Paul Banks Elementary
September 2022
A Note From Our Principal
Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! Our first two weeks of school have been outstanding. It is so exciting to see kids exploring the alphabet and learning how to read, diving into the world of numbers and problem solving, and creating paintings and other artistic creations. Not to mention the friendships that are being formed. And this is only a snapshot of our days. Needless to say, our school is humming with learning.
As I mentioned at our Open House, one of our goals is to welcome families back into Paul Banks. In addition to bringing back family events, we hope that you will consider volunteering (link to begin process). This is such a tremendous opportunity to understand even more about your child’s learning while also supporting our teachers. Plus, it’s just precious to see kids learning how to read, painting beautiful pictures, creating projects and so much more.
One of the most important and profound learning experiences is learning to read. Our staff works each day to help students grow as readers, from learning sounds that letters and letter combinations make to practicing what good readers do: asking questions, making predictions, comprehending, and making connections. Recently, I read that one of the most effective things to do to help kids grow as readers is to immerse them in words and stories and books. I hope that you will do this at home. One outstanding resource to add to your own library is our public library, and their audiobooks can be a terrific resource (check out the Libby app where you can download audiobooks). As a parent, I have found that audiobooks are terrific for road trips or to help out with dinnertime.
This year we hope to continue building the outstanding partnership between Paul Banks and our families. Remember that you are always welcome. If you have any questions or feedback, please reach out. We want to make this year the best we can for your kids.
Sincerely,
Sean Campbell
Upcoming Dates
Monday, September 5th: No School
Wednesday, September 7th @ 3:30 pm: Site Council Meeting
Friday, September 9th: Early Release (bus dismissal @ 1:00pm)
Monday, September 12th @ 6 pm: School Board Meeting at Homer High School
Wednesday, September 14th @ 5 pm: Meet the Principal Listening Session
Wednesday, September 21st: Picture Day
Wednesday, September 21st: Child Find screenings
Friday, September 23d: Fall PTA Fundraiser Begins
Tuesday, October 4th @ 6 pm: PTA Meeting paulbankspta@gmail.com
Important Info
Parent Questionnaire: Please take a few minutes to complete this short three question survey about our school.
Drop off: Please remember to park if you plan to help your child out of your vehicle in the morning to avoid a logjam of cars in our drop off lane.
Rain gear: Though the rain has been nearly a daily occurrence, we still have succeeded in spending all but one recess outside and many trips to the outdoor classroom and forest. With that in mind, please help us out by having your son or daughter bring a rain jacket.
Bussing: KPBSD and Homer are experiencing some of the same bussing challenges as other communities in Alaska and the lower 48. Do know that our transportation department is working diligently to ensure that our bussing is as smooth as possible and appreciate your patience as they hire and train new drivers.
Bus Information
If interested in busing to or from school, contact Apple Bus Company: 235-0124. After you set up busing with them, please let us know so we can write a bus note.
Bus note information we need:
- What days your child will ride the bus home
- What bus (number) they will ride
- Where the bus stop is located
- The name & contact number for the person meeting the bus *Kindergarten aged students must be met by an adult or a sibling in the 4th grade or higher
