Arctic Light Elementary School
August 19, 2019
Upcoming Events
August 22 - 4-8th Grade Encores Begin ( Green A/B Day)
September 2 - Labor Day (No School)
September 5 - Cross Country Meet at Birch Hil
Principal Keener's Message...
Welcome to the 2019-2020, yes, Twenty-Twenty school year.
Arctic Light is proud to be a K-8 school, one of several in the School District. Last year we learned how positive the older students were for our whole school climate. Many of our older students are mentors and leaders throughout the building. Most of our Primary classrooms have buddy rooms with the upper grades. Most exciting for myself are the Encores: teacher skill driven afternoon lessons for our students in grades 4-8.
Communication is key to your child’s successful school year. Twice monthly you will receive this electronic newsletter. Please refer to these for important calendar events and educational links. Our school website is also a repository for many of our important papers, calendars, and school materials. If you haven’t started following our Facebook page (see below), please join us as many of our announcements are shared through this site. We also send text messages and links as another way to spread school information.
Check-in with your child’s teacher about expectations. What are the learning goals for your grade level? What curriculum is your child’s teacher using? How is your child assessed and what are the criteria for high or low grades? How will your child’s teacher communicate with you and how often? These are but a few of the questions you should answer within the first two weeks of school.
Each day, ask your child for positive school events. Children know negative events get your full attention, do investigate, but also ask for positives too. Feel these out and keep your teacher informed as you see fit. The general rule of thumb, if it is interrupting your child’s learning, let your teacher know.
Celebrate your child’s countless achievements, big or small. When children feel that they are doing well, they usually work harder. Praise and encouragement are part of those parental duties just like boundaries and expectations. We too celebrate and can work with you to encourage successful studious behavior.
Thank you for choosing Arctic Light K-8. We look forward to a successful and positive school year.
AIMs Testing: Starting Aug 21st
Greetings from our Counselor
Hello,
I’m Kate LaSota, the School Counselor. I’m new to Arctic Light, but I have been in Fairbanks for more than 30 years, and with the district for 12. I’m located in room 20 where I will be teaching Life Skills classes to all grades about twice each month.
Social and Emotional Learning skills include self-awareness, self-compassion, awareness of others, compassion for others, and decision making. I teach through cooperative games, music, and brief mindfulness practices such as time to get calm, focusing on thoughts of gratitude, active listening, kindness, perspective taking, and problem solving. Lessons will start the second week of school.
Come by room 20 for a visit, call, or send me an email at kate.lasota@k12northstar.org. I look forward to meeting more of you in this community soon.
If you have any questions, please contact the school: 356-2038.
Arctic Light Title 1 School
We are a Title I school. Title I provides supplemental federal funding to schools to support student learning. Funding is based on the percentage of students that qualify for free/reduced lunch.
The additional funds help us to provide increased family involvement opportunities, additional professional development and supplemental academic support for our students.
If you would like to learn more about our Title I program and funds, please contact the school office at any time. We are eager to have your input and ideas as we continually review our plan and create a program that will provide our students enriched opportunities for academic success.
For more information please follow this link to our school page.
MAP Testing: Grades 4-8 Aug 21-22 & Grade 3 Aug 27-28
Front Office Reminders
- You have 2 days to call in and excuse absences for your students to the front office.
- Please do not stop in the road to pick your student up. Please pick them up in the school loops at dismissal.
- Please make sure you bring in your ID when picking up your child or signing a student out.
- If you have someone other than yourself or primary guardian picking up your student please make sure they are updated in your emergency contacts here at the school.
Update Your Contact Information!
- Please remember to update your Family Care Plans and emergency contacts!
With trainings and deployments, it is especially important that the school has current contact information regarding your children. This information should include local emergency contacts (other than you) as well as contact info for whoever will be taking care of your child in your absence and or POA’s that need to be put on file.
COMPLETE YOUR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATION
Parents and guardians, remember to complete your free and reduced lunch applications.
Nutrition Services has made it easier for families to apply for free or reduced priced meals. We encourage you to apply online anytime using an Internet enabled computer or with the Smartphone app. You can complete and submit an application in minutes! Just follow the link below.
If you need assistance or have any questions please feel free to contact the front office or Nutrition services at
(907) 451-1004 x16600
Immunization Clinic
Administrative Center, Board Room
For school-aged children only. Please bring immunization records.