Greetings Alderwood OWL STARS!
On behalf of the entire Alderwood staff, I am delighted to welcome you to the 2025-2026 school year! My hope is that your family enjoyed a summer filled with adventure, joy, and rejuvenation. Over the past few weeks, our team has been hard at work preparing for the return of our amazing students, and we are eager to welcome your child on their first day of school, Tuesday, August 19th. As in years past, teacher names will be released on the Parent Portal on Monday, August 18th after 12:00 pm if you were unable to attend the PTA Event Welcome Back Event on Friday, August 15th.
This year, our theme is Together We SHINE!—a celebration of who we are and what we stand for. We are excited to launch our refreshed PBIS values, represented by the letters in SHINE:
- S – Show Respect
- H – Help Others
- I – Include All
- N – Never Give Up
- E – Ensure Safety
Though the acronym is new, these values remain deeply rooted in Alderwood’s long-standing traditions and community spirit. They will be taught, modeled, and celebrated across campus, guiding how we learn, lead, and care for one another. As we live these values each day, we truly SHINE together as one Alderwood community.
Today more than ever, our work is guided by continuous improvement. Through collaboration, data, and reflection, we ensure that every student receives the academic, social, and emotional support needed to thrive.
Alderwood is exceptional because of the strong partnership between our staff, families, and community. Whether through classroom volunteering, involvement in the PTA, or meaningful conversations with your children at home, your engagement plays a vital role in shaping the joyful, safe, and academically rich environment that defines who we are.
As we begin another year of learning, growing, and celebrating together, I am inspired by the resilience and kindness of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the unwavering support of our families. Our future is bright, and the work we do together makes a lasting difference. I am excited for all that this year will bring and remain deeply committed to leading with heart, purpose, and the values that make Alderwood SHINE!
With gratitude,
Kelli Cheshire
Principal, Alderwood Elementary
Important Information Below:
Please join me in welcoming:
⭐Malina Shuy our new staff member- 1st grade teacher
⭐Kristin Kish returning teacher- 1st grade teacher
⭐Kelly Durocher returning teacher- 1st grade teacher
⭐Bree Martinez our new staff member- 4th grade teacher
⭐ Isabel Marquez our new staff member- 6th grade teacher
⭐Kim Kinnaird returning teacher- 6th grade teacher
⭐Julie Yao returning teacher- 6th grade teacher
⭐Jill Tumminia our new staff member- School Psychologist
New Bell Schedule Below
Teaching Assignments 2025-2026
Pre-Kindergarten | ||
Kristine Averlar Room #4 | Kristi McClendon Room #5 | Leiza Ivy Room #6 |
Kindergarten | ||
Kristen Flores Kindergarten Great Room | Jill Gavin Room #K1 | Alissa Machesky Room #K2 |
First Grade | ||
Malina Shuy Room #1 | Kristin Kish Room #2 | Melanie Marques/ Kelly Durocher Room #8 |
Second Grade | ||
Helen Ford Room #3 | Shannie Kuo Room #7 | Sarah Hladek Room #12 |
Second/Third Grade Combo |
Lynnette Bain Room #10 |
Third Grade | ||
Holly Pham Room #11 | Susan Cervantes Room #14 | Carla Beal Room #15 |
Fourth Grade | ||
Shelley Edgar Room #18 | Bree Martinez Room #22 | Julie Stephenson Room #23 |
Fourth/Fifth Grade Combo |
Amanda Tomberlin Room #24 |
Fifth Grade | ||
Julie Leneker Room #19 | Shannon Mulvany Room #20 | Dana Miller Room #21 |
Fifth/Sixth Grade Combo |
Stefanie Mowers Room #9 |
Sixth Grade | ||
Isabel Marquez Room #13 | Lauren Taylor Room #16 | Kim Kinnaird/Julie Yao Room # 17 |
SAI | |
Candice Greenwood P3 | Dori Harrison P3 |
Intervention Teachers |
Erica Render/Deanna Kimmich STAGE Nancy Bower Room #27 |
PLC FC |
Carla Beal/Susan Cervantes |
Upper Grade 4th-6th Science Specialist |
Brandi Geribosi Room #26 |
DATA CONFIRMATION – FIRST DAY PACKET: Please make sure you go online to your parent portal account and fill out the online first day packet as soon as you can (today would be fabulous!). Please make sure to fill this out for each of your students and continue with each section. The online first day packet will take a while to fill out as there is a lot to read through, so give yourself at least 15 minutes for this important once a year task. We ask that you take the time and do a thorough job, going page by page and reviewing pertinent information with your children as you do. When you are finished, please make sure you have uploaded all needed documents to your child’s Aeries account.
Click the link below to begin the Data Confirmation process:
Complete Data Confirmation at https://my.iusd.org. This process is done entirely online and must be completed before August 19th.
**Click here: Directions on how to complete Data Confirmation.
- Creating a Portal Account
- Logging on to Parent Portal
- Viewing Classes in Parent Portal
- Updating Contact Information
Stay Connected!
Website: https://alderwood.iusd.org/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/alderwoodiusd/?hl=en
Click on Google Translate if you’d like to translate this email.
Save the Date: Two Events You Won’t Want To Miss Happening Soon!
Updated Drop off and Pick Up Procedures at Alderwood
🚶Updated Drop off:
Each day, Grades 1st–6th will arrive on campus and line up at their classroom doors before the school day begins.
Supervision start times:
- 7:55 AM for grades 4th–6th
- 8:10 AM for grades 1st–3rd.
- Please do not send your student to school earlier than the supervised times listed, as there will be NO supervision for them.
Families of PK and Kindergarten students will receive drop-off and pick-up procedures directly from the classroom teacher.
Here’s what families need to know:
- Students in grades 1-3 must be seated at designated line-up spot no earlier than 8:10.
- Students in grades 4-6 may sit or stand in line outside their classroom door no earlier than 7:55.
- Parents may wait behind the student line.
- The playground, play equipment, and fields are closed to play before school. No playing before school.
- To support a smooth transition and safe start to the day we ask parents to leave campus after the school bell rings at the start of the schoolday:
- Parents of students in Grades 4th – 6th should exit campus by 8:10 AM.
- Parents of students in Grades 1st – 3rd should exit by 8:25 AM.
- The campus will be closed to visitors starting at 8:25 AM.
- Students in grades 1st- 6th being dropped off by car need to access the large parking lot carpool lane. There is no drop off permitted in the PK/Kindergarten lot in the morning for Grades 1st-6th.
If you need to visit the school during school hours, please check in at the front office.
🚗 🚶Pick Up/Dismissal:
Please make sure you have a confirmed pick-up plan with your child each day. Families have an option of:
- Car line pick-up
- Having a predetermined meeting location for your child to walk to.
- If using the car lane, pull all the way forward in the car line during dismissal.
- Upper grade families will only be allowed to pull-up in carline after upper grade dismissal.
- Pulling up and accessing the carline at appropriate dismissal times, maximizes the number of cars that can safely enter the lot and prevents traffic from backing up onto Knollcrest.
- There is no pick up permitted in the PK/Kindergarten lot in the afternoon for Grades 1st-6th.
Rainy day pick-up will continue to be at the classroom door. We will let parents know by 2:00 pm if we are having a rainy day dismissal.
Using the map: Cars will enter the lot turning right off of Knollcrest.
If you would like to walk onto campus for pick up please use the yellow waiting areas.
Keep the red area (sidewalk) clear for staff and students exiting campus or getting into a car.💙🦉