August 18, 2023       

Dear Alameda Community,

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!  Britt and I are thrilled to be back at Alameda to begin our 3rd year as your administrative team.  Whether you have been around a part of the Alameda community for years, or are joining us for the very first time, we are excited for you to be a member of our school community. 

This will be our first full year where we lean into our newly adopted school values - Safety, Kindness, Inclusion, and Joy.  We know these are aspirational and our conversations and learning will be focused around these core values:

• How do we ensure a Safe learning environment for all, where we foster individual and collective well-being?

• What does it mean to kind and how can our actions be caring and supportive?

• How do we ensure that all students and families are included and feel welcomed?

• How do we bring joy, creativity and friendship into everything we do at Alameda?

At the core of our work is a truly outstanding staff.  Our teachers and support staff not only have decades of experience, but they are committed to learn and grow. Teachers first official day back is on Wednesday, August 23rd.  If you have not already heard from your child’s teacher, I am sure you soon will.  They are already working hard to prepare for the year ahead.  Please be patient as they begin to ramp up for the new year.

We know that establishing and nurturing deep connections and relationships with students and families must be at the center of our daily efforts.  We look forward to working together, staying connected, and remaining focused as we strive to best serve the needs of all our students and families.  

One of the many ways we hope to stay connected is through this Friday Update Email.  I know our inboxes fill up rapidly these days and perhaps email is a bit antiquated, but I hope you take a few minutes out of your Friday afternoons to read through the information - we hope you find it interesting, informative, and that it provides you with at least a glimpse of the week.  Another excellent place to find information is both the Alameda School Website and the Alameda PTA website.  

There is plenty of information to share in the coming weeks. Thanks for reviewing all of this week's details:

Beginning of the Day/Arrival: The first day of school for students in grades 1-5 is Tuesday, August 29th.  Kindergarten specific schedules will be communicated by classroom teachers.  If you have a child in kindergarten and have any questions about schedules, please reach out directly to your child's teacher.

Arrival/Dismissal and Building Safety

The school day begins at 8:45 AM.  The first bell is at 8:40 AM.  Please make sure your child does not arrive early.  There will be NO SUPERVISION on the playground prior to school day beginning.  Like last year, students will come into the building through grade level specific entrances (SEE ATTACHMENT).  Parents may enter the building with their child during the first couple weeks of school.  We are hoping that as the year progresses students (and parents 🙂) will be comfortable saying a goodbye outside.  Reducing the number of adults (who have not checked in) in the building helps ensure a safer space for our students and staff.  All doors will be closed and locked by 8:45.  If your child arrives and the exterior door is locked, they must enter through the front entrance and check in at the office.

All adults who are in the building after drop off or at any other time during the day must always check-in at the main office and wear a volunteer badge/sticker. If you have not already done so (they are good for three years), please take a few minutes to complete the PPS Volunteer Background Check.  It will take several weeks to process and is necessary if you plan to volunteer, attend a field trip, or provide any support to our students.  

End of the Day/Dismissal:  The school day ends at 3:00 PM. Teachers will walk their students to an outside designated location for dismissal.  The end of the day is a busy time.  Please make sure your child is fully aware of their after school plan.  If you have to make a change during the day, please contact your child’s teacher via email and call the office.

Staffing Update: We are excited to welcome several new staff members:

• Matt Goosen: Grade 3-5 CB

• Sarah Tretter:  Special Education/Learning Center

• Christine Boyd: ELL (English Language Learners)

• Justin Sooper:  Not really new..Grade 5

• Music TBD:  Tom Cheek has retired!

• 2 new Educational Assistants TBD

Counseling:  We are fortunate to have both Anna Tofel and Molly Clark returning to Alameda for the 2023-2024 School Year.  Please feel free to reach out to Anna or Molly with any questions you have about counseling.  They both provide a wide range of support to all Alameda students and families.  Please note that Anna’s case load is students in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade, while Molly’s focus is students in Grades K, 4, and 5.  This is a correction from previously sent out information.

District Calendar:  Here is a link to the 2023-2024 Calendar

School Supplies:  Your Alameda PTA is providing teacher-specified school supplies for each classroom. We suggest a contribution of $45 per Alameda student; the cost covers school supplies for your child and ensures that all students are provided the same supplies. Click here  and make your school supplies contribution today.

Alameda PTA:  The beginning of the school year is a great time to re-up your PTA membership! PTA contributions sustain a variety of programs and activities within our community. Click here and join (or re-join!) the Alameda PTA.

Lunch in the Cafeteria:   For more information on purchasing school meals please visit PPS Nutrition Services. Breakfast will be available for students beginning at 8:35 AM.  If your child is eating breakfast (and not riding the bus) they need to enter through the front door.

Transportation:  Bus schedules and other information can be found on the PPS Transportation Service website.  You can also reach out to School Secretary Beth Minch with any questions.

Songbirds Choir is Back:  We are excited to welcome back Mr. Ralph Nelson who will be directing our Choir again this year.  Choir is open to all 4th and 5th grade students.  Thanks to our arts fundraising success, choir is FREE for all who wish to participate.  Sign up information will be sent out to 4th and 5th grade families in the coming weeks.

Before/After School Classes:   Due to PPS policy, the school is unable to directly provide information about classes taught by most third party organizations.  To learn more about before or after school classes you can visit THIS SITE maintained by Alameda volunteers. If you are interested in information about before and after school care run by the YMCA, please visit their website.

Site Council:  This fall we will continue our Site-Council.  This group is made up of community members, administration, and staff and will be charged with continuing ongoing efforts to improve the work we are doing at Alameda.  We will discuss a wide range of topics including; budgeting/staffing, Instruction, Equity and Inclusion, and other ongoing efforts taking place.  We will meet 4-5 times during the school year.  Meetings will be in the evening and virtual.  If you are interested, please email Matt Goldstein.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

School Clean Up Day-TOMORROW:  Saturday, August 19th 9:00 AM - 11 AM.  Come on down to Alameda and have fun, meet some new people, and help clean up the grounds.  Please bring gloves, garden tools (especially weeders, loppers and small saws), leaf/garbage bags, and anything else that might help with our work! 

Welcome Back Picnic Extravaganza; Thursday, 9/14; 5:30 - 7:30 PM:  Welcome back Picnic Extravaganza.  The back to school picnic has been reimagined and elevated! Alameda, the PTA and the Foundation are coming together to host a welcome back Extravaganza picnic. There will be a band, food trucks, fun games and prizes for kids and parents, and of course cake!  We hope to see you all there! 

Back to School Night is Thursday, September 21st.  More information will be coming soon.

Fall Conferences:  Conferences will again take place during the week of Thanksgiving (11/20 and 11/21).  More details will be coming out, including on-line sign-ups.  

We are getting very excited to see your children in less than two weeks.  As always, please feel free to reach out to the school office, your child’s teacher, Britt, or me if you have any questions or need additional information.  We look forward to working together and kicking off the 2023-2024 School Year.

Regards,

Matt Goldstein
Principal

Britt Kuether
Assistant Principal