Alston Ridge Alligators:

 

May is here this week: the annual period when the school year’s pace quickens. In our school we cherish the weeks ahead as precious opportunities to culminate the learning and community-work that we have invested through the first three quarters. Classrooms are well-oiled operations. Our students continue their march forward into new content, while also spiraling into their previous learning—remembering where they have been throughout the year.

 

Looking back, it is always remarkable how our students have grown—in their knowledge and understanding, in their sense of common purpose, and in the ceaseless process of maturation. Thank you for all the work that you have invested thus far in this school year. And, thank you for the ways that each of you will celebrate your student’s accomplishments in the coming weeks, and help prepare them for “moving up” into a new year, and for some, into a new school.

 

The following are a few notes and reminders that are relevant to the coming weeks:

 

2019-2020 Alston Ridge Track Assignments

Over the past several months at Alston Ridge we have successfully lobbied, through the support of the WCPSS Office of Student Assignment and Area Superintendent, to protect the existing track assignments for 99+% of students who have a previously assigned track at Carpenter and Alston Ridge Elementary Schools. This outcome means that the school will not have to unnecessarily disrupt families through reassignment for the 2019-2020 school year. We are grateful to have been able to provide this continuity for our current and incoming families.

Track assignment cards were mailed only to those families of Rising Kindergarten students, and those families who made a formal request for Track Change (in-person, or online) during the Track Change Request window. All other families will continue their current track. If you believe that you should have received a notification of a change in track assignment, and you have not yet received a card, please contact the school’s main office to confirm your address and assignment status.

 

Family Engagement Survey

Please complete the district’s Family Engagement Survey! You should have received an e-mail from Panorama Education and WCPSS regarding the opportunity to take the survey with a direct link. It is extraordinarily valuable to us to know how we are succeeding as we strive to support families and educate our students at Alston Ridge Elementary School!

 

Single-Subject Acceleration (SSA) Nomination Window

The nomination window for Single-Subject Acceleration is coming soon for families who would like their child to be evaluated for placement for the 2019-2020 school year. The Nomination Form must be received by the end of the school day for the child's nomination window. Schools are not able to process any nominations received after the nomination window closes. Nomination windows are:

• Track 1 (4/15-4/29)
• Track 2 (4/16-4/30)
• Tracks 3 & 4 (5/10-5/23)

Single-Subject Acceleration (SSA) is a practice through which students meeting qualifying criteria in grades K‐7 can take advanced academic content in mathematics or English/Language Arts. More information is available through the WCPSS AIG SSA Page, which also houses the Nomination Form.

 

 ARE Monday Morning Yoga: May & June

Morning Yoga will begin again on Monday, May 6 and will continue on Monday mornings through Monday, June 10 with the exception of Monday, May 21.  Classes are held in the library from 8:15-8:45 am. Led by yoga instructor and parent Ms. Amanda Pack, students engage in mindfulness practice through stories, games and movement. Yoga encourages coordination, confidence, body awareness and energy management. All tracks and grades are welcome to participate. Parents should bring their students into the school building through the main entrance, or by the rear Media Center doorway. Please be sure to register in advance to ensure there is room for your child to participate in the program: Monday Morning Yoga sign-up.

 

Field Day

Our students take time each spring to participate in a field day that provides opportunities for fun, community building, and practice with a range of motor skills that have been developed through another year of Physical Education at Alston Ridge. Field day is a success when parents support their student and our Specialists by volunteering to help with an activity, set-up, and clean-up. Please consider the chance to Sign Up to Volunteer.

Tracks 1 & 2:  Tue. May 7 (Rain date Thur. May 9)

Tracks 3 & 4:  Thur. May 16 (Rain date Fri. May 17)

We hope to see you out on the field—it is always a terrific day for our students and teachers!

 

PTA Staff Appreciation Week

The Alston Ridge PTA needs volunteers the morning of Saturday, May 4 to help decorate the school and teacher doors to celebrate the school’s wonderful faculty. Please consider joining the PTA for this opportunity to show care for the school’s teachers and staff members. Students are welcome to join their family to help—make a morning of it together! Please RSVP so that the PTA can plan on your support.

 

Thank you for all your support for our faculty, students, and school.

Go Alligators!

Niko Schutte
Principal