Ptarmigan Elementary School

Dear Ptarmigan Families,

Ready or not here comes 2024! We had a busy 2nd Quarter with choir concerts, a student talent show, spirit days, a movie night, and a school wide sing along. In the midst of all the activities, our teachers still focused on academics and the majority of our students improved academically in either their mClass or MAP assessments.

3rd quarter will start on January 8th, 2024. The first week returning from winter break, we will celebrate many academic and attendance accomplishments during our 2nd Quarter Awards Assembly on January 11th. 3PK and 3rd Grade-5th Grade students will have their assembly starting at 9:15am and the K—2nd Grade assembly will start at 10:15am. Classroom teachers will share with families if your student is receiving a special recognition.

The Ptarmigan student council is planning some fun schoolwide activities. Please watch either the school and/or classroom newsletters or our school Facebook page for upcoming events.

January 18th from 5pm-7pm will be our next Family Night. Our staff is preparing some academically focused activities on the importance of reading.

In closing, I would like to request families take a little time to fill out a certificated staff input form. The following weblink will take you to links where you can provide input on teachers and/or administrators. https://www.asdk12.org/input

I hope you all have a restful winter break and we look forward to seeing you on January 8th for the start of Quarter 3.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Ramey

Ptarmigan Elementary Principal

December 23rd - January 5th, 2024:

• NO SCHOOL. Winter Break.

• Quarter 3 Begins

• Quarter 2 Awards Assemblies.
1. PK, 3rd Grade - 5th Grade @ 9:15am
   
2. Kindergarten - 2nd Grade @ 10:15am
   

• Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. NO SCHOOL.

January 18th, 2024:

• Family Night: Reading Theme @ 5pm-7pm.

As we have reached our midpoint in the school year and our Winter Break, I thought this would be a great time to encourage families to take advantage of the next two weeks ‘off’ to check-in with your trusted health care providers for any needed immunizations, vision/hearing checks, dental issues or other ‘appointments’ that might otherwise require a missed school day.

It is ALWAYS helpful to share any yearly exams for vision or hearing/ENT with the school nurse, as we can often use those to update our records for required screenings. This will also ensure that kiddos are ready to learn when they return on January 8th – and have all the tools needed to be successful!

While I will not be in the building over the break, I will be checking email regularly. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s immunization recommendations, hearing/vision screenings, or any related resources - I would be happy to reach out via email over the break. If there are any new changes (medication or provider recommendations) or concerns for the coming year, I am available to troubleshoot via email and can forward any required forms or documents.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone in the New Year and hope you each can celebrate the season surrounded by those you love!

Julie Craft DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Ptarmigan Nurse

907 742-0417

craft_julie@asdk12.org

Ptarmigan Families,

Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful break. Below are some updates from the Ptarmigan library.

Overdue OR Lost Library Books: If your student has an overdue or lost library book, they have some choices. They can look for the book and try to find it, donate a new book to the library, or do a chore to give back to our library. These options allow students the choice and the opportunity to take responsibility. Chores may include sharpening pencils, helping put books back, stamping new books, etc. Each week, as students check out new books, I let each student know if they still have something out that needs to be returned.

Open Library: Just a reminder open library is Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:00-9:30. This is a time students can come down to return books, ask questions and look for new books.

Martin Luther King JR Day is Monday, January 15th. Schools will be closed this day. Students will learn where to locate the biographies on Martin Luther King JR.

Update: No Book Fair in February: Instead of doing a Scholastic Book Fair in February, we will instead host a free book event during the February parent teacher conferences. During the February Parent Teacher Conferences, please stop by the library and pick up some free books for your student.

Mrs. Alyson Giammalva

Teacher-Librarian

giammalva_alyson@asdk12.org

** Please read the attached AK Safe Children's Act Letter. Note that if you do NOT want your child to receive the instruction under the Alaska Safe Children’s Act, you must write a letter to the school principal requesting that your child be excused from these specific lessons.

Mary joined Ptarmigan this year and is super excited to work with an incredible team teacher, Ms Canada, who has been super welcoming & helpful during this transition! This is her second teaching position in ASD after substitute teaching nearly full-time since 2009 (with a couple year sabbatical where she worked with adults & came dashing back to elementary teaching!). Fun fact, she was going to become a middle school science teacher but reconsidered that decision. Favorite things to do include quilting, crocheting, baking & hanging out in bleachers watching her granddaughter's sporting events!

Happy New Year! With this new year, new things are happening in the music room. The second term of Choir starts on January 16th. All third through fifth grade students who like to sing are encouraged to join. We rehearse Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:00-8:50.

Come to the awards ceremonies on January 11th. Our talented third graders will be singing “Wave of Kindness”. A great positive song to start off the year. Our equally talented first graders in Mrs. Cain and Mrs. Shelton’s class will be singing, dancing and playing instruments to “Sitting on The Tundra”. Hope to see you there.

Fifth graders will be exploring lesson from the Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute as they prepare for their field trip “The Orchestra Moves” in February.

“By any definition, music moves. As organized sound, music moves through time and space from high to low, creating patterns and motifs. Composers and performers use expressive qualities to move us emotionally”. (as stated in Link up)

Fourth and Third graders will be drumming to all kinds of music this quarter. The coordinated physical movement necessary for playing percussion instruments helps wire the brain for higher level thinking. It is also fun and helps us express our emotions.

Our youngest musicians are listening to various types of music and recognizing the sound of instruments they are playing. We are performing singing games from a variety of cultures and singing lots of different types of songs.

May this new year bring new experiences with new music! Step outside your musical box and try something …..new!

Mrs. Benton

Classroom Music Specialist

Margo Bellamy (President), Carl Jacobs (Vice President), Dora Wilson (Clerk), Kelly Lessens (Treasurer), and Members: Dave Donley, Pat Higgins, and Andy Holleman.

ASD Superintendent Dr. Jharrett Bryantt.

Ptarmigan Elementary School

888 Edward St.

Anchorage, AK. 99504

Phone: (907) 742-0400

Fax: (907) 742-0425

To Leave a Message on the Attendance Line: (907) 566-0400