Monday, March 18, 2024

Dear Elementary Parents,

The last week before "Spring" break will be a busy one! We are completing final preparations for student-led conferences, and I know that your children will amaze you with their presentation skills, critical reflections, and goals for the coming quarter. 

As a side note, I will be away from tomorrow through Friday. With Dr. Warren and several teachers, we will be attending the AMISA Educator's Conference in Asuncion, Paraguay. I will give a presentation, and Dr. Warren will give one too. Though conferences like this one, and the opportunity to present are special, I am reluctant to miss this exciting week here at school. 

Student-Led Conferences: As you know, this Friday is a special opportunity for you to join a reflective and action-oriented meeting with your child. It's important for you to know a few things about these conferences:

• Promote Independence: Allow your child to take the lead at the conference. Encourage them, and be an active listener and participant. Offer guidance and support as needed, but allow your child to take ownership of the conference. Help them set realistic goals and brainstorm strategies for improvement.
• Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate your child's achievements, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement boosts their confidence and motivation to continue striving for success.
• Attend with an Open Mind: Approach the conference with an open mind and a positive attitude. 
• Focus on Growth: Emphasize the importance of growth and progress rather than just grades or outcomes. Encourage your child to learn from setbacks and view challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement.

A few more logistics about student-led conferences:

• Your child must be present. Siblings are welcome to attend or can visit our library during conferences.
• Our teachers will host several students at a time and will be present to encourage, assist, and answer brief questions. 
• These conferences are celebratory and are not the time for conversations about social, emotional or academic concerns you may have about your child. However, your teacher will be standing by, prepared to schedule meetings for you to discuss your concerns at another convenient time.
• 10-minute student-led conferences are also available for Specials (Art, Music, PE & Technology) and Spanish. There are optional, but children will be prepared for these presentations as well.

Should you have any questions about student-led conferences, please do not hesitate to contact the front office.

Thank you, as always, for reading - I wish you a bright and thought-provoking week ahead! I also wish you a lovely week of rest and relaxation next week. I look forward to seeing you all after Spring Break!

Sincerely,

Eric Crabtree
Elementary Principal

 

Monday, March 11, 2024

Dear Parents, 
We had a wonderful Parent Coffee this past Friday, sharing all of the new academic improvements parents can expect going into next year. I was very pleased that we had such a strong turnout and am thankful for those who could make it. This week, we have several important events to look forward to:

Puberty Q&A Session for Grade 5 Parents - Wednesday, March 13 from 5:30-6:30 pm: We will be hosting an evening session for Grade 5 parents who have questions about our upcoming puberty unit in the Elementary Auditorium. We look forward to seeing you there!

SLC Sign-Ups: Parents with more than 1 child in the Elementary School have received sign-up links to register for student-led conferences. The sign-ups for all other parents will go out next Thursday, March 14th. Thank you!

KG3 & 4 Full Day Programming is Here: One of the significant improvements to our programming that we are considering is moving KG3 & 4 to a full day. The benefits are countless, and we feel strongly that this will better serve our families and community. On the evening of April 9th, from 5-6pm, we will host a Q&A session for parents about the program. Please feel free to join us!

Additionally, we are trying to get the word out to prospective families about this opportunity. Please feel free to share the following poster with your friends in the community with children that might be candidates for our KG3 & 4 program next year!

Thank you for reading - I wish you a very peaceful and productive week!

Sincerely,

Eric Crabtree
Elementary Principal

Monday, March 4, 2024

Dear Elementary Parents,

A rainy Monday makes me hope that the rainy season is nearly over. We have lots happening right now, so please check below for more information:

Friday, March 8th - Parent Coffee - Curricular Review & Looking to Next Year: Join us to learn about the exciting Curricular Review taking place in our Elementary School this semester. We are looking at a variety of subject areas, evaluating how our current curriculum and programming in each area are meeting the needs of our community, and exploring opportunities for growth and innovation! We hope to see you there!

Student-led conferences are scheduled for Friday, March 22, 2024: These conferences are valuable opportunities for families to engage in their child's learning journey and celebrate achievements together.

During these conferences, students take ownership of their progress, set goals, and showcase their achievements. Teachers have prepared them to identify challenges, express ideas clearly, and communicate effectively.

Parents will gain insight into their child's academic progress and understanding of strengths and challenges from their perspective.

Here's how you can support your child:

• Encourage independence and active participation

• Celebrate achievements to boost confidence

• Approach the conference with an open mind and positivity

• Focus on growth and learning from setbacks

A few other logistics:

• Your child must be present; please do not leave them at home. Siblings may also attend

• Teachers will be present to facilitate various student groups at a time

• For concerns, please schedule a separate meeting with the teacher

• Specials and Spanish conferences (10-minutes in length) are optional but also available

Soon, you will receive links to sign up for conferences. From March 7th through 14th, parents with more than 1 child in our ACS elementary school will be able to reserve their space. From March 14th through 21st, all elementary parents will be able to register.

April: We are so excited to share a new event at ACS - Literacy Celebration Month! The month of April will be jam-packed with fun events that promote a love of reading and writing. We have author visits, parent workshops, a book fair, a book swap, and tons of other things coming. April will be a busy month and parents are encouraged to get engaged and be part of the fun! Stay tuned for the exact days and times of these exciting events!

Friday, April 19th - Earth Day at ACS: That's right - on Friday, April 19th ACS will be coming together as a true "Green Team" to celebrate Planet Earth and raise awareness on sustainability and environmental topics. We are very excited for this day!

Thanks so much for reading! I wish you a week of sunshine or at least sunny spirits!

Sincerely,

Eric Crabtree

Elementary Principal