Falcon's Nest

As we move into February, I want to express my gratitude for the continued support from our amazing school community. Your involvement and enthusiasm contribute to the positive learning environment we strive to maintain at Alcova. This month brings a variety of events and activities. We look forward to the many opportunities for our students to learn and grow.

This month at Alcova we are celebrating the many contributions of African Americans with a door decorating contest, guest speakers, Fact Finder Trivia opportunities, and even a special wax museum presentation. The decorations throughout the building will focus on celebrating the past, educating the present, and inspiring the future.

Parents we are in the thick of teaching and learning at Alcova. Students in 3rd-5th grade are working hard to prepare for the upcoming interim 3 assessments in March as well as the end-of-year District and Milestones assessments in April. This is the time to check in with your child to hold them accountable for their current learning. Here are some ways you can stay connected:

1. Regular communication with teachers

2. Use online portals to monitor academic progress

3. Establish and consistently maintain a homework routine

4. Review and discuss assignments

5. Attend school events

6. Read together

7. Encourage goal setting

8. Celebrate Achievements

Save the Date

● February 3-7 Counselors Appreciation Week

● February 3-12 PBIS Falcon Candy Grams

● February 6 Sparkles Skate Night

● February 7 Normal School Day (DLD canceled)

● February 12 Fifth Grade Oratory Contest

● February 13-17 Student/Staff Holiday

● February 22 VIP & Me Mascarade Ball

February’s PTA event is the VIP & Me Mascarade Ball. Stay tuned for details and ticket information. *Insert the PTA website link

This year our PTA has taken on the task of partnering with the school to raise funds for a new gym floor. The current gym floor is concrete and the original floor is for the school. It’s time for a refresh. This refresh will cost the school $60,000. We are asking for your help and participation in all of PTA’s fundraising efforts this year so our students can have a vibrant and safe gym floor for years to come.

We are thrilled to introduce our new School Resource Officer, Officer Ronnetta Coates! Beginning in mid-February, Officer Coates will be actively supporting the vibrant Alcova community as well as the elementary schools within the Dacula cluster. She will establish her office right here at Alcova, where she will work closely with students, parents, and staff to promote a safe and nurturing environment for all. We look forward to the positive impact she will make in our schools!

This special week honors school counselors for the important role they play in helping students find their talents, strengths, abilities, and interests. Most importantly, we are grateful for the tremendous impact they have in helping students achieve school success. To show our appreciation, we ask that you have students write thank you notes for their counselor.

The Office of Family Engagement in the Department of Federal Programs invites all families to join the Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS Family Night on February 4, 2025, from 5:30 PM until 6:30 PM via Zoom.

During this session, families of students in grades 3-12 will receive information about the Georgia Milestones assessment, a website to practice online testing, and tips to help your child at home.

Click here to RSVP for the GMAS Family Night

Click the link to sign up!

https://tinyurl.com/5h6b37ym

https://alcovaes.memberhub.com/

On Friday's students can purchase ice cream at the beginning of lunch for $1 exact cash.

Please remember school hours are from 8:15 am -2:45 pm. Students may enter at 7:45 am and car riders will begin dismissal at 2:40 pm. Announcements will begin at 8:10 am, so instruction may start promptly at 8:15 am. Students are encouraged to ride the bus daily to ensure a timely arrival to school. Thanks in advance for getting your children here on time and ready to learn.

We will continue to use Parent Square this school year for weekly school and district communication, individual messages with staff, and school-wide alerts. We encourage everyone to download the app and reflect on how and when you would like to receive Parent Square messages. You can customize your notifications in the settings.

Parents/guardians will visit Parent Square to sign off on required orientation agreements and Title I Plan & Promise for all students. Documents for the 24-25 school will be available in the app starting July 22.

Please login to your ParentVUE account (this is the same account used to register your child). This website/app will contain important information all year long.

Beginning July 31st you will be able to log on to ParentVUE, select your student and click 'Class Schedule', then choose 'First Semester' to view your child's 24-25 school year teachers. While you are there, select 'Student Info' to view bus route information and update any contacts and phone numbers.

NOTE: In March 2024, GCPS consolidated the Parent Portal and ParentVUE. If you have not done so already, you must reset your ParentVUE password by clicking 'forgot password'. Please continue to use your email as your username.

*** Please DO NOT create a new ParentVUE account. Visit the district website for detailed information on how to manage your current account.

• All information about the ParentVUE - https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/26854

We will use MyPayments Plus this year for parents to add money to their child's lunch account, pay for field trips, club fees, order birthday wishes, and more. Parents can make annual contributions towards the clinic, PBIS, our All Pro Dads club, and more. Click below to access the MyPayments plus website and create your account. You will need your child's student number to create an account. You can access your child's student number and more via Parent Vue.

New Smart Snack Compliant Ala Carte items to include:

• Lay’s Baked Potato Crisps
• Doritos Reduced Fat Tortilla Chips
• Whole Grain-Rich Rice Krispies Treats
• Angie’s Boom Chick a Pop Kettle Corn
• Welch’s Fruit Snacks

These items are Ala Carte for $1.00

https://sfnd.io/alcovabirthday

https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/welcome

Don't forget to follow us on Social Media. See what exciting things are going on at Alcova.

Follow us on Facebook!

Follow us on Instagram!

Alcova Elementary School PTA | Facebook

Alcova PTA Instagram- @AlcovaPTA

Each day we strive to dismiss students with a safe organized process to ultimately ensure the safety of each student. In order to keep our procedures accurate and maintain appropriate processes to ensure the safe release of our students, all check outs in the front office must be completed before 2:15pm and all transportation changes must be made in writing with the front office by the parent by 1:00pm. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe.

Safety Procedures

Alcova is committed to ensuring its schools are safe. We take a very proactive approach to ensuring the safety of students, staff members, and campus visitors. We would like to share information with you about our district safety procedures that are implemented at Alcova.

https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/24293

Parents,

Teachers are engaged with their students and have limited access to emails and Parent Square throughout the day. If you have an emergency transportation change request, you must email 978.transportation@gcpsk12.org to process the change. Please use this email only for "day of" emergency changes, where you did not send a note in with your student. Change requests must be received no later than 1:30 pm to guarantee the change request will be processed.

Just a Reminder: The Car Rider Lane will close at 8:15 am. All students arriving after 8:15, must check in at the front office with the parent. Please do not drop your child off if the doors are closed.