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Hello Altura Prep Families and Caregivers,
Happy February! As we near the end of our second trimester, we want to thank all of you for your continued support of our students, teachers, staff, and the school as we collectively strive to provide optimal learning opportunities every day.
Month at a Glance:
Tuesday, February 6: Call of the Wild at Popejoy Hall Field Trip for 4th and 5th Grades
Wednesday, February 14: Kindness Day at Altura Prep
Monday, February 19: No School in Observance of Presidents’ Day
Friday, February 23: Oratorical Festival 9:00 am (Hope of the Desert Church)
Wednesday, March 7: NAEP Testing for 4th Grade Students Only
Friday, March 15: Parent Conferences (Regular Minimum Day Dismissal at 12:30 pm)
Thursday, March 21: Parent Conferences (No School for Students)
Friday, March 22: Parent Conferences (No School for Students)
Monday, March 25 - Monday, April 1: Spring Break (No School)
Re-Enrollment for the 2024-25 School Year:
We appreciate your patience as we switch our enrollment paperwork to a new online system- PowerSchool Enroll. Soon, you will receive an email with a secure link to complete an Intent to Return form for your child for the coming school year. Once completed, you’ll receive an email with a link to complete your re-registration paperwork. Families will notice that, unlike in the past, your forms will be pre-populated with much of the information we have on file in our electronic Student Information System. This new system will allow us to collect and store your student’s information year-to-year more seamlessly.
If your family plans to move out of state or to a different school next year (even if they are tentative), PLEASE let us know. We use the re-enrollment process as a crucial part of our school budget and staffing planning. Most recently, the New Mexico Public Education Department has been penalizing schools on Annual Performance Frameworks if there is too large of variance between enrollment projections and our actual enrollment, so we need to be accurate with our student count. Our student count also determines the number of teachers we hire and several other critical decisions that must be made before June. When families commit for the coming year and then withdraw, we face the possibility of decreased funding and last-minute staffing changes. If we know there is a possibility that your family may not be returning, we can plan accordingly and process your re-enrollment paperwork.
Kindness Day:
Each year, Altura Preparatory School celebrates World Kindness Day on February 14th. Although we believe the spirit of Valentine's Day is sweet and well-meaning, the commercialism and fanfare that come with it add unneeded stress to many families and are not inclusive to our students who do not celebrate the holiday. Therefore, instead of traditional Valentine's Day celebrations, our Prepsters participate in school-wide activities that promote charity, cultivate empathy, and demonstrate compassion for others. By intentionally choosing to celebrate the art of being kind, we teach our students that even the smallest gestures of doing the right thing and giving oneself are often the most meaningful.
We ask families to participate by donating to several of our school-wide projects. Please click here to volunteer to bring donations or help the teachers with two of our Kindness Day projects.
Kindness Day Community Partnership: Ronald McDonald House:
Every year, we choose a nonprofit organization to receive some “Altura Love” and for students to experience firsthand the importance of giving back to their community. This year, we will collect donations for the Ronald McDonald House from Monday, February 5, 2024, through Tuesday, February 13, 2024. Click here to see what is on our local Ronald McDonald House of New Mexico wishlist. Let’s work together to help our New Mexico families with sick children in need. Every donation makes a difference!
Yearbooks:
You may order your child's yearbook now using this link. You may also access Josten's Order Page, which can be found on our website under the Student Life tab, and click "Yearbook." The price is $38.00 per book. We only have 87 yearbooks left, so we recommend placing your order today!
5th Grade Parent Announcement:
If you are considering sending your child to an Albuquerque Public Schools middle school, parents must register with Albuquerque Public Schools. Please click the link here for more information about registering your child for an APS middle school.
Prospective Parent Tours: Volunteers Needed!
We will hold school tours for prospective parents in February, March, and April. We would like to have parents of current students provide these tours (and your valuable insight!) to prospective parents.
Parent tour guide leaders must have had a child attend Altura Prep for a minimum of 3 years and be able to commit to these dates/times:
Friday, 2/16: 1:30 - 2:30 pm (Prospective Kindergarten students)
Friday, 2/23, 1:30 - 2:30 pm (Prospective 1st-5th grade students)
Friday, 3/1, 1:30- 2:30 pm (Prospective Kindergarten students)
Friday, 3/9, 1:30 - 2:30 pm (Prospective 1st-5th grade students)
Friday, 4/5, 1:30 - 2:30 pm (Prospective Kindergarten students)
We will provide training for all tour guides on Friday, 2/9. If you are interested, please sign up here.
Note: Volunteers with background checks are preferred; however, as volunteers will not interact directly with students, we can waive this requirement.
Parent Conferences- Friday, March 16, Thursday, March 21, and Friday, March 22, 2024:
Please be on the lookout for your Spring Parent Conference Invitations. As with our Fall Conferences, times will be assigned to families, and we request that you send back your confirmation pages promptly so that we can have an accurate idea of the schedules for your child/ren’s teachers.
Value of the Month- Being a Good Listener:
Active listening is a crucial skill for young children to cultivate early in their development. This skill not only aids in building relationships and being a good friend but also enhances their ability to absorb information in the classroom. Here's a breakdown of the difference between passive and active listening, along with five effective ways to teach your child active listening skills:
Passive Listening vs. Active Listening
Passive listening involves merely hearing what someone is saying without actively trying to understand the message or extract the lesson. We've all experienced moments when we can't recall what was said during a conversation—a classic example of passive listening. On the other hand, active listening requires actively working to hear and process information, piecing it together to form ideas or comprehend instructions.
Five Ways to Teach Your Child Active Listening Skills
1. Practice Eye Contact: Encourage your child to practice maintaining eye contact during conversations. Eye contact helps improve concentration and signals attentiveness. Despite various distractions, a little eye contact can significantly enhance listening skills.
2. Encourage Follow-Up Questions: Foster active listening by prompting your child to ask questions about the content. For instance, encourage them to ask questions or discuss the story afterward while reading a story together. This helps them engage more deeply with the material.
3. Play Listening Games: Games can make learning enjoyable. Try activities like "What was that sound?" where your child listens to various sounds and describes what they hear. Incorporate drawing exercises, asking them to listen as you describe a scene and draw accordingly. Everyday chores, such as following a recipe, can also become opportunities for listening games.
4. Work on Limiting Interruptions: Teach your child the importance of waiting for their turn to speak. Discuss how interrupting can affect the speaker and provide alternatives like raising their hand in class or waiting until the person finishes their thought. This helps instill patience and respect in communication.
5. Communicate Clearly: Actively listen when your child speaks, demonstrating the behavior you want them to adopt. Use clear and concise instructions, presenting tasks individually to avoid overwhelming them and ensure better focus.
By incorporating these strategies into your interactions with your child, you can contribute to developing their active listening skills, setting a solid foundation for effective communication and learning.
Fourth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Showcase
We are so excited for our 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Showcase at Altura Prep, which is just around the corner! In honor of the great orator, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Altura Prep students will be able to showcase their oratorical skills in a public speaking competition.
This showcase celebrates the eloquence and the leadership for justice that defined the life of Dr King. Individual students and groups will take the stage and recite poems and speeches fearlessly and with emotional power. Classes will perform songs important in the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. This year’s theme is “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Indeed, it is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the wo/man who wields it.” The context for this theme comes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Nobel Peace Prize Lecture on December 11, 1964, titled “The Quest for Peace and Justice.”
Students may write an original monologue, poem, or speech that reflects Dr. King's message. They may also give a famous monologue, poem, or excerpts from one of Dr. King’s speeches that share his quest for civil rights, equity, and progress.
This oratorical competition's categories are as follows:
Individual Performer – One Performer on Stage
- Monologue- original or published in a script (3 min)
- Poetry- published poetry (3 min)
- Poetry- original poetry (poet performing poem they wrote, 3 min)
- Speech- famous & not so famous – (3 min)
Groups- Two or More Performers on Stage Groups
- Poetry- published (up to 3 min)
- Poetry- original (written by the performing poets, (up to 3 min)
- Speech- famous & not so famous (up to 3 min)
Students will be judged on these four criteria:
- Interpretation / Creativity
- Expression / Stage Presence
- Delivery / Presentation
- Overall Effectiveness
If your child is interested in participating in this year's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Showcase, please complete the Entry Form here. The last day to register your student for this event is Monday, February 5, 2024, at 5:00 pm.
Here are some additional public speaking resources for our families:
Have a fabulous February, Altura Prep families!
In partnership,
Lissa and Meaghan
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