Welcome Back to School! We were so fortunate to see many of you at our Meet and Greet on August 14 and now school is officially in session. Kindergarten started on August 22 and our school family is complete. We will also welcome Bear Valley Community Association Little PAWS Preschool on September 3.

We will have our Open House on August 28 from 6:00-7:30. We invite you to join us in the gym for a brief presentation. Then you will have time to visit your child(rens) classroom(s). There will be time to stop into rooms and talk with teachers. PTA and Bear Valley Community Association will all be available in the MPR. Our specialists will all be in the Art Room. We invite you to stop in and learn more about your child's education.

September is approaching fast. Students will be participating in our beginning of the year assessments. During our testing window please help to ensure you child gets a good night's rest and breakfast in the morning. When our students take the testing events seriously, we get a more accurate score which in turn can help us support them where they are truly needing support or enrichment opportunities.

I am very excited to have everyone back in the building. I know this is going to be another wonderful year at Bear Valley Elementary School. Thank you families for working as partners in your child's education this year.

-Mrs. Scherer

Principal

See below for some fun new things!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G4q6CLb2Vu1Ww0ZOsFEN6NPUS6-GXWRc/view?usp=sharing

All School Photo September 13

Teachers will communicate with the colors to wear for each class.

Individual Photos September 19

Flyers are coming home. More info will be sent closer to Picture Day.

Please look at the district assessment and regular calendars before planning trips. It is important for your child to be in school at least 90% of the school year. Thank you for looking at our school calendars before planning trips. If you know your child will be absent please email bvattendance@asdk12.org and the classroom teacher.

As part of The Alaska Reads Act, the State of Alaska requires that districts administer an early literacy screening tool three times a year to students in grades K-3 to identify potential reading difficulties in order to improve reading outcomes for students. Families can read more about this comprehensive K-3 reading policy at The Alaska Reads Act website: education.alaska.gov/akreads

mClass with DIBELS 8th Edition Assessments is the State of Alaska Department of Education’s and ASD’s Early Literacy benchmark screening and progress monitoring tool for students in grades K-3 in reading. mClass utilizes curriculum-based measures and is used by schools as part of the ASD Comprehensive Assessment System to support informed instructional decisions.

The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development explains the decision to adopt mClass as the statewide literacy screener here:

https://education.alaska.gov/Alaska-Reading-Resources/Statewide-Early-Literacy-Screener

mClass screening assessments will only be administered in-person during the benchmark window listed below:

• Fall 2024: September 3 - 13

Results for K-3 students that were assessed during a benchmark window, will be available in Parent Connect by September 27, 2024 ParentConnection Login Information and Reference Guide: parentconnect.asdk12.org

Students will be earning brag tags again this year for various things in the building, PAWS expectations, challenges etc. Please look to see if your student from last year has their cord to collect them on. Add it to this year's backpack or lunchbox for more brag tag fun this year!

Welcome back Bear Valley families. I have been busy in the nurse’s office getting everyone settled in for the school year. We have already had several cases of Strep throat reported to the office. Please remember any student with a temperature over 100 needs to stay home and be fever free without medication for 24 hours before returning to school. Hand washing or using hand sanitizer is very important to help reduce the spread of germs.

Flu vaccines will be available in October around the teacher conference time frame, more information to come as I get details. Finally, please remember students are not allowed to carry any type of medications while at school. This includes cough drops. I try to keep the office stocked, students are required to have an over the counter medication form signed for me to dispense them to students. The form is below for you to print and turn in if needed.

It is going to be a wonderful school year. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

NurseTyra

Please see the two attachments about our health curriculum at Bear Valley. I am excited to be here this year!

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

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 is comprised 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. Theses 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.

Information about the lessons can be viewed HERE.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1J4mCSGZi6GBUv14WBpiO-7gsrj7DbXtA?usp=sharing

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.

Sincerely,

Jennifer McDonald

Health/SEL Specialist

Huffman and Bear Valley Elementary

____________________

Cross Country Running Grades 1-5

2:45-3:45 (afterschool)

Mondays and Wednesdays

Forms were due on August 21. Contact office with questions.

Choir for grades 3, 4, 5

Tuesdays and Wednesdays 2:30-3:45 beginning September 10.

Forms are available with Mrs. Hayes in room 101.

Email: bvattendance@asdk12.org
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/bearvalley
Location: 15001 Mountain Air Drive, Anchorage, AK, USA
Phone: 907-742-5900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bearvalleyelementary