Volume 14 | May 24, 2021
Monday Memo
Memo del Lunes en Espanol (haga clic aquí)
Alma Families,

It’s hard to believe that we are in the final week of May! Learning in person with our scholars is in full swing as we make good use of our precious final weeks together before summer vacation. Many of our 3rd-8th graders paused on their regularly scheduled classes to take MCAS last week. We are so proud of all of their hard work, and we are excited that they were able to show how much they have learned despite the challenges of this year. This Friday, our Alma Team will pause on our day-to-day work to reflect on our year and honor the way our community has come together during this challenging year. Enjoy the long weekend!

In Service,
Kaitlin Goldrick & Taylor DeLoach
Upcoming Events
Thursday, May 27th is a half-day for all Alma scholars to allow for staff to participate in an afternoon Professional Development session. There is no school (in-person or remote) on Friday, May 28th while Alma staff attend our Annual Retreat. In addition, in observance of Memorial Day, there is no school (in person or remote) on Monday, May 31st. Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Alma Family Input Session #2 is set for Tuesday, June 1 at 5 pm! The Zoom link will be sent out a few times leading up to the virtual meeting.

This session will be led in Spanish and will focus on identifying ways Alma can improve the way our school leaders and staff support families whose first language is not English. Family participants will be encouraged to speak in the language they feel most comfortable with, and an interpreter will translate for school leaders in English. Our goal with this session is to provide our Spanish speaking families with a direct line of communication to our school leaders, while also allowing families to share firsthand experiences so we can take steps to provide a more inclusive experience at Alma for all families.
Academic Update
Last week, our 6th grade scholars at the Frederick Douglass Campus had some hands on work doing a density lab outside today. They measured, weighed, and calculated the density of five different liquids. The class took their findings and the data and used it to make bar graphs during class, and then used the information to make informed comparisons.
What's For Lunch?
Below is the current school week menu for all Alma scholars! Each meal also includes milk, vegetables and fresh fruit. Click here to view next week’s menu!
Alma Community Spotlight
Ms. Marinna Emond
Kindergarten Associate Teacher at Alma’s Sarah D. Ottiwell Campus
Ms. Emond was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, and grew up in Seekonk, MA where she still resides today. She graduated from Bridgewater State University in 2017 where she studied and received her Bachelors in English, and will be furthering her education with her masters in Special Education. Along with her studies, she also spent a lot of her time as a member of the BSU field hockey team. After graduating, she became the Varsity Field Hockey coach for Bishop Feehan’s first ever Field hockey program. Along with being one of Alma’s Kindergarten teachers, she also just recently became a small business owner. 

Ms. Emond writes: Being a first teacher in a pandemic is definitely something I never thought I would have to say. Ending my first year of teaching, by hosting a Zoom kindergarten celebration was a unique experience but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Seeing five and six year olds adapt and alter their way of learning in the comfort of their own homes, eating ice cream sandwiches in their closets during zooms was something I’ll never forget. By the end of the summer, coming into my second year teaching I opted into teaching in person to the highest need scholars. Truly an experience I will never forget for my entire career. Hearing our English Language Learners come in on day one saying, “Hola maestra,” and now hearing how beautiful their English is when they say, “Hi! Good morning Ms. Emond!!” is something I’ll cherish forever.
Nurse's Note
The CDC now recommends everyone 12 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccination to help protect against COVID-19; Children 12 years and older are able to get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

You are able to book vaccine appointments for your scholar at Walgreens:
Don't miss a thing!
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