September Newsletter

Hello ALAO Community! 🚀

I’m Beth Hamlin, Director of Innovative Practices. The momentum in these opening weeks of school has been amazing—students are finishing onboarding, diving into classes, and setting big goals!

To keep that momentum going, this month's guide covers:

• 🎟️ October Count Gift Card Drawings: Earn entries for $25, $50, $250, or $500 gift cards.

• ⏰ Low-Stress Time Management: Simple hacks for staying on top of schoolwork at home.

• 🏫 Conferences & Contact Info: How to connect with teachers, mentors, and administrators.

• 💜 Health & Safety Updates: Resources for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and GoGuardian monitoring.

Get ready for October Count! This is how our school gets funding from the state of Colorado. Your participation helps the entire ALAO community.

We have three tasks for you to complete: one in September, one on October 1st, and one later in October. Completing these tasks will count toward your advisory grade and attendance.

• Prizes for October 1st: You'll have a chance to win one of several $50 and $25 gift cards, or even a $500 gift card. All winners can choose a gift card of their choice (as long as it is in our system.)

• Prizes for the September & October Forms: Each form will have its own drawing. You can win a $250 gift card for completing the September form, and another $250 gift card for completing the October form. All winners can choose a gift car

Be on the lookout for the tasks and get ready to win!

Spring test scores are now ready to view. If your student took CMAS, PSAT, or SAT; the scores are now available in the student's Alma file cabinet.

We have step by step directions on how you can log into Alma and find those scores.

We have linked the directions here.

Speaking of test scores... our school takes Colorado state tests called CMAS. Testing happens in April, but we need to plan our schedule now!

Who takes CMAS?

• Students in grades 6, 7, 8, and 11.

Can my child test at home?

• Yes! Because we are an online school, your child can take the CMAS test at home on a computer.

• What you need to do: Parents must sign a permission form first. Please ask your student’s mentor for the form link today!

What about high school tests (PSAT and SAT)?

• Students in grades 9, 10, and 11 must take the PSAT and SAT in person. State rules do not allow these two tests to be taken online.

Did you know Schoology sends progress reports weekly?

How to sign up.

Spanish directions https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IH4F2WaiaeeI01T8s6As3uaxq-psY9Y6/view?usp=sharing

English instructions https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UFFuUedpR4c7i4VkgedXM8IqBtMKdXRbW6iJ9kxSfOM/edit?usp=drive_link

Your student mentor can give you the access code for your student that is needed

Since our new attendance is all about task completion, these skills are more important than ever! Being good at time management and organization isn't just about getting work done—it's about feeling less stressed and more in control of your schoolwork.

Overview of Our Lessons

Our SEL lessons focus on building healthy habits by helping you:

• Prioritize tasks: Learn to figure out what's most important and what can wait, so you don't feel overwhelmed by your to-do list.

• Identify time-wasters: Understand what hinders your progress so you can stay focused.

• Build systems, not just goals: Creating a plan or system for your work helps you build momentum and makes it easier to keep moving forward.

Tips for Getting Work Done

Here are some simple, practical tips to help with your time management and organization:

• Set a timer and earn rewards. ⏰ Instead of a long, stressful work session, try the Pomodoro Technique. Work for 25 minutes, then "pay" yourself with a 5-minute break. This can make big tasks feel more manageable and gives you something to look forward to!

• Check it off! ✅ Use your phone's notes app or a simple piece of paper to make a daily to-do list. Checking things off gives you a satisfying sense of accomplishment and a clear visual of your progress.

• Find your focus zone. 🎯 Designate one specific, distraction-free space for all your schoolwork. By keeping this area free of clutter and other distractions, you can train your brain to get into a work mindset as soon as you sit down.

• We're here to help! 🤝 If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't go it alone. Reach out to your mentor to help you build a schedule or make an appointment with a teacher to get help with a specific task. We also have drop-in zones in Las Animas, Greeley, and Pueblo where you can work in a supportive environment.

Student safety and mental heal are very important to us. We are here to help.

🛡️ How We Keep Students Safe Online

Please be advised that the Academy of Las Animas utilizes GoGuardian/Beacon services to monitor computer and internet use as part of our technology and safety policies. ALAO administration will conduct an investigation into the alert and follow up with parents/guardians as needed.

Here are some resources that can help you and your family or friends. We highly recommend that you read through this list of resources to help create awareness, support, and possible prevention.

💡 Resources & Free Virtual Counseling

We want every family to feel supported and prepared.

• 🔗 Link to the list of resources

  Read through this guide to learn about awareness, local support, and prevention options.

• 💻 ALAO Virtual Counseling: In addition to outside resources, ALAO offers virtual counseling services directly to our students! Ask your mentor today how to sign up

📞 Free 24/7 Help & Support Resources

If you or someone you know is struggling or needs someone to talk to, support is free, private, and available anytime:

📱 Call or Text 988: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Free, private, available 24/7).

💬 Text TALK to 38255: Colorado Crisis Services (Free 24/7 support).

• Sept 4: No School

• Sept 7: Labor Day (No School)

• Sept 18: Student Support Day

• Sept 24: Semester 1 Enrollment Closes (Last day for new students to register!)

• Sept 25: All-Staff PD Day (No School for Students)

• Oct 1: Official October Count Day & Hexter 1 Ends

• Oct 2: All-Staff PD Day (No School for Students)

• Oct 5: Hexter 2 Starts & Hexter 1 Shout-Out Drawing

• Oct 15 & 16: Upcoming Middle School & High School Conferences

We love meeting our online families across Colorado and building relationships in our communities! Here are some places our team has visited:

• 🤠 Colorado State Fair

• 🎡 Ark Valley Parade and Fair

• 🚜 Fowler Threshing Days

• 🐂 Sand & Sage Round Up

• 🎈 Crowley County Days

• 🎺 Trinidad Labor Day Parade

• 💦 4th of July Wet Parade (La Junta)

Scroll down and click the Staff Appointment Link.