DragonTale
March 2024
Important School Dates:
3/1 - Snow Fiesta @1:00
3/2 - Forensics Competition @ Tustumena Elementary
3/4 - After School Skiing (Last One)
3/5 - Learning Lab
3/6 - After School Ice Skating (Last One)
3/7 - Early Release - No Learning Lab
3/8 - End of 3rd Quarter/ No School
3/11 - 3/15 - Spring Break/ No School
3/18 - 3/22 - 2nd/3rd Grade Swim Lessons
3/19 - Learning Lab
3/21 - Learning Lab
3/25 - Talent Show Tryouts @ 12:20pm (**Updated** )
3/26 - Learning Lab
3/28 - Learning Lab
3/29 - No School
SPIRIT WEEK: MARCH 4th - 7th
***Monday 3/4 - Twin Day
***Tuesday 3/5 - Crazy Hat & Hair Day
***Wednesday 3/6 - Movie Character Day
***Thursday 3/7 - Dress Like a Teacher Day
A Message From Mr. Swanson: Annual Assessments Are Just Around The Corner
With February finished and the third quarter almost over too, we know that Spring Break is upon us. This time of year the calendar seems to move at an accelerated rate. It is not too early to start thinking about the upcoming AK STAR Assessments that all students in 3rd-6th grade will be taking the last week of March and the first two weeks of April. The results of these tests have become hugely important in the way that schools and educators are evaluated and rated. McNeil Canyon has always enjoyed a very high level of success on these tests and that is a testament to the hard work of our students, their teachers and the parents. We also count on having every student in attendance every day that they can be here. Attendance and learning go hand-in-hand and we have to have close to 100% participation in these assessments in order to continue our tradition of high success.
You can help by making sure that your child is ready for school and in attendance every possible day of school. It is crucial for students to be here during the testing window, 25 Mar to 12 April, to participate in the testing, so please schedule any family travel with those dates in mind. McNeil Canyon Elementary works because students, parents and staff do!
HMS Math Meet Success!
Congratulations to Gus Hunter, Hadley Darr, Eiko Olson, Karmen Lyon, Pepper Jones, and Colby Fraley for doing an amazing job working on math all day at the Homer Middle School math meet. All six of them worked hard solving problems both individually and with a team. We'd like to especially commend Karmen for placing in the top 12 of almost 100 students, one of the only 6th graders to make it to the Countdown Round. She also was on the first place team! Great job to all six of you!
Spring Pictures Rescheduled: March 27th
Due to our power outage last Tuesday we have rescheduled our spring picture day for March 27th. If you have placed an order online your order will remain the same and will be processed once your child's picture has been taken. If you choose to use the paper order forms we sent home you can still use those same forms. You can still place online orders at the link below by using our school code EVTBP9KBX
Family Talent Show and Auction
The McNeil Canyon Family Talent Show will be held on Friday, April 5th at 6:30 pm here at McNeil. Skits, duets, dance numbers, instruments, poems- If you have talent, we want to see it! The more the merrier!
***Try Outs will be Monday, March 25th (**Updated**) after lunch (12:20) students must have a completed talent show form signed by their parent at this time***
If you have a family act in mind and are unable to make the tryouts, contact Tiana Hopper at 907-317-7444 and let her know what you’re planning (see number below). There will also be a dress rehearsal on Thursday, April 4th immediately after school where attendance is required. Permission slips for the dress rehearsal will be sent home with students shortly after try-outs.
The silent auction, sponsored by Community Council, will include delicious pies and cakes along with other items to bid on. The Community Council has already received a few generous donations to auction off and we are looking for a few more. If you have an item or a service you are willing to donate let Megan Lyon know at 907-299-6391, or Joy, front office 235-8181, know!
Class Baskets
All grades will be competing for a root beer float party by receiving the highest bid on their class baskets. You can help your student's class by contributing an item or items that fit the basket's theme. See your student's class theme below:
Kindergarten (Mrs. Corise's class) - Family Baking Fun
1st Grade (Mrs. Anne's class) - Family Game Night
2nd Grade (Mrs. Swanson's class)- Made in Alaska
3rd Grade (Mrs. Ashley's class) - Let It Grow
4th (Mrs. Kendall's class) - Family Arts and Crafts Supplies
5th (Mrs. Wendy's class) - Movie Night
6th (Mr. Brandon's Class) - Spa Day
Room reps will be calling after Spring Break, so be thinking of those delicious pies and cakes to make. The money made by Community Council from this event goes towards enriching your child's education and experience here at McNeil Canyon Elementary School. It’s going to be a show to remember!
Early Release Day, In-Service Day & Spring Break - No School
There will be an early release day on Thursday, March 7th. School will end at 1:20 and buses will arrive at their stops an hour and a half earlier than normal.
Third Quarter will be ending on Friday, March 8th. This is an in-service/work day for staff so there will be NO SCHOOL for students that day.
Spring Break is March 11th-15th, 2024. Enjoy the time off!
K-3rd Swimming
2nd/3rd - March 18th - 22nd
K/1st - April 1st - April 5th
March Spotlight Students
The following students have been selected as Spotlight Students for the month of March: Charlie Peel, Robin Rutter, Owen O'Laire, Theron Martushev, Jasper Forbes, Cedar Galbraith, Jennifer Gregoire, Mathilde Bynagle, Scott Gibbins, Sarah Bordeaux, Keegan Lyon, Alowan Rogers, Malia Hopper, Adrian McGrath, Charlie Mitchell, Arwyn Linder, and Toby Porter.
Parents are invited to join their child and the principal for lunch on Thursday, March 28th at 11:55.
Spotlight Student forms are being sent home with these children today. Please return them as soon as possible so they can be placed on our Spotlight Student bulletin board.
Thank you!
Dragon Cafe - March Menu
Helpful Parent Links
McNeil Canyon Elementary School
Email: joverson@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Website: kpbsd.org/schools/mcneil-canyon/
Location: 52188 East End Rd, Homer, AK, USA
Phone: 907-235-8181
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McNeilCanyon/