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