Clark February Newsletter 2025

Dear Clark Families,

We hope you are doing well and staying warm during these winter months. We are busy with learning and activities every day here at Clark Middle School.

Our focus remains to cultivate a positive climate and create the best learning environment possible. High quality instruction and student learning are our highest priorities. Everything that we do at Clark Middle School is designed to help students learn in all areas and be successful well beyond their time in middle school.

We believe the partnership between school and home is a key ingredient for student success. A daily motto we say is "Clark Falcons, together we RISE!" With that said, we hope that your students are feeling safe and supported.

The School Connectedness & Climate Survey link for families is now open.

We want to hear from you!

Please take our survey and make sure to select Clark Middle School.

2025 SCCS Family Link to Share

8th Grade Science:

Hello!

We are so excited for the month of February! We can't wait to learn about space in science, the Revolutionary War and project in social studies, continuing systems of equations in math, and read the Boy in the Striped Pajamas in ELA. We hope everybody has a great month!

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

Springboard, Language Arts 6: Mrs. M. Smith, Ms. M. Ridgley, Mrs. Lopez:

This month, Language Arts classes are diving into Sharon Creech’s award-winning novel Walk Two Moons—a beautifully woven story of self-discovery, love, and loss. Students will engage in a variety of interactive activities, including bubble mapping to analyze chapters in clusters, vocabulary-building exercises, double-entry journals, personal reflections, interviews, and research on national parks in the USA. To conclude their study of the novel, they will demonstrate their understanding through a literary analysis essay.

SCIENCE: Ms. Olsen:

In science we have now moved from Ecosystems into our new unit in Energy. We have learned what energy is and that it can either be potential (stored) energy or kinetic (movement) energy. For the month of February, we will be focusing on renewable energy and nonrenewable energy, then concentrating our focus on solar and thermal energies.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Mr. Moran:

In this unit, students will look at the extent that Europe is a heterogeneous culture, to what extent these nations share common cultures, histories, geography and perceptions, how these relationships compare to the rest of the globe, and to what extent do these ideals of peace, and economic strength entice people to unite, or lead to conflict and tension in regions or countries. With this in mind, students look at how the European union came about.

ELL Math/SCIENCE: Ms. Mohammad:

Mechanical, chemical, solar, energy transformation, and energy conversion are among the numerous energy sources that students in Ms. Mohammad's IS6 classes will have the opportunity to investigate. Through a variety of hands-on activities and demonstrations, they will acquire an understanding of the process by which energy is converted into heat energy, light energy, and other forms of energy through a generator or solar panel. A variety of activities, including watching movies and eating hot popcorn, require electrical energy. Because fossil fuels contain stored chemical energy, burning them releases some electrical energy. When fossil fuels are burned, chemical energy is transformed into thermal energy, which is then transformed into electrical energy. They are all examples of energy conversion. Energy conversion is the process through which one type of energy changes into another. When energy transforms in this way, it is neither wasted nor consumed. The energy level doesn't change after the conversion. Energy conversion adheres to the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy may only be altered and not created or destroyed. The several forms of energy include mechanical, chemical, thermal, electrical, acoustic, and other resources. Any one of these forms of energy can change into any other form. It is common for energy to change into two or more different forms. For example, when popcorn kernels are put inside a popcorn maker, electrical energy is used to heat the popcorn maker. In mechanical energy, kinetic and potential energy are often exchanged. Kinetic energy is the energy of moving objects. The energy contained in objects, typically because of their location or shape, is known as potential energy. Kinetic energy is used to change an object's shape or location, which gives it potential energy. Potential energy gives us the ability to move. If it happens, the potential energy transforms back into kinetic energy.

I- Ready Math 6-8 NCC/ELL:

Students in grades 6–8 will be able to define the lowest/least common multiple (LCM) by analogy. It is the lowest figure that both provided values can fall within. It can also be stated as the smallest integer present in both timetables. Therefore, writing the first few multiples of each integer will get the LCM of 6 and 8: 8: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 6: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, … The LCM is therefore 24. The concepts of "Lowest Common Multiple" and "Highest Common Factor" will be covered in this session, along with how to list and compare the factors and multiples of small integers to find their lowest common multiples.

Math: Ms. Cleopas:

Students will learn the concept of percentages and learn how to apply them in various real-world situations. They'll discover how to convert between fractions, decimals, and percentages, and practice finding the percent of a number.

I am thrilled to announce we have been invited to participate in the Jewel Lake Ice Fishing event on February 5th. This fantastic opportunity is provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Students will learn about local fish species, ice fishing techniques, and winter outdoor safety.

ELA: Colleen Martinson martinson_colleen@asdk12.org

The class is reading Tangerine by Edward Bloor and writing paragraphs with claims and supporting evidence.

Social Studies: David Holmes holmes_david@asdk12.org

Classes will be completing their study of Central America and South America and will be starting their South America Poster Projects. Then we will be moving on to studying Europe.

Science: Breena Apgar-Kurtz apgar-kurtz_breena@asdk12.org

Students are learning about climate change. We are learning to use data to build a model to explain how the climate is changing around us. We are gathering data in labs to strengthen our understanding of models.

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

martinson_colleen@asdk12.org - Language Arts

holmes_david@asdk12.org - Social Studies

apgar-kurtz_breena@asdk12.org - Science

Black History Month

February is a month to celebrate Black history, but not as something to be taken out, looked at, celebrated, and then put away. It is a time to refresh and renew our understanding of Black perspectives and voices as part of our shared history. We continue to work towards an educational system that strives for inclusion and equity. This includes a commitment to uplifting Black voices and supporting Black youth in our community, not just in February, but year-round. This also includes acknowledging the barriers that have contributed to the marginalization of students whose identities exist at the intersection of multiple systems of oppression. Black culture and achievements play a critical role and how we live, learn, work, and play. However, persistent practices, beliefs, and behaviors continue to uphold systems that contribute to disproportionality in schools. To learn more about inequities and biases that exist for students of color in special education, read Research conducted by the National Center for Learning Disabilities—Significant Disproportionality in Special Education.

Fact Sheet on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from OCR

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued a fact sheet titled: "Fact Sheet: Diversity & Inclusion Activities Under Title VI."

This fact sheet was created to “assist school communities, including students, parents, families, educators, and elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions, in understanding that diversity, equity, and inclusion training and similar activities in most factual circumstances are consistent with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI).”

The fact sheet linked above addresses disparate treatment based on race and clarifies that "activities intended, in whole or in part, to further objectives such as diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not generally or categorically prohibited under Title VI [of the Civil Rights Act of 1964]. Congress has found that it is in the best interest of the United States to support public schools 'that are voluntarily seeking to foster meaningful interaction among students of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, beginning at the earliest stage of such students’ education.'"

Greetings, Team Pizzazz Parent/Guardian!

Greetings, Team Pizzazz Parent/Guardian!

We hope you have had a great start to February so far. We enjoyed our field trip to the Alaska Zoo with your student and hope they learned some new information about ecosystems and animal interactions. This quarter, your student is working on goal-setting and personal responsibility skills with all of their core teachers. As a part of this personal responsibility, we are giving students points for having their materials for class every day. Grades are now affected by late submissions (please see our Week at a Glance email for more information on this policy).

• The most accurate grade-reporting site is QStudentConnect/QParentConnect. Official grades are kept here, but assignments should be completed on Canvas. If you would like to be added as an Observer on Canvas for your student's class, please contact that teacher for access (we will need your email address).
• Teacher Conference Hours throughout the week are as follows: Tuesdays 9:30 am-10:55 am, and Wednesdays-Fridays 10:25 am-11:10 am. If you would ever like to schedule a time to meet with your student's teachers, please reach out directly to me or a different teacher (emails found at the bottom of this message).

Best,

Team Pizzazz

Eleanor Cash cash_ellie@asdk12.org

Tanya Nault nault_tanya@asdk12.org

Abigail Pfisterer pfisterer_abigail@asdk12.org

Blake Baker baker_blake@asdk12.org

Danica Cleopas cleopas_danicamae@asdk12.org

ELA: William Gordon gordon_william@asdk12.org

In February students in ELA will be exploring the craft of effective argumentation through the lens of advertising and current events. Additionally we will be beginning our new novel, the compelling Tangerine by Edward Bloor. Through the novel students will practice comprehension and analysis skills as well as look at how author’s craft effective characterization and plot development.

Social Studies: Natalie Moten moten_nalalie@asdk12.org

This month, our Social Studies students will embark on an exciting research unit. They will explore a current global issue, allowing them to engage deeply with a topic that impacts our world today. Each student will work independently, progressing through various components of the project on a daily basis. This approach not only enhances their research skills but also fosters critical thinking and personal responsibility. We encourage parents to discuss these topics with their children to further enrich their learning experience.

Science: Alicia Warren warren_alicia@asdk12.org

I hope this message finds you well and in good spirits. I am grateful for your support as we continue this school year.

We are excited to announce that we are moving into Unit 2 of our Physical Science curriculum, which focuses on Motion and Energy. This unit will cover several key concepts:

• Describing Motion: Students will learn how to tell the motion of objects, including speed and direction.

• The Laws of Motion: We will explore Newton's Laws and how they apply to everyday situations.

• Energy and Energy Resources: Discussions will include different forms of energy and sustainable resources.

Please ensure your child is prepared for upcoming lessons and encourage them to ask questions. As we delve deeper into our unit, I encourage families to engage with their children about their learning. Simple discussions at home can significantly enhance their understanding. Thank you for your ongoing support in providing a positive learning environment!

Team Resilience is looking towards high school readiness and getting your students prepared for the next step of their education during the second semester.

Social Studies: Larry Moberly moberly_larry@asdk12.org

Students will continue studying Colonization with the ultimate 4th quarter goal of applying lessons from the past to “off - world” colonization opportunities that may present themselves in the near future. Our Little Town Economics project will also be on display in February, 2025 when Clark Middle School hosts a Social Studies night.

Science 8: Jason Patterson patterson_jason@asdk12.org

We are using pre-AP strategies, class discussions, and hands-on activities to understand more about concepts of light, color, astrophysics, and cosmology; we will be understanding our universe through the discoveries of NASA's flying telescope, SOFIA.

Language Arts: Scott Macdonald masdonald_scott@asdk12.org

Students will be continuing to learn about the Holocaust and how to learn from narratives from the past and how they can connect to our world today.

NJHS is a middle school student organization that promotes the values of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship within a school. Part of their service requirement is to engage their school and community in events. During the first part of February, they will sell Carnations and Candy to raise funds for their organization. Flyers will posted throughout the school and will be delivered to the recipient on Valentine’s Day.

How do you become a member of NJHS?

Each Quarter 3 at the end of February an application will be given to those that meet the academic requirements. The candidate will complete the application, essay, and teacher's recommendation form and turn them into Mrs. Swisher.

Selection of Members:

1. To be eligible for membership, the candidate must be a sixth-grader OR a seventh-grader at Clark Middle School.

2. The selection of members to the chapter shall be by a majority vote of the faculty council.

3. All faculty members will review the applicants’ names. Students who do not promote service, leadership, citizenship, and character in the classroom will not be considered for membership.

Scholarship Requirements:

All applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better as their overall score for each core class on the report card from the first two quarters.

Service Requirements:

All applicants are required to have documented and verified community service hours.

Leadership and Character Requirements:

Students will be asked to detail their leadership experiences while attending Clark Middle School or any other middle school they have attended.

Essay:

All applicants will be required to submit one essay, discussing how they meet the pillars of NJHS.

Letter of Recommendation:

Students must include a letter of recommendation from 2-3 adults who can speak to the pillars of character, leadership, citizenship, and service.

Hello from Ms. Friedline's math classes. All students should be using iReady on their Chromebooks. When a student logs in, they can do the teacher assigned lessons on the left-hand side. On the right-hand side, they will see "My Path." These are lessons designed specifically for your student to meet their individual needs. Please encourage your student to complete iReady lessons at home. 30 minutes a week of iReady is beneficial to your student's math growth.

6th Grade Math: Michelle Friedline friedline_michelle@asdk12.org

6th grade students are learning about ratios. They have been reading carefully, drawing models, and setting up ratios to compare two quantities. A great way to practice with your student is to look at recipes and discuss quantities. For example, if one cake requires 3 eggs, ask them how many eggs they would need if they wanted to bake two cakes.

7th grade Math: Michelle Friedline friedline_michelle@asdk12.org

The students have been working hard on adding, subtracting, and multiplying with positive and negative numbers. Have them explain what happens when they add a negative number or subtract a negative number. They have also learned the rules for multiplying positive and negative numbers. A great way to practice is to discuss temperatures. For example, if it is negative 10 degrees outside, how much does it have to warm up for the temperature to reach 0 degrees? How much does it have to warm up for the temperature to reach 10 degrees above zero?

Math 7:

We are starting our unit of expressions, equations, and inequalities. We have seen great improvement with the kids who are consistently doing IReady. Please encourage your student to work on IReady from home if they have access to a Chromebook. We know we will see huge growth.

John Weaver weaver_john@asdk12.org

Math 8: Sarah Miller miller_sarah@asdk12.org,

Bryson Maxwell maxwell_bryson@asdk12.org

Students will be finishing unit 4: Functions and getting their new book!! Unit 5-7 are in volume 2 so their first volume will be coming home.

Algebra 1: Students will be finishing unit 4, taking their unit test, and starting unit 5 which is about exponential functions. Units 5-7 are in volume 2 so their first volume will be coming home. Look for the February email with the assignments calendar.

Students will be focusing on Kids2Careers: My Path to Success Student Handbook for most of February. This handbook is issued by the Alaska Commission of Postsecondary Education in partnership with Clark Middle School. Through this, students will recognize the significance of investing in career preparation and training now to help secure the lifestyle and happiness desired in adulthood. (The handbook is available online for students who are absent or have incomplete assignments.) Students will continue to learn about various careers through video spotlights on Fridays and will begin having their first guest speakers coming to class.

Health (8th Grade)

Students are focusing on socio-emotional health and focusing on family and friend relationships, managing stress, and mental disorders, with an emphasis on making healthy decisions for optimal personal, mental, physical, and social health. This will likely carry us to the end of the quarter.

Your Migrant Education Student Success Coach

Welcome back Clark Migrant Education Families!

I hope you all had a refreshing break and are ready to kick off this new year with energy and enthusiasm! As we step into a new quarter, new semester and NEW YEAR its the perfect time to set some goals for grades, good study habits and attitudes.

As your Student Success Coach for Migrant Education, I’m here to support students and families alike. Whether it's helping you with tough assignments, guiding you through new concepts, or just offering some advice to keep you on track, you can always count on me to be a resource. Let's make the most of it together. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ve got this!

Rob Woolsey

Migrant Education Student Success Coach

Clark Middle School

(907) 742- 7773 ext 7773

woolsey_robert@asdk12.org

Migrant Education is starting up BEFORE and AFTER school homework help again. BEFORE school starts at 8:30 am, and is on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. AFTER school starts at 4pm. and is held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays. Bussing will not be available until Monday the 13th. I will have teachers in the classroom helping out, so this is a GREAT small class environment for students to get A LOT of one on one time.

Indigenous Education at Clark Middle School - Ms. Sophie

We hope you all had a peaceful and joyful winter break. As we come back together, we acknowledge the importance of rest, reflection, and the time spent with loved ones. Winter is a season for stories, connection, and renewal in many indigenous traditions, and we look forward to starting this new year with the same spirit of unity and growth.

Lunches in Ms. Sophie’s classroom for 6th 7th & 8th grade

Since the beginning of the school year, I’ve invited many of our students to my classroom to eat and enjoy their lunch as well as Beading, coloring, creating Christmas cards, playing string games, watching videos about our native cultures, playing blookets, asking native based questions, having conversations about the different Alaska Native cultures, etc. During lunches, I will also check grades with students and talk to them about their missing work and how I can support them if needed.

Threads of our Stories

We are excited to announce that Bartlett High School will be hosting an Indigenous Fashion and Art Show on February 8, 2025.

This event will be a celebration of the diverse cultural backgrounds and creativity within our community. It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase traditional attire, artistic talents, and cultural pride.

We would love for you to join us in this event! Whether you want to model cultural fashion, present an art piece, or contribute in other creative ways, your participation will make this celebration even more special.

We look forward to seeing the incredible creativity and cultural pride that will be shared!

If you would like to participate, please register by January 22, 2025. We encourage everyone to join in and share your unique cultural heritage or artistic talents. For further assistance or any questions, feel free to contact Ms. Sophie.

If your student is not currently enrolled in our Indigenous Education program, and you have either a copy of their tribal card (from your village) or a bureau of Indian identification (BIA Card), you can reach out to Ms. Sophie to help get them enrolled to the program.

Upcoming events

Jan 20 – Martin Luther King Day (no school)

Jan 28 – 100th day of School!!

Feb 16 – Elizabeth Peratrovich Day

Feb 17 – Presidents Day (no school)

Mar 6 – Last day of 3rd quarter

Mar 7 – Inservice Day (no school)

Mar 10 – 14 – Spring Break

If you’d like to contact Ms. Sophie regarding Indigenous Education at Clark Middle School, you can reach her at Cleveland_sophie@asdk12.org or call 907-742-9691

The spring 2025 wrestling season is here, and we’re thrilled to share an incredible opportunity to help grow happy, healthy, and strong-minded youth in our community.

Registration Link:
We welcome all students, with no tryouts required! For those interested, please use the link below to register:
Anchorage Freestyle Wrestling Club Registration 2025 Season

Practice Information:

• Ages: 5 to 18 years
• Season Dates: February 3rd – May 3rd
• Practice Schedule:
  • K–5th Grade: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
  • 6th–12th Grade: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
• Location: Dimond High School Old Gym, 2909 W 88th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99502
• Tournaments: Fridays and Saturdays

Scholarship and Sponsorship Opportunities:
For those interested in financial assistance, Alaska Housing offers a scholarship program for qualifying students. While we are unsure of their funding availability for 2025, please visit the link below for more information:

Alaska Housing Youth Summer Camp Activity Scholarship

Additionally, we accept individual sponsorships through personal donors to support individual wrestlers.

If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Best regards,
Tony Lema
Head Coach, Wrestling Team, Dimond High School
Assistant Coach, Anchorage Freestyle Wrestling Club

Email: coachtonylema@gmail.com
Cell: 907-903-5004

February

Feb. 3rd - Girls Basketball Game

Feb. 4th - Girls Basketball Game

Feb. 5th - X-C Ski Meet

Feb. 5th - Westling Meet

Feb. 6th - Girls Basketball Game

Feb. 7th - Clark School Dance

Feb. 10th - Girls Basketball Game

Feb. 11th - Girls Basketball Game

Feb. 12th - Westling Meet

Feb. 12th - X-C Ski Meet

Feb. 13th - Girls Basketball Tournament

Feb. 15th - Debate Tournament 8am

Feb. 15th - Westling Jamboree

Feb. 16th - Elizabeth Peratrovich Day

Feb. 17th - Presidents Day [No School]

Feb. 19th - X-C Ski Meet

Feb. 19th - Westling Meet

Feb. 20th - Transition/Literacy Night 5:30pm-7:45pm

Feb. 22nd - Girls Basketball Tournament

Feb. 22nd - Westling Jamboree

Feb. 24th-28th - Access Testing

Feb. 25th - X-C Ski Meet

Feb. 27th - X-C Ski Meet

Feb. 28th - In-Service Day [No School for Students]