You Otter Know!
December 2023
Letter from the Principal
The end of quarter 2 is just around the corner. You can log into Parent Connect to check grades and assignments.
https://parentconnect.asdk12.org/production/parentportal
A special thank you to our families who have been patient and kind in the pick-up line. Our children watch us as we navigate stressful situations and are constantly tested in wintery weather.
On another note, it takes our entire school community working together to keep students safe. I'm encouraging everyone to be alert and vigilant. If you hear of a possible threat or see something unusual, contact us at the office or local law enforcement. If you See Something, Say Something! Don’t forget to talk with your children about school safety.
At Spring Hill, we encourage students to treat each other as they would like to be treated and to be good citizens in a school community. This is also one of the responsibilities listed in the Student Handbook. We are a great school community, and it takes each and every one of us to give our very best efforts. Here is the Elementary Student Handbook for more information.
Lastly, the State of Alaska’s education funding formula is primarily based on the number of students enrolled. The Base Student Allocation (BSA), which was fixed in School Year 2016-2017 at $5,930 per student, remained the same through last school year 2022-2023. For school year 2023-2024, there was an increase of $30, which amounts to a .5% increase over the last 8 years. The BSA represents the largest share of ASD’s funding, followed by local tax contributions, and federal funding.
State one-time funding, federal relief funds, and the District’s use of savings, along with two school closures and staff reductions, have allowed the district to continue operating. The federal relief funds will be mostly spent by the end of this school year, leaving the District with a projected $98 million deficit for next school year, which could be brought down to $45 million with the use of district savings, if authorized.
Please take a moment and fill out ASD's survey on next year's budget. https://www.asdk12.org/fy25survey
We wish our Spring Hill School Community a wonderful holiday season.
Sincerely,
Lena Brower
Principal
Candy Grams are on sale now! $1 and support 5th and 6th grade camp!
Band and Orchestra Concert
Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023, 02:30 PM
Gym
Thank you to our families for contributing to our Cultural Day.
Nurse's Notes
Winter is a busy time of year and our children might appreciate being reminded to bring hats, mittens, warm boots, snow pants, and jacket to school to enjoy playing in the snow at recess.
Since blood flow to the arms and legs is guided by the temperature of blood flow to the brain, the addition of wearing a warm jacket and hat (or balaclava) will increase the circulation to the hands and feet.
It is also important for Alaska’s children to realize that cold injury such as “mild frostbite”, can leave fingers, toes, ears, etc. more susceptible to cold, circulation problems, numbness, and infection.
First Aid:
The primary goal of frostbite treatment is saving as much of the affected part’s capillary bed as possible. Optimal treatment involves rapid re-warming of the affected part in a swirling water bath consistent with, but not exceeding 104-107 degrees Fahrenheit (40-42°C). If the water is too hot—it can cause further injury. If it is not warm enough, it won’t save as many small blood vessels (capillaries).
If underlying hypothermia is suspected or the cold injury is beyond superficial, it is best to consult with your health care provider or emergency services.
With all forms of cold injury, prevention is the best medicine.
Wishing all our families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Nurse Naomi
Popcorn this Friday! $1
Winter Assessments
Just a reminder that we are in the Winter screening window for our school-wide behavior screener. The teacher rating scale is used to assess various risk factors for each student in their classroom to determine students at risk for behavior. The screening will be used to help us look at the effectiveness of our schoolwide and classroom structures as well as what additional support students might need. This screening is completed by teachers and will not take away from instructional time nor require input/answers from students.
Students in grades K-5 are participating in the mCLASS universal screener that measures Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and the Text Reading Comprehension (TRC) assessments. For support in understanding your child's mCLASS scores in Parent Connection:
MAP growth is given to students in grades 3-9 and is used to identify students who are at-risk and in need of intervention and/or enrichment. For support in understanding your child's MAP Growth scores in Parent Connection:
Mark your calendars for the next PTA meeting!
PTA Meeting
Thursday, Jan 11, 2024, 05:30 PM
Zoom
Want to volunteer?
Spring Hill is always looking for volunteers whether it's to help prep materials, pop some popcorn on Thursday evenings or offer a hand with our basketball team. We can find something for everyone. Inquire at the office or email SpringHillOffice@asdk12.org