William Tyson Elementary
December 2022
Let's redo some of our missed spirit days...
ALICE DRILL 12/2/22
NEW DATE for Photo Screening-January 13th
Event Postponed Due to Weather Conditions
December Family Event- Dec 21, 2022 1:30-3:00
If you plan to join us on December 21, you must complete the volunteer form below:
A Note from Our VOA School Based Clinician...
Merry Everything and Happy Always? Snow is falling and the holidays are here! Soon your children will be out of school and home for their winter break. The message of the holiday season is that it’s a time of joy to celebrate family, traditions, and togetherness. But for many, the holidays are a reminder of loss, loneliness, and added stress. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 64% of people report being affected by the “Holiday Blues” or holiday depression. Here are some ways you can help reduce both you and your children’s stress and anxiety during this busy time of year: Some additional signs and symptoms to look for in your child include irritability, withdrawing, or acting more impulsively. Some of the common stressors reported during the holiday season are spending more money than usual, having more social or familial obligations (a big one for teens), and pressure to maintain joyfulness or be in the “holiday spirit.” If you need additional support during this time, reach out to your school’s mental health clinician. We are here for you anytime throughout the school year. Wishing you and your family a MERRY holiday season and the happiest of New Years. This message has been brought to your school-based mental health clinician at Tyson Elementary School, LeeAnn Mitchell. Through a partnership with the Anchorage School District, Providence, and VOA Alaska we provide mental health and wellness support to students, families, and school staff in schools throughout Anchorage. To learn more and connect with school-based services, contact your school counselor, or reach out to me directly by email: mitchell_leeann@asdk12.org or by phone at 907-717-3874. The school-based mental health services are supported by an investment from the Municipality of Anchorage. Hardship waivers and other fee discounts are available for families who may feel a financial barrier to care. Additional Resources: Holiday Depression: How to Beat the Holiday Blues by Margaret Jaworski Understanding Post-Holiday Depression and Blues by Libby MacCarthy 9 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues by Jennifer Purdie
LeeAnn Mitchell (she/her) / School Based Clinician II
VOA Alaska | lmitchell@voaak.org | (907)742-8000 William Tyson Elementary School - Main Office
Reminder: School-wide Behavior Screener
Information gathered from these screeners could be used to help us place students in targeted peer groups. These groups would be used in efforts to address behaviors in more intentional small group settings. We are committed to a wholistic education approach for all students in our school. If you have any questions, please contact the school’s administrator.
ASD Budget Solutions Overview
Budget Information from Anchorage School District:
Anchorage School District has approximately 5,000 fewer students than we had 10 years ago. We currently have 18 schools under 65% capacity and many more under 75% capacity. The lower enrollment has resulted in lower educational services for many students as we’re forced to spread limited resources (i.e. speech pathologists and other specialists, specialty teachers, counselors, etc.) across multiple smaller schools instead of assigning them to larger schools. We can gain efficiencies district-wide by closing some schools and repurposing them for potential use by some charter schools who are operating in facilities that weren’t designed for educational use, centralized programs such as Pre-K academies or centralized special education programs, and other uses.
The Anchorage School District (ASD) is seeking community input on solutions to its multi-million-dollar deficit. The district has been funded at a flat rate for several years which does not address inflation. The District has used its federal relief funding to compensate for rising costs, but the bulk of this funding will be spent by the end of this school year. This will leave ASD with an estimated $68 million budget deficit for 2023-24 school year.
Some of the solutions being considered: the reduction of programs, an increase in class sizes and the proposed closure of six schools. Additional efforts are being taken to improve efficiency district-wide.
How to participate in the FY24 budget solutions process:
Stay informed: Follow the District Hot Topics page. The FAQ page is updated often
Subscribe to ASD Connect for monthly updates and messages from the Superintendent.
Tune in or listen back to pre-recorded Work Sessions to follow board and administration presentations and Q&A.
Town Halls will take place in person Nov. 2 through the 22 and campuses recommended for closure. Communities of those schools are welcome to attend in-person to ask questions and hear from the ASD administration.
William Tyson Elementary School
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/tyson
Location: 2801 Richmond Avenue, Anchorage, AK, USA
Phone: (907)742-8000
Facebook: facebook.com/TysonElementarySchool