Clark Middle School Newsletter

CLARK 8TH GRADE RECOGNITION CEREMONIES have been scheduled for two separate time time slots to give each Team personal time to celebrate.

**Balloons are not Allowed at the ceremonies**

Each of the ceremonies will begin promptly at 8:30am and 12:30PM in the Gymnasium. There will be adequate space for parking for our families during the ceremonies. Please mark your calendar.

I would like to thank our students, families, and community, who have supported us throughout this entire year. Our success would not have been possible without your positive outlook, support, and commitment to excellence in academics, attendance, and attitude! Without your support and feedback this would not have been possible.

Note: The 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony does not confirm a student’s promotion to 9th Grade. Promotion is based on academic grades.

2024-25 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

RETURNING STUDENTS AND INCOMING 6TH GRADERS FROM AN ASD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

• Go to the ASD Back to School website (https://www.asdk12.org/backtoschool)
• Select “Register" and follow the on-screen prompts.
• You will need your Parent Connection PIN and password to complete registration.
• If you have forgotten your password, select “Reset Password”
  • If you don’t know your PIN, please contact us!

Do not change your address during this process. Continue with no change and submit. Contact Clark Middle School after you submit, and we can change the address manually.

If you are new to ASD or did not complete the school year at an ASD school in 2023-24, please choose Enroll.

NEW ENROLLMENT INSTRUCTIONS:

NEW-TO-DISTRICT AND STUDENTS WHO DID NOT COMPLETE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR:

• You will need an active email address you have access to.
• Go to the ASD Back to School site (https://www.asdk12.org/backtoschool)
• Select “Enroll” and follow the on-screen directions.

TUESDAY, MAY 21ST

CLARK 8TH GRADE RECOGNITION CEREMONIES have been scheduled for two separate time slots to give each Team personal time to celebrate.

The ceremonies will begin promptly at 8:30AM and 12:30PM in the Gymnasium. There will be adequate space for parking for our families during the ceremonies. Please mark your calendar.

8:30AM -

Team Resilience

Alaska School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

12:30PM -

Team Perseverance

Life Skills I & II

Students should dress appropriately for the event.

**Balloons are not Allowed at the ceremonies*

Disclaimer: The 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony does not confirm a student’s promotion to 9th Grade. Promotion is based on academic grades.

See Mrs. Russell for purchase, 907-742-4727 or russell_christina@asdk12.org.

Zap the Zeroes!

Does your student need additional help with school work and submitting assignments?

We want to help your student finish the Quarter strong with "ZAP the ZEROES"

On Saturday, May 11th, teachers will help students with tutoring and to complete assignments from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Our goal is to reduce the number of zeros, and help students become more successful.

Summer is a great time to make an appointment for your student to get a physical with their regular doctor. All student athletes need to have a physical within the past 18 months.

2024 Fall sports in middle school will be cross country running and boys basketball.

High school fall sports include: running, swimming, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics, riflery, flag football (girls), and football (boys). Two important things to know about high school sports are that they start at the end of July or early August. Also, student and parents have to complete an online profile in the sports registration system: PlanetHS.com

Contact your student's high school directly to get more information.

Heather Ireland hireland@aksbhc.org

Executive Director

Anchorage School Based Health Centers

907-742-0479 (office)

907-917-6764 (work cell)

Hello Team Valor parents/guardians!

We cannot believe that this school year is coming to an end. We have thoroughly enjoyed having your student at Clark Middle School this year. We have lots of exciting things going on as we wrap up the quarter. In Science, students will be studying the northern lights in an indigenous frame of reference. In Social Studies, studies will be studying Asia and the Pacific Islands as well as their spring presentation projects. In Writing, students will be continuing their poetry unit. In Language Arts, students will be finishing reading Tangerine and they will be working on their final projects.

Dates to remember:

May 22nd- the last day of school for students

We hope you all have a wonderful summer and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Should you have any questions, you can reach Team Valor at:

schlicht_amanda@asdk12.org - Language Arts

smith_carol01@asdk12.org - Writing

holmes_david@asdk12.org - Social Studies

apgar-kurtz_breena@asdk12.org - Science

Powerful Pride

Getting from here to There, together by Discovering Who We Are

Exciting News for November 2023, Issue # 3

“Tenacity is more than twice the weight of intelligence.”

Springboard, Language Arts 6: Ms. M. Smith smith_marissa@asdk12.org: Through independent research projects, students delve into the historical, cultural, and social contexts that inform the poetry of different eras and regions. Students will explore the lives and legacies of poets and famous people as they uncover the stories behind their iconic poems and deeds. From personal reflections to in-depth biographical research, the students shed light on the experiences and influences of these poets and famous people's unique and inspiring voices of actions and poetic vision.

SCIENCE: Ms. Olsen: In science for the last month of the school year, we will finish off our unit on energy then we will be exploring the engineering design process. We will learn what that process is then use it to complete several small activities. Our final project for the year is designing, constructing, and testing a bridge built with popsicle sticks and glue!

Springboard Language Workshop/Language Arts 6: Ms. Ridgely: Students will be exploring the different types of poetry from the different regions and eras associated. Students will also be analyzing the meanings of the poems and its elements. They also will he learning the historical contexts of the poems and its contribution to American history.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Mr. Moran: Social Studies will continue our unit on 20th Century Conflicts. Understanding the impacts of conflicts within a global, local, and personal perspective. Analyzing the impacts on communities and people. A focus on WWI, WWII, Cold War, and Terrorism

As this school year comes to an end, we’d like to thank you once again for your continued support and positive contributions that led to our students’ success. Our students, families, and staff have put forth such great effort into making this school year great! There is much to be proud of this school year.

The Team would like to recognize all the heroes here at Clark supporting students and their learning:

School Lunch Hero Appreciation

When we say school nutrition professionals are heroes, we mean it! That’s why we celebrate them every spring with the annual School Lunch Hero Day. Let us recognize the difference these team members make for every child who comes through our cafeteria.

School Nurse Appreciation

Since 1972, National School Nurse Day has been set aside to recognize school nurses. National School Nurse Day was established to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting.

What Is Teacher Appreciation Week?

Teacher Appreciation Week is time set aside in May for honoring educators. The week-long celebration is the culmination of a 40-year push to establish a national teacher appreciation day. According to the National Education Association (NEA), a Wisconsin teacher named Ryan Krug began writing to political leaders around 1944 about the need for a national day to recognize teachers for their hard work and dedication to students. Arkansas teacher Mattie Whyte Woodridge took up the cause. She wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 convinced Congress to proclaim a National Teachers Day.

“I have always felt that we did not give an honorable enough place in our communities to the teachers,” Roosevelt wrote in her newspaper column, “My Day,” after Congress designated the first Tuesday of March as National Teachers Day. “Next to parents, they are the most important people in our communities.”

In 1985, the National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week. The NEA then voted to mark National Teachers Day on the Tuesday that begins Appreciation Week.

Of course, we all know every day is a great day for showing appreciation for educators. But since 1985, the official celebration of teachers has taken place during the first full week of May every year, with National Teacher Day on the Tuesday of that week. Teacher Appreciation Week 2024 starts on Monday, May 6, and ends on Friday, May 10.

We are so excited to celebrate our phenomenal Clark teachers, who are the BEST! This is always such a fun week for students and teachers. We love you Clark teachers, this week and EVERY WEEK!

Ashshanta Swisher, Special Education Resources

swisher_ashshanta@asdk12.org

Team Resilience is looking forward to a strong conclusion for this year and to send you off to be successful in high school next year.

• In Writing, we will be concluding our work on poetry and public speaking.

• In Science, we will have many genetics-based activities where students will come up with a claim, show evidence, and describe their reasoning. Science in May will cover concepts on genetics and the diversity of life: DNA / RNA molecules, gametes, genes, protein synthesis, mutation, inheritance, phylogeny, homology, embryology, and genetic engineering.

• In Social Studies we will have our last current events assessment and begin exploring how Colonial America transitioned into the United States of America.

• English Language Arts is focusing on comedy and will be reading an abridged version of A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Students will explore the times and environment of Shakespeare as we finish up the academic year.

Writing Department: Scott Macdonald macdonald_scott@asdk12.org

The Writing Department is looking forward to finishing up our Poetry Unit as we approach the end of the year. We will be continuing to use figurative language to convey meaning. We will also be looking at reviewing the writing process and enhancing our writing by revising for sentence structure and adjusting for mood.

Robert Woolsey woolsey_robert@asdk12.org

Greetings, Team Pizzazz Parent/Guardian!

Team Pizzazz is excited to participate in Outdoor Science Week with your student in May. As a reminder, any students with behavior enrollments (RIC, ISS, or OSS) are not eligible to attend (through 4/1-5/7).

We are also working hard to ensure your student finishes Quarter 4 on a strong note. End of Q4 is Wednesday, May 22nd. If you have any questions about your student’s academic progress on Team Pizzazz, please contact their subject teacher.

Best,

Team Pizzazz

Ms. Cash (Language Arts) --> cash_ellie@asdk12.org

Ms. Pfisterer (Science) --> pfisterer_abigail@asdk12.org

Mr. Manlangit (Writing) --> manlangit_cesar@asdk12.org

Ms. Nault (Social Studies) --> nault_tanya@asdk12.org

Team Fearless is inviting families in for a student showcase on Thursday, May 17th from 11:55 - 2:30. This will be an opportunity for students to show off some of the amazing work they have been doing this semester.

Social Studies: Working with Science, students will be reading the novel A Long Walk to Water, to focus on water scarcity. The unit will culminate in a Socratic seminar, where students will have a collaborative discussion about the role water plays in our lives.

Science: Working with Social Studies students will be reading the novel A Long Walk to Water, to focus on water scarcity. The unit will culminate in a Socratic seminar, where students will have a collaborative discussion about the role water plays in our lives.

Writing: Writing class is finishing the poetry unit and practicing for the Poetry Speak on 4/25/24. We will then focus on finishing up the year with a reflection essay about what they have learned in the 7th grade.

Language Arts: To bring closure to an amazing year students will be studying play scripts and dialogues. Students will also be engaging in the Science/S.S. unit on water scarcity by reading and studying articles about water scarcity.

Writing:Colleen Martinson martinson_colleen@asdk12.org

Social Studies: Natalie Moten moten_natalie@asdk12.org

Science: Alexis Griffee griffee_alexis@asdk12.org

Language Arts: William Gordon gordon_william@asdk12.org

Hello from Team Perseverance:

ELA: Tina Parchman parchman_tina@asdk12.org

I hope you and your family are doing well! Please expect an IWP (Instant Word Power book) by Dr. Norman Lewis to come home with your student. Each student received one from me and it is theirs to keep. This will help them tremendously in high school readiness and beyond.

Students have learned the skills and strategies necessary to navigate high school and we are so proud of all their hard work. Thanks for the opportunity to be your student's ELA teacher and I wish you all the best for your student and your family. Have a wonderful summer!

Social Studies: Hannah Hewett hewett_hannah@asdk12.org

We will be finishing up our government project and moving into students choosing and researching what part of American History they would like to learn more about. Students will write a paragraph or more about what they chose to learn.

April was full of fun events! We ended March with Archery and BizTown, then started April with our annual retreat! Students got to learn interview skills, leadership, and collaboration. Our students enjoyed the full 3 days of activities and have amazing stories to tell. As we look towards the end of the year we are looking forward to our last few field trips, sending off our 8th grade students and welcoming in our new incoming 6th grade students with a day visit. Students are excited to continue to see the snow melt and welcome in the summer time!

AKSDHH gear is still available to order! We have hoodies, vests, t-shirts, hats and more! If you would like to order anything or see the inventory list, please contact Clara Baldwin (Assistant Director of AKSDHH) via email at baldwin_clara@asdk12.org.

Upcoming events for AKSDHH:

• Seward Sea Life Center – May 2
• Eagle River Nature Center – May 3

Ms. Afshan Mohammad’s Room103B Last Academic Plan (FY 23-24)- Month May 2024 We will continue to work on ratios and proportions, part-to-part ratios, and ratios that characterize the parts of a whole in Ms. Afshan Mohammad's i-Ready Math 6 classes. We'll attempt to delve in and discover more about percentages and rates. Investigate and find a solution for the unknown in word problems requiring multiplicative comparisons; differentiate between multiplicative and addictive comparisons; and express word problems involving multiplicative comparisons with drawings and symbols.

Vocabulary list:

Symbol, Equivalent ratios, Unknown, Coordinate planes, Divide, Ordered pair, Division, x - axis, Equation x - coordinate, Factor, y - axis, Multiplication, y - coordinate, Multiplicative comparisons, Graph (Noun)

Multiply, and Graph (Verb)

The 6th through 8th grade NCC/ELL Integrated Science students demonstrated their talent and skills by placing first, second, and third in the State Kids Windmills Challenge/Olympics 2024.

Currently we are building cupcake-making solar ovens. Sunrises and sunsets heat and light the world. That bright spot in the sky is so normal we rarely see it. We couldn't survive without it! The sun's core fuses hydrogen atoms nuclear. Energy from them travels 186,000 miles per second in all directions. Earth receives 93 million kilometers of energy in eight minutes. Earth uses several energy sources, but the sun provides most, including thermal and light energy! Energy conservation states that energy can change forms but never runs out. Solar energy has several forms. Plants use photosynthesis to convert sunlight into food. Animals use plant-provided chemical energy for everything. Solar heat causes weather patterns, which generate wind. Wind turbines convert wind energy into electricity. Hydroelectricity is generated by solar heat from evaporation keeping water moving through the water cycle. Many human activities now use fossil fuels like natural gas, coal, and oil. Through photosynthesis, ancient plants and animals get their energy from the sun. Over very long periods, various energy sources are produced. Solar energy exceeds the world's annual consumption in one hour. It would be great to quickly capture and use that energy to power our homes, cities, and cars! Many scientists worldwide are optimizing solar energy. Water and air can be heated using solar thermal panels. Solar cells, or photovoltaic (PV) cells, turn sunlight into electricity. A "photovoltaic" converts light into electricity. Silicon collects solar energy in photovoltaic cells. When exposed to sunlight, cell silicon atoms emit electrons. The solar cell structure drives electrons to one side, where they generate a negative charge and leave a positive charge. Like a battery, a wired cell moves electrons from negative to positive. Electricity powers connected devices like lightbulbs and motors. Photovoltaic cells capture little solar radiation. They need lots of room to capture enough sunlight to generate enough power. Significant scientific study is needed to minimize size and improve quality. Despite these challenges, solar panels power school crossing lights and emergency sirens. Solar panels on roofs will power many homes as technology advances.

7th Grade Math: John Weaver weaver_john@asdk12.org

In class we are ending the year with geometry. We are starting surface area, volume and angle measures. In Johnson's class we are finishing up solving equations, before finishing out the year with percents, simple interest, probability, and volume and surface area. In Ms. Maddens we are working on order of operations and plotting numbers. We have loved having your kids this year. Let's finish strong!

8th Grade Math:

Math 8:

All assignments are due by the 17th of May! 🙂 We will be finishing off our last units by doing volume of shapes and statistics. Students in the 8th grade keep their computers over the summer, and if you need to work on your math skills, feel free to do iReady. If your student tries on the diagnostic, then their real knowledge gaps are revealed, which means their path really does help fill those in, getting them more ready for math in high school! Hope your summer is great!

Algebra 1:

All assignments are due by the 17th of May! 🙂 We will be finishing off our unit all the way up to the 17th . There is no test the last full week of school due to needing more time to learn the last few lessons. We hope your summer is great!

The sport of archery—shooting arrows from bows at targets—has its roots in primitive times. Arrows were used by ancient peoples to battle their opponents and to hunt wild game.

This past March, Life skills I, II and Alaska State School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AKSD) went to an archery event sponsored by Northwest Archers. They spent the first half of the morning learning how to hold, carry and shoot a bow and arrow. Later that afternoon the six, seventh and eighth grade Clark Falcons spent the rest of the day competing with one another. Their final challenge was taking on the excited Clark Falcon teachers, paraprofessionals, and ASD sign language interpreters.

No matter what grade or stage you are in, archery is a great sport to get involved in. You can have fun with your friends and meet new people. There is physical, mental and wellbeing benefits of archery. Archery requires focus, strength and determination. Shooting takes concentration and can calm your mind as you focus on the target. It can mean that any worries you have are left aside while at the range. Archery has practical life application skills as well. It is a great sport to start doing, no matter how old you are. It will also help your body get or maintain health. Archery is great physical exercise.

These are all reasons why archery is so much fun. While our Clark Falcons young and old worked on improving their scores, progressing and winning mini competitions, it was clear on each smiling face that they enjoyed the day at Northwest Archers. It’s important to note that it’s perfectly acceptable to just shoot for the love of it. You don’t even have to record your scores if you don’t want to. It just shows how much archery can help you in real life. So, start doing archery and you can play outside or at a sport facility. Since all you need is a bow, a target and some arrows. Archery is fun for everyone.

The Clark Falcon eighth, seventh and six-grader stood out, were outstanding and had a great time.

By Sharon Gibbons

Life Skills 1

Clark has been fortunate to have 20+ girls try out for softball this year, creating a Varsity and JV team. It is exciting to see the array of abilities on the field. The Anchorage Sports Association coordinates softball. Their first game was on April 17th against Romig. With the remaining games being played in May. Games are played on Saturdays at Chuck Albrecht Softball Complex. Come and support these young ladies as they represent Clark on the Field.

Mellisha Jones-Head Coach

Ashshanta Swisher-Assistant Coach

Clark Middle School had an amazing Multicultural Festival! Clark students and staff represented a multitude of countries from around the world very well on Saturday, April 6th! We would like to thank everyone who was a part of this wonderful event. Last but not least we thank Mrs. Marissa Smith and Mrs. Ashshanta Swisher for bringing this Multicultural Festival to life.

May

May 1st - Track & Field Prelims 2pm @ Begich

May 2nd - Track & Field All Schools Field Events @ 1:30pm @ Mears

May 3rd - School Dance 3 - 4:30 p.m.

May 7th - Track & Field Championship Finals 2pm @ Romig

May 7th - Choir Concert

May 11th - Zap the Zeros

May 14th - Orchestra Concert

May 16th - Band Concert

May 17th - Locker Clean -Out

May 21st - 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony - 8:30am(Team Resilience & AKSD), 12:30pm (Team Perseverance & Life Skills I & Life Skills II)

May 22nd - End of Quarter 4 Student's Last Day

May 23rd - Teacher's Last Day

May 27th - Memorial Day