Dates to Remember November 9th – 20th Salvation Army Food Drive November 12th CPAC Mtg 7-8pm Wonder Park Elem. November 13th H1N1 vaccinations November 13th Fun Friday/Animal Crkrs November 17th Turkey Bingo November 18th PAC Meeting @10:15 Multi purpose room November 19th Title 1 Open House 3:30 – 4:30 room #11 November 20th Fun Friday/Rice Krispie November 26th – 27th NO SCHOOL

November 12, 2009

Volume 3, Issue 1 Ursa Minor News Ursa Minor Elementary (907) 428-1311

Wendy Brons, Principal Roxanne Walker, Administrative Assistant Rhonda Cataldi, Secretary

Dear Ursa Minor Community,

There are many events happening here at Ursa Minor! We are engaging in collaboration meetings talking

about our interventions for those students who are struggling, current writing program, and fitting

everything in our busy day. We are also preparing for our vaccination clinic that will be this Friday

(tomorrow)! Then with the holiday season approaching fast life just gets busier for all.

We will be having our vaccination clinic here at Ursa Minor on Friday, November 13th. We hope to get

started at 9:00 A.M. Students who have returned a permission slip will be escorted to the gym when it is

their class’s turn. There they will be screened as to if they are feeling well. After they receive their

vaccination they will again be screened to how they are doing and then go to a waiting area with books.

They will be escorted back to class as a group. We are asking that parents not be present while their

child receives his or her vaccination. If you feel strongly that you need to be there you will need to

take your child to another facility for a vaccination.

Winter is here! Please be sure that your child(ren) has the appropriate gear for the weather. We will be

going outside for recess to minus ten degrees Fahrenheit (-10 F). We have limited gear for students to

borrow and adults to monitor them. Students who do not have the proper gear to go out in the snow will

be asked to remain along the outside gym wall in the plowed area to prevent shoes, socks, and clothing

from getting wet. It is helpful to put your child’s name on their gear.

Parents, we have had a large number of students tardy or leaving school early. This is a disruption to their

learning day. It is also imperative that students are here at school. I realize that times it is temping to

have a child provide child care during the day or it is difficult to get them up and going, but, we cannot

teach them if they are not here. Important information is presented at the beginning and ending of the

learning day and through out the day that cannot be made up by just sending the paper work home. Please

help us out and plan for traffic delays, etc. to ensure that your child is making it to school on time and

developing good future work habits. Thank you to those who are working hard to schedule appointments at

the end of or after the school day.

I want to thank PTA for all of their hard work in supporting our students and teachers to make Ursa

Minor a better place for kids. We are collecting Box Tops and Campbell’s soup labels to earn points to

purchase needed items. PTA is also supporting our P.E. program by assisting us in purchasing x-country

skis with a matching grant for our after school program and P.E. instructional program. We can always use

help at school and you don’t have to be a member of PTA to volunteer. There is plenty of work for all!

I will be out of state November 19th – 29th. Mark Benedetti is my Teacher-in-Charge and will be assisting

teachers, students, and parents with concerns that may arise in my absence. You may also call Elementary

Education and speak to my supervisor, Glen Nielsen, at 742-4242.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break. I hope you enjoy your time with family.

Wendy Brons, Principal

Let’s go on an adventure Ursa Minor!

I met a Dragon Face To Face

by: Jack Prelutsky

I met a dragon face to face, the year when I turned ten

I took a trip to outer space, I braved a pirate’s den

I wrestled with a wicked troll, and fought a great white shark

I trailed a rabbit down a hole, I hunted for a snark

I stowed aboard a submarine, I opened magic doors

I traveled in a time machine, and searched for dinosaurs

I climbed atop a giant’s head, I found a pot of gold

I did this all in books I read, when I was ten years old.

I’m going on a magic carpet ride! How about you?

Caught Being Good

Week of Oct. 26, 2009 Week of Nov 2, 2009 K : Aiden Witt K : Rhyse Holder 1st : Amelia Greene 1st : Abigail Birano 2nd : Dylan Kibler 2nd : Montana Davis 3rd : Serena Short 3rd : William Lawton 4th : Lianna Ubungen 4th : DaNaja Visitacion 5th : Victoria Garcia 5th : Aaron Courtney 6th : Maya Pamplona 6th : Evan Blanthorn

Ursa Minor News page 2 of 6

The Nurse’s Corner

Parents,

The H1N1 clinic is scheduled for the morning of November

13th (next Friday). If you have free time and would like to

volunteer to help we would appreciate your assistance.

Nurse volunteers would be great and so would people to go

get students, put band-aids on, comfort, etc. (Nurses need

to let me know ahead of time so we can check your license

number.) The clinic is to be treated as an emergency

exercise so expediency and efficiency are very important. If you want your child to

have a vaccination and have not filled out a consent, please send the one that was

sent home or see me for another one.

I will continue to do PPD testing up until the time of the H1N1 clinic. PPDs are

required for every student who is new to the district. If you want to be here for the

little prick underneath the skin, just show up anytime and we will pull your child

out of class to do it.

Also, please keep me posted of changes in your child's health status. If their

dosage of medication changes (for long term medication) or if they have been

recently diagnosed with a chronic illness that I am not aware of call me so I can

update their computerized health history.

If you have not returned your impact cards do so immediately. It is imperative that

we have up-to-date information when your child is ill or injured. It is also best to

list emergency contact people who live in town. If we cannot reach you we will

contact them. They can be of far greater assistance if they live in Anchorage rather

than another city. Please try to remember to regularly delete messages from your

voice-mail box also so that it's not full when we try to leave a message.

One more thing, if you have a primary student who has "accidents" fairly often, it's

good to keep a change in their backpack. I have limited amount of extra clothes

and run out of them frequently (donations are appreciated). As always, thank for

your help with these matters.

Nurse Anne

Ursa Minor School Nurse

Ursa Minor News page 3 of 6

Welcome New Students

Jesse (5) Deondre (1) Blakely (1) Kennedy (K) Kolby (2) Caleb (K)

Logan (K) Trevor (3) Karson (K) Joshua (3) Sheriene (4) Khadijah (1) Hannah (K)

Taezah (2) Taezon (3)

Ursa Minor News page 4 of 6

Twee Kivlan – Cafeteria Manager

Thanks to those who monitored and kept up with their child’s meal account balance. Please continue to keep up with your child’s account. If your child owes for three meals, then the fourth day your child will receive a cold pack and milk only. Your child won’t be able to receive a hot lunch until their account is brought up to date. If you have any questions, please give me a call at 428-1311.

PTA NEWS

Thank you to all volunteers who

helped with the book fair!

Reminder: Every Friday is Spirit Day

See Box Top Flyer attached to newsletter!

Ursa Minor Elementary

336 Hoonah Ave. Fort Richardson, AK

PHONE (907) 428-1311

FAX

(907) 428-1346

We’re on the Web! See us at:

www.asdk12.org

Ursa Minor News page 6 of 6

Questions/Concerns for Teachers

If you would like to discuss a concern with your child’s teacher, please make an appointment with the teacher so that they may give you the time and attention you deserve without taking away from the students’ educational time. It is very difficult to instruct and monitor students and discuss important matters privately. Even if you think the question or concern will take “just a moment” to address, please make an appointment with you teacher so you may both focus on the situation and any other areas that may arise during the discussion. You may call the office @742-1311 to leave a message for your teacher to set an appointment. Or you may email your teacher: last name_firstname@asdk12.org. Thank you for your consideration.

For 5th & 6th grade students: Parents can preview the Human Growth

and Development Video on Ch14 Dec 2nd & Jan 12 @9pm

Also on November 13th from 1-3pm in the Ursa Minor Library and Thursday, December 3rd from 4-6pm in the Ursa

Major Health Room.