Happy Spring Knik Families and Learning Community!
I hope you are feeling rejuvenated with our Alaskan entrance to Spring and all that Spring signifies: renewal, growth, additional daylight, beautiful sunrises, sunsets and muddy vehicles.
We will be having our Pastries For Parents FY26 Title 1 planning meeting on April 1st from 8:30 - 9:00 am in the Library at Knik. We would love to have your input and feedback regarding how we can best use our Title 1 funds to support school climate & connectedness, academic achievement, and parent and family engagement. We will serve coffee and doughnuts. There will be drawings for fun award winning board games families can play at home to support students reading, spelling and math skills! We hope to see you on April 1st from 8:30-9:00 am.
I am looking forward to finishing this year strong together. I am excited to see the positive growth and outcomes from our students as the year has progressed.
As always, please reach out to me at any time if you have concerns, needs, suggestions or just to say hello.
In partnership and support :)
Denise Gober - Knik Elementary School Principal
(907) 352-0302
“We envision a safe, dynamic, collaborative learning community where all students are engaged and motivated by their own progress, and growth is celebrated at all levels.”
READ IN THE DARK contest is underway! It runs through Spring Break in March (March 17 when we return). Students have oversized bookmarks to record their book choices. To be eligible for a prize, they have to read 7 out of 17 books. Each choice can only be counted once. So , they have to read at least 7 books. The choices are given on the back of the bookmark. Parents/adults in the house, please initial the box on the bookmark when your child completes a choice. We have already started the contest in the library with: read with a friend and a fairy tale. If they were absent, they can make other choices…. According to the rules, the books have to be hard copies (in their hands, not online), no audio books-they have to be reading themselves but a parent can help some if needed. We want our kids reading! So, we are also celebrating the Iditarod races: Our IDITAREAD competition is in full swing too: classroom against classroom, as your child reads, make sure they record their minutes. For every 20 minutes read, they can turn in a slip on Mondays to their teacher. Minutes are added up weekly with the dogs racing down the Gym hallway wall. The classroom with the most minutes receives a class party. This classroom contest runs through the end of March. Winter is great for reading so get out those favorite books and share with your family. Good Luck!
** Audio books are not eligible. **
Sincerely,
Mrs. Michener
Knik Elementary School Librarian
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.
Nurse Holly Rauchenstein, RN, BSN, NCSN
Knik Elementary School Nurse
holly.rauchenstein@matsuk12.us
907-352-0303
Good attendance is directly tied 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
