Alamo News
Alamo Elementary Weekly Newsletter - March 9 , 2018
Important Dates
Mar. 12 - Girls on the Run practice @ 3:53-5:30 p.m.
Mar. 12 - Board of Education Meeting 7:00 p.m. @ Administration Office
Mar. 13 - Spring Pictures
Mar. 14 - Coffee with the Superintendent 10:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. @ Mezzo Coffee House
Mar. 14 - Student of the Month Assembly & 2nd Trimester Awards @ 10:30 a.m.
Mar. 14 - Girls on the Run practice @ 3:53-5:30 p.m.
Mar. 15 - Reading Logs due
Mar. 15 - Pajama Day/Reading Lock-In (Wear pajama's, bring your sleeping bag/pillow)
Mar. 16 - 5th grade to Kalamazoo Symphony
Mar. 16 - Wear Green
March is Reading Month
During the month of March, students are encouraged to read for 15-20 minutes 5 days. Students who meet their weekly reading goal are entered into a drawing at the end of each week for a new book. Each student is encouraged to meet his/her goal in order to help his/her class meet their weekly reading goal. Classes who meet their weekly reading goal can earn $25 each week in "Book Dollars" to help purchase new books for their classsroom library. The classroom with the most read minutes each week will have an opportunity to tape their teacher to the wall on Friday morning. In addition, we are encouraging students to reach the school wide goal of 100,000 minutes in order to tape the principal to the wall for 30 minutes at the end of the month. Reading logs are due on every Thursday of the month and totals/winners will be announced on Friday's.
During the month of March, there are many exciting activities taking place to encourage a love for reading. Check out the reading month calendar for more events.
This week's total minutes read is 37, 982 minutes! Congratulations to Ms. Hughes class for reading the most minutes in K-2nd grade and to Mrs. Breese's class for reading the most minutes in 3rd-5th grade.
Keep up the good work and Read, Read, Read and Read some more!
Alamo Parents Rock!
Thank you so much for providing a soup and salad bar for us during parent-teacher conferences! Your act of kindness was greatly appreciate!
We would also like to thank parents for coming out to meet with their child’s teacher for conferences. Working together to make your child successful in school is our top priority.
Alamo Reading Lock-In
Alamo Reading Lock-In!
When: Thursday, March 15th
Where: Alamo Elementary
Who: K-5th Graders
What: Wear your pajama’s, bring a sleeping bag/blanket and a pillow and come ready to Read, Read, Read and Read S’more.
Congratulations to our Otsego Stars on a wonderful performance of "Disney the Music, the Movies"!
Pick Up & Drop Off Procedures
As you may know, the parking lot is a busy location during pick up and drop off. For the safety of our students and families the space along the sidewalk has become a drop zone only and parking is NOT allowed. Please use this area to either drop off or pick up your students before or after school. If you need to enter the building, leave your vehicle, or need to wait for any duration of time we ask that you park in a parking space to help keep the traffic flow moving. The driveway has been repainted to reflect this change to help direct parents when dropping off in the morning or picking up in the afternoon. Our hope is these no parking zones will be used as places to pull through & drop students while allowing folks to pass safely on the left. Keeping the zoned area clear will also allow for the assistance of any emergency vehicles if needed. Thanks for your patience and please let us know if we can improve the procedure.
Pick-Up Procedure & Secure Entrance Reminder
It is of upmost priority to us to keep your child safe while he/she is at school. With the addition of our new entrance we ask that parents wait outside to pick up their child at the end of the day. We LOVE interacting with our students' families and welcome you into the building after dismissal is complete. If you need to pick your child up early or need to speak with the office you are welcome to enter the office prior to the end of the day. Please note that our new security system requires visitors to ring the doorbell, for us to secure identification and to unlock the doors.
• All parents who are picking up their child will need to wait outside the building.
• Kindergarten students will exit out the west side of the building near the bus loop.
· Pick-up students will exit out the cafeteria doors.
- Bus students will exit out the mail doors.
5th graders enjoy a pizza party with Mrs. Koenig & Mrs. Emmons for winning the pop can challenge.
Afternoon with ANNIE!
Alamo needs WatchD.O.G.S.
The staff and parents at Alamo Elementary believe in providing a safe quality educational environment for our kids. WATCH D.O.G.S. is a one of a kind, school-based father involvement program that supports education and safety. If you are interested in being a WatchDOG or would like to make a financial donation to assist in supporting this program please contact Nicole M. Knight-Lucas (nknight-lucas@otsegops.org) or Natalie Trumley (ntrumley@otsegops.org). Information on our WatchD.O.G.S. kickoff/registration event will be coming soon. Register to be a WatchDOG and sign up by clicking on the link at VolunteerSpot: http://signup.com/go/oVHkXMG
To purchase a shirt (and other great WatchDOGS gear) please visit http://www.fathers.com/watchdogs/ and click on “Dogstore”.
Kindergarten Registration Going on Now!
Cell Phones/Smart Watches/Electronic Devices
OPS Compliment Box
Recess & Lunch Volunteers Needed
Lost and Found Items
DRESS CODE REVIEW
As we begin to ride the temperature rollercoaster that is the norm here in West Michigan, it is a good time to review the recess dress code.
All students must wear snow pants, coat, and boots to go off the paved areas of the playground when there is snow on the ground or if it is muddy. Also as the weather and temperature fluctuates our policy for outdoor gear is as
follows:
50’s – Jackets are suggested, but optional
40’s – Jackets, coat, sweatshirt, or sweater
required.
30’s – Coat, hat, gloves, boots, & snow pants
required.
We use the wind chill temperature to determine the dress requirements. The office will inform the students when the temperature is questionable.
PeachJar
Alamo Mileage Club
PE Teacher, Mr. Uramkin, has started up the Alamo Mileage Club again. The Alamo Mileage Club will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays at lunchtime recess. Parents are welcome and encouraged to come and walk and every Tuesday and Friday. Be sure to register in the office. The program is designed to increase physical activity among the students and promote exercise.
K & 1st - 11:55-12:15
2nd - 12:05-12:25
5th - 12:15-12:35
3rd - 12:25-12:45
4th - 12:35-12:55
Remind for Alamo Parents
Join Alamo Parents REMIND
Would you like to receive text updates on important dates and activities taking place here at Alamo Elementary? REMIND is a safe and efficient communication app designed for teachers/schools to communicate important classroom/school information. If you are interested in receiving updates from Alamo Elementary via text, text this message @aebulldogs to the number 81010.
Box Tops & Aunt Millie's
Box-Tops
Every year our PTO collects Box-Tops for Education. Send in those Box-Tops today!
Aunt Millie's School Spirit Program
Help earn money for your school by collecting Aunt Millie's UPC's.
Click on the link to learn more. http://schoolspiritprograms.com/how-it-works/
Upcoming Dates
Mar. 19 - Girls on the Run practice @ 3:53-5:30 p.m.
Mar. 22 - Bedtime Stories 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Mar. 21 - Girls on the Run practice @ 3:53-5:30 p.m.
Mar. 21 - Parent School Safety Meeting at Alamo @ 6:00 p.m.
Mar. 23 - Reading Logs due
Mar. 23 - Biography Day (Dress like a famous person.)
Mar. 27 - Author Visit
Mar. 26 - PTO Meeting @ 4:00 p.m.
Mar. 26 -Girls on the Run practice @ 3:53-5:30 p.m.
Mar. 29 - Reading Logs due
Mar. 28 - Girls on the Run practice @ 3:53-5:30 p.m.
Mar. 30 - Wild About Reading
Alamo Elementary
Email: nknight-lucas@otsegops.org
Website: www.otsegops.org
Location: 8184 North 6th Street, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
Phone: (269) 692-6150