Weekly Update to Families

March 6, 2025

Brief Message From the Principal

Dear Altoona Elementary Community,

Spring conferences are coming up next week on Tuesday, March 11, and Thursday, March 13. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate student growth and achievements! If you have any questions about your scheduled conference time, please contact Mrs. Lane in the office—she’ll be happy to assist you.

A few important schedule reminders:

Thursday, March 13: Early dismissal at 11:30 am
Friday, March 14: No School

While you're here for conferences, be sure to visit the Scholastic PTA Book Fair in the Library! It’s a fantastic chance to discover new books while supporting our school. See my Book Fair Letter below for more details.

Looking ahead, Spring Break runs from Friday, March 14, through Sunday, March 23. Classes will resume on Monday, March 24.

As we step into spring, there's still plenty of learning ahead! Our teachers are working hard every day to maximize instructional time, and we appreciate your support in keeping students engaged and focused. Please continue encouraging your child to do their best and follow our RAMS WAY Expectations at school.

Attendance remains a top priority. Some families may have received attendance letters due to updated attendance laws. While we understand that illnesses happen, we encourage students to be present as much as possible—every day in school matters! Our hard work is making a difference—see the attendance update below!

Finally, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for sharing your children with us. It is truly a privilege to partner with you in their education. Your support and collaboration help make our school a place where every student can thrive.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

Sincerely,
Mr. Miller

Electronic Report Cards

We are excited to share that starting this trimester, all elementary report cards will be available electronically. This change offers a more convenient way for you to access your child’s progress.

To help you get started, please take a moment to watch the brief video linked below for step-by-step instructions on accessing the report card online. Report cards will be available to view beginning, tomorrow, March 7th.

If you prefer a paper copy, please feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to provide one. Thank you for your support and partnership.

Video via Loom (public link)

.mp4 via Google Drive (public link)

Dear Families,

Get ready—the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. A love of independent reading boosts academic success, plus children who read more frequently also report improved mental health.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Book Fair:

Dates & Times: Tuesday, March 11-- 4:00-8:00 pm, and Thursday, March 13 -- 12:30-7:30 pm

Location: Altoona Elementary Library

There’s even more info on our school’s Book Fair homepage:

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/altoonaelementaryschool

While you’re there, set up a Book Fair eWallet, the digital payment account that allows your child to shop for books at the Fair without cash. Then share your eWallet link so friends and extended family can add funds.

When you fund an eWallet, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to a giving initiative called

Share the Fair™. Your contributions directly support our students who need help buying books

from the Fair.

Many of us still remember the rush of finding the perfect book at a Scholastic Book Fair. I hope you’ll join your child at our school’s Fair and share a reading experience they’ll remember forever.

Happy reading,

Mr. Miller, Principal

Altoona Elementary School

PS: Need one more reason to visit the Book Fair? Every purchase at the Fair benefits our Library! Even more books for our students!

Attendance Information

I’m excited to share our updated February attendance data on Chronic Absenteeism! Last month, our chronic absenteeism rate dropped to 11%, a remarkable improvement from 20% in February 2024. This progress is a direct result of your commitment and support! We truly appreciate your efforts in prioritizing attendance—whether it’s scheduling appointments outside of school hours (or at the beginning or end of the day) or keeping our office staff and teachers informed about planned absences. Your partnership is making a real difference!

We’ve officially entered the final trimester of the year! Of the 44 students currently classified as chronically absent, 33 students still have the opportunity to meet their attendance goals by year’s end! Please note that if a student misses 18 or more total days before the end of the school year, they will be considered chronically absent. If you have any questions or concerns or want to know how many days your child has missed, don’t hesitate to reach out to Mr. Miller at morgan.miller@southeastpolk.org.

Thank you again for your continued partnership in supporting student success!