Welcome back from Winter Break!

--Here's info. on the FREE after school math classes at Alameda open to all kids starting later this month. These are open to all kids with high math ability but spots seem to be going fast. Call/visit the office to sign your child up. UPDATE - Signups are closed due to an overwhelming response and there will be a lottery for both class sessions, but the class will be offered again after March break. Kids who don't get in this time will be first in line for the next session. 

There's a fun & challenging cryptography project --

Cryptography Math Enrichment Class

We will be offering a math enrichment class for students with strong math skills to be taught by our very own math teacher extraordinaire, Katie Melchor. We will have two classes—one for 1st and 2nd graders and another for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. The theme for both groups will be Cryptography: Making and Breaking Secret Codes. Each week, students will briefly learn about one specific secret code that has been used in history. Then students will use problem solving and algebraic concepts to make/break that specific code. 

The math behind it will be differentiated for the different age groups. Classes will meet for one hour after school with the 1-2 class meeting on Mondays and the 3-5 class meeting on Tuesdays, both beginning the week of January 28th and lasting for six weeks. Enrollment will be limited to 15 students. Students need to be able to attend all six classes. Please sign up in the office with Chris or Nancy by January 18th.

The classes are funded by foundation dollars, and Mr. Lurie and Ms. Vanderwolf have worked hard to set them up. Kids don't need a TAG designation to attend. While math differentiation during the school day remains a priority, this is a great opportunity for kids who love math.

--Also, PPS' TAG director has set up a districtwide plan for making sure that all schools use their TAG budgets from now on. I've been promised that there will be better communication from the district to schools and that school TAG directors will pool ideas on successful TAG programming. School board member Greg Belisle has taken a particular interest in this issue and has vowed to keep it on the board's radar this year.