The Soaring Eagle News (Week 7)
Week 7 (10/07 - 10/13)
Happy Fantastic Friday!!
Another great week is in the books! We had an amazing turnout at Flaming Amy’s for the Eagle’s Eat Out event. Thank you to everyone who came out to support Alderman and enjoy some delicious food. Your participation makes a big difference!
This week marked the start of Parent/Teacher Conferences. I hope you’ve been able to schedule a time to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress, what they’re learning, and how you can support them throughout the school year.
We were also excited to celebrate our Soaring Eagles for the Month of September! These students were recognized for embodying the “S” in S.O.A.R., which stands for Scholar. As we move into October, our focus shifts to the “O” for Optimistic. Optimism means having a positive attitude, even when things don’t go as planned. An optimistic person believes that good things are possible and keeps trying, no matter the challenges they face. This mindset encourages hopefulness, resilience, and the ability to handle difficulties—reminding ourselves and our students, “I can do hard things.” Let’s work together to foster optimism in our Eagles, both at school and at home!
Upcoming Events and Reminders:
Parent/Teacher Conferences: If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up to meet with your child’s teacher. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about their progress, goals, and how we can work together to support their learning.
Fall Festival: Our Fall Festival is this Friday from 6-8 PM at Alderman. This family favorite includes games, hayrides, a haunted courtyard, bake sale, costume contest, and more. We can’t wait to see you there!
Integrated Pest Management: Learn how New Hanover County Schools uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to control pests by focusing on reducing food, water, and shelter through maintenance and cleaning. It’s a key part of keeping our schools safe and healthy!
Grade Level News: Stay informed with the latest updates from your child’s grade level. This is a great way to keep up with classroom activities and any important upcoming dates.
Thank you for being a key partner in your child’s education. Together, we’re helping our Eagles S.O.A.R!
Parent Corner: Supporting Learning at Home
This week, we’re highlighting ways you can support your child’s learning at home, which is a key element of our Alderman School Compact. Family involvement is crucial for student success! Research shows that students whose families actively support learning at home perform better academically, have fewer behavioral issues, and develop higher self-esteem. Engaged families also contribute to improved classroom performance, creating a win-win for everyone. Your involvement helps foster a positive, encouraging environment where your child can thrive both academically and emotionally.
Reading (20-25 minutes)
Letter sounds practice
Read books with your child to discuss (like a book club)
3-5 Nightly reading in their library book
Asking questions about what has been read
Reading signs and visiting local libraries for great reads
Math (25 minutes)
Number counting practice
Practice number skills while grocery shopping
XTraMath Practice for fact fluency.
Zearn Lessons
3-5 Prodigy
Science (15 minutes)
Nightly vocabulary practice using the Quizlet, Blooket games.
Engineer play with block, design, and create with toys
Visit museums, nature walks, or other experiences and discuss what you learned.
Alderman Family Feeback:
At Alderman Elementary, we believe that strong, two-way communication with parents is key to fostering a positive and successful learning environment for all students. As part of our ongoing commitment to collaboration, we’ve created a form to gather your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. This form will be available in each newsletter, and we encourage you to complete it anytime you have feedback. Your input will help guide decisions made by our school leadership team as we work together to support our students. Thank you for being a valued partner in the education of our children!
Upcoming Events/Deadlines
Parent/Teacher Conferences -- Oct. 11 - 18
Parent teacher conferences will start October 11-18. Teachers have sent signup's to schedule your time to meet. During Parent/Teacher Conferences you can expect to discuss
- Student work and testing data
- What students have covered and what is coming up
- Student goals
- Ways you can support in reaching those goals
Picture Day -- Oct.17
Come dressed to impress!
Battle of the Books Practice -- Oct. 17
Battle of the Books practice, Thursday Oct. 17 until 4pm,
Fall Festival -- Oct. 18
Fall Festival at Alderman is a favorite tradition and rapidly approaching! October 19th from 6-8pm. Family fun, games, hayrides, haunted courtyard, bake sale, pizza and more, Don’t forget to wear your costume for the contest! $5 wristband for entry
End of Grading Period -- Oct. 31
The end of the first quarter of the school year is October 31st.
NC Farm to School art Contest - Dec. 13
The NC Farm to School art contest encourages public school students in grades Kindergarten through fifth to create artwork showcasing “North Carolina Agriculture” Each year 13 winners are chosen and their artwork featured in the NC Farm to School calendar.
Rules and how to enter will be provided.
Grade Level News:
Integrated Pest Management
Child Nutrition: What's for Breakfast & Lunch
My School Bucks
My School Bucks allows parents/guardians to prepay for meals. In addition, you are able to set up low balance alerts to keep your student's account balance in the positive.
My School App
My School App allows families to apply for free/reduced breakfast and lunch. Alderman receives a grant that allows all students to receive free lunch but if you have a child in middle school or high school you should complete the application for them.
School Menus
School menus can be found at this link.
Parent Bill of Rights
The following link will take you to the NHCS guide to the Parent Bill of Rights which provides you insights into your rights as a parent and a way to voice your thoughts and concerns.
PowerSchool Parent Portal
The PowerSchool Parent Portal is a place for parents/guardians to monitor student progress and attendance. Apps are available through google and apple for access via phones.
Volunteer Information
All volunteers, both Levels 1 and 2, must complete volunteer training each school year.
We love our volunteers! Whether you want to assist in a classroom, lead a small group, attend a field trip, or simply help in an area around the school, we need you to complete the application process to ensure you are either a Level 1 or Level 2 volunteer!
Our Level I volunteers work under the continual supervision of school staff. If willing to serve our school as a Level I Volunteer, you will need to complete the following steps:
- Read all of the information in this presentation, Volunteer Orientation, and the NHCS Volunteer Handbook (we will get this to you as soon as it becomes available).
- Complete the Volunteer Orientation Assessment with a score of 80% or higher.
After completing Level I certification and if you are willing to complete Level II requirements, please complete a Background Check Application. Background checks cost $22.50 and are valid for three (3) years. Our Level 2 Volunteers may work alone with students and may not always be with a staff member.
General Guidelines after receiving district clearance to serve as a volunteer:
- Please have your photo ID ready when coming to campus to either sign in.
- When volunteering, please respect the instructional day and stay within your volunteer area.
Connect with Alderman
Principal: Bobby Garcia
Website: https://alderman.nhcs.net/
Location: 2025 Independence BLVD., Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone: (910) 350-2031