Altamont Elementary supply lists for 2025-26 - Guilderland Central Schools

School supply lists and welcome letters for the 2025-26 school year at Altamont Elementary School can be found below.

Starting on August 8, parents/guardians of students in grades 1-5 will be able to log into eSchoolData to view their teachers. Kindergarten students will have access to this information on August 18.

Find welcome letters from all teachers, organized by grade level, below by clicking here.

Kindergarten

Items that do NOT need to be labeled with your child’s name:

2 Boxes of 24 Crayola Crayons
1 Box of Thick Crayola Markers
1 Box of Thin Crayola Markers
1 Box of Sharpened Ticonderoga Pencils
1 Box of Black dry erase markers (thin)
8 Glue Sticks
2 boxes of tissues
1 pair of kids scissors

Items that NEED to be labeled with your child’s name:

1 heavy duty folder with horizontal pockets (labeled “Take Home Folder”)
1 two-pocket folder with horizontal pocket (labeled “Writing Folder”)
1 pencil box (please no boxes with zippers and/or locks)
1 change of clothes to be kept at school (please place clothes inside a bag and label everything you can)
1 spill-proof water bottle (this will travel back-and-forth daily)
1 art smock (old t-shirts work best)

Kindergarten Giving Tree
The items below are not necessary to buy. However, they get used a lot in kindergarten, and we tend to run out. Please feel free to donate any of the items below. Thank you!

Playdoh
Construction paper
Masking tape
Extra glue sticks
Extra dry erase markers
Extra markers
Extra crayons
Extra scissors
Sandwich bags
Gallon-sized bags
Small Dixie Cups
Baby wipes
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sheets

A few important tips for the first day of school: Please send your child with a healthy snack, and label it as a “snack.” We play outside a lot, so please pack sneakers! Flip flops/open-back shoes are not allowed on playground equipment. Apply sunscreen before school. You can send extra non-aerosol sunscreen with your child if you think they’ll need to reapply (please label with your child’s name). Label everything – if it is possible to label something, please do so!

First Grade

Items that DO NOT need to be labeled with your child’s name:

2 packages of sharpened Ticonderoga pencils
4 pack of thin dry erase markers
8 glue sticks
1 watercolor paints
2 boxes of tissues
2 containers of disinfectant wipes

Items that NEED to be labeled with your child’s name:

2 boxes of 24 (or fewer) crayons
1 box of thick Crayola markers
1 pack of Crayola Twistable colored pencils
1 pair of kids scissors
1 Heavy duty 2-pocket folder with horizontal pockets labeled “Take Home Folder”
2 pocket folders with horizontal pockets: 1 red, 1 blue
1 art smock (old t-shirts work the best)
Headphones
A healthy, daily snack and drink (spill proof water bottles can be used to travel back-and-forth daily)
1 hard-case pencil box (not oversized; no boxes with zippers)

First Grade Giving Tree

The items below are not necessary to buy. However, they get used a lot in first grade, and we tend to run out. Please feel free to donate any of the items below, especially if you already have an abundance or see a sale. Thank you!

Playdough
Extra glue sticks
Extra markers
Extra crayons
Extra disinfectant wipes
Sandwich bags
Gallon-sized bags
Snack-sized bags

Second Grade

2 dozen #2 sharpened pencils (Ticonderoga or USA Gold preferably), to be shared by the class
1 pack black dry erase markers (4 pack)
Box of crayons (no more than 24 count)
1 box of thin markers (Crayola 8 or 12 pack)
1 box of thick markers (Crayola 8 or 12 pack)
Colored pencils (8 or 12 pack, sharpened)
8 glue sticks
Scissors (labeled with your child’s name)
Supply box to hold crayons, colored pencils, etc.
1 plastic pocket folder (daily folder)
2 large pink pearl erasers
2 marble notebooks
2 boxes of Kleenex
Smock or old shirt for art class
Headphones
4 prong (fastener) pocket folders (1 blue, 1 green, 1 red, 1 yellow)
(see image to the right for example)

*Please label the following: Folders, smocks, marble notebooks

Third Grade

Sturdy take-home folder
4 wide-ruled marble composition notebooks
4 pocket folders – 1 of each: red, green, yellow, and blue
1 box of sharpened Ticonderoga pencils
2 packs of 3×3 Post-It notes
3 glue sticks
1 pack of colored pencils and/or crayons
Plastic pencil box for storage (no zipper pouches please)
Over the ear headphones (no earbuds)
2 boxes of tissues
Art smock
1 pack of 3×5 index cards
1 pack of fine tip dry erase markers (black)

All 3rd grade students need to have a recorder for music class. Recorders should be purchased online at johnkealmusic.com. Click here for the direct link. You can also search for “recorder” on their site, and select from the Yamaha colored recorders or the Yamaha cream-colored recorder. When you check out, be sure to select “Free School Delivery,” then select your district, school, and list your student’s first & last name. Your recorder will be shipped to Mr. Hernandez at AES at NO additional cost. You are also welcome to order your recorder from other sites, as long as you order a “soprano” recorder.

Anyone with financial needs or questions should contact Mr. Hernandez via email: hernandezj@guilderlandschools.net

Fourth Grade

1 box of #2 pencils, sharpened
1 box of colored pencils
4 Expo dry erase markers (dark color/regular size)
Sturdy take-home folder with 2 pockets
2 glue sticks
1 pair of earbuds/headphones (please put them in a labeled Ziplock bag, for hygiene purposes)
3 boxes of tissues
3 marble composition notebooks (single subject lined, any color/design)
1 pair of scissors, large
1 water bottle (spill-proof top recommended)

Reminder: Sneakers are required for P.E. and sandals/crocs are not allowed on playground equipment. Students are encouraged to carry sneakers in their backpacks in case they need to change.

Fifth Grade

Pencils (bring a lot of them!)
3 composition notebooks
1 one-subject spiral notebook
Durable homework folder of your choice
5 folders: 1 red, 1 green, 1 blue, 1 purple, 1 yellow (please no clips/fasteners in the folders)
Tissues
Dry erase markers & eraser (could be sock)
Markers
Colored pencils/crayons
Scissors
Glue sticks
Headphones/earbuds
Pencil box or bag for class materials
Deck of playing cards

Welcome Letters

Principal Welcome Letter

Dear Families,

Please allow me to welcome you to the 2025-26 school year! We are very excited for you to join us at Altamont! We have many fun and exciting things planned for this year and many more that are in the works. AES is a special place, and I can’t wait for you to experience an absolutely wonderful school year!

To make it easier, we’ve compiled all the supply lists and welcome letters in one place for you. Starting on August 8, 2025, parents/guardians of kids in grades 1 through 5 will be able to log into eSchoolData to view their teachers. Kindergarten students will have access to this information on August 18, 2025.

As we get closer to the school year, we will be sending home more information that will help get you ready for September.

Enjoy the rest of your summer! I hope it brings plenty of rest and relaxation for you and your families. We are all excited for a new school year!

Thank you!
Steve Wolf

Kindergarten Welcome Letters

Mrs. Stalteri and Mrs. Ehatt

Dear New Kindergarten Friend,

Welcome to kindergarten! Our names are Mrs. Stalteri and Mrs. Ehatt. We are going to be your teachers this year. Are you excited about coming to kindergarten? We are excited, a bit nervous, and super happy you are in our class! We are going to have so much fun learning together! You will get a chance to be creative in art, run around in physical education, sing songs in music, and learn about books in the library. And, of course, we can’t forget about reading, writing, math and science! We also have 2 playgrounds here at school and you get to eat lunch and snack with your friends. It’s the best!

Here is a little bit about us!

Mrs. Stalteri

I love reading and writing, but I’ll need lots of help from you with drawing! My favorite color is purple and my favorite food group is chocolate. My husband’s name is Michael and we have two daughters, Evangeline and Aurora. But they go by Evie and Rori. Evie will be a fifth grader here at Altamont and Rori will be in kindergarten here, just like you! You will hear lots of funny stories about Evie, Rori, and their silly Grammy and Pa this year, and I can’t wait to hear stories about you and your family!

I hope you are having the best summer! We’ve been playing outside, going to fun concerts and farmers’ markets, and watching Minecraft and Madagascar on repeat. We have been swimming in the ocean, the lake, and most of all Grammy’ and Pa’s pool so much I’m surprised we don’t have fins. We even swam with a dolphin by accident! We went to Ocean City, Yankee Stadium, and to camp in Minerva. We got to see fireworks so many times I lost count! (4th of July is my favorite holiday.). And we get to go to Maine this month where we’re going to swim in the chilly water and eat lots of lobster! Not to mention, the Altamont Fair is coming up soon!

Mrs. Ehatt

I live in Guilderland with my family, my husband Kevin, our three kids Emily (12), Eve (10), Brody (7), our giant dog Boulder and our three lizards (Spot, Crusty and Cuckoo Bob). Mr. Ehatt and I both grew up on Long Island. We went to SUNY Albany for college and the capital region became home for us.

Our house is pretty busy! We love basketball, jiu jitsu, swimming, paddle boarding and the beach. This summer we’ve been busy at different camps, using our Zoom Flume season passes, visiting family on Long Island, getting more comfortable in the ocean, attending our first MLB and WNBA games and lots more.

My favorite color is yellow and I LOVE being outside in the sunshine. I love reading and listening to music. This will be my 11th year teaching at Altamont and I am SO excited to be sharing this class with Mrs. Stalteri and all of you! We are going to have the BEST year!

We would love to hear about you and your summer vacation! If you draw a picture for us or write us a letter, we will write you back. We can’t wait to hear from you! Do you have any questions about kindergarten? You can have your family help you write some questions if you’d like. You can also tell us about yourself! Here are our addresses:

Mrs. Stalteri
103 Coventry Ct
Voorheesville, NY 12186

Mrs. Ehatt
336 Presidential Way
Guilderland, NY 12084

Lots of Love,
Mrs. Stalteri and Mrs. Ehatt

Ms. Schofield

Dear New Friend,

Welcome to kindergarten! My name is Ms. Schofield and I am so excited because YOU are going to be in my class! Are you excited about coming to kindergarten? I feel like the luckiest teacher in the world because I get to be YOUR teacher!

You are going to have so much fun playing and learning in your new class. I know that you are going to love kindergarten and I cannot wait for you to come!

Here are some things to know about me: My favorite animal is a pig. Do you have a favorite animal? It’s hard to pick just one favorite color but I think mine is purple and my favorite food is peanut butter (YUMMY!). I love reading. We are going to read so many great books together this year. I also love to write and draw my own stories. When you come to school we will make lots of books together! I love spending time with my family. I live with my son Miles and his Dad, Joe. Miles is starting middle school in the fall but he went to AES and thinks it’s a great school! I know you will love it too!

My family loves animals! We have a cat, named Bean and two dogs named Arnie and Cookie. They are so cute! Sometimes my house feels like a zoo! You will hear lots of funny stories about my family and pets this year! My family loves to listen to music and dance. We also like to play outside and swim. We did that a lot this summer. I can’t wait to hear about all the things that you and your family love to do together!

I am so excited to see you at school on September 4th! We will have so much fun together.

If you or your grownups want to say hello to me or have questions you can email me at schofielde@guilderlandschools.net.

I hope you are enjoying your summer. I am so happy that I get to see you soon!

Love,
Ms. Schofield

Mrs. Clark

Dear new friend,

Welcome to kindergarten! My name is Mrs. Clark and I am so excited because YOU are going to be in my class! Are you excited about coming to kindergarten? I feel like the luckiest teacher in the world because I get to be YOUR teacher! You are going to have so much fun playing and learning in your new class. I know that you are going to love kindergarten and I cannot wait for you to come!

Here are some things to know about me: My favorite animal is a cat. Do you have a favorite animal? It’s hard to pick just one favorite color but I think mine is green and my favorite food is a cheeseburger (YUMMY!). I love reading. We are going to read so many great books together this year. I also love to write and draw my own stories. When you come to school we will make lots of books together! I love spending time with my family. I live with my husband, Stephen and our cat, Timmy. You will hear lots of funny stories about them this year! I also love music so we will do a lot of singing and dancing. This summer, I spent most of my time swimming, reading, kayaking, hiking, and traveling with my family. I LOVE to be outside and we will play outside a lot this year!

We are going to have so much fun learning this year. I can’t wait to hear all about the things you love and I am so excited to see you soon!

Love, Mrs. Clark

First Grade Welcome Letters

Mrs. Johnson

Dear First Grader,

Yay!! Another school year is about to start!! I am thrilled to welcome you to my first grade class! First grade is a very important year and we will be learning many new things together. I hope you will challenge yourself to read harder books, write all kinds of stories, and become problem solvers in math. As a class we will help and encourage each other to do our very best.

For those of you who don’t know me, I have been a teacher at Altamont for many years. Some of my first students are in college now! I have taught Kindergarten, first, and second grade. It’s going to be a great year. I actually went to Altamont Elementary School as a kid! Can you believe that? I live with my husband Marc and my 11 year old son Chase who races go karts! I have 2 golden retrievers named Wally and Louie and a mini goldendoodle named Fozzie and guess what? He’s our school therapy dog! Fozzie will spend lots of time in our classroom!

This summer I have been swimming in our pool, having picnics, and going to go kart races. My husband is a race car driver! So we spent some time at the speedway as well. Even Fozzie went to some races! Chase and I like to take walks with the dogs, go to the beach, and play Uno. I can’t wait to hear about all the great things you did over the summer.

I am looking forward to a fantastic year with all of you. Come to school focused and ready to learn.

See you in September!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Kristen Johnson

Mrs. Abatto

Dear Families,

I am very excited to be teaching 1st grade this year. I look forward to working with some of you again and getting to know some of my new children in this very important year. It is going to be a wonderful year! We will be learning many new things together. We will be reading and writing all kinds of stories. In math we will learn new strategies to add and subtract to become a problem solver. Also we wil explore time and place value. We will also learn many ways to work together and help each other learn. Some exciting topics we will be exploring throughout the year are sending messages with light and sound, how living things stay safe and grow, community, and map skills. Together we will make new friends and meet new people who can help us be the best learner we can be.

Let me tell you a little about myself. I have taught first, second and third grade at Altamont Elementary for the past 28 years. My family enjoys sports and we are big fans of athletics. We enjoy playing and watching sports throughout the year. During the summer we are busy with going to Yankees games, concerts, boating and swimming. We also have a 10 year old black lab dog named Homer. I have many funny stories to share about my family. I look forward to hearing all about your summer.

Please remember to bring all your supplies to school on the first day. The list was sent to you at the end of last year. In order to build responsibility, the children will take care of their own supplies throughout the year, so please label everything with your child’s name. I would also like each student to bring in a favorite book that they read during the summer to share with the class. I am very excited to begin the new year and look forward to meeting all my new 1st graders. I’ll see you in September!!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Trish Abatto

Mrs. Cicarelli

Dear First Grade Families,

Hello and welcome to first grade! I am so happy to be working with your child this year! I am looking forward to a fun-filled learning experience and I hope you and your child are as well!

A little about myself…I live in Guilderland with my husband, 3 children and 2 cats. All of my children attended Altamont Elementary School and they have so many fond memories of their years there!

First Grade is an exciting time as children embark upon new adventures in the world of learning. During first Grade, we will continue to learn to be readers and writers, learn to tell time and learn about place value. We will also study communities and families, as well as how to send messages using light and sound.

I hope to make your child’s learning experience a fun and exciting one, and I hope to instill a love of learning that will last throughout your child’s years of schooling.

Please remember to have your first grader bring in their favorite book to share with their classmates on the first day of school, along with the other school supplies that are listed.

I look forward to meeting all of you in September and I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ciccarelli

Mrs. Ehatt

Yay!! Another school year is about to start! First grade is a very important year and we will be learning many new things together. I hope you will challenge yourself to read harder books, write all kinds of stories, and become problem solvers in math. As a class we will help and encourage each other to do our very best.

For those of you who don’t know me, here is a little bit about myself! This is my twelfth year teaching at Altamont Elementary! I am a special education teacher and will be in the classroom for lots of things this year! I grew up on Long Island. I moved to the Capital Region for college and never left. I live in Guilderland with my husband and our three children, Emily, Eve and Brody. We also have a giant dog, Boulder, and each of our kids have their very own lizard. Our house is pretty busy!

This summer we’ve spent some time at the beach on Long Island, swimming in our pool, participating in sports and taking some weekend trips.

I can’t wait to hear about all the great things you did over the summer. I am looking forward to a fantastic year with all of you. Come to school focused, ready to learn and ready to have some fun! It’s going to be a great school year!

See you in September!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Rachel Ehatt

Second Grade Welcome Letter

Welcome to second grade! We are SO looking forward to meeting you! It’s going to be a year filled with fun, learning, laughter, and new adventures.

Second graders are curious, funny, and enthusiastic. Plus, second graders learn so many new things and have lots of fun. This year, you will be exploring numbers and playing math games, reading and listening to new books and old favorites, thinking like a scientist, and learning about the world around you. We know this school year is going to be filled with enthusiasm and lots of learning!

In our classroom, you are important. You have special talents and strengths and we can’t wait for you to share them.

We have been busy getting ready for the new school year – finding lots of fun ways for us to learn. We will use Parent Square to connect our school and home. We can’t wait to share more soon!

We are excited to hear more about you, your favorite things, and see your smiling faces. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Love,

Mrs. Mayo
mayoa@guilderlandschools.net

Ms. Nowak
nowaka@guilderlandschools.net

Mrs. Wilczak
wilczakr@guilderlandschools.net

Third Grade Welcome Letters

Miss Huber

Dear Families and Third Graders,

My name is Miss Huber; I am elated to be your third grade teacher. This is going to be my fifth year at Altamont Elementary School! I am so proud to be part of the Altamont Community and cannot wait to build new memories with you this year!

I graduated from SUNY Cortland (Go Red Dragons!) with a dual bachelors in Early Childhood/Childhood Education and Mathematics. I furthered my learning by receiving a masters in Literacy from Manhattanville College. I have found my own passions through my educational journey, and am excited to discover new ones with you! I was born in Westchester, NY and moved to Albany this past year. I have family close by and spent many summers exploring Lake George and visiting the amazing hiking trails the Capital region has to offer.

This year we are going to be learning through hands-on and collaborative activities. Teamwork makes the dream work! Throughout the school year…

We will be telling true stories and expressing our ideas and opinions in Writing.
In Math, we will be exploring place value, multiplication, fractions, geometry, and graphs.
We will make our reading goals come true by learning to love reading.
We will become scientists and make findings about weather and habitats.
We will study maps and communities from around the world in Social Studies.

Each student will have the opportunity to express themselves by personalizing a writer’s notebook. It would be appreciated if you could have your child begin to collect pictures, stickers, magazine cut-outs and anything else your child would like to decorate their notebook with.

Lastly, please send in the items on the supply list on the first day of school. I would also like each student to bring in their favorite book they read this summer. We will share them all together. I am excited to share mine too!

I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer vacation. I look forward to getting to know you and your child this year. See you in September!

Best,
Miss Huber

Miss Gould

My name is Miss Gould, and I’m so excited to be your teacher this year! We are going to have a great year full of new friends, new adventures, and new discoveries. We are going to learn and grow together as readers, writers, mathematicians, inquirers and people!

This is my third year teaching and my second year teaching 3rd grade at Altamont Elementary School. Third grade is so much fun! We will learn about countries and habitats, write stories about ourselves and share our opinions, multiply and divide, and read many amazing books!

I hope you have enjoyed your summer and are looking forward to trying new things and learning in 3rd grade! I spent my summer at Camp Maple, and saw some AES students! I enjoy reading, swimming, and being with friends and family. When the weather gets cold, I love to ski!

I’m really excited to meet you. You can bring your school supplies and a smile on the first day of school. See you soon!

A FEW OF MY FAVORITES!
Colors: Pink & Purple
Season: Winter
Foods: Tacos or Hibachi
Drinks: Coffee & Pepsi
Book: In A Jar
Sport: Skiing

All My Love,
Miss Gould

Fourth Grade Welcome Letters

Mrs. Vogel

Hello 4th Grade Students,

I hope all of you are enjoying your summer. I have been busy getting my home ready for summer. Completing gardening projects and yard work. We have been visiting many family members and friends that we’ve missed so much! We also traveled to the Adirondacks, Loon Lake, Niagara Falls, Ocean City, and Philadelphia. Some of my favorite things are dogs, Harry Potter, movies, ice cream (mint cookie crumble). Yum! I love, love my job and you will be in good hands in our classroom.

I am very excited about the upcoming year and I hope you are as well. We study Electricity, How Earth Changes, Natural Disasters, and Chemicals in Science and How New York Came To Be in Social Studies. We use the “new” Investigations Math Program and read many spectacular books in Reader’s Workshop. You will be writing daily in a writer’s notebook and often using the chromebooks in our technology.

I am interested in hearing from you before school starts. If you would like to write me a brief “snail mail” letter or postcard telling me about yourself and what your interests are I’d love to read it!! You could also tell me what you are looking forward to this year or what you are concerned about this year. If I receive them early enough, I will write back before school starts. Or send me an email (my email is below).

My home address is:
Mrs. Carolyn Vogel
6 Quail Hollow Road
Glenmont, NY 12077

Or you can email me: vogelc@guilderlandschools.net

Enjoy the rest of your summer. I can’t wait to meet all of you in September!! Fourth Grade is going to be a fantastic, educational, and an amazing experience!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Vogel

Mr. Whiteman

Dear Class,

Welcome to our 4th grade class! My name is Mr. Robert Whiteman and I am going to be your teacher. I look forward to meeting all of you in the very near future. In the meantime, I thought you might be curious to know a little about me and my family. I have been a teacher for about 35 years now, and this is my 31st year in Guilderland Central Schools. Before coming to Altamont Elementary School, I was the enrichment teacher for both Westmere and Guilderland Elementary Schools, and prior to that a first grade teacher at Westmere Elementary School. I also taught music and theatre at the Doane Stuart School. I still teach acting and direct shows when time allows.

My wife is a 5th grade teacher at Pine Bush Elementary School, and I have two daughters. Sophie and Ellie who are in the twenties. We also have two dogs! They are Dolly and JoJo. I’ll warn you, I talk about my family a lot. Together we like to travel, see movies and shows, walk, bike and play games. I am excited to learn more about your families and your interests as well.

As your teacher, I will try to help you find out how you learn the best and pay attention to your interests. We are all unique and have different styles of learning. I expect that you will respect and honor the differences among all members of our classroom and school community. I do not tolerate bullying, teasing and hurting others in any way. We all need to feel safe and welcomed. My motto is “Work Hard and Play Hard.” We will be doing both and making wonderful memories together.

You can bring your supplies in before the first day of school so that you don’t have to carry it all on day one. Please remember your ixl.com or Reflex Math accounts to practice some 3rd and 4th grade math skills, and that you should be reading a lot! Listening to audio books is also great and you can follow along with the book.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Sincerely,
Mr. Whiteman

Fifth Grade Welcome Letters

Welcome to AES Team 5

Yay, you are a fifth grader!

This is a big year for you, and we are so excited to be a part of it. We will create amazing memories, and you will make some terrific new friends. Be ready to take your math skills to the next level, experience new science units, and explore the entire western hemisphere. We will read novels that will take you to many places and on many adventures. You will learn how to write a variety of genres. We hope you’re ready because it’s going to be an unbelievable year!

It’s Good to be a 5th grader: Reading the AM announcements, walking field trips, friendship games, running JBFD, a visit to FMS, end of the year celebration at Bozenkill Park, hallway meetings, morning choice activities, and the list goes on…

About Us: Mrs. Shaffer is entering her 21st year of teaching (16 at AES). Ms. Gregory is entering her 29th year (9 at AES). Mrs. Shaffer loves spending time with Team Shaffer, taking trips, camping, and hiking. Ms. Gregory loves spending time with her family, paddleboarding, and reading on her porch. We’re both excited about the upcoming school year and getting to work with all of you!

Attention Parents: Communication is important. Please email us with any questions or concerns. We look forward to working together to make this the best year for your student.

Fun in the sun: We hope everyone is having a fabulous summer. Keep a list of those great experiences so you can share them with us. We can’t wait to hear them!

See you soon! There are only a few short weeks left, so enjoy the rest of your vacation. It’s going to be a fantastic year!

The first day of school is Thursday, September 4th.

Mrs. Shaffer & Ms. Gregory