Hollywood Headlines

Oct. 28

• STARS Rehearsal

Oct. 29

• Mileage Club

Oct. 30

• Delayed Start, school starts @ 10:00 a.m.
• Student of the Month Assembly @ 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 31

• Trail for Treaters @ 12:50 p.m.
• 2nd @ 12:50
• 4th @ 1:10
• 5th @ 1:30
• K @ 1:50
• 3rd @ 2:10
• 1st @ 2:30

• Halloween Snack @ 1:00 p.m.
• 2nd @ 1:00
• 4th @ 1:20
• 5th @ 1:40
• K @ 2:00
• 3rd @ 2:20
• 1st @ 2:40
• Halloween Parade @ 3:00 p.m.

Nov. 1

• Mileage Club

Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place in person this year. Your child's success is important to us. We desire to partner with you to make the best experience for your child. We are looking forward to connecting with all of our families. Please click on the button(s) below to sign up for your child's parent/teacher conference. Immediately after signing up, you should receive a confirmation email for each of your students. Please save this email. If you are in need of assistance please call the Alamo office at 694-7600. We are striving for 100% participation. Click on the link below to sign up.

Positive Attitude

• Joey Chaivre
• Zoey Nelson

• Lily Farnsworth
• Henry Kronke

• Cole Holmes
• Mahayla Dunklee

• Teegan Fox
• Ellie Bahleda

• Tyler Fox
• Greta Warus

Please join us for our Veterans Day Celebration Breakfast!

Alamo Elementary School is hosting a Veterans Day Breakfast on Friday, November 8, 2024 from 7:30-8:15. If your child has family members who are Veterans, we would love to honor them with a breakfast. To RSVP, click on the link below. You do not have to RSVP to attend, but we appreciate you letting us know so we can plan accordingly.

If you need more information about our event, please contact

Jamie Siegler at jsiegler@otsegops.org.

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.

Throughout the year, PTO provides meals for teachers at conferences as well as gifts during staff appreciation week. This year PTO is collecting sponsorships or donations throughout the year to help support these projects. If you would like to help sponsor the conference dinner for staff, please click on the link below to donate.

Planning for the Future: Using current facility assessments, learning trends, and looking to the future, OPS is planning on a May 2025 Bond Extension and we want you to be involved. Hear about the plans and provide your feedback at any one of the Community Conversation sessions.

Please attend whichever one works best in your schedule. Thank you!

• Wednesday, Oct. 30 @ Alamo Elementary, 6:30pm - Alamo Media Center

• Monday, Nov. 4 @ WSE Elementary, 6:30pm - WSE Media Center

• Wednesday, Nov. 6 @ OHS, 6:30pm - OHS Media Center

• Tuesday, Nov. 12 @ Otsego Public Library, 6:30pm - Community Room

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.

Parenting is a tough job and it makes it even harder when our children get us to do tasks for them that they can do themselves. Additionally, it doesn’t foster independence and self-esteem in the child. When our kids ask us (for the 15th time) to do something they can do for themselves, it is frustrating. For example, they want you to tie their shoes, or help with a math problem they have done before, or anything they are perfectly capable of doing themselves. Kids will continue to act helpless if parents continue to do these tasks for them. This behavior usually stems from their need for attention and power.

Here are 3 easy steps to help cure their helplessness:

Step 1: When all is calm, take time to “train” your child to do the task all by herself. Make sure not to do this during the “helpless meltdown,” but when you see your child is calm and ready for a chat.

Step 2: Remember that “marketing is everything” so position the training in a positive, uplifting light. Start the conversation by saying this: “You are growing up in so many ways and I am so proud of you. Now you are ready to learn __________________ (example: to put away your toys on your own). I know you can do it!” Then “teach” them how to do the task. This is all about letting your child know up front that this is their responsibility and empowering them in the process.

Step 3: When he pulls the helpless card in the moment, be totally unimpressed and say, “I am confident you can handle this. I’ll be downstairs when you are ready for breakfast!” Then walk away with a smile on your face. The exit is essential. If you stay in the room, you are providing an audience and your sure to get sucked right back into the power struggle.

Will your kids pull the helpless card again? Most likely! After all, it has worked for them in the past. However, with practice and consistency on your part, they’ll get the point that you won’t jump through hoops at their every whim and demand. Your kids will feel empowered because they will become more and more capable. You’ll feel empowered that your kids are learning to manage their own tasks and you’ll get a much deserved break!

**Article adapted from positiveparentingsolutions.com

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