#AESStayingConnected
June 1-5
Hello Alward Families!
Looking back at the past 11 weeks, I never would have imagined that March 13, 2020 would be our last in person, face-to-face day of learning for the 19-20 school year or that we would close out this year with virtual learning. However, our school community dove right into the challenge and tackled the obstacles and road bumps along the way. I am so proud of our teachers, support staff, parents, and, especially, our students, for their grit, determination, and will to navigate un-chartered waters during these difficult times and all the emotions that surfaced along the journey. For many of us, there were definitely days of tears, sadness, anger, and frustration alongside the feelings of uncertainty not knowing what the new week would bring let alone next hour. Hopefully, you were able to find some unexpected moments of smiling and laughing during this time as well.
Thank you to all of you for your partnership, grace, and understanding as we navigated the unknown to get to where we are now with virtual learning. Thank you for stepping up into the role as the face-to-face, in-person "teacher." You all have juggled so many different hats, and we applaud your efforts and want you to know that we appreciate you so very much!
I know that this year will most likely be remembered as the year school stopped on Friday, March 13 due to COVID-19. However, I would like to challenge our school community to think back and remember some Alward "good news" that happened this year. Talk with your children and share with me your favorite memory, and I will compile them into our end of year slideshow with all of the pictures that I have taken this year. You can share the memory by filling out this Google Form or emailing it to me along with a picture by Wednesday, June 3 at 9 p.m.
We also try to make the end of the year special for our fifth grade students by doing a clap out! We would still like to do this and need your help. If you and your family would like to help cheer our fifth grade students on, please send me a 3-5 second video of your children or family cheering and clapping "out" our fifth grade students by Wednesday, June 3 at 9 p.m.
I know that many of you probably have so many questions and concerns thinking about what school will look like this fall. At this time, we don't have many answers, but I would like to leave you with this. No matter what happens when August hits our calendars, please be assured that we are going to meet your child where s/he is at emotionally, socially, and academically and ensure that they feel loved, safe, and cared for as they walk through our doors this fall.
I wish you all a relaxing summer filled with lots of smiles, laughter, and love and look forward to seeing everyone soon! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done for our staff, students, and me throughout this pandemic. This is one amazing school community, and I feel honored everyday to be a part of it.
Much love to you all for a safe and happy summer,
Mrs. McClure
Last Week of School Wrap Up
Family Pick-up of Students' Items: Our teachers worked hard last week to close out their classrooms and pack up all remaining items belonging to out students. If was definitely a somber way to get ready for summer.
Schedule: Please come during your designated time unless you filled out the Google Form with an alternative time for pick up- Google Form.
- Monday, June 1: PK from 9-11 a.m. and KDG from 1-3 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 2: 1st from 9-11 a.m., 2nd from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 3rd from 1-3 p.m.
- Wednesday June 3: 4th from 9-11 a.m. and 5th from 1-3 p.m.
- Last call will be June 3 from 6-7 p.m.
Pick-up Directions: When picking up your child's items, please pull all the way up to the orange cones in the right pick-up lane and remain in your vehicle. Staff will ask for students' names and we will have a runner bring out the items to your car. Let staff know to either open your back passenger door or pop open your trunk for them to place the items in your vehicle.
Items to Bring: Please bring the following items during pick-up times. We will not be allowed to collect anything during the parade on Friday.
- Library Books
- Classroom Books-please place in a bag labeled with your child's teacher's name.
- Retirement cards for Ms. Baker and Ms. Stokes-see below for more information
- Something special for teachers or staff
Library Books, Classroom Library Books, and Technology Return Plan:
- Library books: Please bring them this week on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday during pick-up of students' items. Please drop off these books as soon as possible so that Mrs. Fellows can start closing out the library for this school year! Thank you so much!
- Classroom Library Books: If your child has books from his/her classroom teacher, please put the books in a bag labeled with the teacher's name. You can return the books when you come to pick up your students' items.
- Technology Device Return: If your family was given a device this spring, please return it to the Freshman campus on June 8 or June 9. If these times do not work, please email Mrs. McClure to arrange an alternative plan. Thank you!
Celebrating Our Retirees: Please help me congratulate Ms. Jamie Baker and Ms. Shelly Stokes on their recently announced retirement. Check out this cute video that they have made for our students and families as their way of letting everyone know what they will remember most about Alward. We are making Memory Boxes for Ms. Baker and Ms. Stokes. Please help us with celebrating these two phenomenal educators and their combined 55 years of service to the students and families of Hudsonville. You can help by making cards, writing letters, or sending in pictures of your child's or family's favorite memories of both of these two educators. We will have one box for Ms. Baker and one box for Ms. Stokes. Please drop them off during one of the times listed below for students' items pick-up. We need all items by Thursday, June 4th.
Student Celebration Parade: We will be celebrating all of our students with a reverse student parade on Friday, June 5th from 12:00-12:45 p.m. For the parade, please preview the attached map. Cars will enter our main drive-way (car drop-off/pick-up line) following our dismissal procedures. Please remain in the right lane and follow the curve around the lot. Once you are to the end of the u, you may get in the left lane if you need to turn left out onto Port Sheldon. Please drive slowly through the lot and do not stop! Students are welcome to cheer, sing, say goodbye, wave, make signs, and/or decorate their cars to celebrate their teachers and the 2019-202 school year! The Alward staff is excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our students this school year!
Schedule of times: Please come at the designated time for your child's last name-do not come early. Thank you!
A-B @ 12:00
C-E @ 12:05
F-G @ 12:10
H-J @ 12:15
K-L @ 12:20
M-O @ 12:25
P-R @ 12:30
S-T @ 12:35
U-W @ 12:40
X-Z @ 12:45
Report Cards: We have received some questions regarding grading practices. As you know, we are not assigning any grades to student work during this remote learning period. Due to this reality, we will not be sending home the end of year report cards at the elementary level (PK-5). A general comment stating your child’s progress in the current grade level’s standards allowing for promotion to the next grade level will be entered on each child’s report card that will be filed for documentation purposes.
Class Placements for the 2020-2021 School Year: As students and families bring closure to one school year, we know that much anticipation also centers around teacher assignments for next school year. For many reasons, including potential staffing changes for the 2020-2021 school year due to current retirements, we will not be providing class placement information in June. Additionally, as we work to effectively place pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students into classrooms, we will conduct remote kindergarten screening in the coming weeks. We know how important this information can be for calming nerves and adjusting to what comes next for many of our students. Please know that as soon as we are able, we plan to communicate class placements for the 2020-2021 school year.
Google Classrooms Availability: Students can continue to participate in the virtual learning activities and extension activities that were provided by classroom teachers. However, teachers will not be responsible for uploading new material or answering questions from students/families once the school year has ended. Thank you for your understanding!
Lunch Update: We will be serving lunches for the entire month of June on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00-12:30 at the Hudsonville High School.
Registration for 2020-2021 School Year: Enrollment information can be found on our district website.
Updates from Dr. VanderJagt
- Remote Learning Feedback Survey
- Check out the HPS page for COVID-19 updates and steps that our district is taking to help support our families, staff, and school community.
- COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan
Upcoming Events
Online Registration Open for New Students for 2020-2021 School Year
Family Pick-up of Students' Items
- Monday, June 1: PK from 9-11 a.m. and KDG from 1-3 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 2: 1st from 9-11 a.m., 2nd from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 3rd from 1-3 p.m.
- Wednesday June 3: 4th from 9-11 a.m. and 5th from 1-3 p.m.
- Last call will be June 3 from 5-7 p.m.
Please fill out this Google Form if you cannot come during your child's assigned time or if you would like to pick up all of your students' items at the same time.
Monday, Jun 1, 2020, 09:00 AM
Alward Elementary School, Port Sheldon Street, Hudsonville, MI, USA
Summer Reading at the Georgetown Library
Monday, Jun 1, 2020, 08:00 AM
Georgetown Township Public Library, Baldwin Street, Jenison, MI, USA
Alward Student Celebration Parade
Student Celebration Parade: We will be celebrating all of our students with a reverse student parade on Friday, June 5th from 12:00-12:45 p.m. For the parade, please preview the attached map. Cars will enter our main drive-way (car drop-off/pick-up line) following our dismissal procedures. Please remain in the right lane and follow the curve around the lot. Once you are to the end of the u, you may get in the left lane if you need to turn left out onto Port Sheldon. Please drive slowly through the lot and do not stop! Students are welcome to cheer, sing, say goodbye, wave, make signs, and/or decorate their cars to celebrate their teachers and the 2019-202 school year! The Alward staff is excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our students this school year!
Friday, Jun 5, 2020, 12:00 PM
Alward Elementary School, Port Sheldon Street, Hudsonville, MI, USA
Last Day of School! Let summer begin! We will miss you!
Friday, Jun 5, 2020, 04:00 PM
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The SOARce Newsletter
Virtual Learning Available Over the Summer
Google Classrooms will be available over the summer break!
Many parents have been inquiring if Google Classrooms will be available for students to use over the summer and the answer is yes! Students can continue to participate in the virtual learning activities and extension activities that were provided by classroom teachers. However, teachers will not be responsible for uploading new material or answering questions from students/families once the school year has ended.
Connecting to Google Classrooms
How to Log into Gmail and Google Classroom
On Friday, your teacher sent you an email with your child’s email address and password information. Here is a video that you can watch to help you log into your child’s gmail account. This video also explains how they will join their teacher’s Google Classroom.
How to Connect to Learning Opportunities for Specials’ Classes
Here is a video that will show you how to join our specials’ Google Classrooms. To join their classes, you will need the following codes:
PK-2nd Grade Specials' Codes
Art: 3ppimuw
Music: akv3wr3
PE: ve7uwwz
STEAM: 5mx3urt
3rd-5th Grade Specials' Codes:
Art: 47g3l47
Music: mf7jvye
PE: yjw2ucw
STEAM: All 3-5 students already are in Google Classroom. Please email Mrs. McClure if your child is not in a STEAM class.
AES Google Classroom for Social-Emotional Support for Families and Students
PTC Updates
- receipts for Family Fare
- paper for the Paper Gator
- Box Tops (you can get the Box Tops app to enter Box Tops for our school)
Breakfast and Lunch is Served!
#stayingconnected
Email: mmcclure@hpseagles.net
Website: https://alward.edublogs.org/
Location: 3381 Port Sheldon Street, Hudsonville, MI, USA
Phone: 616-669-6700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AESEaglePride/
Twitter: @AlwardElem