Paw Print Press 2.0

Many parents may not realize how often their child is absent from school. A missed day here and there may not seem like a big deal compared to missing several days in a row. But missing just two days a month can add up to a child being considered chronically absent.

Chronic absences keep kids from getting the consistent instruction they need to build on basic skills. For kids with learning and thinking differences, there’s something else to consider: Frequent absences not only mean less instruction, but also missed opportunities for intervention, re-teaching and enrichment.

Missing school in the early grades can have a snowball effect. It sets kids up to fall behind in the foundational reading skills they need in order to move on to more complicated work.

Research shows how big the impact can be. A recent study looked at kids who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade. By the end of third grade, only one in six of them were proficient readers. But of the kids who missed less than 5 percent of school, two-thirds were proficient.

Struggling students may want to stay home because of the stress they’re feeling at school. But chronic absences may have an even bigger impact on kids with learning and thinking differences. It can be hard enough to master the lessons in school with the support of the teacher or aide. Trying to do it at home can make the work even harder.

Plus, each day of learning builds on the previous day. When kids miss a few days in a row, it can be hard to follow subsequent lessons. And when kids aren’t in school, they’re missing opportunities to be identified for intervention and extra supports.

For some kids, frequent absences can become a long-term habit. Research shows that kids who are allowed to miss school when they’re young are more likely to skip school when they’re older. And that can lead to other consequences. Being chronically absent affects high school graduation rates and the chances for success in college.

Please send students to school every day. We miss them when they are not here.

About the Event

2023 Thanksgiving Blessing (Anchorage)

Thanksgiving Blessing is an annual event put on by Food Bank of Alaska and the faith community to provide Thanksgiving meals for families in need. This year we hope to provide 11,000 meals to families in Anchorage and the Mat-Su.

12pm-8pm
- Mt. View Community Center, 315 Price St.
99508, 99514

2pm-7pm
- Central Lutheran Church, 1420 Cordova St.
99501, 99503, 99510, 99512, 99513, 99520, 99524

- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 13111 Brayron Dr.
99507, 99511, 99515, 99516, 99518, 99523, 99540, 99587

- Joy Lutheran Church, 10111 E. Eagle River Loop Rd.
99505, 99506, 99567, 99577

- New Season Community Development, 639 W. International Airport Rd. #24
99502, 99507, 99517, 99519

- St. Patrick’s Parish, 2111 Muldoon Rd.
99504, 99509, 99521

You may also like the following events from Food Bank of Alaska:

• This Friday, 3rd November, 10:00 am, FBA SNAP Outreach in Palmer
• Next Friday, 10th November, 02:00 pm, FBA SNAP Outreach in Anchorage

Also check out other Food & Drink Events in Anchorage.

Alaska Native, Native American Heritage Month

Since 1990, November has been declared as Alaska Native Native American Heritage Month. November is a time to celebrate the history, traditions, rich and diverse cultures of the First Peoples of the United States. NAHM is also a perfect time to educate the public about Native American and Alaska Native tribes, cultures and traditions; to raise recognition of the challenges Native people have faced from the past to the present; and to teach the ways in which Native American and Alaska Native peoples have worked to overcome these obstacles.

There are 574 federally recognized tribes, and 231 of those are in Alaska. It is important to also acknowledge the many tribes that are not federally recognized. For the month of November, please join us to celebrate Native Heritage Month and research our local history and learn about Alaska's First Peoples.

ASD Indigenous Education Department to Honor ASD Indigenous Educators
Beginning in November, the ASD Indigenous Education Department will honor and recognize Indigenous educators in ASD. To nominate an Indigenous educator, please fill out this form.

ASD Traditional Tuesdays
Please join us in celebrating Alaska Native Heritage Month. Employees are encouraged to sport their favorite item of traditional regalia. Indigenous allies are encouraged to wear a kuspuk or an indigenous-made accessory or clothing item. Post a photo to social media using #ASDTraditionalTuesdays.

Established in 2011, Rock Your Mocs is an annual Native American & Indigenous Peoples movement held in conjunction with Alaska Native/Native American Heritage Month. It is easy to participate by wearing moccasins or indigenous footwear to school, work, or everywhere. If a person does not own moccasins, cannot wear moccasins, or perhaps their Tribe did not wear moccasins, they may wear a Turquoise Awareness Ribbon instead. Through social media, participants can post their photos for everyone to enjoy, share stories, and help create an “online photo album” by using the following hashtag: #ASDRockYourMocs2023 #ROCKYOURMOCS. Check out RockYourMocs on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockYourMocs/.

Third grader Janae McClain in Ms. Gerrety's class and fifth grader Carsten Little in Mr. Smith's class both have artwork in an ASD art show their work has been showcased in ASD EdCenter, and this Friday will move to the Mary Kaye Denkwalter Gallery in the Fifth Avenue Mall for November and December.

As part of The Alaska Reads Act, the State of Alaska requires that districts administer an early literacy screening tool three times a year to students in grades K-3 to identify potential reading difficulties in order to improve reading outcomes for students. Families can read more about this comprehensive K-3 reading policy at The Alaska Reads Act website: education.alaska.gov/akreads

mClass with DIBELS 8th Edition Assessments is the State of Alaska Department of Education’s and ASD’s Early Literacy benchmark screening and progress monitoring tool for students in grades K-3 in reading. mClass utilizes curriculum-based measures and is used by schools as part of the ASD Comprehensive Assessment System to support informed instructional decisions.

The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development explains the decision to adopt mClass as the statewide literacy screener here:

https://education.alaska.gov/Alaska-Reading-Resources/Statewide-Early-Literacy-Screener

mClass screening assessments will only be administered in-person during the benchmark window listed below:

• Winter(MOY) 2023: December 4 - 15

Results for K-3 students that were assessed during a benchmark window, will be available in Parent Connect by January 5, 2024: ParentConnection Login Information and Reference Guide: parentconnect.asdk12.org

As a reminder our parking lot speed limit is 5MPH. This applies to the whole parking lot before, during, and after school. Vehicles are moving through the drop-off loop too fast and as a result two staff members have almost been hit.

We do ask that there is no parking on our crosswalk as this forces people to walk in the drive lane.Thanking for helping us keep our school community safe.

Here at the school, as with everywhere else, the streets are a bit tight. Please park only on the north side of Zarvis. If people park on both sides of the street, it will make Zarvis and Cottonwood impassable.

Please park ONLY on the north side of Zarvis.

Winter is here. Please be sure to send students with snow gear. We want all students to be safe and comfortable in the cold weather. Students go outdoors for recess every day up to 10 degrees below zero. They should have snow pants, a jacket, and hat and gloves. Many items are already in our lost and found. Please encourage students to look in the lost and found if they are missing an item.

Rogers Park families,

Winter is here, and we're preparing for another wonderful year of Recess Ice Skating at Rogers Park. Please use this link to request a pair of loaner skates and/or to give permission for your child to skate during recess.

Our recess skating program relies on volunteers to help tie skates and monitor the rink on Thursdays and Fridays (10:20-10:50 or 11:30-12:00). You can sign up to volunteer here.

Please remember that if you volunteer at any ASD school, you need to fill out the ASD Volunteer Waiver once a year.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Mr. Elbow

Rogers Park's very own, Warner Lieb, is performing in Anchorage Concert Association’s presentation of The Nutcracker this Thanksgiving weekend in the Atwood Concert Hall alongside premiere dance company Eugene Ballet and the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. Thank you for supporting performing arts in Alaska.

Today, Tuesday November 14th Dine to Donate at the Lucky Wishbone. 10% of sales for dine in or carry out will go to benefit our Rogers Park PTA. Please be sure to mention Rogers Park when you place your order.

Thanks to all who supported our PTA through purchasing spirit wear at Parent Teacher Conferences. Remember that you can always custom order spirit wear at The Wear Wolf online store for delivery direct to your address.

On Friday evening, December 8th, PTA will host a Family Event, with more information to be announced soon. We will be discussing this at our upcoming PTA meeting on Thursday, November 16th hosted in the library and on Zoom. Join us! Details will be emailed to members prior to the meeting. If you haven't yet joined or renewed your membership for this school year, please consider doing so here! We are always seeking new members and perspectives and have a variety of roles available for volunteering. Your participation makes this school great!

After this week's meeting, our next one scheduled is in the New Year, on January 18th.

Nov 13-18 American Education Week

Nov 15 SRO Appreciation Day

Nov 16 Fitzgerald Photography Retake Day

Nov 16 *6:00pm - 7:30pm* PTA Meeting (Library/Zoom)

Nov 17 Substitute Teacher Appreciation Day

Nov 23–24 Thanksgiving Break

Rogers Park Elementary

1400 East Northern Lights Boulevard

Anchorage, AK 99508

907-742-4800

http://www.asdk12.org/rogerspark