Falcon's Nest

Alcova Elementary School

August 26, 2022

Principal's Message

Dear Alcova Parents/Guardians,


It has been a great week here at Alcova ES. Students are learning, building skills, and making new friends.


We are focused on helping our students to be problem solvers and critical thinkers in ALL content areas. We are welcoming parents into the building for our upcoming Curriculum Night-Family Engagement that will take place September 15th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. This is an opportunity to collaborate with teachers on the best ways to support your child at home.

Hope to see you there!


The grace period for Free/Reduced Lunch will expire on September 14th. We still have many parents who have not completed the Free and Reduced Lunch application and their student is in a pending status until September 14th. After September 14th they will be charged full price per meal.


Parents: If you have not already, please complete the annual Lunch Form. For the past two years, this has not been required as all meals have been free. However, moving forward, lunch meals in our cafeteria will be charged to students/adults. While this does qualify families for Free and Reduced Meals, please compete regardless as it also can qualify parents for additional benefits to both families and the school for additional resources, etc. This year, I am asking for all families to complete the form as we are returning to a typical school year. Please click here to be directed to the Free and Reduced Lunch Application.


Please check your student(s) cafeteria balance and sign off on important orientation agreements by going to My Payments Plus.


Please see our link below to become a PTA member.


Have a wonderful weekend.


Proud to Be Your Principal!

Cortina Harris

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Alcova Singers Audition Sign Up

Hello Alcova Community! With a new school year comes more fun opportunities for your falcon musicians! Auditions for the 4th and 5th grade chorus, the Alcova Singers, will take place from August 29th - September 2nd. Audition spots are limited, so please check out the link found below or scan the QR code on our flyer.


I hope to see your talented singers for the auditions in just a short time! Have a fantastic weekend.


- Mr. Holder


Alcova Singers Audition Sign-ups: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4ca8a92eaafdc52-2022

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New Traffic Pattern in the Car Rider Lane

Thank you for your continued patience as we try to make our car rider line as efficient as possible given the volume of vehicles we have each day. I am working with GCPS Facilities, Planning, and Construction and the Department of Transportation. They designed our traffic pattern and will be tweaking it to find the best route.

Here are a few tidbits to help us in the meantime.

In the mornings:

  • If you arrive to school early, your child must remain in their vehicle until 7:45 bell.
  • Follow the traffic pattern
  • Pull all the way forward before letting your child out of our vehicle
  • Only turn right out of the driveway
  • Do not remove barricades or cones
  • Do not let your child out of the car in the parking lot or on the side of the road
  • After 8:15am, please park and check your child in tardy at the front desk

In the afternoons:

  • Pull all the way forward before stopping to let your child in your vehicle
  • If you’re checking out your child, the cutoff time is 2:15pm but I would recommend earlier to prevent a delay getting out of the parking lot
  • Do not remove barricades or cones

Additionally, I am trying to find a crossing guard to help our walkers cross the driveway to the nearby neighborhoods, but there is a shortage. I have also submitted a request to have a police officer to help direct traffic.

If you are willing to volunteer your time to assist our teachers in the parking lot, I encourage you to use this link to indicate your interest.

Again, thank you for adhering to the abovementioned.


Below is our traffic pattern- please review the BLUE arrows on the map for Alcova ES Parent Drop off and Pick Off Plan.

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School Hours

Please remember school hours are from 8:15am -2:45pm. Students may enter at 7:45am and car riders will begin dismissal at 2:40pm. Starting this year, announcements will begin 8:10am, so that instruction may begin promptly at 8:15am. Thanks in advance for getting your children here on time ready to learn.

Lunch after Labor Day

In an effort to get students acclimated to school and off to a good start, we are asking for parents to hold off on coming to lunch. Parents are welcomed to start having lunch with their child after Labor Day, September 5, 2022.

STUDENT CHECK OUTS ALLOWED BEFORE 2:15pm.

Each day we strive to dismiss students with a safe organized process to ultimately ensure the safety of each student. In order to keep our procedures accurate and maintain appropriate processes to ensure the safe release of our students, all check outs in the front office must be completed before 2:15pm and all transportation changes must be made in writing with the front office by the parent by 1:00pm. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe.

Emergency - "Day of" Transportation Change Requests

Parents,


If you have a emergency transportation change request you must email 978.transportation@gcpsk12.org for the change to be processed. Please use this email only for "day of" emergency changes, where you were not able to send a note in with your student. Change request must be received no later than 1:30 pm to guarantee the change request will be processed.

Car Rider Info

Just a Reminder: The Car Rider Lane will close at 8:15 am. All students arriving after 8:15, must check in at the front office with the parent. Please do not drop your child off if the doors are closed.

Important Required Back To School Orientation Agreements for all students.

All parents, please visit mypaymentsplus.com to sign off on required orientation agreements for all students. Visit our website for helpful directions on setting up an account.
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Hi Parents/Guardians,

It is hard to believe that it is time to start thinking about the holiday season. Please check out the flyer below from the Salvation Army if you are in need of a little assistance this year.

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Alcova Falcon Scholars

Alcova ES School Calendar

Click here to see the calendar