Paw Print Press 2.0
02/01/2023
Happy February Rogers Park Families!
This week began our additional 30-minutes to the school day. School dismisses at 4:00 p.m., daily, until March 10th. During this time, please ensure you are contacting the office by 3:15 if you need to get a message to your child at the end of the day, or if they need to be picked up early. This up-front notice helps our office staff during the end of the day rush. Teachers are using this additional time to deliver instruction in STEM, Reading, Social Studies, or other topics they cannot get to during the regular school day. Please do not pick your child up early, unless absolutely necessary, as they will be missing these valuable lesson opportuntities.
Reminders for the pick up loop:
- Please only oick students up from the curbside pick up lane. It is extremely dangerous to have students crossing multiple lanes of traffic.
- Please be mindful of your speed as you travel through the pick up lane. Our young running wolves are out and about and we want to be sure they get to their destination safely.
- Students in grades K-4 should not be crossing the crosswalk to the parking lot without an adult. Please accompany your child across the crosswalk when coming to pick them up.
- Thank you for minding the traffic flow of our pick up loop. Please refer to the picture below to review our pick up traffic flow.
Rogers Park School Climate & Connectedness Survey for Families is OPEN NOW!
Famlies,
The 2023 School Climate & Connectedness Survey is now open . The Family Survey is open through March 24, 2023. Anchorage School District is participating in the second window opening on February 20 - March 24, 2023 for students and staff to take the School Climate and Connectedness Survey (SCCS). Please click on the link below to take the Family Survey. Thank you for your participation. Your feedback is important.
- Family Survey: surveys.panoramaed.com/aasb/asdfamily
Join Rogers Park’s Kids Heart Challenge Team TODAY!
Dear Families - Our Kids Heart Challenge program is kicking off on February 14th t so get registered now! We are proud to support the American Heart Association and Be the Torch in the fight against heart disease and stroke! Students will learn how to keep their hearts happy and healthy through physical and mental wellbeing, while helping others with special hearts by raising lifesaving donations. Our goal is to have 100% of our school families join the team and learn Hands-Only CPR through Finn’s Mission. Don’t wait, get started TODAY! Students who join the team early AND student who complete Finn’s Mission will get recognized at our kick-off!
- REGISTER at http://www2.heart.org/goto/RogersPark or download the Kids Heart Challenge App for Apple or Android
- TAKE THE CHALLENGE to Move More or Be Kind and earn the FREE Be the Torch Wristband when we kick-off!
- COMPLETE FINN’S MISSION in your HQ to learn Hands-Only CPR, how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T., and how you can help kids with special hearts!
Thank you for supporting our school and this lifesaving program!
ASD's Wellness Initiative Team
Dear Parent,
I wanted to send another reminder that your child can still sign up to be a part of a research study to help Anchorage School District (ASD) learn more about a Wellness Initiative with longer lunch periods, longer recess, and more movement breaks during the school day. Not all schools in Anchorage are currently part of the Wellness Initiative, but all elementary schools can be in the study. If you and your child agree to participate, your child can get up to $100 for being in this study. If you have already signed up, thank you! If you and your child have not please use this link: https://redcap.link/ne0yv1cp
Thank you for considering helping us learn more about ASD’s Wellness Initiative!
Yog tias koj xav tau cov ntaub ntawv ua Lus Hmoob, thov siv qhov link no: https://redcap.link/coxy1bb8
만약 한국어로 된 정보를 원하시면, 이 링크를 사용해 주십시오: https://redcap.link/rkr0tza1
Si desea la información en español, por favor use este enlace: https://redcap.link/7vgj1sip
Afai e te mana’omia fa’amatalaga i le Gagana Samoa, fa’amolemole fa’aaogā le feso’ota’iga lenei: https://redcap.link/fklqtqa3
Kung gusto mo ng impormasyon sa Tagalog, mangyaring gamitin ang kawing na ito: https://redcap.link/22udcc5b
Lottery Information
Alternative Schools & Programs Expo this Saturday, 2/4/23 from 12-4pm at the Education Center in the Atrium, 5530 East Northern Lights Blvd.
For sibling preference enrollment at Rogers Park be sure to apply your incoming kindergarten student to ASD's online lottery. Returning students do not need to e-apply for the lottery.
Sixth grade families entering a program outside of their neighborhood school also need to apply your child(ren) to ASD's online lottery. The lottery opens on Wednesday, Feb 15th and closes on Thursday, April 6th at 5pm. Email notification will go out to families regarding the status of their lottery request at 5pm on Friday, April 14th.
Here's the link (beginning 2/15/23):
Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is coming soon to Rogers Park! The spring season runs from February 27-May 13. Practices will be at school Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:45-5:15 (4-5:30 for the first two weeks). Registration is from February 1-15. Please click here for online registration. If you have questions (or require paper registration) please contact shearer_jamie@asdk12.org, hale_josie@asdk12.org, or sweeney_mari@asdk12.org
More program information: https://www.gotrsouthcentralak.org/
Engineers Week Student Competitions
Families from across Southcentral Alaska are invited to participate in the E-Week Student Competitions, a carnival-like event with a variety of fun and challenging competitions, free swag, and one simple goal: to help inspire the next generation of homegrown engineers!
- When: Saturday, February 18th, 10am-2:30pm. Prize ceremony begins at 3pm.
- Where: UAA Engineering and Industry Building (2900 Spirit Dr.)
- Who: K-12 students and their families. Parent, guardian, or authorized adult MUST accompany minors.
- How Much: FREE
This event is organized by the UAA College of Engineering, the E-Week Planning Committee, and the professional organizations and companies that are hosting the following competitions.
- Tower Shaking and Breaking Competition – Presented by ASHRAE
- Newspaper Tower Competition – Presented by SPE
- LEGO Long-o Competition – Presented by ITE
- Paper Airplane Distance Competition – Presented by HDR
- Floatable Moatable Competition – Presented by SAME
- Egg Drop Competition – Presented by SWE
- Marshmallow and Spaghetti Tower Competition – Presented by ConocoPhillips
If you have questions about the student competitions or if you would like to volunteer, please contact the lead organizer, Joe Selmont, at jselmon1@alaska.edu. Joe is the Director of K-12 Outreach for the UAA College of Engineering.
Looking at the Difference Between Family Involvement and Family Engagement
HOW CAN PARENTS SUPPORT THEIR TEENS MENTAL HEALTH?
This article is around mental health in teens and approaches a parent should consider. Someone once told me that parenting pre-teens and teenagers is the Masters level of parenting. It's hard and strange and parents are trying to find a balance around support and autonomy. It was said that parenting a young adult must be the PhD of parenting because it doesn't get easier when they turn 18! Yet, is there anything in life as rewarding? Reminding parents of that during stressful times can also be helpful. This article provides tools and language parents can use for their children and young adults.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES TRAINING
If you are interested in having staff attend the strengthening families training there is two upcoming zoom sessions:
UAA Child Welfare Academy is offering two virtual Strengthening Families Alaska (SFA) training events in March. This training is ideal for foster parents and professionals working with parents, youth, and/or children. Training is free, so register today. We look forward to your participation!
March 22-23, Wed-Thurs, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
March 28-29, Tues-Wed, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
To register: https://uaa.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b74qqXGNkiAQuVg
Resources for Families
SUMMER PROGRAMS ARE OPEN!
Some of the larger summer programs are already opening registration. Have you began to share these resources with families? Some programs fill up quickly. The summer program camp book for ADN comes out around April 1. I will be on the look out to share!
Campfire - 3 different programs offered scholarships available and daycare assistance accepted based on program Enrollment open
Trailside - scholarships available Enrollment open
Dome - Scholarships available Enrollment open
Alaska club - day care assistance accepted at some sites enrollment open
Ymca - day care assistance accepted enrollment opens 3/1
LAST LOVE AND LOGIC CLASS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!
Next series starts March 27, 2023! Please contact families if you think they might want to attend. Love and logic is a six week series to support families in providing empathy and structure at the same time. Families signing up are committing to one class a week over six weeks. Parenting the Love and Logic Way. VERY IMPORTANT please do not share with families after the class has started. I had multiple families I ended up adding late. This is a lot of extra work for me and they miss out on foundational information from the first week. If you have a family needing support after a class has started please reach out! I am more than happy to offer some support and suggestions to the school or work directly with the family on some things to try until the next course offering and sometimes it maybe appropriate to squeeze them in after we have started.
This will be the last series of the 2022-2023 school year.
The deadline to register is 3/24/23
Countdown to Kindergarten
Count down to Kindergarten will have many upcoming events in person. Families can learn more and/or register through the ASD website. These fun interactive events share skills and information to help prepare preschool age child for blasting off to kindergarten.
PTA
Upcoming Dates:
- Feb. 10 - Multicultural Night + Skate Night
- Feb. 16 - Next PTA meeting
- Feb. 27- Read-Across- America Week
- Feb. 28- Lucky Wishbone Dine 2 Dash Day (Order Food % goes to PTA)
- Mar. 3/6- ? Read-a-thon coming! Stay Tuned (Yay Karen Grey-Levine)
Other News: House meetings: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Committee/Details/33?code=HEDC#tab2_7
Senate meetings: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Committee/Details/33?code=SEDC#tab2_7
Amazon Smile is going away, we are also not renewing our application for Pick Click Give for Rogers Park PTA.
NEXT YEAR PTA positions open:
President, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership, Volunteer Coordinator
Recess Skating
Looking for helmet donations!
Families -- if you have a winter helmet (or even a bike helmet) that your child has outgrown, please consider donating it to Rogers Park. We have many students who'd like to ice skate but don't have access to a helmet. Thank you so much!
Thanks!
Ben
Rogers Park Skate Volunteers,
Thank you for signing up to help our students get on the ice this winter. With our first two weeks under our belts, our kids are loving the opportunity to skate. Thank you so much to those of you who've already signed up and/or volunteered.
Many hands make light work. If you have an hour or two to help tie skates or monitor the rink on Thursday or Friday mid-day, please use this link to sign up as a volunteer.
Please remember that volunteers need to have completed the ASD Visitor and Volunteer Application (once per school year) a day or two before volunteering. If you filled this out earlier this school year for a different volunteer task, you're all set.
Thank you in advance for your help and support of this healthy Rogers Park tradition.
Ben Elbow
Access Testing
ACCESS Testing is right around the corner. Any student who has been identified as an English Language Learner (ELL) will be participating in ACCESS Testing in the month of February. It's a test that's given to students from kindergarten to grade 12, to assess their progress in learning English. Students will be pulled for a short amount of time to be tested in the domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. ACCESS Testing measures what students know and can do in English and it provides information about students' English language abilities in school. Educators use this information to make decisions about students' education. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Kimberlie Fister at: fister_kimberlie@asdk12.org.
Health information
Upcoming Events
Feb 1 *ELL Students* ACCESS Window Open
Feb 6-10 School Counselor Appreciation Week
Feb 6-10 *All Grades* Grade Level Meeting Week
Feb 7 (T) Staff Meeting 7:45 am
Feb 10 *5:00pm - 8:00pm* Family Skate Night & Multicultural Potluck
Feb 15 *ELL Students* ACCESS Window Closed
Feb 15 SRO Appreciation Day
Feb 16 *6:00pm - 7:30pm* PTA Meeting (Zoom)