ALPINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS
NOVEMBER 2019
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
I would like to wish all Alpine Elementary School families a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful start to the Holiday Season!
November is a busy month at Alpine Elementary School and I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the major events. By mid November you will be receiving a packet home from "Display My Art".You will have the opportunity to purchase your children's artwork, which will make excellent Holiday Gifts!
Parent Teacher Conferences are November 4, 5, 6 & 11. You will have the opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher. Our teachers look forward to taking the time to meet with you to discuss your child’s social/academic progress. First Trimester Report Cards that will be posted on December 12, 2019.
On Wednesday, November 13th classes will begin to visit our PTO Fall Book Fair during their regularly scheduled Media Center periods. The Book Fair will conclude on Wednesday, November 20th. Parents will have the opportunity to visit the Book Fair on Wednesday, November 13th from 4:00pm - 7:30pm.
Please note on November 4, 5, 6, 11 & 27 students will be dismissed at 1:15pm.
School will be closed on November 7 & 8, 2019.
Mr. Giuseppe Leone, Principal
EVENTS FROM OCTOBER
Pumpkin Investigation
GUIDANCE
CHARACTER EDUCATION - REPONSIBILITY
This month our character education trait is responsibility. Responsibility means being dependable and making good choices. Mrs. Yanoff will be creating a video for the classes on responsibility.
Mrs. Heather Yanoff, Guidance Counselor
FUN IN STEP
STEP
October was a busy and exciting month in STEP. We started out the month exploring our brand new Dash and Dot robots. The PTO generously purchased 8 of these robots for our STEP program and we were finally able to try them out. The students began exploring in the very simple Go Dash and Dot application. The app taught the students how to drive Dash, practice using the functions such as his eye, flashing colors, head movement, and sound effects. The students used the iPads to control the robots around the classroom. Many students attempted to drive Dash along the giant maze taped around the entire STEP classroom floor. There is so much more for us to explore and learn with our Dash and Dot Robots. Thank you so much to the PTO for providing this experience to our students.
Later in the month we received our Rainbow Trout fish eggs through the Trout in the Classroom Program. 561 rainbow trout eggs were delivered on Monday, October 21st. Within one week, our tank transformed from holding eggs to having hundreds of alevin as the eggs hatched very quickly. We will continue to learn about and raise our Rainbow Trout throughout the school year. In late May, we will plan a release where we will set the trout free in the Wallkill River at Station Park.
Finally, this month Kindergarten and First graders read the story Press Here (the students LOVED it) and then played the game that goes along with the book. The book and game are a fun way to use our imaginations, creativity, and communication to work collaboratively with our peers.
While the kindergarten and first grade classes were hard at work with the game Press Here, the second graders were challenged with the game SET. This is one of my favorite games that I played as a child. It’s a simple card game but fun and challenging! Here is an online version for you to try at home: https://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle
Please check my websites regularly as they are updated with many different challenges, apps, and websites that can be used at home.
Parent Site:
https://sites.google.com/a/sparta.org/step---mrs-morrow/
Student Site:
https://sites.google.com/sparta.org/aesstep/home
Thank you,
Mrs. Christina Morrow
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The K-2 students of Alpine Elementary School worked very hard to train for the 12th Annual Alpine Spartan Run in support of the American Cancer Society. The Alpine Spartan Run was held on October 24th, and the students and staff were excited to be running for a good cause in chilly but great weather.
During their physical education classes the students learned about cardiovascular fitness and goal setting to prepare for 2 weeks before the big day. Each grade level had a set distance goal that the students were challenging themselves to complete while jogging the entire time. The kindergarten and first graders set a goal of running one full lap, almost a half of a mile, while the second graders aimed to run two full laps. All of the students did a fantastic job supporting each other with encouragement and good sportsmanship. The physical education department is proud to announce that this year’s Alpine Spartan Run donated $2,185.00 to the American Cancer Society! With the Alpine Spartan Run and October behind us, we look forward to activities like Mini-Town, rope climbing, obstacle courses, and volleying skills. It’s time to work hard and enjoy the upcoming activities before Christmas break is upon us!
PTO NEWS
It’s hard to believe we’ve already made through two months of school! It certainly has been a busy time, but the next two months are certain to keep us just as busy.
Just a quick recap of October…for the second year, the PTO hosted the Alpine Pumpkin Patch for all the students. What a wonderful time all the children had despite the chilly, windy weather. Once again, you would have thought students were on a real pumpkin farm with all their smiles and excitement throughout the day. A special thank you to all our volunteers who arrived early that morning to help unload the 700+ pumpkins Andersen Farms delivered and helped students pick the best pumpkin as they visited the Pumpkin Patch. Thank you to McCarrick’s Landscaping for helping coordinate all the logistics.
A special thank you to Jodi Bruno for giving the entrance of the school a much needed Fall Cleanup! Between Jodi and the mums donated by Sparta Nursery & Garden Center the entrance looks much brighter!
As you may be aware, last year the PTO arranged for various speakers to come to our meetings and discuss topics such a childhood anxiety, online learning programs, support services and always a crowd favorite….the Lice Fairy! This year we are looking to bring in additional speakers. Please mark your calendars for the following:
- Detective Sergeant Jeff McCarrick, Sparta Police Department, will be speaking about School Security at our PTO meeting on November 14 at 10:30am
- Dr. Koss, Child Psychiatrist, Dr. Brown, Pupil Personnel Services, & Mrs. Yanoff, Alpine’s Guidance Counselor, will be doing a special presentation on December 10 at 10:00am
We are always looking for speaker recommendations, so please send an email to alpineptopres@gmail.com with any suggestions.
Following are several activities throughout the month to mark on your calendar. Additional information will be sent as the dates get closer:
- - Display My Art (11/1-11/15)
- - Toy Drive (11/11 – 11/22)
- - PreK and Kindergarten Family Night (11/13)
- - Scholastic Book Fair (11/13-11/20)
- - Fall Food Drive (11/13-11/20)
Box Tops! Box Tops! Box Tops! Keep sending them in and scanning them!
The next PTO meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 14, at 10:30am.
We would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and hope to see many of you throughout the month.
Thank you,
The Alpine PTO
P.S. Check out our very own Spartan Mascot! Thank you to Staci Schmid for keeping the kids excited during the Spartan Run!
DELAYED OPENING / EARLY DISMISSAL
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER 2019
11/1 School Spirit Dress Down
11/4 Parent Teacher Conferences - Early Dismissal - 1:15PM
11/5 Parent Teacher Conferences - Early Dismissal - 1:15PM
11/6 Parent Teacher Conferences - Early Dismissal - 1:15PM
11/7 & 8 NJEA Convention - NO SCHOOL
11/11 - 11/15 American Education Week
11/11 Parent Teacher Conferences - Early Dismissal - 1:15PM
11/11 Veteran's Day - Wear Red, White & Blue
11/13 - 11/20 Fall Book Fair
11/13 Fall Book Fair - Evening Hours - 4:00PM - 7:30PM
11/13 Fall Food Drive Begins
11/13 PreK & Kindergarten Family Night 5:30PM-7:00PM
11/14 Scarecrow Day
11/14 PTO Meeting - 10:30AM
Click on the below link to view the calendar for Spirit, Theme and Character Education Days at Alpine:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gr2mR2CTErnX3lEsPKnGebujitZ6Ie1b11-aCVTlJ3c/edit?usp=sharing
Delayed Opening Schedule
If we have a delayed opening all Sparta schools will be on a 2 hour delay.
PreK - AM Session
11:10 AM – 12:55 PM
(Students will be picked up approximately 2 hours later than their regular schedule and return home approximately 1 hour later than their regular schedule.)
PreK - PM Session
2:00 PM – 3:45 PM
(Students will be picked up approximately 50 minutes later than their regular schedule and return home at their regular scheduled time.)
Full Day PreK, Kindergarten, Grades 1 & 2 Students
11:10 AM - 3:45 PM
Early Dismissal Schedule
PreK - AM Session:
9:10 AM – 11:10 AM
Pick-up regular time at your bus stop
Drop-off 30 minutes earlier at your bus stop
PreK - PM Session:
11:15 AM - 1:15 PM
Pick-up 2 hours earlier at your bus stop
Drop-off 2.5 hours earlier at your bus stop
Full Day PreK, Kindergarten, Grades 1 & 2
Students will be on an early dismissal schedule:
9:10 AM - 1:15 PM
** There will be no lunches served on Early Dismissal Days
Early Dismissal Dates
Parent Teacher Conference Days
November 4,5,6 & 11
Day Before Holiday
Wednesday, November 27
Friday, December 20
Teacher In-Service Day
Friday, March 13
Friday, April 3
Thursday, April 9
Friday, May 15
Wednesday, June 17
Thursday, June 18
Friday, June 19
PRINCIPAL
Email: giuseppe.leone@sparta.org
Website: sparta.org
Location: 151 Andover Road, Sparta, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-729-3107
Twitter: @AESPrincipal2