Dear Knik Learning Families,
Thank you for such a positive start to the 24/25 school year! Our students continue to amaze me with their positive attitude, determination, respectfulness and sense of humor!
Knik families, thank you for sending us such awesome students and citizens!
Our students are off to a great start learning the Knik KINGS expectations: Kind, Integrity, Nurturing, Growth mindset, Safe. For the month of October, our focus will be on Nurturing: I will show I care for myself and others, I will consider how others feel, I will make sure my behavior doesn’t cause a problem for others. Please ask your student(s) about what nurturing means and looks like and how they earn Caught ya’s for demonstrating KINGS traits. We will have schoolwide KINGS assemblies the last Friday of every month @ 9:30 where we; celebrate our students of the month that have consistently demonstrated our character trait of focus, review the KINGS trait of focus for the new month, and draw student Caught ya’s for prizes. Go KINGS!
It is hard to believe October is here: October 18th is the end of the first quarter and our parent teacher conferences will be taking place on November 4th and 5th. Your student's teacher will be reaching out to schedule a parent teacher conference to discuss your students progress and address any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to meeting with you on November 4th and 5th.
The Title 1 Family Engagement survey is open from 10/01-10/15: Please use the link provided to take this short survey. We want to hear from you so we know how we can better serve and support our families, thank you! Title 1 Family Survey: link
All Title 1 schools are required to send out the "Out of Field letter" notification to families, even if they have no teachers on the list. I am happy to share that Knik does not have any teachers working outside of their field of certification. Here is the link to the letter: Out-of-Field letter
Important information regarding the AK Safe Children’s Act and MSBSD Health curriculum for grades 3-5:
Our district health curriculum addresses age-appropriate personal safety lessons in grades kindergarten through ninth grade. In implementing the law: Alaska Safe Children’s Act, all grade levels will receive lessons on sexual abuse awareness and prevention unless opted out by a parent. If you would like to review what is taught in grades K-5, click here. We plan on presenting these lessons beginning October 18, 2024.
Human Growth & Development: 4th & 5th Grade:
Additionally, students in grades 4 & 5 can participate in a human growth and development unit. This unit is district approved and is age appropriate. Boys and girls are taught separately and are again separated by grade level. (There will be a class for 4th grade boys, 5th grade boys, 4th grade girls, and 5th grade girls). This material needs to be opted in for your student to attend (parent must sign permission slip). Here is the link to the information that went home today with students for your review: Alaska Safe Children’s Act (Personal Safety) & HG&D
The Human Growth and Development lesson will take place on March 6, 2025. Transcripts of these classes are available for parent viewing, as are the videos themselves. Please call Nurse Holly for more information or to view these at 907-352-0303.
I want to give families a heads up regarding Halloween: Halloween falls on a school day, Thursday, October 31st. Students may dress up as their favorite story book character, movie character, or superhero. What is not allowed: face covering, masks, hand held objects/accessories, blood, gore, inflatable costumes. Thank you for helping us make sure October 31st is a focused learning day.
Title 1 Family Camp Read A Lot Night! October 24th 5:30 - 7:00 pm: Bring your families for a fun filled evening of reading in fun book themed tents, free food and free books! Tents and campsites will be decorated for students to read great stories and participate in fun activities. Each student that completes the Camp Read a Lot challenge will go home with free books! Families will have an opportunity to watch a presentation that includes information about the Alaska Reads Act. We will be providing free reading resources, activities and creative ideas to help support your young readers at home.
Happy October! I love all the intense colors on display during Fall in Alaska and hope you and your family and friends are able to get outside and enjoy this beautiful time of the year together.
Sincerely,
Denise Gober - Knik Elementary School Principal
(907) 352-0302
Third grade:
Jackson Elkins-Hamilton
Kennedy Wilde
Easton Grube
Fourth grade:
Jackson Wilkins
Cheyenne Heckman
Fifth grade:
Peyton Larrabee
Penelope Navrot
Aaliyah Sellen-Brown
It’s time to Fall into reading… October is BOOK FAIR month! Dates are Monday, October 21 – Monday, November 4. You can shop at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/knikelementaryschool
or in person at the Knik library. There will be a basic book list in the library the week before it starts if you would like to peruse it. Students will have a chance during their library time to look over the books and make a list that they would like to have. Then on their next Library day, they will be able to shop during their library time. The Fair will be open 30 minutes before school starts and until 5:00 during the above dates. Students will also be able to shop if they have $ or E-wallet funds in their account during their recess or lunch. It’s really easy to set up the E-wallet funds on the Scholastic website if you don’t want to send $. Please consider contributing to a “Share the Fair” fund for other kids that are unable to purchase. There will be a donation box in the library or you can contribute online. Parents can click on the link below to preview book fair books.
Scholastic Book Fair Preview | K6 Premium (scholasticbookfairs.com)
Last, but not least, we need volunteers to open book boxes, set up, work the fair, and help close it down. If you would like to volunteer, please email me or stop by to sign up in the library. EXCITING TIMES!!!
On another note, if your student checks out an audio book, can you help by making sure that the earbuds get returned with the case and audio recording?
There have been a lot of earbuds not being returned and I would like to continue issuing earbuds with the recordings…. Thanks for your help. 😊 -Mrs. Michener ( melinda.michener@matsuk12.us)
Melinda Michener - Knik Elementary School Librarian
Happy Fall, Knik Families!
The health office is beginning to roll through those health assessments! I am currently working on third grade. These health assessments are important to the health and well-being of our students and helps keep them in school and ready to learn! These screenings cover basic vision, hearing, height, weight, blood pressure and heart rate; and take about 10 minutes per student to complete. The State of Alaska and our Mat-Su Borough School District require these screenings for those Knik Elementary students in 3rd, 5th, and those new to district; unless directed otherwise by parents. You may always call my office to discuss your student’s screening, or for generalized questions you have for me!
I have a handful of families still missing some vital forms—exemption forms, action plans, or medication. If you are unsure if you are one of them, please reach out. If you know you are, please get them in as soon as possible! 😊 Your school nurse appreciates you.
I hope you are able to get out and enjoy some of this wonderful fall weather we’ve been blessed with moving into October!
Nurse Holly Rauchenstein, RN, BSN, NCSN
Knik Elementary School Nurse
907-352-0303
Good attendance is directly tied closely to school and life success. We want to work with you and your students to achieve regular attendance and increase their opportunity for school success. Parents are highly encouraged to take an active role in their child's attendance and to inform the school, either by phone, email or entering it into Parent Vue when your child will be absent or tardy.
If your child will be absent for multiple days, please make arrangements with your students' teacher for make up work.
Please let us know how we can best support you and your child's attendance.
Children who do not attend school will be counted absent, either excused or unexcused. Students arriving after 9:21 am are considered tardy, excused or unexcused, depending on whether there is parent communication. Students who spend less than 3.5 hours at school, regardless of the time of arrival or dismissal, are considered half - day absent. Students who are here at school for more than 3.5 hours, regardless or arrival or dismissal time are considered present for a full day.
After 3 consecutive days absent, a telephone call will be made to the parents / guardian; a written notice will be sent home after 5 days of absences. After 9 days absent, the students' absences will be considered habitual and another written notice will be mailed home.
Parents/guardians have access to GPS information for the buses associated with their students bus route. For a look at a student’s bus location, parents can go to www.matsuk12.us and click on Parents > Transportation Lookup > Where’s My Bus. This document walks you through how to access Where's My Bus with picture references.
The username and password will be the phone number that a parent/guardian used at the time of registration. Please note that GPS will not work if the route is being driven in a substitute bus. If you are having issues viewing the bus, please contact either the Pupil Transportation Department at 907-761-HELP (4357)
https://www.matsuk12.us/business-departments/transportation/transportation-overview
