SOPG Blog

REGISTRATION 2010-2011

2010-07-29T12:03:00.000-08:00

Hello SOPG family -

First off, those of you with sixth graders entering middle school and who have left us - God speed, we will miss you - and your name will be removed from this e-mail list - just not tonight.

Registration is next week!

Tues. Aug 3 9am-3pm
Wed. Aug 4 9am-3pm & 6-8pm
Thurs. Aug 5 9am-3pm

We need helpers - please reply back if you can.

Please bring your checkbook and calendar to registration

Program and supply fees are unchanged - an H2OAsis drawing again for those who pay during registration.

There will be sign up lists with information and dates for SOP events through the year - get them on your calendar now!

For greater tracking and accountabily - there will be a notebook in the office next to the sign in to record all volunteer hours - a sheet for each family. This includes in school and at home time. This information will be checked avery month and given to the teachers. WE want to know who really is doing what - don't let your time go uncounted!!

Our SOPG board for 2010-11 is (drum roll, please)

Nan Magrath and Kris Bierma - Co Chairs
Jamie Lang Secretary
April Ney Treasurer
Teresa Wagar and Khar Hood - Members at Large

See you all soon

Don't forget the website!! www.susitnaoptional.org

The Governor Needs to Hear from You!

2010-05-09T21:44:00.002-08:00

Dear SOPG Parents,

Susitna has four proposals for legislative appropriations in the State budget waiting to be signed by Governor Parnell. There is a possibility that these proposals could be vetoed and cut from the budget unless the Governor hears from YOU!

Please take a few minutes and write to Governor Parnell and let him know these proposals are important to the students and school community at Susitna. Listed below are the email addresses of the Governor and the two legislators who added the proposals to the budget. Please include each of them in your letter.

Governor Sean Parnell - sean.parnell@alaska.gov
Senator Bill Wielechowski - senator_bill_wielechowski@legis.state.ak.us
Representative Pete Petersen - representative_pete_petersen@legis.state.ak.us

Below, is a letter of support for the proposals that you can use to model your own letter. Please modify yours a little because template/form letters don't carry the same weight that individually written ones do.

========
Dear Governor Parnell,

We are writing you today as parents of two school-aged children attending Susitna Elementary School. Specifically, we’re writing in support of the legislative appropriations for Susitna Elementary School (Anchorage) that are included in the proposed 2010-11 state budget.

I’m sure there are many projects and proposals worthy of funding but without context of why they’re important, it might be difficult to know which ones are more worthy of the limited funding available. The goal of this letter is to provide you with the context for our requests so that you can see how they will positively impact instruction and, ultimately, student learning at Susitna.

Proposal #1: $15,000 for Computer Tables – While our school computer lab has tables appropriate for student computer use, most of our classrooms do not. Currently, teachers place student computers on student desks barely larger than the computer itself and others have to put student computers on the floor. This doesn’t provide for an ergonomic work setting, nor is it as safe for students to use the computers in this way. With the ability to sit comfortably at the computer, students will be able to work more effectively with more time on task and with fewer potential health issues. The funding request would provide two basic computer tables for each classroom.

Proposal #2: $8000 for Interactive Whiteboards – These computer peripherals have become standard equipment at many schools in Alaska and around the nation. They are designed to assist teachers in presenting engaging and interactive, activity-based lessons. Coupled with a multimedia projector and a digital document camera (which Susitna has worked collaboratively with the school PTA to provide to teachers), these modern teaching tools provide teachers with another means by which students acquire the skills and concepts to be successful in life. Funding this project would provide an initial implementation of five interactive whiteboards to be housed in the library and computer lab, as well having three dedicated for classroom use.

Proposal #3: $14,000 for Mobile Computer Lab – Susitna Elementary is a very full school and lucky to have a dedicated computer lab. However, the computer lab is heavily scheduled for specific teachers’ classes throughout the week, precluding teachers from engaging in whole-group computer-based activities during any time other than their 1 hour per week computer lab time. These funds would be used to purchase student laptop computers to be added to the existing mobile computer lab cart providing a much-needed “infusion” of technology tools into their classroom for specific projects during the week. Funds would also be used to improve the school’s wireless network so that the laptops would be able to used in more classrooms.

Proposal #4: $10,000 for Wireless Clickers – These handheld devices designed for education interact with the teacher’s computer to allow on-the-spot assessment of students. Student classroom response devices— commonly called “clickers” -- allow students to answer multiple choice questions from the teacher and be able to see the survey results of the question asked through the teacher’s computer and a multimedia projector. The benefit of teachers providing on-going assessment of student understanding, while giving the student immediate feedback on their own understanding is difficult to overstate. Funding of this project would provide sets of these devices to five classrooms.

These proposals are aligned with our school and district instructional goals for technology and, if funded, will help our students be better prepared for the global workforce upon graduation.

The community of Susitna Elementary School and we thank you for considering these proposals.

Sincerely,

===========

Thanks for your help, and please share this with other Susitna parents-- Optional or Neighborhood-- so all of Susitna's students can benefit from these proposals.

SOPG Weekly Update: April 26-30

2010-04-26T07:19:00.002-08:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, April 26

Tuesday, April 27
7pm - Wackadoo Zoo Musical
7pm - 6th Grade Open House at Begich Middle School

Wednesday, April 28

Thursday, April 29
8:50-9:20am - Optional Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Friday, April 30

Upcoming Events:

May 10-14 - Optional Program Intensives - Please contact your child's teacher if there's a particular skill you'd like to teach or project you'd like to do with a small group of students. We also need parent assistants to help with other leaders of projects. Even if you can only come for one or two days (for a half day in the morning), we'd love to have you!
Thursday, May 13 @ 6:30pm - SOPG Meeting - Last SOPG Meeting of the year in Jillian's room. Please join us!

Have a great week and we'll see you at school!

SOPG Weekly Update: April 19-23

2010-04-19T07:23:00.002-08:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, April 19
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna Running Club

Tuesday, April 20

Wednesday, April 21
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna Running Club - Last one before the Heart Run on Saturday!

Thursday, April 22
8:50-9:20am - Optional Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Friday, April 23
1:30-3:00pm - PACT (Parents And Children Together): Anchorage Recycling Center and ASD Recycling Coordinator - Parent volunteers needed!

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, April 27 at 7pm - Wackadoo Zoo Musical Performance for 2nd/3rd Grade
Tuesday, April 27 at 7pm - 6th Grade Open House at Begich Middle School

Have a great week and we'll see you at school!

meeting minutes 4/12/2010

2010-04-13T21:05:00.002-08:00

DALE BRAINERD PROVIDED SOCK HOP DETAILS for this year's event:

Get out Your Dancing Shoes
Susitna Optional 3rd Annual
Sock Hop Dinner/Dance
Friday April 16 from 6-8PM
Music from today and Golden Oldies-Line Dancing provided by
Entertainment by DJ Mike
$4 per person $10 family of 3 or more (Admission includes dinner)
Optional Alumni and families are Invited-Pre-school children are free
Fun for the whole Family-Bring a Friend
There will be a prize for everyone that dresses in a Costume

** PARENTS MUST ATTEND WITH THEIR CHILDREN **

Dale needs a shadow / volunteer to take his place for 2011 as this is his last year at Susitna.

KIM:

SBAs are over and they're counting the booklets and teacher's materials.

Lottery: K / 1 is full and they've started making calls. 1st-5th parents will be called in August. All parents get three (3) calls. If parents call now, they will be given their number on the lottery list.

Kris will send all K students a welcome packet with information about upcoming events and registration fees.

LUCINDA

There are five (5) more weeks of instensive teaching, then school is close to being out.

Next year she wants to start an elder parent / shadow / new parent / old parent (can't figure out a name yet) hand holding type of thing so that new parents know what is happening when, and what to expect.

elder / younger students are working very well together! it's good so show the little ones what their writing will (hopefully) look like in a few years.

BUS photo / people move bus photo: these will be for sale at the sock hop. if you cannot make the sock hop event, please email Lucinda your order. Tim will also put a form on the website.

TERESA / FEES:

again - lots of unpaid fees this year. Please please please pay your fees if you haven't done so. Do you know what the fees are for? So you don't have to buy supplies for your children and there are no fund raising events.

PACT Friday 4/23/2010: GreenStar and the ASD will provide a good program on recycling. Parent's are needed to volunteer (about 15 or so are needed). Email April to sign up.

PARENT WORK NIGHT: cannot be May 5th because it interferes with another Begich band concert. We're thinking Tuesday May 4th, instead. We need gobs of parent volunteers for this which is to help prepare the class rooms for the intensives.

INTENSIVES: upcoming in May. We need helpers -- even the smallest amount of help is fabulous. What are intensives? Teacher led and 4-5 parent led intensives – multiage and half days that week. We need parent supporters for the intensives we have planned, some from each classroom. Please talk to teacher or a board member if questions/interested. If anyone else is thinking of an intensive – know that the choice is theirs, and they can ask for a certain number and a certain age)

BIKE TO VALLEY OF THE MOON PARK MAY 17TH: Amy Johns is in charge again. We need volunteers to drop off gear, pick up gear; drop of kids; ride with kids; drive; etc. The ride down to Valley of the Moon is about 30 minutes; the ride back is about 60 minutes.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL PICNIC: we need shadows for this because Nan is stepping down next year. Kris will be helping as she has done this in the past, but she will definitely need help next year.

NAN: stepping down next year. KRIS will be our Chair for next year.

BOARD: we need new members; members at large and a new treasurer as Teresa's two year commitment is fulfilled.

SUMMER DAY CAMPS:

http://www.summer-daycamps.com/camps/907.html

http://www.muni.org/departments/parks/pages/sumcamp.aspx

http://www.tbatheatre.org/

http://www.alaskatheatreofyouth.org/

Ticket winners: Dexter W & Jamie L

Pizza: four pizzas got taken home - we drew names for these as well :)

WANT MORE INFORMATION???

JAMIE LANG / SOPG SECRETARY

http://www.susitnaoptional.org/

http://www.susitnaoptional.org/calendar/calendar.html

http://www.susitnaoptional.org/blog/blog.php

SOPG Weekly Update: April 12-16

2010-04-13T07:22:00.002-08:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, April 12
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna Running Club

Tuesday, April 13
6:30 - 8:00pm - SOPG Parent Meeting - Pizza and certified child care provided ($3 donation requested) - We'd love to see everyone there!

Wednesday, April 14
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna Running Club - Last one before the Heart Run on Saturday!

Thursday, April 15
8:50-9:20am - Optional Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Friday, April 16
6:30pm - Susitna Optional Family Sockhop Dinner/Dance

Upcoming Events:

1:30-3:00pm, Friday, April 23 - PACT - Parents and Children Together - Please consider volunteering a bit of your time to help assist with this presentation/project at the school.

Have a great week and we'll see you at school!

SOPG Weekly Update: April 5-9

2010-04-05T07:23:00.002-08:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, April 5
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna Running Club

Tuesday, April 6
Standards Based Assessment (SBA) Testing for Reading - Grades 3-5 only

Wednesday, April 7
Standards Based Assessment (SBA) Testing for Writing - Grades 3-5 only
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna Running Club

Thursday, April 8
Standards Based Assessment (SBA) Testing for Math - Grades 3-5 only

Friday, April 2

Upcoming Events:

Friday, April 16 - Susitna Optional Family Spring Dance

Have a great week and we'll see you at school!

SOPG Weekly Update: March 29 - April 2

2010-03-29T07:22:00.002-08:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, March 29
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna Running Club - Check with the office for a form to sign up.

Tuesday, March 30

Wednesday, March 31
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna Running Club - Check with the office for a form to sign up.

Thursday, April 1
Standards Based Assessment (SBA) Testing for Science - 4th graders only
8:50-9:20am - Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Friday, April 2

Upcoming Events:

Friday, April 16 - Susitna Optional Family Spring Dance

Have a great week and we'll see you at school!

SOPG Weekly Update: March 15-19

2010-03-16T07:43:00.003-08:00

Welcome back from Spring Break! Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, March 15

Tuesday, March 16
6:30-7:30pm - Susitna Optional Parent Group Meeting in Jillian's room. Parents needed. Childcare is provided. :-)

Wednesday, March 17
11:35am-12:35pm - K/1 Learning Lunch in Lucinda and Brittany's rooms. Come eat lunch with your child and let them show you what they've been learning!

5:00-7:00pm - Science Fair Viewing @ Susitna - Families welcome!

Thursday, March 18
8:50-9:20am - Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Friday, March 19

Upcoming Events:

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences - Wednesday, March 24 to Friday, March, 26. Wednesday and Thursday are morning 1/2 days for students and Friday is an inservice day with no school for students.

Have a great week and we'll see you at school!

SOPG Weekly Update: January 25-29

2010-01-25T06:55:00.002-09:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, January 25

Tuesday, January 26

Wednesday, January 27

Thursday, January 28
8:50-9:20am - Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Friday, January 29
1:30pm - Parents And Children Together (PACT): The Alaska Zoo

Upcoming Events:

Friday, January 29 @ 1:30pm - Parents And Children Together (PACT) presentation in the Susitna multipurpose room. Volunteers needed to supervise students as they do a simple craft related to the presentation. Contact Nan Magrath (337-0052) if you're able to help from 1:30-3:15pm. If we don't have enough volunteers, we'll have to cancel this learning opportunity!

Have a great week and we'll see you at school!

SOPG Weekly Update: January 18-23

2010-01-19T07:12:00.001-09:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, January 18
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - No School

Tuesday, January 19

Wednesday, January 20

Thursday, January 21
8:50-9:20am - Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Friday, January 22
6:00pm - "Fire & Ice" Meet & Greet Pizza Dinner with Sledding and Hot Chocolate @ Susitna

Saturday, January 23
9:30am-3:00pm - ASD Alternative Program Fair at the ASD Education Center (Boniface and Northern Lights) - A couple of volunteers are still needed to staff the Susitna Optional booth with another parent and teacher to help share information about the Susitna Optional program with interested community members and prospective parents. Can you help? Contact Nan Magrath (337-0052). Thanks!

Upcoming Events:

Friday, January 22 @ 6:00pm - Optional Program "Fire & Ice" Meet and Greet Social - Come out to Susitna for a pizza dinner and sledding with hot chocolate to warm up with after. It will be a great way to meet other parents in the program!
Saturday, January 23 - ASD Alternative Programs Fair @ the ASD Education Center - We still need a couple of parent volunteers! Contact Nan Magrath (337-0052)if you're able to staff a table for an hour or so to tell interested community members about the Susitna Optional Program.
Friday, January 29 @ 1:30pm - Parents And Children Together (PACT) presentation in the Susitna multipurpose room. Volunteers needed to supervise students as they do a simple craft related to the presentation. Contact Nan Magrath (337-0052) if you're able to help from 1:30-3:15pm. If we don't have enough volunteers, we'll have to cancel this learning opportunity!

Have a great week and we'll see you at school!

join us friday january 22nd for a PARTY

2010-01-13T21:35:00.001-09:00

january 13, 2010 meeting minutes

2010-01-13T21:32:00.002-09:00

Meeting start: 6:45
Meeting end: 7:30-ish

PRINCIPLE KIM BAUTISTA:
February 26th: Dr Seuss breakfast and PACT are the same days.
Math specialists have been coming in and Susitna will be having after school tutors. There will be seven teachers helping with tutoring.
Tim Andrew won the pinnicle of excellence award, the "DENALI AWARD" and will be presented with this honor 1/25 @ 6:30pm at the ASD Boniface Education building board room.
5th grade testing will be starting this spring so they're ramping up for that.
March 1st: author visit Shelley Gill - the kids are super excited!

TREASURER REPORT
Dues were discussed.
Dues are to be paid at the time of registration so parents do NOT need to shop for any school supplies.
About 1/2 of the optional parents have not paid for their dues.
Letters have gone out twice.
Telephone calls will be coming in the next couple of weeks.

Attending Teacher, Ms. Rachel
ASD Optional Fair Saturday January 24th from 10-3pm
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to greet potential optional children & parents. If you can help out in any of the 2 hours slots, or even if less time, please contact Nan.
Nan is working on the schedule for tours for potential parents - 5th graders will help with these tours
Tours will happen after spring break, probably 6-8 days times in 1 to 1.5 hours per tour blocks.
Spring lottery date: Thursday, March 25, 2010
Lottery paperwork due to school: Wednesday, March 24, 2010

PACT (PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER) JANUARY 29TH
We are still waiting for final confirmation about a sing language presentation for the child.
We do need PACT presenters for February 26th and April 23rd
Do you, or somebody you know have a special talent you would like to present to our students? Or do you have an idea for PACT - if so, please e-mail me your suggestions.
PACT IDEAS: Green Star, ASD recycling center, Bird TLC

Some upcoming events:

JANUARY
15th: portfolio share
18th: no school
22nd: Fire & Ice meet & greet / sledding / pizza and hot chocolate party
23rd: K 1-12 optional fair
29th: PACT

FEBRUARY:
11th: SOPG meeting 6:30p
26th (need a presenter)
26th: Dr. Seuss breakfast
MARCH
1st: Shelley Gill, author
16th; SOPG meeting 6:30p

APRIL
23rd (need a presenter)
SPRING DANCE: TBA

MAY:
7th: Bike Trip
20th: last day of school barbecue

Want more information?

SOPG website: http://www.susitnaoptional.org/
Blog: http://www.susitnaoptional.org/calendar/calendar.html
Calendar: http://www.susitnaoptional.org/blog/blog.php

Jamie Lang // SOPG Secretary

SOPG Weekly Update: January 4-8

2010-01-04T06:52:00.002-09:00

Happy New Year and welcome back to school! Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, January 4

Tuesday, January 5

Wednesday, January 6

Thursday, January 7
8:50-9:20am - Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Friday, January 8
Susitna Spelling Bee

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, January 13 @ 6:30pm - Susitna Optional Parent Meeting - Parents! Let's make a New Year's resolution to attend a parent meeting this year. We need your involvement!
Monday, January 18 - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - No School
Saturday, January 23 - ASD Alternative Programs Fair @ the ASD Education Center - Contact Nan Magrath if you're able to volunteer to staff a table for an hour or so to tell interested community members about the Susitna Optional Program.

Have a great week and we'll see you at school!

SOPG MEETING MINUTES 12/15/2009

2009-12-16T08:27:00.002-09:00

Jamie Lang was late so might be missing something.

KIM:
H1N1 was discussed. It might be best to go down to the MUNI and get immunized.
We're at the end of the 2nd quarter / 1st semester!
Kim has been having a blast doing read-alouds in the classrooms, sing alongs with Ms Vanderpool, and watching "the nutty nutcracker" with the kids. This time the teachers work on report cards.

TEACHER:
No teacher tonight because of sickness.

NAN & KRIS:
They had a last-minute teacher meeting after the Thanksgiving feast. Ideas tonight and with the teachers:
more directive about food needed
serving table should have parents serving - not children helping themselves
if you're bringing 20 people to eat, bring enough food for 20 people
rotated seatings
more management of the seating / food servings
very crowded so rotated seatings should help with that
TIM will help with a survey - do we want to go back to the classrooms or keep it in the gym?

TERESA:
about 1/3 of the students have not paid their fees
these fees are paid so that parents do not have to buy supplies - the teachers buy supplies as needed
the fees are approximately $50/child/year
Teresa has sent multiple requests to these families and still hasn't gotten payment.
It's time to start calling these families.
Accountability needs to be in place when people sign up for the program
A script will be written and TIM, NAN, JAMIE, TERESA and others will begin calling those 1/3 that haven't paid

LEADERSHIP ISSUES:
fear factor?
binders with explanations might help
P&P binders would be helpful
parent coordinators - are TEACHERS handing this info off to the parent coordinators?
How do we get people to lead projects?

2ND SEMESTER:
january meet and greet with families - new brochures and mission statement
3 PACTS January 29; February 26; April 23
Dance / sock hop
Intensives
bike ride
end of school bbq

JAMIE LANG / SOPG SECRETARY

http://www.susitnaoptional.org/

http://www.susitnaoptional.org/calendar/calendar.html

http://www.susitnaoptional.org/blog/blog.php

SOPG Weekly Update: December 14-18

2009-12-14T07:27:00.001-09:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, December 14

Tuesday, December 15
6:30-7:30pm - SOPG Meeting in Jillian's Room

Wednesday, December 16

Thursday, December 17
8:50-9:20am - Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Friday, December 18
NO SCHOOL - INSERVICE DAY

Have a Happy Holidays and we’ll look forward to seeing you at school in 2010!

SOPG Weekly Update: December 7-11

2009-12-07T22:43:00.002-09:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, December 7 - Pearl Harbor Day

Tuesday, December 8
2:15-3:15pm - Community Outreach Program

Wednesday, December 9

Thursday, December 10
8:50-9:20am - Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

9:00-11:00am - K/1 Learning Lunch & Gingerbread Houses

Friday, December 11

Don't forget: the next SOPG Parent Meeting is next Tuesday, Dec. 15th at 6:30pm in Sarah B.'s room. Please come and get involved, even if it's just giving feedback on things in the Program. Kids are welcome!

Have a great week and we’ll look forward to seeing you at school!

SOPG Weekly Update: November 30-December 4

2009-11-29T22:19:00.002-09:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, November 30

Tuesday, December 1
2:15-3:15pm - Community Outreach Program

Wednesday, December 2

Thursday, December 3
8:50-9:20am - Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Friday, December 4
Project Day Cancelled Due to Lack of Parent Volunteers :-(

Have a great week and we’ll look forward to seeing you at school!

SOPG Weekly Update: November 23-27

2009-11-22T23:00:00.002-09:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, November 23

Tuesday, November 24
2:15-3:15pm - Community Outreach Program

Wednesday, November 25
5:30pm-7:30pm - Susitna Turkey Shoot in the Gym - Pair up with your child and put your free throw skills "on the line" in a chance to win a Thanksgiving turkey, the trimmings, or other great prizes! Registration for the contest begins at 5:30pm followed by the games from 6:00-7:30pm. The cost is only $8 for the pair of shooters. See you on the court!

Thursday, November 26
No School - Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 27
No School

Have a great, short week and we’ll look forward to seeing you at school!

PARENT GROUP MINUTES 11/17/2009

2009-11-18T19:07:00.000-09:00

Meeting start: 6:35 | Meeting end: 7:30

Kim: has rented all tables and additional chairs for the Thanksgiving feast on 11/20. Older children might need to bring down a few chairs as well.

Zangle issues: yes, it's true, Zangle doesn't work with optional too well. All parents should have discussed this with their teachers at p/t conferences.

NO financial report - TERESA was missing. Sarah said the teachers still have not gotten repayment so she'll take that up with Teresa.

Sarah: FEAST! The schedule has been forwarded to all parents on the email list and how they smallest will go first -- in staggered fashion.

* Betty is the main FEAST contact.
* Tables will be set up and labeled for food items.
* Carvers should arrived by 10:30 to pull the turkey's apart.
* Families should eat together - just gather your children before heading down to the gym.
* A microphone will be set up as well.
* Elders will help clean up after lunch.

Children in Transition homeless program and our Community Outreach program was discussed again. The kids are enjoying it and doing well. Their projects for these homeless children are almost done. Next semester Community Outreach will be focusing on teaching tolerance.

PACT RECAP: some issues with MPR - Kim has been notified. PACT speaker will be Scott Thompson, wildlife Artist was fabulous! As always, we encourage lots of parent involvement and help! Parents were not as positive about the way this PACT went this time. The children were not as engaged this time - maybe due to some of them not being too keen on painting. It was suggested that we have more "progressive" types of activities -- easier for youngers, more difficult for elders.

On the positive side, Scott said we had "the best behaved" kids of any school he has been in and was VERY impressed with the students! :) Again, we need 12+ parents for PACT to work smoothly. Please consider sending Scott a THANK YOU letter for his time (he took off work) and his donation (a beautiful moose / mountain wildlife scene).

Please help out in January! We also need suggestions about what types of presentations would work well. We discussed and would appreciate some additional input:

* The Alaska Zoo
* Bird TLC
* Fire Fighters
* Jack Dalton (Jamie will ask him)

SOPG DIRECTORY: is done. If you did not get a copy, please contact Nan.

PROJECT DAY IS DECEMBER 4TH: there are three people signed up so far but it works best to have at least six (6). Please consider donating some time for this event. We'll be making scarves (Jamie is doing this event). We still need at least 3-4 more ideas and leaders to help with this. This is a Friday morning and the kids absolutely LOVE this event. It's really good energy and a positive event.

HEALTHY FUTURES / AMY JOHNS: we want to do a few weekend activities. Ideas:

* weekend swim day
* sledding at Russian Jack
* rollerskating / SOPG fundraiser @ Royal Roller Rink
* movie night

//Jamie Lang, SOPG Secretary

These minutes are also located on the BLOG: http://www.susitnaoptional.org/blog/blog.php

SUSITNA OPTION WEBSITE
http://www.susitnaoptional.org/

SOPG Weekly Update: November 16-20

2009-11-16T06:55:00.007-09:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, November 16

Tuesday, November 17
2:15-3:15pm - Community Outreach Program

Wednesday, November 18
11:35am-12:35pm - K/1 Learning Lunch - Come have lunch with your Kindergarten or first grader as they share with you things they've been learning in class!

Thursday, November 19
8:50-9:20am - Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

1:00-3:30pm - Thanksgiving Feast Pie Making with Sarah and Jillian's classes: Volunteers Needed! We'll be making the pies at school this year, but could really use some extra hands to assist the kids with making these desserts for the next day's Feast.

Friday, November 20
11am-1pm - Susitna Optional and Pod A Thanksgiving Feast - This is a Thanksgiving Feast for students, teachers and families of students in Pod A (the part of the school building that houses the Optional Program and some neighborhood classrooms).

Classes are providing:

Brittany & Heather's K/1 Classes: Rolls/butter
Genie & Rachel's 2/3 Classes: Table Decor
Sarah & Jillian's 4/5 Classes: Pies
Mrs. Rousseau's Class: Potatoes
Mr. Wagar's Class: Stuffing
Mrs. Kairaiuak's Class: Gravy & Cranberry Sauce
Mrs. Mott's Class: Drinks

In addition to the Feast items above, families are encouraged to bring a side dish to share (with labeled dish and serving utensil).

We still need volunteers to roast turkeys, help with carving the turkeys and help with setup, serving and clean-up. If you can help in any of these ways, or if you have questions, please contact Nan Magrath by email.

Have a great week and we’ll look forward to seeing you at school!

SOPG Weekly Update: November 2-6

2009-11-01T22:27:00.001-09:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, November 2

Tuesday, November 3
2:15-3:15pm - Community Outreach Program

Supply (or cash) Donations Needed:
• White t-shirts in children’s sizes (4 – 7/8 years)
• Batting for stuffing shirts
• Fabric crayons, paint, and markers
• Fleece in bright colors and patterns
• Fabric glue
• Crayons
• Colored pencils
• Baggies
• Small paintbrushes
• Sewing needles
• Alcohol swabs

Thanks for your support as we try to brighten the lives of children living homeless.

Wednesday, November 4

Thursday, November 5
8:50am-9:20am - Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Friday, November 6

Have a great week and we’ll look forward to seeing you at school!

Thanksgiving Feast update

2009-10-27T17:37:00.003-08:00

from Nan
to
date Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 2:14 PM
subject Thanksgiving Feast update

Hi all - two big updates for the Thanksgiving Feast on Nov 20th

First off - the person who was to be our coordinator cannot, due to work restraints. We need a coordinator!!!!! For information - see attached

The best news is that the feast will be held in the gymnasium! Thanks to Mrs Bautista, we have that space and tables arranged, much like the Dr Seuss breakfast. This will allow us to be more organized, and will eliminate the multiple food lines and lack of seating in the classrooms.

It will also make the job of the coordinator much easier, as in the past much of the effort was put into organizing and balancing the multiple food lines in the classrooms.

Contact me for questions. Gobble gobble.

Nan, SOPG Chair
Don't forget the website!! www.susitnaoptional.org

SOPG Weekly Update: October 26-30

2009-10-26T07:08:00.004-08:00

Here’s what’s happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program:

Monday, October 26

Tuesday, October 27
2:15-3:15pm - Community Outreach Program

Supply (or cash) Donations Needed:
• White t-shirts in children’s sizes (4 – 7/8 years)
• Batting for stuffing shirts
• Fabric crayons, paint, and markers
• Fleece in bright colors and patterns
• Fabric glue
• Crayons
• Colored pencils
• Baggies
• Small paintbrushes
• Sewing needles
• Alcohol swabs

Thanks for your support as we try to brighten the lives of children living homeless.

Wednesday, October 28

9:00am-6:00pm - Book Fair and Silent Auction in the Library
12:30pm - Students released to go home at 12:30pm
1:00pm - 1st Quarter Parent-Teacher Conferences Begin
9:00am-6:00pm - Book Fair and Silent Auction in the Library

Thursday, October 29
9:00am-6:00pm - Book Fair and Silent Auction in the Library

12:30pm - Students released to go home at 12:30pm
1:00pm - 1st Quarter Parent-Teacher Conferences Begin

Friday, October 30
INSERVICE DAY - No School for Students

Have a great week and we’ll look forward to seeing you at school!

Community Outreach Starting Soon - We Need Your Support

2009-10-22T07:06:00.001-08:00

Dear Parents:

It is Community Outreach time again. We are super excited about this year’s theme: “Kids Helping Kids.” We have chosen the Anchorage School District, Children in Transition Program as our beneficiary. This program works with children who attend our schools and who are in foster care. Our aim is to provide these children with something both to call their own and to comfort them during what is a difficult time in their lives.

Students will be decorating a canvas bag and filling it with a journal, kid-designed coloring book, a fleece hat and scarf, a T-shirt pillow, and a few art supplies. All these items will be handmade by our students. We hope this will be a powerful experience for students as they begin to realize the challenges their peers may face and how lucky they are to have what they have in life, however much or little that may be.

We need your help to pull this off. First off we need supplies, money for supplies, or your help in getting local businesses to donate supplies. Below is a list of what we need. If you have the gift of the gab and would be willing to call or visit some local businesses for supplies please let me know and I would be happy to supply you with information about our project and some letters written by our fourth and fifth graders asking for donations. If you would like to send in a donation of money or supplies we will gladly receive that from you as well.

Our first week of project time is October 27th so the sooner we hear or receive from you the better it would be for our planning.

Thank you for considering helping out with this project. We so appreciate the support you give your child and the Optional program. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher.

Supplies:
• White t-shirts in children’s sizes (4 – 7/8 years)
• Batting for stuffing shirts
• Fabric crayons, paint, and markers
• Fleece in bright colors and patterns
• Fabric glue
• Crayons
• Colored pencils
• Baggies
• Small paintbrushes
• Sewing needles
• Alcohol swabs