Panther Pride News
Week of March 25, 2024
Calendar
March 2, 2024 -April 2, 2024: 8th grade Alaska Science Assessment
April 2, 2024-April 10, 2024: AK STAR Math and Reading Assessment
April 5, 2024: Spring Carnival @ Mears, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
April 10, 2024: Rising 8th Graders Virtual Open House, 6:00 pm, Virtual Meeting
April 10, 2024: PTSA Meeting, 6:30 pm, Virtual Meeting
Save the Date
Rising 8th Graders Virtual Open House Hosted on Zoom
Virtual Open House for Mears Rising 8th Grade Families
Wednesday, Apr 10, 2024, 06:00 PM
2024 AK STAR and Alaska Science Assessment
Each spring, Alaskan students are provided an opportunity to show what they know. When students show what they know, teachers and parents can partner to promote student success. The State of Alaska Department of Education has partnered with NWEA to align and connect the English language arts (ELA) and mathematics tests with the MAP Growth benchmark assessments students take in fall and winter.
This balanced assessment system targets instruction to better support meeting students’ individual learning needs. In addition, students will take only one assessment per content area (ELA and math) and be provided two scores as follows:
Summative assessment result at grade-level
MAP Growth interim benchmark result, including growth from fall to spring
AK STAR, the Alaska System of Academic Readiness, is comprised of English language arts and mathematics and is administered to students in grades 3-9. The Alaska Science Assessment is administered to students in grades 5, 8 and 10. The purpose of a large-scale, summative assessment is to provide parents and schools an overall picture of a student’s progress in meeting the Alaska standards at grade level.
Parents can locate resources for AK STAR and the Alaska Science Assessment, including directions for Student Readiness (Practice Tests and Tutorials), student testing times and general assessment information on the ASD website at https://www.asdk12.org/akstar.
Parents can also help by ensuring their children are well rested, eat a nutritious breakfast, and are at school on time for the days of testing. Please avoid scheduling appointments on your child’s testing days.
Students! Get ready to show what you know during our school’s AK STAR and Alaska Science Assessment testing.
Questions regarding spring assessments? Contact Tara Bivins: bivins_tara@asdk12.org or 907-742-6197.
AK Science Assessment (8th grade): March 26-April 2. We have revised the schedule to accommodate testing on Friday, March, 29, 2024.
AK STAR Math & Reading (7th grade): April 2-3
Note the revised class schedule for AK STAR testing for April 2-3.
AK STAR Math & Reading (8th grade): April 9-10
Note the revised class schedule for AK STAR testing for April 9-10.
In Team News . . .
Team Muir: Our last team day will take place on Friday, May 3rd. Please wear your team t-shirt to the event! T-shirts can be purchased on Q/Zangle or through Ms. Robin in the front office. Pick up your t-shirt in Mrs. Daniel’s classroom.
In Athletic News
Fastpitch Softball is starting soon!
Don’t forget, you need to register and pay the fee with ASA, and you will also need an updated sports physical on file with Mears. Click the link below for more information!
The ASD sports fee cap does not apply to Softball and Baseball.
https://www.anchoragesports.com/msfastpitch
Track & Field is in week 2 of training and Mears has almost 100 student-athletes competing. Visit the Mears Track website to keep informed: https://sites.google.com/asdk12.net/trackandfield/home
Parents As Partners
Update: COVID Isolation Guidelines
The CDC has updated the Covid isolation guidelines. Covid will now be treated like most respiratory viruses (flu, RSV, etc). ASD’s guidelines can be found here. The CDC’s respiratory virus guidance can be found here. Please reach out to me if you have any questions/concerns. My office number is 907-742-6401, and my email is richards_karin@asdk12.org.
Morning Detention
Detentions are 7:15 am-7:45 am, in Room 106, Tuesday-Friday. Please drop-off your student at the North Entrance to access the building. Security staff will greet your student and escort them to Room 106. Please contact AP Svendsen with any questions.
Office Hours
Absent Notification Procedures
Jane Mears Middle School
Everyone
Accepted
Respected
Safe
Email: marquand_carla@asdk12.org
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/mears
Location: 2700 West 100th Avenue, Anchorage, AK, USA
Phone: 907-742-6400