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November 2022
PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
ASD leadership will host a Birchwood ABC community town hall meeting on November 3rd from 6:00-7:00PM @ Birchwood ABC Elementary school. This will be a chance for families to hear more information about ASD’s recommendation to close Birchwood ABC next school year. There will also be an opportunity for community members to make comments and ask clarifying questions. In the meantime, families are encouraged to contact the ASD school board and our state representatives to share your concerns.
FY24 Budget solutions overview
Anchorage School District has approximately 5,000 fewer students than we had 10 years ago. We currently have 18 schools under 65% capacity and many more under 75% capacity. The lower enrollment has resulted in lower educational services for many students as we’re forced to spread limited resources (i.e. speech pathologists and other specialists, specialty teachers, counselors, etc.) across multiple smaller schools instead of assigning them to larger schools. We can gain efficiencies district-wide by closing some schools and repurposing them for potential use by some charter schools who are operating in facilities that weren’t designed for educational use, centralized programs such as Pre-K academies or centralized special education programs, and other uses. The Anchorage School District (ASD) is seeking community input on solutions to its multi-million-dollar deficit. The district has been funded at a flat rate for several years which does not address inflation. The District has used its federal relief funding to compensate for rising costs, but the bulk of this funding will be spent by the end of this school year. This will leave ASD with an estimated $68 million budget deficit for 2023-24 school year. Some of the solutions being considered: the reduction of programs, an increase in class sizes and the proposed closure of six schools. Additional efforts are being taken to improve efficiency district-wide.
How to participate in the FY24 budget solutions process:
Stay informed: Follow the District Hot Topics page. The FAQ page is updated often
Subscribe to ASD Connect for monthly updates and messages from the Superintendent.
Tune in or listen back to pre-recorded Work Sessions to follow board and administration presentations and Q&A.
Town Halls will take place in person Nov. 2 through the 22 and campuses recommended for closure. Communities of those schools are welcome to attend in-person to ask questions and hear from the ASD administration.
ASD Asynchronous Day
Tuesday 11/8
The ASD Asynchronous Day on November 8, 2022 is a student school day. Students will not attend school at the building on this day. Additionally, they will not participate in any zoom sessions or meetings with school staff. However, all students will be marked as present. All students will be expected to work on assignments at home. The students will be responsible for completing assignments that will be provided by their teacher. These assignments will be graded and included in determining a student’s quarterly grade. Teachers will provide families with assignment information. Please contact your classroom teacher if you have any questions.
Attendance
Our current attendance rate after the 1st quarter is 95.01% and continues to be in the good range. Our goal is to end the school year with an overall attendance rate that is at or above 95%. That cannot be achieved without your dedication and commitment to making sure that your child is here on time every day!
Michael Thomas
Principal
Birchwood ABC Elementary School
Anchorage School District
BAC Corner
Dear Parents and Guardians,
By now I think everyone is aware of the proposal from ASD of Birchwood ABC school being closed at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. This letter is to encourage you to attend the ASD Campus Closure Community Meeting to be held at BWABC school this week on Thursday, November 3rd. 6pm-7pm.
The Anchorage School District has determined several priorities for the direction of ASD. These include:
•Improving reading proficiency
•Improving math proficiency
•Students should graduate with essential life skills and be college and/or career ready
•Educational opportunities should be equitable for all students in the district
•A diverse and highly professional workforce is essential for the success of all students
It is important to observe that the priorities of ASD and the results of BWABC students’ performance are fulfilled at our school. We are a high performing school with data that supports the success of our math, reading, and character development curriculums. Currently and historically, we are at the top 10% and higher in the following categories:
•Student Academic Achievement
-More specifically reading and math achievement on district and state assessments.
•Low behavioral referrals
•Attendance
All these factors contribute to a higher graduation rate.
BWABC is an outstanding example of success in achieving the cornerstone goals for the district. Additionally, these data points are how the district is measured by the community, the state and at a federal level. This understanding should be a significant factor when considering schools for closure.
I think that we can all see that BWABC and all the programs that are offered at our school form a core of what they are trying to build.
It is understood that action needs to be taken to alleviate the ASD budget deficit. We do not believe that the financial benefit to ASD associated with closing BWABC outweighs the hardships it will cause for families and students involved in our program.
Sincerely,
The Birchwood Advisory Committee
P.E. Corner
October activity logs are due November 2nd. They can be turned into your teacher, Mr. Olson, or the office.
Begin your November Activity Log Today!
November is the FINAL month of the FALL CHALLENGE
Activity logs will not be passed out in PE as we try to encourage students to take on the responsibility of this task. Students may get logs from the media rack in front of the school office, from the folder as they exit school, print a log at home (click HERE) or my favorite is when they make their own log or calendar on a scratch sheet of paper.
After November, The next Healthy Future Challenge will begin in February, but students are always encouraged to continue logging activities throughout the year! healthfutures.org
GYM SHOES!
Winter weather brings out the winter gear. As your child begins wearing boots to school, please remember that shoes are still needed at school for PE. We have a very limited amount of shoes to borrow, so often students have to sit out of PE when they do not have safe shoes to wear. There is also a blue donation tub if you would like to drop off any gently used shoes for PE. No boots, crocs, sandals etc…. Just gym shoes.
After School Sports Club
Our first sports club for the year will roll out in December.
The Junior Native Youth Olympic Club will be available for all 1st-5th grade students. Details, including registration forms, will be sent home later this month to interested students. Students will be introduced to some of these indigenous games during PE.
There will be limited enrollment for this club and most likely meet twice per week.
For more general information about the club/activity, click HERE
Birchwood Basketball Teams
Thursday, December 8th, Homestead Elementary will be hosting a noncompetitive 3 vs. 3 half court basketball jamboree. Children from our school have expressed interest in participating. This event is for two age groups, 3/4th grade and 5th/6th grade, and will have all skill levels participating. There have also been some 2nd graders who say they are “up for the challenge” and are welcome to participate.
With most 3 vs 3 events, there is no coach; just show up and play with your team. The players self manage the very short games, but if a parent(s) slid in to assist with finding the team’s court/ opponent, assisted with following rules, team substitutions etc. anything that assisted with a positive, helpful environment.
“I want to play!” registration forms will be sent home this month.
Links below for more info!
For team Information Team Information
For Jamboree Rules Jamboree Rules
Library Corner
Check out Ms. Tyson's instagram page for weekly updates @MsTintheLibrary
Nurse's Corner
ASD has distributed free COVID-19 Rapid Home Tests. If you would like a free test for your student or any family members, please contact Nurse April at 907-742-3452 or pollock_april@asdk12.org
Student Council
KONA ICE (SNOW CONE) Fundraiser
Student Council is Fundraising to bring the Zoo to our school for a special assembly. On Nov. 15th Kona Ice will park their mini food truck in the cafeteria to deliver snow cones to all students who have pre-ordered one. Snow Cones are $4 each. Pre-Purchase Days are Tuesday Oct. 25th & Monday Nov. 14th during lunch time. Consider sending funds in your student’s lunch box. Adults can also pre-purchase in the front office by bringing cash or check (made out to Birchwood ABC) and dropping funds in the Student Council Box. Snow Cone delivery day Nov. 15th during lunch time. P.S. Our goal is $500 to bring the zoo to our school. If Snow Cones aren’t your thing, we also accept cash donations direct to this cause.
PTA Corner
Book Fair Info
Our fall book fair is right around the corner and we are hoping to get some help with setting it up. We need help running it during the day & taking it down when we are finished. Please take a look at the sign up link below to see if there is any time block that you are able to help with. If you can’t commit to a full time block, please just email me and I will make a note of the time you are available. We appreciate you all very much and look forward to seeing all of the kids excitement picking out their favorite books!
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70a054ba8af2ba4f85-2022
Holiday Market Info
We are looking for volunteers to help wrap gifts for the Holiday Market. This is a favorite time for all of our students and it gives them the chance to shop without their families knowing what they’re getting!
NOVEMBER CHARACTER TRAIT
Dates to remember
Nov. 8th Asynchronous Learning Day
Nov. 9th Super Hero Dress Up Day
Nov. 11th No School for Students
Nov. 14th-17th Book Fair
Nov. 17th BAC Meeting
Nov. 23rd Book Character Dress Up Day
Nov. 24th-25th No School Thanksgiving Holiday