Hikers' Headlines
Alamo Elementary - October 9, 2023
Important Dates
October 9th
- Alamo Stars @ 4:00 p.m., Music Room
- PTO Meeting @ 4:00 p.m., Media Center
- Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00 p.m., Early Childhood Center
- Mileage Club
- Delayed Start, school starts @ 10:00 a.m.
- Mileage Club
- Student of the Month Assembly @ 3:05 p.m., Gymnasium
October 20th-23rd
- Fall Break, NO school
- Picture Retake Day
- Popcorn Friday
- Halloween Celebrations
How Will You Show Your P.R.I.D.E. Today?
P - Positive Attitude
- Asher Kirkpatrick
- Aria Jager
- Lincoln Hatten
- Ashlin Fry
I - Integrity Within
- Arie Carroll
- Keegan Bates
D - Determination to Succeed
- Weston Hall
- Breckin Baumgartner
E - Expect Excellence
- Samantha Mathis
- Matthew McLain
Halloween at Alamo!
It's hard to believe we are at the end of September and Halloween is right around the corner! We are so excited to celebrate Halloween at Alamo! We are looking for donations to help with our Trick or Treat trail and snack this year.
You will notice this year we have an Amazon wishlist for some of the items! Some items can be purchased in store but for the items that can't we created an Amazon wishlist to make it as easy as possible for you! They will ship directly to Alamo.. no need to send in donations with your student! Please still sign up on the sign up genius for the items you would like to donate! There is a link to the wish list under each item on the sign up genius!
Please make sure to return all donations to the Alamo office no later than Tuesday, October 24th!!
If you have any questions please contact Annie at alamo.pto.volunteersignup@gmail.com
Halloween is around the corner and we are excited for our Halloween Parade on Monday, October 31st. The costume parade will take place at 3:00 p.m. inside and outside the building. Spectators can view the parade in the gym and outside along the sidewalks.
Students should bring their costumes to school and will change for their classroom parties prior to the parade. It is important that your child can put on their costumes independently as parents will be outside prepping for the parade.
Just a reminder - your child's costume must be non-violent. Weapon accessories/scary masks will not be allowed.
Coffee With The Superintendent
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.
Schedule Change
OPS families, we have an important schedule change for the week of October 23rd. Wednesday, October 25th will be a regular school day and begin at the normal time - there will NOT be a delayed start. This change is necessary in order to accommodate our transportation schedule/needs for the day. Thank you for your understanding.
CKH Leadworthy Character Trait: Self-Direct
What does it mean to Self-Direct?
Self-Direction is the ability and learned skill to cast a vision of future goals and then take intentional steps toward who, where, and what we want to be. Instead of focusing on things to control or avoid, we emphasize our responsibility to make positive choices related to our emotions, attitudes, and actions.
Why focus on Self-direction?
- Self-direction strengthens relationships. Self-direction helps to grow social skills and develop meaningful, positive relationships with others.
- Self-direction teaches personal responsibility. Learning to self-direct teaches students to take responsibility for their own actions.
- Self-direction helps us to regulate emotions: Self-direction empowers students to regulate their impulses and emotional responses to situations and circumstances in their life.
Self-Direction in Action:
- Practice goal setting and action planning. When we establish goals and develop action plans, we learn to take intentional steps to successfully achieve goals.
- Monitor and adjust. Provide students with regular feedback and opportunities to self-assess progress toward goals to make adjustments and improvements in their behaviors.
- Reflect and evaluate. Facilitate discussions and reflection to prompt students to examine what they do, think, and say against their goals and vision for their life and learning.
Social Work Scoop - Creating An Evening Routine For Success
Our students are starting to feel the stress of school return. Assignments are due, maybe some even overdue already. Tests and quizzes are starting and grades are being entered. The feeling of success or failure is also returning. What does your child do when they come home from school? How are you supporting them with their homework? Here are a few tips:
Work together with your student to create a schedule for homework, free time, screen time and family meals. Gathering their input in this process will help you as a parent get their buy in!
Have the schedule posted in a common area of the home (kitchen fridge, bathroom mirror, front door etc).
Encourage your child to check due dates and missing assignments, sit with them while they do this to teach accountability and responsibility.
When possible, eat meals together to promote family time and conversation.
Model screen time boundaries by limiting your own phone, tv, video game use in front of them.
Screen time should end one hour prior to bedtime to develop healthy sleep.
Stick to a bedtime routine. A child’s brain will mold to the pattern of the bedtime routine, which will in return, reduce anxiety and allow the child to fall asleep easier.
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
October 9th
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