Thursday, March 29, 2018

Thursday, March 29, 2018 Dear Parents, Here is the latest and greatest updated list of scheduled field trips that you can put on your calendar. On Thursday, April 5 we will be walking to the Anchorage Museum for a day of exploration. We will leave the school at 9:45 and return at about 2:30. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 9:30. Thursday, April 12 we will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see the Asian Cultural Performance. We will leave the school at about 9:20 and return about 11:45. On Tuesday, April 17 (This is a change in dates) we will be returning to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Peter and the Wolf” from 9:20-11:45. Wednesday, April 25 we will be taking a bus to West High Pool for the Kids Don’t Float pool session. We will leave the school at 9:15 and return at about 11:30. Friday, May 4th we will take a bus to Bartlett High School for the District K-3 Orienteering Jamboree. We will leave the school at about 9:30 and return about noon. On Wednesday, May 9 we will be taking a bus to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Portage. We will leave at 9:15 and return at about 2:00. Thursday, May 10 we will take a bus to the Alaska Native Heritage Center for their Preview Day. We will leave about 9:30 and return at about 1:30. Our final scheduled trip is on Wednesday, May 16. We will take a bus to the Eagle River Nature Center for a three-mile hike to the river, have a picnic and enjoy the beautiful scenery. I have sent home the second permission slip in today’s folder. I appreciate all the chaperones that make these learning opportunities possible. One more important event is our 3rd Grade Recognition Ceremony in which we send our 3rd graders with a big thank you and good luck in the future. I have scheduled this event for Friday, May 11 at 1:00. 3rd grade parents please let me know if this date and time does not work for you as soon as possible. This is an important message from the PTSA. Denali Families, At this week's PTSA meeting we have some big agenda items that will be presented and discussed. PTSA Meeting is Thursday March 29, 2018. 5:45 Potluck (Meet, Greet & Eat) and 6:00 Meeting. Childcare is provided. Please come, even if you can't bring food. We always have plenty.  We try and keep the meeting short, ending at 7:00 so additional opportunities for discussion will be made at a later date if desired.  1) Our School Counselor.  This year Denali's school counselor position was cut.  An ASD representative came to our first PTSA meeting of the year and said it was difficult decision but they looked at our school's needs and decided we really didn't need a school counselor. We disagree. On Monday April 2nd, 6:00 pm, at the Anchorage School Board meeting, Denali PTSA will be presenting our request that this position be filled next year. Our kids need it. Only a few folks are testifying (keeping our message brief but clear) -- but we'd love to have written statements to present to the school board members. And we'd love to have a large Denali crowd to show our community concern. Wear Blue! 6-7 pm. If you want to submit your statement on why a school counselor is important for your child or the school overall, you can send it to denaliptsa@gmail.com or comment on the Facebook event at http://www.facebook.com/denaliptsa  2) School Schedule Changes?  You may have heard that the School Board is considering the start times for school. Elementary start time would be moved to 7:30 or 7:45 am, with a dismissal at 2 or 2:15.  There has been a proposal for that Denali might be a pilot school to test out this start time change. There has also been a proposal that Denali change our school calendar to be more similar to Polaris. This would be re-occurring (biweekly) half-days for teacher in-service and moving when/how Fall and Spring conferences are held.  At the meeting, there will be a presentation on these ideas at the PTSA meeting and some discussion. (But this wouldn't be the only discussion on these matters). We hope to see you on Thursday and at the Anchorage School Board meeting on Monday.   Sincerely, The Denali PTSA If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Thursday, March 22, 2018 Dear Parents, It’s great to be back with all this wonderful sunlight and the smiling, enthusiastic faces of your children! The students have come back ready to work! It has been a fantastic week! The 3rd graders are taking the PEAKS test next Monday, March 26 and Tuesday, March 27 and will start promptly at 9:15 each day. 3rd grade parents please send your child well rested, well fed, and relaxed and ready to do his or her best. I have sent next week’s homework in today’s folder. Here are the scheduled field trips that you can put on your calendar. On Thursday, April 5 we will be walking to the Anchorage Museum for a day of exploration. We will leave the school at 9:45 and return at about 2:30. Thursday, April 12 we will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see the Asian Cultural Performance. We will leave the school at about 9:20 and return about 11:45. On Tuesday, April 17 (This is a change in dates) we will be returning to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Peter and the Wolf” from 9:20-11:45. Friday, May 4th we will take a bus to Bartlett High School for the District K-3 Orienteering Jamboree. We will leave the school at about 9:30 and return about noon. On Wednesday, May 9 we will be taking a bus to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Portage. We will leave at 9:15 and return at about 2:00. Thursday, May 10 we will take a bus to the Alaska Native Heritage Center for their Preview Day. We will leave about 9:30 and return at about 1:30. Our final scheduled trip is on Wednesday, May 16. We will take a bus to the Eagle River Nature Center for a three-mile hike to the river, have a picnic and enjoy the beautiful scenery. I have sent home the first permission slip in today’s folder. I appreciate all the chaperones that make these learning opportunities possible. One more important event is our 3rd Grade Recognition Ceremony in which we send our 3rd graders with a big thank you and good luck in the future. I have scheduled this event for Friday, May 11 at 1:00. 3rd grade parents please let me know if this date and time does not work for you as soon as possible. I have sent third quarter report cards home in today’s folder. Please take a few moments to talk with your child to celebrate his or her accomplishments and discuss some areas he or she needs to improve. Teaching your children how to set goals is an important tool and gift that you can give them. The students have settled back into a nice work cycle this week. We have been studying prefixes, numbers and operations, math operations and facts, grammar, writing, spelling, writing friendly letters, country and continent research, and more. It’s been a great week! If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Thursday, March 1, 2018 Dear Parents, Our next field trip is on Thursday, March 22. We will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Step Afrika”. We will leave the school at 9:20 and return at about 11:45. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 9:00. I have sent home the permission slip for this trip in today’s folder. I also have a few other field trips scheduled that you can put on your calendar. On Thursday, April 5 we will be walking to the Anchorage Museum for a day of exploration. We will leave the school at 9:45 and return at about 2:30. On Thursday, April 19 we will be returning to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Peter and the Wolf” from 9:20-11:45. On Wednesday, May 9 we will be taking a bus to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Portage. We will leave at 9:15 and return at about 2:00. These are the ones that I have scheduled now, but I know that there will be plenty more. I appreciate all the chaperones that have made these learning experiences possible. The students and I appreciate your time! Thank you. Next week is the beginning of Spring Break for the students. There is no school on Friday, March 9 and students will return to school on Monday, March 19. We will not have homework until we return from Spring Break. We will celebrate the end of the 3rd quarter with a Read-In next Thursday, March 8. I will be serving waffles and juice in the morning. Students may wear pajamas and bring a stuffed animal, blanket and some good books to read. We will be participating in reading activities throughout the day. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting with you all and celebrating your child’s success. I appreciate all you do on your child’s behalf. I love working with your children and observing their growth and maturity academically, socially, and emotionally. Thank you for all your help with field trips, spelling tests, laminating, making materials, listening to students read, sharing your expertise with the class, and all you do to make Room 177 and Denali Montessori such a wonderful place to be. If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org of call or write me a note. Sincerely, Craig Moyer