Alamo Headlines
Alamo Elementary Weekly News, March 8, 2021
Important Dates
Conference Week
- March 8 - Full day - Blue Day
- March 9 - ½ day - Gold Day dismissal @ 12:10 p.m.
- March 10 - ½ day - Gold Day dismissal @ 12:10 p.m.
- March 10 - Reading Month Dress Up: School Spirit - Wear Blue & Gold
- March 10 - Bookmarks are due for the Gold team
- March 11 - ½ day - Blue Day Dismissal @ 12:10 p.m.
- March 11 - Reading Month Dress Up: School Spirit - Wear Blue & Gold
- March 11 - Bookmarks are due for the Blue team
- March 12 - No School
- Mar. 15 - Full time F2F
Thank you for showing your P.R.I.D.E.
R-Responsible Actions
I-Integrity Within
D-Determination to Succeed
E-Expect Excellence
Blue Team
- Aria Jager
- Hannah Jewett
- Bryer Hatten
- Phoenyx Balkema
- Avnoor Benipal
- Quinn Cunningham
- Baylie Holly
- Lydia Longcore
- Liam Mahaney
- Brinley Fraaza
Gold Team
- Emma Puente
- Brooklyn VanSparrentak
- Austin Warning
- Kip Datema
- Peyton Petersen
- Ethan VanHouten
- Aurora Schmitt
- London Pintarelli
- Addy Maisel
- Kate Littel
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences
Our spring parent-teacher conferences will be held on virtually on Wed., March 10th & Thurs., March 11th.. Students will have a ½ day on both days and will be released at 12:10 p.m. There will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, March 12th.
The link to the Zoom conference for each teacher is listed below. If the classroom teacher has a password it is also listed. (not all teachers have passwords)
Classroom Teachers
Kindergartern
Miss Avery's Spring Conferences
Mrs. Cramer's Spring Conferences
Password - Smile
1st Grade
Mrs. Gallup's Spring Conferences
Password - Bulldogs
2nd Grade
Mrs. Myers' Spring Conference Zoom Link
3rd Grade
Mrs. Engbers' Spring Conferences
Password - 3rdGrade
Mrs. Trumley's Spring Conferences
4th Grade
Mrs. Haase's Spring Conferences
Mrs. Trumley's Spring Conferences
5th Grade
Mrs. Breese's Spring Conferences
Password - 12345
Miss Sparks' Spring Conferences
Specials Teachers
Spanish
Señora Rogers Spring Conferences
Password - Spanish
PE/Health
Mr. Uramkin's Spring Conferences
Password - Bulldogs
Technology
Mrs. Bronkema's Spring Conferences
Password - Conference
Music
Mrs. Garton's Spring Conferences
Mrs. Hardaker's Spring Conferences
Password - Conference
Art
Art Conferences with Mrs. White
Password - dix
Ms. Thomas's Spring Conferences (ART)
Password - Conference
Reading Is Magical
March is Reading Month has kicked off here at Alamo Elementary!
There are many exciting activities taking place during the month of March to celebrate our love for reading and to continue to develop a life long love for reading. Below are some highlights of this year's reading month events.
Reading Bookmarks) - The goal for K-2 grade students is to read at least 15 minutes for 5 days each week. The goal for 3rd-5th grade students is to read at least 20 minutes for 5 days each week. Please write the number of minutes your child reads everyday on the bookmark. Bookmarks need to be returned to school every Wednesday or Thursday in March. The more that you read, the more that you will know, and the more places you will go! So of course you can read more than the goal! ☺ Students who meet their goal will receive a sticker to put on their goals chart, a weekly prize, a chance to win a free book and a chance to either slime, throw water balloons or hot fudge sundae Mrs. Knight-Lucas.
The K-2nd grade class and the 3rd-5th grade class with the most minutes read by the end of March will earn a pizza party for their class. If an individual class meets their overall goal, they will earn a move and snack day (just before spring break) and be able to dress their teacher as a Disney character.
An ALL school goal of 100,000 minutes has been set. If the all school goal is meet the students will be able to slime, hot fudge sundae or throw water balloons at Mrs. Knight-Lucas in our end of the month celebration. (Students will vote!)
Throughout the month there are several dress up days that students are invited to participate in. Below are the dates and dress up themes.
March 10th & 11th – Bulldog PRIDE: Wear blue & Gold
March 18th – Wear a shirt with a Disney character or dress like a Disney character
March 25th – PJ Day
Other fun events will be happening this month. Take a peek at the reading month calendar to find out more.
We hope that you will encourage your child to take a new adventure in a book and even pick up a book with them.
Reading Is Magical - Blue Team Calendar
Reading Is Magical - Gold Team Calendar
Full Time Return Updates
Face Masks
- Every student needs to have a mask or cloth face covering each day when they come to school.
- Face masks are required on buses, in hallways, in classrooms and any additional common area. They are not required on the playground.
- A lanyard will be provided to each student from which to secure their mask once they have arrived at their destination.
- Mask breaks will be provided.
- Cloth face coverings or masks should be washed frequently.
Hallways
Moving through the halls:
- When walking in the hall, students must wear their mask.
- Students should stay to the RIGHT and maintain a safe distance from others.
Cafeteria
- Students must wear a mask when walking from class to the cafeteria.
- Students will come to the cafeteria on staggered times.
- Every student will have a designated spot that will ensure physical distancing from others.
- Cold lunch students will bring their lunch with them to the cafeteria.
- Hot lunch will be served in a lunch sack.
Specials
- Some specials will be taught in the home room while some will be taught in the designated specials classroom.
- When travelling to specials that are taught in a different location, such as the gym, students must wear a mask when travelling from their class to the specials classroom or gym.
- Students will wear masks while in specials classes.
- Students will be socially distanced to the extent possible.
Good Hygiene
Morning Arrival
In an effort to keep all students, staff, and parents/guardians as safe as possible while following CDC guidelines, we have created a new morning drop-off procedure for students who will not be utilizing bus transportation.
- Doors will open at 8:20 a.m. Students MUST stay in their vehicles until that time.
- Please pull up as far as possible when utilizing the drop-off zone.
- Students are to be dropped off on the curbside ONLY.
- Parents who are dropping off in the morning should NOT exit their vehicles. Please give hugs and kisses at home or in the car and remind students to physically distance themselves from others as they enter the building.
- Staff members will be available to ensure each student arrives safely and directly to their classroom.
- Students must wear a mask upon entering the building and will head directly to their classrooms.
- If parents have a need to visit the office, we ask that they wait until the school day begins before entering the building. Masks are required to enter the building.
Dismissal & Pick Up To Remain The Same
Our goal is to maintain the routines and procedures that have been put in place to keep students, staff and families safe. For the safety of our students, please be patient and follow the pick up procedures. Below is a reminder of the dismissal and pick up procedures.
All students not using school transportation will have a designated outdoor pick-up location which parents/guardians will access from their vehicles only. We are asking all parents to stay in their vehicles while school staff direct students to parent/guardian vehicles once they are stopped in the pick-up lane. No one will be allowed outside their vehicle to meet their child(ren). All students will be waiting outside with their teacher, using proper social distancing so as not to mix student cohorts among grade levels.
All parents/guardians will need to to follow the parking lot arrows around the outside of the parking lot to access the pick-up area. Parents will pull into the “pick-up lane” parallel to the sidewalk, come to a stop and have their student safely enter from the school side of the vehicle, and then proceed carefully back into the drive to leave.
Students will be picked up according to their grade level. Each class will be lined up using proper social distancing and wearing their face coverings.
- Kindergarten students will be picked up along the west sidewalk of the parking lot.
- 1st grade students will be picked up along the north sidewalk in front of the office area.
- 2nd grade students will be picked up along the north sidewalk in front of the cafeteria.
- 3rd-5th grade will be picked up along the east side of the parking lot near the grass area.
- Sibling groups will be assigned to one grade level location.
Parents will be allowed to park in the parking lot prior to dismissal, but will be required to enter the pick up line to pick up their student(s). Parents will not be allowed out of their vehicle and students will not be allowed to walk to a parents parked car. Students can only be picked up through the pick up line.
We ask for your support and patience as we work to perfect this new procedure. We know it will take a little bit of extra time each afternoon, but we know it can work. Please drive slowly during student pick-up times, and remain focused when pulling out into the driving lane after being stopped in the pick-up lane. We are committed to keeping everyone as safe as possible.
We are doing this pick-up procedure on a trial basis. After a couple of weeks, we will evaluate and share with you any required improvements to the procedure. Thank you for your patience!
School Transportation
With the increase in traffic that will come when all students return to school, please let us know as soon as possible if you'd like your child to return to riding the school bus. Space is still limited, but spots are available. Call Zach at the Transportation Department today at 269-694-7940 with questions or requests. Requests must be made by Wednesday, March 3 at Noon.
Moments With Mel
Social-Emotional Help is Available for Your Child
Throughout the year, we have been reaching out to students and staff in various ways to help our students when we know of social-emotional needs. If you feel your child would benefit from talking with someone at school and is not already connected, please reach out to us. We are here to help in any way we can.
Melanie Conley, Alamo Student Support Services
Order Your Yearbook
Alamo Elementary's yearbook ID code is 1232421
The cost of the yearbook is $12. Orders are due by 3/31/21
COVID 19 Reporting
Emergency Contact Information - Infinite Campus Parent Portal
It is extremely important to have up-to-date contact information available for each student. When emergencies arise, we need to be able to contact parents/guardians. This is also the contact information that is used for school closures and district updates.
Please log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to check that your contact information is current and to make any necessary changes. If you need assistance or login information for the Parent Portal, please contact the Alamo office. Thank You!
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 @alamopare to the number 81010.
Alamo Elementary
Email: nknight-lucas@otsegops.org
Website: https://alamo.otsegops.org/
Location: 8184 North 6th Street, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
Phone: (269) 694-7600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/415538888654020
Twitter: @otsegoschools