THE GIRDWOOD NEWS

Dear Girdwood PK-8 School Families,

I hope 2025 is treating you well! I am excited we have made it through the ten darkest weeks of the year and are moving into our light filled days!

We will be holding a Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) Family Night on March 4th from 6-7:30 pm. Sara Dykstra, ASD Director of SEL and Behavior Support, will be presenting on PBIS which is a school-wide framework that helps students succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and mentally. The framework is based on evidence and aims to create safe and positive learning environments for all students. We look forward to seeing you at the PBIS Family Night for information and fun activities led by our teachers. More information will be coming home about this event in the near future, and we hope you save the date.

The Anchorage School District is partnering with the Association of Alaska School Boards to conduct the School Climate and Connectedness Survey ©, a statewide survey for students, staff, and families. This survey measures perceptions of each school’s climate, including the engagement of students, staff, and families. We value and need input from our Girdwood School families. You are an important partner as we work to continually improve our school’s environment. We are asking that one parent/guardian complete one survey from now until March 21st. If you have more than one child attending our school, you only need to fill out one survey. The survey should take less than 5 minutes. Here is the link for accessing the family survey: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/aasb/asdfamily/surveys?language=en

Select Girdwood K-8 School and complete the survey. All of the surveys are voluntary, anonymous, confidential, and do not ask questions about students’ families. Results from this survey will be used to identify student, staff and family perceptions of school climate issues within our school(s). School staff use the results to inform their efforts to ensure schools are safe, supportive, and caring places for all students. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Hmong, and Samoan. Families can toggle to their target language in the upper left-hand corner. Thank you for your cooperation in this year’s School Climate and Connectedness Survey©.

We are excited for the addition of our middle school girls and boys wrestling team. A big shout out to Coach Isaac for coaching our boys and girls in wrestling this year. Our boys and girls cross-country ski team is also underway. A big shout out to Coach Wuerth for coaching our boys and girls in cross country skiing. We hope you take a moment to attend one of their meets to cheer them on at some point this winter!

We are looking forward to a wonderful second half of the year and hope you can continue to help us continue to demonstrate our school motto of being respectful, responsible, reliable, and ready! Please let us know if there is anything you need to ensure your child has a successful second semester.

Wishing you all the best,

Kari Anderson, Principal

2/17 No School for President’s Day

2/18 ACCESS Testing Begins and will continue through the week

2/18 ALICE Winter Full Evacuation Drill at 1:45 pm

2/18 8th Grade South High Tours

2/18 South High Program Night for 8th Grade Families Going to South Next Year starting at 6:30 pm

2/19 Middle School Cross Country Ski Meet at Bartlett starting at 6:00 pm

2/19 Middle School Wrestling Meet at Hanshew starting at 6:00 pm

2/21 Last Day of ACCESS Testing

2/22 Middle School Wrestling Jamboree starting at 9:00 am at Goldenview

2/25 Middle School Cross Country Skiing Race at Chugiak starting at 6:00 pm

2/26 Parent/Teacher Conferences 12-7 pm

2/27 Parent/Teacher Conferences 12-3:30 pm

2/27 Middle School Cross Country Ski Meet at Kincaid starting at 6:00 pm

2/28 ½ Day Professional Development Inservice Day, No School for Students

3/4 PBIS Family Night from 6-8 pm

3/5 Primary Show K-3

We are excited to share Girdwood PK-8 School will implement a new visitor management software system in our school beginning Monday, February 3rd, 2025.

The Raptor Technologies safety software will add an extra layer of campus security. Upon entry, visitors, volunteers, and ASD staff whose primary location is outside of our campus must sign in using the self-serve kiosk. The software has been piloted at ASD schools and is now being rolled out District-wide. The District is implementing the visitor management system to aid in the standardization of visitor check-in procedures in all schools, which complies with Board Policy 3515.5. Starting 2/3/25, all adult visitors to Girdwood PK-8 School will be required to present and scan a current government-issued photo ID upon entering the school. This adjustment to our visitor management policy is a significant step forward in strengthening our school’s safety protocols. As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our students, staff, and school community, we are excited for this important enhancement to our ASD visitor management policy. This new requirement will enable us to:

· Quickly and accurately verify the identity of all visitors.

· Enhance our ability to maintain a secure environment for our students and staff.

· Ensure that we have accurate records of who is in our buildings at all times, further enhancing our ability to respond in the event of an emergency.

We understand that changes in protocol may require adjustments from our community, and we appreciate your cooperation and support in making our school a safer place for everyone. Please rest assured that all information collected will be treated with the utmost respect for privacy and confidentiality, used solely for the purpose of enhancing the security of our school premises. Thank you for your understanding and your continued partnership in keeping our school community safe.

We would like to shout out a big THANK YOU to Subway and the Ice Cream Shop, Girdwood K-8’s school business partners! If you know of anyone else who would like to be our partner, please let us know.

Thank you to our Subway School Business Partner for donating an interactive play center to our preschool and kindergarten classes.

Candy Grams will be for sale during lunch Monday-Thursday next week for $1.00. Candy grams can be purchased by anyone and delivered to staff or students at Girdwood School on Valentine's Day. Your purchase helps support the student trip to Washington DC and NY! Thank you!

Are you looking for a flexible work schedule and an opportunity to make a difference in a student’s life? Girdwood School is looking for substitute teachers, substitute paraprofessionals (teacher assistants), and noon duties! Substitute teachers must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and be willing to go through a background check. Substitute teacher jobs are either half or full day assignments and are compensated at the rate of $175 per full day assignment, $87.50 for half day. To be a substitute paraprofessional (teacher assistant) or noon duty, no degree is required. To apply, go to https://www.asdk12.org/Page/21050 and complete the online application. Pick up a hiring packet from the Talent Management counter at the Anchorage School District Education Center in Anchorage and stop by the Girdwood School to let us know you are interested in subbing. We are looking for great candidates and hoping you stop by to see us!

Girdwood School Parents: Glacier Valley Transit will be providing an after school activities service at The Girdwood School, but only if your son/daughter calls them. Your child can call them at the end of the day, if they need a ride after school or after their sports practice. They are only running one bus right now and they will not come to the school unless they get a prior phone call. This is a free service. They don’t mind stopping at the Girdwood School, so please don’t feel that this is an imposition to them. Please have your put the GVT number in their phone, 907-382.9909. For more information about Glacier Valley Transit and for current bus stops and schedules please visit www.glaciervalleytransit.com or call 907-382-9909.

Please encourage your child to bring their warm clothes and/or rain gear each day. As hardy Alaskans we go out for recess in just about any weather so our students can get some exercise and let out some energy. When stopping by the school, please check out our lost and found located in the mini-commons for gear that your child might be missing. Also, it is still dark in the morning when our students are coming to school and they are walking across crosswalks, in our parking lot, or waiting for the school bus. Please encourage your child to wear reflective clothing and remind oneself to slow down when driving during these times when students are going to school. We want to ensure all of Girdwood kiddos and community members are safe.

Here at Girdwood PK-8 School, we would like to acknowledge with gratitude the Dena’ina people, past and present, who have lived on these lands since long before Anchorage and Girdwood were here. May we all be good stewards of these lands. Chin’an. (/CHIN‐nan/ {Meaning ‐ Thank you})

Just a reminder to keep your dogs leashed while on the playground here at school for the safety of our students and to ensure our playground remains free of dog poop.

Downloading our ASD app is a great way to get the information you need in the palm of your hand. Our free app is available to anyone in our community who wants to stay connected. ASD families and students have access to additional features within the app found at https://www.asdk12.org/mobileapp.

One of the best things about Girdwood School is how active our families are within our classrooms and school. We greatly appreciate all your help and hope to continue this partnership. We strongly suggest ALL parents complete the ASD online volunteer application asap, as well as complete the parent driver paperwork in the front office. If you plan to do any of the following, you will need to complete the online volunteer application: assist teachers in prepping for a project, being a chaperone, classroom volunteer, field trip volunteer, PTA volunteer, reading tutor, science fair judge, special events or project volunteer, and library helper. Basically, if you plan on helping out at any function or volunteering in any format, you will need to complete the ASD online application at least 7 days prior to volunteering in the school or for a school event. Please go to the following link to complete the ASD volunteer online application process: https://www.asdk12.org/Page/13771. In regard to parent drivers, we will no longer be able to accept paper applications a few days prior to or the day of a field trip. The parent driver paperwork will need to be completed at school in the front office. All parent driver paperwork will need to be completed at least 10 days in advance of all field trips. The front office staff will need a copy of your driver's license, proof of auto insurance, and registration. We look forward to working with you and appreciate your kindness and help this school year!

Andy Holleman, president

Carl Jacobs, vice president

Kelly Lessens, treasurer

Dora Wilson, clerk

Dave Donley

Margo Bellamy

Pat Higgins

ASD Superintendent

Dr. Jharrett Bryantt

Emily Marenco, president

Melissa Randich, secretary

Andrea Anderson, Treasurer

Julie Pierre Leclerc, member at large

Nico Honegger, member representative

Jennifer Derks, Shannon Dierks, teacher representatives

Anchorage School District Compliance/Equal Employment Opportunity Office REVISED: 8/2007; 8/2012; 5/2013; 7/2014 ASD Statement of Non-discrimination for ASD Publications The Board is committed to an environment of non-discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, economic status, union affiliation, disability and other human differences. No person shall be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, any academic or extracurricular program or educational opportunity or service offered by the District. The District will comply with the applicable statutes, regulations, and executive orders adopted by Federal, State and Municipal agencies. The District notes the concurrent applicability of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the relevant disability provisions of Alaska law. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the District’s Compliance/Equal Employment Opportunity Executive Director, who also serves as the Title IX and ADA/ADAAA Coordinator, ASD Education Center, 5530 E. Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99504-3135 (907) 742-4132, or to any of the following external agencies: Alaska State Commission for Human Rights, Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Director of the Office for Civil Rights-U.S. Department of Education or Ofce of Civil Rights-U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Four Valleys Community Schools has classes

going on now and are constantly rolling out

lots of new ones for community members of

all ages. If you feel unable to take any of our

classes due to class costs, please contact

FVCS at www.fourvalleys.org or by phone at

907.742.5317. We have financial aid,

scholarships, and payment plans available.