Volume 1, Issue 4 Almira News Almira Pre K-8 Academy •3375 West 99th Street •(216) 838-6150 Please remember! Meet your scholar’s teacher by requesting a visit in the main office. Review discipline policies with your child. Help your scholar get to school, on time, in uni- form, everyday this se- mester and watch them improve! Tips for Dressing for Cold Weather 2 Meet a Teacher 3 Don’t Hate, Mediate! 4 December Calendar 5 Nation’s Report Card 6 Free Produce Fridays 7 Winter Sudoku 8 Inside this issue: Dear Almira Parents and Caregivers, We are busy here at Al- mira preparing for our Winter Assessments. These tests will deter- mine how well your schol- ar is progressing with mastering their grade level skills. These tests will take place in December and January and there are many ways that you can help your child prepare. Here are some tips: Make sure your scholar reads for at least 20 minutes eve- ry night. Work with your scholar over the win- ter break to complete their winter packets so they continue their learning while they are away from school. Make sure your scholar arrives at school everyday on time. On another note, I need your assistance with morning arrival and af- ternoon dismissal. Here is the procedure: MORNING ARRIVAL: Scholars are allowed to enter the building at 8:45am. Grades K-5 go to the cafeteria. Grades 6-8 eat breakfast in the atri- um or go into the gym for morning recreation. Par- ents who accompany their children go into the cafe- teria with them or wait in the main office. At no time are parents or schol- ars to go to any other parts of the building be- fore 9:10am. This is when classes begin. AFTERNON DISMIS- SAL: Parents entering the build- ing before 3:40pm go to the cafeteria. As schol- ars are being dis- missed, please take your child and immediately exit the building. Please do not wait in the atrium because this creates con- gestion and an unsafe condition for exiting the building. If at anytime you need to speak with a teacher you must request a visit in the main office. With your cooperation, consideration, and assis- tance, together we can create a smooth and stress free arrival and dismissal experience for everyone. Happy Holidays! LaVerne Hooks Principal Message from Principal Hooks December 1, 2015 SAVE THE DATE! Special Parent Event at Almira Saturday, January 23rd, 10am-12pm More details soon...
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Volume 1, Issue 4
Almira News
Almira Pre K-8 Academy •3375 West 99th Street • (216) 838 -6150
Please remember!
Meet your scholar’s
teacher by requesting a
visit in the main office.
Review discipline policies
with your child.
Help your scholar get to
school, on time, in uni-
form, everyday this se-
mester and watch them
improve!
Tips for Dressing for Cold
Weather
2
Meet a Teacher 3
Don’t Hate, Mediate! 4
December Calendar 5
Nation’s Report Card 6
Free Produce Fridays 7
Winter Sudoku 8
Inside this issue:
Dear Almira Parents and
Caregivers,
We are busy here at Al-
mira preparing for our
Winter Assessments.
These tests will deter-
mine how well your schol-
ar is progressing with
mastering their grade
level skills.
These tests will take
place in December and
January and there are
many ways that you can
help your child prepare.
Here are some tips:
Make sure your
scholar reads for at
least 20 minutes eve-
ry night.
Work with your
scholar over the win-
ter break to complete
their winter packets
so they continue their
learning while they
are away from school.
Make sure your
scholar arrives at
school everyday on
time.
On another note, I need
your assistance with
morning arrival and af-
ternoon dismissal. Here
is the procedure:
MORNING ARRIVAL:
Scholars are allowed to
enter the building at
8:45am. Grades K-5 go to
the cafeteria. Grades 6-8
eat breakfast in the atri-
um or go into the gym for
morning recreation. Par-
ents who accompany their
children go into the cafe-
teria with them or wait in
the main office. At no
time are parents or schol-
ars to go to any other
parts of the building be-
fore 9:10am. This is
when classes begin.
AFTERNON DISMIS-
SAL: Parents entering
the build-
ing before
3:40pm
go to the
cafeteria.
As schol-
ars are
being dis-
missed, please take your
child and immediately
exit the building. Please
do not wait in the atrium
because this creates con-
gestion and an unsafe
condition for exiting the
building.
If at anytime you need to
speak with a teacher you
must request a visit in
the main office.
With your cooperation,
consideration, and assis-
tance, together we can
create a smooth and
stress free arrival and
dismissal experience for
everyone.
Happy Holidays!
LaVerne Hooks
Principal
Message from Principal Hooks
December 1, 2015
SAVE THE DATE!
Special Parent Event at Almira
Saturday, January 23rd, 10am-12pm
More details soon...
GLOVES, ETC.)
Dress in layers; this way you can remove layers if you start to sweat when you
exercise in gym class, or are walking quickly. Sweating causes you to lose body heat.
Cover all exposed skin: Always wear a warm hat that covers ears, gloves or mit-
tens that cover your full wrist, and a scarf or ski mask to protect your face and neck.
Did you know that mittens actually keep your fingers warmer than gloves?
If your clothing gets wet, go inside and change into dry clothing as soon as possi-
ble.
Shivering is a sign that it's time to go in because it means that your body is los-
ing heat.
Remember to wear
appropriate footwear to
keep your feet warm and to prevent slipping on the
ice.
Suggested items:
GENTLY USED OR NEW
UNIFORM CLOTHES OF ALL
SIZES
GENTLY USED OR
NEW CHILDREN’S
BOOKS FOR PREK-
8TH GRADERS
Support Almira scholars in
need by donating items you
no longer need to our
school community.
Drop off boxed or bagged
items in the main office.
GENTLY USED OR NEW WIN-
TER CLOTHING AND ACCES-
SORIES (COATS, HATS,
Tips for Dressing for Cold Weather
“Branches of Government” by Jayleena Orozco, 4th grade
Donations Needed
PAGE 2 ALMIRA NEWS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4
Fourth grade scholar Jayleena
Orozco illustrated the three
branches of government for her
social studies unit. She learned
that the Executive Branch enforc-
es the
laws, the
Judicial
branch in-
terprets
the laws,
and the
Legislative
Branch
writes the
laws.
Where are you from?
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Where did you go to college?
I went to Cleveland State Univer-
sity and majored in Music Educa-
tion and Performance.
Why did you decide to become
a music teacher?
I was a musician, but I didn’t
want to travel anymore. I liked
private teaching, so I wanted to
try public school teaching.
What is your favorite instru-
ment?
The trumpet. I also like the trom-
bone and the piano.
What do you want to accom-
plish this year with the Almira
Scholars?
I want to help the younger schol-
ars find their voice. I want to
work with the older scholars on
improving their reading compre-
hension and becoming famil-
iar with music history.
What kind of music do
you like to listen to most?
Be-Bop. Dizzy Gillespie is
my idol.
You are a new teacher
here. What is your favor-
ite thing about Almira so
far?
I like the kids and staff. This is
the first new building I’ve ever
worked in. It’s very nice and
modern.
What is your favorite winter
holiday song?
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”
and “Have Yourself a Merry Lit-
tle Christmas.”
special events
Lead an after-school
club or activity (experience required)
Be a classroom assis-
tant
Criminal Records Check re-
quired for all positions
Join the Scholar Par-
ent Organization
Assist Tutors during
Afterschool program
Assist Lunch aides
and Recess Coaches
Help plan and execute
To volunteer, please see or con-
tact: Jocelyn Prince, Almira’s
Site Coordinator, at joc-
lyn.prince@clevelandmetroscho
ols.org or (216) 838-6159 or
Principal
Laverne
Hooks at
(216) 838-
6150.
Winter Coats from Coats for Kids– Cleveland
Meet a Teacher: Mr. Anastasi, Music Teacher Interview by Jocelyn Prince, Cleveland Play House Site Coordinator
Volunteer Opportunities at Almira
PAGE 3 ALMIRA NEWS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4
Coats for Kids– Cleveland has
donated new winter coats for
families in need at Almira. A
variety of sizes are available
from 5/6-Adult XXL.
Please contact Ms. Prince at
(216) 838-6159 or
prince.jocelyn@clevelandmetros
chools.org if you are experienc-
ing financial hardship and
your Almira scholar needs a
PAGE 4 ALMIRA NEWS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4
Almira Peer Mediators
Almira is taking part in CMSD’s W.A.V.E.
(Winning Against Violent Environments) Con-
flict Resolution Program.
This program provides scholars the right and
responsibility to resolve their own conflicts,
nonviolently, with peer assistance in-
stead of adult punishment.
Scholars are charged with helping to
create a peaceful and healthy environ-
ment at school through problem solv-
ing, respect for cultural diversity, and
positive communication.
Anyone can refer scholars for media-
tion— parents, teachers, other scholars
– with forms available in the main of-
fice. Mediations happen immediately
after the conflict has occurred, if possi-
ble.
Media Teacher Ms. Coats is the faculty
advisor for Almira’s program. Nine
scholar mediators trained in October, and
have successfully completed over 30 media-
tions so far.
“This is not about suspensions or detentions.
You don’t get punished for going to mediation;”
says Ms. Coats, “All mediations are completely
confidential.”
According to Assistant Principal Greene, one
of the best parts of the program is that it
gives scholars a chance to sit together and
talk about the issues they face on a daily ba-
sis. “All sides get to explain what upset
them and what they can do the next time to
correct their behaviors,” he says.,
“Oftentimes after the mediation, the schol-
ars work out their differences and become
friends.”
To refer a scholar for mediation, see the
main office for a form. Parents are encour-
aged to participate and help resolve conflicts
among our scholars.
Don’t Hate, Mediate!: New Conflict Resolution
Program at Almira
Almira Peer Mediators: Tre’Vonne Jones– 4th grade
Daniel Foster-McCloud- 7th grade
Semaj Douglas– 6th grade
Precious Trumble– 7th grade
Jacqualynn Fink– 4th grade
Heaven Lloyd– 7th grade
Natalee Roberts– 4th grade
Kayla Sommerer– 4th grade
Savanna Reyes– 3rd grade
Faculty Advisor: Ms. Coats
PAGE 5 ALMIRA NEWS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 S
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After more than a decade of flat
and low results in national test-
ing, CMSD now ranks near the
top in academic growth when
compared with 20 other large
U.S. urban school districts, ac-
cording to the National Assess-
ment of Educational Pro-
gress released in October.
The District was one of only
three districts in the group to im-
prove on all four sections of the
2015 NAEP, also known as the
Nation’s Report Card. The test is
given every two years.
The 21-city Trial Urban District
Assessment group represents on-
PAGE 6 ALMIRA NEWS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4
ly a portion of the schools
that participate in the
NAEP. But CMSD fared
well even when compari-
sons extended beyond the
TUDA.
Cleveland showed the sec-
ond largest gains in the
nation in fourth-grade
reading and fourth largest
gains in the
nation in fourth-grade
math. Significant gains
made by black male scholars and
disabled scholars fueled the im-
provement in reading.
District eighth-graders had the
fourth largest gains in reading in
the nation and fifth highest gains
in math among TUDA members.
The growth came as peers in the
TUDA and other districts across
the nation saw their scores de-
cline or remain flat.
CMSD must continue climbing to
catch up with many of the other
TUDA members and the nation as
a whole. But the results demon-
strate the impact of The Cleve-
land Plan, a customized blueprint
for education reform in
the city, Chief Executive
Officer Eric Gordon said.
“After years of finishing
last or nearly last among
other big-city school dis-
tricts in the
nation, the 2015 scores
are the best indicator we
have so far that our re-
forms are working,” he
said.
Mayor Frank G. Jackson
said: “This year’s Nation-
al Assessment of Educa-
tion Progress shows posi-
tive growth for Cleve-
land’s schools. We are
making good gains in
many areas, but we also
know that more needs to
be done. I am encouraged
and believe we have the
right programs in place
to sustain these gains.”
District ranks high in growth on 2015 NAEP, Nation’s Report Card CMSD’s gains are “uniformly larger and better than any dis-
trict in the country…The community should be encouraged
and confident that more improvement is in store, as the school
system is clearly on the right track.” ~ Michael Casserly, Exec-