"Bandit Beat" April Newsletter
Butte Elementary School
Email: bte@matsuk12.us
Website: matsuk12.us/bte
Location: 4006 S Butte Road, Palmer, Ak 99645
Phone: 907-861-5200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Butte-Elementary-School-787254598272674
Words from the Principal...
Spring has certainly sprung. While there is still quite a bit of snow on the ground, the Sun is brighter, warmer, and out longer, and the temperatures are certainly showing changes with our weather.
Spring is always an exciting time with changes, performances, and the wrap up to the school year. We will soon be conducting building and State Testing. This year, we will also be hiring a new Principal for Butte Elementary (See below for details on how to be involved.). Change can be something that we worry about, or something that we welcome, but it is inevitable. Change in the weather means warmer temperatures, new activities, and growth of plants. Change of a leader can also mean new activities and new growth. Knowing the wonderful students, teachers, staff, parents, and community members that are at Butte Elementary, I am sure that the changes will see Butte Elementary grow in positive a direction. :-)
We encourage you to join us for any or all of the upcoming events, activities, and celebrations that will take place this spring. They will help set the stage for our future growth :-).
Have a great weekend,
Joshua Rockey
Upcoming Events at Butte Elementary
Recurring Activities
- AM Art Club: Tuesdays and Thursdays until May: 8:15-9:00
- PM Art Club: Thursdays until May: 4:00-5:30
- Fitness Club: Mondays and Wednesdays until May: 4:00-4:45
- Chess Club: 4/5 Wednesday Evening Chess Club 4:00-5:30
- Track and Field- 4/5 Grades, Tues and Thurs, 3:45-5:00 Mar 28 Until May 4
- Volleyball- 4/5 Grades, Mon and Wed, 3:45-5:00, April 4 Until May 5
Upcoming Dates to Pay Attention To:
*March 28-May 4 Track for 4/5 grades, Tuesday and Thursday, 345-530pm,
*Mar 39-31 AK Science Assessment Grade 5
*April 3-May 5 Volleyball for 4/5 Grades, Monday and Wednesday, 345-500pm
*April 5 Coffee With The Principal (Title I Budget Input for FY24)
*April 7- Virtue Assembly at 2:30 (Ambassador Announcement)
*April 10-14 AK STAR State Testing for grades 3-5
*April 10-22 K-5 MAP Testing
*April 18-19 1245-145 AND 150-250 Denali Ed. Center with 4th and 5th Grades
*April 19 Title I Parent Budget Input 4:00PM in the Library
*April 20 - Lathrop High School Ballroom Dance Presentation at 11
*April 20 TBD Title I Family Engagement Activity
*April 28 No School for Students-Professional Development Day
*May 4 PJMS Orientation AM for 5th Grade
*May 4 4/5 Musical Performance 2:30 and 7:00
*May 10-11 5th Grade Challenger Field Trip to Kenai
*May 15 Alaska Culture Day for 4th/5th Grade
*May 17 Thrive 5th Grade Field Day- 100-330
*May 18 100-300 STEM activity the Grate Challenge
*May 18 - PreK and Kinder Promotion Ceremonies
*May 19 Last Day of School for Students
State and Building Testing Schedule
State Assessments
-AK Science Assessment; Mar 29-31 (Grade 5 Only) (About 2 hours)
-AK STAR Assessment; Apr 11-14 (Grades 3 to 5) (About 2 hours each for Math and ELA)
-AK STAR Assessment Makeups; April 18-27 (Grades 3 to 5)
District Assessments
-MAP Tests; Apr 18-21 (K-2) (Computer based, about 1 hour)
-MAP Test Makeups: Apr 27
-Aimsweb K-5; Apr 24 to May 5 (Paper pencil or verbal, about 1 minute a piece)
Track and Field
Track season is right around the corner! We will be running outside most days, so please make sure your child comes with appropriate running shoes and layered clothing. The are also responsible for bringing a healthy snack and their water bottle.
The meet will be on Saturday, May 6th at Colony High School. Parents will need to accompany their child at the meet. Typically it starts at 9am and will run until 5pm. I hope to have more specifics as the date gets closer.
Be on the lookout for shirt ordering forms as well!
Questions? Please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Spring!
Coach Purdy
907-830-6001
New Butte Principal Hire Process
Dear Butte Elementary families,
The process for selecting your new principal will begin Monday, March 27th. As the Associate Superintendent of Instruction that oversees Butte I will be leading the process. Please see the timeline below for pertinent dates and information:
Monday, March 27th Position Posts
Thursday, March 30th 4:15pm Informational Meeting via Zoom
Monday, April 3rd Applications for selection committee due by 4:00pm
Friday, April 7th Position Closes at 4:30pm
Wednesday, April 12th 4:15pm - 7:15pm Selection Committee Meeting in the Library
Thursday, April 20th First Interviews
If you would like to attend the informational meeting on March 30th, please email Brenda.Hotchkiss@matsuk12.us with your full name and school name to receive the Zoom link. We hold this meeting via Zoom to allow as many people to attend as possible. During the meeting we will go through how the process works, what it means to be on the selection committee and how to apply for those who are interested.
Please contact me if you have any questions, otherwise I hope to see you on March 30th at 4:15pm.
Respectfully,
Kendra Bartz
Associate Superintendent of Instruction
Report Card to the Public
Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s):
Recently the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) released the 2021-2022 Report Cards to the Public for each school district and school in Alaska. These Report Cards present information about performance for the 2021-2022 school year. During this first administration of The Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessment, students in grades 3-9 were assessed in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 10 took the Alaska Science Assessment.
To view a 2021-2022 School or District Report Card to the Public, go to https://education.alaska.gov/compass/report-card. Once there, you will be able to select which School or District Report Card to the Public you wish to view. This user-friendly website aims to provide families with clear, common information about all public schools and districts in our State. These Report Cards to the public contain data and information about academics, school environment, teacher quality, and more. If you are unable to access the Report Card to the Public online, please contact your student’s school.
We know that the Report Card to the Public is just one of many ways you will engage with us at Butte Elementary School. We look forward to sharing our school’s successes with you and working together to make our school better every day.
We hope you will closely follow your student’s academic progress and work with his or her teacher(s) to help ensure academic success. Working together as a team, we can improve not only how well our students are performing individually, but how our school and district is performing as a whole. There is nothing more important to administrators and teachers at Butte Elementary School than ensuring that students are ready for the next step in their academic career. We look forward to partnering with you.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding our School or District Report Card to the Public, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 907-861-5202.
Teachers Teaching Out of Field Information
We do not have any teachers that are teaching out of field at Butte Elementary, but we are required to let parents know each year. Please see the letter below. :-)
In Alaska, in accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, district Title I, Part A schools are required to provide timely notice to parents when students have been assigned or taught for 4 or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet applicable state certification or licensure requirements at the grade level(s) and subject area(s) in which the teacher has been assigned. ESSA Sec. 1112 (e)(1)(B)(ii) Click HERE to find a list of teachers that are currently teaching in an area that they are working to get certified in on our District website
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to your building Principal.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Amy Iverson or Kendra Bartz.
Dismissal Reminder
As always, if your child will be participating in an after school program please make sure to enter it in school dismissal so we can make sure that student is where you expect them to be.
Thank you & see you at school!
Thoughts from our School Nurse
Alaska Immunization Regulations 7 AAC 57.550 and 4ACC 06.055 require that all children in Alaska public/private schools and childcare facilities be immunized unless he/she is exempt or immune. The state of Alaska has now made it easier for parents to see if their child needs any immunizations to start school. Without the proper immunizations or exemption form, children will not be allowed to attend or start school. The following link will give you information on how to access your child's immunizations if they were given in Alaska and by a provider that uses Vactrak. Most providers to include public health and pharmacies, upload immunizations given in Vactrak.
https://health.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/iz/Pages/records.aspx
Laurie Foldenauer, BSN,RN,NCSN
School Breakfast and Lunch
The last two years, we have had free Breakfast and Lunch for all students regardless of status or need. Our District has returned to the "Pay For" model for Breakfast and Lunch. You can check menus and manage your student account at School Cafe. We recommend ALL parents check School Cafe to see if there is a balance for your student. We have found that some students have been eating breakfast, or sometime eating a hot lunch even though a cold lunch was packed, and as a result, running up a balance. YIKES!
You can find information about enrolling in the Free & Reduced Lunch Program on School Cafe, and apply, as well. You can also enroll your students in Migrant Education, which many Alaska families qualify for, but may not realize. Feel free to call the office if you have any questions.
You can find menus, add money to an account for your student, or apply for free and reduced lunch through the website, or you can download the app.
To make a payment, please go to ParentVue under the "fees" section in the left menu.
Please call if you have any questions :-)
907-861-5200
Free And Reduced Lunch Information
You can find information about enrolling in the Free & Reduced Lunch Program on School Cafe, and apply, as well. Here is an example of the application. Income eligibility is at the bottom of the page.
If you take your students fishing, hunting, berry picking, logging, and your family depends on this activity for part of your livelihood, you can also enroll your students in Migrant Education, which many Alaska families qualify for, but may not realize that this is the case. Feel free to call the office if you have any questions.
Equitable Internet Program
There are two programs, one through the School District, and one through this website: https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov/.
Contact the office, or your teacher if you are interested in this program.
Mental Health Moment...
April topics for class lessons are empathy and feelings.
This book My Magical Moods can be used to learn coping skills. This book goes through different moods and how to cope with them. It offers suggestions of coping skills you can choose from to calm emotions and moods. When you are or your family member are feeling low you can refer back to this book and select a coping skill to do. This can help improve emotional regulation as well as build relationships when you do the coping skill and process a low mood together.
Casandra Saunders, MS – Mental and Behavioral Health Coordinator