EC Principal Letter
Dear ANCS Elementary Families,
At Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School we prioritize teaching to the whole child. Learning how to manage big emotions, resolving conflicts in a thoughtful, peaceful and meaningful way, and building healthy relationships is just as important as academic growth. Our approach to discipline and self-regulation is rooted in Conscious Discipline, which is a trauma-informed, brain-based framework designed to transform everyday discipline challenges into opportunities to teach life skills. Rather than relying on traditional rewards or punishments to control behavior, Conscious Discipline shifts our focus toward building a safe, connected, and supportive School Family also known as the ANCS Wolfpack!
Our Core Philosophy
- Connection Drives Cooperation: We prioritize building strong relationships across our campus in a variety of ways.
- Composure First: Adults model self-regulation. By responding rather than reacting, we help guide children from states of overwhelm back to calm.
- Behavior as Communication: We view missteps not as an opportunity to punish, but as a call for help or an indicator of a missing skill. We focus on teaching self-regulation strategies, empathy, and problem-solving.
Upcoming Conscious Discipline Parent Workshop!
We are so excited to bring these same strategies into your homes so we can work together to strengthen the home-school connection! Whether you are looking for practical ways to navigate morning routines, handle bedtime meltdowns, or simply want to learn more about the skills and language your children are developing at school every day, this workshop is for you. You will walk away with actionable tools you can start using right away!
Our longtime Conscious Discipline consultant, Nicole Mercer, will lead this session focused on establishing positive routines, setting appropriate boundaries, and avoiding power struggles. Nicole has worked with ANCS for more than 15 years and brings a wealth of experience to support parents and guardians of children of all ages. Families across the country describe Conscious Discipline as “life-changing,” and our own school community has seen students develop stronger problem-solving skills and more respectful, positive interactions since implementing these strategies.
Join us for an engaging Conscious Discipline Parent Workshop:
- Date: Tuesday, October 6th
- Time: 6:30-7:30pm
- Location: ANCS Elementary Campus Auditorium
Childcare and Dinner Provided: Childcare will be available for ANCS students and siblings ages 4+ and pizza will be provided for everyone. Childcare link coming soon.
We hope you’ll join us for this opportunity to learn practical strategies that benefit both school and home life! We cannot wait to learn, grow, and partner with you as we empower our students together.
Sincerely,
Nicole
Nicole King
In 2017, Nicole King returned to ANCS as a 1st Grade Teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Agnes Scott College (2005) and a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (2012). Before her return to ANCS, she taught at Trinity School in Atlanta for 5 years (2012-2017), Billingsville Elementary School in Charlotte for 3 years (2009-2012), and Neighborhood Charter School as a 1st Grade Teacher (2006-2009).
