Paul Banks Elementary

Dear Paul Banks Families,

As the days get shorter, our days just get brighter at Paul Banks! October was a terrific month in so many ways. Our reading challenge was so much fun. My lunch time conversations with students about how much and what they were reading along with morning prize collections were a daily highlight. Even more importantly, our students are making awesome progress with their reading. Just the other day, I watched kindergarten classes sounding out words and first grade classes reading books to one another and our second grade classes diving into chapter books. Watching the process of students learning to read is such an opportunity for celebration.

October offered many other highlights. State troopers read to our kindergarten and first grade students and also introduced them to Lavi, the K-9 officer. Our first grade students went on a field trip to the Anchor River to participate in the annual Anchor River egg take as part of the “Salmon in the Classroom” program. Second graders walked the Calvin and Coyle Trail and wrote their quarterly writing assignment about their adventures. We welcomed McNeil and Fireweed K-2 students for another concert; we all enjoyed Quarteto Nuevo. Parent teacher conferences are always a highlight for all of us and that was certainly true this year. We also can’t thank our PTA enough for all of their efforts to make the Book Fair such a success.

As we move into the month of November, a time of thanks, I want to thank you all for what you do everyday to prepare your kids for school. Every day I get to welcome them as they come to school and their enthusiasm is just dynamite. Bravo to you all for the most important job you have-being the best parent you can.

Have a wonderful November! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions, concerns or celebrations.

All the best,

Sean Campbell

Friday 11/3: Sprout 1st Friday Playgroup @ 9:30

Wednesday 11/8: Spotlight Student Assembly

Thursday 11/9: Early Release (dismissal is 90 minutes early)

Friday 11/10: Vacation Day, No School

Tuesday 11/14: PTA Meeting @ 6pm

Wednesday 11/15: Education Support Professionals Day!

Wednesday 11/22: Spotlight Student Assembly

Thursday - Friday 11/23-24: Thanksgiving Holiday, no school

Wednesday 11/29: Coffee with PTA & Principal @ 7:30am

• Site Council Meeting- 3:30pm

Mark Your Calendars:

Thursday 12/7: Winter Concert "A Holiday Moosical" 12:30pm @ HHS Mariner Theatre

Breakfast is $2.50 (free if your child is approved for free/reduced meals) and lunch is $3.50 (or $.40 for students who qualify for reduced meal pricing). If interested in free/reduced meals, please apply online (http://mealapp.kpbsd.org/ ). Families need to reapply every year. If you would like to add money to your child's lunch account, you can bring cash/check (made out to SNS), sign in and add money through PowerSchool SIS (Lunch Planner), or you can set up an account and pay online- https://kpbsd.revtrak.net/paul-banks-es/.

Please share your feedback with us.

• School survey
• School district surveys (school, principal and teacher surveys available)
• Feel welcome to email, call or stop by too

Please make sure to send your child with appropriate winter gear every day! It is also a good idea to have a change of clothes for them at school in case they need it. If you are in need of any gear, we have some from our Gear Drive, so please stop by the office.

• We welcome family members to volunteer in their child's classroom. Please reach out to your child's teacher.
• We also welcome family members to join their child for lunch. Please check in with the office beforehand.
• School district volunteer application and substitute application.

Next PTA Meeting is November 14th @ 6pm. Childcare and pizza are provided.

• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - Judith Viorst

• Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

• A Bear Called Paddington - Michael Bond

• The BFG - Roald Dahl

• The Borrowers - Mary Norton

• The Cat in the Hat - Dr. Suess

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

• Charlotte’s Web - E.B. White

• A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Judi Barrett

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

• Fantastic Mr. Fox - Roald Dahl

• The Great Mouse Detective - Eve Titus

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Dr. Suess

• How to Train Your Dragon - Cressida Cowell

• The Invention of Hugo Cabret (movie Hugo) - Brian Selznick

• James and the Giant Peach - Roald Dahl

• The Little House (series) - Laura Ingalls Wilder

• The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

• Madeline - Ludwig Bemelmans

• Mary Poppins - P.L. Travers

• Matilda - Roald Dahl

• The Night at the Museum - Milan Trenc

• Nim’s Island - Wendy Orr

• Polar Express - Chris Van Allsburg

• Ramona and Beezus - Beverly Cleary

• The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

• The Story of Ferdinand - Munro Leaf

• Stuart Little - E.B. White

• The Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Beatrix Potter

• The Trumpet of the Swan - E.B. White

• Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak

• Winnie the Pooh - A.A. Milne

• The Wizard of Oz - L. Frank Baum

Click here for a link to Libby with access to free audiobooks and digital books. All you need to start using Alaska Digital Library is a valid library card, your account's PIN (password), and an internet-enabled device.

Winter is coming!

Cold weather is coming. To stay safe and warm, children need to wear proper winter gear. The school policy is to have the students go outside for recess unless the temperature goes below -10 degrees F. Your student should be coming to school prepared to spend 30 minutes outside. Also, please send a change of clothes as accidents do happen; we want everyone warm and dry.

When to Stay Home from School

Stay home if symptoms include:

● Active vomiting or diarrhea

● Fever, chills, generalized body aches. (Fever threshold will constitute 100.0

degrees Fahrenheit or higher without use of fever-reducing medication like

Tylenol or Ibuprofen.)

● Taking the first 24 hours of antibiotic treatment

● An undiagnosed, new and/or untreated rash or skin condition/drainage from eyes to include waking with eyes crusted shut.

When to Return to School After Illness:

● May return when fever-free for 24 hours without medication

● May return after taking antibiotics for 24 hours

● May return after free from vomiting for 24 hours

● May return after free from Diarrhea(2 or more bouts) for 24 hours

Please feel free to call or stop in…I am always available for help and/or questions.

Nurse Kim

907-226-1826

Principal - Sean Campbell

Secretary - Katy Countiss

Phone: 907-226-1801

Fax: 907-235-8163

Paul Banks Website

KPBSD Website

Facebook (a great resource to see our school in action on a daily basis)