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April 2023
PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Birchwood ABC Families,
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that I will not be returning to Birchwood ABC next fall. I have worked as an educator in Alaska for 21 years but I will be retiring from Alaska and moving with my family back to our home state of Montana. This decision was a bit unplanned. We had previously planned to stay in Alaska for a few more years. However, my and my wife’s parents both live in Montana. They are all in good health but they are elderly. Over winter break we decided that we needed to spend more time with them and allow our parents to be more involved with our children as they grow up.
I have truly enjoyed my time at Birchwood ABC. We have weathered an earthquake and a pandemic together. Throughout it all we have maintained the same high academic and behavior standard that exemplifies our school. The Birchwood ABC community and staff are the finest that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I do plan to continue to work as a principal in Montana. I will take much of what I have learned here to my next school. Character trait development will always be a focus of any school that I lead.
Thank you for all your support over the past 5 years and thank you for being Birchwood ABC!
I have attached a letter from the district that describes the community’s involvement in the process for hiring a new principal for Birchwood ABC.
Thank You,
Michael Thomas
P.E. CORNER
Healthy Future Activity Logs
April activity logs are due April 28th. They can be turned into your teacher, Ms Rachel in the office, or Mr. Olson.
The Spring Challenge will run February – April. During these months, students can submit activity logs for prizes. 4th and 5th graders may still complete and submit activity logs to Mr. Olson for extra PE credit!
Healthy Future website https://healthyfuturesak.org/
Activity Log HERE
Badminton
Our Badminton team competed at the State Wide tournament on Saturday. Everyone did a great job, thanks for coming out to play.
LIBRARY CORNER
Thank you for helping our library through Birchwood ABC's 1st annual Read-A-Thon! Together we raised $4,942.50 that goes directly to the library and we helped to nurture the love of reading in the student body. This money will be spent on new library books, maker space materials, and possibly some new furniture.
Keep encouraging your child to read! Thank you!
Tanya Tyson
Birchwood ABC K-6 Librarian
PTA CORNER
Don't forget to order your yearbook, it's packed with fun photos for your students to look back at! Books will be delivered to your student before the end of the school year.
https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/YBStore/YearbookStoreMain.asp?yearbook_id=53787
Teacher appreciation week is fast approaching and we're looking for our creative parents to help us continue the fun tradition of door decorating here at Birchwood ABC. There is more information included in this sign up genius or feel free to reach out to PTA for any questions. birchwoodpta@gmail.com We will need these completed by April 28th.
Click here to sign up or learn more:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a054ba8af2ba4f85-teacher#/
PTA is super excited to announce that we will have our 3rd Annual JOG-A-THON next month! We will send home more information later but wanted to reach out to any parents available to help that day. It takes a village to count laps and have it run smoothly.
Please click here to sign up if you're able:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a054ba8af2ba4f85-jogathon1#/
BAC INFO
APRIL CHARACTER TRAIT
DATES TO REMEMBER
April 11th: Purple Up Day
April 19th: Space Dress Up Day
April 28th: Jog-a-thon Pledges Begin
April 28th: Popcorn Friday