Tanana Family Newsletter
January 19-January 22, 2021
From the desk of Principal Marquand . . A Message for In-Person Learners:
The entire Tanana Middle School staff has been busy planning and preparing for the reopening on January 25 and we are extremely EXCITED to open our doors and welcome our students into our beautiful school. All of the trim has been freshly painted along with many of our classrooms. The floors are sparkling and clear signage communicating our movement expectations are in place. Students returning in person are welcome to enter our school daily at 9:10 AM and will be released at 3:00 PM at the conclusion of the school day. Mr. Ott has completed entering student schedules and this information is now available in PowerSchool. At this time, we have 58% of our students returning with an average of 20 students in our cohort classrooms. Our school may be 46 years old, but we are fortunate to have large spacious classrooms within a building originally constructed to hold 800 students. We will be able to maintain social distancing to the best of our ability, encourage frequent handwashing with hand sanitizer dispensers in the hallways and in the classrooms, and everyone is required to wear a mask.
Logistical Key Points:
- In-person learning will begin on January 25, 2021. All students arriving by school bus and walkers should enter the west end of the building and report to their House Waiting Area. Yellow House = Back Gym; Orange House = Front Gym; Red House = Cafeteria. Students being dropped off or riding special transportation will be dropped off at the main entrance and will be escorted by a staff member to their House Waiting Area.
- Tanana will be open to receive all students in the building starting at 9:10 AM, Monday thru Friday. The school day will run 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM and students should plan to leave campus by 3:10 PM each day.
- If you want your student to ride the bus, please register for the bus here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfuedcLfuph1bO-CY2wsulBW_uY_yTgrGg6U_x5qfzNvAz0dA/viewform
- Microwaves, hot-pots, refrigeration, kettles, etc. will not be available for student use since students will consume all food in their cohort classroom. Here is a resource list to assist with the meal planning process. Nutrition services is offering free breakfast/lunch in the cafeteria for the remainder of the school year.
- If you are a band/orchestra student, please bring your instruments.
As always, families are free to change their learning choice as things come up, but we ask that you contact us at Tanana so we know how to best support your student, whether that is in-person or remote. We continue to recommend that students change their learning choice at the quarter break. 3rd quarter will end just before Spring Break on March 5th. The quarter break provides the smoothest transition for students to change their learning delivery.
Upcoming Dates to Remember:
- February 15-16, 2021 - No School, Parent Teacher Conferences
- February 17, 2021 - No School, Professional Development Day
In-Person Learning Schedule
In-Person Learning: School Supply List
School issued Chromebook/charger/case* (will be given to students upon return*)
EVERYONE must have wired earbuds!!!
[NOT wireless earpods (Airpods)/headphones]
Reusable water bottle
Comfortable masks (school appropriate design/message)
Bag/backpack to carry items safely to/from home
Tanana In-person Learning: Arrival Procedure Video
FTWW Gate: Hours of Operation
From the desk of Principal Marquand . . . A message for Remote Learners . . .
Remote Learning Schedule
All Learners: First Day of School Plan: Student Council Activities
9:40-9:45 AM - Morning Advisory: All students will report to their advisory teacher for Administrative Welcome
12:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Lunch Advisory: Staff introductions, Kahoot Game, video introduction of the obstacle course/relay race in the afternoon
2:30-3:00 PM, Afternoon Advisory: Obstacle course/relay race. Schoolwide hand dance performance.
In Computer Science News . . .
This week Mr. Evans’s class dug deep into the societal impacts of technology, and the science fiction that is frequently becoming reality. Following numerous discussions about machine learning and Artificial Intelligence, which is a rapidly expanding field of study, students were asked to immerse themselves in a fictional scenario to balance concerns of safety, privacy, and trust in computers.
Inspired by a real story about “Crime Prediction” software used by the Pasco Sheriff’s Department in Florida, students were asked to evaluate a potential future where the Fairbanks Police Department enlisted an AI tool that used information from arrest records, social media, phone communications, and GPS information to predict people likely to commit violent crimes. Students were asked to step into the role of “Technology Advisor for the Mayor of Fairbanks”, weighing the advantages and pitfalls of such a system, making their own determination on whether they believe such an AI tool should be used, and how they would handle a public response to their decisions. Each student put together a presentation as if they were presenting to the mayor himself, and some students actually did!
Fairbanks Mayor Jim Matherly was kind enough to join our class via Zoom and give feedback on a few student presentations, as well as lending his insight to evolving technology use within the Fairbanks PD and managing public perceptions of these efforts. It was wonderful to hear from a community member who has real experience with topics like this, and we appreciate him taking the time to engage with our class!
As students move forward into their larger Quarter 3 project centered on addressing World Problems, each will be tasked with reaching out to an expert in their chosen field to get insight and shared experience. The students did some amazing research and thinking on this project, and we’re excited to see what the produce over the rest of the quarter!
~Mr. Evans
Mathlete of the Week . . .
Timothy Hall:
Tim checks in daily on my zoom. He is dedicated to getting his 15 points every day. If Tim needs help, he always asks good questions to get help. Tim will also repeat information just to clarify that he processed it correctly. Keep asking questions. 😊
~Ms. Gilman
Family Resources
Tanana Technology Tips: Parents Ultimate Guide to SnapChat
Celebrating Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month, the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (FNSBSD) are proud to sponsor the Black History Month Contest - The BlackFamily: Representation, Identity, & Diversity—“Moving the World Forward.” We invite all K-12 students to participate in this annual contest.
This program is an opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge, encourage the study of Black History, and show excellence in creativity. We hope that this program can open dialogue to educate our students about the importance of Black History.
Middle/High School:
Grades 7-8: Submit a typed, original, 150-word essay using this year’s theme and illustrate it with your original artwork.
*Please include the student’s Name, Grade, Teacher, and School on each entry item. Please include a class roster of all participants with the student’s Names, Grade, Teacher, and School if submitting entries as a class. All entries MUST have a permission slip signed by a parent/guardian.
If students are remote and want to participate, they may email copies of their project to eeo@k12northstar.org. However, if they can drop off their original to their homeschool to be delivered to the Administrative District Center, that would be great.
There will be 1st, 2nd, 3rd place prizes for each grade category. Additionally, all participants will receive a certificate of participation. Entries need to be submitted and received by 4:00 pm, Friday, March 5, 2021, to the EEO Office in the FNSBSD Administrative Center, 520 Fifth Ave. 3rd Floor, Fairbanks, AK 99701.
• FAQ
In House News . . .
In Red House News . . .
In Orange House News . . .
In Yellow House News . . .
Tanana Middle School
Email: carla.marquand@k12northstar.org
Website: k12northstar.org/Tanana
Location: 600 Trainor Gate Road
Phone: (907)452-8145
Facebook: facebook.com/TananaMiddle
Twitter: @TananaMiddle