Dear Alcova Community,

November is Parent Engagement Month across the nation. A child’s first learning experiences take place at home. Parents and families have an immense, lasting, and irreplaceable impact on a child’s education. This month is a time to collectively recognize and honor the contributions of parents and families to student success. Alcova is committed to supporting the learning and development of the whole child. Family engagement is a shared responsibility in which schools and other community organizations are committed to communicating with each other and building ties to engage families in meaningful ways. Research on family engagement suggests that when schools, families, and communities support each other, students of all backgrounds and abilities achieve at the highest levels. For ideas on how you can get engaged, please visit https://www.gcpsk12.org/AlcovaES. You can access an array of resources for families. We have attached a November calendar of activities you can complete to increase family engagement.

It was such a pleasure to see so many families join us for our PTA’s Trunk or Treat and our Lit/STEM night. Events like these help to build the relationships between school and family. We hope to see you again for our first holiday lunches that will take place the week of November 13-17. We will share specific details and lunch times as we approach the event.

Your Principal,

Ms. Jacquetta Baldwin

Dear Alcova Families,

Veterans Day is coming up on November 11th and we want to honor our Veterans as well as those actively serving in the military.

One way we will honor our Veterans is with a slide show presentation on our school’s marquee. If you would like for you or your family member to be included in the presentation, please complete the form, and submit a picture. The picture can be in uniform, but civilian clothes are fine too. We can only accept digital photos. The form must be submitted by Friday, November 3rd to be included.

Veterans Day Slide Show Link

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevCVyCo5kbcyNKnGViNv3yV59sOoCaW92BAdWOkqmQZz9Ycw/viewform

In addition to the slide show, Alcova is inviting veterans or active service members to participate in our Veterans Day class walk through. Participants and their child(ren) and/or grandchild(ren) will walk to classrooms to greet students. If you have your uniform, please wear it. The walk through will be on Friday, November 10th at 7:30am. Due to limited space, we are limiting participants to 25 people. The first 25 veterans or active service members to complete the form below will be asked to participate in the walk through. If you are one of the first 25 to complete the form, you will receive confirmation email with further information.

Veterans Day Walkthrough

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFq44P6dZkZ-KNsQLKfqosGs8ZiFnaTz-dfj4uH14kl66D9A/viewform

Family-School Partnership Advisory Council Meeting (PAC) is Nov. 13th at 6:00 PM at ISC.

Families are invited to join us in person at the GCPS Instructional Support Center (Grayson Room) to provide input regarding Federal Programs funding and how these funds support GCPS students, staff, and schools. Flyers in multiple languages will be sent out this week. Please use this link to RSVP. Reach out to Milena Fuentes and/or Shenee Holloway in the Office of Family Engagement if you have any questions.

Alcova Families!

Do you want to learn more about Parent Square, Mypaymentplus, and the Parent Portal and how to use them? Then, this workshop is for you! Get your questions answered and get help signing up for the apps. Join us November 14th at 5pm.

Click the link to sign up!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_QJqQmEi4xToBgGlESLxVvF-6HMkqlLITdwSyR5L-P4_DQw/viewform

ESOL Families,

You don't want to miss this ESOL Workshop! Join the ESOL Department on November 16 at 5pm and learn about the program, testing, and the benefits your child is receiving from the department.

https://tinyurl.com/mr2cc52t

Want to learn more about our Play 2 Learn program? Fill out the form below and our Early Learning teacher will contact you.

https://forms.office.com/r/KHrt3ELTpR

Do you want to celebrate your student's teacher year-round? Click here to learn how.

Let your child's teacher know you appreciate them. We will post your shout-out on the school monitors. Link for shout out

https://sites.google.com/g.gcpsk12.org/alcova-pbis-august2023?usp=sharing

Parent Mentors Present: “Parents Engaging in Education” – 4 Session Workshop

Who: Parents/Guardians of students receiving Special Education services

What: Parent Mentors Present: “Parents Engaging in Education” – 4 Session Workshop

When: 9/28/23, 10/12/23, 10/26/23, 11/9/23, 10:00am-11:30am or 6:00pm-7:30pm

Where: In-Person registration link for 10:00am session on 9/28/23: https://forms.gle/6WHZFpwRQLLN4QKK8

Zoom registration link for 6pm session on 9/28/23: https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pcOCtpjwvG9xUpC0ZaG2pt3XgobrU_PpQ

We are so excited to announce that Alcova Elementary has been recognized as a PBIS Distinguished School for the 2022-23 school year! PBIS focuses on implementing evidence-based behavioral practices that supports the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral supports of all students. Our school wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is called SOAR. SOAR stands for Scholar, Ownership, Attitude, and Respect.

Thank you to our teachers and staff for their hard work and commitment to teaching and encouraging our students to SOAR.

The lost and found rack is located by the media center in the side hallway. Jewelry, purses and items of value will be sent to Ms. Benjamin at the front atrium. Should items not be claimed, these items will be given to charitable organizations. Lost and Found will be cleaned out weekly.

Would you like to be more involved in the school? Sign up to be a volunteer and receive weekly opportunities to enrich the lives of our students.

https://tinyurl.com/yf44h9ee

Click here or scan the QR Code in the flyer to see the list of available teachers.

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 Chicka Pop Kettle Corn
• Welch’s Fruit Snacks

These items are Ala Carte for $1.00

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!

Follow us on Twitter!

Alcova Elementary School PTA | Facebook

Alcova PTA Instagram- @AlcovaPTA

Alcova PTA Twitter- @AlcovaPTA

Also on ClassDoJo!

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

All parents/guardians, Please click here to visit MyPaymentsPlus.com to sign off on required orientation agreements for all students. Visit our website for helpful directions on setting up an account.

Please remember school hours are from 8:15am -2:45pm. Students may enter at 7:45am and car riders will begin dismissal at 2:40pm. Starting this year, announcements will begin 8:10am, so that instruction may begin promptly at 8:15am. Thanks in advance for getting your children here on time ready to learn.

Parents,

If you have a emergency transportation change request you must email 978.transportation@gcpsk12.org for the change to be processed. Please use this email only for "day of" emergency changes, where you were not able to send a note in with your student. Change request 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.