NANUQ NEWS: Weekly Parent Update
August 14th, 2022
Volunteer Form
Please Fill out the Volunteer for found on the ASD website if you are planning on volunteering throughout the school year. It takes at least 2 weeks for the district to process the applications:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSft2SM758xCY0fkBu7cYj6vdYGO4RRJt7LFAqrCKaQDHMwPMg/viewform
Form more information about volunteering with the district and requirements go to:
Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year
This year's theme is Growing Greatness. We will be focusing on goal setting and building a growth mindset. (For more information about growth mindset go to: https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/).
We will also reinstate the use of a House System to help promote unity within our two programs (Neighborhood and Spanish Immersion) and to help excite students to earn points for their House for making good choices throughout the day. For more information regarding the concept of the House System go to: https://rcahousesystem.com/. We will continue to use the 4 Houses: Alturismo, Isibindi, Rêveur, and Amistad. Find out which house your child belongs to at the back to school barbecue.
We have also been updating the Government Hill website (https://www.asdk12.org/governmenthill). There is a new tab on that page where all of the newsletters will be housed throughout the year. (So you won't have to search through emails to find information, or in the even that you deleted the email it will be there to reference). The website has a calendar of upcoming events at the bottom of the page and we have a Government Hill News section. Right now in this section you can find the school supply list, an ad for the back to school barbecue and a district volunteer form. On the about section of the website, you will find our rebranded motto https://www.asdk12.org/domain/1294.
Lots of exciting things in the works for this school year. As always, as if you have any questions please feel free to contact me through email at santaella_julie@asdk12.org, call me at 907-742-5045, or fill out this form https://tinyurl.com/GH2022survey.
It's Grow Time!
Mrs. Santaella, Principal
PTA
Government Hill Elementary has a very active PTA. The first PTA General meeting will be September 13th at 4pm in the Library and on Zoom.
There will be a drawing for a lucky member to receive four Alaska Railroad tickets to Denali, valued at almost $1500 thank you to the Alaska Railroad.
*Must be a current member at the time of drawing
All PTA meetings provide food and childcare for those in attendance of the meeting. Please join us and be part of all that PTA does for Government Hill Elementary. You can sign up at https://governmenthill.memberhub.com/store
The Executive Board for the 2022-2023 School Year
President-Melissa Rodriguez
VP Membership- Kim Elliott
Treasurer- Jeannie Carey
Secretary- Ashley McCabe
Communications- Melanie Dowling
Questions, ideas, or interested in volunteering? Email pta@governmenthillpta.org
Back To School Barbecue
We will have hot dogs, chips, drinks and cookies will be provided by the Alaska Railroad, a free book give away, music and lots of fun. You will be able to see class lists on that day, meet your teacher and find out which House you belong to.
Our PTA will have a table, they will be selling school supply packs and signing up for membership. If you sign up prior to the first meeting you will be entered into a drawing for tickets from the AK Railroad.
If you have winter gear that you would like to donate please bring it to the back to school barbecue, we will start creating a closet for students that need gear throughout the year.
School Supplies
PTA is selling pre-packaged supplies online at: https://governmenthill.memberhub.com/store?fbclid=IwAR1YmN8h4nd8ch_LmwHUoamMJx7qrV6044x7HJOdPEiFmQL6co3JwOP4WSk.
If you are having trouble finding or buying supplies, please contact me and we will problem solve to ensure your child has all that they need to be successful this school year. (This include winter gear).
Daily Schedule
8:30 AM supervision is provided on the little playground and the big playground .
this year 2nd through 6th graders will go through the Art/Health doors to the playground instead of walking around the outside of the building.
8:50 AM students go inside the building. Government Hill is a school selected for 100% free Breakfast and lunch. If you would like your child to eat breakfast at school please sure they are here by 8:50 AM. Due to safety concerns, we will continue with the procedure that students are dropped off at the playground or at the door.
9:00 is the tardy bell students must be in their class by 9:00 AM. Announcements are made at 9:00 AM.
Lunch/Recess and Specials
The students have a 50 minute block for Lunch and Recess. 25 min recess, 25 min Lunch (with 4 total minutes for passing within the 50 min block).
Garcia, Eden Elliott, Vargas, Breuinger, Arce-Ramos, Herbst have recess at 11:00-11:25 and lunch at 11:25-11:5
Hernandez, Dau, Liranzo, Price, Dobbins have recess at 11:25-11:50 and lunch at 11:50-12:15
Gallo, Salazar, K. Elliott, Cheney have recess at 11:50-12:15 and lunch 12:15-12:40.
Nelson, Diaz, Rosales, Romo, Eric Elliott have recess at 12:15-12:40 and lunch at 12:40-1:05
- 60 minutes of Art/Health (we alternate two weeks Art, two weeks Health). It is typically set up as a 1 hour block of time.
- 30 minutes of Library
- 90 minutes of PE. It is typically set up as two-45 minute blocks of time, but we have a class that is scheduled for 3-30 minute blocks.
- 60 minutes of music. It is typically set up as 2-30 minute blocks of time for K-2; and 1-60 minute block of time for 3-6.
Kindergarten students will be dismissed at 3:20 through their classrooms. 1st graders will be dismissed at 3:20 and will wait in the area by the little playground, with their teachers.
At 3:30, 2nd though 6th grade will be dismissed. Teachers will walk their students outside and then report to their duty stations on their designated days. All students will be in the front of the school from 3:30-3:45. 2nd and 3rd graders will wait by the 2nd grade classrooms. 4th through 6th will wait by the Art/Health doors. Siblings will wait in the front of the school.
At 3:45 all remaining students will come back into the building and parents will have to sign them out. If you are signing out your child you will need a phone that can read QR codes and some form of identification.
Parking Lot
Here is a link to a video from a few years prior that shows parking lot safety. (The comments about wearing masks in the parking lot needs to be updated. Masks are not required at this time. Also, if you watch the video at the end it says I can't wait to see you on Tuesday, that should be updated to Thursday.
Kindergarten Academy and Interviews
There will also be a Kindergarten Academy on August 23rd where students can attend a 2 hour session to get a sneak peak of the classroom, routines and recess prior to the official start on August 25th.
OPEN HOUSE
All Open House events will start at 5:00 PM. There will be a presentation in the Library by the designated Grade Level Team and then there will be time to visit the classrooms.
Kindergarten will be the first OPEN HOUSE on August 24th. You might want to bring the larger school supplies (snacks, disinfecting wipes, etc) on this day and leave them in the classroom, so your child can bring just their back pack the following morning.
Grade level and Date of OPEN HOUSE:
6th grade August 25th
5th grade August 26th
4th grade August 29th
3rd grade August 30th
2nd grade August 31st
1st grade September 1st
HEALTHCARE SERVICES
2022-23 School Year COVID Testing
Enforcing State Immunization Requirements
ASD will be enforcing the state requirement for SY2022/23 of "No Shots, No School. For more information visit: https://www.asdk12.org/healthservices/immunizations.
Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15th)
I would like for all of our families of Hispanic Heritage to "host a table" and share information about their heritage/culture (you can share a recipe with samples, share a song or dance, share your family journey to the US/Alaska, you can share historical information, share information about your favorite artist or author, the possibilities are endless. I would love for it to be in Spanish. If you are not of Hispanic Heritage and speak English, never fear, you can still participate. I would love for an English-Speaking Family and a Spanish Speaking Family to collaborate to host the table together. We can even possibly have multiple families with the same heritage join together to host one table.
I am also excited to announce that I have Indra Arriaga, Anchorage artist, coming to show her Film, Sabor Ártico, in the library that evening. We will have two presentations on the hour, since the film is 20 minutes long.
If you are interested in participating please fill out the google form:
English:
Spanish:
The next planning meeting will be August 26th at 5:00 PM.
6th Grade Leadership Academy
I will most likely have an AM and a PM session on August 27th and an AM and PM and the same on Sept 3rd. I will have more details and a sign up sheet on the next newsletter.
Student Accident & Sickness Coverage
This is a reminder that Anchorage School District does not provide medical coverage for student injuries. However, ASD has made available an option for families to purchase a low-cost student accident insurance program. Information is available at your school's front office, online at www.myers-stevens.com, or by calling 800-827-4695. Bilingual services are available.