Ravenwood Elementary
November 17, 2020
Home of the Ravens
Ravenwood embodies community and thrives from the interconnected support system of Eagle River. Outdoor education, the arts, and the use of technology are all integrated into the academic experiences students are offered to optimize engagement, creativity, and independent learning.
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)
Dear Ravenwood Families –
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family healthy and well. I really can’t believe it is already time for Thanksgiving. Despite not being able to resume in-person learning for PK-2 students due to the increase in Covid-19 cases, I trust you can still find plenty of things to be thankful for this season. I continue to be grateful for each of YOU and your continued patience and support of our staff and school in this very dynamic situation. I know this has been a challenging year for all of us!
The Ravenwood staff continues to prepare and fine tune our Health and Safety Plans, so we can welcome our students back as soon as permitted. Nurse Cottle shared information about the health/symptom-free school zone last week in a Zoom. We will reschedule additional informational Zooms as soon as ASD announces a new in-person return date. In the meantime, you feel free to check out our:
Ravenwood Site Plan for Back to School
Family-friendly Ravenwood Return Plan
Recorded Zoom of Health/Symptom-free with Nurse Cottle (Nov. 4th)
Health and Safety Q & A : Feel free to add any of your unanswered questions here for Nurse Cottle.
Read on to find out more about November happenings and things to be thankful for in our school community. For example, we are very thankful for our Ice Rink Heroes, who would be equally thankful to have more volunteers to join them in maintaining our ice rink. Check out the virtual B&N book fair section to find out how you and your friends and family (near and far) can support our school using a special code at the Barnes and Noble Virtual Book Fair this Saturday. Lastly, gobble up some cute student artwork that we are enjoying in our halls.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any celebrations or needs.
Stay healthy and hopeful Ravens, and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Kim Bautista
Thankful Turkeys
We're thankful to our Kindergartners and 2nd graders for giving us art to enjoy in our hallways!
ALASKA NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH
BARNES AND NOBLE VIRTUAL BOOK FAIR
The Ravenwood Barnes and Noble Virtual Book Fair begins Saturday, November 21st through Friday, November 27th. Profits support Mr. Lum's Music Program and the Ravenwood Library.
There are lots of ways to participate in the Book Fair. You can shop in-person (masks required), call the store to order, or you can buy online and choose "pick up in the store" (curbside pickup available). If you can't make it to the store, you can request your items to be shipped to your home or ask for "delivery to Ravenwood" for pickup and we will still earn the "in-store profit level".
Do you have friends and family out of town? Out-of-State? They can support us from anywhere in the USA! Visit BN.COM to shop online from 11/21/20 to 11/27/20. By entering Bookfair ID 12600177 at checkout, a percentage of their Barnes & Noble purchases will benefit our school/organization.
Check our Book Fair Website for Ravenwood’s activities and videos for our line-up of fun virtual events!
Library News - Curbside Pick Up
ASD Provides Free Meals to Students Through Emergency USDA Program
With the decision not to return students to in-person learning, ASD food service will continue service as it did previously and will continue offering meals at no charge to children enrolled in National School Lunch Program (NSLP). This is possible through a special emergency program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The change of this program enables ASD to provide meals at no charge at the 34 current community eligible provision schools to the 80 National School Lunch Program Schools in the District. ASD Virtual students are also eligible to participate, provided their primary enrollment is one of the 80 neighborhood schools.
For questions or assistance in placing and/or canceling orders, email snadmin@asdk12.org, or contact (907) 348-5142 and select Option 2.
MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION
Thursday, Nov. 19th, from 1:30-3:00p and 4:00-5:30p for 4 YO PreK classes (Ms. Elisa & Ms. KImberley), Kinder, 1st, 2nd, & 4th.
Our next PTSO meeting will be December 2nd (the first Wednesday of every month) at 6pm via Zoom until conditions allow in-person meetings. Anyone is welcome; however, voting is only for PTSO members. See membership info on our website.
FIND US AND GET CONNECTED!
SignUp Genius - search Ravenwood PTSO
Facebook: Ravenwood Elementary Group
Ice Rink Volunteers Needed
Thanks to our team of volunteer heroes Ricky Pico, Joey Haag, Jason Brooks, and Ted Stille our ice rink is up and running this winter. They are looking for additional volunteers to help with shoveling. Please email PTSO at ravenwoodptso@gmail.com with your name and contact number.
Boxtop Update
COMMUNITY NEWS
The Anchorage School Board is in the middle of its Strategic Planning Process to provide specific guidance and direction for the District through 2026.
Last fall, the Board conducted a series of steering committee meetings, community forums and listening sessions to solicit feedback and provide direction for shaping the District’s priorities. Based on this feedback, the School Board drafted three overarching goals and four guardrails to provide clear direction and focus for the District. Information about the goals and guardrails and the community survey are available here.
We are also excited to announce that the Board is hosting a community Town Hall on Thursday, November 19th from 6:00-7:00 p.m. This will be a time to hear about the draft Goals and Guardrails, the process of how they were developed, ask questions, and provide feedback. Spanish interpretation and close captioning will be available. Requests for other language interpretation should be received by Monday, November 16th.
Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, is a program that provides on-demand, online tutoring and homework help at no cost to eligible service members, civilian personnel, and their dependents. With live, expert tutors available 24/7, military-connected students can receive academic help at their moment of need—anywhere they have an internet connection. As of April 2020, all DOD Service Members, Civilian Personnel, and all Dependent Family Members (Kindergarten through College/Adult) are eligible to use Tutor.com/Military at no cost. https://military.tutor.com/home
Join Girl Scouts of Alaska for no cost this year!
Now, more than ever, Girl Scouts serves as a vital source of support, consistency and community for girls and families. As girls attend school virtually and practice social distancing, the connections that Girl Scouts fosters between girls are critical. Girl Scout programming provides a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for girls to try new things, explore the world around them, make a difference in their community, and develop relationships with other girls and caring adults.
There are many ways girls may participate from joining a local virtual troop to and Alaska wide virtual troop, to signing on as an independent girl to work through programs and earning badges.For the 2020-2021 membership years we are waiving any membership fees.
Visit our website for information or check out our Event List for upcoming and exciting programming: https://www.girlscoutsalaska.org/en/events/event-list.html
Text ‘JoinGSAK’ to 50601 today to get started or call or email to get more information or ask questions: 907.248.2250 – customercare@girlscoutsalaska.
19-20 YEARBOOKS
19-20 YEARBOOKS are available to purchase for $15.00 on-line in Parent Connect under 19-20 Yearbook. Yearbooks will be sent home with Student Material Distribution on Thursdays. Contact the front office (742-3250) if you have any questions. Special thanks to Ms. vanHaastert for doing an awesome job creating this school keepsake.
ASD VIRTUAL LIAISON
A reminder from Mrs. Colgrove's Class
School Business Partners
Anchorage School District School Board
2020-2021 ASD School Board
President, ELISA VAKALIS
Vice-President, MARGO BELLAMY
Treasurer, STARR MARSETT
Clerk, ANDY HOLLEMAN
Seat C, DAVE DONLEY
Seat E, ALISHA HILDE
Seat F, DEENA MITCHELL
DR. DEENA BISHOP, SUPERINTENDENT