Ravenwood Elementary
October 23, 2020
Home of the Ravens
Ravenwood embodies community and thrives from the interconnected support system of Eagle River. Outdoor education, the arts, and the use of technology are all integrated into the academic experiences students are offered to optimize engagement, creativity, and independent learning.
Land Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge that our school is on the traditional lands of the Dena'ina Athabascan people. It is with gratitude and respect that we recognize the past and present contributions of Alaska's first people. Chin'an (thank you)
Dear Ravenwood Families –
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family healthy and well. Thank you all for your continued support throughout this pandemic. We miss being together and look forward to welcoming our PK-2 grade students back to in-person learning on November 16th. We have all been busy working on our Return to School Plans to share with you once they are approved by the District. These required plans will address everything from health/symptom-free zone, mitigation plan, cleaning/PPE, arrival/dismissal, hallway/classroom movement, to lunch schedules.
Thank you for your responses to our survey last month. Your input has been invaluable as we develop our school re-entry plan. Nurse Jen Cottle and I will be hosting a series of Ravenwood Zoom Meetings to share our plan and try to answer as many of your questions as possible. We will also be sending you an electronic version of our plan.
Please take a few minutes to read through this month’s newsletter for information about Staffing loss, Red Ribbon Week, Fire Prevention, building mask use, Boxtops, Barnes and Noble Virtual Book Fair in Nov., and much more.
As always, don’t hesitate to to contact me with any celebrations or needs.
Stay healthy and hopeful Ravens!
Kim Bautista
HUGE LOSS FOR OUR RAVENWOOD SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Due to decreased school enrollment at Ravenwood and across the district, staffing readjustments were made throughout the district. Ravenwood had to say farewell to Mrs. Mattison (1st grade teacher) who was reassigned to Muldoon Elementary. She's an amazing teacher, and we know her new students will love her as much as we do at Ravenwood.
Masks Required
- Wear their mask while in class on Zoom, watching TV, or playing a video game
- Help them find a mask that works for them (material, style, design)
- Make sure it has a good fit over the nose and no gaps around mouth/nose
COVID-19 Family Information
COVID-19 Parent information can be found here and Healthcare Services has provided the following link to a COVID-19 FAQ for Staff & Parents.
Progress Reports
National Red Ribbon Week: OCT. 23 - 31st
Nurse Jen Cottle put together some fun themes for next week to remind us to all to
“Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug-Free!”
GREAT ALASKA SHAKEOUT
BARNES AND NOBLE VIRTUAL BOOK FAIR
The Barnes and Noble Virtual Book Fair begins Saturday, November 21, with shopping open for one week (11/21-11/27). Plan ahead to support our Ravenwood Music program. We will be sending a special school code that you can share with friends and family to order and help our school.
MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION AND PTSO DONATION DROP OFFS
Thursday, Oct. 29th, from 1:30-3:00p and 4:00-5:30p for Grades PreK, Kinder, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th.
A message from PTSO
Hello Ravenwood Families!
We would like to thank all of you who have participated in our Write a Check campaign this fall. We will continue collecting checks during the month of October. Remember, this money helps support PTSO's ongoing budget needs such as ice rink maintenance, trail maintenance, and student and teaching supplies. No donation is too small, and all proceeds stay with PTSO to support Ravenwood.
The Food Drive has been a huge success! You have filled up the back end of a suburban full of food already. What a generous and caring community of Ravens!!
This month's Facebook Raven Spirit Challenge is off and going! Participants names will be entered for a drawing and three students will be picked for some pretty nifty prizes donated by a Ravenwood family. Head to our Facebook page for details.
The ice rink will be up and running this winter, as weather permits. If anyone would like to help and volunteer with shoveling, please email PTSO at ravenwoodptso@gmail.com with your name and contact number.
BOXTOPS UPDATE!
If you have any unexpired BOXTOPS lying around, please bring them to the packet pick up on Thursday, October 29th and let them know you have BOXTOPS for PTSO.
BOXTOPS is moving to 100% virtual. Download the app and select Ravenwood as your school. Anyone can do this, so let your family members know too! Even though we aren’t in school, you can still help raise money for PTSO and the school!
See the information below for details on how to download the app. Make sure to scan your receipt within 14 days of purchase. Message us on our PTSO Facebook page with any questions.
Our next PTSO meeting will be November 4th (the first Wednesday of every month) at 6pm via Zoom until conditions allow in-person meetings. Anyone is welcome; however, voting is only for PTSO members. See membership info on our website.
FIND US AND GET CONNECTED!
SignUp Genius - search Ravenwood PTSO
Facebook: Ravenwood Elementary Group
STUDENT NUTRITION CHANGES
The Anchorage School District Student Nutrition is participating in a special emergency USDA program which allows for the expansion of the National School Lunch Program to enable our district to provide meals at no charge to its students. ASD Virtual students are also eligible to participate, provided their primary enrollment in Q/(ParentConnect) is with one of ASD’s 80 neighborhood schools. All meals (breakfast and lunch) must be pre-ordered prior to pick-up at a distribution center between the hours of 10:00am and 3:30pm (Chugiak High School and Fire Lake Elementary are the closest distribution sites to Ravenwood Elem.) To order meals for pick-up, families must create an account, add the names of the eligible students, and select the desired pick-up location through www.paypams.com.
Each menu selection corresponds with the day after service. For example, the Tuesday meal is from the Monday menu.
For questions or assistance in placing and/or canceling orders, email snadmin@asdk12.org, or contact (907) 348-5142 and select Option 2. For families without computer access, staff will be available at each distribution site to offer assistance in placing orders through PayPams.
For more information regarding Student Nutrition, please click here.
OCTOBER IS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH
Thank you to Anchorage Fire Department and our amazing parent, Mia Carson, for hosting several grade level Zoom Assemblies at Ravenwood. The 2020 National Fire Prevention Week theme is “Serve up fire safety in the kitchen!” This year's Fire Prevention Week campaign works to better educate the public about where potential cooking hazards exist and basic but critical ways to prevent them.
19-20 YEARBOOKS
19-20 YEARBOOKS are available to purchase for $15.00 on-line in Parent Connect under 19-20 Yearbook. Yearbooks will be sent home with Student Material Distribution on Thursdays. Contact the front office (742-3250) if you have any questions. Special thanks to Ms. van Haastert for doing an awesome job creating this school keepsake.
ASD VIRTUAL LIAISON
Some Fall Fun!
Check out our new story on the trail
School Business Partners
Anchorage School District School Board
2020-2021 ASD School Board
President, ELISA VAKALIS
Vice-President, MARGO BELLAMY
Treasurer, STARR MARSETT
Clerk, ANDY HOLLEMAN
Seat C, DAVE DONLEY
Seat E, ALISHA HILDE
Seat F, DEENA MITCHELL
DR. DEENA BISHOP, SUPERINTENDENT