Hollywood Headlines

Oct. 14-17

• School Safety Week

Oct. 14

• STARS Rehearsal @ 4:00 p.m.
• PTO Meeting @ 4:00 p.m., Alamo Media Center
• Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00 p.m., Learn N'Grow Preschool

Oct. 15

• Mileage Club @ lunch recess
• "I Love You Guys" foundation presentation @ 6:00 p.m., Otsego High School Auditorium

Oct. 16

• Delayed Start, school starts @ 10:00 a.m.

• Fall Break - No School

Positive Attitude

• Maxton Moore
• Lucas Crocker

• Brynnleigh Lambrechts
• Aria Jager

• Luke Tuohy
• Madilyn Palmer

• Austin Mejeur
• Lena Garceau

• Hank VanderWoude
• Ashlyn Landon

Student pictures were sent home today! Please check your child's take home folder for them.

Picture re-take day is October 24. Order forms are in the office lobby rack. If your child is going to re-take their picture they need to turn in the picture package book to the photographer on the day of re-takes.

Our continued efforts to enhance security to keep our students and staff safe will include the implementation of a new visitor sign-in procedure called Raptor. This is for those visiting and spending time in our buildings.

Starting next week, if you are visiting the school, you will stop at the main office as usual.

• With this new system, we will scan your ID to create a Visitor ID Label.

• This label will have your photo, name and location within the building that you are visiting.

• This allows others in the building to immediately know you are a welcome visitor in the school and have been checked in at the office.

• At the end of your visit, stop back in the main office to sign out.

With Raptor, IDs will be screened against the registered sex offender databases and a custom database created/maintained by each school that could include banned/restricted visitors, individuals with restraining orders, etc. Adding this level of security does not add a lot of time to the sign-in process, but will provide an added layer of safety and comfort.

Happy October! The PTO is thrilled to welcome a season filled with fun and festivities, and we have several exciting updates to share.

Halloween Celebrations
With Halloween just around the corner, we’re looking forward to organizing our trick-or-treat trail and providing a snack for our students. To make this event a success, we need your support with donations! Please check the sign-up genius linked below for the items we’re seeking. There’s also an Amazon wish list available, allowing you to ship items directly to Alamo. If you’re donating candy, kindly specify which type you’ll be bringing, and remember to choose a peanut-free option. We’ve included some great examples under each category! ALL items are due by Friday, October 25th!

Volunteer Opportunities
We also invite you to join us as a volunteer on Halloween! This event requires many hands to ensure everything runs smoothly, and we would love your assistance from 12:30 PM to 2:45 PM. If you can help, please sign up!

Upcoming Conferences
Looking ahead, our first conferences will take place in November. We hold conferences twice a year, and the PTO provides a meal at each one. You can help by sponsoring your favorite grade(s) by signing up on the genius link and submitting your payment via Venmo (@annaleepruis), PayPal (@annaleepruis), or by sending a check made out to Otsego Public Schools.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at alamo.pto.volunteersignup@gmail.com.

Have a great day,
Annie Pruis
Alamo PTO

Our WatchD.O.G.S. program will officially begin for the 2024-25 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.

Why is a Home/School Connection Important?

Parental involvement is crucial in schools for several reasons, primarily because it directly influences student success. Research consistently shows that when parents are engaged in their children's education, students tend to achieve higher academic performance, exhibit better behavior, and have improved social skills. Here’s a breakdown of why this involvement is so impactful:

1. Enhanced Academic Achievement: Students with involved parents are more likely to perform well academically. Parental engagement helps reinforce learning at home, leading to a better understanding of concepts taught in school.

2. Improved Behavior and Attendance: Active parental involvement often correlates with better attendance records and positive behavior in students. When parents show interest in their child's education, students feel more motivated to succeed.

3. Stronger Relationships: Communication between parents and teachers fosters a sense of community and support. This partnership helps address any issues that may arise, ensuring students receive the help they need.

4. Increased Self-Esteem: When parents praise their children's efforts and progress, it boosts their confidence and encourages a growth mindset. This positive reinforcement can motivate students to tackle challenges more readily.

5. Problem-Solving Support: Parents can help their children navigate school-related challenges, promoting resilience and effective problem-solving skills.

Tips for Promoting Parental Involvement:

1. Review Classwork: Regularly check assignments and classwork to ensure understanding and completeness.

2. Discuss Projects: Engage in conversations about upcoming projects to gauge your child’s feelings and offer support.

3. Praise Efforts: Recognize and celebrate your child’s hard work and progress, not just the outcomes.

4. Communicate with Teachers: Reach out to educators with any questions or concerns to stay informed and involved.

5. Maintain a Positive Attitude: Talk positively about the school experience to help your child develop a constructive outlook and approach challenges with confidence.

By adopting these practices, parents can significantly enhance their child’s educational experience, leading to better outcomes both academically and socially.

Halloween is around the corner and we are excited for our Halloween Parade on Thursday, 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.

You are also invited to join us any Tuesday or Friday (weather permitting) during your child's lunch recess time. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes these days.

Here are the recess times for each grade level.

We know that your dog, or any pet, can be a member of the family and a best friend; however, it is important to know that pets are not allowed on school property, even if they are on a leash. A number of children, and some adults, are not comfortable around all pets and may be allergic so for the health, safety and comfort of all of our visitors, they are not permitted in school buildings or on school district property. (Exceptions are made for service animals, animals under the control of public safety officers and for instructional purposes with prior approval from the district.) Thank you for your understanding of this policy.

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 4:10 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

Oct 14

Nov 11

Dec 9

Jan 13

Feb 10

March 10

April 14

May 12

June 9

Students at Alamo can purchase popcorn on the last Friday of the month beginning on September 30th. Popcorn can again this year be purchased for the entire year by sending $4 per student (discounted, as well as the "easy button" for parents!) on or before the first popcorn date of September 27th, or it can be purchased each individual time for $0.50.

Below are the dates for popcorn Friday this year.

October 25

November 22

December 20

January 31

February 28

March 28

April 25

May 30

If your child is absent and the absence is unexcused, you will receive an automated phone call reminding you to report the absence. Please remember to report your child’s absence, before 9am, by calling our attendance line at (269) 694-7680.

Join Alamo Parents REMIND

Would you like to receive text updates on important dates and activities taking place here at Alamo Elementary? REMIND is a safe and efficient communication app designed for teachers/schools to communicate important classroom/school information. If you are interested in receiving updates from Alamo Elementary via text, text this message @alamopare to the number 81010 or click on the link below.

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