🏫 At ACOVSD, we value our partnership with parents and families in making education a priority. Every school day offers opportunities for students to learn, grow, and connect!
Our Vacation Planner helps families enjoy meaningful time together during scheduled school breaks. Planning vacations around these breaks sends children a positive message that their education is important—and makes time for family adventures, too! 📚🎓
Ohio’s House Bill 96 emphasizes early support and school-family partnerships to prevent chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism means missing at least 10% of the state-required instructional hours, including excused and unexcused absences—so missed time can add up.
📅 Just in time for the upcoming October 10–12 three-day weekend—save this planner for your next family adventure!
Strive for 5. Every Day Counts.
🎬🐾 Scooby-Doo Movie Night at the Courthouse!
Bring the whole family for a FREE evening of fall fun on Friday, October 9, hosted by the Adams County Probation Department!
🕔 Games begin at 5:00 p.m.
🌅 Movie starts at sunset
🍿 Enjoy popcorn, cotton candy, apple cider, games, and more!
Bring your own chairs and blankets, and settle in for a fun evening with family and friends. Please share to help spread the word!
📚 September is Attendance Awareness Month!
STRIVE FOR 5! Every Day Counts!
Regular attendance is essential to student success, and new attendance requirements under Ohio House Bill 96 (HB 96), effective August 1, 2026, require schools to provide families with earlier notification when students begin accumulating missed instructional time.
⚠️ 5% Early Warning Notification
All students who miss 5% of the school year for ANY reason will receive an Early Warning Letter. This includes excused and unexcused absences, medical absences, and missed instructional time due to late arrivals or leaving early.
For ACOVSD, 5% of Ohio’s minimum required instructional hours equals:
Grades K–6: 45.5 missed instructional hours
Grades 7–12: 50 missed instructional hours
🏥 Medical Excuses Matter!
Although chronic absenteeism includes ALL missed instructional time regardless of the reason, it is VERY important for families to submit medical excuses to the school for medically related absences. Only five (5) parent notes are permitted/accepted per semester, so please be sure to provide documentation from a medical provider when applicable.
📌 10% Chronic Absenteeism Threshold
Students who miss 10% or more of the school year for any reason meet the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s definition of chronic absenteeism and will also receive a notification letter as required under HB 96.
For ACOVSD, 10% of Ohio’s minimum required instructional hours equals:
Grades K–6: 91 missed instructional hours
Grades 7–12: 100 missed instructional hours
☎️ Questions about attendance?
Please reach out to your child’s building or the district attendance officer:
Peebles Elementary・(937) 587-2611・Heidi McAdow
Peebles High School・(937) 587-2681・Marla Jones
North Adams Elementary・(937) 386-2516・Billy Bloom
North Adams High School・(937) 386-2528・Deirdre Mills
West Union Elementary・(937) 544-2951・Guy Hopkins
West Union High School・(937) 544-5553・Guy Hopkins
Ohio Valley Career and Technical Center・(937) 544-2336・Allan Crump
Central Office・(937) 544-5586・Tracy Spires
Our goal is simple: STRIVE FOR 5 — five or fewer absences for the entire school year!
🏫 STRIVE FOR 5. EVERY DAY COUNTS!
Every day in school matters! Regular attendance helps students stay connected, keep up with instruction, and make the most of every opportunity to learn.
We also know that there are times when mental health or behavioral health needs can become a barrier to regular attendance. Connecting students with the right support—without requiring them to miss additional school—is one way we can work together to reduce chronic absenteeism.
Through ACOVSD’s partnership with R.E.A.C.H. for Tomorrow, students can access services right at school, during the school day.
Services include:
• Mental health therapy
• Case management
• Substance abuse treatment and support, including vape groups
Providing services at school means less time out of class, fewer disruptions to the school day, and greater access to support when students need it.
Our goal is simple: remove barriers, reduce absences, and help students stay present, engaged, and ready to learn.
⭐ Strive for 5. Every day counts!
Want to learn more about R.E.A.C.H. services or how to access support for your child?
Braydan Shelton, LSW
📧 Braydans@Reach4t.org
📞 937-217-7260
📅 Religious Expression Days & Holiday Calendar Guidance
As required by Ohio law (Ohio Revised Code 3320.04), Adams County/Ohio Valley School District is providing families with information regarding Religious Expression Days and the District’s non-exhaustive religious holiday calendar for the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 school years.
Families should know:
• Students may receive up to 3 excused religious expression days each school year.
• Parents/guardians must provide written notice within the required 14-school-day timeframe.
• Reasonable academic accommodations will be provided when an excused religious expression day conflicts with an assessment or major academic requirement.
• Students remain eligible to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities on an excused religious expression day.
The District’s calendar is not an exhaustive list of religious holidays and observances.
📌 Please review the accompanying calendar for dates and additional information.
Please Note: This is a two-year calendar, covering both the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 school years, and is being provided to assist students and families with planning in advance.
Questions or need to submit written notice? Contact your building attendance officer:
Peebles Elementary: Heidi McAdow • (937) 587-2611
Peebles High School: Marla Jones • (937) 587-2681
North Adams Elementary: Billy Bloom • (937) 386-2516
North Adams High School: Deirdre Mills • (937) 386-2528
West Union Elementary: Guy Hopkins • (937) 544-2951
West Union High School: Guy Hopkins • (937) 544-5553
Ohio Valley CTC: Allan Crump • (937) 544-2336
Central Office: Tracy Spires • (937) 544-5586
🎒📚 WELCOME BACK, ACOVSD! 📚🎒
We are excited to welcome our students, families, and staff back for another great year at Adams County Ohio Valley School District! 🏫⭐
As we begin the new school year, we want every student to start strong—and that starts with being at school, on time, every day!
⭐ STRIVE FOR 5! ⭐
✅ Be present 5 days a week
✅ Strive to miss fewer than 5 days all year
✅ Be here. Be on time. Be ready to learn.
📣 IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE REMINDERS
ALL absences count toward chronic absenteeism—regardless of whether the absence is excused or unexcused. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) defines chronic absenteeism based on the amount of instructional time a student misses and has established a goal for students to maintain a chronic absenteeism rate of less than 10% for the school year.
📝 Written notes are required for ALL absences.
Please make sure documentation is provided to the school whenever your child is absent.
Missing school adds up quickly. Every day matters. Every class matters. Every opportunity to learn matters.
🏫 Attend Today. Achieve Tomorrow. 🎓
Good attendance leads to stronger learning, higher grades, more opportunities, and brighter futures. Together, our students, families, and staff can make attendance a priority and help every student succeed!
🎓 🌟 🏆 STRIVE FOR 5. EVERYDAY COUNTS! 🏆 🌟 🎓
📢 Community Invitation: Annual Federal Programs Meeting
The Adams County Ohio Valley School District invites parents, families, staff, and community members to attend our Annual Federal Programs Meeting.
📅 Monday, August 24, 2026
🕔 5:15 p.m.
📍 Career and Technical Center
175 Lloyd Road, West Union, OH 45693
Join us to learn more about the district’s federal programs and how these resources support student learning, achievement, and opportunities across our schools. We’ll also share information about programs and initiatives planned for the upcoming school year.
The meeting will be held 15 minutes prior to the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting.
We hope you’ll join us as we continue working together to provide opportunities and support for the success of every student!
🍎 Welcome Back to the 2026–2027 School Year! 🍎
As students return to school, we want to share a friendly reminder that ACOVSD provides FREE breakfast and lunch to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
There is no cost to families, and no meal application is required. Through the CEP program, every ACOVSD student has access to nutritious meals each school day, helping them stay fueled, focused, and ready to learn.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Mr. Greg Grooms
Assistant Superintendent
📧 greg.grooms@ovsd.us
Shari Austin
Food & Nutrition Secretary
📧 shari.austin@ovsd.us
📞 (937) 544-5586, ext. 17310
📚✏️ At ACOVSD, we believe that well-nourished students are better prepared to learn, grow, and succeed. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for a fantastic 2026–2027 school year! 🍎🎒
