Dragon Tale
September 2022
Important School Dates:
9/1 - Harvest Fair/ Open House @ 6:30
9/2 - New Volunteer Training @ 2:20
9/5 - Labor Day - No School
9/9 - Early Release Day
9/13 - Coast Walk - All School Field Trip
9/13 - Site Council Mtg. @ 3:30
9/15 - Learning Lab Begins
9/19 - Talk & Dress Like a Pirate Day
9/22 - Picture Day
9/30 - Student Council Elections
9/30 - Family Game Night @ 6:30
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!
Out-of-Area Student Bus
Online Back-to-School Forms & Scholastic Fee
Also, if you have a student in K-5th please make sure to send in the $5 Scholastic News fee if you haven't done so already.
Thank you!
New Volunteer Training
The McNeil Canyon Elementary School Parent Volunteer Workshop will be held Wednesday, Sept. 2nd at 2:20 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. If you have not submitted your online volunteer application yet please click on the appropriate link below.
Harvest Fair/ Open House
On Thursday, September 1, 2022 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. We look forward to seeing you there!
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
Mattea’s Title 1 Corner!
Thursday September 1st at 6:30pm, come to the Parent Library (back of the McNeil Library) during Open House to find out about this year’s Title 1 program! There will be opportunity to hear about this federal program, McNeil’s plans for the 22-23 school year, how your child might benefit, and to voice your input on our annual plan. Join Mattea at the Title 1 Annual Meeting, enjoy refreshments, and check-out materials from the Parent Library while you’re at it! Also see the end of this Dragon Tale for an informational flyer about this event. See you soon!
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 1st.
We look forward to working together this year!
Early Release Day
We will have an Early Release Day on Friday, September 9, 2022. 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. 15th. 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
Monday, Sept. 19th, is Talk and Dress-Like-a-Pirate Day. Aaaargh. Join the fun!
School Picture Day
Please mark your calendar – Picture Day is Thursday, 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 Tuesday, Sept. 13th. 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. 30 from 7:00-8:30 pm. Bring board games to share. Join the Fun!
September Spotlight Students
Parents are invited to join their child and the principal for lunch (the date is TBD) at 11:45 am. We will notify our spotlight student parents of the lunch date in our newsletter next Friday.
Spotlight Student forms are being sent home with these children today. Please return them as soon as possible so they can be placed on our Spotlight Student bulletin board. Thank you!!
Thank you!Curious About Community Activities??
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.
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/