Alto All Star Gazette
March 19, 2021
From the desk of Prinicpal Papes
Dear Alto Families,
It’s been another terrific week at Alto. The sunny days have certainly been welcomed, and the forecast for the weekend looks amazing!
2nd Trimester Report Cards
Report cards went home at the beginning of the week. Report cards are a critical communication tool to update you on your child’s progress and achievement in school. This includes academic and behavioral progress, as well as attendance updates and general comments. If you have clarifying questions/concerns regarding your child’s report card, please contact his/her teacher. If you still have concerns following a discussion with the teacher, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
March is Reading Month
We observed great success with the reading challenge that was due at the beginning of this week, with a large percentage of students participating. Students received a Tootsie Pop for turning in their completed slips, and their names were entered into a drawing. Today, five students one a special prize bag. If your child is not regularly reading at home, we hope this helped to encourage this habit. It is so important for their reading success and overall success in school!
This week, we launched our Book Madness: Tournament of Books. This is a bracket-style competition to determine Alto Elementary’s favorite book. Classes selected books to enter into the competition. Next week, the competition starts! The books will go head-to-head until we have voted on a winner. Students have started listening to the books that they will be voting on next week. The Final Four and Championship matchups will be held on March 31st and April 1st.
Next week, students will be challenged to complete a Bingo Reading Challenge at home!
School Fundraiser
The school fundraiser was very successful. We appreciate your support! We are pleased to share that we made a profit of $23,270. These funds are critical in continuing to offer supplemental resources and activities that benefit each and every student and classroom in our school. Additionally, we will be receiving new PE equipment that will be utilized by all students. We will be sure to share this with you when received. The student experience was a key element of this fundraiser. Students received their prizes on Monday, and it was awesome to again see their excitement in receiving these!
Kindergarten Enrollment
Attention families with incoming 2021-2022 kindergarten students! Kindergarten enrollment for next fall is open. If you have a student who will turn five years old by September 1st, 2021, they can start their school journey! You may also sign a waiver for your child to start school if they turn five by December 1st, 2021. Paperwork required includes proof of residency, original birth certificate, up to date immunizations and a health appraisal. Information can be found on our Lowell Area Schools website: https://www.lowellschools.com/our-district/enrollment/
Please contact our office at 987.2600 with any questions you may have.
Schools of Choice Parents
Internal and external schools of choice applications for the 2021-22 school year will be available from April 12-May 14. You must submit your internal choice application to the elementary building of residence. The district will not accept internal choice applications prior to or after these dates. If you applied and were approved, it is not necessary to re-apply. Applications and open grade levels will be available on our website, www.lowellschools.com, April 12, 2021.
COVID-19 Mitigating Measures
Kent County Health Department School Toolkit:
https://www.accesskent.com/Health/CommDisease/pdfs/SchoolChildcareToolkit.pdf
As always, please contact me with any questions you may have. Enjoy the weekend!
Sincerely,
Paul Papes
Principal
Alto Elementary
Lowell Area Schools
P.E. Happenings!
Two weeks until spring break means we are entering my favorite time of the year. We are hopefully leaving the cooler weather behind us and welcoming warmer weather that will allow us to get PE back outside. I am excited to announce we have put field day on the calendar! This is my favorite event of the year that will be taking place on June 2nd for lower elementary and June 3rd for the upper elementary.
The past three weeks of physical education have been packed with basketball and volleyball skills. During our basketball unit, we worked on dribbling and shielding, passing, and shooting. All grade levels impressed me with their abilities. We are in the midst of our volleyball unit and have so far worked on some serving and underhand passing. The future of these sports looks bright in Lowell.
Next week will conclude our volleyball unit and the last week before spring break will focus on cooperation and team building. After spring break, we will be starting our first ever pickleball unit!
Please make sure to send your student with appropriate athletic shoes on physical education days. Stay healthy, keep active, and do not forget to watch Michigan Wolverine Basketball!
Office Notes
Breakfast and Lunch Menu week of 3/22-3/26
3/22: Waffle or Cini Minis
3/23: Breakfast Bar or Frudel
3/24: Cereal or Muffin w/ String Cheese
3/25: English Muffin Sandwich or BeneFIT Bar
*each breakfast served w/ fruit and choice of milk.
Lunch:
3/22: Chicken Nuggets w/ mashed potatoes or PB&J Fun Lunch
3/23: Cheeseburger w/ french fries or PB&J Fun Lunch
3/24: Mac and Cheese w/ broccoli florets or Cereal Fun Lunch
3/25: Cheese Pizza w/ baked apple slices or Strawberry Parfait w/ Granola
3/26: Crispy Fish Sticks w/ corn or PB&J Fun Lunch
*each lunch served w/ fruit, veggies and choice of milk.
Mark Your Calendar!
4/12: School Resumes
Alto Elementary
Website: lowellschools.com
Location: 6150 Bancroft Avenue Southeast, Alto, MI, USA
Phone: 616-987-2600
Facebook: facebook.com/altoelementary