Chugiak Chatter
October 1, 2021
Principal's Note
October is here! All classes completed safety drill walks to the Chugiak Senior Center this past week, our alternate evacuation site to be used in the event of an emergency and part of our school Emergency Action Plan. Were Chugiak Elementary determined to be unsafe after a major earthquake or other event, parents would pick their students up across the street through our student release process.
With October comes Fire Prevention Week. This is a great time to have a conversation with your kids about your family’s meeting place in the event of a house fire or other emergency. This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety, so while you’re at it, change those smoke detector batteries!
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences
Please pencil-in October 20 and 21 on your calendar for Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences. We will send scheduling information home soon. This year, we are offering two conference options. Parents may opt for in-person conferences here at Chugiak, which allows you to spend a few minutes in your child’s classroom environment - their home away from home. As is true during the school day, face coverings will be required for all parties during in-person conferences. If you prefer a Zoom conference with your child’s teacher, that option will also be available.
The official conference windows will be from 1 pm - 4 pm on both the 20th and 21st, and from 4:30 - 7:30 pm on Wednesday, October 20. Conferences will range from 15 - 20 minutes and we aim to connect with 100% of our Chugiak families that week. We look forward to seeing you at school for Fall conferences!
Construction Phase One
Thank you all for working with us through construction phase one. Bonus points to everyone who has found their way to our temporary main entrance!! We anticipate hallway access to resume next week for our kindergarten classes; just in time for winter and we couldn’t be happier! This first phase is on track to wrap up in mid-November, right about the time of the PTO Bazaar (Nov. 13). Then, we will start using our new secure entry vestibule. By late November, phase two should begin, which involves primarily interior construction as the current office becomes the music room, staff workroom, and faculty lounge. Kids will have tons to write about when phase two gets underway!
Speaking of Writing . . .
Writing calls upon students to encode their knowledge about sounds and spellings into print. Writing has a positive influence on the development of students’ reading skills. Chugiak teachers endeavor to engage students in writing throughout each school day and across all content areas. At home, we encourage families to make writing a regular part of students’ lives through traditional activities such as writing letters to family members, keeping a diary/journal, and composing grocery lists or other texts (old fashioned letters sent via snail mail are preferred over texting, as forming letters in print/cursive requires different brain activity than to type or text).
Writing every day will boost students’ overall literacy skills and help Chugiak continue our progress toward reading proficiency for all students. Read more about ASD’s Strategy XXVI: Fueling our Future strategic plan here. Based on recent state and district assessments, Chugiak ES is considered on track to meet these goals. Together, we can ensure our students continue to achieve at high levels! Thank you, as always, for your support of student learning and engagement at Chugiak!
Respectfully,
Heather Mildon
It's Time for Winter Gear!
Our schedule currently has students outside for recess for 35 minutes daily. Looking at the weather forecast, Old Man Winter will soon pay a visit and our first snowfall is just around the corner, shop now for your child’s winter recess gear. A Chugiak student who is well-dressed for winter wears or brings the following items to school daily:
insulated boots (waterproof is great for those slushy days)
snow pants
warm coat (with a zipper and snaps is ideal)
warm, waterproof gloves or mittens
scarf or neck gaiter -- super when the wind gets blowing!
hat that covers ears and/or hood attached to their coat
All gear should be marked with your child’s name on the inside label or elsewhere. Grab a silver Sharpie marker to label snowpants and help teachers out, because black snowpants tend to look alike!
We go out to recess daily to temperatures of -10 degrees. On colder days, students who wish to do so may warm up for brief periods mid-recess in our warm up rooms at the ends of each primary hallway. Thank you for sending your children to school dressed for the weather every day so they may fully enjoy their recess break!
Temporary Bus Route Hiatus - Cohort Updates
We are ending our second week of Route 727’s temporary hiatus. Their service resumes Monday, October 11th.
On Monday, October 11th, Bus Route 725 will go offline for a three-week period and service will be suspended to all Route 725 stops. Route 725 will resume service on Monday, November 1st.
Thank you again to our families on impacted routes for making alternate transportation arrangements.
Chugiak Rates Five Stars Because:
Beth Senchantixay: Chugiak Elementary rates five stars because we are surrounded by a community who believes in and supports nurturing the whole child. Chugiak staff and families go the extra mile to make our school a better place.
Sharyl Steiding: Chugiak Elementary rates five stars because we are a community who believes all students have a right to an excellent education that is responsive to individual academic, social, and emotional needs.
New COVID testing site: Chugiak High
Building Friendship in PE
Twin Day Pics
Mark your calendar!
October 13 Primary Color Day
November 10 Book Character Dress-up Day
November 24 Crazy Hair Day
December 8 Ugly Sweater Day
PTO Updates
We’ve moved our meetings to the FIRST Tuesday of the month instead of the second so we have more time between our meetings and our big years events.
Speaking of which…
SAVE THE DATE!
Fall Carnival - Oct. 22
Bazaar Craft Fair - Nov. 13 - 10-4
Details below.
We need parent volunteers for both of these events, look for a sign up coming soon and it will also be posted on the Chugiak Elementary PTO FB page.
Halloween Carnival!
Friday, October 22
Tickets available now! Form attached below.
Holiday Bazaar
Blue and Gold Fridays!
NO CELL PHONES IN SCHOOL ZONES FACTSHEET
Chugiak Elementary School
Email: mildon_heather@asdk12.org
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/Domain/21
Location: 19932 Old Glenn Highway, Chugiak, AK, USA
Phone: 907-742-3400