ALMS Weekly Newsletter

Hello ALMS Families,

Welcome to another exciting week at ALMS! Seeing the dedication and enthusiasm our students bring to each new day is always encouraging. This week was full of learning, laughter, and school spirit.

Mark your calendars! Next week is Respect for All Spirit Week, a celebration of all things Respect. Please see our Spirit Week calendar below!

February is Black History Month, and our classrooms are buzzing with student-led projects exploring the incredible contributions of Black Americans to our society. From presentations on influential figures to creative art depicting historical moments, our students are learning and honoring the rich tapestry of Black history. Look out for displays and presentations throughout the newsletters this month highlighting these inspiring projects.

Regarding our school teams, our talented Lego Robotics team is featured below from a recent competition. We cheer them on as they showcase their innovative robotic creations and problem-solving skills. We also have some in-game pictures from our Modified Hockey team, playing at Hommocks Ice Rink in Mamaroneck!

Get ready to be dazzled! Our talented high school dancers graced our stage with a captivating performance this past week. This energetic and artistic showcase has surely impressed our 8th graders! If you are interested in your 8th-grade child applying for the PAVE program, please see below for details!

A huge thank you to the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade advisors for putting on a wonderful school-wide Bingo event! Students enjoyed delicious snacks, exciting games, and the chance to win prizes. This was a great opportunity for our students to connect with their fellow peers while having a blast with bingo!

Our talented Media Club has been busy capturing the essence of school life this week. Check out their content below for a glimpse into their latest video productions, showcasing school events, student interviews, and creative storytelling. Be sure to give them a like and share their work!

As we look forward to this weekend and next week, please see below for the New Rochelle High School Black History Month celebration, and information and ticket sales regarding the ShowBiz Kids performance! Also, mark your calendars for the Student Council's Holiday Boutique! Find unique gifts, perfect for upcoming holidays and celebrations. This event is a wonderful opportunity to support our students' entrepreneurial spirit while finding that perfect holiday gift.

Wishing you a week filled with learning, laughter, and school spirit!

Warm Regards,

Camille Edwards-Thomas

We would like to extend our warmest wishes to each and every one who celebrates Lunar New Year. It is a festival typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries, which begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. This is the Year of the Dragon. Lunar New Year is a time of joy, reflection, and renewal. It’s a moment to celebrate, spend time with loved ones, and embrace the promise of new beginnings.

• February 1st-29th - Black History Month
• February 10th - Black History Month Celebration at NRHS - All are invited!
• February 12th-16th - Spirit Week
• February 13th & 14th - Student Council's Holiday Boutique
• February 14th - Valentine's Day
• February 19th - President's Day
• February 19th-23rd - Mid-Winter Recess - NO SCHOOL

Ms. Kaplan's Classes borrowed from Langston Hughes' "Hold Fast to Dream" poem. By taking inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, they created poems from the perspective of, what if dreams came true! See their work below!

Ms. Bongo's Social Studies Classes chose their own Black History Month personality. They researched why they were an impactful figure, and created commemorative stamps honoring their achievements and milestones. Mr. Silviotti came in to show student how to utilize the many tools within Canva to develop eye catching and aesthetically unique designs. Please see below for a schoolwide bulletin board and select stamps.

Congratulations to the ALMS Lego Robotics Team on the honor of competing and placing in the Mid Hudson First Lego League Qualifier Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 27th in Yorktown Heights.

Thank you for the enjoyable, enriching experience and great job to all of our team members :

Andrew Babu, Juliet Rueda, Chloe Chiu, Bryce Gourley, Colgate Woodley,

Andrew Villano, Charlie Heller, and Alex Babu

Congratulations to all of our players: Layla Grabel (7th), Hudson Porter (7th), Carolyn Porter (7th), Caleb Yoon (7th), Anthony Indivigilo (7th), Chole Chiu (8th), Nicolas Julian ,Mollie Greenberg (8th), Evelyn Menkes (8th), Kevin Derenzis (8th), Ben Hirshshorn (8th), Carmine Mancuso (8th). And a huge thank you to Coach Silverman!

NRHS PAVE came to perform for our 8th graders, showing off their dance numbers and speaking with the students about the PAVE program!

Dear Rising 9th Grade Students,

The application for the 2024-2025 NRHS PAVE Program is now officially open!

What is PAVE?

PAVE, which stands for Performing and Visual Arts Education, is a unique opportunity for you to dive deep into the world of art and performance right here at school. During the coming days, your current 8th Grade Performing and Visual Arts Teachers will be speaking to you about this special High School program.

Applications and Auditions:

• Click Here for the 2024-2025 PAVE Audition Criteria

• Any interested student who is thinking about auditioning for PAVE should complete the PAVE Application by February 12, 2024.

• This will help us secure an audition time for any interested students

• Students will receive confirmation of their in school audition times the week before Mid-Winter Recess

• Visual Art Audition Materials are submitted via Google Classroom. The art portfolio materials are due on February 26, 2024.

There will also be PAVE Informational Sessions at the upcoming Middle School PTA Meetings:

ALMS: Wednesday, January 10th, in person, 7pm

IEYMS: Tuesday, January 16th, via Zoom, 7pm

You can also find more information on the The District Website, which features a page for PAVE and the New Rochelle HS Performing and Visual Arts Program.

CLICK HERE to complete an application for the 2024-2025 NRHS PAVE Program

Sincerely,

Matthew M. Lucero

Director of PreK-12 Performing and Visual Arts

1. Yearbook Orders

The 2023-24 ALMS Yearbook is still on sale! Please click here to order a yearbook today. Only students who pre-order yearbooks by February 28, 2024 will be guaranteed copies in June. Do not delay, order today!

2. Yearbook Ads

Very limited space is still available in our ALMS Yearbook for families and friends to celebrate eighth grade students with recognition ads. Jostens makes the process very easy. Please click here to create a recognition ad for your eighth grader. The final deadline for all ads is Thursday, February 8, 2024. This deadline cannot be extended.

3. Yearbook Boosters

You can also celebrate your eighth grader with a booster ad. A booster ad is a message with 100 characters or less (no pictures or font choice). Booster ads cannot be completed on the Jostens website. Please click here to submit a booster ad for your eighth grader. The deadline to submit boosters is Thursday, February 8, 2024.

Dear Parents,

This week, February 12th – February 16th is National Children of Addiction Awareness week. Alongside schools across Westchester County, ALMS will be using Tuesday February 13th to educate our community about COA week. We set aside time each year to shine a light on this issue to remind children and the adults in their lives that:

• Having a parent (or loved one) with an alcohol or other drug problem creates challenges in our lives.

• We are not alone in this struggle.

• We can be happy and have good lives even if someone in our family continues to struggle with alcohol or other drug abuse.

National statistics indicate that 20-25% of children have at least one parent who is struggling with a substance use disorder. Unfortunately, this struggle can be very lonely for families because of the stigma around addiction.

If your family is one of the families facing this challenge, please know that you are not alone. There is support available for children, teens, and adults.

I am including a few links to resources. Please remember that I am available as a resource as well.

SAMHSA's National Helpline

NaCOA National Association for Children of Addiction

Al-Anon Family Groups

With great respect and affection,

Nicolette Loaiza, LMSW

Student Assistance Counselor

Albert Leonard Middle School

nloaiza@nredlearn.org

(914) 576-4339 ext 20615

Insta: nrhs_sadd

On Thursday March 7th the Student Council will visit the Willow Towers Assisted Living Facility in New Rochelle. Student Council members are excited to spend time with seniors in our community. Students are planning to make approximately 50 small gift bags for residents. Donations would be appreciated. The Student Council is grateful for your support.

Thank you to all who participated and helped run the now famous Bongo's Bingo event! Especially our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade advisors! It was a rousing success with much excitement, even more winners!

Dear Parents/Guardians:

We hope all is well with you and your family. It felt like yesterday when our eighth-grade students came to us as eager sixth graders. As the start of their final marking periods of middle school approaches, we are looking ahead to the next phase of their lives.

Over the last few weeks and moving forward, we have been ramping up our efforts to prepare them for their transition to high school. This includes meeting with their counselors for course selection and a virtual orientation for families and parents that provides greater insight into life at New Rochelle High School.

The 8th-grade year culminates with a series of activities designed to celebrate the achievements of our students. These include the 8th-grade Formal Dance at the VIP Country Club, a day trip to Holiday Hill, Awards Night, and the Transition Ceremony. The dates and costs for each event are in this message. Please look for further details on each event as the dates approach.

Throughout your child’s time here, they have been held to our school's highest academic rigor and expectations. We want to remind you that basic requirements must be met to participate in any/all end-of-year eighth-grade activities. Participation in these events is contingent upon students meeting behavioral and academic standards. Please note the following:

Academic Exclusions:

● Students with failures in two or more major academic subjects will be excluded from participation in 8th Grade Activities

Behavioral Exclusions:

● Students who continually engage in violations of the code of conduct

● Students who demonstrate ongoing rude and disrespectful behavior towards adults and others

● Students who continue to be late and or attempt to cut class

If you are concerned that your child may not meet the academic and/or behavioral qualifications/expectations, please contact your school counselor. Mr. Smith, the 8th-grade Administrator, can field any inquiries about your child's eligibility for participation in upcoming events.

We look forward to the coming months and exciting times ahead. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Edwards-Thomas, Principal

Mr. Smith, Assistant Principal

Ms. Carew and Ms. D’Ippolito, 8th Grade Co-Advisors

The school district renewed the tutor.com license for middle and high school students! See the attached fliers for more information!

Click to enlarge the images below!

Please see the fliers and QR codes below for more information about SEPTA!

Click to enlarge any images below!