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2/28 Principal's Message

 

Alston Ridge Elementary Parents:

 

It is March—tomorrow we will celebrate the final 1st day of school for students on Cohort A in Grades 4 and 5 who may be coming to school for the very first time. We can’t wait to see them, and to see our students online and in the building for this next month’s learning.

 

Following an amazing showing in our PTA-led Science Fair for the more than 100 students who conducted an investigation, and on the heels of hundreds of dinner-table conversations about Black History, civil rights, and racial justice, we are looking ahead to a great month.

 

If you have not already met with your child’s teacher for a winter conference to set goals and coordinate support for Quarters 3 and 4, please be sure to e-mail your child’s teacher or call the school for assistance. Thank you to all of our families who have been able to set aside time to share what is working and how we can better help your students. We are so grateful for your support during still-challenging times.

 

The following are a few reminders and announcements—remember to always call the school with any questions that we can answer to help you support your student and engage here at Alston Ridge Elementary!

Next Asynchronous Learning Day: Wednesday, March 3

The WCPSS Board of Education has designated Wednesday, 2/3, as a Remote Learning Day. Lesson materials and activities will be asynchronous learning to allow for professional development and coordination among teachers at all WCPSS schools. Thank you for your continued support for the success of our students! Several days have been added for this semester by the WCPSS Board of Education:

 

3-Mar

17-Mar

29-Mar

30-Mar

21-Apr

5-May

19-May

26-May

 

Principal Update & PTA General Meeting,

The PTA and Principal Schutte will lead the annual winter general meeting for all Alston Ridge families to hear updates on school and investments for 2020-2021. We will preview the way back to school’s reopening for 2021-2022. Join us on March 2 at 7 p.m. via Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/kbf-qqhh-otv

 

Registration, 2021-2022

A reminder that registration is underway for the 2021-2022 school year. Our kindergarten seats are rapidly filling. For families who have resided in the Alston Ridge Elementary base attendance zone prior to capping in February 2019, registration must be completed prior to April 1 to guarantee a seat at ARES for the upcoming school year. Learn more about registration through the WCPSS Office of Student Assignment--https://www.wcpss.net/Page/33753. If you have a neighbor or know someone who has not yet registered their student for the upcoming school year—have them start the process and contact the school’s registrar: Mrs. Joy Tang (jtang@wcpss.net) with any questions.

 

Academically and Intellectually Gifted Identification: 2021-2022

Each year the school district uses standardized testing to screen all students in Grade 3 to determine initial eligibility for Academically and Intellectually Gifted services. Due to school closure, universal screening will not take place in 2020-2021. All students in Grades 3 and Grade 4 are expected to be evaluated at the beginning of 2021-2022 across Wake County Schools.

 

SSA Nomination Period (2/22-3/22)

Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) is the practice of placing qualified students in a higher-grade level in one subject area—Math or English/Language Arts—for the purpose of providing additional rigor and challenge for well-prepared students. To learn more about the SSA Process, consider viewing the SSA Parent Information Powerpoint Presentation from the school district. Questions about the SSA Nominating process can be directed to our school’s AIG teachers, Mrs. Chrissy Slavinsky (cslavinsky@wcpss.net), Mrs. Bonnie Schneider (bschneider@wcpss.net) and Mr. Heath Banks (hbbanks@wcpss.net).

 

 

Cary Chamber of Commerce: Honor a Teacher

Consider nominating a deserving teacher for the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s annual Honor a Teacher awards: https://forms.gle/9SfP5gzrvijqMVzW8. Annually, the Chamber recognizes five teachers at each public and private K-12 school in Cary. The following is more information about the program and nominations:

 

Excellence in teaching – we know it when we see it. It can be the teacher who spends extra time with the students who need it most, or the teacher who is creative enough to inspire a real love of learning in a student. Perhaps it’s a teacher who cares enough to be involved with their students beyond the classroom. Whatever their methods, certain teachers make a real impact on students and their learning abilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has only highlighted the great importance of the role that teacher's play in our society.

 

We would like to recognize one such teacher and we need your help. The Cary Chamber of Commerce has been a leader in supporting education in our community through numerous programs and activities. One of the most critical needs of Wake County schools is that of attracting and retaining the best classroom teachers. With the Cary Chamber of Commerce's Honor a Teacher Program we hope to help our school system in meeting that challenge.

 

Building on the success of the Discovery Award first sponsored by the Ashworth family in 1991, followed by the Clara Knoll Award in 2000 by Barry and DJ Mitsch, the Cary Chamber has secured sponsors to develop a teaching awards program for all schools in the Cary Area.

 

We are asking our community to nominate teachers for this award. Included with your nomination, please describe why you feel this particular teacher deserves this award. Nominations must be submitted no later than Friday, March 26th at 5:00pm. These nominations will then be narrowed down to finalists that will be interviewed by a designated committee.

 

If you have any questions, please email Perry Price, Director of Education & Government Relations, at pprice@carychamber.com.

Please call our school (919-544-2474) to speak with Mrs. Alvarez, Mrs. Frakes, and Mrs. Tang about any questions that you may have and for assistance! If you need to reach one of the school’s administration, e-mail: Principal Niko Schutte (nschutte@wcpss.net), Assistant Principal Ruth Ann Freeman (rfreeman@wcpss.net) and Assistant Principal Melissa Oliver (moliver2@wcpss.net), and

 

Take good care,

 

Niko

Parent-Teacher Association Reminders:

Alston Ridge Elementary School PTA is currently seeking parents/guardians to serve in one of the 2021-22 PTA positions. Positions are 1-year commitments except for the Treasurer position, which is a 2-year commitment. These roles will start in July 2021 with a transition period starting in late-May 2021.  

The nomination/interest period is now open through March 15th. An election will be held within the month of May. Please note that you can nominate yourself for any Board of Directors role.  If you are interested in this opportunity to serve, please email the Nomination Committee at info@AlstonRidgePTA.com. Schanel Mize, the Nomination Committee chair, will be in touch to learn more about you, to share information about the board, and to answer any questions you might have about the board, individual positions, or the nomination process.  

 

Our leadership is important to the continued strengthening of our school family and community.  We appreciate, in advance, your consideration to be part of this extraordinary team! 

 

Andia’s Ice Cream

Order quarts online anytime from March 1st through March 9th. You can pick up your ice cream on either March 11th or March 13. Families will also have the option to "buy a scoop for a staff member", which will be delivered to the school at the next staff appreciation event on March 17th. Watch your email for the order link at the beginning of March!