Ptarmigan Elementary School

Ptarmigan Families,

Spring is here! The days are a getting longer and the snow is melting. Our playground is getting wet and sloppy so please consider having your student bring outside shoes/boot and a change of pants and socks just in case they get wet while at recess.

Our 3rd Quarter Assemblies were a huge success. I believe we had a record number of families at each of the assemblies. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to celebrating with us.

Spring also brings state testing. Most students in grades three through fifth have already completed the state standardized test. Students in grade K-2 will also be completing FastBridge testing the week of April 17th. To ensure students are able to show what they know, we need students to be at school on time and ready to learn. Starting the day with a good breakfast is an important way to help your student focus. Ptarmigan serves breakfast at no cost to families until 9:10am.

Attendance is still a big focus for our school. Help your students be H.E.R.O.’s. (Here, Every day, Ready, and On time) so they have access to the academics that our staff have planned.

Let’s close out this school year with continued hard work and increased academic progress.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Ramey

Ptarmigan Elementary Principal

April 4th and 6th:

• 3rd Grade STAR Testing

April 7th:

• Spirit Day: Bring a Stuffed Animal to School Day

April 14th:

• Spirit Day: Wear Ptarmigan Spirit Gear or Blue and Yellow

• 1st Grade Field Trip - Super Sidekick: The Musical

April 27th:

• Final Day of 21st Century Afterschool Program

April 28th:

• Spirit Day: Super Hero Day (dress up like a Super Hero)

It's that time of year where I would like to ask parents/guardians to check the Lost & Found for items that may belong to their children. We will be donating all remaining clothing and other items to local agencies at the end of the school year.

Also, reminder that Ptarmigan is again part of the Children’s Lunchbox Program which is a wonderful resource from Bean’s Café.

We have meal boxes for families in need of food support. Each box provides a meal for 4 people. The items are shelf-stable and non-perishable.

If you would like to receive this resource for your family, please let the school nurse or counselor know. If you have a large household, we can provide two boxes at a time. Participating families will have boxes sent home with students on Friday.

Please contact the school nurse, Joanie Lyke at (907) 742-0417 or school counselor, Kylee Smith at (907) 742-0400, if you are interested in this program.

Hello from the Art Room!

In celebrations of Youth Art Month, several students have artwork displayed around Anchorage. The exhibits showcase work from ASD students across the District and will be on display from March 4th – April 7th at the Anchorage Museum, 5th Ave. Mall, Loussac Library, Ed Center, and Muldoon Library!

Congratulations to the following Timberwolves with work on display:

Charlene Alexie

Vinic Chang

Soffie Gertz

Yuriah Satterlee

A.J. Suzuki

Bruce Vang

Angel Xiong

Cheers!

Ms. Walker

Ptarmigan Art Teacher

Earth Day - April 22nd is Earth Day. We will be learning about what happens to our trash, recycling, and ways we can help our environment.

Springtime & Gardening - As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, students will be learning more about gardening and different plants. We will focus on how living things grow and what they need to grow. We will have discussions about what plants need, parts of a plant, and if students have ever planted something before. Students will learn where the plants and gardening books are in the nonfiction section of our library.

Open Library - Open Library will continue throughout the rest of the school year on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 9:00-9:40. Come down to exchange your books or get help with finding a resource!

Sora - Don’t forget digital resources are available through SORA. SORA can be accessed through your student’s Clever account. Students can checkout eBooks and audiobooks. Don’t forget to return to the digital shelf when you are finished reading!

Mrs. Giammalva

Teacher-Librarian

giammalva_alyson@asdk12.org

Hello, my name is Farrah Bridges and I teach 2nd grade at Ptarmigan. I am new to the Anchorage area, having just moved this past summer from northeast Georgia. I graduated from the University of North Georgia with my bachelors degree in Elementary and Special Education. I have a sweet puppy named Moose who absolutely loves living in Alaska as much as I do. We are happy to say that we have survived our first Alaskan winter! I have loved becoming part of the Ptarmigan family and couldn't be happier to have found such a warm and welcoming school. I look forward to future years teaching the wonderful students at Ptarmigan!

Each spring, Alaskan students are provided an opportunity to show what they know. When students show what they know, teachers and parents can partner to promote student success. The State of Alaska Department of Education has partnered with NWEA to align and connect the English language arts (ELA) and mathematics tests with the MAP Growth benchmark assessments students take in fall and winter.

This balanced assessment system targets instruction to better support meeting students’ individual learning needs. In addition, students will take only one assessment per content area (ELA and math) and be provided two scores as follows:

1. Summative assessment result at grade-level

2. MAP Growth interim benchmark result , including growth from fall to spring

AK STAR, the Alaska System of Academic Readiness, is comprised of English language arts and mathematics and is administered to students in grades 3-9. The Alaska Science Assessment is administered to students in grades 5, 8 and 10. The purpose of a large-scale, summative assessment is to provide parents and schools an overall picture of a student’s progress in meeting the Alaska standards at grade level.

Parents can locate resources for AK STAR test and the Alaska Science Assessment, including directions for Student Readiness (Practice Tests and Tutorials), student testing times and general assessment information on the ASD website at https://www.asdk12.org/akstar.

Parents can also help by ensuring their children are well rested, eat a nutritious breakfast, and are at school on time for the days of testing. Please avoid scheduling appointments on your child’s testing days.

The ASD AK STAR and Alaska Science Assessment testing window allows for school assessment scheduling flexibility. Students! Get ready to show what you know during our school’s AK STAR and Alaska

2023 AK STAR and Alaska Science Assessment Testing Window

March 27-April 14

(Make-ups through April 28)

Spring is in the air, finally! It is getting warmer outside, and we have so much more light.

It is time to start thinking about the Ptarmigan Talent Showcase. We are looking for singers, dancers, jugglers, joke tellers, gymnasts, instrument players and all that Ptarmigan talent. It is not too early to start practicing and getting ready to show off your skills in the Ptarmigan Talent Showcase. Acts should be no longer than 3 minutes. Auditions are on May 4th after school. Sign-up sheets and permission slips to audition will be out at the end of April. All ages welcome. The top ten acts will be chosen to participate in the show. The Showcase performance is on Thursday May 18th, 2:30 P.M. Ptarmigan has talent!

Also, a big “Thank You” to the parents that joined us for the Music Open House in March. It was so fun to see you dancing, playing, and learning with your students.

Here's what is happening in the Music Room for April:

• Fifth graders will combine their note reading skills and playing techniques this last quarter. They will also be preparing a song for their promotion ceremony. In fact, the entire school with also be learning “Good Wishes” as they sing to the fifth graders for their final “Walk about” on the last day of school.

• Fourth graders will be playing the recorder this last quarter. You are encouraged to get one for your student to practice at home but we do have a recorder for each student to use at school.

• Third graders are finishing their work on Folk Dancing. They have been focusing on being a good partner and learning the steps to several dances.

• Kindergarten-Second graders are continuing to explore all types of songs and musical games. These songs really help establish the sense of steady beat in our littlest musicians. These students are also becoming good rhythm readers and solfege singers. Their listening skills are growing.

I look forward to a great fourth quarter in the music room!

Mrs. Benton

Classroom Music Specialist

Margo Bellamy (President), Carl Jacobs (Vice President), Dora Wilson (Clerk), Kelly Lessens (Treasurer), and Members: Dave Donley, Pat Higgins, and Andy Holleman.

ASD Superintendent Dr. Jharrett Bryantt.

Ptarmigan Elementary School

888 Edward St.

Anchorage, AK. 99504

Phone: (907) 742-0400

Fax: (907) 742-0425

To Leave a Message on the Attendance Line: (907) 566-0400