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SUNDOG HOWLER
Shaw Sundog Newsletter Vol 24.32
Quote of the Week: 4/8-4/12
"Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves."
~Abraham Lincoln
Spring Concert
Mrs. West and the Sundog Musicians are excited to put on a show for you at our annual Spring Concert. Band, choir, and strings will perform for the student body at 2:00pm on Tuesday, April 16th, which is our musicians "dress rehearsal". The performers will be back for a parent/family performance at 6:00pm on that same day (Tuesday, 4/16). We hope to see you there.
Science Night Title 1 Event
District Chess Champions
Congratulations to the Sundog Chess Team for winning the district tournament again this year. Way to go! There were seven Sundogs who finished in the top 20 and 4 finishing in the top 10. A huge thank you to Mr. McLain for coaching the team up this year.
Top 10 Finishers:
8th Rory Warner
7th Lucas Branham
4th Alan Nashold
3rd Wyatt Day
AK STAR Assessment
Our students worked hard on the AK STAR Math Assessment this week and will take the AK STAR ELA Assessment next week. Please help your child get a good night of rest and a healthy breakfast. This will assist your child do his or her best on the assessment.
Spring Smells
As we roll into warmer weather outside gear will begin to have a nasty smell. I would encourage families to have their kids bring home their gear to be washed each week. The melting snow and thawing ground brings about some nastiness and with over 500 kids in the school, it does get a little ripe. Thanks
Middle School Orientation for 5th Grade
Teeland Middle School
- Parent Orientation 5:00-6:00pm on Wednesday, April 3rd @ Teeland
- Students attending TMS visit the morning of April 3rd
Colony Middle School
- Parent Orientation was Monday the 25th, hopefully you were able to attend
- Students attending CMS visit Monday, April 15th
Palmer Junior Middle School
- Parent Orientation 6:00pm on Friday, May 3rd
- Parents are asked to call PJMS to set-up a student visit
Wasilla Middle School
- Parent Orientation at 6:00pm on Thursday, April 25th
- Parents can take students to visit at 1:15pm on April 25th
Kindergarten Night
Do you have an incoming kindergarten student next year? Do you know someone who does? See below and share with future Sundog families.
What: Welcome to Kindergarten Night
Where: Shaw Elementary School
When: Wednesday, April 24th
Time: 5:30-6:30pm
Who: Families with incoming kindergarten students
Teacher Requests
It's that time of the year again Sundog Families. We will be planning for next school year and conducting student placements on April 26th. If you plan to request a teacher for next year you'll need to submit a letter directly to me outlining the reason for the request. You should outline your child's learning style and the style of teacher you're requesting your child to be with. Requests will not be accepted after class lists have been made due to the amount of time and effort put into placements.
How do we conduct class placements on DRAFT Day?
The sending grade level teachers, receiving grade level teachers, special education teachers, any other support staff, and myself are all present in the room when placements occur. We start with 4th to 5th grade, move onto 3rd to 4th grade, etc. until all students are placed for next school year. Each student is discussed at length before a placement is determined. We talk about learning style, academic strengths, behavior, etc. to determine placement. In the end we go over each class again to ensure we have created balanced heterogeneous classrooms. This process is very time consuming but well worth the effort.
Next Year's Teachers (subject to change)
Kindergarten:
Kathleen Hanson
Maija Fritts
Lauren Casey
1st Grade:
Lori Jordan
Leighann Woodall
Lizy Stocker
2nd Grade:
David Corneliussen
Sammy Artz
Lisa Kelsey
3rd Grade:
Erin Miller
Julia Hamman
Erin Clark
Lexie Hickle
4th Grade:
Jaime Bodle
Bailey Moyer
Keith Macy
5th Grade: (kids see every teacher like a middle school)
John Cox-Science
Sonja Mackey-Math
Janet McLain-ELA
Geo Airlines Activity
We are writing you today to extend an invitation to all kids and their families in MSBSD to attend Geo Airlines on the evening of April 22nd 5-8pm, an event hosted by the Mat-Su Student Advisory Board at Career Tech High School. This is an opportunity for students, specifically elementary aged, to learn about different cultures and explore new activities from around the world, traveling from classroom to classroom with a makeshift passport to mark their travels. Each wing of the high school will be designated as a specific continent and the classrooms within will symbolize different countries, each decorated uniquely and containing crafts and games relevant to the native culture. Along with that, there will be different opportunities to collect prizes, one of which being a cake walk, managed by the Fundraising Committee.
See the flyer below.
Music Field Trip
Music students had a great time at their field trip to Anchorage to see the Broadway Musical, Aladdin. The show was incredible and students seemed to be very impressed. They also had a chance to have lunch at the 5th Avenue Mall. Thank you Mrs. West for organizing such a great field trip!
Math Masters
Lillian Chapman - kindergarten math master
Bjorn Schou - 1st grade math master
Arthur Coursey- 2nd grade math master
Whitley Eicher - 2nd grade math master
Ella Chebukin- 3rd grade math master
Vivienne Schulmire- 4th grade math master
Ember Anderson- 4th grade math master
Vova Ditlovich- 4th grade math master
Chandler Harrienger - Advanced math master
Jack Goss - Advanced math master
Carter Kincheloe - Advanced math master
Alayna Sandefur- 2X Advanced math master
Virtue of the Week
We focus on one virtue each week and emphasize that virtue throughout the week. Students will earn Sundog Tickets when they exhibit the week's virtue. Feel free to discuss this virtue with your child at home and find ways to acknowledge when s/he exhibits the virtue.
Students of the Week
Preschool:
Elizabeth Markos
Steven Estes
Kindergarten:
Harlow Serrano
Alex Link
Raegan Polis
1st Grade:
Kristoph Thorson
Max Stone
Sara Ditlovich
2nd Grade:
David Balitskiy
Sailor Sellers
Norah Quinn
3rd Grade:
Landen John
Jace Dawson
Audrey Lord
4th Grade:
Grady Loving
Ellie Baker
Grayson Gossett
5th Grade:
Fiona Kuebler
Free & Reduced Lunch Renewal
- Online applications can be accessed here https://www.schoolcafe.com/MSBSD
- Printable applications can be accessed here https://www.matsuk12.us/cms/lib/AK01000953/Centricity/shared/msbsd_forms/nutrition%20services/Household%20Application%20for%20Free%20and%20Reduced%20Price%20School%20Meals.pdf
AK STAR 2023 Info
The results from the Spring 2023 AK STAR administration are now available for you to view in ParentVUE if your child tested in Mat-Su in spring 2023. Directions on how to view these reports are attached as well as the AK STAR Family Guide to Assessment Reports. If you child tested in another district in Alaska in spring 2023, you will need to contact the previous district for results.
Please review the attached AK STAR Results Flyer to see the timeline from the Department of Education and early Development to understand the delay in releasing these results. You may also view Commissioner Bishop’s short video on Adopting New AK STAR Cut Scores here.
Title 1 Information
Title 1 meeting on Friday, April 12th at 8:30am to discuss next year's budget and school needs. We value your opinion and ideas. If you're unable to make it, feel free to share ideas with Megan Wang at megan.wang@matsuk12.us
Mark Your Calendar
April:
- Mon, 4/15: 5th Grade Orientation for those attending Colony Middle @ CMS 10:30am
- Tue, 4/16: AK STAR ELA Exam 3-5 Grades
- Tue, 4/16: Spring Concert (Band, Choir, Strings) 2:00pm students and 6:00pm parents
- Wed, 4/17: AK STAR ELA Exam 3-5 Grades
- Fri, 4/19: Science Title 1 Night 5:30-7:30pm
- Mon, 4/22: AK STAR ELA Make-up Exam 3-5 Grades
- Tue, 4/23: AK STAR ELA Make-up Exam 3-5 Grades
- Tue, 4/23: Josh the Otter Water Safety Presentation to Kindergarten
- Wed, 4/24: Welcome to Kindergarten Night for Incoming Kindergarten Families 5:30-6:30pm
- Thur, 4/25: Wasilla Middle School 5th Grade Parent Orientation 6:00pm
May:
- Fri, 5/3: Palmer Junior Middle School 5th Grade Parent Orientation 6:00pm
Contact Us
Website: http://matsuk12.us/jse
Location: 3750 East Paradise Lane Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone: (907) 352-0500