SOPG NEWS
sopgsusitna@gmail.com
Hello Susitna Optional Families
Thank you to all who were able to come and help out with Art Intensive last Wednesday. The art work turned out great - the theme for this years Kaladi Art is "On the Farm". Students did one of six pictures: cows, chickens, farm house, tractor, cat or dog. They are going to look awesome on the walls of Kaladi Brothers First Friday this coming Feb 5th.
****I have updated the email list. If you are receiving this email and your child no longer attends Susitna Optional or you would rather not receive this please unsubscribe to these emails at the bottom.
Thank you,
Sara Crewdson
SOPG Board Member
Art Intensives last Wednesday.
Thank you to everyone who was able to help!
"On the Farm" Theme!
Reminder: This Friday is our Susitna Winter Soup and Stew (aka Sledding Night) Starting at 6pm
Starting at 6pm in the MPR
This Event has changed there name, but the fun will go on without snow! We will be having a Winter Soup & Stew Contest with Family Game Night.
Come join us with some fun activities. There will be several fun outdoor activities and indoor activities for all family members to enjoy. Weather permitting, the sledding hill will be open.
We are going to have a Soup, stew & Chilli Potluck!
Please bring your favorite Soup!! And also bring any sides you want to accompany your entry.
Golden Ladle Contest - Prizes to be awarded at 7pm
6pm Student Work Share/ 6-6:45 Food/ 7 Let the Games begin (Sledding if snow)
A fire pit will be available outside for parents to keep warm while children play!
To reserve your crockpot spot, or if you have any questions, please email Mr. Allen:
Parent Coordinator: Walter Lissner (wlissner@gci.net)
Teacher Coordinator: Mr. Allen (allen_christopher@asdk12.org)
We still need Volunteers!
Bowls, Spoons, Napkins, Hot Chocolate & Hot Apple Cider will be provided.
Upcoming Events!
Jan 19th - Quarterly Student Recognition Assemblies in the afternoon MPR 1:40-2:05 pm K/1, 2:10-2:35pm 2/3, 2:40-3:05pm 4/5
K - 6 Parent Math Night @ASD Building 6-8pm
Jan 22nd - Susitna Winter Soup & Stew (AKA:Sledding Night) (6pm) - Sign up Here! (Need Volunteers!)
Jan 27th - Parent Work Night - (3:30-7pm) Help prepare the awesome artwork for Kaladi Art Show! Plus there will be extra stuff to do from the teachers.
Jan 29th - K/1 Learning Lunch (12-1pm)
Feb 3rd - Parent Work Night at Kaladi Brothers on Patterson-Prep for Art Show (Sign up)
Feb 5th - Kaladi Art Show (on Patterson) (4-8pm)
Feb 15th - Presidents Day - NO SCHOOL/NO CAMPFIRE
Feb 17 & 18th - Parent Child Conferences (1/2 days, 12:20pm dismissal)
Feb 26th - Dr. Seuss Birthday Breakfast (8-8:45am in Gym)
Feb 26th - PACT - Need Volunteers (Click Here)
Parent Work Night Jan 27th
Come help prepare the awesome artwork for Kaladi Art Show. There will be extra stuff to do as well from the teachers. Hope to see you there!
Pizza will be available for purchase of $1/slice while supplies last.
SOPG BOARD IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
We are in need of volunteers to fill a few positions on the SOPG BOARD for the upcoming year(s)!
Positions Needed:
- Treasurer: (Could use 2 people for this) Responsibilities include: Collect all monies associated with the optional program, maintain account in the positive, send out written reminders to families who have not paid, follow the budget approved by the SOPG board, submit monthly or quarterly financial statement to board.
- Volunteer Coordinator; Responsibilities include: Contact Teacher & parent event coordinators a month before the event via email, phone or in person regarding status of event and then the week before the event to make sure all is going well with event.
- Members at Large; Responsibilities include: be present in SOPG Board meetings, help with any tasks that need to be completed.
Please email SOPGSUSITNA@GMAIL.COM if you are able to volunteer or have more questions about these positions.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
We are in need of Parent Coordinators for some of our events. Please consider volunteering.
Events that need your help: (Each worth 26 Hours)
- Spring Intensives: (May 5 & 6) Coordinator to help Ms. Brittany as needed.
- SOPG Last Day of School BBQ: Assistant Coordinator to help Sara Crewdson plan and operate this event.
If you are interested in helping coordinate an event this year, or would like more information please email me at sopgsusitna@gmail.com.
LOST & FOUND NEEDS YOUR HELP!
PLEASE VISIT THE LOST & FOUND AND TAKE HOME YOUR ITEMS!!
Located by the MPR
*All items left at the end of year will be donated!
JEC PRESCHOOL KINDY 101 - Jan 19th @ 5pm
We are already getting questions from parents of preschoolers who are kindy-bound this fall about kindy options, ASD holidays/breaks, before-and-afterschool care, how the lottery works, etc.
So we are going to have a "Kindy 101: Everything You Wanted to Know About Kindergarten But Didn't Even Know You Were Afraid To Ask" meeting at the JEC, Tuesday January 19th at 5pm.
We would LOVE it if any of you could attend, represent Susitna, the Optional Program, parents of recent kindergartners, etc. We have several former JEC kids now at Susitna.
Please contact:
Selena Hopkins-Kendall
JEC Preschool Administrator
ph 337-1672 cell 830-9442
GO MATH EDUCATION- Jan 19th (6-8pm) @ ASD Education Center
Learn more about Go Math! from teachers and curriculum experts. Each parent session will have smaller group sessions based on grade level. The night is structured this way so that parents with students in multiple grades can attend multiple sessions. Instructors will go over specific math problems that students will learn during the second quarter. There will be a computer lab for parents to practice accessing the online math materials.
Student Recognition!!! Way to Go!!
2016 Spelling Bee Winners
Congratulations Craig Kimball & Hailey Permenter!
Twelve students participated in Susitna's Spelling Bee. They were the winners of individual classroom bees and represented the best spellers in the school. All twelve students spelled well, but in the end, two students were the winners. They were Craig Kimball, the school champion, and Hailey Parmenter, 2nd place. Both students are in Mr. Allen's class.
Congratulations to all the participants, and thanks for your hard work!
Mr. Hubbell
Susitna 4th Grade Teacher
Spelling Bee Coordinator
Susitna Optional Student Recognized
DEB, the ASD soap dispenser system company for over 10 years, approached the district in September of 2015 about updating the dispensers with artwork supplied by students. ASD students showed off their artistic skills in the first-ever ASD Soap Dispenser Design Contest, sponsored by the M&O department, with the assistance of the Health and Physical Education department. The hundreds of submissions from students in various grades throughout the district featured vivid colors and imaginative scenes. District administrative office personnel selected the winners.
Susitna's own Nash Teater, whose artwork has been submitted as a finalist to the art department at DEB for their review. The company will determine which artwork is best suited for printing and provide screen-printed dispensers for installation by next school year.
Congratulations on your design, Nash, and good luck having your "Wash your paws" design chosen for the soap dispensers!
Visit our School Month Tours start in February Every Tuesday
Community members, businesses and parents are invited to visit any ASD school during the month of February to learn more about the community's public schools. While schools welcome members of the public year-round, this coordinated effort provides parents and community members an opportunity to learn more about the many educational opportunities available.
The safety of our students will always remain our top priority. All people on tours will be checked in through normal procedures that visitors follow. Principals and school staff will be leading the tours and tour groups will never be unsupervised. Students will continue classroom activities during tours and the tours will not interfere with student learning. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
Feb 2nd @ 9:30am
Feb 9th @ 9:30am
Feb 16th @ 9:30am
Feb 23rd @ 9:30am & 6pm
Please let your friends and family know to visit our school!
We Need Volunteers to Lead Tours in February! If you can help Lead a tour please contact Lucinda or call the front desk 741-1400
A Couple of Options for After 5th Grade
Anchorage STREAM: Where Science, Technology, research, Engineering, the arts and Math
5th Grade Families there is some Exciting news! STREAM signed a lease! STrEaM Academy will teach on the first floor of Wayland Baptist University next year! Click here and visit our website for dates on upcoming pre-open events in February and March.
Using ParentConnect you can complete an online lottery application for next year. We are accepting 6th, 7th and 8th graders for the 2016/17 school year.
ASD Lottery is open for the 2016/2017 school year! Make sure to log into ParentConnect and complete a lottery application for next school year to STrEaM Academy for you 6th, 7th and 8th grade students!
Highland Tech High
Highland Tech High is a standards-based, public charter school for grades 6-12 in the Anchorage School District. HTH equips students with the academic, social and technical skills to excel in today’s world and contribute positively to our society and the future. Students who graduate from HTH are able to choose their future, whatever that choice may be. HTH immerses students in a rigorous learning environment that integrates technical and academic education, and links students in the school to industry mentors in the workplace.
Click Here for Website!
This school is a lottery entry school. Students who do not currently attend the school need to apply through the school lottery system using the "Apply" link below.
Please Log Your Hours!!
Please Note: Emails have gone out over Winter Break with your Total Hours Logged.
Please Log your Hours! Click HERE!
Please refer to the Disclosure of Hours on the website for more information.
Your involvement really does make a difference for the teachers and in your child’s development.
K/1 Parent Jobs Box
Always Parent Jobs available in K/1
If you still need hours, no worries!
Looking for parent/ aunt, uncle / grandparent to read with children. Please contact Lucinda or Brittany if you are available to come in once or set up a time to come in on a regular basis.
There are other ideas listed below on ways you can volunteer.
Thank you to the Families that have Logged their hours so far!
For inquiries about your hours logged please email SOPGSUSITNA@GMAIL.COM.
If you still need a few hours, no worries, here are a few ideas on ways you can volunteer.
Helping in classrooms (wash tables, read with a child), help after school (Copy and Laminating projects), parent work night (Next couple are Jan 6th & Jan 27th, anytime between 3:30-7pm), doing work from home (just ask your teachers)
We still need volunteers to help in Field trips, and upcoming events like Sledding Night (Jan 22), Kaladi Art show set up (Feb 3), PACT (Feb 26 & Apr 29), Family Dance Night (April 29), Spring Intensives (May 5 & 6), Spring Bike trip (May 16) and year end picnic (May 19).
HELP COORDINATE OUR EVENTS - (Each worth 26 Hours)
Spring Intensives: Coordinator to help Ms. Brittany as needed.
SOPG Last Day of School BBQ: Assistant Coordinator to help Sara Crewdson plan and operate this event.
If you are interested in helping coordinate an event this year, or would like more information please email me at sopgsusitna@gmail.com.
Please check out Our Website and sign up under volunteers needed if you can help!
Disclosure of Volunteer Requirements
Thank you again for all your help,
Susitna Optional Parent Group
SOPG is specifically dedicated to supporting the Open Optional Program at Susitna Elementary. We perform functions similar to a PTA and we work closely with the teachers in the Optional Program, as well as Susitna's PTA. Key responsibilities include: assisting with PACT days (Parents and Children Together), Intensives, with Community Outreach projects, and with events like the Fall Ice Cream Social, The Spring Family Dance, spring/fall Bike Ride/Picnic, and the Year-End Barbecue.
The Susitna Optional Parent Group, or SOPG, is a volunteer parent group comprised of parents or guardians of children in the Open Optional Program at Susitna Elementary. SOPG is led by a volunteer advisory board consisting of a Chair, Co-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Members at Large.
The Current SOPG Board Members are
(to email click on member name)
Chair: Rhiannon Benedetti
Co-chair: Sara Crewdson
Secretary: Jessica Blackson
Treasurer: Amber Epps & Kathy Hammon
Members at Large: Ida and DJ Litteral
Members at Large: Angel Solter
Members at Large: Melanie Scallo
Members at Large: Need Volunteers Please!
Email: sopgsusitna@gmail.com
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/susitnaoptionalparentgroup/
Phone: (907)741-1400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SusitnaOPG/
"A caring community of critical thinkers"
This group page is hopefully another way to help us all keep connected throughout the year for information about meetings, events, volunteering, parent hours, etc.