Opening week 2008-09

Welcome back! Please be advised that the first full day of classes for all students, K-12, is Thursday, September 4, 2008. For a complete listing of opening week activities, please visit our calendar page and click on September.

Family Drop-In Night set for September 3

On Wednesday, September 3, school will be open from 4 to 5:30 p.m. so that our families may just "drop-in." This is an opportunity for our students to meet friends and to find their new classrooms and lockers so that they will be more comfortable on the first day of school. Please note, though, that classrooms will be closed during this time and teachers will not be available.

Upcoming Open House events

Please join us on either Thursday, September 18 (Grades 3 - 5) or Tuesday, September 23 (Grades K-2) for this year's Open House. Both events begin at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. Open House is an opportunity for parents* to get to know the AES teachers and educational program. We know that a successful year for students means a collaborative effort from us all and so we hope to see you there!

* We kindly request that students and younger children remain at home on these evenings. Thank you.

Transportation routes now available online

Transportation routes for the 2008-09 school year are now available online. Please click here to view listings for your child's school. The time noted under "first pickup" is when the bus will stop at the first location. It will then proceed to each street in the order listed. Questions? Call the Transportation Office at (518) 861-6434, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Note: All times listed are approximate and subject to change. For specific pick-up times, please see the individualized post card you received in late August containing your child's specific transportation schedule. All bus stops listed are central pick-up points and are subject to change based on student enrollment.

Mr. B's Big Adventure!

Hello Altamont Elementary School,

My family and I leave to head out West this afternoon. We are so excited!!! Originally, we were going to leave in late June, but my mother was sick and I went home to help take care of her. Now that she is feeling better, we're making a smaller and shorter trip for this summer. We are going to see Mount Rushmore, The Badlands, Yellowstone National Park, The Flaming Gorge, Arches National Park, and lastly, The North Rim of The Grand Canyon. We hope to be back around August 6th or 7th. I will try to take pictures and have them posted, along with comments about the trip, on our school's website. A big thank you goes out to Ms. Zurlo at the District Office for helping manage the website.

My family spent so much time picking out many great books to read. We also have some books on tape for the many hours in the R.V. I'm most excited to read a book by Gary Paulsen called Canyons. I'll be staying in the exact location of the setting of that book. I hope all of you are reading your own great books this summer and having a lot of fun. Don't forget to send your post-cards to the school with the places you've been this summer and the books you've been reading. Those post-cards make up my favorite bulletin board of the whole year.
Be sure to check the school's website for updates and keep your fingers crossed for me that it is a safe and fun adventure for my family. I can't wait to see everyone in September and share all my great stories with you. I miss you all!!!

Mr. Brabant

8 CLICK HERE to follow along on Mr. B's Big Adventure!

Operation Recognition underway at Guilderland

Guilderland Central School District is proud to be a partner in Operation Recognition, a New York State program which grants a high school diploma to any veteran who left school prior to graduation to serve in the military during World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam War. Individuals need not have attended GCSD at the time of service to be eligible for this program. Diplomas may also be awarded to next of kin, if eligibility is established.

Community members interested in participating in Operation Recognition are encouraged to contact Guilderland Superintendent of Schools John McGuire at 456-6200, ext. 3102, or visit our Operation Recognition home page for additional details and eligibility requirements.