Dear Yarbrough Families,

I hope you’ve had a wonderful and restful summer! We are so excited to welcome our students and families back to school for what promises to be a fantastic year of learning, growth, and community.

Important Dates to Remember:

• Classroom Rolls Posted: Tuesday, August 5 at 4:00 PM (on the front doors of the school)
• Meet Your Teacher: Wednesday, August 6 from 1:00–3:00 PM
• First Day of School:Friday, August 8
  • Student hours: 7:30 AM–2:20 PM
  • Drop-off begins at 7:05 AM

Please visit the new Auburn City Schools website as well as our Yarbrough Elementary website for important back-to-school information, including school supply lists and upcoming events.

This year, we’re also excited to launch ParentSquare as our new communication platform. Your child’s teacher will use this tool to communicate with you throughout the year. You can go ahead and register through the ACS website.

Rebranding Yarbrough: We Are Now the Raptors!

While preparing to launch our new House System this year, our staff felt it was the perfect time for a fresh start—and a bold new identity. We are excited to announce that we are no longer the Yarbrough Mountaineers. We are now proudly the Yarbrough Raptors!

Our new mascot, the raptor, is deeply connected to our Nest System, which we’re implementing for the very first time this year. Raptors are strong, sharp, and focused—just like our students. The birds represented in each nest (or house) are all types of raptors, symbolizing the traits we want to foster in our school community.

Introducing the Nest System

Our Nest System, inspired by the Ron Clark Academy House System, is designed to build a positive and inclusive school culture. Each student and staff member is sorted into one of six “nests,” or teams, where they will remain throughout their time at Yarbrough. This system helps foster school spirit, character development, and strong relationships across all grade levels.

Each nest represents a core character trait and is symbolized by a raptor and color:

• 🟡 Bonza – Respect – Eagles
• ⚫ Mahalo – Appreciation – Ospreys
• 🟢 Zweck – Purpose – Falcons
• 🟠 Armonía – Teamwork – Kites
• 🔴 Umiliki – Ownership – Hawks
• 🟣 Lacheela – Resilience – Owls

Throughout the year, students will participate in team-building events, service projects, and school-wide celebrations. Nest points are earned by demonstrating positive behaviors, working hard, and showing school spirit. Our goal is to create a strong sense of belonging and motivation—helping all students grow socially, emotionally, and academically.

We are thrilled to begin this new chapter at Yarbrough, united as Raptors and ready to soar.