Community Update: Sunday, September 10, 2017

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Dear Advanced Learning Academy Families,

As part of the National School Lunch & Breakfast Program, all Advanced Learning Academy families are to submit a meal application for free and reduced-price lunch, regardless of income level.  At this time, we have 350+ outstanding applications that we need to be collected by the end of September. If you have not submitted a form (electronic or paper), please click on this My School Apps Link to complete the form.  You will need the following information:

• The names and incomes of every member of your household
• The school, grade, birthdate of every student in your household
• Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for “I do not have a Social Security number”.

The entire process should take 15-30 minutes depending on the size of your household and the information you are required to enter. We appreciate your timely attention to this matter as it will assist our front office staff  and administrative interns tasked with collecting a form from every family. If you are unsure if your family has submitted a form, you may email the Trinity Leadership Intern, Angelica Escobar-Smithwick, at aescorbarsmithwick1@saisd.net.

The Advanced Learning Academy PTSA selected a spirit t-shirt design at last week’s meeting that will be on sale at the Euclid campus on Thursday, September 14th, from 3:50-6pm in the cafeteria and at ALA @ Fox Tech on Wednesday, September 20th, at the 6th-11th grade Back to School Night. Families may also contact info@alaptsa.org for more information or to purchase a shirt. The spirit shirt may be worn on any day of the week. The Sonya Castro (ALA art teacher) original design, featuring the Rise, Shine & Repeat theme can be accessed HERE.

ALA at Fox Tech student ambassadors, working in collaboration with our sister schools, Fox Tech Health and Law Magnet and CAST Tech, have decided to collect donations throughout the year for a specific school (yet to be determined) in the Gulf Coast area.  This Hurricane Harvey Donation Flyer outlines the materials being collected at both campuses at this time.

Laura Sisson, the ALA at Fox Tech campus librarian, continues to distribute laptop to 6th-11th grade students this week and throughout September.  This Laptop Distribution Flyer has more details and upcoming dates. If you have any questions or need to find an alternate date and time, please contact Laura Sisson at 210.738.9730 x34023 or email lsisson@saisd.net

As we announced last week, many clubs and organizations at both campuses have recently begun or are gearing up for their first meetings of the year.  The clubs and organizations listing on our webpage was updated to include all of the current offerings PK-12.  Families may access the list HERE, and we encourage families to check back periodically as more opportunities are added.

One specific club we would like to highlight is the PSAT Preppers Club designed to provide our 8th-11th grade students a structured time and place every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6pm in the Go Center to prepare of the upcoming October 11th, 2017 PSAT Preliminary SAT test.  Although our 8th grade students, freshmen, sophomores will be taking the PSAT as practice, the test will be scored and students will receive individual testing results later in the year.  The test is designed to help students understand their readiness for taking the SAT exam during the spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year. Junior year PSAT scores are also used by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to select next year’s National Merit Scholars and National Hispanic Scholars, both distinctions that can earn students valuable scholarship dollars for college. We, along with all of SAISD, are committed to opening doors to higher education for every student in our community.

The ALA Theatre department is looking for a committed piano accompanist volunteer for our musical, Peter and The Starcatcher.  This musician must be able to read music and assist in the vocal score and accompaniment during rehearsals and performances for young performers learning to understand music.  If any parents would like to know more about this opportunity, or if you know someone who is interested, please contact Ms. Stengel (astengel1@saisd.net).  We need a dedicated volunteer as soon as possible.   

Looking ahead, ALA at Euclid students will participate in the first Project-Based Learning exhibition of the year on Tuesday, September 19th when they share what they have learned about our new PK-12 social-emotional program, RULER, with family and friends.   The following evening, September 20th, ALA at FT will host a 6th-11th grade Back to School Night. Please look for additional details in next week’s update.

Finally, we wish our 8th grade students a wonderful field trip to San Antonio zoo on Thursday as part of their 8th grade science biological studies.

Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Kathy Bieser