Issue #36: May 14, 2026

Home

MS Updates

HS Highlights

PTG

Calendars

Main Contacts

From the Principal

Ms. Michelle Alzamora

As we look at the calendar and see the final weeks of school approaching, it is common to notice a shift in student energy. For some children, this time of year brings excitement. For others, it can bring a sense of anxiety about the unknown. Transitions are a major part of the elementary school experience. We are working hard to ensure every student feels prepared for their next step.

Whether your child is moving to a new grade level, transitioning to a different building, or preparing for a move to a new country, these feelings are a natural part of growing up. Our goal is to help them process these changes while celebrating all they have accomplished this year.

You can help your child navigate these upcoming changes by using some simple strategies at home over the next few weeks:

Focus on the Knowns: When children feel anxious about a new grade, it is often because they are focusing on what they do not know. Help them list the things that will stay the same. This might be the school playground, their favorite lunch, or seeing familiar faces in the hallways.
Keep the Narrative Positive: Children often take their emotional cues from the adults around them. When you talk about next year, focus on the opportunities for growth and the fun activities unique to the next grade level.
Listen and Validate: If your child expresses worry about a new teacher or a new classroom, listen without immediately trying to fix the problem. Sometimes simply saying, "I hear that you are feeling a little nervous, and that is a normal way to feel," can lower their stress significantly.
Maintain Routines: During times of transition, consistent home routines provide a much needed anchor. Try to keep bedtimes and morning schedules as consistent as possible during these final weeks of school.

To help bridge the gap between this year and next, we have our upcoming Fly Up Day on June 1st. This is a dedicated time where students get to "fly up" to the next grade level to meet the teachers and see what a typical day looks like in their future classroom. This experience is designed to replace the unknown with a concrete, positive memory. For leaving students, we have planned activities to help them create closure with ACS and a positive outlook for their new school experience.

Warmly,
The ES Admin Team

Parent Survey Feedback

We want to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who took the time to complete our recent parent survey. Your perspectives are invaluable as we continue to refine our school structures and enhance the educational experience for our students.

Survey Reflections and Insights

The feedback we received provided several heartening insights. It is wonderful to note that our families feel truly welcome on campus and find our school personnel to be receptive to their needs. Building a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging is a priority for us, and we are pleased to see this reflected in your responses. However, the data also highlighted an area where we can grow. We noted that parents do not feel as strongly that the school actively encourages parental involvement. We recognize the profound impact that parent partnership has on student learning and the overall student experience at school. Strengthening this connection is essential to our mission.

Looking Ahead with Our New Leadership

As we look toward the next school year, our incoming Elementary School Principal, Ruth Poulsen, is eager to learn more about parent engagement and involvement. Ruth hopes to connect with you to learn more about how you would like to be involved in our school community. Her goal is to identify meaningful ways we can meet this important need together.

We look forward to embarking on this collaborative effort and further deepening the partnership between home and school.

Grade 5 to Grade 6 Transition

Thank you to all the Grade 5 families who joined us this week for our Transition Evening. It was a pleasure to connect with you, share a glimpse into life in the Middle School, and begin this exciting journey together. We hope you found the session informative and that it answered some of your questions about the year ahead.

Missed the event?

For families who were unable to attend, or for those who would like to revisit the details, we will be sharing a recording of the presentation and the full slideshow with all Grade 5 families via email on Sunday, May 17.

We look forward to officially welcoming our newest "Scorpions" to the Middle School very soon!

Last Week of School Student Activities

We have many exciting activities planned for the last week of school! There are a couple of events that you will need to send items from home to make the day extra special for your child.

June 2 - Day of Play

The ES Student Council is planning a Day of Play for students on June 2nd. The children will go to the field and participate in outdoor activities for 40 minutes per grade level. We will have a water feature this time! To help your child have a great time, please plan for the following

Swim suit or a change of clothes that can get wet
Towel
Sunscreen and a hat
Water Bottle
Closed-toe shoes (just like for PE)

June 3 - ES Read-A-Thon

Students will participate in a Read-A-Thon in their classrooms. They are invited to wear PJs and bring stuffies and pillows to create a cozy place to read. They can also bring books from home, but we do have many books at school!