Dragon Tale
September 2021
Important School Dates:
9/2 - School Store Opens
9/6 - Labor Day - No School
9/9 - Harvest Fair/ Open House @ 6:30
9/14 - Site Council Meeting @ 3:30
9/15 - Early Release Day
9/16 - After-School Learning Lab Starts
9/17 - Talk & Dress-Like-a-Pirate Day
9/21 - Band Begins
9/22 - Picture Day
9/23 - Coast Walk - All School Field Trip
9/24 - Family Game Night @ 7:00 pm
9/30 - 6th Grade After-School Archery Begins
A Message From Mr. Swanson - Getting Back On Track
Having two weeks of school under our belts feels good. We have a great bunch of students this year and many great additions to all of our classrooms with new students and families joining us from all over. It is fun getting to know these students and as the year progresses I look forward to getting to know their families as well. Your continued support of the McNeil Canyon community is so important to our successes. We will continue to provide as many opportunities for our students as possible and we count on your help in so many ways to accomplish that. A couple of things that you can do towards that end is sign up as a volunteer and make sure that students with any signs/symptoms of illness are kept home until symptom-free. We believe that the best possible educational experience is being provided here at school and in-person instruction. Thanks for all of your great support in getting this school year off to such a great start!
New Volunteer Training
The McNeil Canyon Elementary School Parent Volunteer Workshop will be held Wednesday, Sept. 1st at 2:00 pm. We will be covering the Parent Volunteer Handbook, how to run most of the school equipment, and safety issues such as Blood-borne Pathogens and the Emergency Action Plan. Any parents who have not previously had this training will need to attend. If you can not make it at this time please contact Joy to set up another time.
Parents Needed! 2 Site Council Positions Open
Nominations for parent representatives to the McNeil Canyon Site Council are being accepted until Wednesday, September 8th, 2021. There are openings for a one-year term and a two-year term. Elections will be held the evening of our Open House/ Harvest Fair on Thursday, September 9th. Please contact the office if you have any questions, are interested in serving on the Site Council, or would like to nominate someone.
Returning Student Forms Still Needed
We have only received about a third of the Student Forms from parents. It is real important that all parents complete these online forms for their student for the new 2021-22 school year. Please take the time this weekend to make sure we have accurate information for your child. If you run into any issues along the way, please give the school a call 235-8181. Thank you!
1. Sign in or create your parent account
2.Check to make sure your student or students are listed. If not, click add student.
3. Click on "+ add form". Make sure to add each for that is listed.
4. Once you have assigned the forms to all of your student click on " Yes, continue to next step".
this will take you through the forms for each student you have listed.
Harvest Fair/ Open House
On Thursday, September 9, 2021 we will hold an Open House & Fall Harvest Fair. Parents will be able to enjoy looking at the Fair during Open House which begins at 6:30 pm. All parents/visitors must wear a mask and we are asking that you only spend 15 minutes per student looking at your their classroom and the harvest fair in the gym. We look forward to seeing you here.
Students and community families are invited to bring fruits, vegetables and flowers to the Harvest Fair. Bring your entry to display at school on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 9th. Consider which category suits your entry best:
· Largest . . . vegetable, fruit, grain, leaves, and flowers
· Smallest . . . vegetable, fruit, grain, leaves and flowers
· Unusual Looking. . . vegetable, fruit, grain and flowers
· Harvest Hat . . . Decorate one or make one with fruits, vegetables or flowers
· Tiniest flower arrangement
· Most colorful flower arrangement
· Smelliest – good or bad
· Creations: (children attempt to create characters or objects with vegetables i.e. stick a carrot on a potato face for a nose)
- Funniest
- Dragons
- Unique Setting or Scene
- Camouflage Creatures
· Family Project (any category)
· People’s Choice (students will vote for the entry they consider most
outstanding)
Site Council Meeting
McNeil Canyon Community Council
What is it? We are a group of parent volunteers who work together to encourage and support our community of McNeil staff and students.
What does it do? The McNeil Community organizes two primary fundraisers: The McNeil Fall Carnival in late October, and The McNeil Family Talent Show in the Spring. These are wonderful, community building celebrations that have traditionally provided funds for our Artist in the School program, Swim lessons for the kids, Scholarships, etc.. We also seek to support our staff members when they need additional classroom materials, and show our appreciation for their tremendous investment into our children’s lives.
What can I do to support the Community Council? We all lead busy lives, but the good news is that there are many ways you can support the Community Council at McNeil without doing it all!
If you are a planner/ organizer with time off on Friday afternoons: Attend a Community Council meeting. Look for our next meeting date and time in the McNeil newsletters.
If you don’t have time during the day but are able to make phone calls: Become a room parent. You can be in charge of calling the parents in your room 3 times during the year to let them know about upcoming events and how they can participate. There will be a sign up sheet in your child’s classroom the evening of the Open House/ Harvest Fair, September 9th.
We look forward to working together this year!
Early Release Day
We will have an Early Release Day on Wednesday, September 15, 2019. McNeil Students will be released at 1:20 pm and buses will leave at 1:30 pm. Your child will arrive home 1.5 hrs. earlier than usual.
After-School Learning Lab
After School Learning Lab will begin Thursday, Sept. 16th. There is ASLL every Tuesday and Thursday that school is in session. There is an activity bus that will bring your child home afterwards (East of the school only). It leaves the school at 4:30 p.m. Students will be referred to stay for ASLL by their teacher. A permission slip is required to stay after school and they are available in the classrooms and in the office.
Talk & Dress-like-a-Pirate day
Friday, Sept. 17th, is Talk and Dress-Like-a-Pirate Day. Aaaargh. Join the fun!
5th - 6th Grade Woodwind Band
Woodwind Band is starting soon!!! Our 5th - 6th grade Woodwind band will be starting on Tuesday, September 21st. Only students that have returned their band forms to Mrs. Swanson will participate. Please remember to bring instruments and books. Check in with Moore Music in Homer or The Horn Doctor in Anchorage for purchase or rental of an instrument, or borrow one from a friend. There is a limited selection of instruments available to rent from McNeil as well. Contact Mrs. Swanson if you have any questions.
School Picture Day
Please mark your calendar – Picture Day is Wednesday, September 22nd. Two parent volunteers are needed to help the photographer that day. Parent helpers will receive one free packet of pictures for their assistance. Call Joy in the office if you can help. All pictures will be taken in the morning with preschoolers invited to have their picture taken at 10:30 am.
Coast Walk Clean-Up
Our Annual Beach Coast Walk Clean-Up Day will be held on Thursday, Sept. 23rd. Teachers will be looking for volunteers to help with student groups and 2 volunteers will be needed to prep hot chocolate at the school for the students return. Additional information will be coming home soon!
Family Game Night
Family game night will be held on Friday, Sept. 24 from 7:00-8:30 pm. Bring board games to share. Join the Fun!
6th Grade After-School Archery
September Spotlight Students
Free Lunches for ALL Students
Substitutes Needed
Inkjet Cartridge Recycling
Our school can raise money by collecting used inkjet printer cartridges. Cartridges may be collected from home, a parent’s place of employment, and from their co-workers. Please drop used cartridges off at the front office. Thanks for helping our school with this recycling project.
Additional Student Insurance
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: 907-435-7618
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McNeilCanyon/