Panther Pride News
Week of September 23-September 27, 2024
🎉Panther Pride 🎉
6th Grade World Geography
6th grade World Geography students created the continents out of play-dough on Tuesday. This was an opportunity to use our hands, integrating multi-sensory input, for increased spatial understanding of the physical world. Tactile experiences are important in today’s digital environment.
Upcoming School Events
Tuesday, September 24: Don't Quit Fitness Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 10:00a
Jake Steinfeld, American Actor and Fitness Coach, will be our guest of honor at our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. As the chairman of the National Foundation for the Governor's Fitness Council he will be leading the dedication of our Don't Quit Fitness Center. Guests looking to join the ceremony should arrive on campus at 9:45a.
Tuesday, September 24: ALICE Evacuation Lesson and Drill
During, Panther Read time, students will be doing our annual ALICE Evacuation to our Bayshore Elementary School Rally Point as well as complete a lesson in the Homeroom Canvas course.
Mears will be staggered gy grade levels to complete the ALICE EVACUATION drill and walk to Bayshore Elementary School
3rd period 6th grade, Teachers of sixth graders during this time, please participate in the evacuation drill at this time
5th period 8th grade, Teachers of eighth graders during this time, please participate in the evacuation drill at this time
6th period 7th grade, Teachers of seventh graders during this time, please participate in the evacuation drill at this time
Friday, October 4: Picture Retakes
9:30-1:30 Lifetouch Picture Retakes in the Mears Library
PTSA Membership Drive, Join Today!
Consider formally joining our PTSA! Your membership dues go directly towards supporting our organization which goes right back to the school by purchasing items outside of the regular school budget to support classes, buses for field trips, the 8th grade bash, and positive behavior incentives. Click on the link below to learn more.
In Family & Consumer Science News
Family & Consumer Science students have been busy learning about kitchen safety, then a kitchen scavenger hunt to get familiar with their kitchens, and then began learning to read recipes and cook. The first recipe we did was crepes with Nutella or fruit. This week we made macaroni and cheese from scratch. So yummy!
Do you have extra tupperware at home you don’t need? We could use it in FCS class. Any broken tape measures? We would love to use those as well for a sewing project. Thank you!
Your Partner in Education,
Cindy Trawicki
In Library Media Center News . . .
We got 7 BIG boxes of new-to-Mears books sent up from elementary schools all across Anchorage along with the 6th graders and the books have been processed and JUST hit the shelves this week. Many are out on the “New Book” Table just inside the doors of the library - come check them out!!
In Team News . . .
In Team Nexus:
Team Nexus presents Astrid Fiero Alm as our Student of the Week. Astrid won our team’s logo design contest. Her design captured what our team name wants to live up to every single day - that there power in creating and fostering meaningful relationships in school and beyond. Thank you for your vision and creativity, Astrid. Truly, relationships matter most!
Jaxson Chowning, Kainan Schram, and Jason Vang are the runner ups for the Team Logo Design Contest. Thank you for rising up to the challenge!
In Team Alliance . . .
Students are transitioning well to middle school. They are learning great things in their core classes including; world geography, 3D shapes and surface area, ecosystems, biomes and will be starting personal narratives. Their electives are giving them a chance to sample the options of middle school and learn a new instrument.
We have completed our in-class ELA MAPS testing and we will be starting our Math MAPS testing on Monday. Students need charged Chromebooks and a book to read.
Notifications will be sent out for students with D’s and F’s within the next week. Please take the time to look at student grades on Parent Connect or Canvas depending on the class.
“It is your destiny. Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son, teacher and student” Darth Vader (with some editing from Team Alliance) RIP. James Earl Jones
In Team Synergy . . .
As we approach mid-quarter, please remember to check your students’ grades in Parent Connect and/or Canvas. If you would like to be added as a Canvas observer, please e-mail one of the core teachers (Barclay, Mueller, Taray, Mark Maglaque) and we will be happy to take care of that for you. The front office can help with Parent Connect information.
ELA: Ms. Taray’s class is reading “ The Scholarship Jacket” for the rest of the week. We have been annotating the text using metacognitive markers,identifying figurative language and sensory details and citing several pieces of textual evidence to support character analysis. We are also doing the Plot Map Diagram and the DIY Scholarship Jacket Design.
Students need to complete 1 Quill assignment at the end of the week.Please check grades in Parent Connect.
My classroom is open during lunch time for those students who need help getting caught up with their missing assignments.
Science: Students made observations and inferences about responses to stimuli in nightcrawlers
In Team Harmony:
Hello all! Team Harmony would like to remind everyone that we are nearing the halfway point of the quarter. Please check grades on Canvas AND Q (sometimes they are different) and connect with your teachers if you need support in getting grades up. Do this now instead of waiting for the end of the quarter!
ELA: Mr. Bennice’s “Unit Sheet 1A” is due on Monday, September 23rd. All requirements and supplements are due at this time in order to receive full credit! Talk to Mr. Bennice now if you have a problem, don’t want until Monday!
In Team Solidarity:
ELA- Ms. Parchman’s classes are reading two poems (one by Frost and one by Giovanni) and comparing the themes and the tone/mood of each poem. We have been using our metacognitive markers to annotate the text. Finally, we are using text evidence and learning to use this convenient punctuation tool: Ellipsis… Ask your student about the three versatile uses for this powerful writing tool!
In 8th grade ELA, we are learning about ‘The Archetype of the Hero’s Journey and reading and annotating Cavafy’s poem,’ Ithaka.’ Lastly, we are utilizing the digital platform- Quill for writing and grammar techniques.
Math: In math news, students worked hard on MAP testing this week. Please take the time to look at student grades and missing assignments on Canvas. Canvas is where you will find the most up-to-date grade for your student.
In Team Fusion News . . .
Math: Ms. Alward’s class was busy doing MAPS testing this week. Next week we are diving back into the curriculum. Math 6 will work on writing, describing, and evaluating algebraic expressions. Advanced math will be adding, subtracting, and multiplying multi-digit decimals. Please take time to look at grades online and get in any missing assignments.
In Sports and Activities . . .
Archery Practice CANCELLED
Monday September 23rd & Tuesday September 24
Our Range will be used as a reception room for the unveiling of the new weight room.
The last day of Archery Session One will be October 2nd.
In Cross Country News . . .
Just one of the many young bulls that delayed our Race on Monday at Kincaid Park. We are right in the middle of rutting season and runners need to be vigilant when training and racing. The coaches remind the runners daily about trail etiquette and car safety as we train during the busy drive time around Mears.
Our next sports season is Girls Volleyball. Sign ups are ongoing. Visit the Mears Sports page: https://www.asdk12.org/domain/4260
In Indigenous Ed News . . .
September 30: Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day, also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, is on Monday, September 30th. This day invites us to learn and reflect on the history and impact that residential schools had on our Indigenous communities, to honor survivors and their families, and to remember the children who never returned home. Orange Shirt Day isn't just about the color; it's about the journey toward reconciliation.
By sharing stories, sparking conversations, and wearing orange on September 30th, we join a powerful movement that teaches us the importance of respect and unity.
Please visit this link to stay up to date on all that is going on in our program Indigenous Education News.
Parents as Partners
Rightsizing ASD Survey
ASD is looking for your feedback to guide the work to right size our district!
We need Photos for the Yearbook!
Yearbook will be looking for possible photos to use in this year’s yearbook! If you happen to take any photos at sporting events or after school activities, please e-mail them (highest resolution) to barclay_holly@asdk12.org.
Procedures
Paying Fees and Fines
Remember, all fees and fines are paid through Q Parent Connect this year. If you do not have the ability to make an electronic payment, or you have difficulty with Q, please email Ms. Robin in the office. spartz-hays_robin@asdk12.org
Absences
Is your child going to absent from school? Save time and send a quick email to our attendance email box, mearsattendance@asdk12.org or you can call the school at 907-742-6400 and select the Attendance Line option to leave us a voice mail, either option is a great way to notify us!
Main Office Hours
Our office staff is available daily, please don't hesitate to reach out if we can help you in any way, our hours are 8:45-4:15. Thanks so much, we are here to help serve you!
No Door Dash/Uber Eats/ETC
We do not accept, Door Dash/Uber Eats/ETC, food deliveries for students before, during, nor after school. We will NOT accept deliveries of any kind. We have a school meal program offering balanced meal choices daily. In addition, the Black Cat Cafe offers smart snacks daily for purchase
Lunch Detentions
Lunch Detentions are held daily during each lunch wave in Room ST6.. Students are expected to check-in with the supervisor at the beginning of lunch. Students who need to purchase food from the cafeteria will be issued a fast pass to procure their food and return to Room ST6 to serve the assigned lunch detention.
Morning Detention
Detentions are 8:45 am-9:20 am, in Room ST6, Tuesday-Friday. Please drop-off your student at the MPR EAST entrance to access the building. Security staff will greet your student and escort them to Room ST6. Please contact AP Svendsen or AP Matthews with any questions.
Jane Mears Middle School
Everyone
Accepted
Respected
Safe
Email: marquand_carla@asdk12.org
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/mears
Location: 2700 West 100th Avenue, Anchorage, AK, USA
Phone: 907-742-6400