Alpenglow School Newsletter
September 2021
Home of the Snow Leopard
Land Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge that our school is on the traditional lands of the Dena’ina Athabascan people. It is with gratitude and respect that we recognize the past and present contributions of Alaska’s first people. Chin/an (thank you).
From the Principal
Welcome
Welcome back! The 2021-22 school year is off to a great start. We are well on our way to amazing things. For those of you who are new to our school family, welcome. Alpenglow is a wonderful place to be. Our teachers and staff are passionate, caring, hardworking, and always learning something new for the benefit of your child. We are a collaborative and driven group of people who take learning seriously while also making personal connections that help kids succeed. As I walk the halls and visit classrooms, I see so many smiling faces enjoying learning.
All of us here at Alpenglow Elementary, are looking forward to our partnership with you to ensure our students achieve their highest potential. We know a strong partnership will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibilities for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibility. We ask that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring that he/she:
- Attends school daily and arrives on time, ready for the day’s learning experience
- Completes homework assignments given by the teacher
- Reads daily to develop a love for reading and to improve literacy skills
- Shares school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life
- Informs you if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject
- Knows that you expect him/her to do their very best in school every day
Throughout the year, I look forward to meeting the new members of our community and connecting with returning families. The teachers and staff believe in our students and know they can do anything they set their minds to.
With warm regards,
Principal Demetree-Trombley
Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS)
This year, our school will be using a screener to look at school-wide systems of support for social-emotional learning and behavior. This screener, much like our academic Universal Screeners (FastBridge and MAP Growth), will be completed with all students in the Fall (September), Winter (December), and Spring (April). Teachers will rate students relative to various behavioral risk factors. The assessment is called the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS). The tool will help teachers identify what additional structures they might need to have in place in their classrooms and as well as identifying students who may need additional supports to increase their academic and social-emotional success. This screening is completed by teachers and will not take away from instructional time nor require input/answers from students. Should you have any questions about the use of this universal screener, please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs. Demetree-Trombley.
Volunteer
Please consider being a school volunteer as our students can greatly benefit from your involvement and contributions to the school’s program and its operations. We seek volunteers to help us with the following activities:
- Parent/Teacher Association (PTA)
- Teacher-led instructional support, usually in the classroom
- Reading with children who need extra help
- School-wide events
Volunteers must fill out an application form and waiver and be approved by the Anchorage School District prior to volunteering. Please turn them into the front office.
School Hours
The Alpenglow front office will be open from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. The school day begins at 9:00 AM for all students. Please do not drop students off or have students walk to school prior to 8:45 AM, as there is no adult supervision prior to that time. Students that walk home or need to pick up a sibling in Kindergarten – 2nd grade will be dismissed at 3:27 pm. Students that are picked- up (car riders) in Kindergarten – 6th grade will be dismissed at 3:30 PM. Students walking home, encourage your child to go directly home to check in with you. The playground is closed until 4:00 PM.
The first bell rings at 8:45 AM. Students should head inside through their designated door by this time, and go straight to class. Learning begins at 9:00 AM. Students are tardy if they arrive after 9:00 AM. They should go to the office to get a tardy pass before heading to class.
Attendance
Parking Lot/Drop-off/Pick Up
Animals/Pets
Here at Alpenglow Elementary School, we have many staff members and families that are dog lovers. We love our dogs and many of us treat them like children. Sometimes dogs leave messes. Sometimes children are frightened or have an allergy. Sometimes dogs do not like other dogs. So, for the safety and comfort of students, staff, parents, and other campus visitors, please do not bring your dog or other pets onto school grounds during school hours 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. If you must bring your pet to pick up or drop off your student, make arrangements to do so at a point off-campus. If you visit our playground after hours, please pick up after your dog. Thank you for your understanding and willingness to ensure the comfort and safety of our students.
Join the Team
Would you like to work at Alpenglow? We need you! We need Noon Supervisors to supervise and assist students during lunch and at recess to ensure student safety and observance of school procedures. The hours are Monday – Friday from 11:00 to 1:00. Please contact Mrs. Demetree-Trombley if you have any questions or plan on applying. You can find the application HERE.
We are also in great need of Substitute Teachers. Follow this LINK for more details and qualifications.
September Dates to Remember
- September is Attendance Awareness Month
- Tuesdays: Wear your Kuspuk
- Fridays: Show your Snow Leopard spirit by wearing Alpenglow colors (black, teal, and white)
- September 6: Labor Day (No school)
- September 14: School Pictures
- September 15: School Pictures
- September 17: Talk-like-a-Pirate - Come dressed like a pirate (no sharp objects or look-alike weapons)
- September 29: Panda Express PTA Fundraiser
- TBA: Jog-a-thon
- TBA: Virtual Open House
PE News
We are excited to have students back in Physical Education classes!
We want to remind all students to have a dedicated pair of tennis shoes that are kept AT SCHOOL! Make sure it’s a pair that your student can tie by themselves. Velcro is always acceptable if your child can’t tie yet. We want students to have a pair of shoes they can move safely around in, both inside and outside.
In the beginning of the year, we focus on our expectations and routines while both inside and outside. We will be going outside a lot this year. While outside students will be able to remove their mask when there is room to social distance, but when we gather close together for directions we’ll ask students to pull their masks back up. Physical exercise leaves the masks damp so it’s important to send your child to school with extras. If they are the reusable kind please make sure to put your child’s name on them.
In case you didn’t see the announcement on Facebook, our annual cross country running jamboree has been postponed. We hope to have it in the spring.
We are looking forward to a great year!
Mrs. Earnhart and Mrs. Jerome
News from the Nurse
Health check your children before going to school. If your child has any one of the following symptoms, please keep your child home & notify the school nurse.
If your child has a chronic condition such as, asthma or allergies they may still need to be tested. Allergy symptoms mimic the Covid-19 Delta Variant and thus will need to be assessed on a case by case basis. Please call Nurse Jeanine at 742-3300 if you have any questions. Lastly, if you have symptoms that persist after receiving a negative PCR Covid test, it is highly recommended to re-test in 3-4 days. We are seeing a high prevalence of initial negative tests even with symptoms and then positive on day 3-5.
- Fever (defined as a temperature 100.4F or higher)
- Chills
- New trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- New cough
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Muscle aches or body aches
- New rash
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Headache
- New congestion
- New runny nose
PTA News
Alpenglow Elementary School
Email: demetree_denise@asdk12.org
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/alpenglow
Location: Alpenglow Elementary School, Driftwood Bay Drive, Eagle River, AK, USA
Phone: 9077423300
Facebook: facebook.com/alpenglowelementary