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Hikers' Headlines
Alamo Elementary - November 27, 2023
Dear Alamo Families,
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season as well as a time to reflect on what we are most thankful for this year. Like most year’s, I am thankful for my family and all of the great memories we have made this year. I am thankful for the good health that we have and for every new day that we are blessed with. Although we may not have everything we want, we have everything we need and then some. I am also thankful for good friends and the support you feel from them during times of need. Each year, I am especially thankful for the Alamo family. Thank you to all of the parents, students and staff for your hard work and dedication towards making Alamo Elementary a positive learning environment where all kids achieve excellence. Your support and encouragement has helped make the beginning of the 2023-24 school year successful. I look forward to continuing our collaborative effort to provide such a rich learning experience for our students. The family here at Alamo has had such a positive impact on my life and I am thankful to serve such a wonderful group of children, parents and staff.
Best wishes for a Happy & Healthy Thanksgiving!
Mrs. Knight-Lucas
Important Dates
November 17
- No School
November 20-25
- No School, Thanksgiving Break
November 27
- Cookie Capers
November 28
- Mileage Club
November 29
- Delayed Start, School Starts @ 10:00 a.m.
November 30
- Popcorn "Friday"
December 1
- Holiday Kick Off - Jingle Toes: Wear your holiday socks
- 1st Trimester Awards Assembly @ 2:00 p.m.
How Will You Show Your P.R.I.D.E. Today?
P - Positive Attitude
- Paisley Haskamp
- Peyton Roden
- Lincoln Brown
- Camron Lind
- Jayden Steenholdt
- Ephraim Walker
- Albie Hoff
- Oakley Allen
- Klayton Stephens
- Tyler Fox
Thank You Alamo Parents
Thank you to all of the parents who were able to attend fall parent teacher conferences. We are grateful for your commitment to collaborate with us to help your child succeed. Alamo Elementary staff is thankful for the opportunity to be part of your child's educational journey.
Cookie Capers - HOMEMADE HOLIDAY COOKIES NEEDED
Would you be willing to donate one dozen homemade cookies on Monday, November 27th? Our Alamo Cares team will be compiling cookie platters after school on Nov. 27th for Wings of Hope Hospice families. If interested, please send in one dozen homemade cookies in a zip-lock bag on Monday, November 27th.
Alamo Christmas Blessings
Alamo will once again be adding a little Christmas cheer to local family’s holiday season. Please join us in sponsoring a family for the 2023 Christmas season.
The Alamo Giving Tree is back! This year we will be doing a virtual Giving Tree via SignUpGenius or stop in to take a tag off the Alamo Giving Tree. The sign up link includes gift items for families. You may sign up for whatever item you'd like from the tree. We're asking that all items be returned to the school no later than Thursday, December 14th. Please do NOT wrap the items. Please be sure to include the gift tag with your present so we know to which family member it belongs.
Please contact Kim Wanamaker or Terry Webber at kwanamaker@otsegops.org or twebber@otsegops.org with any questions. Gift cards and monetary donations to go toward gifts are also welcomed. Thanks!
Thank you for your generous gift of giving!
2023 Holiday Themes
December 1st - Holiday Kick-Off: Jingle Toes - Wear your holiday socks
December 8th - Santa's Helpers - Dress like Santa, an Elf, a Reindeer or Wear Red
December 15th - Grinch Day: Dress like the Grinch, a character from The Grinch or Wear Green
December 18th - Cozy Flannel Day: Wear a cozy flannel
December 22nd - Pajama Day: Wear your holiday pajamas
DI Holiday Shopping Fundraiser
Need to do some Holiday Shopping? Let the Alamo Destination Imagination Team help you out!
What: We will be hosting a babysitting evening for Alamo students. (Kindergarten-5th Grade)
When: Friday, December 8, 2023
Where: Alamo Elementary School
Time: 5:30-8:30
Cost: $20 per student, cash or check (checks made payable to: Otsego Public Schools) Money is due to the Alamo Office by Friday, December 1st.
Details: Students will be able to come enjoy a craft, some activities in the gym, have a snack and watch a holiday movie. The movie will be Polar Express (rated G).
Limited to 100 Students
1st Trimester Awards
Each trimester Alamo hosts an awards assembly in which we recognize students for a variety of achievements such as citizenship, perfect attendance, honor roll and teacher selected awards. The staff at Alamo believes that celebrating students is an important part of the educational process. Although not every student will receive an award every time, we welcome parents to participate in celebrating our students. The assembly will take place on Friday, December 1st at 2:00 p.m. in the Alamo gymnasium.
Holiday Gift Shop
The holiday gift shop is back! December 11th-15th from 9:00-12:00 p.m. (Wednesday will be 10:00-12:00).
The Holiday Shop allows students to shop for their family during school hours. Students can easily purchase five or six inexpensive gift items for their loved ones. It’s one of the few times $10 is more than enough. More information to come following Thanksgiving break.
Social Work Scoop
Attitude of Gratitude As we are in the season of gratitude, it is important to model and teach this to the children in our lives. Gratitude teaches children to be happy with all that they have in their life. It allows the opportunity to discuss how everyone is different and may have different experiences, people, and things to be thankful for. Here are a few ways you can practice gratitude with your children: Write down all the things you are thankful for Create a family gratitude tradition ex) gratitude circle; time each day to share your gratitude with each other Write thank you notes Choose to donate time or goods to a local charity and discuss why your donation will matter to others I am so thankful to know each of your children and to work with them every day. I hope your family has a wonderful break! Enjoy this read aloud of “A Little Thankful Spot” by Diane Alber!
Register For Girls On The Run
It’s time to start thinking spring! Girls on the Run online registration runs through Nov. 20th at 11:59 p.m.
If you have a daughter in 3rd-5th grade, you definitely want to look into this wonderful opportunity! The girls will be meeting on M/W from 4-5:30 p.m. Girls on the Run is a curriculum-based, after-school character development program designed for 3rd-5th grade girls of ALL fitness levels. The 10-week curriculum attempts to help each girl find and stay true to her REAL self. Groups of 8 to 15 girls meet twice a week with their trained, volunteer coaches to discuss important life lessons while playing fun running games. Girls on the Run emphasizes independent thinking, making healthy choices, healthy group dynamics, and problem-solving. The curriculum stresses peer support and doing your best. The program finishes with the girls running or walking in a non-competitive 5K. The program runs from March 4th -May 21st after school. The registration fee is $170. Scholarships are available on a sliding scale.
Girls On The Run Coaches Needed!
Phone - 269-694-7600
Email - rcarter@otsegops.org or nknight-lucas@otsegops.org
WatchD.O.G.S. T-Shirt Order Information
Alamo Elementary is appreciative of your efforts as we continue our very successful WatchD.O.G.S. program. When you sign up to volunteer, we provide you with a shirt to borrow for the day. However, if you would like to purchase your own, please feel free to click on the link below to order one of your choosing.
Alamo WatchD.O.G.S.
Our WatchD.O.G.S. program will officially begin for the 2023-34 school year in October. “Dads” (or dad-like figures) who are interested in signing up to volunteer for a full or half day should contact Natalie Trumley (ntrumley@otsegops.org) or Nicole Knight-Lucas (nknight-lucas@otsegops.org) via email to schedule a date.
When you volunteer, you will receive a schedule for the day that allows you to help out in different classrooms doing a wide range of activities (reading a story, working with a child 1:1 on work, playing a game with a small group). You will also have scheduled time on the playground and lunchroom to interact with students and be a positive role model for them. We need a current background check on file before you are able to volunteer.
Battle of the Books
2024 Battle of the Books
Teams Now Forming for Grades 3-5!
The Battle of the Books is a fun, team oriented motivational reading program designed to encourage and recognize students’ reading abilities, broaden their reading interests, and increase their reading comprehension. Teams work together to read a variety of books of different reading levels and topics, then prepare for the big day...a quiz-show “battle” to test their comprehension and team spirit. More information and the book list are available in your school office.
Questions? nknight-lucas@otsegops.org
Sign up in your school’s office and prepare for fun!
(Permission slips will be available in the office.)
Book Titles for Saturday, February 24, 2024
Plainwell- Performing Arts Center
Odder By Katherine Applegate
Save Me a Seat By Sara Weeks & Gita Varadajaran
The Bridge Home By Padma Venkatraman
Stuntboy: In the Meantime By Jason Reynolds
Sea Otters- National Geographic Reader
By Laura Marsh
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles
By Julie Andrews Edwards
Winter Wear
Please please make sure your child dresses for the weather. Coats, gloves, and hats are pretty much a given from now on and before you know it your child will also need snow pants and boots.
Whatever you send to school with your child, please LABEL!! There could potentially be 23 pairs of black snow pants in your child's classroom and finding their items will be easier if they are labeled.
Alamo PTO - Make A Difference
Alamo PTO needs you! The PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) is a wonderful way to become involved in your child's education and to get to know other parents and teachers. The PTO has many activities throughout the school year that you can help with by volunteering. The PTO meets once a month at 4:00 p.m. in the Alamo Media Center. Listed below are the dates for this year's meetings. We would love for you to attend!
Meeting Dates
November 13th
December 11th
January 8th
February 12th
March 11th
April 8th
May 13th
June 10th
Mileage Club
Here are the recess times for each grade level.
- K @ 11:35 a.m.
- 1st @ 11:45 a.m.
- 2nd @ 12:05 p.m.
- 4th @12:15 p.m.
- 3rd @ 12:35 p.m.
- 5th @ 12:45 p.m.
Attendance Matters
Emergency Contact
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. All families received a letter with parent login information and instructions from the technology department soon. If you need assistance or login information for the Parent Portal, please contact the Alamo Elementary Office. Thank You!
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