11/12/24 Trailside Parent News

Hello Trailside Families!

Other than the Thanksgiving Holiday, we will have 6 weeks of uninterrupted learning. This is a time where students are challenged in school with more difficult academic content and work expectations. I want to encourage all families to have children read while at home, to play outside in the snow, and to get plenty of rest in order to arrive at school on time each and every day.

The second mClass (k-3) and MAP (3-5) testing windows are quickly approaching in the beginning of December. Classrooms follow a tight schedule in order to have every student assessed. Schools use this important data point to help adapt and differentiate instruction.

Finally, after a few years, Trailside will restart the Swim/Boat Safety PE Unit for three weeks in December (Grades 3-5). Please see the important information below if you would like your 3-5th grade child participate in this wonderful opportunity.

Please read the important information below regarding the RAPTOR KIOSKS that will be installed in our front office.

Thank you!

Eric Niessner, Principal

Nov. 11, Monday- Student Release Professional Development Day

Nov. 21- Thursday Frog and Toad Evening Performance 6:30 PM- DON'T MISS IT!!!

Nov. 28-29- Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec. 2 mClass and MAP Testing Window Opens

Dec. 3-19- SWIM & Boat Safety PE Unit @SHS Pool for 3-5th Grades

Dec. 6- TWIN DAY

Dec. 12-26th- Canned Food Drive

Dec. 13- PJ Day

Dec. 19- Last day of 2nd Quarter.

Student Council News

The student council would like to thank all of the families who supported our fall fundraiser! The Fall Grams went over well and we look forward to our December "Snowman Soup" sales! More to come in December.

This week we are launching our Food Drive! Please consider sending in non-perishable food to help those in need. We will be collecting food Nov. 12th-Nov. 26th. All food items should go to classroom teachers so Student Cuncil can count them. The class with the most food brought in will get a frozen treat for the class. Last year, Trailside brought 997 pounds of food to the Food Bank. This year, our goal is over 1,000 pounds! Thank you for your support!

Spirit Fridays:

Nov. 15th- 80's day

Nov. 22nd- mustache day

Dec. 6th- twin day

Dec. 13th - PJ day

Trailside Student Council

As our secure entryway is now completed, all adults entering the building during dropoff or an early pickup will be required to sign into the office through a Raptor Kiosk.

Students are expected to walk to their classrooms in line with their teachers, by themselves (age appropriate) or escorted by a school staff member.

Thank you for your support in keeping Trailside safe for children.

Why is a districtwide visitor management system being implemented?

ASD is implementing a visitor management system (Raptor) during the 2024-2025 school year to aid in the standardization of visitor check-in procedures in all schools and add an extra layer of safety for students and staff. The Raptor visitor management system allows visitors, staff, and students to sign-in or sign-out using the self-service kiosk.

What are the benefits of the Raptor visitor management system?

• Quick and accurate visitor identity verification

• Enhanced ability to maintain a secure environment

• Accurate records of building occupants for emergency response purposes

When will Raptor visitor management kiosks be installed in schools?

The districtwide implementation of Raptor visitor management kiosks will begin in the fall of 2024 with additional schools being added each week. The rollout is expected to be completed by early spring semester. Schools will be contacted to determine the configuration and placement of the Raptor kiosk prior to scheduling installation.

How does this sign-in/sign-out process work for visitors?

ASD requires all visitors entering a school building during school hours to show government-issued ID and sign into the building. Visitors will sign-in/sign-out using the Raptor visitor management self-service kiosk. The visitor management system checks visitor name, date of birth, and the last four digits of the license number (the other digits are replaced with **). If two or more visitors have the same first name, last name, and date of birth, the system uses the last four digits of the license number to differentiate between them. Only the minimum data needed to accurately identify a visitor is collected (i.e., no address information, no Social Security Numbers, no physical characteristic data, etc.). No other data is collected from the ID and no photocopy of the ID is gathered or recorded, ensuring privacy and confidentiality.

• FAQs
• Raptor Visitor Check-In Video

Don't miss the incredible Trailside music FROG and TOAD- Thursday, November 21 @ 6:30pm.

Parents may order Lifetouch pictures from the most recent Picture Re-take day with the following Trailside code: EVTGZ6ZZ7.

https://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/#/

Trailside Families

This letter is to let you know that your child’s class will be receiving age-appropriate lessons on child sexual abuse and assault prevention education as required under the state’s Alaska Safe Children’s Act (Erin’s Law).

Erin’s Law Education consists of two lessons (one lesson at the beginning of each semester) taught during the Health classes. Combined, these lessons meet the full requirements for students under the Alaska Safe Children’s Act (Erin’s Law) and are designed to help prevent childhood sexual abuse. These lessons will be presented in a non-threatening way, along with the skills needed for self-protection and will be handled in a sensitive, respectful manner.

If you would like more information about the content or curriculum used, please contact your child’s teacher or school principal.

If you do NOT want your child to receive the instruction under the Alaska Safe Children’s Act, you must write a letter to the school principal requesting that your child be excused from these specific lessons.

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to provide learning opportunities to improve the safety and well being of our students.

Trailside Families- Our lost and found has many quality items that could be yours! Please stop by the office check. We will be donating the items Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Thank you!

A friendly reminder that the arrival/dismissal car lane must keep moving. We ask that parents do not leave their cars or remain stationed in one spot- please follow the flow of the line. Thank you!

Trailside PTA Updates

1. Family Movie Night: Dec. 13

Mark your calendars for our Holiday Family Movie Night on Friday, Dec. 13 from 6-8 p.m in the MPR. Concessions will be available to support 4th and 5th grade fundraising efforts.

Help pick the movie by casting your vote here: https://forms.gle/PhRSC29ihEUhWfZt5

2. PTA Membership Meeting: Nov. 20

The next PTA Membership meeting will be held Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 4:45 pm in the library. Join us and learn more about upcoming activities, ways to get involved and how to support our school!

3. Readathon!

The Trailside Readathon will happen once again in January, but we need your help! Interested in helping out and encouraging our students to read? Contact trailsideptapresident@gmail.com to join the Readathon Committee! (and what messy challenge will Mr. Neissner do if the kids meet their reading goal? Stay tuned!)

4. Art To Remember deadline is Nov. 18

Trailside teamed up with Art to Remember to transfer your child’s artwork onto keepsake products like mugs, ornaments, and art plaques. Order forms have gone home with students and a portion of the proceeds comes right back to our school! Order online at https://arttoremember.com/ and preserve your child’s beautiful artwork! Order by Nov. 18 so you can have your items in time for your holiday gift-giving!

5. Afterschool Activities (ASA)

The Trailside PTA puts on a wide variety of ASA for our students throughout the year. Do you speak German? Contact trailsideactivities@gmail.com about a possible German Club this winter! Do Have a fun skill or hobby and are interested in heading up an ASA? Earn $30 an hour and share your skills with our students! Contact ASA Chair Lia Slemons. at trailsideactivities@gmail.com.

6. Submit your photos for the yearbook!

Email photos to trailsideyearbook24@gmail.com Pictures must be taken at school events, activities, or in the classroom setting. It’s also not too late for your child to enter the Trailside Yearbook Art Cover contest! Flyers are coming home this week with more information on how to submit their work of art for consideration!

Upcoming dates:

• Nov. 20: PTA Membership Meeting
• Nov. 21: Frog and Toad musical performance
• Dec. 13: Family Holiday Movie Night
• Dec. 2-13: Texas Roadhouse Rolls fundraiser(with picking up rolls Dec. 19-23)
• January 17: Readathon kickoff event
• January 22: PTA Membership Meeting
• January 26-February 1: Readathon!
• Feb. 19: PTA Membership Meeting
• Friday, February 21: Winter Family Fun Night
• Friday, March 21: Math and Science Night

Questions or want to get involved with any of the above or other ideas? Contact TrailsidePTAPresident@gmail.com.

https://secure.smore.com/n/kde91

Families interested in applying for free/reduced lunch can apply here:

https://www.asdk12.org/Page/13248

One of our school initiatives is to promote positive student behavior. The Timberwolf Award is designed to do just that and is aligned to our building guidelines for success "PAWS". Students will be acknowledged for their awesome work and behavior. The bottom portion will be turned into the office and the top portion goes home for families.

Please call the office when excusing your student due to sickness, or pre-arranged absence (Travel, Etc.)

When leaving messages for the office, please make sure to leave the student's first and last name.

Please also leave a good contact name and number we can reach you at if we have questions regarding the message.

907-742-5500

Please click the link for this month's counselor's message:

https://secure.smore.com/n/jwzq2

All parents, please check your parent connection and make sure all of your contact information is correct.

Please notify the office of any of the following changes:

• Custody/Legal Documents (as soon as possible)
• Address Changes
• Phone number updates
• If you are moving, please notify the office as soon as possible.

Please make sure when using Q Parent Connection to excuse your student, it has to be done in the system prior to 8:30 am. If not, you will get a Robo-Call from the district notifying you that your student was absent for the day. Please call the office if it is after 9:30 am and the office staff will get your student excused.

If you are traveling please contact the office so we can get your student excused, you will then see a "P" (Travel status and other pre-arranged absences) in Q- Parent Connection instead of "E" (Excused).