Pearl Creek Weekly Newsletter
March 20, 2023
Spring Break-See you on the 20th, TODAY!
Hope you had a wonderful Spring Break! Welcome back to school!
After School Enrichment Coming Your Way
Please be on the lookout for our After School Enrichment flyers coming out the week of March 20th. The Spring clubs will start on March 27-May 4th! Thanks!
After School Help Needed with Fly Tying
Stian Stensland, a parent at PCE and fisheries management professor visiting UAF from Norway, is looking for fly tyers and fly casters to help him instruct a fly tying and fly casting class at Pearl Creek Elementary School this spring.
He is looking for a few people to help with basic fly tying and casting. He plans to conduct weekly classes at Pearl Creek starting the week of March 27 and running for 6 weeks. Classes are 4-5 PM and for Pearl Creek students as part of their after-school enrichment program run by volunteers. Day of week is not set yet.
Stian and co-instructors had a successful fly-tying class last October with 11 eager kids grades 2 -5. Now he would like to get the kids ready for fishing by having 3 classes of tying and 3 of casting. 2-4 co-instructors are needed. If you can help with either tying or casting that would be highly appreciated. Even a couple of times helps.
His email address is: tjuddur99@hotmail.com
Please reach out to Stian to offer help.
Statewide Testing Information-3rd, 4th and 5th Graders
Dear Parent or Guardian,
The Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development (DEED) is taking a new approach to statewide assessments that better reflects learning throughout the school year, and helps educators target instruction to students' needs. The new Alaska Innovative Assessment System:
Streamlines testing and maximizes efficiency, providing a more seamless experience between interim and summative assessments.
Increases coherence across interim and end-of-year summative tests so educators can drive students toward consistent, challenging learning targets.
Helps amplify student learning by giving educators, students, and families meaningful insights on student strengths and areas to support students in reaching their highest academic potential.
Increases opportunity for students and schools to show growth.
The Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) is the state summative assessment, is administered to students in grades 3-9, and assesses their understanding of the Alaska ELA and Mathematics Standards adopted in 2012. The balanced approach connects fall or winter MAP Growth interim tests with the spring AK STAR assessment. Additionally, the Alaska Science Assessment is administered to students in grades 5, 8, and 10, and assesses students’ understanding of the Alaska Science Standards adopted in 2019.
The testing schedule for AK STAR and AK Science Assessments is:
Middle Schools: March 27 - April 7
High Schools: April 3-7
Elementary Schools: April 10-21
Please check the school website for specific dates that your student will test, or contact the school’s office.
No electronic devices, besides those used for testing, will be allowed in the testing environment. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, laptops, iPads, e-readers, smart watches, fitness trackers, etc. Please be mindful of this and ask your child to leave personal electronic devices at home on the days they are scheduled to test. If an electronic device is medically necessary, contact the principal to discuss this.
Parents have the right to make educational decisions for their child, including whether to participate in statewide testing. Enclosed you will find an informative document from DEED titled “Why Should my Child Take the State Assessment.” Practice tests, tutorial videos, and additional information can be found on the district website at www.k12northstar.org/Page/10976.
If you have any questions about the upcoming assessments, please contact your school or call the Department of Teaching and Learning at 452-2000 ext. 11422.
Sincerely,
Shawna Henderson
Ready Raven
PTA-Connection Corner
Hope you are all having a marvelous spring break! The annual book giveaway was postponed until March 31st so your kids will be bringing home lots of books then!
PTA is still looking for tin can lids (cut so they aren’t sharp) or frozen juice lids to use as trail markers for ski club. Please drop them off at the front office.
PTA board needs someone to take on the by-laws position for the 2023-2025 term. Contact us at ptapearlcreek@gmail.com for inquiries about what it all entails or to let us know you are interested.
District Wide Science Fair-For Those Students Who Received White Ribbons!
Congratulations to your children and the effort all your families put into making the science fair projects happen!
I wanted to make sure that you have the information on the dates and times for project drop off at Pioneer Park, Judging, Pick up and community viewing.
It was attached to each project at our fair, but I saw in some cases grandparents and kids picked up the materials, so here it is again just in case!
Wed. Mar. 22, 2 pm to 7 pm - Project Check-In at the Pioneer Park Civic Center
Thurs. Mar. 23, 9 am - 3 pm - Student Interviews (kids will ride a bus from Pearl Creek to the fair)
Friday, Mar. 24, 9 am - 6 pm - Public Viewing
Sat., Mar. 25, 10 am - 1 pm - Project Pick up, 1 pm awards ceremony (if your child gets a community award)
LINK to Interior Alaska Science Fair website
Please let me know if you would not like your child to participate, or if you will be out of town. Also, if your child was a part of a group project please pass this information on to the other parents in your group.
I do need a few parents who would be willing to go on the bus ride with the kids.
Please let me know if you are available on Thursday, March 23. It usually takes 1.5 - 2 hours for the field trip.
Thank you!
Katie Spellman and the Pearl Creek PTA
Calypso-Opportunities for Adults and Students
Pearl Creek Garden Camps
These camps take place at the Pearl Creek Elementary School Garden! Campers will explore science, art, cooking, and more through a wide range of hands-on activities in the garden. They'll learn all about growing food while enjoying healthy snacks straight from the garden, making new friends, and having FUN!
Sprout Camp
Grades: going into 1st-6th in Fall 2023
June 12-16, 2023
9am-12pm
Harvest Camp
Grades: going into 3rd-6th in Fall 2023
July 17-21, 2023
11am-4pm
Register HERE: https://calypsofarm.org/summer-camps/#garden
Here's the link: Farm and Forest Educator Training at Calypso Farm
Parent and Family Input-Check Out Your Email From The School District
An email was sent from our District Office on February 13th regarding a short survey on school climate.
The surveys are multiple choice, will take around 10-20 minutes to complete, and are
anonymous for parents/staff.
This is a great way for us to get feedback from all stakeholders and can help us make positive changes based on your input! Thank you in advance for your time!
Just a Reminder-Winter is Still Here!
Here are the expectations for snow gear for students as the temperatures continue to drop.
Primary Students-Kindergarten-3rd
32-0-snow pants (if there is snow on the ground), jackets, hats, gloves, boots
0- -20-snow pants, warm coat, hat, gloves, neck gaiter/face mask, boots
Intermediate Students-4-6th grade
32-0-jacket, hats, gloves
0- -20-snow pants, warm coat, hat, gloves, boots
Calling all Old/Recycled Pearl Creek Shirts!
Wellness Check-Check it Out!
Nutritional Services-Changes from Last School Year
Due to federal funding for the School Lunch Program, we have previously been able to offer meals to all students in the district at no charge. That funding has ended and we are returning to our previous requirements for students to receive free and reduced meals. If you would like your child to continue receiving free and reduced meals, please complete the 2022-23 meals application form and see if your family qualifies.
NEW!!! Our online breakfast & lunch menu provider has changed. We now have everything you need at https://www.schoolcafe.com . No account is needed.
You can view the menus as a guest!School meals are a great value and huge convenience for busy families. Full elementary price breakfast is $2.00 and lunch is $3.50. Middle and high school price breakfast is $2.25 and lunch is $3.75. If your child qualifies to receive meals at the reduced price, breakfast is free and lunch is $.40. Free and reduced price meal benefits do not extend to additional milk or milk only purchases or partial meal purchases. All portions of a meal can be purchased by paying the ala carte prices. Milk comes with breakfast and lunch but if your child purchases additional milk with his/her meal or one to drink with his/her lunch from home, the cost is $.1.00. Visit https://www.schoolcafe.com to make payments, view the menus, and see what your child purchases.
If your child received free or reduced price meal eligibility last school year as the result of a completed 21-22 meals application and were enrolled on the last day of school, the grace period will expire on September 28, 2022. On October 1, 2022, students receiving meal benefits due to the grace period will revert to full pay status. You have the convenience of completing the application online at https://www.schoolcafe.com or you can get a paper application from your child’s school. Submit a completed meals application for the 2022-2023 school year as soon as possible as it can take up to ten (10) days for application processing.
ThrivAlaska
Kat Nichols-Director
Wk: 907-452-4267 xt. 240
Fax: 907-479-9035
1949 Gillam way, Fairbanks AK 99701
Doorbell System
Pearl Creek Elementary
Email: shawna.henderson@k12northstar.org
Website: https://www.k12northstar.org/pearlcreek
Location: 700 Auburn Drive, Fairbanks, AK, USA
Phone: 907-479-4234
Facebook: facebook.com/pearlcreek