Wolf Pup Weekly
Woodriver Issue #33 - 4/26/24
A WORD FROM MR. GUY
Hello Wolf Pup parents!
Thank you to everyone who came to our Primary Concert on Thursday. I was thrilled with our kid’s performance. Baby Beluga brought back a lot of memories of my own kids! A huge thank you to Mrs. Adams for all of her hard work making sure our concert was a success.
Starting Monday, students will be allowed to go outside for recess without winter gear. Kids can keep their snow pants and boots at home. If your child is missing any gear, I highly suggest you visit our lost and found near our front entry. There are dozens of coats, hats, and gloves that we have collected over the year.
Finally, I want to recognize our counselor Mrs. Brashear, who is retiring after 24 years here at Woodriver, and 27 years in our district. She has been an incredible counselor for generations of students, and has left a memorable impression on the thousands of kids she has worked with over her many years here. I wish her nothing but the best as she starts a new chapter in her life.
WOLF PUPS IN ACTION
LOVIN THAT SUN!
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Congratulations to our K, 1st, and 2nd grade Wolf Pups for putting on another amazing concert this week! We are so proud of all the students who worked super hard to learn the songs, dances, and instruments that made it such a fun and enjoyable event! What a fantastic theme for our primary grades! Those silly crayons had everyone boogying, shaking, and singing along all way through the rainbow! A HUGE thanks to Mrs. Adams for all her hard work in bringing music to our school, and into our children's lives!
Wolf Pups celebrated Earth Day this week with help from the Howling Helpers! Students researched facts about the Earth, and about the history of Earth Day and the environmental movement, then read aloud those facts on the morning announcements. Great job Howling Helpers on helping to raise more awareness about the environment, thank you!
Congratulations to Wolf Pup Grail Conley, and his brother, former Wolf Pup Revy, for winning the UAF Innovation Award for their wire-mesh tire sleeves, called Siping Sleeves! They initially presented their idea during Woodriver's Science Fair. Their invention is a cheap alternative to winter tires to improve traction in icy conditions. Their first place invention earned them a $600 prize!
Below is an excerpt from the article in the Fairbanks News Miner documenting their achievement, great job guys!
"Brothers Grail and Revy Conley received a lot of traction with their Get a Grip! solution for winter driving, winning both the Cub division’s $600 first-place prize and the division fan favorite.
The Conleys’ proposed wire-mesh tire sleeves, called Siping Sleeves, were developed as a cheap but effective solution to improve traction on the Interior’s wintertime icy roads.
“The barbs on the mesh provide immediate traction like studs and chains and also make small cuts in the surface of the tire which continue to provide traction when the mesh is removed,” Grail Conley said.
The brothers noted the main options, such as a set of Blizaks, cost more than $1,200. The siping sleeves leverage the siping technique which the tire industry uses to cut 90-degree slits into tires for improved traction.
Grail and Revy tested the concept on a remote-controlled car over ice, noting it provides a 65% increase in traction and 22% improvement in stopping distance.
The Conleys said they need to make a full-size prototype set from a roll of concertina barbed wire, with an estimated cost of $80. If successful, they would market a set of four at $100. They recognize the concern [that] tires could be popped by deep siping but are working on a solution."
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
PAWSITIVE PUPS
This week's Pawsitive Pups went above and beyond to make our school environment a positive one! Congratulations Pups!
Riley Gerik
Isabelle Olson
Adalyn Chausse
Ivy Schwab
Zoey Alstrom
Nick Duprey
Axinia Shewfelt
Abel Holmberg
Grail Conley
Lincoln English
Jacob Sinoben
Killian Yarrow
Mckenzie Rief
Ruthie Braband
Romo Hubbard
Kaylee Olson
Jaxon Gray
Glacier Kuiper
Greyson Dameron
Kaysen Huntington
Evelyn-James Bean
Samuella Nyameke
Avery Croll-Elsberry
Lilysa Smith
Rayan Yousif
Finn Alexander
BraeLynn Wright
September Holmberg
George Knopp
Aria Sinoben
Gwenny Bandy
Audriana Ray
Leighton Coghill
Evelyn Streeter-Brehm
Dylann Oleson
Ryan Putnam
Athena Rauch
We have started a new, school-wide, positive behavior rewards and attendance program!
Students are recognized for acts of kindness, good deeds, and helpful and positive behavior. When a student is recognized as a "Pawsitive Pup" they will get a small prize, their name up on a bulletin board for a month, a mention in the weekly newsletter, and a call home from school staff to share the good news with their parents and caregivers. They will also win entry to an exclusive Wolf Pup Super Star themed party, thrown at the beginning of each month!
If you like the sound of this program, please us help fund it! We will need help purchasing the prizes and supplies for the parties. Please consider donating to the Donor's Choose project for it linked below!
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Bike to School Week
Our annual Bike to School Week is set for May 6th to the 10th. Helmets are REQUIRED!! If a student shows up without a helmet, they will not be allowed to ride! Mr. Armstrong will have tools and supplies on hand to tune bikes and patch flat tires. We'll depart from the Pump House's parking lot promptly at 8:45 every morning that week, so arrive at 8:30 to warm up, make sure your bike is ready to ride, and see your friends. The ride is the usual route along Chena Pump Road to Palo Verde Avenue, then down to school. Parents are welcome to ride along and volunteer. See you there!
ORDER FORMS DUE MONDAY!!!!!
Please make sure to turn your order forms in by Monday if you want a yearbook this year! We will NOT be ordering extras this year, so if you did not pre-order one, you will not be able to get one!!
INCOMING KINDERGARTENERS
Our Ready Raven Program team is offering TWO in-person summer programs. Registration is FREE! Ready Raven is a 17-day intensive, literacy-focused, fun opportunity for 4 and 5-year-old children who will enroll in kindergarten this coming fall. Ready Raven will be held Monday-Thursday, June 3–June 27 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at Anne Wien and Midnight Sun Elementary.
PTA UPDATES
Parents! Teacher & staff appreciation week is coming up May 6-10th.
We will do a week of “Rolling Out The Red Carpet” for our superstar staff at Woodriver.
· Monday will be a Preview Party (Breakfast potluck)
· Tuesday is Popping with Appreciation (Popcorn Bar)
· Wednesday we will have VIP Room Service (Treats delivered to classrooms/offices)
· Thursday is a VIP lunch (Catered by DW Grill)
· Friday we will wrap up the week with a fan mail booklet for every staff member and some “Oscar Awards”
How can you help??
· Sign up for breakfast here.
· Donate a gift card ($20-$25 value). Sign up to donate here OR purchase from Amazon.
· Donate a themed gift basket ($50 value). Sign up to donate here OR purchase from Amazon.
· Write up a rave review for a few staff members to be put in their fan mail book! Forms will be available in the gym during both concerts, or in the front office.
Thank you for your help in making this a special week for our superstar staff!
Calling all volunteers! Are you looking for a meaningful way to make a difference? Look no further. Volunteering on the executive board is an incredible opportunity to actively engage in your child’s educational journey and support our school community. Potential positions needed include President, President Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, Treasurer Elect, and Secretary. Contact PTA today to learn more about this exciting volunteer opportunity at woodriverpta@gmail.com.
A good way to connect with your kids is to bring out board games on cozy Friday nights or over the weekend. Your kids get big benefits out of this special family time. In addition to teaching them about teamwork, patience, and how to win and lose gracefully, board games can actually benefit kids' brains and language development. See below for all the benefits board games can bring to your kids!
DISTRICT SCHOOL CALENDAR
IMPORTANT DATES
May
May 15, 16, & 17 | Early Dismissal @ 2:15
May 17 | LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Welcome to Woodriver Elementary School
OFFICE HOURS: 8:45-4:15
SCHOOL HOURS 9:15 - 3:45
Email: nicole.wells@k12northstar.org
Website: www.k12northstar.org/woodriver
Location: 5000 Palo Verde Ave
Phone: 907-479-4211