Alamo Superhero Headlines
Alamo Elementary Weekly Newsletter - April 8, 2019
Important Dates
Apr. 8 - PTO Meeting @ 4:00 p.m.
Apr. 8 - Board of Education Meeting @ Alamo Elementary 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 8 - Girls on the Run
Apr. 9 - Destination Imagination
Apr. 10 - Coffee w/the Superintendent @ 10:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Mezzo Coffee House
Apr. 10 - Girls on the Run
Apr. 11 - Destination Imagination
Alamo PRIDE
Responsible Actions - Marcus Levering & Teegan Slotman
Integrity WIthin - Kayla Bagley & Owen Santman
Determination to Succeed - Holly Haruza & Nicholas Adams
Expect Excellence - Kaitlin Haskins & Cody Nieboer
Get Involved, Make a Difference
April 8th @ 4:00 p.m.
May 6th @ 6:30 p.m.
Boys on the Move Coaches Needed
We need at least two coaches that are available after school from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. two nights a week. The program typically kicks off in mid April. If you are interested or would like more information please contact the Alamo office at 694-7600 or email Nicole Knight-Lucas at nknight-lucas@otsegops.org.
Alamo Reading Campout
Book Drive
Reading Month Celebrations
Save the Date!
2019-20 Class Placements
Spring is the time of year when we begin planning for next school year. Placement of children in classes is a part of that planning, and a most difficult task. Responsible placement decisions take time and many consultations among staff members. Our goal is to make the best match between student, teacher and learning environment. Many factors must be considered such as gender ratios, academic ranges, social behavior, personalities, special needs and learning styles. If you feel you have special insights regarding your child that could assist with our selection, it is certainly welcome. We ask parents to adhere to the following guidelines:
• Provide information about your child’s needs.
• Do NOT request a specific teacher or friendship group. A detailed description of your child’s learning style and individual needs is more helpful.
• Information must be in writing and must be in the office on or before May 3rd.
Remember that due to many factors involved, we are unable to make any guarantees, other than the fact that we will put much thought, consideration, and individual attention into each and every placement. We hope you will rely on our expertise and know that the best possible placement will be made for your child.
Field Day Save the Date
M-Step Testing Begins
2019 Michigan Department of Education Testing Updates
Students in grades 3 – 8 and 11 will be assessed on Michigan’s current content standards in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and social studies. This year, the M-Step (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress) will be given April 8th through May 31st in an on-line format.
The following is important information regarding this test and your child’s participation.
All components of the test will be given on–line. It is a computer based test.
· Grades 3, 4 and 5 will be tested in ELA (reading, writing & listening comprehension) and Mathematics.
· Grade 5 will be tested in Science and in Social Studies.
Testing will consist of an on-line test and will be administered within the following guidelines:
1. Online Test Session:
· The Online Test Session may be administered in 1 session with a scheduled break (not to exceed 20 minutes) or in 2 separate sessions of equal length (45 minutes each for grades 3‐5 and 60 minutes each for grades 6-8 and 11) on the same day.
· Breaks may be provided during test sessions using the software’s pause feature.
· Although the Online Test Session is not timed, schools should allow about 1.5 hours of testing time for students in grades 3‐5 and 2 hours for students in grades 6‐8 and 11.
State Testing Window for M-Step is as follows:
· The 5th grade Science assessment will consist of one 45 minute session.
· The 5th grade Social Studies assessment will consist of two 30 minute sections (total of 1 hour).
· The State testing windows for the M-Step assessment is as follows:
o Grades 5 ............ April 8th – May 3rd
o Grades 3 & 4...... April 29th – May 24th
· Each school is scheduling these assessments individually; a schedule for Alamo Elementary is below.
4/16 - 5th grade Social Studies
4/18 - 5th grade ELA
4/23 - 5th grade Math
4/25 - 5th grade Science
4/30 - 3rd grade ELA
5/2 - 3rd grade ELA
5/7 - 4th grade ELA
5/9 - 4th grade ELA
5/14 - 4th grade Math
5/16 - 4th grade Math
5/14 - 3rd grade Math
5/16 - 3rd grade Math
The test will be administered in the classroom using the Chromebooks.
For further information on this upcoming computer based assessment of student achievement, please visit: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-22709_70117---,00.html.
A Practice Test for students can also be found at: https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi/
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT STUDENTS ARE IN ATTENDANCE THE DAYS OF TESTING!
Alamo WatchD.O.G.S. ROCK!
We still need a WatchDOG for:
M-T, April 8th & 9th
M-Th, April 15th-18th
Register to be a WatchDOG and sign up by clicking on the link at VolunteerSpot: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/1998773/false#/invitation
Kindergarten Registration is right around the corner!
Register for Preschool Today!
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.
Alamo Peachjar
Alamo Elementary
Email: nknight-lucas@otsegops.org
Website: www.otsegops.org
Location: 8184 North 6th Street, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
Phone: (269) 694-7600