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Mission: Birchwood ABC promotes a positive Attitude, excellent Behavior, and a Commitment to lifelong learning.

Vision: Our commitment is to ensure all students receive a high quality education and to produce responsible students in a safe environment that values lifelong learning.

It's hard to believe that we are already in the midst of the holiday season and the end of the year is upon us. As always, we have a lot of exciting updates and important information to share with you.

Winter Break:

We would like to remind all families that winter break is just around the corner. School will be closed from December 20th to January 5th. School will resume on January 6th. We hope this break provides a wonderful opportunity for you and your family to relax, recharge, and enjoy quality time together. Please take note of any assignments or projects that need attention before the break begins.

Holiday Celebrations:

Our school has planned a variety of festive activities and celebrations throughout the month of December. These events include our choir performance at the Eagle River Town Square on December 6th at 6:45pm and the tree lighting ceremony will be at 5:30. We invite all families to join us in spreading joy and creating lasting memories during this special time of the year. Please check with your child’s teacher for classroom specific activities.

We will also have a choir concert on December 12th at 6pm at Birchwood in the gym, so we hope you will join us for that as well!

Winter Weather Reminder:

With winter/fall/spring or whatever this weather decides the season is to be, it's important to be prepared for inclement weather and for students to come to school dressed appropriately. In the event of school closures or delays due to weather conditions, notifications will be sent via our school communication channels. Please ensure that your contact information is up to date to receive timely updates.

Lastly, I want to extend my gratitude for your support and partnership in educating our future leaders! Your partnership is critical to the success of our students and our school community. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the school office.

Wishing you a joyful and peaceful holiday season!

Tammy Hershman M.Ed.

​Principal, Birchwood ABC

Compassion: Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.

• Dec 3 & 4, Winter MAP benchmark testing
• Dec 6, Movie day, Evening choir performance at Eagle River Town Square
• Dec 10, MClass testing
• Dec 10-13, Holiday market
• Dec 12, Choir Performance at 6pm
• Dec 18, Ugly Sweater day, After school X-country club
• Dec 19, Popcorn Friday on a Thursday
• Dec 20, No school for students!
• Happy Holidays!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

To celebrate our school community and the holiday season, Student Council is thrilled to sponsor snack packs for students who were unable to purchase one in time. This effort is made possible thanks to the generous donations from our families and the dedicated fundraising efforts of our Student Council members.

The movie, The Wild Robot, will be shown on Friday, December 6th, in the afternoon. Snacks included in the pack are Nerd Gummy Clusters, Small Kit Kat, Popcorn, and Ring Pop.

If you prefer for your child not to consume the snack provided by Student Council, please inform your child's classroom teacher.

We are so grateful for the support of our families and for the hard work of our Student Council, making this celebration inclusive and enjoyable for all!

Thank you,
Mrs. Turner
Student Council Advisor

After School Sports Club- JNYO

Our next sports club for the year will roll out in January.

The Junior Native Youth Olympic Club will be available for all 1st-5th grade students. Details, including registration forms, will be sent home later this month to interested students. Students have been introduced to some of these indigenous games during PE, so you may have discovered they are already “training” at home

There will be limited enrollment for this club and meet twice per week.

For much more general information about the club/activity, click https://sites.google.com/a/asdk12.net/birchwood-abc-pe/extracurricular/jnyo?authuser=0

Our school has been invited to participate in the Homestead Basketball Jamboree after school on Thursday, December 12th. They will use a 3 vs 3 format and play multiple “half court” games. Interested students will be invited to recess time “practices” where they will learn the rules used for this recreational event.

Students will self select their own teams with 4th and 5th grade playing together. 3rd graders are welcome to join, but will “play up”. If your child wants to play, but does not have a team, we will find one for them. We generally want 4 players on each team.

Recess practices for 3rd-5th grade will be Thursday Dec 5th, Friday Dec. 6th, and Thursday, Dec. 12th 11:25-11:55

Jamboree permission slip and waiver will be passed out at the first practice.

More info at birchwoodabcbball

Begin your November Activity Log Today! Due by Dec 4th

November is the FINAL month of the FALL CHALLENGE

Activity logs will not be passed out in PE as we try to encourage students to take on the responsibility of this task. Students may get logs from the media rack in front of the school office, from the folder as they exit school, print a log at home (click HERE) or my favorite is when they make their own log or calendar on a scratch sheet of paper.

After November, The next Healthy Future Challenge will begin in February, but students are always encouraged to continue logging activities throughout the year!

ENROLLMENT LIMITED

Who: 3rd through 5th grade (20 students)

When:Wednesdays, December 4, 11, 18

Time: 2:30-4:00

Where: At Birchwood ABC- Christy Loop Trail and Beach Lake trails

More Info- HERE ---------- Sign up- HERE

Starts Wednesday! Last call! Use the link above to sign up.

After school XC ski club is for students who are looking for a little more experience skiing and are excited to be outside during the Alaskan winter. Volunteers also welcome, sign up below too!

FREE this year. Ski equipment provided.

Students will receive a waiver to bring home to participate after signing up.

Canned Food Drive Results

Our total weight of donated canned food was 1800 pounds! Great job to our community for these donations! Thank you for your support!

SUPPORT BIRCHWOOD ABC STUDENT COUNCIL

We are proud to partner with Full Circle to offer you a unique and convenient way

to eat healthfully! With each delivery of fresh, organic produce and natural grocery

items you receive, Birchwood ABC Student Council will earn 12% back when you

add promo code “ABC” to your account.

Call for Containers

SAVE those plastic containers! Art Class will need around 250 large plastic containers for a lantern project in January. If you’re able to bring in rinsed, liter-sized plastic containers, Mrs. Turner would greatly appreciate it! She will be collecting until Winter Break.

Also, check out other fun projects at www.thelittleartistsroom.com, like the tissue paper lanterns featured below!

Stay Hydrated: Colder weather brings with it dry air and use of indoor heating which can contribute to dehydration. Please make it a habit to send a water bottle to school so your child can have easy access to water regularly throughout the day. Foods with high water content like cucumbers and oranges are also helpful. During cold, dry, months skin can also become very dry. Moisturizing skin with lotion after bathing will minimize itching from dryness. Use of lip moisturizers throughout the day can help prevent lip licking, cracking, and bleeding. Students may keep lip moisturizers in their backpacks for use throughout the day as long as it does not become a distraction.

Winter Nosebleeds: If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds it is likely from the dry air, and use of a cool mist humidifier at night may help. Saline nose drops and a little dab of petroleum jelly in their nostrils may help too.

Dress Appropriately: Proper clothing is key to staying warm and healthy during winter. Hats and gloves help prevent heat loss from the head and hands, which are particularly vulnerable to cold exposure. Check backpacks for beanies and gloves each afternoon to ensure they are able to dry out completely before the next school day.

Current Community Germs: Head colds, Strep, walking pneumonia, and a GI bug are prevalent right now. Please discuss cough etiquette at home (cough into an elbow) and encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water. Please be mindful of staff and classmates by keeping your child home for 24 hours after the last instance of vomiting, and for 24 hours after any fever over 100.4 without the use of fever reducing medication.

It’s that time of year—grab your art supplies, show off your Birchwood pride, and enter this year’s yearbook cover contest! Submissions are due by January 10, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to make your mark!

We’re looking for more volunteers to join us for the holiday market, where kids can shop for gifts for their loved ones. It’s a simple yet joyful task—helping them shop and wrapping their presents for them to take home all ready for the Holidays. Even an hour of your time makes a big difference!

We’re also hosting a Holiday Staff Appreciation Lunch on December 17th and would love contributions of soups, salads, rolls, or desserts. Drop-off your food between 7:45-9:30 AM.

Thank you for considering lending a hand during this joyful season. Your involvement makes our community shine! 🌟❤️

Warm Regards,

Becca, Julie, Jessica and Erin 🎅

Holiday Market

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054BA8AF2BA4F85-52565311-2024#/

Staff Appreciation Lunch

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054BA8AF2BA4F85-53334105-staff#/

Popcorn

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054BA8AF2BA4F85-51703200-popcorn#/

If your student is departing school early, please visit the front office to complete the sign-out process. In the event that your student is in a special (PE, Music, Library, Health/Art) during your arrival for pick-up, we request your cooperation in escorting them to their classroom to gather their belongings. After 2:15 pm, dismissal procedures will remain unchanged, unless it is an emergency situation. All end of the day phone messages must be made prior to 2:15.

Please note that office staff will not be calling students to the office before your arrival, so we appreciate your understanding and request that you allocate sufficient time in case of a short wait at the office. Thank you for your understanding and your cooperation. Our student’s safety is our top priority!

The BAC hopes all our families, students, teachers, and staff have a great winter break. Enjoy time spent gathering with friends and family, exchanging gifts, sharing meals, and in the Alaskan great outdoors. We look forward to seeing you upon our return to school.

Also, please connect with our Facebook page. To contact us, please email bacbirchwood@gmail.com.

Students may not be dropped off prior to 7:30AM for breakfast. Only breakfast students who are eating school served breakfast may enter the building at 7:30AM. Regular drop-off time is 7:50AM and no earlier than 7:40AM because there will be no adults outside to supervise prior to 7:40AM.