Hello Altura Prep Families and Caregivers,
Happy November! Our first couple of months have passed by quickly, and it is exciting to see how much your children are learning and growing each day. We look forward to Fall Conferences this month to share your child(ren)'s learning goals, achievements, and successes with you.
Here is the scoop for November:
Upcoming Dates
November 3, 2023 - Picture Retake Day
November 3, 2023 - New Student Application Available for the 2024-25 School Year
November 10, 2023 - Parent/Family Conferences (regular minimum day schedule with 12:30 dismissal)
November 16th and 17th, 2023 - Parent/Family Conferences (No School for Students)
November 20 - November 24, 2023 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)
November 28, 2023 - K-3 Field Trip to UNM Popejoy Hall for Highlights of the Nutcracker
December 22, 2023- January 8, 2024 - Winter Break (No School)
Picture Retakes
Students absent from school for the first picture day may take their school pictures this Friday morning, November 3, 2023. Students may bring a change of shirt for their picture but must be in uniform aside from when they take their picture.
Parent/Family Conferences
Parent/Family Conferences at Altura Prep are a 10-minute conversation between adult caregivers and Altura Prep teachers. If you absolutely must bring your child to your conference date/time, please ensure that they have an activity to do while they wait for you. Our office staff is still working during conferences and must be able to spend their time on requisite tasks to prepare for the remainder of the year.
Upcoming K-3 Field Trip
On November 28, 2023, students in grades K-3 will see Highlights of the Nutcracker at Popejoy Hall as part of the SchoolTime Series.
We will transport students to and from Popejoy Hall. We will eat lunch after the show on the UNM campus before returning to school for the afternoon.
Please check your child’s class newsletter for a chaperone request. Please note that all chaperones must have a valid and current background check on file. (See the Volunteers section below for the process to follow to complete yours).
Volunteers
We can always use volunteers here at Altura Prep!
Complete your background check by registering at https://nm.state.identogo.com/. Use ORI: NM931195Z. The fee for the background check is $59.00. Once you complete the fingerprinting process, please let Ms. Cynthia know. We review the background check portal weekly and will contact you once your background check is complete.
Lost and Found
The weather is changing, which means more sweaters and jackets at school, and our lost and found is very full! We will donate any unclaimed items on the first Friday of every month. Please check the lost and found this week: we will donate the remaining items this Friday, November 3, 2023.
Helpful Tips:
- Label jackets, sweaters, and other clothing items with students’ names. If items are labeled, we can return them to their owners. If there are no names, items end up in the lost and found.
- We love Mabel’s Labels - click here to support Altura Prep with your purchase. They give 20% back to the school- it adds up!
- Ask your child to check the lost and found during recess.
Spelling Bee
The Schoolwide Spelling Bee will take place Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 9 a.m. Each 1st-5th grade class will have a spelling bee before the Schoolwide Spelling Bee. Class Bees will occur the week of November 27, 2023- December 1, 2023, during the school day. Representatives from each class will go on to represent their class at the schoolwide Spelling Bee on December 13, 2023.
New Student Enrollment
We will begin accepting applications for new student enrollment for the 2024-25 school year on Friday, November 3rd! Siblings of current Altura Prep students receive a lottery preference for any available seat. If you have a sibling who is eligible for school next year, please submit an application for them using the enrollment form link on the school website beginning Friday. (Note: we have transitioned to a new system, PowerSchool Enroll, and are no longer using SchoolMint.)
Current Altura Prep students do NOT need to have a new application. Returning student registration will be available in early February through PowerSchool.
If you have friends or other family members interested in having their child attend Altura Prep, please share this information with them. Enrollment information and links will also be available on the school website under “Enroll”.
Yearbook
Altura Prep 2023-24 yearbooks are on sale now! Visit Josten’s online to purchase yours today. Prices will increase according to the following schedule:
-Order by November 10th, 2023: $30.00
-Order by January 26th, 2024: $35.00
-After January 26th, 2024: $38.00
Value of the Month: Gratitude
In the United States, we typically associate the months of November and December with the holiday season- simultaneously a busy but cozy and festive time of year. For many of us, it is also a chance to reflect and give thanks. In November, we will highlight the value and practice of gratitude- a thankful appreciation for what is good in our school and lives.
Not only is practicing gratitude a way to help others feel appreciated but it is also associated with greater happiness and fulfillment. According to Harvard Health Publishing at the Harvard Medical School, “[g]ratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
Gratitude is a big concept- there are small, consistent ways that we can teach it to children:
- Model the behaviors we hope our children will develop. For example, we can share with children when others have done something for us and how we feel when that happens: “Did you know that our neighbor, Ms. Barbara, closed our garage door for us when I forgot to do it? I am going to write her a note to thank her. In our family, it is important that we take the time to let others know when they have done something helpful to us.”
- Reinforce the positive behaviors in our children: acknowledge when a child displays gratitude. “I saw that you thanked your friend when she gave you a turn on her bicycle. It’s great to let people know how it made you feel when they’ve done something nice for you. Good job!”
- Give children regular opportunities to self-reflect and consider what they are grateful for. At the dinner table, instead of asking what they did at school that day, consider changing it up: “What are you thankful for today?” (It does not have to be Thanksgiving for us to go around the table to share something we are grateful for!)
When we model gratitude for and practice it with our children, we do a few things:
- We demonstrate a skill that can increase their feelings of well-being, hopefulness, and contentment.
- We help them focus on the good things in their lives - it is easy to dwell on the challenges, but practicing gratitude helps develop a positive mindset.
- We lead them to more positive actions: when someone does something nice for you — whether a friend or stranger — and you thank them for it, they will be encouraged to do something nice for someone again. Gratitude can start a chain of kindness and thankfulness.
- We may also benefit from some of the positive byproducts of gratitude!
As we head into the fourth month of the school year- a busy time for many of us- we want to take a moment to say thank you for all of the support that you give your child(ren) and all of the support you show the school. We are so grateful to be a part of a community of families who want the best for their children and all of the children at Altura Prep.
Warmly,
Lissa and Meaghan
