🐾October Newsletter🐾

Dear A. Montoya Families,

Thank you for another wonderful month here at A. Montoya! I am so proud of the energy and enthusiasm our students bring to school each day. A special thank you goes out to all of the students who participated in last week’s Jog-a-thon—together, our amazing kiddos completed 3,306 laps! What an incredible way to stay healthy, have fun, and raise funds for our school. Please remember that all pledges are due by Monday, October 6.

As we look ahead, October is shaping up to be a very busy and exciting month. We kick things off with our Balloons Aloft event on Friday, October 3. The festivities begin at 6:30 a.m. on the field, and we invite all families to join us for this special tradition. Please note that this is a family event—students must have an adult with them, as staff will not be available to supervise until 7:45 a.m. With the bridge to the community center still out, parking will be a challenge, so we encourage you to arrive early. Also, please be mindful not to block the road, as buses will need to exit the parking lot to pick up students.

Later this month, on October 15, we are excited to share the Art and Music in the Forest event. Please see the attached flyer and plan to join us for a beautiful nature walk to appreciate the incredible art and music created by students across our community.

This newsletter is full of flyers highlighting the many events, fundraisers, and activities happening throughout October. I hope you take a few minutes to look them over so your family can join in on the fun.

Thank you, as always, for your support, your partnership, and the love you pour into our school community. A. Montoya is truly a special place because of you and your children.

With gratitude,

Andrea Day

Principal

🐾A. Montoya Elementary School🐾

If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to reach out and say hi, please feel free to send me an email at andrea.day@aps.edu.

• All visitors must check in at the Administration entrance and wear a visible badge.
• Only cleared volunteers (with prior teacher/admin permission and updated background checks) may stay on campus to volunteer.
• Volunteer info: https://www.aps.edu/police/background-and-fingerprinting/background-checks-for-prospective-volunteers
• A photo ID is required to check out a student.
• All items must be dropped off at the front office. Office staff will deliver them to the appropriate classroom. For minimal disruption, families are not permitted to deliver items directly. If preferred, the office can call the student out of class to retrieve the item upon request.

As we move into October, the health office would like to share a few important reminders:

PE Shoes
Please ensure your child wears appropriate shoes on P.E. days to help prevent injuries and keep them safe while moving and playing.

Immunizations
Students must be up to date with their immunizations or have a completed exemption form (religious or medical) on file. We are currently reviewing records and will send notices to families if updates are needed.

Medications at School
If your child has medical needs or requires medication during the school day, please contact Nurse Holly directly. For safety reasons, do not send medication with students—all medications must be checked in and dispensed through the health office.

Community Health Opportunity
Please see the attached flyer for the upcoming East Mountain Extravaganza, which will feature healthcare clinics along with fun family activities. This event will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thank you for helping us keep all of our Mountain Lions safe and healthy!

Nurse Holly

• Tardies are recorded at 8:05 a.m.; students must be walked into the office.
• For early pickup or if a student becomes ill, please bring a valid ID to the front office. This helps us verify that you are listed as an authorized contact for student release.
• Doctor's notes are requaired to excuse medical appointments.

• Keep ParentVue contact updated at all times.
• Call the office by 2:15 p.m. for emergency end-of-day changes. We will do our best to accommodate last minute requests.
• APS and AMES uses SchoolMessenger to send alerts via phone/email.
• Weather closures or asynchronous days will be announced via SchoolMessenger, school website, ClassDojo, and news outlets.

• AMES Website

• Monthly Smore Newsletter: This will be sent out monthly and posted to the school website.
• School Messenger: School-wide phone/email messages. These will be sent out with important messages, reminders, or updates, as needed.
• Teacher Communication: Your child's teacher will send out communication regularly.
• Parent-Teacher Meetings: These will be scheduled as needed.