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Wolf Pup Weekly
Woodriver Issue #15 - 1/12/24
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A WORD FROM MR. GUY
Hello Wolf Pup parents!
Welcome to the second half of the school year! The second half of the year is always packed with events, information, and activities. Third-fifth graders are currently doing MAP testing, which is an assessment we use to ensure that our instruction is working, and kids are learning what we are teaching. MAP testing takes about 4-6 hours, as we test in three different areas, with each test lasting anywhere from 40 minutes to several hours, depending on the student. In addition to using the data to check for student learning, we also look at students who are significantly behind, to see if there is additional support we can offer them here at school.
The PTA is meeting from 6-7 pm in our library on Tuesday, January 16th. I will be going over the reading testing results for our K-3 grade students, and discussing the district’s budget and timelines for when decisions are going to be made to balance our deficit. Right now, our district is looking at a 20-28 million dollar deficit. Anchorage district is facing a 95 million dollar shortfall. While some think that is because our overall enrollment has decreased, that is just a very small part of the deficit. Most of the deficit is due to inflation without any increases in funding over the last decade. More to come after February 1st.
We continue to look for substitute teachers, as well as an Alaska Native Education Tutor and a SPED tutor. If you are interested in any of those positions, please call Jenna Norris at the Woodriver office.
Many people contacted the school with questions about the letters that went out regarding the new Alaska Reads Act law, specifically around the idea of retention. For any student who is not at benchmark, the state requires schools to discuss the possibility of retention with parents. I want to put your mind at ease. Your child will only be retained if you want them to be retained. We will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of retention, and you can make a decision about what you think will be best for your child. If you have questions or concerns, please contact me and I will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Also, don't forget, there is no school on Monday! Enjoy the long weekend!
REPORT CARDS
UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Dear Students, Parents, Guardians, and Family Members:
You are cordially invited to participate in Woodriver’s annual Science Fair.
Please pick up a Science Fair packet from the office or download a PDF version from Woodriver’s
Science Fair website at the link below.
The Science Fair is an opportunity for all students to learn more about science by investigating a
student selected topic of interest and completing a project. Families and siblings are encouraged to
work together. Project entries are categorized into six major divisions: Experiment, Demonstration,
Science Report, Science Collection, Invention, and Computer Coding. Please visit our school’s Science Fair website via the link below for links to hundreds of Science Fair project ideas.
The students will complete a traditional tri-board display. Tri-board Science Fair projects need to be brought to Woodriver’s MPR for display, before school (8:30 to 9:15 AM) on Thursday, February 29th. The students will need to pick up their displays on Friday, March 1st, after school, at 3:45 PM.
The Science Fair is an incredible opportunity to explore a topic of interest and share your findings
with the entire school and community. Everyone is strongly encouraged to participate. All
participants will receive a certificate, participant ribbon, and a button. Winners will be selected in
each category and they will receive ranked ribbons. The top contestants will advance to the Interior
Alaska Science Fair competition, held at Pioneer Park, March 20th to 23rd.
If you are interested in participating in the Science Fair, please pick up a Science Fair packet from
the office, complete the application in the packet, and submit it to the Science Fair collection
envelope, located at the office, by Friday, February 2nd. Thank you.
We need judges for the projects. Judging will occur on Thursday, February 29th from 9:30 AM to 1
PM. Please complete and return the attached form below if you can volunteer as a judge. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Kinder, Science Fair Coordinator
rob.kinder@k12northstar.org (907) 479-4211 ext. 47016
All students enrolled in an FNSBSD-affiliated institution are invited to submit one piece of art made at home or in school, which will be featured at the Bear Gallery during the month of March!
Artwork may be any of the following media: painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, print, mixed media, jewelry, fiber, and photography.
Community judges will name five awardees in each of the three below categories:
- Imagination: Where does your imagination take you? What kind of creatures, worlds, and things can you create in your mind? Is there an alternative world you’d like to go to, a fantastical animal you made up, or a crazy dinner you imagine your family eating?
- Stories: How can you tell a story or create a scene in your art? Are you inspired by movies, stories, or comic books? How could you recreate a favorite memory with your friend, a scene from a story you read, or imagine something you’d like to happen?
- Connection: What connections and relationships are important in your life? How do you connect with your community? Do you like spending time with your neighbors, classmates, or pets?
2024 NAACP Black History Month Contest
The local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the FNSBSD are proud to sponsor the 2024 Black History Month Contest. We invite all K-12 students to participate in this annual contest. This contest is an opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge, encourage the study of Black History, and show excellence in creativity. View the details by clicking the link below.
Entry submission deadline is Friday, March 1, 2024.
PTA UPDATES
You can also attend via Zoom!
Click the link below to join!
Meeting ID: 834 2541 7640 Passcode: 865832
REMINDERS
Newly Released School Visitor Guidelines
ALASKA READS ACT
Reading Update for K-3 Families | Alaska Reads Act
Reading is a critical skill to access learning in all areas and is known to increase success, satisfaction, and health across an individual's lifetime. It is vital that we put every effort into helping children learn to read at a developmentally appropriate rate along with their peers. At our schools we are making efforts to ensure children who need extra help receive it along the way. Parents are vital partners in this effort, and we value your support and insight into your child.
Recently, students in elementary schools participated in mid-year benchmark assessments to measure their progress in reading. Students in K-3 completed mClass for Reading and students in grades 3-5 took MAP for Reading and MATH. These results will be shared with parents during Parent-Teacher Conferences in February.
Under the Alaska Reads Act, school districts are required to inform parents if their child has any reading deficiencies 45 days before the end of the school year.
At the February Parent-Teacher Conferences, teachers will share important information regarding parent or guardian rights and responsibilities regarding student grade level placement. The state allows parents or guardians to make the determination, once, to hold their K-3 grade child back, or repeat a grade, if they are below or well below grade level in reading based on the benchmark testing. Parents also have the right to decide to move their child on to the next grade with their peers.
Your input is necessary and valuable at the February Parent-Teacher Conferences. Please expect to see communication coming soon from your childs’ school. We encourage you to participate in the conferences and learn more about this important learning decision for your child.
EDUCATION BUDGET
A MESSAGE FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT
Dear Students, Families, and Staff,
I hope this letter finds you well and filled with the excitement that comes with the beginning of a new semester. I trust that the winter break provided an opportunity for rest, rejuvenation, and quality time with loved ones. Now, as we return to school, let us approach the upcoming semester with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. Whether you are a returning student or a new member of our school community, we are thrilled to have you back with us.
As we embark on the second semester, I am excited to emphasize that our three primary goals will continue to guide our efforts and shape the educational experience for every student in our district. Improved literacy rates, increased attendance, and the cultivation of a positive school culture and climate remain at the forefront of our mission. We firmly believe that parents and guardians play a pivotal role in achieving these objectives. Your active involvement and collaboration with our educators are instrumental in fostering a love for reading, promoting regular attendance, and contributing to the positive atmosphere within our schools. Together, as partners in education, we can create an environment where students not only excel academically but also feel supported, engaged, and inspired to reach their full potential.
The Alaska legislative session starts this month, and we will be asking for your support in advocating for increased educational funding. Our school district is confronting an unprecedented deficit of $28 million due to the state not allocating a meaningful base student allocation (BSA) for the last eight years. This is a financial challenge that, if not addressed, will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences. This deficit poses a threat to the very fabric of our educational system, potentially resulting in increased class sizes, the reduction or elimination of vital programs, the looming possibility of school closures, and the unfortunate prospect of hundreds of jobs being lost.
The impact on our students, educators, and the overall community is significant, and your advocacy can make a difference. We encourage you to stay informed and engaged as more details about the district’s proposed budget becomes available in early February.
Your voice matters, and together, we can work towards securing the resources necessary to maintain the quality of education our students deserve. Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to the future of our schools.
Dr. Luke Meinert
FNSBSD Superintendent
A NOTE ON ATTENDANCE
Please help us reach our attendance goals
Every Day Counts! | Attendance Matters
Regular school attendance means students attend school in-person for 90% or more of the school year. Our district's goal for attendance is to increase the overall percentage of students attending school to 90% or more. That means:
Students miss fewer than 17 days of school throughout the entire year OR
No more than two days per month on average
This includes excused absences.
DID YOU KNOW....
We record absences and tardies differently depending on the reason? An absence due to illness or Dr. appt is recorded differently than an absence because of a family trip or event. And there is also a difference between a tardy and an early pick-up, and a half day AM or PM absence. Also, if your student is tardy, and you do not walk them in and fill out a tardy slip, or call the office, their tardy is coded unexcused.
We know students who attend school regularly see more opportunities for success and we want to partner with you to support you in making sure your student has access to whatever they need to get to school on time every day! Parents, please be mindful of appointment times, late check-ins and early check-outs to help our students be at school every day, and ready to learn the Wolf pup way!
Attendance Matters! #AlldayEveryday
AVAILABLE FAMILY RESOURCES
Bright Futures Fairbanks | Student Support Services
We firmly believe that every child in our community deserves an equal opportunity to succeed. Unfortunately, many of them come to school without the basic necessities that most people often take for granted, such as food, school supplies, and winter gear.
If your family needs assistance in any of these ways, please reach out to Bright Futures Fairbanks by following the link below.
Our Social Emotional Learning & Prevention department is fully committed to supporting and uplifting our community. Our primary aim is to effectively identify and align local resources, with the ultimate goal of overcoming challenges and barriers faced by students in our district.
Through collaboration, we can ensure that every child's basic needs are fulfilled. Let us be the bridge that brings positivity and support to those who need it the most.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
An online application for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is now available. Alaska SNAP provides food benefits to low-income households. The new online application is a “smart form,” streamlining the process and the amount of time it takes to complete the form by only populating fields that the applicant needs based on their responses. Learn more about SNAP by clicking below.
SCHOOL LUNCH MENU
SchoolCafe/Free & Reduced Meal Applications | Nutrition Services
SchoolCafe/Free & Reduced Meal Applications | Nutrition Services
If you previously had a free and reduced meal application processed and feel your children might qualify for a better meal eligibility, please complete a new meals application by clicking the link below, and send the following information to foodservice@k12northstar.org:
- Income documentation for the prior 30 days
- Student(s) names and meal application number (if completed online)
*With the new calendar year, the 2023 PFD value is required by the USDA to be used when calculating household income on the meals application.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
BECOME A SUBSTITUTE!
LEARN AT HOME!
Want to access Classlink at home?
When your student puts in their username, please note that you will have to add the "@student.k12northstar.org". School computers do this automatically, so that is the most common problem families have at home
BUS INFO
There has been a lot of concern over late buses and finding out when students will be home. If you have concerns you would like to share, please call Durham at 1(907)206-7789. This number can also be called for Dispatch if you would like to get an ETA on a route.
If you cannot get ahold of Durham, please call the transportation dept at (907)452-2000 ext 11351
There are a few tools available to help as well: One is to set up email notifications for late buses. Directions to set that up are below.
The other tool is a new system the district has set up that is a live bus tracking service. This allows you to see where the bus is along the route, the time it arrived at each stop, and even if the doors opened at the stop.
you can use this service at http://busroutes.k12northstar.org
Click on your school (Woodriver is WRV - Ryan is RYN), and then on the route you would like to view.
There are additional instructions on how to use it at: https://www.k12northstar.org/cms/lib/AK01901510/Centricity/Domain/1159/Bus%20Route%20Tracker_2023-09-06.pdf
Please note: Special Education buses are not listed on the live tracker. Please call Durham Dispatch or the transportation department with questions/concerns about those routes
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES
CLUBS
AM Fitness
Grades K-5
Rom: Gym | Mon-Fri 8:45-9:15
Handwork CLub
HANDWORK CLUB IS FULL
$60/ QuarterGrades 3-5
Rm: 6 | Tues/Thurs 8:30-9:15
There are only 12 spots in this club. First come first serve, and spot must be paid for to reserve.
Game Club
Grades 2-5
Rm: 16 | Tuesdays 8-9:15
3rd Grade math tutor
3rd grade only
Room 16 | Thursdays 8:30-9:15
Band Club
5th grade
Band Room | Wed or Fri
STEM Club
NO STEM CLUB 3rd QUARTER!
$25/Quarter
Grades 3-5
Room 16 | Wednesdays 8:00-9:15am
There are only 25 spots in this club. Lottery is held to determine selection. Those not selected will be placed on a waitlist.
DISTRICT SCHOOL CALENDAR
IMPORTANT DATES
January
Jan 15 - Holiday | No School
Jan 22 | Early Dismissal @ 2:15
February
Feb 19-20 - Parent Teacher Conferences | No School
Feb 21 - Teacher Professional Development | No School
Welcome to Woodriver Elementary School
OFFICE HOURS: 8:45-4:15
SCHOOL HOURS 9:15 - 3:45
Email: nicole.wells@k12northstar.org
Website: www.k12northstar.org/woodriver
Location: 5000 Palo Verde Ave
Phone: 907-479-4211