<![CDATA[The Academy for Teaching and Learning

<![CDATA[The Academy for Teaching and Learning - Blog]]>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:08:37 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Non-discriminatory Policy]]>Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:52:50 GMThttps://www.atlchester.com/blog/non-discriminatory-policyNotice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students

The Academy for Teaching and Learning admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs
]]><![CDATA[ATL School Reading Plan]]>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 20:28:01 GMThttps://www.atlchester.com/blog/atl-school-reading-planBelow you will find the reading plan for The Academy for Teaching and Learning. Please click below to see the strategy and goals for our school.

Reading Plan]]><![CDATA[2nd Quarter Service Project]]>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:37:14 GMThttps://www.atlchester.com/blog/2nd-quarter-service-project3985752For our second quarter service project, we will be collecting items for Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child provides shoeboxes filled with necessities and fun items to children in impoverished countries. We are asking each student to bring $1 AND an item from the list below in new condition to help their class sponsor a box. Each box costs $10 to send, and your monetary donations help us cover that cost. Please send money and items by November 7. If you’d like to make additional donations, we gladly welcome them. Please see the list below for suggested items by grade level.

Kindergarten – a toothbrush
1st grade – play dough
2nd grade – hairbrush
3rd grade – Hat (child sized) or hair accessories (ponytail holders, barrettes, etc.)
4th grade – coloring book or drawing pad
5th grade – stickers
Middle School – small toy (yo-yo, jump rope, Lego set, toy cars, small stuffed animal or doll, ball)

Additional items/suggestions: (for those who’d like to donate more)

Craft or jewelry kit
Binoculars
Puzzles
Sunglasses

Please keep in mind that these items must fit in shoebox when purchasing them. Thanks in advance for your help in making this a success! We look forward to serving others through this project!]]><![CDATA[Gifted & Talented Testing]]>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:54:34 GMThttps://www.atlchester.com/blog/gifted-talented-testingOVERVIEW

The South Carolina Gifted and Talented Grade 2 Assessment is a statewide assessment used to identify student for district gifted and talented programs. Students are identified for this program by demonstrating high performance ability or potential in academic and/or artistic areas.
In accordance with State Board of Education 43-220, the South Carolina Department of Education provides aptitude and achievement assessments for this purpose.
Although the primary purpose of these assessments is to identify students for the gifted and talented program, the student results can be useful to teachers as they examine their instructional practices. These results can also help teachers identify teaching strategies for all students.
All students in Grade 2, including students with disabilities and multilingual learners (MLs), must be administered CogAT (the Cognitive Abilities Test) and the Iowa Assessments, except those students who qualify for the alternate test as determined by their IEPs.

TESTING WINDOW
The state testing window is October 6 - 28, 2025. ]]><![CDATA[Car Line Map & Procedures]]>Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:42:31 GMThttps://www.atlchester.com/blog/car-line-map-procedures

Car line begins at the loop on Henry Woods Dr. For drop off and pick up, please enter College Street extension from Columbia Street and loop around in front of the building, turning right on Henry Woods Drive. Please turn right when leaving car line to avoid any issues with those still waiting. Most importantly, please be courteous of our neighbors and do not block their driveways at any time.

]]><![CDATA[Fall MAP Testing]]>Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:36:19 GMThttps://www.atlchester.com/blog/fall-map-testingThe Academy will be MAP testing on August 11, 13, & 14. Students will take the reading or fluency test on August 11, language or fluency on August 13, and Math on August 14. Below are some tips to help your child be successful:

Ensure that your child has a good night's sleep.
Feed them a healthy breakfast or arrive in time to eat breakfast at school.
Come to school on time.
Make sure their laptops are charged.

Thanks for helping your student succeed!
Click for more information on how MAP scores are used and what they mean.
]]><![CDATA[Enrollment Info]]>Wed, 06 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.atlchester.com/blog/enrollment-infoIf you are interested in enrolling a student in The Academy, please come by the office between 8:00 - 3:00 and fill out a registration form. It is helpful if you bring a birth certificate and social security card for the student(s) you are registering. Once you will out the registration form, office staff can give you information on waiting lists, as that varies by grade level.

Annual registration for Kindergarten is open for all students who will be 5 by September 1 of that year. Registration for kindergarten ends on February 28 each year. A lottery may be used to determine your child's enrollment status based on the number of registrations we have.

Feel free to call our office at 803-385-6334 if you have any questions. ]]><![CDATA[3rd Quarter Honor Roll]]>Mon, 05 May 2025 16:24:13 GMThttps://www.atlchester.com/blog/4th-quarter-honor-roll49132053rd Grade Honor Roll

All A's
Seifer Clinton, Delilah Hair, Draven Hembree, Kyler Laws, Ellerry Mayhugh, Layla McCandless, Harper Mobley, Braylie Stacy, Easton Stevens,
A/B
Zoey Cole, Bryson Davis, Elise Hegman, Spencer Hoophaugh, Riley Houser, Kynsley Kimsey, Chalalee Loving, Meleah Mahan, Graycen-Blair Mobley, Hensley Orr, Brooklyn Roof, Evie Stevenson, Layla Suber, Emmit Teter, Elliot Zeigler

4th Grade Honor Roll

All A's
Hannah Gates, Olivia Mobley, Ally Nichols, Abbi Reed, Mia Sinclair
A/B
Camden Brown, Connor Callahan, Paisley Ellis, Layken English, Kaycen Faulkenberry,
Henry Grant, Julianne Hammond, Jaxston Keenon, Rivers Matthews, Jay Nunnery, Bella Partain, Genevieve Shannon, Tori Simpson

5th Grade A Honor Roll

A/B
Ella Cate Clowney, Delilah Faulkenberry, Easton Gaston, Miles Green, Eli Hutto, Camryn Hyslop, Chyanne Jordan, Paul John LaRussa, Eli McGarity, Annsleigh Mobley, Cali Morton, Jaxson Wilson

6th Grade Honor Roll

All A's
Riley Boyd, Bryson Grant, Levi Reed, Ariel Stroud, Peyton Carter, Aubrey Ramey, Daniel Robinson, Emma Shepard

A/B
Savannah Crowl, Adyson Liggons, Rayna Mosley, Jasmine Patton, Macon Wallace, Milanya Brown-Smith, Charity Price, Dani Sisk

7th Grade Honor Roll

All A's
Harleigh Butler, Clara Evans, Caroline Partain, Lily Kate Rawls, Abel Sanders, Joel Ussery, Bella Wishert

A/B
Levi Black, Addison Duncan, Aubrey Johnson, Sir Alex Luchey, James Marsh, Tylynn Raines, Lilly Roberts, Piper Sealey, Alister Shannon, Jermani' Brooks, Caleb Evans, Lilly Robbins, Summer Roberts, Mya Weldon, Micah Williamson

8th Grade Honor Roll

All A's
Maddie McCree, Carson Sanders, Logan Case, Mallory Ellis, Katelyn Grant, Maci McCree, Jency Odom, Josh Reed, Zoey Sharrai, Lilly Sherrill, Emilee Widener, Olen Wilson

A/B
Waylon Conrad, Kyeler Gilbert, Maddison Glenn, De'Arte Graham, Zauria McCluney, Ca'Ni Whitlock, Serenity Halsey, Edy Kelsey, Bella Mobley

]]><![CDATA[SC Ready State Testing]]>Mon, 05 May 2025 15:46:26 GMThttps://www.atlchester.com/blog/sc-ready-state-testingStudents will be taking the SC Ready State test soon! Below is a list of tips for success and a schedule for testing dates for The Academy. Please ensure that students

Arrive on time
Are well-rested
Have a nutritional breakfast
Bring their laptops AND chargers
Charge their laptops the night before

Testing Dates:
Wednesday, May 14 - ELA Part A
Thursday, May 15 - ELA Part B
Friday, May 16 - Science (4th/6th Grades only)
Monday, May 19 - Math
Tuesday, May 20 - ELA Writing
Thursday, May 22 - Algebra 1 EOC (8th Grade Honors only)]]><![CDATA[Free to Focus Cell Phone Policy]]>Wed, 15 Jan 2025 20:10:25 GMThttps://www.atlchester.com/blog/free-to-focus-cell-phone-policyFreedom to Focus Policy
The State Department of Education has adopted a policy, as required by Proviso 1.103 in the South Carolina 2024-2025 budget, that requires schools in South Carolina to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices during the school day. This policy must go into effect January 2025.

What does this mean for students at ATL?
Beginning January 13, 2025, students at ATL will not be permitted to have access to any personal electronic device (cell phones, smart watches, tablets, gaming devices, etc.) during the school day from 8:00-3:15, including lunch and recess. These devices, if brought to school, must be turned off and stored in students’ bookbags until the end of the school day. Students who require the use of such devices for medical purposes are excluded from this mandate.
If a student violates this policy, the student will be subject to progressive consequences and device confiscation.

We need your support?
As a charter school, we are required to follow state and federal laws and guidelines in order to receive school funding. We ask that families support our school by ensuring that your student complies to this policy and does not access any personal communication device during their day at school beginning January 13, 2025 when they return from winter break. Please know that parents and students have access to communicate through the school office at anytime during the day if the need arises. As always, we appreciate your partnership in the academic success of all students at ATL. Feel free to contact the school office (803-385-6334) if you have any questions.
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