What I Learned This Week: Estrella from AO Elementary - Would you rather be one of Santa's elves or reindeer? 🎅 This 2nd grader confidently shares her answer! Big shout-out to Mrs. Napier for teaching writing strategies so effectively! Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn-QTYfcgT0
🌱 Watch our young minds grow! Here's our highlight reel from the Farm-to-Table experience at Cedarock Park! Two days of hands-on learning with local experts on dairy, poultry, beekeeping, forestry, cattle, crops, conservation, and more. Thanks to Alamance Parks & Cedarock Park, Alamance County Cooperative Extension, and community partners for this agricultural adventure! https://youtu.be/hlIa9jXJ-lI
✨38 Days, 38 Schools: Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary (AO Elementary) is committed to building a foundation for the future by nurturing caring, responsible, and lifelong learners who make appropriate choices in a challenging world. Inside the walls of AO, students can be found who are all engaged in learning and staff who want the best for their students. At AO, standards are unpacked, both whole group and small group lessons are taught, growth and progress are tracked, one another's growth and achievements are celebrated, and everyone is encouraged to be the best that they can be. The people at AO are at the heart of what makes it such a fantastic place to be. The teachers strive to build not only strong teacher-student relationships but also relationships with families. They love having volunteers in the classroom, guest readers, and speakers. The PTA at AO is one of the best and helps support the school, students, and staff!
What makes AO extraordinarily awesome? This year at AO, "Be Kind" was added to the core values of "Be Respectful," "Be Responsible," and "Be Safe." Students work hard each day looking for ways to show kindness to other students, staff, and themselves. Earlier this year, the school had the opportunity to invite Greensboro's A Special Blend, a coffee shop with a mission to employ adults with disabilities, and students learned valuable lessons on accepting others exactly as they are. Individual classrooms have also looked for opportunities throughout the year to spread kindness. Students are celebrated through a variety of recognitions, but a favorite way is collecting Brag Tags. Students each receive a Brag Tag chain in Kindergarten and have ways that they can earn Brag Tags through their years at AO. The 5th Graders leave taking their memories and achievements with them!
⭐ Congratulations to Karla and Jennifer for being recognized as the April 2024 STAR Student & Staff. They were recognized with the May winners during last night's Board meeting. 👏
🌠 Karla overcame the challenge of being a non-English speaker by demonstrating extraordinary growth in language, reading, and math skills through exceptional self-motivation. Beyond academics, she enriches the school community through thoughtful gestures promoting inclusion and enthusiastically supporting her peers. Karla's remarkable achievements and positive influence at her young age bring immense pride to the school.
🌠 Jennifer embodies educational excellence at ABEC through her innovative and engaging Honors English instruction that inspires creativity. Her profound impact extends beyond academics as a compassionate mentor guiding students through college applications and spearheading community initiatives. Fostering meaningful relationships, Ms. Fisher motivates achievement while empowering self-expression. Her passion for nurturing student growth as scholars and citizens earns profound appreciation from the entire school community.
🙌 Join us in celebrating our STAR Student & Staff of the Month!
#StudentCenreredFutureFocused
Board of Education member Seneca Rogers was invited to speak to Ms. Cassie Dodson's Big and Little mentoring program students for Grades 2-5 at AO Elementary on Friday, May 10.
Mr. Rogers explained his role as a Board of Education member to the group and shared some of his goals growing up and the challenges he overcame to achieve them. He encouraged students to dream big and to keep going even if they don't reach their goals as quickly as they think they should.
Each student asked thoughtful questions and shared their interpretations of Mr. Rogers' message. One student summed up his message by saying, "Life is a track, and the challenges you face are the hurdles." Mr. Rogers agreed, saying that was an excellent way to think about life.
Thank you, Mr. Rogers, for visiting AO Elementary and sharing such a positive message with our students!
Those who know, know - Mrs. Dodson from AO Elementary is one exceptional teacher! We were thrilled to recognize her at the Evening of Excellence as the 2024 Teacher of the Year Runner-Up! She is a dedicated teacher who goes above and beyond to ensure every child thrives. 👏
🌟Teacher of the Year Finalist Feature: Cassie Dodson from Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary
Cassie Dodson is a true champion for her students. With an incredible heart and unwavering dedication, she goes above and beyond to ensure every child receives the support they need to thrive. Mrs. Dodson's creative and differentiated approach meets students where they are, tailoring her teaching methods to their unique needs.
Her collaborative spirit extends beyond the classroom walls, as she actively partners with teachers, staff, and community members to provide a well-rounded educational experience. Dodson's recent initiative of bringing in a guest speaker from the Chapel Hill Fire Department to discuss overcoming obstacles and perseverance exemplifies her commitment to inspiring and empowering her students.
Moreover, Dodson's efforts to secure donated equipment through the Play It Again Sports program demonstrate her innovative thinking and resourcefulness in providing the best possible resources for her students. Her passion for education and her students' success is truly remarkable, making her a deserving finalist for Teacher of the Year!
📣 Spread the word: the ABSS Job Fair is this Saturday, April 13th, at Highland Elementary! it will open at 9 AM and go until 12PM. We are excited to welcome anyone looking to start a new career in ABSS. Many positions are available. Schools will have tables set up and our talented staff is available to greet you and answer your questions. See you there!
📚✨Our Media Specialists totally deserve a shoutout on National Library Workers Day! Sure, they'll help you find the perfect book, but they also collaborate with teachers, model tech skills, and think outside the box to engage inquiring minds. From cozy story nooks to cutting-edge resources, they maintain an incredible space just brimming with opportunities to learn and grow. Thanks for all you do! 🙌 #StudentCenteredFutureFocused
🌟Job seekers, mark your calendars - our 2024 Job Fair is one month away! We are hiring for many positions, both certified and classified. Come find your next opportunity with us! Please share with anyone you know who may be interested.
📍 Highland Elementary
⏰ 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
🗓️ April 13th, 2024
#StudentCenteredFutureFocused
🏄♂️ Cowabunga! Let's ride the wave and celebrate National School Breakfast Week! 🌊
National School Breakfast Week reminds us that a nutritious breakfast is totally rad when it comes to fueling our students for success. It's a stellar start to each day. ☀️
Let's show our appreciation for all our school nutrition crew's hard work in providing healthy breakfast options to power our students! 👏 Check out the staff at Western Alamance High School, Haw River Elementary School, and Altamahaw Ossipee Elementary. Their festive tropical decorations and outfits themed around "Surf's Up with School Breakfast" had these kiddos smiling! 🌴
🏆 Congratulations to our exceptional 2024 Teacher of the Year Finalists - Grayson Coleman from Hillcrest Elementary, Cassie Dodson from Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary, Chanel Jones from Broadview Middle, Linda Gruener from Highland Elementary, and Kristin Adams from Eastern Alamance High School!
🌟These dedicated educators have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their students and a passion for teaching that goes above and beyond.
🍎 We will announce our district winner in April. Until then, join us in celebrating these remarkable teachers!
We are thrilled to congratulate our 2024 Classified Employees of the Year! 🌟These dedicated staff members take on diverse and critical roles that provide vital support for the education of our students. We deeply appreciate their hard work. Congratulations!
✨ Kindergarten Enrollment links in English and Spanish are now on our website! We have instructions, videos, a checklist, and other resources. If your child will turn 5 before August 31, 2024, they are eligible to enroll in ABSS Kindergarten for the 2024-2025 academic year.
https://www.abss.k12.nc.us/o/abss/page/kindergarten-program
✅ Want to register in person? Come out to our Registration Fair on March 9th at Holly Hill Mall, 9 AM to Noon. Staff will be available to answer all your questions!
We are proud to announce the 2024 ABSS Teachers of the Year! 🌟
These exceptional teachers are making a real difference in their students' lives. They care deeply about their students’ growth and success every day. Whether helping a struggling learner find their confidence, making lessons fun through imaginative activities, or supporting students through life's challenges, their student-first commitment is worthy of praise.
Please join us in celebrating them! 👏
Music to our ears! 🎶 The Western Alamance Middle School Beginning Band visited Elon Elementary and Altamahaw OssipeeElementary to put on a special performance and tell students about the benefits of music! Making music uniquely develops focus, memory, coordination, and problem-solving skills. It's a brain booster! 🧠 Although just beginning, these students are going to be making big (sound) waves!
Great news! Pre-kindergarten applications for the 2024-2025 school year are now available! For information, locations, and application links, please visit our website: https://www.abss.k12.nc.us/o/abss/page/pre-kindergarten
Congratulations to the fifth graders at Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary on completing the D.A.R.E. program this year! We're so proud of you for your hard work learning about making safe and healthy choices. Thank you to the wonderful teachers who supported the students all year long, and especially to Sgt. Chad Laws for dedicating his time to equip our students with the knowledge and skills to live empowered, safe lives. The future is brighter because of leaders like you investing in our community's youth. Great job!
Save the Date! 🗓️ Join us for a fun and informative evening at the last Family University of the year, January 29th at Cummings High School! 🌟 A light dinner will be provided at no cost to families before you choose from many useful sessions on topics like registering for high school courses, career and technical education opportunities, and elementary reading and math strategies. Several sessions will also be available in Spanish (Algunas sesiones también estarán disponibles en español.) Childcare will be available for children from Pre-K to 5th grade, so the whole family can participate. The Family University is a great chance to get helpful information while connecting with other families and teachers. We hope to see you there - don't miss this valuable opportunity to support your student's growth and education!
We love sharing student showcases! 🎤 We're proud of the first-grade students at AO Elementary who participated in their monthly Poetry Cafe this week. The young poets each selected a poem to practice at home before presenting to their classmates, building valuable public speaking and self-confidence skills. For this month's Cafe, parents were invited to see their children share their work. Watching the students' excitement as they recite their poems is a highlight for both the students and staff. Events like Poetry Cafe allow students to showcase their talents while covering speaking standards in an engaging way. Kudos to the students and staff at AO Elementary for fostering creativity and self-expression! 👏 #StudentCenteredFutureFocused #ABSSCommunity
