“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person's life.” -Jackie Chan
A Note From Clare
Dear Families,
We are transitioning to the colder months and are in the groove here at Chugach. Teachers have been busy this past month getting students in their routines, introducing theme studies, and proctoring the baseline assessments for ASD. Those assessments for K-2 are FastBridge Reading and for grades 3-6 MAPS (Measures of Academic Progress). After the assessment window closes, in the next few weeks, scores are available on your ParentConnect. Feel free to also talk with your child's classroom teacher about where your child scored. This is one data point that gives us information; however, we acknowledge that whole child growth is complex and there are many important traits not measured on an assessment--persistence, curiosity, enthusiasm, courage, leadership, creativity, sense of wonder…I can go on. With that said, we do value assessment results and take them seriously as they tend to reflect other things we see from child's performance.
Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up in the next few weeks. We hope families can come into the school for those important meetings. Please make sure you sign-up online to celebrate your child. We also will be holding a Flu Shot Clinic on October 13 and continue to encourage families to stay healthy over the course of the winter so students can safely be at school-- learning with their peers!
Finally, we are cancelling the Fall Carnival this month. Each month we will reassess those important traditions and make a determination if it is safe to move forward or not. The safety and well-being of our community is our priority. Please find ways to stay connected to one another and your child's classroom during this time. Many parents have volunteered at recess, showed up to our online virtual events, and found ways to socialize in smaller groups.
Thank you for leaning into our Chugach community in new ways. Investing in your child's education and supporting our philosophy. Have a lovely weekend + month of October. I continue to have an open door and am here to help your child flourish.
“What we know matters but who we are matters more.” -Brene Brown
Warm Regards,
Clare
Important Dates to Remember
Wednesday, October 13
Student Flu Shot Clinic (all day) +
Community Assembly Meeting @ 7-8:30 p.m.
Friday, October 15
Inservice (No School)
Wednesday + Thursday (Oct 20 + 21)
Parent/ Teacher Conferences
Early Release @ 11:15 a.m.
Friday, October 22
Inservice Day (No School)
Friday, November 5
Early Release @ 11:15 a.m.
Fall Carnival has been cancelled due to the high case counts for COVID-19. We hope you can find a safe way to celebrate.
*Please refer to our website calendarfor dates specific to grade levels or clubs*
Return the consent to Nurse Maya in person or via email (curtis_maya@asdk12.org) no later than Tuesday, October 12th
**If unable to print a consent form at home, let Nurse Maya know and one will be sent home with your child**
**If your child is in Kindergarten or you think they may need your support, please let me know as we can schedule them for the beginning or end of the school day when you can be with them**
Months of planning came to fruition last week at Birchwood Camp. Against all odds - Covid-19, below freezing temperatures, and weather advisories - we made Outdoor School happen for our Chugach Cheetah fifth and sixth graders. Upper parents took the lead to make this experience a "go".
Early on, Laura Schue volunteered to be the parent coordinator for Outdoor School. It wasn't enough for her to help with Outdoor School logistics and parent communication, she also taught an Ecology Walk class. We offer a heartfelt upper teacher hug for her outstanding contributions. A special thanks to Peter Grunwaldt who donated two Tour Alaska motor coaches to get us to and from Birchwood Camp. Thanks, also, to Denny Wells, who agreed to be our Outdoor School photographer and to print photos for student Art Journals. Elizabeth O'Malley served as our Outdoor School nurse for two days. Thank you all so much.
Primary teacher and Chugach parent, Erika Crumley challenged students to use ropes, buckets, and balls to work together in her teambuilding class. Chris Chirichilla and Laura Morisky taught flyfishing while braving multiple tangled lines in birch trees. Julia O'Malley led the Camp Cooking class with support from Kari Skinner and Rosey Fletcher. Monica and Kameron Perez-Verdia offered their boating experience along with support and encouragement for first-time canoers in the Canoeing class. Dr. Jim O'Malley brought his expertise with hypothermia and frostbite to students while Jonathan Casurella gave students hands-on experiences with first aid. Joe Miller and Matt Courtney taught students how to build shelters to stay warm in the outdoors. Colleen Hildebrand led the Art Journal class with support and additional art expertise from Kate Danyluk and Beth Butcher. T.J. Miller helped lead the Ecology Walk. Polly Smith, avid outdoorswoman and PE teacher extraordinaire, helped students find their way in her Geocaching course. Polly also came to Birchwood Camp early both days to lead students in large group field activities so volunteers could participate in trainings.
Finally, thanks to Amy Brabec for coming out Thursday night to lead our evening program with some rousing musical stylings. Parent chaperones traveled with student learning groups, ate lunch outdoors with students, and facilitated skit practices. Thanks to Amy Mick, Brandy Bland, Mary Pennino, Jeremy Bohne, Jae Lee, Regan Brooks, Christine Flanum, Melanie Iverson Kaufman, Whitney Whitman, Jason Whitman, Sara Falkoff, Matt McCauley, Likka McCauley, Jacqueline Adelman, Jocelyn Pemberton, Maggie Miller, Sisi Cooper, Alexis Furin, Peter Grunwaldt, Aurora Courtney, Matt Courtney, Yael Kaufman, Bob Kaufman, Reachel Rosen, Nick Bajwa, and Wally Anderson. We appreciate your patience, herding skills, kindness, and dedication in helping students get warm and stay warm.
Thank you to all volunteers who took time off work, made lesson plans, and tweaked family schedules to make it work. A big thank you to parents who got permission slips in on time, wrote checks to support other families, ensured warm clothes were packed, and picked up their child on time. Thank you to the CEC for our continued Outdoor School line item in the budget and last-minute financial support for cold weather contingencies. Lastly, thanks to Joe Miller, who made chili for 100 people though he'd never made chili before and Yuki Tagai-Varnell who made a pot of meat-free chili for vegetarians though she'd never made chili before. We love risk takers . . . and it was delicious!
Upper teachers~
Casey, Teresa, and Susan
Please Note: 2-3 weeks after picture day, students that had an order will get their package. Students that did not have an order placed before/on or within 48 hours of picture day will get a proof sheet. Students with an order will also have the proof sheet for parents to order additional pictures. On the proof sheet is their image as well as the codes needed to place an online order. Each student will have a unique portrait ID and access code for parents to view and order pictures online. Any orders placed online at this point will be sent directly to the parent and not the school. For retake day, any student that needs a new picture, for whatever reason, will need to bring back their portrait package or proof sheet for our photographer to match up the new image with the correct student.
Turtle By Natalie, Heidi's family group
Otter By Silvia, Emily's Family group
Bee By Clarista, Genie's Family group
Artwork will be hung at the ASD Ed Center for the next several weeks--congratulations!
Community Assembly Meeting
Wednesday, October 13
Presenter, Dr. Celeste Long
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Early literacy can be joyful and engaging! Children who are read to at home, and exposed to rhymes, such as songs and poems, often develop the basis of phonemic awareness. Many phonemic games and activities can readily be practiced by parents and children at home. Join us on October 13th to learn more about games and activities that develop early literacy skills. We will also talk about literacy research and take a look at our reading curriculum, Units of Study.
Bikes + Scooters!
The kids are having a blast with the bike + scooter unit that Polly is putting on in PE. Thank you to Polly for all her hard work inspiring movement and the love of physical education!
Ukulele Club
The Chugach Optional 4th-6th Grade Ukulele Club is looking for members! We’ll be starting up for the 2021-2022 school year on Tuesday, October 5th and will meet weekly until winter Break.
We will be rehearsing in the music room on Tuesday’s after-school from 2:50pm-3:45pm. I will be brainstorming some fun performance ideas for the group and video projects, but performances are not required. There are no tryouts for this group. All ability levels are welcome. Instruments are not required I have ukuleles that members can use in the music room. If your child would like to join, I am thrilled to have them as a ukulele club member!
Please see Lauralee or the Chugach office for a permission slip.
~Lauralee
Photo by speech teacher, Kim.
News From Our District
The Anchorage School District Communications team is working hard to provide current and up-to-date information on the district website. Please go to that site for any questions about our COVID-19 response, information to download the ASD App, and more. If you have feedback or need additional support for any resources, do not hesitate to reach out to our school directly (742-3730).
Thank You to Our School Business Partners
*We are still looking for additional business partners *
