finalize your registration by August 2, 2024, to ensure your child has busing on the first day of school. If you decide you do not need transportation, you also have until the end of the business day on August 2 to cancel your request. Please note that late cancellations for discretionary busing may still incur a charge. 

For those who have requested transportation, bus route information will be available in your Infinite Campus Parent Portal after August 12, 2024. 

Infinite Campus Parent Portal

It is crucial for at least one parent in each household to have an active Infinite Campus Parent Portal account. This portal is an essential tool for staying informed and managing various aspects of your child’s school experience. Through the Parent Portal, you can check grades, pay school fees, reload lunch accounts, and request absences for your student(s). If you do not yet have an account, please request your Infinite Campus account online under the announcements. Ensuring you have access to this portal will help you stay connected and engaged with your child’s academic progress and school activities.

Communicate Using ParentSquare

This year, we will continue utilizing ParentSquare to communicate with you at school, in classrooms, and throughout the District. ParentSquare provides a simple and safe way for everyone at school to connect and is a truly collaborative two-way method for communication. 

If you are new to the District, you should have received an invitation to join ParentSquare. Please click the link to activate your account. It takes less than one minute. You can use ParentSquare on any device or download the free mobile app for Android or iOS. 

Annual Notices

State and Federal regulations, along with some district policies, require us to post certain notifications to the public annually. These annual notices contain important information regarding district and specific educational policies, nondiscrimination notices, student rights and privacy, and technology use agreements, among other topics. Staying informed about these notices is crucial for understanding the policies and protections in place for our students and families. You can access the Annual Notices on our website to review all the relevant information and ensure you are up-to-date with the latest regulations and district guidelines.

Updated School Safety Terms

The Ames Community School District is dedicated to ensuring the safety of our students, staff, and visitors. We have established a comprehensive plan for safety, security, and emergency response, which is posted in every building and classroom. To ensure clear communication during emergencies, we use specific terms that are also recognized by local law enforcement. These same terms will be used in communication with families. 

Hold: Used when a non-imminent threat occurs within the building, requiring restricted movement in a specific area.

Secure: Used when a non-imminent threat occurs outside the building, necessitating controlled movement in and out of the building.

Evacuate: Used when an internal threat makes it safer to be outside the building, applicable to any threat, including fire.

Lockdown: Used when an imminent threat of violence poses a danger to students and staff.

We prioritize timely communication with parents and guardians during any safety concern at a school. Notifications are sent through ParentSquare as soon as practical, after measures have been taken to ensure safety and accurate information is confirmed. If you have not already accepted your invitation, we urge you to do so. 

We realize that students often text or call parents when the school implements a safety protocol. Please know that we do our best to communicate specifics with students in a timely manner. However, students may not have all of the information and may unknowingly share incomplete or inaccurate information. Please rely on official District communication channels for facts surrounding emergency incidents. 

During a school emergency, we ask that parents not come to or call the school, nor approve your child to leave school grounds. It is important to keep the streets and parking area near the school, and phone lines open for emergency responders and communication. We need to be able to effectively account for all students and staff following an incident.

Further information about school safety, alerts, and weather procedures can be found on our website. 

2024-2025 School Year Calendar

The school year calendar for 2024-2025 includes all the important dates for the entire school year. These dates are conveniently listed on our website for easy access. In case you missed it, we have already sent detailed information regarding the key start dates and information for the upcoming back-to-school season.

School Supply Lists

School supply lists for all grades are available to help you prepare for the upcoming school year. These lists detail the necessary supplies for each grade level, ensuring that students have everything they need for a successful start. You can find the supply lists on our website, making it easy to access and review them at your convenience. By preparing these supplies in advance, you’ll help set your child up for a productive and organized school year. 

Free or Reduced Price Meal Applications

Children need healthy meals to learn. Ames Community School District offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.50 at elementary schools, $1.55 at AMS & AHS; lunch costs $2.75 at elementary schools, $2.95 at AMS & AHS. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. Applications for free or reduced price meals may be completed through your Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Get more information about free or reduced price meal applications on our website. 

The Ames CSD is offering free breakfast to all students until December 31, 2024 at which time the funds will be re-evaluated and remain free or revert to regular pricing.