Paul Banks Elementary

Dear Paul Banks Families,

Our school year is off to a great start! I can't express to you all what a joy it is to see your children bound into the building each morning with broad smiles and enthusiastic high-fives. Though the last few days have been pretty drizzly, we had plenty of sun shine filled days. As a result, there was lots of outdoor learning happening. One afternoon I think there were five classes learning outside! Our teachers have been immersing students in sounds and stories as we embrace a new language arts curriculum. I have watched hula hoop problem solving in PE and singing and dancing in music. All in all, the first three weeks of school have been a resounding success.

Looking to the future, I am excited for our Outdoor Classroom Celebration BBQ on September 15th. Bunnell Street Art Gallery and the Alaska State Council on the Arts is sponsoring a concert at Paul Banks featuring Wild Shore New Music on September 20th. We have two early release days in September when we will continue to dive into our new language arts curriculum. We will also conclude our fall benchmark assessments in September, which gives us important information so that we can best support all of our students learning.

I did want to bring your attention to a number of items:

• Gear: We try to have two outside recesses every day rain or shine, so please send your child with rain gear.
• Facebook: Facebook is an effective communication tool that we use at Paul Banks. We post important information, dates and events, and we use it to celebrate our students and staff. If you would rather your child not be in a Facebook post at any time this school year, please make sure to update your media opt out form.
  
• Drop off and pick up: Please remember that our school day begins at 7:50; please plan accordingly with drop off. Thank you to everyone for continuing to use the west entrance for pick up.
• Volunteers: We love to have family members volunteer (application here), and some parents have filled in as subs (application here), which we greatly appreciate too.
• Feedback: We always want to grow and improve. Please share your feedback using this form.

As always, don't hesitate to reach out. Have a great fall!

Best,

Sean Campbell

• Monday 9/4: Labor Day-No School
• Wednesday 9/6: Site Council Meeting @ 3:30 pm
• Friday 9/8: Early Release @ 1:00
• Monday 9/11: School Board Meeting @ 6:00
• Tuesday 9/12: PTA Meeting @ 6:30 pm
• Friday 9/15: Outdoor Classroom BBQ @ 5:00
• Wednesday 9/20: Guest Concert @ 1:00
• Wednesday 9/27: Picture Day
• Friday 9/29: Early Release @ 1:00

Breakfast is $2.50 (free if your child is approved for free/reduced meals) and lunch is $3.50 (or $.40 for students who qualify for reduced meal pricing). If interested in free/reduced meals, please apply online (http://mealapp.kpbsd.org/ ). Families need to reapply every year. If you would like to add money to your child's lunch account, you can bring cash/check (made out to SNS), sign in and add money through PowerSchool SIS (Lunch Planner), or you can set up an account and pay online- https://kpbsd.revtrak.net/paul-banks-es/.

Our PTA meets @ 6:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month. Pizza and childcare are provided.

Upcoming meeting dates: September 12, October 10, November 14 and December 12.

Upcoming events: Outdoor classsroom BBQ (9/15), Fall Fundraiser (9/11-9/25), Book Fair, Winter Masquerade Ball

Check out the Libby app Mr. Campbell mentioned at Open House and get access to hundreds of free audiobooks. They're great for road trips, for kids to listen to while parents make dinner, and to listen to before bedtime. Let's immerse our kids in stories!

• Does the use of digital technology consider the age, health, and safety of students?

• Does the use of digital technology enhance (i.e.: differentiate instruction, enriching learning) and simplify learning (i.e.: provide an outstanding explanation or example that benefits students abilities)?

• Does the use of digital technology outweigh the value gained through social, collaborative interactions, or does it provide opportunities for collaboration?

• And finally…Will the use of digital technology go ABOVE AND BEYOND what can be achieved with more traditional methods of learning?

If the answer is yes to these questions, then teachers would consider the use of digital learning.

• Smartboards are an integral interactive display tool used for learning.

• Students will not use personal devices at any time during the school day.

· If interested in busing to or from school, contact First Student Bus Company: 235-0124.

· After you set up busing with them, please let the school know so we can write a bus note.

Bus note information we need:

· What days your child will ride the bus home

· What bus (number) they will ride

· Where the bus stop is located

· The name & contact number for the person meeting the bus

• *Kindergarten aged students must be met by an adult or a sibling in the 4th grade or higher

Principal - Sean Campbell

Secretary - Katy Countiss

Phone: 907-226-1801

Fax: 907-235-8163

Paul Banks Website

KPBSD Website

Facebook (a great resource to see our school in action on a daily basis)