October 19, 2026
💻Digital Citizenship Week ~ October 19 – 23 💻
Our Thrive Time lessons will focus on digital citizenship—understanding our rights, responsibilities, and opportunities in an interconnected digital world. Students will learn how to make safe, legal, ethical, and respectful choices online as they connect, learn, and interact with others. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home!
Here is a family technology resources created by Canyons School District for additional resources you may want to take a look at:
https://www.canyonsdistrict.org/familyconnections
🎃Halloween Parade Information 🎃
We will be having our parade outside again this year. Bring your camp chair and line up on the playground. The parade path will be marked so you’ll know where to place your chairs. There’s plenty of space on the southwest side of the playground where the parade will begin. If you live within walking distance from the school, please consider walking as parking may be limited. We’ll start gathering all the students at 8:45 am and begin heading outside at about approximately 8:55 am. Send your student in his/her costume ready to go at the beginning of the day.
Families are invited to dress up as well! As always, we ask for no masks or pretend or real weapons as part of costumes here at school. Save those items for other celebrations outside of school.
🙌Volunteer Information 🙌
If you are going on a field trip or assisting with a class party you will need to have a cleared online background check. Please do this regardless in case you will be volunteering sometime throughout the year. This will save the office and you from waiting for the background to clear before joining the activity. This will be valid for the entire school year (this background check is required to be filled out each school year). This usually takes about 24 hours to clear and at times even sooner.
Here is a link to access the online background check that is required for volunteering in the building and on field trips.
This system will also be used when you enter the school to print a sticker with your name to wear while on campus or on field trips. Once you have the sticker, please come into the front office and show your ID.
Please do this ASAP! It takes about 2-3 minutes max. Your future self will thank you and we do too!
✈️Attendance Aces ✈️
Huge HOORAY goes to 3rd grade who are rocking their attendance this school year! They have won the overall school attendance percentage 9/10 times. Once they get their final 10th one they will be our school-wide winners and get a “Mystery Motivator” prize for the entire grade level! Nice job 3rd grade!
✅Attendance Matters ✅
Regular school attendance is very important for student learning and success. Each day of instruction builds on the previous one, so being present at school helps students stay on track. Consistent school attendance is about more than academic achievement. When students attend school regularly, they build meaningful relationships with teachers and classmates, strengthen critical social skills, and increase their likelihood of graduating on time. Establishing strong attendance habits early lays the groundwork for a lifetime of learning and future success in the workforce. We encourage all of our students to “be great! miss only 8” for the school year.
♥️ Choose Kindness ♥️
We have the KINDEST students!
We are always on the lookout for extraordinary acts of kindness at Altara.
Here are some examples of kindness happening at our school recently:
Ariella Avila (kindergarten) Another child was having a hard day and Ariella gave him a hug and said, “it’s ok”.
Will Wimmer (5th grade) Will went out of his way to help me and another classmate during reading groups. I can always count on Will!
Harper Dickison (2nd grade) Harper pushed all the chairs in after her reading group – without being asked!
Blake Layne (4th grade) Blake has kindly organized student papers and turned them in to me.
Addie Nelson (5th grade) Addie and Elliott went out of their way to get our lunch bin. I’m so happy for their kindness and initiative.
Elliott Hewitt (5th grade) Elliott and Addie went out of their way to get our lunch bin. I’m so happy for their kindness and initiative.
Charli Organ (2nd grade) Charli stood up for a friend that was getting picked on. She told the boy to “quit being mean to my friend”. I loved this! Keep it up, Charli!
Alice Wall (1st grade) I caught Alice cleaning up the reading area without being told. She organized the pillows, chairs, and books before leaving the station. Thanks, Alice!
Ella Keza (1st grade) Ella gave her spot to a student who needed to see better. She was so kind!
Lennon Orr (kindergarten) Lennon is such a kind friend! Yesterday she helped a friend clean up their toys without being asked!
Way to go KIND Kittyhawks!
🎨Maker Space 🎨
Altara “Makerspaces” is a FREE on-going afterschool program, sponsored by Canyons School District, held on select Fridays from 1:30-3:00 pm.
It is a collaborative learning environment where students can explore, create, and innovate using various tools and materials. It is designed to be open-ended play, and it is for all grade levels. 5th graders who sign-up will be utilized as “Peer Leaders” over a station.
We will have multiple stations to explore each week- Dash Robots, Code & Go Mouse, Bug Bots, Legos, Intellino Trains, MicroBits, Marble Runs, Art Supplies, and Strawbees are some of the fun kits that we have available to use.
Please limit your attendance to ONCE per month. Sign up at the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4AAEAD23A7FFC34-53614732-altara
Thank you!
Ms. Kelsey
kelsey.frazier@canyonsdistrict.org
School Website: https://altara.canyonsdistrict.org/
Instagram: altaraelementary
School Events, Calendar Items & Looking Ahead
October 19 – 23: Digital Citizenship Week
October 23: End of 1st Quarter
October 26: No School! Teacher Professional Work Day
October 26 – October 30: Red Ribbon Week
October 28 & October 29: SALTA Testing
October 30: Halloween Parade (approximately 8:45-9:15 am)
October 30: Kindergarten Halloween Sing for Parents 9:30-10:15
November 3: PTA Meeting 10:00-11:00 am
November 3: Altara School Community DLI Parent Meeting 5:00-6:00 pm
November 11: Veterans Day Program 8:40 am-9:15 am
November 13: Vision and Hearing Screening 9:00-11:00 am
November 13: SCC Meeting 2-3 pm
November 17: Altara’s Literacy Night 5:00-7:00 pm
November 20: Career Day 9:15-10:30 am
November 25 – November 27: No School ~ Thanksgiving Recess
Altara Elementary PTA Newsletter
Hi, parents! 👋
October is flying by, and there’s still lots of fun happening at Altara Elementary! From reading challenges to teacher appreciation and school celebrations, check out what’s coming up this month. 💙
📚 READING MINUTES CONTEST — STARTS TODAY!
Our Reading Minutes Contest kicks off TODAY, October 19! 📖 Students will track their reading at home for four weeks, with a parent signature each week.
Here’s how to earn prizes:
- 📚 Read 320 minutes in four weeks to earn a book from the PTA!
- 🏆 Special prizes go to the top readers in each class, each grade, and the entire school!
Encourage your student to grab a favorite book and start reading. Every minute counts!
📖 Book Blitz Meeting: Tomorrow, October 20, during 4th and 5th grade lunch.
🍎 OCTOBER TEAM BRAVO
We’re treating our amazing teachers and staff to a Caramel Apple Bar on Thursday, October 22! 🍏
Want to help make this sweet surprise happen?
Thank you for helping us show our staff how much we appreciate them! 💙
❤️ RED RIBBON WEEK | OCTOBER 23–30
Red Ribbon Week is almost here! ❤️ We’ll encourage students to make healthy choices, take care of their bodies, and build healthy habits.
🍕 SPIRIT NIGHT AT LITTLE CAESARS!
📅 Thursday, October 29
⏰ 4:00–8:00 PM
Skip cooking, grab some pizza, and support Altara Elementary! Bring the family and enjoy an easy dinner while supporting our school. 💙
VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION
Join us as we honor the veterans who have served our country!
📅 Wednesday, November 11
⏰ 8:30 AM
Students brought home an activity to complete about a veteran they know. Please fill out the paper and include a picture of the veteran. We’ll display these at school to celebrate the special veterans in our lives.
Please return completed activities by Friday, November 6.
💙 JOIN THE PTA!
We would LOVE to have more Altara parents join our PTA! Whether you can volunteer often or only occasionally, every bit of support makes a difference. Connect with other families, support our teachers and staff, and help make Altara even better!
🙋♀️ VOLUNTEER WITH US!
Want to help with school events? Sign up to volunteer whenever your schedule allows. There’s no pressure to do everything—every helping hand matters!
👉 2026–2027 Altara PTA Volunteer List
📅 OCTOBER & NOVEMBER DATES
📚 October 19 — Reading Contest Kickoff
📖 October 20 — Book Blitz Meeting
🍎 October 22 — Team Bravo Caramel Apple Bar
❤️ October 23–30 — Red Ribbon Week
🍕 October 29 — Little Caesars Spirit Night
🎃 October 30 — Costume Parade & Class Parties
⛸️ November 9 — Classic Skate Night
🔵 November 11 — Veterans Day Celebration, 8:30 AM
💙 THANK YOU, ALTARA FAMILIES!
We’re so grateful for your continued support and generosity. You help make Altara Elementary a fun, welcoming, and special place for our students!
Here’s to a fantastic October filled with reading, school spirit, and Halloween fun! 🎃🍎💙