Alpenglow School Newsletter
February 2022
Home of the Snow Leopard
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).
From the Principal
Alpenglow Families,
Below you will find information on
Parent-Teacher Conferences
School Climate and Connectedness Survey
ACCESS Assessment for our English Language Learners
If you have any questions, please contact me at 742-3300.
Denise Demetree-Trombley
Principal, Alpenglow
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Online Conference Scheduler Information for Parents
The Conference Scheduler will be open and links available to parents on Tuesday, February 1st - Tuesday, February 15th.
Parents will be able to access the online conference scheduler in various ways:
ASD home page/Families Tab/Learning Section
ASD home page via the web slider https://www.asdk12.org/conferences
ASD Mobile App
ParentConnection/Quick Links (menu image linked here)
Wednesday, February 16, 2022, thru Friday, February 18, 2022
School Climate and Connectedness Survey
The Anchorage School District is partnering with the Association of Alaska School Boards to conduct the School Climate and Connectedness Survey ©, a statewide survey taken by students, staff, and families. This survey measures their perceptions of each school’s climate, including the engagement of students, staff, and families.
The Student Survey will be given to students in the 3rd - 6th grades at Alpenglow between February 21 and March 25. Students will complete the survey online during the school day.
The student survey will ask questions such as how students feel about school rules, their perceptions of how students treat each other, their relationships with staff, social and emotional skills, and observed risk behaviors of other students at school and school events. There are different surveys for younger students (grades 3-5) and older students (grades 6-12).
We also value input from our families. You are an important partner as we work to continually improve each school’s environment. Each parent/guardian is asked to complete one survey between February 1 and March 25. If you have more than one child attending this school, you only need to fill out one survey. Family Survey Link: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/aasb/asdfamily/surveys?language=en
All surveys are voluntary, anonymous, confidential, and do not ask questions about students’ families. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please notify the school in writing by Monday, February 14, 2022. Below are sample links for all surveys.
More information is available at https://www.asdk12.org/
Results from this survey will be used to identify student, staff, and family perceptions of school climate issues within our school. School staff use the results to inform their efforts to ensure schools are safe, supportive, and caring places for all students.
Thank you for your cooperation in this year’s School Climate and Connectedness Survey©.
ACCESS Assessment
Beginning February 1st, our school will be conducting a state-required assessment for English Language Learners. This assessment is called ACCESS and provides important feedback about the progress of our English Language Learners in Reading, Speaking, Listening, and Writing. Students will take the test using our school’s computers. Only students who are currently identified as English Language Learners (ELL) Program members will be assessed. Most of the assessments will be completed during the first few weeks of February, but some may continue into March.
You can find more information about the ACCESS assessment on the Alaska Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s ACCESS page, http://education.alaska.gov/assessments/elp.
If you have any questions about this test, you are encouraged to contact us here at school at 907-742-3300. You may also contact the District’s ELL Department at 907-742-4452. Information about the English Language Learners Program in the Anchorage School District can be found on ASD’s website.
As always, with testing, we ask that families plan so that their students are in school and are well-rested for testing. Your patience and support for this process is very much appreciated, as this assessment does provide useful information that helps our district and school improve programs for English Language Learners.
Colt Roundup
Colt Roundup for current 6th grade students who will be attending Gruening Middle School next year will be held on Tuesday, February 15, from 6:00-8:00pm at Gruening. Additional information will be forthcoming very soon.
Reminders
The School Climate and Connectedness Survey is open. Please take a moment to complete the family survey.
If your student is going to be absent, please call 742-3300.
Please consider volunteering for our PTA. They do a lot for our school and could use a few volunteers to help with various events. You do not need to come to all the PTA meetings to volunteer. They are looking for individuals who can help once or twice per year. The PTA’s next meeting is Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Dates to Remember
Fridays – Wear Alpenglow school colors – black, teal, and white
- Jan. 28: Spirit Day - Sports Jersey
- Feb. 4: Spirit Day – 100th day of school: Dress like your 100 years old
- Feb. 4: Popcorn Friday
- Feb 14 Spelling Bee - 3rd - 6th Graders
- Feb 16 Parent/Teacher Conferences - 12:30 Dismissal
- Feb 17 Parent/Teacher Conferences - 12:30 Dismissal
- Feb 18 No School - Teacher Work Day
- Feb 21 No School - Presidents’ Day
- Feb 25 Spirit Day - Beach Day: Pull out the beach towels, dress in your summer gear and wear sunglasses for some summer fun.
News from the Nurse
COVID Clarifications
Regardless of vaccination status, everyone is vulnerable to this highly infectious Covid-19 Omicron variant. We want to keep the school open with healthy staff and students. Please help us!
(Please note that the recommendations by the nurse are not a mandate or change in ASD policy. Please see CDC symptom list and guidelines for more detail.)
The following are some friendly reminders & clarifications to help decrease Covid in our school.
- A person is highly contagious and can make others sick 2 days prior to symptom onset.
- Any one of the symptoms off the CDC list can indicate a Covid-19 infection.
- You can have Covid without a fever.
- Everyone experiences symptoms differently.
- You are still contagious even if you are symptom-free with a positive test result.
- Isolation means the infected person remains in their own room the whole time of their isolation and has their own bathroom.
- The first day of symptoms or positive test result is day zero.
- Students can return on day 6 if they are 98% symptom free.
(Here are is an example of 98% symptom free: In order to return to school after 5 days of isolation your child should be fever free for at least 24 hours without fever reducing medication, no headaches, body aches, extreme fatigue, sore throat, nausea, significant congestion, or a cough that is not resolving.) It is recommended that if one is not sure if your child is well enough to return to school please contact the school nurse and/or speak with your child’s doctor.
- People can still be contagious up to 5 days after isolation.
- Please make sure you let the school know when your child first has symptoms.
- Please let the school know when your child has a positive Covid test.
- We only accept negative test results to return to school from PCR/molecular tests. At-home tests do not count.
Why we cannot accept negative home tests or antigen tests:
Home tests and antigen tests have a high rate of false negative compared to PCR/ Molecular tests because they are detecting different covid virus indicators. For example, in the same way a blood test is more sensitive and accurate for detecting early pregnancy, so is the PCR/ Molecular test more sensitive and accurate for detecting covid. We only accept the most accurate testing mechanism to decrease the probability of sick children returning to school with Covid-19.
(Take note if any home test or antigen tests are positive consider yourself positive as it is extremely rare to have a false positive test.)
- Surgical masks and N95 are recommended over cloth masks for this variant.
- All students need masks as well as extras. Masks get lost at recess or lunch. Sometimes, they get wet. Please make sure your student has plenty of extra masks in their backpacks.
COVID Testing at Alpenglow
Counselor's Corner
#1: Character Matters program: Each month, classrooms explore a different character trait. In January, the character trait is ‘Friendliness’. ‘Friendliness’ is defined as a relationship of mutual affection between people. It is choosing to be with one another, enjoying time spent together, and being able to engage in a positive and supportive role to one another.’
While not everyone will be our BFF (best friend forever), ‘friendliness’ offers the chance to be kind to everyone around us. Thank you for helping your student watch for examples of ‘friendliness’ at home and around the community!
#2: SEL lessons in each classroom: Each classroom receives SEL support through a 30-minute lesson or activity taught by the counselor 2x a month. Our time together explores many themes including friendship, conflict resolution, empathy, getting to know each other, and so on.
#3: Our next Zoom meeting for All Pro Dad is Wednesday, February 9th, at 6:30 pm. Our chapter of All Pro Dad strengthens the connection between dads and their children. (K-6th). Our meetings are always fun! Go to www.allprodadchapters.com and find Alaska and the Alpenglow chapter to sign up for email announcements and on-going support information. Watch Facebook and emails for the Zoom link!
For counseling questions and more, please contact Jane Barber, school counselor: barber_jane@asdk12.org I am available on Mondays and Tuesdays, all day; Fridays, from 12:30 – 4pm; or call: 907-742-3300, or, 907-742-9533 (direct line). Thank you!
PE News
We will be participating in a variety of activities: sledding, ice skating, broomball, building snow structures, snowshoeing, and possibly nordic skiing. We have equipment for all these activities; however, we encourage your child to bring their own helmet if possible. Bike, ski, or hockey helmets are acceptable. Please fit it to your child with a buff, headband, or hat underneath. Hats with puff balls don’t work to wear under a helmet. We do have helmets available.
We will do our best to let classes know in advance when we plan to ice skate so students with their own skates can bring them in. We do, however, have enough available for all of the students. We will announce on Facebook and email our tentative dates for skating. We would really appreciate parent help to fit students into their skates, this process is quite time consuming.
We look forward to some great winter fun!
Alpenglow Elementary School
Email: demetree_denise@asdk12.org
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/alpenglow
Location: Alpenglow Elementary School, Driftwood Bay Drive, Eagle River, AK, USA
Phone: 9077423300
Facebook: facebook.com/alpenglowelementary