Dragon Tale
December 2021
Important School Dates:
12/9 - K-3rd Grade Winter Concert @ 6:30pm
12/15 - Mini Workshops - Volunteers Needed! - See Details Below
12/17 - Pajama Day
12/20 - 12/31 - Winter Break
1/3 - Inservice Day / End of 2nd Quarter/ No School
A Message From Mr. Swanson
The only way we can keep up with all the activities and great things that are happening at McNeil Canyon over the next three weeks is to make a list and check it regularly. So many special traditions and learning opportunities will occur in the next fifteen days of school that checking the list twice may not be enough to make sure you do not miss out.
Students across all the grade levels have been preparing diligently for their individual and collective parts they have in the Winter Music program that kicks off this flurry of activities on Wednesday and Thursday evening of 8 & 9 December. The next day, Friday 10 December, is Writer’s Workshop, an opportunity for all students to share some of their great writing with peers. Add to that the excitement of gingerbread cookies, soup-kit making, mini-workshops and Pajama Day and you have all the makings of some great fun and wonderful opportunities for getting into the holiday spirit.
In just 23 calendar days, the first semester of this school year will be over and students will be headed home for two weeks of well-earned vacation. McNeil students have really been working hard on all of the assignments and activities that teachers have been planning and guiding them through.
Happy Holidays and thanks to all of you for your wonderful support of McNeil Canyon School.
Winter Program
Mini Workshops - Parent Volunteers Needed!
On Wednesday, Dec. 15th beginning at 1:00 pm, we will be conducting mini-workshops. If you would like to help with one of the workshops or conduct your own, please let us know by Thursday, Dec. 9th so that we can plan accordingly. These workshops are something that the students and staff look forward to and we hope to have parents involved, as well. If you would like to conduct a workshop with a few students but don't know what to do, we are full of ideas! Just ask! Please email Joy with the information below at joverson@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or give Joy a call if you can help. Thanks so much for helping us make this a special time with the kids!
Mini-Workshop Sign-Up Information:
- Parent’s name
- Workshop description
- Grade level(s) of students you’d like to work with
- Desired number of students
- Materials you need
- Contact phone
Winter Break & End of 2nd Quarter - No School December 20th - January 3rd
Monday, December 20th begins our winter break and will go through Friday, December 31st. Monday, January 3rd is the end of our second quarter and is an in-service day for staff so there will be no school. Students will return to school for the 2nd semester on Tuesday, January 4th. We hope you and your family have a peaceful, restful, and joyous holiday!
After School Cross Country Skiing & Ice Skating
Mr. Swanson and Josh have been working hard building up snow berms and laying water over the basketball courts in anticipation of perfect ice skating conditions. Corise Story and Ashley Hanson will be our after-school ice skating coaches. They will be looking for parent volunteers to help students get their skates on/ off and as extra eyes on the ice. Please contact Corise at cstory@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or call the school office.
Anne Love is our after-school cross country ski coach and she is looking for parent helpers every Monday once the ski program starts. Cross country skiing is on a first come, first serve bases. We will be limiting the number of skiers based on the number of volunteers we have sign up. Please contact Anne at alove@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or call the school office.
We are hoping to start our after-school skiing program on Mondays and ice skating program on Wednesdays after Winter Break and these will continue until Spring Break. Permission slips will go home on Friday, December 3rd.
After School Forensics
A Wonderful Season for Helping Others - 3 Ways to Help
#1 - The Student Council is sponsoring “The Helpful Holiday Tree.” Beginning Monday and continuing through December 17th, they are collecting warm gloves, socks and hats to be given to homeless kids in our district. Please bring these items and hang them on the Helpful Holiday Tree or place them in the boxes under the tree that is in the school lobby.
#2 - We are collecting non-perishable food for Share the Spirit to use in the holiday food and gift baskets they provide to local area residents in need. Canned items or other non-perishable food can be brought to school and placed in the boxes under the Christmas tree.
#3 - Once again, we will be making dry bean soup kits for the Homer Food Bank. We are asking each student to bring two cans of stewed, diced, or whole tomatoes, (14.5 oz. size), to include in these soup kits. Please bring them to school by Monday, December 11th. Thank you for your generosity!
Pajama Day - Friday, December 17th
Join the fun! Wear your PJ’s and bring your favorite stuffed animal on Friday, December 17th. Please be sure your PJ’s are appropriate for school and will keep you warm enough.
Dragon Cafe - December Menu
Dragon Comic Corner
By: Pepper Jones/ Grade: 4
McNeil Canyon Elementary School
Email: joverson@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Website: kpbsd.org/schools/mcneil-canyon/
Location: 52188 East End Rd, Homer, AK, USA
Phone: 907-235-8181
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McNeilCanyon/