August 19, 2022       

Dear Alameda Community,

Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year!  Both Britt and I are thrilled to be back at Alameda to begin our 2nd year as your administrative team.  Whether you have been around Alameda for years and years, or are joining us for the very first time, we are excited for you to be a member of our school community.  Although Alameda School has been around for over 100 years, and much of the original building remains unchanged (really, in some places, unchanged), our spirit, our purpose, and our mission evolves and changes as we work collaboratively to meet the needs of our students and our families.  

At the core of our work is a truly outstanding staff.  Our teachers and support staff not only have decades of experience, but they remain steadfast in their commitment to learn and grow.  The work our staff does each day has always been and remains critical to our collective successes.  Teachers first official day back is on Wednesday, August 24th.  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 the Friday Update Email.  I know our inboxes fill up rapidly these days, 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 the Alameda School 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 30th.  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.

Please note we are make some changes to the arrival process --

The school day begins at 8:45 AM.  Students may enter the building at 8:40 AM when the first bell rings.  Please make sure your child does not arrive early.  There will be NO SUPERVISION on the playground prior to school day beginning.  Students will come into the building through grade level specific entrances (SEE ATTACHMENT).  Parents should only enter the building if they have a scheduled meeting, are volunteering, or have made previous arrangements with staff.  Please say your goodbyes away from the door.  Our goal is for a safe and calm beginning to the day.  All doors will be closed and locked at 8:45.  If your child arrives and their door is locked, they must enter through the front entrance and check in at the office.

Students arriving by bus will be brought into the building by a staff member and will wait in the cafeteria until 8:40 AM. 

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:  Claudia Brown, our Grades 3-5 Counselor, has accepted a new position within PPS.  We thank Claudia for her service to our school community and wish her the very best at her new school.  We are in the final process of hiring a new counselor - I should have an update by next week.   As I mentioned over the summer, we are super thrilled that our Assistant Principal, Britt Kuether, will in fact be staying with us!  We are thrilled to have Britt back.  Thanks to the Alameda Foundation we will have two part-time Educational Assistants joining us this year.  Our very own Beth Minch will be serving as the kindergarten EA (while continuing her half-time school secretary position) and we will be hiring one additional EA as well.

Class Sizes:  As of right now, we have just over 540 students enrolled at Alameda.  Our average class sizes are:  Kindergarten - 26; 1st Grade - 21; 2nd Grade - 30; 3rd Grade - 26; 4th Grade - 26; and 5th Grade - 29.  My biggest concern is 2nd grade.  The district staffing ratio for 2nd grade is 32:1.  However, I will (and already have) be advocating for a 4th section.  If this is approved, it will likely not happen until the school year has begun.  PPS wants to wait to see how many students show up at schools throughout the district before they begin shifting teacher positions.  I will do my best to keep everyone posted.

District Calendar:  Here is a link to the PPS 2022-2023 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.

Community Care Day:  Saturday, August 27t from 9:00 AM - Noon.  Come on down to Alameda and have fun, meet some new people, and help clean up the grounds.  Please bring gloves, garden tools (especially loppers and small saws), and anything else that might help with our work!  Thanks to our PTA for helping coordinate the morning.  If you have any questions reach out to Event Organizer Jean Crowther.

Lunch in the Cafeteria:   One change from last year is that lunch will no longer be free of charge for all students.  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 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 next week.

Before/After School Classes:  We are able to offer extracurricular classes this fall.  Be on the lookout for additional information including links to sign-up.  Unfortunately, because of scheduling issues Mr. Cheek is unable to offer band this year.  We are looking into the possibility of other options and will keep you posted.

COVID Update: The good news is that we will begin the 2022-2023 year inching ever closer to pre-pandemic times.  PPS is still completing updates to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), but here are a few details:  The OHSU screening testing will still take place, with families who are interested signing up online.  We will still offer rapid testing for students who come to the office symptomatic.  Masking policy has not changed from the spring, with masks being optional.  Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 will still be required to isolate for 5 days.  All volunteers and visitors must be vaccinated.  I will likely have additional updates and links in next week's Friday Update and PPS will be emailing the community directly as well.

Back to School Night is Thursday, September 15th:  We are thrilled to host Back to School Night in-person this fall!  The format will be a bit different this year, starting with that it will take place on only ONE night.  The event will start at 6:30 PM in the cafeteria where all families are invited to meet the staff, hear about the year ahead, and learn information about our PTA, Foundation, and much more.  From 7:00 - 8:00 PM, all teachers will be hosting an Open House in their classrooms where you can see the space, meet the teacher, and learn more about the yea.  BTSN is one of our only "adult only" events of the year - thanks for your understanding.

Fall Conferences:  Conferences will again take place during the week of Thanksgiving.  More details will be coming out, including on-line sign-ups.  

Site Council:  This fall we will be “re-establishing” 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.  Details are still being finalized, but the team will likely meet 6-8 times during the school year.  Meetings will be in the evening and virtual.  If you are interested, please email Matt Goldstein.  

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, or me if you have any questions or need additional information.  We look forward to working together and kicking off the 2022-2023 School Year.

Regards,

Matt Goldstein
Principal