Principal Newsletter October 2025

OCTOBER

Sept 15-Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

Oct 9: Gr 1 Farm Trip

Oct 9: PTO Meeting, 6 pm

Oct 13: No School, Teacher In-Service

Oct 13: Week 1 at AAM! 🎨

Oct 16: Picture Makeup Day

Oct 23: Kdg Farm Trip

Oct 26: Week 2 at AAM! 🎨

Oct 31: Fall Festival & Halloween Parade 🎃

Other Special Events Coming Soon!

Nov 13: Gr 3 Living History Museum, 6 pm

Get ready to leaf through some math fun!

Our fall math activity is a tree-mendous way to show off your skills. “ Fall into Math” will start on October 13, 2025!

Each grade level will be focusing on their own math skill to earn bag tags. The goal is to get all 12 brag tags! Students who get a brag tag will get a ticket for a raffle where they will have a chance to win various prizes. Students who earn all 12 brag tags will get tickets for a separate raffle where they will be able to win grand prizes!

Now, the classrooms are also competing against each other for the most brag tags. The winning classroom will receive a special prize at the end of the competition. Fall into Math will continue until November 20, 2025.

What can you do at home to support the kids? Help them study their addition families at home using the addition chart on the back of this letter. If you have any questions, reach out to me or your child’s teacher.

Mrs. Mashriki, AAECS Math Specialist
hmashriki@artsacademyecs.org

FIND YOUR CHILD'S GRADE LEVEL LETTER BELOW!

FALLING INTO MATH LETTERS

All are welcome to retake their child's photo if you wish. Please help us organize this day by filling out the form below. This will help ensure your child reports to Picture Retake Day to take a new or missed photo!

Click Here to add your child to the Retake Day List

We're very excited to bring back our Arts Academy Weeks at the Allentown Art Museum!

This project has been in the works for awhile!

We will be walking over in groups of 2 classes each, and will take part in Arts and Science integrated activities, followed by an in-school project to be completed throughout the year.

Parent volunteers are appreciated! See the Permission Slip link below!

Click here for Dates and Permission Slip!

The AAECS PTO proudly presents our first Trunk or Treat event! We are very excited! This event is for AAECS students and immediate family only. See below for details and the link below the flyer to register!

Trunk or Treat will take place in the AAECS parking lot.
Tickets are required, but there is no cost to enter.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Hot dogs, popcorn and soda will be available for purchase; cash only!
Tickets will also be for sale to participate in our raffle prizes!
We need Trunks! Please tell us on the registration form if you will host a trunk from your vehicle! Each family that hosts a trunk will receive one free ticket for the raffle! Also, certificates will be issued for the best trunks as voted on by Trunk or Treaters!
We appreciate candy, stickers, or small toys to help our trunk hosts have enough for all. Drop off donations with the main office.

Trunk or Treat Registration Form and Ticket Request

We had a great first meeting, sharing lots of plans for the year! Join us for our Trunk or Treat Planning Meeting this Thursday!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31

Activities include fall and Halloween-themed activities and games.

Please do not send candy.

Students may bring school-appropriate costumes to wear if they want, ie. no references to violence, weapons, drugs, inappropriate language or mature content.

We will host a parade during the school day. At this time, our space cannot accommodate parents, so they cannot attend the parade. Pictures and video will be taken and shared with families.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we move into the fall and winter seasons, we often see an increase in communicable illnesses among children. We want to take a moment to share important information with you regarding some of the common illnesses we are seeing in our school community and how you can help prevent the spread.

Common Illnesses Seen This Time of Year:

1. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFM):
A common viral illness, especially among younger children. Symptoms include:

Fever
Sore throat
Painful mouth sores
Skin rash (typically on hands, feet, and sometimes buttocks)

2. Influenza (Flu):
Highly contagious and can spread quickly through classrooms. Symptoms include:

Fever and chills
Body aches
Cough and sore throat
Fatigue
Headache

3. COVID-19:
Continues to circulate and may present with a range of symptoms. Symptoms include:

Fever or chills
Cough and congestion
Shortness of breath
Loss of taste or smell
Fatigue
Sore throat or headache

4. Common Cold and Stomach Viruses:
While often less severe, these can still disrupt learning and spread quickly. Symptoms include:

Runny or stuffy nose
Sneezing and coughing
Mild fever
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

When Should My Child Stay Home?

To keep everyone healthy and safe, please follow these guidelines:

Fever: Children must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to school.
Vomiting/Diarrhea: Children must be free from vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours before returning.
Contagious Illnesses (Flu, COVID-19, HFM, etc.): Children must stay home until they are no longer contagious and must provide a note from their healthcare provider clearing them to return to school.
If your child is not feeling well enough to participate in normal activities, it’s best to keep them home to rest and recover.

Help Prevent the Spread

We encourage families to continue practicing good hygiene, including:

Frequent handwashing
Covering coughs and sneezes
Cleaning high-touch surfaces at home
Keeping sick children home

We appreciate your support in keeping our students and staff healthy. If you have any questions or need guidance, feel free to contact the school nurse or office.

Please submit our Military Family Survey! There are 2 parts:

1. Tell us if your child has a parent or guardian currently serving in the US Military. If you are not an active duty military family, there is no need to submit this form.

2. Optional: Share your family US Military veterans. We will acknowledge them in a Veteran's Day activity and social media post this November!

Click the image below or use this link to access the form!

All students who achieve 95% or higher attendance this year will take part in a special incentive activity in June!

Did you know:

95% Attendance equates to no more than 10 absences by the end of the school year. That's about 1 day each month.
School attendance is required by law.
Arriving late and leaving early adds up and still counts as missing school.
A written excuse is required within 3 days of an absence. Allowable excuses include illness, appointments, religious holidays or death in the family. Please note, lack of transportation is not an allowable excuse.
Good attendance will be rewarded! Keep an eye out for more information our 95% Attendance Incentive!

Help your child "Make 95" with these habits:

Set a consistent bedtime
Prepare the night before
Allow ample time in the morning
Schedule appointments before or after school when possible.
Get Involved! Parent involvement promotes a healthy attitude toward school and attendance.

We are here to help if you or your child is struggling to attend school.

Learn more by visiting the Attendance page of our website.