Soaring into December: Important Updates for Eagle Families

Dear Eagles Families and Community Partners,

As we enter the month of December, I want to extend my appreciation for your ongoing support and partnership. This time of year brings excitement and reflection as we prepare to close out the first semester and celebrate all the growth our students have made.

📅 End of Quarter
A reminder that the last day of the 2nd quarter is Friday, December 19th. Please encourage your students to finish strong by staying focused, attending daily, and completing any remaining work.  Teachers will require all missing assignments to be turned in by Friday, December 12th, so that they have the following week to grade and update grades for report cards.

📝 Acadience & CBM Testing (Dec 1st–5th)
During the week of December 1st–5th, students will participate in Acadience and Math Fluency CBM testing. These assessments help us measure academic progress and see how much our Eagles have soared this semester. Ensuring students get a good night’s sleep and arrive on time will help them do their best.

🏀⚽ Winter Sports Update
Our winter sports season is beginning!

• Girls' Basketball will start practice this month.

• Boys' Soccer is also gearing up for a great season.
   

We are so proud of our student-athletes and the effort they bring every week.

📚 Learning at Home During Winter Break

Winter break is a wonderful opportunity for families to spend time together while keeping students engaged academically. Here are a few simple and fun activities you can do with your child:

• Grocery Store Math:
  Have your child estimate the total cost of items in the cart. Compare their estimate to the actual total at checkout.
  
  

• Real-World Calculations:
  When eating out, let your child calculate the tip or estimate the total bill including tax.
  
  

• Reading on the Go:
  Whether you're traveling or relaxing at home, encourage your student to read a book, magazine, or article and share something interesting they learned.
  
  

• Cooking Together:
  Have your child help measure ingredients, convert measurements, or double a recipe—great real-life practice in math skills.
  
  

• Daily Journaling:
  Encourage your child to write about their day, a fun experience, or something they’re grateful for to keep their writing skills sharp.
  
  

These activities help keep learning alive in meaningful and practical ways while giving families a chance to engage together.

Thank you for being an essential part of our school community. I wish you all a safe, joyful, and restful holiday season.

With gratitude,

Riki Valdez

Altar Valley Middle School

Principal