The Glacier Bear Gazette
February 2024
A Frosty February!
Dear Families,
Many thanks for your flexibility as we worked together to make remote learning happen during our school closure this past week. As we move into February, we have several opportunities for your feedback to be heard.
Budget Info
The school board is working to make decisions around the budget and potential reconfigurations with our schools. Please see the section below or click on the links to learn more about these ideas. The prevailing models at this time include shifting to a K-6 elementary school or partnering with a neighborhood school to form a K-3 and 4-6 elementary school. Your voice is important so please reach out with your input using one of the venues listed below.
Conferences
Family conferences are coming soon! Please look for additional information from your child's teacher. At this time, conferences are set to occur on Feb 15-16. There is no student attendance on these days.
Have a Great Month!
Dana Wyatt, Principal
JSD BUDGET INPUT OPPORTUNITIES
COMMUNITY INPUT BUDGET SESSION - Virtual option
The Juneau School District invites Juneau families, community members, and staff to provide input in the district's budget decisions by participating in sessions facilitated by an outside agency. The district is facing funding deficits due to accounting errors, declining enrollment and state funding levels. This situation will require some significant changes in school operations in order to balance the budget. Addiitonal input can be provided via email at budgetinput@juneauschools.org.
When: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5 @ 5-6 p.m.
Where: Online - ZOOM
include a very brief overview of the current funding situation,
provide an opportunity to review the proposed school reorganization models (below), and
give you a chance to offer other creative ideas to develop a sustainable budget for the Juneau’s schools.
Voices on the Land ~ Drumming
Juneau is fortunate to house the talents of a diverse and active group of teaching artists! The Artist in Schools Program (AIS) provides many of these artists residencies (arts learning opportunities for students and teachers) in the visual and performing arts in the Juneau School District throughout the school year. The AIS program in Alaska is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the Rasmuson Foundation.
This year our collaboration involved Mr. George Holly, Abel Ryan, and the 4th and 5th Grade teaching team has been working hard to support the overall goal of the Voices on the Land project.
A final assembly featuring our drummers, their drums, and Mr. George will occur on Friday, February 9th at 8:00 a.m. in the SESGV Gym. Families of our 4/5th graders are welcome to join us in the gym.
Mr. George beats the drum.
Students follow Mr. George's lead!
Students created their own art using formline design.
Dikéex' wooch gayilsháat - Hold each other up!
This past month we focused on the Southeast Traditional Tribal Value of Dikéex' wooch gayilsháat or "Hold Each Other Up". There are many ways in the school community that students and staff work to care for one another.
Congratulations to Liam, Leon, and Torin!
Ms. Alexa helps students in their learning!
100% Attendance!
Spelling Bee 2024
Congratulations to the following amazing spellers who won their classroom bees and participated in the Sít Eetí Shaanáx̱ schoolwide spelling bee.
2nd: Aquila, Leo, Jared, Zoey, Josiah, and Donnie
3rd: Emily, Drake, Christopher, Avarie, Tabitha, and Isaac
4th: Coleen, Maya, Izzy, Oaklee, Elliott, and Audrey
5th: Kensie, Ella, Jayvin, Gavin, Ruby, Delilah, and Calissa.
After 23 rounds, Gabby took third place, Gavin provided tough competition and came out as runner up. Our 2023-2024 SESGV Spelling Bee Champion was Elliott. On January 31, Elliott and Gavin competed in the Juneau School District Bee against other spellers from each elementary and middle school. Elliott took 3rd place! Way to go spellers!
Winners from each school and the District, get to participate in an online qualifier test. The top 75 in the state will compete in the state bee held in Anchorage on March 21, 2024.
School Climate and Connectedness Survey
The Juneau School District is partnering with the Association of Alaska School Boards to
conduct the School Climate and Connectedness Survey ©, a statewide survey taken by
students, staff, and families. This survey measures their perceptions of each school’s
climate including the engagement of students, staff, and families.
We also value input from our families. You are an important partner as we
work to continually improve each school’s environment. Each parent/guardian is asked to
complete one survey by February 16th. If you have more than one child attending this school, you only need to fill out one survey.
Family Link: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/aasb/220050family
February Dates
- February 5: Early Release Monday, Dismissal @ 2 p.m.
- February 5: Virtual JSD Budget Input Session, 5-6 p.m., ZOOM
- February 2-20: WIDA testing
- February 13: BOE Meetings, JDHS Library
Work Session, 4:30 - 5:45 p.m.
Regular Meeting, 6 - 10 p.m. - February 15-16: Conferences (Info to come from classroom teachers)
- Februaray 17: BOE Work Session (Budget), 8:30-12 p.m., JDHS, Room 206
- February 19: President's Day, No Staff or Student attendance
- February 22: BOE Budget Meeting, 5:30-7 p.m., JDHS Library (Zoom)
- February 27: 4th Grade NAEP Testing
SES-GV Equity Goal for 2023-2024
SES-GV will create an environment with a sense of well-being and safety for all students and families by increasing the number of family engagement events, extracurricular activities and communications with/to families in the 2023-2024 school year.
NEXT Equity Committee Meeting: Friday, January 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the Office. All are welcome!