Monday, December 16, 2019

Monday, December 16, 2019 Dear Parents, It's hard to believe that the first semester has come to a close already. I'm really having a great time working with your children. They are a very kind, hard working, fun group to work with. Every year I am amazed at the growth that the students make. Your children, once again, amaze me. It is one of the true joys of my job. We will be driving to Center Bowl tomorrow Tuesday, December 17! We will leave the school at about 12:30 and return about 2:30. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 12:15. A big thank you to Mr. Clapper, the owner of Center Bowl and grandpa to one of our students, for allowing us to bowl for free! What a wonderful gift! Thank you! Thursday, December 19 we will be having a class Read-In. Students can bring a blanket, stuffed animal, pajamas, and a favorite book. I will be serving waffles, fruit and juice. This will be a fun event to celebrate a wonderful first semester! During the winter break I encourage your children to continue reading at least 20 minutes a day so they keep up some of those newly learned skills. I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Thursday, December 5, 2019 Dear Parents, We will be walking to the Performing Arts Center tomorrow, Friday, December 6. to see master storyteller, David Gonzalez, bring to life his version of "Cinderella". This will be an incredibly entertaining event. We will leave the school at about 11:05 and return about 1:15. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 10:45. We will be driving to Center Bowl on Tuesday, December 17! We will leave the school at about 12:30 and return about 2:30. I neglected to include how many children you could take in your vehicle on the permission slip, so if those that volunteered to drive could email me how many seats you have available, I would appreciate it. A big thank you to Mr. Clapper, the owner of Center Bowl and grandpa to one of our students, for allowing us to bowl for free! What a wonderful gift! Thank you! Holiday Night 2018 is tomorrow Friday, December 6th from 6:00-8:00. This event will be an opportunity for parents, students, faculty & staff to celebrate the season. The evening will incorporate singing by the Denali Choir, holiday fun and more. Mr. Stafford, our wonderful music teacher and choir director, would like the students to arrive at 5:30 to be prepared to sing at 6:00. Thanks! On Monday, December 16 we will have our annual gingerbread house creating and decorating session from 12:20-2:00. The students have volunteered to bring the items listed on the handout to share with all when we decorate. You can send in these items any time before December 16. You are welcome to join in the fun (Craziness) if you wish. Thursday, December 19 we will be having a class Read-In. Students can bring a blanket, stuffed animal, pajamas, and a favorite book. I will be serving waffles, bacon, fruit and juice. This will be a fun event to celebrate a wonderful first semester! I have decided that there will be no homework for the remainder of the year. We will resume homework in January when we return from the break. You can still take time to read every night, relax and enjoy some family time. You can go to www.denalimontessori177.blogspot.com and enter your email to receive an automatic email anytime I post a newsletter or any other items. 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, November 21, 2019

Thursday, November 21, 2019 Dear Parents, Our next scheduled field trip is on Friday, December 6. We will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see master storyteller, David Gonzalez, bring to life his version of "Cinderella". This will be an incredibly entertaining event. We will leave the school at about 11:05 and return about 1:15. I will send home permission slips at a later date. I am also very excited to announce that we have been invited to celebrate the end of a successful semester at Center Bowl on Tuesday, December 17! We will leave the school at about 12:30 and return about 2:30. This trip will need drivers to get us to the bowling alley. I will send home permission slips and all the details later. The field trip news never ends! We have secured a date for the Lower Elementary Wing trip to Whittier for our glacier cruise! We will be cruising on Friday, May 15! We will leave the school at about 9:00 and return about 3:30 for a full day of fun! The price will be $60 for each student and chaperone attending. We need to have a deposit of 25% of the total by January, so we are asking everyone to make your payment now. We also need to know how many adults in addition to the students will be joining us, so Phillips Cruises & Tours can determine which boat they will be using. The payment link for Whittier is available on Parent Connect. You can pay on the "Whittier" option for your child, "Lower EL Cruise" for chaperones, and "Donations-Lower EL Trip Only" for any scholarships. It's been a great week in Room 177! The students have been busy reading, writing letters, learning about problem solving in math, working on math facts and operations, contractions, vocabulary, geometry, spelling, continents and oceans, Andy Warhol and Pop Art, penmanship, telling time, money, fractions and more. I am not sending homework in today's folder! Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is a time for us to gather with friends and family and reflect on the many things we are thankful for. I am very thankful for your support at home with your children, all the volunteers that help listen to students read, make copies, are able to join us on field trips, and everything else that makes my job so enjoyable. I am thankful for such a great group of students who care about each other, work well together, and are not afraid to make mistakes and learn from them. I hope you all have a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Thanks. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Thursday, November 14, 2019 Dear Parents, Our next scheduled field trip is on Friday, December 6. We will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see master storyteller, David Gonzalez, bring to life his version of "Cinderella". This will be an incredibly entertaining event. We will leave the school at about 11:05 and return about 1:15. I will send home permission slips at a later date. I am also very excited to announce that we have been invited to celebrate the end of a successful semester at Center Bowl on Tuesday, December 17! We will leave the school at about 12:30 and return about 2:30. This trip will need drivers to get us to the bowling alley. I will send home permission slips and all the details later. The field trip news never ends! We have secured a date for the Lower Elementary Wing trip to Whittier for our glacier cruise! We will be cruising on Friday, May 15! We will leave the school at about 9:00 and return about 3:30 for a full day of fun! The price will be $60 for each student and chaperone attending. We need to have a deposit of 25% of the total by January, so we are asking everyone to make your payment now. We also need to know how many adults in addition to the students will be joining us, so Phillips Cruises & Tours can determine which boat they will be using. The payment link for Whittier is available on Parent Connect. You can pay on the "Whittier" option for your child, "Lower EL Cruise" for chaperones, and "Donations-Lower EL Trip Only" for any scholarships. It's been a great week in Room 177! The students have been busy reading, writing letters, learning about problem solving in math, working on math facts and operations, contractions, vocabulary, geometry, spelling, continents and oceans, Michelangelo, penmanship, telling time, money, fractions and more. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Thanks. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Thursday, November 7, 2019 Dear Parents, I have sent homework for next week in today's folder. Spelling tests will now be given on Fridays. If a student is not satisfied with his or her score on the spelling test, he or she is welcome to retake it at home and turn in the new score. We want the students to be successful with the words and use the newly learned spelling patterns in their writing and use the rules to help them decode new words in reading. Thank you to the PTSA for supporting our Junior Great Books program here at Denali Montessori! The teachers have been working with Junior Great Books trainer extraordinaire, Kriko, this week learning how best to teach the program. It has been a great learning experience for me and I appreciate the PTSA's support! We have "retired" Montessori teacher, Ms. Mardena, to thank for being here this week during my training. She has been teaching the students about various artists and doing incredible art projects with the students this week! Thank you, Ms. Mardena,! It's been a very productive week in Room 177. The students have been busy reading, writing letters, learning about measurement of volume, working on math facts and operations, contractions, vocabulary, problem solving, geometry, spelling, penmanship, telling time, money, fractions and more. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Thanks. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Dear Parents, Please join us tomorrow night for the Denali Fall Carnival from 6:00-8:30. The Denali Choir will begin the festivities with some spooky songs. Then you will be able to enjoy the games and fun activities. If you can bring a treat for the cake walk it would be very much appreciated. I hope you can join us for this fun community event! Homework went home on Monday this week for our spelling test on Friday. I have sent homework for next week in today's folder. Spelling tests will now be given on Fridays. If a student is not satisfied with his or her score on the spelling test, he or she is welcome to retake it at home and turn in the new score. We want the students to be successful with the words and use the newly learned spelling patterns in their writing and use the rules to help them decode new words in reading. Thank you to the PTSA for supporting our Junior Great Books program here at Denali Montessori! The teachers have been working with Junior Great Books trainer extraordinaire, Kriko, this week learning how best to teach the program. It has been a great learning experience for me and I appreciate the PTSA's support! We have "retired" Montessori teacher, Ms. Mardena, to thank for being here this week during my training. She has been teaching the students about various artists and doing incredible art projects with the students this week! Thank you, Ms. Mardena,! It's been a very productive week in Room 177. The students have been busy reading, writing letters, learning about measurement of volume, working on math facts and operations, problem solving, geometry, spelling, penmanship, synonyms and more. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Thanks. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Thursday, October 17, 2019 Reminder " Conferences-Wednesday, October 23 and Thursday, October 24. These are the days set aside to discuss your child's progress. Please sign up for a conference time! " Dismissal-12:30 Wednesday, October 23 and Thursday, October 24 " No School- Friday, October 25 " No Homework Next Week! - (The students were very upset) Dear Parents, I can't tell you how impressed I was with your children yesterday during our trip to the Apple Store. They were safe, well-behaved, engaged in the learning experience, shared and exchanged ideas. It was impressive to see. The students and I had a lot of fun with the "Coding with Sphero" program. The students had to program the Sphero robot to do various tasks, so there was a lot of trial and error, planning, measuring and thoughtful work going on. It was a wonderful learning experience. I am also excited about our next upcoming scheduled field trip! On Thursday, October 31 we will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see "Soul Street Dance Company" brought to us by Alaska Junior Theater. We will leave the school at 11:10 and return about 1:15. We will have a snack before we leave and eat lunch when we return. Please indicate on the permission slip if you would like to order a sack lunch from the cafeteria for your child. Please return this permission slip as soon as possible as we have to pay for the show in advance. All payments are non-refundable. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 10:55. This should be a fun show for all! Winter weather is soon to be here. Please remember to have your child wear boots, hat, gloves, coat, and snow pants when that inevitable first snow falls. Also, please label all your child's gear. Many of these items are very similar and it makes it so much easier to keep track of your child's items. We have been busy in Room 177 learning about time, money, antonyms, verbs, math facts and operations, reading, writing, penmanship, thank you letters, continents and oceans, the perimeter, spelling and more! It has been a wonderful week! Your children continue to amaze me! If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Thursday, October 10, 2019 Dear Parents, One of my favorite times of the year is fast approaching! Conferences will be held Wednesday, October 23 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. and Thursday, October 24 from 7:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Students will be released at 12:30 p.m. on October 23 and 24 and there is no school on Friday, October 25. Parents now have the ability to schedule conference times online. The Conference Scheduler is available starting Monday, October 7. Scheduling early offers you the opportunity to secure conference times that work best for your family. Please visit the online scheduler on the district website. You will need to go to mix and find my name to find my schedule. If you are not able to use the online system, please call or email. I look forward to meeting with you all and celebrating your child's progress. Our first field trip of the year is on Wednesday, October 16. We will be walking to the Apple Store in the 5th Avenue Mall to participate in "Coding with Sphero" We will leave the school at about 10:10 and should return about 12:30. I need to have all permission slips with both sides signed before your child can go on the field trip. Please return all permission slips right away please! Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 9:55. This should be a great learning experience! I am also excited about our next upcoming scheduled field trip! On Thursday, October 31 we will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see "Soul Street Dance Company" brought to us by Alaska Junior Theater. We will leave the school at 11:10 and return about 1:15. We will have a snack before we leave and eat lunch when we return. Please indicate on the permission slip if you would like to order a sack lunch from the cafeteria for your child. Please return this permission slip as soon as possible as we have to pay for the show in advance. All payments are non-refundable. This should be a fun show for all! We have been busy in Room 177 learning about money, antonyms, verbs, math facts and operations, reading, writing, penmanship, continents and oceans, the perimeter, spelling and more! It has been a wonderful week! Your children keep improving in all areas every day! If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Thursday, October 3, 2019 Dear Parents, One of my favorite times of the year is fast approaching! Conferences will be held Wednesday, October 23 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. and Thursday, October 24 from 7:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Students will be released at 12:30 p.m. on October 23 and 24 and there is no school on Friday, October 25. Parents now have the ability to schedule conference times online. The Conference Scheduler is available starting Monday, October 7. Scheduling early offers you the opportunity to secure conference times that work best for your family. Please visit the online scheduler on the district website. You will need to go to mix and find my name to find my schedule. If you are not able to use the online system, please call or email. I look forward to meeting with you all and celebrating your child's progress. Our first field trip of the year is on Wednesday, October 16. We will be walking to the Apple Store in the 5th Avenue Mall to participate in "Coding with Sphero" We will leave the school at about 10:10 and should return about 12:30. This will be a fun learning experience! I am also excited about our next upcoming scheduled field trip! On Thursday, October 31 we will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see "Soul Street Dance Company" brought to us by Alaska Junior Theater. We will leave the school at 11:10 and return about 1:15. We will have a snack before we leave and eat lunch when we return. Please indicate on the permission slip if you would like to order a sack lunch from the cafeteria for your child. Please return this permission slip as soon as possible as we have to pay for the show in advance. All payments are non-refundable. This should be a fun show for all! We have been busy in Room 177 learning about money, antonyms, adjectives and articles, math facts and operations, reading, writing, penmanship, continents and oceans, volcanoes, spelling and more! It has been a wonderful week! I love observing your children and all the growth they are making! If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Thursday, September 26, 2019 Dear Parents, The Denali Open House is tonight! The choir, led by our wonderful Music teacher, Mr. Stafford, will start the evening on a positive note at 6:00 p.m. After a brief introduction of the staff, you will get a chance to visit your children's classrooms from 6:30-8:00. I hope to see you there tonight. Our first field trip of the year has been moved to Wednesday, October 16. We will be walking to the Apple Store in the 5th Avenue Mall to participate in "Coding with Sphero" We will leave the school at about 10:10 and should return about 12:30. I have sent new permission slips that are required by the district and the Apple Store in today's folder. I'm sorry for the inconvenience to those that have already returned a permission slip. This will be a fun learning experience and it's still free! I am very excited to announce an amazing opportunity for our Lower Elementary students here at Denali Montessori. Ms. Homan, one of the wonderful Lower Elementary teachers and field trip guru, has worked tirelessly putting together a glacier cruise out of Whittier for our entire wing! This will be an incredible opportunity to see our studies on Alaskan animals and glaciers first-hand in one of the most beautiful settings in the world, our home of Alaska. The trip does not have a date until we put down a deposit, but it will take place in May. The cost will be $60 for each student and chaperone that attends. We will be holding various fundraisers and asking for donations throughout the year to cover scholarships so that every student can attend. I have included a questionnaire at the end of this newsletter to see how many students and chaperones are interested in going. Please return this as soon as possible. Once we determine that there is enough interest, we will begin collecting funds so we can put down a deposit and confirm our date. Thank you very much to Ms. Homan for her expertise and the many hours she has put in planning this trip for our children! While we are on the topic of field trips, I want to let you know my expectations and the responsibilities of the students on our outings. Each child is responsible to follow the instructions of the chaperones and teacher on every field trip. It is my responsibility to keep the students safe. We walk, take buses, ride in boats or drive to all our field trips and it is vital that they are being safe in all those situations. It is also the responsibility of the child, to be respectful and kind on the field trip. When we go out in the public, we are representing Denali Montessori, Room 177, you, and myself. We need to show that Denali Montessori students are respectful and kind at all times on field trips. If the student isn't being safe, listening to the adults, or is not showing respect and kindness, the student will be required to have his or her parent attend the next field trip. If the parent can't attend, the child will have to stay in a classroom at Denali while we are on the trip. There has been a pleasant hum during our work sessions this week in Room 177. We have been working on our spelling words, money work, angles and triangles by sides in geometry, writing friendly letters, math facts and operations, penmanship, reading skills, comprehension, classification, rhyming words, the adjective in grammar and more! It's been a fun week for me to see the amazing growth the students have made in this short amount of time. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Sincerely, Craig Moyer ________ I want my child to attend the field trip to Whittier and go on the glacier cruise. ________ I want to attend the field trip to Whittier and go on the glacier cruise. _______________________________. ____________________________ Printed Name Signaure

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Thursday, September 19, 2019 Dear Parents, Our first field trip of the year will be on Wednesday, October 9. We will be walking to the Apple Store in the 5th Avenue Mall to participate in "Coding with Sphero" We will leave the school at about 10:10 and should return about 12:30. This will be a fun learning experience and it's free! I have included permission slips in today's folder. Please mark your calendars for next Thursday, September 26 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. This is your chance to visit the classroom and find out more about the Montessori program at the Denali Open House. I look forward to seeing you then! It's been a busy week in Room 177. The students have been learning about the adjective, counting and identifying coins for 1st graders and counting money and putting it in decimal form for the 2nd and 3rd graders, writing friendly letters, reading, spelling, math facts and operations, penmanship, reading activities, math problem solving, creative writing and more! The students are getting more independent and creating a peaceful atmosphere to work. Your children are amazing to work with and continue to make me smile daily. One of the many "Montessori Moments" that happens in Room 177 warmed my heart the other day. One of the first graders was having trouble making friends at recess. I asked a couple of other first graders if they would like to include this student with them at recess. My normally quiet voice (Ha, Ha) was overheard by most of the class and everyone that heard my request said that this student could join them as well. The smile on this student's face was priceless! It reminded me of what a great job I have and what incredible people your children are! If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Thursday, September 12, 2019 Dear Parents, We have had an incredible week learning about place value and playing math games, writing about what peace is to each of us, penmanship, even and odd numbers, spelling, reading activities, writing friendly letters, math facts and operations, geometry, writing our own creation stories, a lesson on friendship with our wonderful counselor, Ms. Banta and more! I've really enjoyed working with your children this week! Picture Day is Thursday, September 19! The first of many flyers went home today. You may order your pictures online or send in the order with your child. Please send your child with a smile on the 19th! Open House at Denali Montessori is Thursday, September 26 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Please join us to see what we're doing in Room 177 and how the students use all the wonderful Montessori materials. I look forward to seeing you then. We do not have a snack calendar in Room 177. I ask that students that bring their own lunch pack a snack to eat during the morning, as they get hungry. We do have a snack cupboard for those that have hot lunch or forget their lunch. If you would like to help stock the snack cupboard with items such as goldfish, pretzels, string cheese or other nut-free items, it would be very much appreciated. 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, September 5, 2019

Thursday, September 5, 2019 Dear Parents, The students have been busy this week learning the golden beads, stamp game, and banker’s game to help them on their addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. The first graders have enjoyed playing “fetching games” in which they create numbers that I ask them to retrieve. We have also been studying the noun, classification, rhyming words, polygons, reading, quadrilaterals, fundamental geometric concepts, math operations and facts, letter writing, and penmanship. I will also be telling the students Marie Montessori’s Second Great Lesson, “The Formation of Earth”, next week. There are 5 Great Lessons, which I will be sharing in the next couple of weeks. They are the basis of all our learning and the class will revisit these topics throughout the year in our various studies. Picture Day is Thursday, September 19! The first of many flyers went home today. You may order your pictures online or send in the order with your child. Please send your child with a smile on the 19th! Open House at Denali Montessori is Thursday, September 26 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Please join us to see what we’re doing in Room 177 and how the students use all the wonderful Montessori materials. I look forward to seeing you then. We do not have a snack calendar in Room 177. I ask that students that bring their own lunch pack a snack to eat during the morning, as they get hungry. We do have a snack cupboard for those that have hot lunch or forget their lunch. If you would like to help stock the snack cupboard with items such as goldfish, pretzels, string cheese or other nut-free items, it would be very much appreciated. 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, August 29, 2019

Thursday, August 29, 2019 Dear Parents, The second and third graders have done a great job making the first graders feel welcome and modeling proper work habits. The first graders are working hard to learn the new routines and new work. It’s been a super first week and I’m having lots of fun working with your children. This week we have been working on learning the routines, reviewing math operations, writing, practicing our handwriting, and getting to know each other. As part of Maria Montessori’s first Great Lesson, we have also been reading Creation Stories from around the world. Next week we will learn about the scientific story of how the universe began. The students have enjoyed listening and acting out the various stories and will be writing their own. In addition to the Thursday folder information the students are very excited about the first homework of the year! I would like the students to read or be read to for at least 20 minutes a night and complete the spelling work by the following Thursday. If the week is too hectic to get it done by Thursday, I’ll take it whenever it is done. Thursday will be the day the students are tested on their spelling words. Our first spelling test will be next Thursday, September 5. Our specialist schedule changed slightly. On Wednesdays we will be going to Library at 10:20 instead of 9:10 and to Music on Thursdays at 9:10 instead of 10:20. Here is the new schedule. Monday: 10:20-10:50 P.E. Tuesday: 9:45-10:15 P.E., 10:20-10:50 Music Wednesday: 10:20-10:50 Library Thursday: 9:10-9:40, Music 9:45-10:15 P.E. Friday: 9:10-10:10 Art/Health The students did a fabulous job during the evacuation drill on Monday! The students walked over to the Federal Building safely and quietly during this practice drill. I was very proud of them. Please mark your calendars for Thursday, September 26 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. This is your chance to visit the classroom and find out more about the Montessori program at the Denali Open House. I look forward to seeing you then. You can go to www.denalimontessori177.blogspot.com and enter your email to receive an automatic email anytime I post a newsletter, like this one, or any other items I need to inform you about. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note. Have a wonderful sunny and smoke free (I hope) Labor Day weekend! Please remember there is no school on Monday. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Thursday, August 22, 2019 Dear Parents, I’d first like to introduce myself. My name is Craig Moyer. This is my fourteenth year at Denali Montessori and my twenty-third year in the Anchorage School District. My wife, Sarah, is a lawyer and has put up with me now for twenty-five years of married life. We have three daughters, Siena, Ariana, and Clara. Siena is twenty and is double majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics at UAA. Ariana and Clara are twins that are eighteen and will be starting at UAA this fall. Clara will pursue a nursing degree and Ariana pre-medical degree with the goal of becoming a medical examiner. Our son, Aidan, is ten years old and is a fifth grader here at Denali Montessori. It will be a lot quieter at home this year with all the girls out of the house. I am very excited to be working with you and your children this year! In order for your child to have a productive year, I will need your help and support. I believe in a system that acknowledges the freedoms and responsibilities of students and teacher. In order for us to work in a safe, courteous classroom free from interruptions, the students have the responsibility to follow the class and school rules. 1. Be Safe 2. Be Respectful and Kind 3. Be Responsible 4. Be Ready I have also included the Freedom and Responsibility guidelines in today’s folder as well. This will give you and your child a better understanding of how the Montessori classroom works well. It is important that we work together to give your child a quality education. Please feel free to call me or send me an email if you have any questions or concerns. I will send some of your child’s work in his/her Thursday folder. The folder will also include classroom and school news. I also send homework in the Thursday folders and it is due by the following Thursday. If you can’t finish it by Thursday, I’ll take it whenever it is done. Thursday will be the day the students are tested on their spelling words. I will send homework in next week’s folder. Our first spelling test will be Thursday, September 5. Please look at your child’s work. Students are proud of their accomplishments and it is a means of tracking your child’s progress. In the Montessori class, most of the students’ work is kept in the classroom in their individual work folders to show progress throughout the year. Our specialist schedule is as follows: Monday: 10:20-10:50 P.E. Tuesday: 9:45-10:15 P.E., 10:20-10:50 Music Wednesday: 9:10-9:40 Library Thursday: 9:45-10:15 P.E., 10:20-10:50 Music Friday: 9:10-10:10 Art/Health The students go to recess at 11:00 and lunch will be eaten in the classroom this year at 11:40! I am very excited about eating in a more relaxed environment and being able to instill the Montessori grace and courtesy lessons into our lunchtime. If your child needs a snack to make it to lunch or for the afternoon, please pack extra for your child and he/she may eat it when needed during the morning or afternoon. I have a snack cabinet for those that have hot lunch or don’t have a snack. I have stocked it for the first week and would appreciate parents to help stock it throughout the year. I will put a notice in the weekly newsletter letting you know when the cupboard is bare. We are a nut free classroom this year! All snacks and lunches must be nut free! We have several students with severe allergies to nuts. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children safe! Ms. Dene has sent the following announcement. “Monday August 26 at 9:30 we will have an intruder drill. We will announce all three levels; the stay-put, the lock-down, and the evacuation. We will all walk to the Federal Building. Teachers and the Federal Building have practiced this. Listen to your teacher to guide you, stay with your class, and follow all directions. Remember no talking during a drill.” You can go to www.denalimontessori177.blogspot.com and enter your email to receive an automatic email anytime I post a newsletter, like this one, or any other items I need to inform you about. I look forward to working with you and your child. I am anticipating a productive and fun year. Sincerely, Craig Moyer

Friday, May 10, 2019

Dear Parents, Mr. Horning and Ms. McEvoy, our wonderful P.E. teachers, are looking for volunteers to help out with Field Day Monday, May 13 from 1:15-3:15. There are lots of games and activities that need adults to supervise them. If you are able to join us for this fun event, please meet out on the playground by 1:00. Our 3rd Grade Recognition Ceremony in which we send our 3rd graders with a big thank you and good luck in the future is scheduled for Thursday, May 16 at 1:00. 3rd grade parents please meet in Room 177 by 12:55. On Monday, May 20 we will have Non-Electronic Game Day. Students may bring a favorite board game or card game to share with the class. The following day Tuesday, May 21 will be Electronic Game Day. Students may bring electronic devices with parent approval to play throughout the day. Our final scheduled trip is on Wednesday, May 22. The entire primary wing will take a bus to an Eagle River park for a picnic, games and fun. Students will need to bring their own lunch and drink unless they order one from the cafeteria. Students may bring Frisbees, footballs, soccer balls or other playground items to enjoy on this trip. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 9:00. Our bus will leave at 9:30 and we will return at about 2:30. We have been reviewing abbreviations, math operations and facts, reviewing nouns in grammar, writing, odd and even, writing speeches and thank-you letters, spelling, writing friendly letters, measurement, Exemplars, Quick Write, reading comprehension and fluency skills, geometry skills, problem solving and more. We are really working hard and concentrating in Room 177! I’d like to wish all the moms a very happy and peaceful Mother’s Day. Thank you for all your hard work, support, and sacrifice that you make on your child’s behalf. 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

Friday, May 3, 2019

Dear Parents, Our trip on Thursday, May 9 to the Anchorage Public Lands Information Office has been canceled. They are in the process of remodeling and we wouldn’t be able to participate in the full program. We will try again next year. Our final scheduled trip is on Wednesday, May 22. The entire primary wing will take a bus to an Eagle River park for a picnic, games and fun. Students will need to bring their own lunch and drink unless they order one from the cafeteria. I appreciate all the chaperones that have made all the learning opportunities possible this year. Our 3rd Grade Recognition Ceremony in which we send our 3rd graders with a big thank you and good luck in the future is scheduled for Thursday, May 16 at 1:00. 3rd grade parents please meet in Room 177 by 12:55. We have been reviewing synonyms, math operations and facts, reviewing verbs in grammar, reviewing adverbs in grammar, writing, odd and even numbers, map skills, spelling, writing friendly letters, measurement, Exemplars, Quick Write, reading comprehension and fluency skills, geometry skills, country and continent research, problem solving and more. We are really working hard and concentrating in Room 177! 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

Friday, April 26, 2019

Friday, April 26, 2019 Dear Parents, Here are the scheduled field trips that you can put on your calendar. Friday, May 3 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 12:30. On Thursday, May 9 we will be walking to the Anchorage Public Lands Information Office to learn about our public lands from 9:30 to noon. Our final scheduled trip is on Wednesday, May 22 The entire primary wing will take a bus to an Eagle River park for a picnic, games and fun. 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 Thursday, May 16 at 1:00. 3rd grade parents please let me know if this date and time does not work for you as soon as possible. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 9:00 on Friday, May 3. We will be taking a bus to Bartlett High School to go orienteering! Students should be dressed for the weather, have good hiking shoes, and bring a lunch and drink unless they have ordered one from the cafeteria. We will leave the school at about 9:30 and return about 1:00. This should be a lot of fun! Thank you for supporting our learning experiences. We have been studying synonyms, numbers and operations, math operations and facts, reviewing verbs in grammar, playing Mad Libs to review our grammar, writing, odd and even numbers, map skills, spelling, writing friendly letters, measurement, Exemplars, Quick Write, reading comprehension and fluency skills, country and continent research, problem solving and more. We are really working hard and concentrating in Room 177! I am no longer sending homework for the remainder of the year. I encourage students to continue reading every night throughout the rest of the year and summer, work on math facts, and continue honing their writing skills by keeping a journal or sending letters or postcards to relatives Outside. 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

Friday, April 12, 2019

Friday, April 12, 2019 Dear Parents, Here are the scheduled field trips that you can put on your calendar. On Monday, April 22 we will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Emily Brown and the Thing” from 11:00-1:15. Friday, May 3rd 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 12:30. On Thursday, May 9 we will be walking to the Anchorage Public Lands Information Office to learn about our public lands from 9:30 to noon. Our final scheduled trip is on Wednesday, May 22 The entire primary wing will take a bus to an Eagle River park for a picnic, games and fun. 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 Thursday, May 16 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 the permission slip home for our trip to “Emily Brown and the Thing”. This trip is free! On November 30, 2018 we missed “Air Play” due to the earthquake. Alaska Junior Theater isn’t able to offer refunds, so they offered “Emily Brown and the Thing” as reimbursement for the act of nature. We have read the story and are looking forward to the musical interpretation of the book. We have been studying homophones, numbers and operations, math operations and facts, reviewing verbs in grammar, writing, odd and even numbers, map skills, spelling, writing friendly letters, exploring how seeds travel, measurement, Exemplars, Quick Write, reading comprehension and fluency skills, country and continent research, and more. We are really working hard and concentrating in Room 177! Our final spelling test will be Friday, April 26. I encourage students to continue reading every night throughout the rest of the year and summer, work on math facts, and continue honing their writing skills by keeping a journal or sending letters or postcards to relatives Outside. 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

Friday, April 5, 2019

Friday, April 5, 2019 Dear Parents, Here are the scheduled field trips that you can put on your calendar. On Monday, April 22 we will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Emily Brown and the Thing” from 11:00-1:15. Friday, May 3rd 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 12:30. On Thursday, May 9 we will be walking to the Anchorage Public Lands Information Office to learn about our public lands from 9:30 to noon. Our final scheduled trip is on Wednesday, May 22 The entire primary wing will take a bus to an Eagle River park for a picnic, games and fun. 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 Thursday, May 16 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 the permission slip home for our trip to “Emily Brown and the Thing”. This trip is free! On November 30, 2018 we missed “Air Play” due to the earthquake. Alaska Junior Theater isn’t able to offer refunds, so they offered “Emily Brown and the Thing” as reimbursement for the act of nature. We read the story today and are looking forward to the musical interpretation of the book. We have been studying periods for abbreviations and sentences, numbers and operations, math operations and facts, reviewing nouns in grammar, writing, spelling, writing friendly letters, science explorations, measurement of time, Exemplars, poetry, Quick Write, reading comprehension and fluency skills, country and continent research, and more. It has been a busy week in Room 177! I gave the students the week off from homework last week but have resumed it for next week. Our final spelling test will be Friday, April 26. I encourage students to continue reading every night throughout the rest of the year and summer, work on math facts, and continue honing their writing skills by keeping a journal or sending letters or postcards to relatives Outside. 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

Friday, March 29, 2019

Friday, March 29, 2019 Dear Parents, The students had a fantastic time creating their own “land formation/biome worlds” yesterday with Ms. Mardena. The students created their own world creating mountains, deserts, forests, lakes, rivers, straits, islands, peninsulas, isthmuses and more! Ms. Mardena presented a wonderful lesson and provided the students with the cardboard, trees, moss, flowers, sand, gravel, and more goodies in order to decorate their creations. Today the students wrote about their worlds. Thank you, Ms. Mardena for the incredible learning experience! The 3rd graders took the language arts and writing portion of the PEAKS test on Tuesday and will take the math section on Tuesday, April 2. They will start promptly at 9:15 a.m. 3rd grade parents please send your child well rested, well fed, and relaxed and ready to do his or her best. Here are the scheduled field trips that you can put on your calendar. On Monday, April 22 we will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Emily Brown and the Thing” from 11:00-1:15. Friday, May 3rd 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 12:30. On Thursday, May 9 we will be walking to the Anchorage Public Lands Information Office to learn about our public lands from 9:30 to noon. Our final scheduled trip is on Wednesday, May 22 The entire primary wing will take a bus to an Eagle River park for a picnic, games and fun. 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 Thursday, May 16 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. Each child met with me before spring break to self-evaluate her/his behavior for the third quarter and set goals for the 4th quarter. The marks on the report card in the behavior section are all their own. I was very proud how most of the students could be honest and see their strengths and areas for improvement. That is a skill that will assist them through life. 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. We have been studying compound words, numbers and operations, math operations and facts, reviewing adjectives in grammar, writing, spelling, writing friendly letters, observing the Science Share projects, measurement of time, Exemplars, poetry, Quick Write, country and continent research, and more. The students’ concentration and focus have been incredible! They have created a very peaceful work environment for themselves that I am thrilled with! Our new goal is working on line segmenting up quietly and quickly and walking respectfully in the hallways. We’re having a blast in Room 177! 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

Reminder!!!!!

Reminder!!!! We have been studying “Land and Water Forms” the last couple of weeks and the students will be making their own land and water form worlds tomorrow Thursday, March 28 in the afternoon with the help of retired Denali Montessorian, Ms. Mardena Williams. Each child needs to make his/her “land” with the recipe I have sent home. You can send it in a Zip-lock baggie starting on Monday with your child’s name on the baggie. I appreciate your assistance in this fun learning project! Great Playdough Recipe 2 cups flour 1 cup salt 2 cups water 2 TBSP vegetable oil 2 tsp. cream of tartar Optional: add TBSP. imitation or real vanilla extract for a lovely smell and consistency. Mix dry ingredients Mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Add together in a saucepan. Cook on low until the dough thickens. It will start to pull away from the sides of the pan. Do not overcook. When it is cool enough, scoop it out and knead it until it is not sticky and has a nice consistency. Put it in a zip-lock freezer bag or an airtight container.

Friday, March 22, 2019

Friday, March 22, 2019 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 Tuesday, March 26 and the following Tuesday, April 2and 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. Next Wednesday, March 27 from 5:30-6:30 in the library, the upper elementary teachers will be hosting a parent tea for the 3rd grade parents to discuss what life is like in the 4th-6th grade classroom and answer any questions you may have. I hope you can make this informative event! We have been studying “Land and Water Forms” the last couple of weeks and the students will be making their own land and water form worlds next Thursday, March 28 in the afternoon with the help of retired Denali Montessorian, Ms. Mardena Williams. Each child needs to make his/her “land” with the recipe I have sent home. You can send it in a Zip-lock baggie starting on Monday with your child’s name on the baggie. I appreciate your assistance in this fun learning project! Here are the scheduled field trips that you can put on your calendar. On Monday, April 22 we will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Emily Brown and the Thing” from 11:00-1:15. Friday, May 3rd 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 12:30. On Thursday, May 9 we will be walking to the Anchorage Public Lands Information Office to learn about our public lands from 9:30 to noon. Our final scheduled trip is on Wednesday, May 22 The entire primary wing will take a bus to an Eagle River park for a picnic, games and fun. 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 Thursday, May 16 at 1:00. 3rd grade parents please let me know if this date and time does not work for you as soon as possible. The students have settled back into a nice work cycle this week. We have been studying synonyms, numbers and operations, math operations and facts, grammar, writing, spelling, writing friendly letters, science magic, how to work with the mediators and their role with our counselor, Ms. Banta, Exemplars, Quick Write, country and continent research, and more. Our focus this week has been concentration! 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

Friday, March 1, 2019

Friday, March 1, 2019 Dear Parents, We just got a wonderful opportunity to go to the Asian Cultural Performance at the Performing Arts Center on Thursday, March 7th for free! I know that is short notice, but it is a great time to see performances from a variety of Asian countries. I have sent permission slips home today and will need them back as soon as possible. Thanks for your support. On Wednesday, March 20. We will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Moon Mouse”. We will leave the school at 11:00 and return at about 1:15. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 10:45. I have sent home the permission slip for this trip in today’s folder. I would really like all permission slips and money back by this Thursday, March 7 before Spring Break. Spring picture forms are in today’s folder. Please return them if you would like your child’s picture taken. Please send them with a smile next Wednesday, March 6 on Spring Picture Day. Please join us next Thursday, March 7 for a Montessori evening with experienced Montessori consultant Jonathan Wolff. He is presenting a parent evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. here at Denali Montessori followed by a presentation for teachers the next day. Please join us for a Montessori evening. Next week is the beginning of Spring Break for the students. There is no school on Friday, March 8 and students will return to school on Monday, March 18. We will not have homework until we return from Spring Break. 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

Friday, February 22, 2019

Friday, February 22, 2019 Dear Parents, I’m sure you have noticed that our Thursday folder has turned into a Friday folder. Please expect homework, schoolwork and newsletters to come home on Fridays from now on. All homework will still be due the following Friday. Thank you. This week the students have been studying conjunctions and interjections in grammar, apostrophes for possessives, geometry, practicing math facts, reading, writing friendly letters, journaling, studying positions of lines and angles in geometry, reading comprehension and activities, learning about air pressure, informational and study skills, vocabulary, penmanship, country research, the history of geometry and how the “rope stretchers” in Egypt gave it its name and more! It has been a wonderful week of more quiet concentration than we have had all year. I am very proud of your children. We are currently collecting spare change for Malawi Children’s Village. The money will be presented at our Peace Concert on February 28 from 6:30-8:00. There will also be a chance for families to donate and bid on desserts at the Peace Concert Dessert Auction. It has been wonderful to see the spirit of generosity from your children as they bring in their money and how they are excited to help the children of Malawi. 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

Friday, February 15, 2019

Friday, February 15, 2019 Dear Parents, Ms. Banta, our school counselor, read the book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind to our class. It is a true story of a boy named William from Malawi. The story tells of his achievement to create a windmill to help his community. William actually came to visit Denali several years ago to tell the story himself. She also shared a slideshow of her visit to Malawi. All of this is in preparation of our Peace Concert on February 28. This week the students have been studying conjunctions and interjections in grammar, contractions, geometry, practicing math facts, reading, writing friendly letters, journaling, studying positions of lines and angles in geometry, reading comprehension and activities, learning how planes fly and experimenting with their own planes, informational and study skills, vocabulary, penmanship, country research and more! It has been a busy week. We are currently collecting spare change for Malawi Children’s Village. The money will be presented at our Peace Concert on February 28. There will also be a chance for families to donate and bid on desserts at the Peace Concert Dessert Auction. It has been wonderful to see the spirit of generosity from your children as they bring in their money and how they are excited to help the children of Malawi. Congratulations to Kylan and Margaux for doing a fantastic job representing Room 177 in the Spelling Bee yesterday. They both showed great poise and courage as they both did very well. Margaux took second place! I was also very proud of the rest of the class that sat through the entire Spelling Bee (About 90 minutes) as we cheered our representatives on. Well done Room 177! Please remember that there is no school on Monday, February 18 in honor of Presidents’ Day. The rest of the week is full days as conferences were cancelled due to the November 30 earthquake. 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

Friday, February 8, 2019

Friday, February 8, 2019 Dear Parents, We have had some wonderful field trips this week with “Stone Soup and Other Stories” and ice fishing at Jewel Lake. I appreciate all the chaperones that could make these trips happen! Your children have been great representatives of Denali Montessori and Room 177! They have been attentive, polite, and kind on all our trips! I am very proud of them! This week the students have been studying conjunctions and interjections in grammar, contractions, geometry, practicing math facts, reading, writing friendly letters, journaling, studying positions of lines and angles in geometry, reading comprehension and activities, equivalent volume measurements (gallon, quart, pint and cups), informational and study skills, vocabulary, penmanship, country research and more! It has been a busy week. We are currently collecting spare change for Malawi Children’s Village. The money will be presented at our Peace Concert in February. There will also be a chance for families to donate and bid on desserts at the Peace Concert Dessert Auction. On Thursday, February 14 we will have a valentine exchange and small party in the afternoon. If your child wishes to participate in the exchange, he/she must bring a valentine for each student. I have provided a list of Room 177 names on the back of the newsletter. 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 Valentine Class List Room 177 Mackenzie Yunie Tressa Sean Colin Jet Dimerius Ginger Colton Amelia Alaina Aveyona Charlie Matti Jacob Jaden Raina Piper Nico Holden Kira Kylan Margaux Soren Tristan Mrs. R. Mr. Moyer

Friday, February 1, 2019

Dear Parents, On Monday, February 4 we will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Stone Soup and Other Stories”. We will leave at 9:20 and should be back about 11:30. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 9:00. This should be a fun learning experience. Thursday, February 7, we will be taking a bus to Jewel Lake to go ice fishing! We will leave about 9:20 and should be back about 11:30. I still need one more chaperone in order to make this trip happen. Students will need to be dressed for the weather in order to attend. Hats, gloves, boots, a warm coat, and snow pants will make this trip more enjoyable for your child. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 9:00. Thank you for your support and allowing us to make these trips happen! This week the students have been studying prepositions, classification, geometry, practicing math facts, reading, writing friendly letters, journaling, studying positions of lines and angles in geometry, learning about the scientific method, reading comprehension and activities, measurement, informational and study skills, vocabulary, penmanship, and more. We are currently collecting spare change for Malawi Children’s Village. The money will be presented at our Peace Concert in February. There will also be a chance for families to donate and bid on desserts at the Peace Concert Dessert Auction. On Thursday, February 14 we will have a valentine exchange and small party in the afternoon. If your child wishes to participate in the exchange, he/she must bring a valentine for each student. I have provided a list of Room 177 names on the back of the newsletter. 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 Valentine Class List Room 177 Mackenzie Yunie Tressa Sean Colin Jet Dimerius Ginger Colton Amelia Alaina Aveyona Charlie Matti Jacob Jaden Raina Piper Nico Holden Kira Kylan Margaux Soren Tristan Mrs. R. Mr. Moyer

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Dear Parents, Please put Monday, February 4 from 9:20-11:30 on your calendar. We will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Stone Soup and Other Stories”. That same week on Thursday, February 7, we will be taking a bus to Jewel Lake to go ice fishing! We will leave about 9:30 and should be back about 11:30. I sent permission slips in last week’s folder and have put them in again for those that have not returned them. This week the students have been studying adverbs, classification, geometry, practicing math facts, reading, writing friendly letters, journaling, learning about the scientific method, reading comprehension and activities, measurement, penmanship, and more. Our class has also been working with Junior Great Books instructor, Kriko, this week helping the Lower Elementary teachers become more comfortable with the program. The students have been reading “Jack and the Beanstalk” and participating in various activities to increase comprehensions skills, questioning, analyzing the text, and more. The students have been fantastic! They are truly an incredible group to work with and it has been fun to share them with the other teachers this week. We have learned a lot from them! We are currently collecting spare change for Malawi Children’s Village. The money will be presented at our Peace Concert in February. There will also be a chance for families to donate and bid on desserts at the Peace Concert Dessert Auction. On Thursday, February 14 we will have a valentine exchange and small party in the afternoon. If your child wishes to participate in the exchange, he/she must bring a valentine for each student. I have provided a list of Room 177 names on the back of the newsletter. 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 Valentine Class List Room 177 Mackenzie Yunie Tressa Sean Colin Jet Dimerius Ginger Colton Amelia Alaina Aveyona Charlie Matti Jacob Jaden Raina Piper Nico Holden Kira Kylan Margaux Soren Tristan Mrs. R. Mr. Moyer

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Dear Parents, Happy New Year! I hope you all had a healthy and happy holiday season. The students seem eager to be back and are resuming their working routines. I’m looking forward to a great second semester! I have sent second quarter report cards home in today’s folder. I met with all the students before the break and had them evaluate their own behavior marks. I was impressed how self-aware and honest the students were with their assessments. 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. I sent homework for this Friday’s spelling test on Monday and we have been working on them in the classroom as well. I have attached a copy of these words to the back of this newsletter. This is a list of words that all students should be able to spell every time they write by the end of third grade. I have given them to everyone so they can see where they are at this time. These are also great words to practice reading quickly to improve their reading speed and accuracy. I have next week’s homework in today’s folder. Please put Monday, February 4 from 9:20-11:30 on your calendar. We will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see Alaska Junior Theater’s “Stone Soup and Other Stories”. That same week on Thursday, February 7, we will be taking a bus to Jewel Lake to go ice fishing! We will leave about 9:30 and should be back about 11:30. I will send home permission slips in next week’s folder. This week the students have been studying adverbs, guide words, alphabetical order, geometry, practicing math facts, reading, writing friendly letters, journaling, learning about the scientific method, reading comprehension and activities, measurement, penmanship, and more. It is great to be back working with your children! 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