01/10/25 Trailside Parent News

Hello Trailside Families!

I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable winter break. In these first few days back, students seem rested, refreshed, and excited for the 2nd semester of school.

Jan. 17 kicks off the annual Read-A-Thon- one of Trailside's most important fundraisers. This event helps pay for the incredible opportunities that only happen at Trailside, such as the Swimming/Boat Safety Unit, End of the Year Camps, and other Field Trips. I want to encourage your child to participate in the incredible reading opportunity that benefits the school.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding with the new Raptor Sign-In System. We understand it is new and an extra step- you have all been so supportive. Thank you!

Although we have just started the 2nd semester, it is important to realize that your child is almost in the next grade. This means the academic concepts your child is learning will continue to progress towards the next grade. Please ensure they have plenty of rest and a solid bedtime schedule- this is crucial for student success.

Thank you!

Eric Niessner, Principal

Parents who wish to chaperone or volunteer with school events must complete a Volunteer Application each school year (it does not carry over through multiple school years). If you have not done so already, please complete a volunteer application :

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSft2SM758xCY0fkBu7cYj6vdYGO4RRJt7LFAqrCKaQDHMwPMg/viewform

Dear Trailside Families

The new year is off to an exciting start at Trailside! We're kicking off 2025 with some fantastic events that will bring our community together and inspire our students to reach new heights.

1. Get Ready to Read!

Mark your calendars for our biggest reading celebration of the year! We're launching our annual Read-a-Thon with a twist -- a Book Character Dance Party featuring our very own amazing DJ Pop'n'Locke on Friday, January 17th. Imagine our Multi-Purpose Room transformed into a magical space where your favorite book characters come to life! From 6:30 to 8:00 PM, we'll dance, enjoy snacks (available for purchase to support our 4th/5th grade science camp), and build excitement for our reading challenge.

Speaking of the Read-a-Thon, we've set an ambitious goal this year - 90,000 minutes of reading across our school community! Your children will bring home their information packets on January 17th, complete with everything they need to start collecting pledges. The official reading period runs from Sunday, January 26th through Saturday, February 1st. Watch for Mr. Niessner, who will be creating quite the "buzz" around school to encourage our young readers!

1. PTA Membership Meeting: Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom

The next PTA Membership meeting will be held Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Zoom details will be sent out to the membership next week, Join us and learn more about upcoming activities, ways to get involved and how to support our school.

Not a member? Make a difference in your child's education & our school community. Sign up at https://trailsidepta.givebacks.com/

1. After-School Activities

Mr. Leiser is offering gymnastics sessions this month! Our K-2nd graders can tumble and roll on Wednesdays and Fridays (January 15th and 17th), while 3rd-5th graders have their turns on Tuesdays and Thursdays (January 14th and 16th), all from 2:30-3:30 PM.

Beginning unicycling and intermediate unicycling are coming up next! Watch for PTA member email for early notice and for flyers coming home soon.

Have a special talent or hobby you'd love to share? Our After-School Activities program is always looking for new instructors (and yes, you'll earn $30 per hour!). Contact Lia Slemons at trailsideactivities@gmail.com to learn more.

1. Coffee for a Cause

Need a morning boost? Our 4th and 5th graders are selling Kaladi coffee to help fund their upcoming science camp adventures. Order through your favorite upper-grade student or visit trailside.myptezcentral.com. They'll deliver the coffee right to your student - talk about door-to-door service!

1. Winter Wonderland

Have you noticed our ice rink is open? While all of Anchorage might feel like one big skating rink right now (we see you, January weather!), our PTA-sponsored rink is ready for your family.'s winter adventures. Bundle up and come make some memories!

1. Capturing Memories

Our yearbook team is hard at work preserving this year's precious moments. Have you snapped any photos at school events? Share them at trailsideyearbook24@gmail.com.

1. Gratitude

And here's some exciting news - those glow-in-the-dark ukuleles you've been hearing about? Thanks to our amazing community's support, we've secured 32 of them for our students! It's wonderful to see your fundraising dollars creating musical magic in our classrooms.

Thank you to everyone who helped make our December swimming program such a success. Your volunteer spirit continues to amaze us!

1. Get Involved

Not a PTA member yet? There's no better time to join! Visit trailsidepta.givebacks.com and become part of our mission to make Trailside the best it can be.

Questions? Ideas? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us at TrailsidePTAPresident@gmail.com.

Mark Your Calendar

Join us for these upcoming events:

• Friday, Jan. 17: Readathon Dance Party Kickoff: come dressed as your favorite book character! 6:30-8 in the Trailside MPR.

• Wednesday, Jan.22: PTA Membership Meeting (via Zoom!)

• January 26-February 1: Readathon! Student log reading minutes- Sunday through Saturday

• Wednesday, Feb. 19: PTA Membership Meeting

• Friday, Feb. 21: Winter Family Fun Night

• Friday, March 21: Math and Science Night

Calling Presenters for Math and Science night 2025!

The Science/Math Night committee is activity seeking any parents, uncles, aunts, friends, grandparents who would like to share their math or science knowledge with Trailside students and families!

This year’s Math and Science night is March 21st from 5:30-7:30pm

Please email Ulbrich_carleen@asdk12.org if you would like to present or have questions! We love new ideas! Thanks!

During the second semester, the Elementary Health curriculum, The Great Body Shop, will cover human growth and development and diseases.

Fifth grade student lessons are:

Unit 6 Growing Up

Lesson 1 Hormones and Your Body

Lesson 2 Puberty: Growing and Changing

Lesson 3 Hygiene and You–Keeping Clean

Lesson 4 Growing Up With a Healthy Attitude

Unit 8 About Blood and Disease

Lesson 3 HIV, Enemy of the Immune System

For more information about lesson topics, student issues and videos, please visit the preview folder:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zTuTxyXfvva8JXUNPqjgYJgmiVUCp7xS?usp=sharing

*I have printed out parent consent reports and will be contacting those that opted out to confirm their requests.

This letter is to let you know that your child’s class will be receiving age-appropriate lessons on child sexual abuse and assault prevention education as required under the state’s Alaska Safe Children’s Act (Erin’s Law).

Erin’s Law Education consists of two lessons (one lesson at the beginning of each semester) taught during the Health classes. Combined, these lessons meet the full requirements for students under the Alaska Safe Children’s Act (Erin’s Law) and are designed to help prevent childhood sexual abuse. These lessons will be presented in a non-threatening way, along with the skills needed for self-protection and will be handled in a sensitive, respectful manner.

If you would like more information about the content or curriculum used, please contact your child’s teacher or school principal.

If you do NOT want your child to receive the instruction under the Alaska Safe Children’s Act, you must write a letter to the school principal requesting that your child be excused from these specific lessons.

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to provide learning opportunities to improve the safety and well being of our students.

Dear Trailside Parents,

Beginning Feb. 3, Trailside will be conducting a state required assessment for English Language Learners. This assessment is called ACCESS and provides important feedback about the progress of our English Language Learners in Reading, Speaking, Listening and Writing. Students will take the test using our school’s computers. Only students who are currently identified as members of the English Language Learners (ELL) Program will be assessed. Most of the assessments will be completed during the first two weeks of February but some may continue into March. More information about the ACCESS assessment can be found on the Alaska Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s ACCESS page, http://education.alaska.gov/assessments/elp.

If you have any questions about this test, you are encouraged to contact us here at school 907-742-5500. You may also contact the District’s ELL Department at 742-4452. Information about the English Language Learners Program in the School District can be found on ASD’s website.

As always, with testing, we ask that families plan so that their students are in school and are well rested for testing. Your patience and support for this process is very much appreciated as this assessment does provide useful information that helps our district and school improve programs for English Language Learners.

Sincerely,

Eric Niessner

Principal

A friendly reminder that the arrival/dismissal car lane must keep moving. We ask that parents do not leave their cars or remain stationed in one spot- please follow the flow of the line. Thank you!

Families interested in applying for free/reduced lunch can apply here:

https://www.asdk12.org/Page/13248

Please call the office when excusing your student due to sickness, or pre-arranged absence (Travel, Etc.)

When leaving messages for the office, please make sure to leave the student's first and last name.

Please also leave a good contact name and number we can reach you at if we have questions regarding the message.

907-742-5500

All parents, please check your parent connection and make sure all of your contact information is correct.

Please notify the office of any of the following changes:

• Custody/Legal Documents (as soon as possible)
• Address Changes
• Phone number updates
• If you are moving, please notify the office as soon as possible.

Please make sure when using Q Parent Connection to excuse your student, it has to be done in the system prior to 8:30 am. If not, you will get a Robo-Call from the district notifying you that your student was absent for the day. Please call the office if it is after 9:30 am and the office staff will get your student excused.

If you are traveling please contact the office so we can get your student excused, you will then see a "P" (Travel status and other pre-arranged absences) in Q- Parent Connection instead of "E" (Excused).