Ravenwood Elementary
August 31, 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.
Thank you again for choosing to be part of Ravenwood this school year! Our teachers and staff have been working nonstop to prepare and launch a digital start to the school year. Thank you for your grace, patience and understanding as we have spent the last week and a half getting to know our students, making sure they know how to log-in, and building the foundational skills to support distance learning.
Teachers are in the process of having each student complete an iReady diagnostic assessment to help pinpoint skill starting points for both online Reading and Math (replacing Lexia and Math-Whizz, which we formerly used). We are also staging student learning materials in the gym for you to be able to drive-thru and pick up on Thursday, September 3, between 1:30-5:30p (refer to directions below or from your child’s teacher). These materials are the hands-on materials students will need as we begin regular ELA (Reading) and Math instruction Sept. 8th, so please plan to drive-thru on Thursday afternoon! Each grade level team will let you know the frequency of their material distributions. Additionally, there will be library book curbside checkouts available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Each year we adopt a fun theme to jumpstart our year together. After our nautical theme on the high seas last year, surely you could agree COVID blew us completely off course, and landed us on an uncharted island like castaways! So, we are embracing our Castaway/Gilligan’s Island theme and staying positive while we learn, adapt, and redesign education in a virtual setting! You couldn’t ask to be "marooned" with a more caring, capable, collaborative, and creative team of professionals than those we have at Ravenwood.
Please read through this issue of our newsletter to learn more about our school community. Despite the physical distance, we are here for you, and remain committed to providing the highest quality education for our students! Please don’t hesitate to contact your teacher or me by email, phone, or Zoom office hours with any celebrations or needs. We want to know what we can do to best support our students and you (our partners) throughout this year. Together, we will be “virtually” amazing!
Stay healthy and hopeful,
Mrs. Bautista
MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE
This Thursday, Sept. 3rd, from 1:30-5:30p, families will be able to come to the school for a curbside pickup of their students' learning “tools”. Use the student car rider loop (the first entrance). To speed the safe distribution of materials, label a piece of paper with your student(s) last name and place it in the passenger-side dashboard window. Upon arrival, outdoor team members will use radios to notify indoor team members of student materials needed. Indoor team members will bring items out for pick-up. If you have items to drop off, you may pass those items to a team member at that time. Thank you for understanding that we are following strict safety precautions; you will not need to leave your vehicle or enter the building during curbside pick-up.
Curbside Library Service from your Ravenwood Library
Ready to set down that device? Ready to enjoy an actual book; hold it in your hands? Order up to 10 library books for curbside pick-up! Directions on how to obtain your 14-digit library account number, access your account to see what’s out and how to place holds can be found through your Canvas Classroom Course by clicking on the ASD Library link on the home page or click HERE. If you need help or have questions, please contact Mrs. Guest at guest_laura@asdk12.org.
The first pick-up will be Tuesday, September 8th.
Requests placed by 1 PM on Monday will be ready for curbside pick-up on Tuesday from 7:30-8:00 AM and 2:30-3:30 PM (any items not picked up on Tuesday will be available for pick-up on Thursdays)
Requests placed by 1 PM on Wednesday will be ready for curbside pick-up on Thursday from 1:30-5:30 PM
ATTENDANCE STILL COUNTS
Teachers will still be taking student attendance daily. They are looking for participation in synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) lessons, as well as assignment completion. We really just want to make sure Ravenwood students are engaged and making progress.
NURSE/HEALTH INFO
If you are in need of any Covid-19 or health-related questions or concerns, please contact Nurse Cottle, cottle_jennifer@asdk12.org. Nurse Cottle also has Zoom Nursing hours on Monday and Thursday mornings from 8:30-9:00am and 3:00-4:00pm on Wednesdays. Zoom meeting ID: 583 285 8112, password SMILE.
A message from PTSO
Hello Ravenwood Families!
Things will be different this year, but we are brainstorming and hoping to provide our community with the best we can. Here are a few updates we wanted everyone to know about.
The first one is our Raven Spirit Challenge - We want our kids and families to have a sense of community, and this is something to help create that. Check out the details on our Facebook page, Ravenwood Elementary PTSO. At the end of each month we'll draw three winners! This month's drawing is for Soda and S'mores! We plan to do this for the whole school year to keep your Ravenwood spirit high!
Ravenwear – Our school spirit wear is still being sold, but currently all sales are through our website, www.ravenwoodptso.net. Get your orders in for the first order!
Please continue to support our school fundraising efforts with Boxtops, Amazon Smile, and Fred Meyer. Every little bit helps, and those little bits all go towards our amazing school.
Keep scanning or sending in those BoxTops and dimes! Every little bit helps our school community!
Lastly, we will still be having PTSO meetings the first Wednesday of each month (unless otherwise stated) 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
IGNITE
The IGNITE program is an enrichment based pull-out program for 2-6 grade gifted learners who have met the eligibility criteria under ASD’s Plan of Service for gifted students. IGNITE will remain online until ASD is able to return to “low-risk” COVID status. Services to students will be both synchronous (live zooms) and asynchronous (recorded zooms and Canvas activities). IGNITE classes will be held on Wednesday to avoid conflicts with homeroom core instruction. Starting September 8th, IGNITE students can choose to join in on Zoom at the morning session at 10:00 a.m. or the afternoon session at 1:00 p.m. offered every Wednesday. Parents will receive email correspondence from Mrs. Blackwell this week for more details. IGNITE testing is currently on hold until the COVID risk level status is lowered. If you have any questions, please email Brittany Blackwell at blackwell_brittany@asdk12.org
19-20 YEARBOOKS
19-20 YEARBOOKS will finally be distributed at this Thursday’s Materials Distribution to students who pre-paid for a copy last year. Contact the front office (742-3250) if you are interested in ordering a copy for $15 dollars. Special thanks to Ms. van Haastert for doing an awesome job creating this school keepsake.
6TH Grade Band & Orchestra
6th Grade Band/Orchestra – ASD will be offering 6th Grade Band and Orchestra this school year! We will be delivering classes online only (with the exception of a few in-person classes when ASD returns to face-to-face instruction). We will offer at least two 30-minute Zoom lessons each week, as well as other activities for students to work on at their own pace in Canvas.
Beginning instruments this year to the following – Link to 6th Grade Instrument Demonstrations
Orchestra: violin, viola
Band: flute, clarinet, trumpet, baritone, trombone
Here is our schedule for the start of the year:
Sept. 8 - Students will see a Band/Orchestra link on their Canvas homepage. This link will take students and families to an introductory video and all information needed to enroll and participate.
Sept. 8-18 - Students register for Band/Orchestra and gather instruments and supplies.
Sept. 21 - Band/Orchestra courses will begin in Canvas.
For information regarding Student Nutrition, please click on the link above.
ASD VIRTUAL LIAISON
Employment Opportunity
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