Welcome back, !
The first week of school is complete - give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back! From organizing supplies to adjusting to new routines, getting through these first few days is no small feat. The excitement buzzing through classrooms and the smiles at drop-off show that our students are off to a fantastic start. Your PTSA is equally energized and optimistic about the months ahead. We have a calendar full of fun events, enriching programs, and opportunities for families to connect and get involved. Together, we’ll continue to build a strong, supportive community for our students, teachers, and staff. As we look ahead, we know this school year will be an exciting journey for our children - one filled with learning, discovery, and growth. As parents and caregivers, our role is to guide, support, and love them through every step. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and here at Alcott, we have the privilege of building that village together. By showing up for one another, we can create a community where our kids feel safe, supported, and inspired to thrive. Here’s to a joyful year ahead - for our children, our families, and our Alcott village.
Warmly, Chris Jung
Alcott PTSA President
president@alcottptsa.org |
In This Issue - Upcoming calendar of events
- What is Orca Waves newsletter
- Why your PTSA membership matters
- Upload first day of school photos to yearbook
- Signup for Running Club on Tuesday mornings
- Pickup and Drop-off Reminder
- Classroom Connector Information
- Join the PTSA team
- HiCap news from the LWSD
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Upcoming Calendar of Events | | Monday, September 8 | | | | Wednesday, September 10 | | | Friday, September 26 | | | Thursday, October 30 | |
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| What Is The Orca Waves Newsletter... And Why Is It In My Inbox?
Orca Waves is a weekly newsletter created to keep the Alcott community informed, connected, and engaged. Each issue includes: Upcoming Events & Activities – Stay up to date on school and PTSA events, volunteer opportunities, and family activities. Important Announcements – Learn about programs, deadlines, and opportunities that directly impact your child’s school experience. Community Highlights – Celebrate student and teacher achievements, classroom spotlights, and the vibrant culture that makes Alcott special. Ways to Get Involved – Find simple, meaningful ways to support our school and strengthen our community.
Orca Waves ensures families never miss out on opportunities to engage with their child’s education, connect with other parents, and be part of the “village” that helps our children thrive. To help everyone start the year strong, Orca Waves will be shared with the entire Alcott community throughout September. Beginning in October, however, the newsletter will be sent exclusively to PTSA members. Joining the PTSA is the best way to stay connected and make sure you continue receiving Orca Waves - your weekly source for what’s happening at Alcott. |
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| Why Your Membership Matters
Dear Alcott Families, Every year, your PTSA membership helps bring programs to life that enrich the educational experience of all our children. We warmly invite you to join the Alcott PTSA and continue making a difference in our school community. Being a PTSA member means you are directly supporting the programs and events that make our school a vibrant and enriching place for every child. Membership dues fund enrichment opportunities in art, science, math, and STEAM - opportunities that simply would not exist without PTSA support. They also make possible the fun and memorable events our kids look forward to each year, such as the Back-to-School Bash, End-of-Year Party, classroom celebrations, the Science Fair, Culture Fair, and Family Movie Nights. In addition, PTSA brings unique learning experiences to our students, like Science on Wheels from the Pacific Science Center, giving children hands-on opportunities that spark curiosity and creativity. Your membership truly makes a difference in our children’s education. It also strengthens the PTSA, amplifying our collective voice as we advocate for the needs of students at the school, district, and state level. When you join, you are not only supporting events and programs - you are helping build a stronger, more connected school community for every child. Without the support of members like you, these enriching opportunities simply wouldn’t be possible, and all of our children would feel the impact. That is why your membership truly matters. Please consider joining the PTSA today - together, we can ensure every child continues to learn, grow, and thrive.
With Warm Regards, Your PTSA www.alcottptsa.org Become a PTSA Member Today! |
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Upload First Day of School Photos in Yearbook |
| Don't Forget to Upload Your Kids Photos
Don’t forget to upload your first day back-to-school photos for the Alcott Yearbook! The yearbook is more than just a collection of pictures - it's a keepsake filled with the moments, friendships, and milestones that define your child’s school years. By sharing your photos, you’re helping capture memories that your kids will treasure for a lifetime. One day, when they’re all grown up, they’ll flip through these pages and thank you for preserving their childhood story. Help us make this year’s yearbook unforgettable - upload your photos today and give your child the gift of memories that last forever.
📘 What is the Yearbook? The Alcott Yearbook is a beautiful collection of memories from throughout the school year. The PTSA gathers photos of activities, events, students, teachers, and staff, and at the end of the year, all of these moments are compiled into one special keepsake book. This is more than just a book - it’s a gift of memories you can give your child. Years from now, they’ll look back at their yearbook and remember their friends, teachers, and the experiences that shaped their childhood. Yearbooks can be pre-purchased here. Once complete, they’ll be delivered to you at the end of the school year. Order now to enjoy a 10% discount on your purchase! |
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| 🏃♀️ Running Club on Tuesday Mornings! 🏃♂️
Lace up your sneakers and join us for a refreshing start to your Tuesdays! Running Club begins soon, meeting every Tuesday morning for a fun, energizing run with great company. Whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting out, all paces are welcome! Come build community, boost your mood, and enjoy the crisp fall air!
Sign up now and let’s hit the ground running!
When:
Tuesday mornings (8:30 - 9:05am)
Check-in begins at 8:20am
Dates: September 16th - November 25th
Where:
Check-in: Small Gym Running Loop: Around the Fields and Portables
Students are dismissed from Running Club directly to their morning line-up spot!
Who: 1st - 5th Graders
Cost: Free
How: Open the Registration Form and complete for EACH student being registered.
Volunteers: We need 4-5 volunteers for each session to assist with ensuring child safety, managing check-in/out, and scanning mileage counting QR codes for our runners. All volunteers must pass LWSD screening and be an approved volunteer. Your involvement is crucial to our success! You can sign up to volunteer on the Running Club Parent Square page.
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Pickup and Drop-off Reminder |
| Gentle reminder for parents for both car pick up and parked pick up: - Cars must pull up all the way to the blue coned area in front of the school to drop off and pick up students. Parents, please do not leave your car while in the pick up lane.
- Please do not block the path of buses when in the car drop off and pick up lane.
- For all other pick ups, there is a designated waiting area near the school sign board when entering the school
Thank you for your attention and cooperation! |
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If you’d like to learn more about being a Classroom Connector - or if you’re ready to sign up - just click the button below! |
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Join the PTSA Team – Open Positions Available! |
| The Alcott PTSA is powered by amazing parent volunteers like you. We currently have open positions and would love for you to consider joining us! Volunteering with the PTSA is a meaningful way to support our school, connect with other families, and make a real difference in our children’s educational experience. Whether you have just a few hours to give or want to take on a bigger role, there’s a place for you. Training and support are always provided - no experience needed, just a willing heart. The PTSA is in urgent need of volunteers to fill the following lead positions. These roles are essential - without leads in place, the events and programs connected to them cannot take place this year.
Urgent Open Lead Positions
Reflections Art: Do you love art and would like our students to present their art at district, state and national level? The Reflection Art program begins in early October so we need a volunteer, or volunteers, as soon as possible in order to provide this opportunity for students in our Alcott Community.
Spelling Bee: Bring the Scripps National Spelling Bee to Alcott! Need a volunteer to make the Bee happen.
Contact president@alcottptsa.org if you are interested or have questions about these lead positions.
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Highly Capable News from the LWSD |
| Get Involved For Our Kids! Well-informed, engaged parents make a difference for student success in school and beyond. Research shows that family engagement in a child’s education increases student achievement, improves attendance and reduces dropout rates. Lead an event or program with the PTSA and become a district approved volunteer. |
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Quick Links - Alcott Elementary Website: Staff contact lists, school hours and general school information.
- Alcott Student & Family Handbook: Attendance information, health and safety policies, school drop off and pick up times, busing rules, lost and found info, and more!
Skyward Family/Student Access: Find your student's teacher*, bus information, testing results and grades, and update/verify student information. New to Skyward? Learn how to get access here. Become a LWSD District Approved Volunteer: If you are planning to help in your student's classroom or at school at any point this year, you need to be an approved volunteer. The process can take a few days, so the earlier you get it done, the better. Get started here. If you are not sure if you are already approved, check here. Parent Square: Communication to families from school and teachers will be posted to Parent Square.
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Orca Waves Submission Orca Waves are published by volunteers of Alcott Elementary School. To submit content for the Orca Waves E-Newsletter, please email your submission, along with contact information, to communications@alcottptsa.org. Submissions must be received no later than 12pm on Wednesdays for inclusion in the following newsletter. Community flyers must first be approved by the district office and posted on the LWSD community bulletin board website. |
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