Ravenwood Elementary School

Ravens:

• Striving for academic success
• Connecting with community
• Soaring to our highest potential

Dear Families,

Can you believe it’s already November? We just wrapped up an incredible first quarter, and we’re so thankful to have such a wonderful school community! From our dedicated teachers to our amazing families and PTSO, Ravenwood is truly a special place to learn and grow.

As we head into the holiday season, here are some ways to get involved:

• Epic Food Fight: From Nov. 1-15, our Student Council is joining a friendly competition with other schools to stock the shelves of the Chugiak/Eagle River Food Pantry. Let’s bring in canned goods and help our neighbors in need!

• Holiday Bazaar Baskets: Each class is creating themed gift baskets for the PTSO Holiday Bazaar on Dec. 7! Check the PTSO section of the newsletter for your child’s class theme. Your contributions make these baskets a holiday favorite!

We hope to see you at the PTSO Family Dance on Nov. 15 to celebrate raising an amazing $37,000 for Run for Ravenwood! Admission is free, and our 5th graders will be selling delicious Italian sodas to help fund their camp. Come join the fun!

Have a warm and joyful Thanksgiving,

Kim Bautista, Principal, Ravenwood Elementary School

🎪“Whatever you do, do it with all your might.” 🎪

P. T. Barnum

Please contact our front office, if you have questions or need assistance.

• School Day: 8:00a - 2:30p
• Arrival: no earlier than 7:45a (doors open at 7:50a with 1st bell)
• Late Arrival Mondays for PLCs: 9:00a (doors open at 8:45a)
• Dismissal: 2:30p
• Office Number: (907) 742-3250
• Front Office Team: Beth Kutyba and Tatiana Perez

Tomorrow is the LAST day to bring in canned food and non-perishables for the Chugiak/Eagle River Food Pantry. It is part of our Annual Food Fight with area elementary schools battling to collect the most weight to fill the Pantry's shelves for winter. You can send in items tomorrow, OR bring them with you to the PTSO Family Dance tomorrow night from 5:30-7:30p. Thank you for showing your kindness and generosity, Ravens!

Hot Lunch Service has returned to Ravenwood! Our new Cafeteria Manager, Mrs. Cipres-Ortegon, is now serving up hot meals! Elementary student lunches are $5.75, and milk only is $1.00. Go to the Student Nutrition website for more info, to put money on your child’s account, or to apply for free/reduced priced meals.

Students need to bring and wear ALL their snow gear (coat, hat, gloves, snowpants and BOOTS) for outdoor recess and PE classes. We got outside daily, unless temperature drops below -10. Thank you for helping us keep them safe and warm during the cold days of winter!

Please label your child’s winter gear, so if they lose or misplace items, they can be reunited! Already missing something? Don't forget to check our Lost and Found.

Thank you families for all your support over the past few weeks, from Run for Ravenwood to the Harvest Festival - you put the FUN in FUNdraising!

Our next celebration will be a Family Dance to celebrate reaching $30,000 during Run for Ravenwood! This will take place on November 15th from 5:30-7:30 PM. This will be a family event, unchaperoned students will not be permitted. Admission is free, but please consider supporting our 5th graders who will be selling Italian Sodas to help raise money for camp.

As we approach the holiday season, we'd like to invite you to our annual Holiday Bazaar! Shop local merchants for this one day event that takes place from 10 AM - 4 PM on Saturday, December 7th. Leading into the bazaar, the PTSO needs your help with donations for our silent auction baskets that will be showcased during the event. Each classroom is assigned a theme, and baskets are assembled and displayed leading up to the bazaar. The silent auction will take place throughout the day on December 7th - anyone in the community can bid and all the proceeds directly benefit our school. See the graphic for information

Please consider following our Facebook page for updates about the Holiday Bazaar, including more information about our amazing vendors by visiting our Facebook page www.facebook.com/RavenwoodElementaryPTSO and checking out our upcoming events, or by the following link www.facebook.com/events/1287996685513162/.

Our PTSO meetings will be held on the first Wednesday every month in the Art Room (first door on your right once you enter the building) from 5 PM - 6 PM unless otherwise noted. Occasionally we have a scheduling conflict, or this date falls under a holiday - we will always do our best to give as much notice as possible for changes.

If you are unable to attend in person, we always welcome you to join us over zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting Link:

Ravenwood PTSO Meeting Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 471 495 3198

Passcode: Ravens

You can still sign up if you have not had a chance by clicking here: Popcorn Pre-Order Link.

• First Friday of every month is Popcorn Friday (with January 10 being the exception due to winter break, and March 6 being a Thursday).
• Popcorn is delivered to your Ravens' classroom to take home at the end of the day. Popcorn is not to be eaten on the bus or in class please!
• Please don't miss out: students will not be able to purchase popcorn in any other way.

Volunteer Opportunities -

• Popcorn Helpers (click here), Thursday (Dec 5) from 12-3.

Donation Requests:

BRRRRR! Winter has arrived in Alaska.

This is a friendly reminder to all our Raven families to please ensure that your children have all the appropriate winter gear to be outside during our Alaskan winter weather. I am seeing many children with cold hands/feet and ears. Risk of frost nip can occur during our 30 minute recess and 45 minute PE classes, when outdoors. Frost nip occurs when skin is exposed to the cold weather becoming numb and white in appearance. Frost nip is reversible and usually requires time in a warm environment to treat. Warm gear should include warm knit hats/headbands, insulated boots and gloves, snow pants and a warm winter jacket. Mittens, light jackets, sweatshirts and water boots (non-insulated) do not provide enough protection in this cold weather and are better for use in fall and spring when we typically have milder temperatures. During the winter months, children will be outside for recess/PE in wind chill temperatures down to -10 degrees.

It is assumed that when a student returns to school following an illness/injury they are able to participate in all school activities to include recess and PE. Based on the discretion of the school nurse, or on the request of a parent, a student can be excused for up to 3 consecutive days from recess and/or PE. However, a student unable to participate in recess or PE for more than 3 consecutive days requires a medical excuse from a health care provider. An approved health care provider is limited to a physician, physician assistant, advanced nurse practitioner, and in the case of skeletal injuries/disabilities, a licensed chiropractor.

Please contact me at 907-742-3254 should you have any questions.

Bundle up and stay warm.

Nurse Cottle

Welcome Mr. Matt Crockett, ASD IGNITE teacher, who will begin working with our 3rd - 5th grade gifted students next week! The IGNITE program is designed to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of identified students. Students join IGNITE for a 2-3 hour weekly session while remaining in their regular classrooms for core instruction. If you have have any questions about the IGNITE, feel free to email: crockett_matt@asdk12.org.

Nov. 1–15 – ER Area School Food Fight Collection

Nov. 5 – Election Day/Remote Learning Day

Nov. 8 - IGNITE for 3rd - 5th grade begins at Ravenwood

Nov. 11 - Veterans Day/No School for Students/Inservice Day for Staff

Nov. 13 - World Kindness Day

Nov. 14 - Raptor Begins!

Nov. 19 – Kinder Music Class Concert

Nov. 20 – 1st Grade Music Class Concert

Nov. 21 – 5th Grade Goes to UAA Volleyball Game

Nov. 21 – 2nd Grade Music Class Concert

Nov. 21 – Student Council Meeting, 2:30p

Nov. 28-29 – Thanksgiving Day Holidays/No School

Dec. 4 – PTSO Meeting in the Art Room and via Zoom, 5p

Dec. 6 - Popcorn Friday

Dec. 6 – Eagle River Tree Lighting (Choir Performance)

Dec. 7 – PTSO Holiday Bazaar, 10a-4p (Choir performs at 12p)

Parents need to complete the Volunteer Application AND the Waiver through the Office of Equity and Compliance. It is linked here: ASD Volunteer Application and Waiver

This form is required every school year, even if it was completed last spring.

In order to drive for a field trip, volunteers must complete the same Volunteer Application AND Waiver, plus provide the following to the front office:

• A completed Volunteer Driver Form (attached)
• A copy of their driver's license
• A copy of their current vehicle registration
• A copy of their current insurance policy showing minimum coverage of $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage*

*Please note that this level of insurance coverage is higher than what is required by the State of Alaska

In an effort to make our schools even safer, ASD is expanding the Raptor Visitor Management System across all ASD campuses! This system, which started as a pilot program last year, is scheduled to be installed at Ravenwood on November 14th.

Here’s how it works: When Raptor is in place, all adult visitors will need to show a government-issued photo ID when checking in during school hours. This quick scan will verify visitor identities and help us maintain accurate records of everyone in the building. The system also checks names against a national database to ensure safety, but don’t worry—only basic information is recorded, and privacy is a top priority.

We know this new procedure may take some getting used to, and we appreciate your support as we work together to implement these safety measures.

Does your student qualify for Indigenous Education? If so, please reach out to Crystal Wendell, Ravenwood’s Student Support Specialist, Indigenous Education at 907-742-7875. Students will receive academic and school support, access to cultural events, summer enrichment programs and cultural identity and awareness resources.

The School Board is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, physical or mental disability, Vietnam era veteran status, genetic information, good faith reporting to the board on a matter of public concern, or any other unlawful consideration. The Board shall promote programs which ensure that discriminatory practices are eliminated in all District activities.