SOPG MEETING MINUTES 12/15/2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOPG Meeting Minutes 10/14/2009

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

Kim: read a great book called "Through the Cracks" by Carolyn Sollman (Author), Barbara Emmons (Author), Judith Paolini (Author) -- which reminded her of our fabulous Optional Program.

Zangle issues: optional report cards aren't working right and no your children are not failing everything :( Parent-teacher conferences should smooth everything out.

October 19-23rd. Student Council will be making daily announcements and getting the kids involved in all the fun stuff.

TERESA: there are still issues with getting program fees. The first reminder was mailed out about two weeks ago. Teresa will mail out another in about 10-14 days. If people need help and/or extensions, they need to ask for help -- they should not assume.

Teresa and Genie briefly discussed getting cooperate / non-profit discounts for the teachers at Arctic Office or another office supplier. Teresa will make contacts again to try to get this set up.

GENIE: teachers sent out donation requests for community outreach which will run for for 6 weeks starting OCTOBER 27 from 2:15 - 3:15. This year's theme is "Kids Helping Kids." We are making comfort bags for foster children in transition. Our vision is to provide a child with a decorated bag of art supplies, a kid-made coloring book and/or journal, a kid-made T-shirt pillow, and a fleece hat. If you would like to help out with this project we need some supplies. If you would rather donate money to purchase supplies that would be great too. We need:

* White t-shirts in children¹s 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

If you would like to come and help out with projects we will be rotating students through different projects each Tuesday for six weeks starting October 27th. We would love to see you here! (Ms B's email has been plagiarized for these minutes.) Genie is not completely sure, but feels that it would be easiest to have money donated that way the teachers would have more control (at least she would) over the products they really need.

Children in Transition program grew by 38% last year. Kim discussed how our "sister school" had provided money cards which were then provided to families that ended up in transition situations / foster care, etc. The sister school received a thank you letter and those children in the sister school really loved knowing that they were positively impacting the lives of other children less fortunate. Nan thought it might be a good idea to do something like this and there appeared to be no objection from the parents in attendance tonight.

PACT recap: it was great! Thanks to Ryan for making this such an interesting topic for the children and to Kris B for setting this up and making it such a success.

NOV 13th is our next PACT and our next PACT speaker will be Scott Thompson, wildlife Artist. As always, we encourage lots of parent involvement and help. Parents were very positive about the way this last PACT went and felt more at east.

Lucky us, we have April Nye who is going to be the PACT coordinator! Thanks, April!

SOPG DIRECTORY: it's almost done. Nan is doing it.

THANKSGIVING FEAST is November 20th: we need a coordinator. Search around for somebody to help with this. Genie has the book on how it runs.

PROJECT DAY IS DECEMBER 4TH: there are three people signed up so far but it works best to have at least six (6). This is a Friday morning and the kids absolutely LOVE this event. It's really good energy and a positive event. Please consider donating some time for this event.

//Jamie Lang, SOPG Secretary

2009 Fall Bicycle Trip

Invitation to view photographs from Genevieve and Madeleine's Mom.

Gallery:
http://jamielang.zenfolio.com/2009fallbiketrip

Slideshow:
http://jamielang.zenfolio.com/2009fallbiketrip/slideshow

SOPG Weekly Update: August 24-28

Welcome to another wonderful year in the Optional Program at Susitna Elementary! Here's what's happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program!

Monday, August 24

Tuesday, August 25
First Day for K/1 Students

Wednesday, August 26

Thursday, August 27
6:30-8:00pm – SOPG Parent Work Night @ Susitna - Too busy during the day to volunteer at school? Here's a great way to help out the fantastic teachers at Susitna, get to know other parents, and fill some of those required volunteer hours. Come on over to the school and lend a hand helping your child's teacher (or another Optional teacher) prepare materials for use in class. We'll meet in Ms. Jillian's room starting at 6:30pm. Come when you can, leave when you must. We'll look forward to seeing you there!

Friday, August 28

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

Back to School Meet & Greet - Tuesday, Aug. 18

Bring the kids and come out to see old friends, make some new ones, and meet your child's teacher for the 2009-2010 school year! This year's "Back to School Meet & Greet" will be Tuesday, August 18 from 5-6pm at Susitna Elementary.

We hope to see you there and we wish everyone a great school year!

SOPG Weekly Update: May 18-21

Welcome to the last week of school! Thanks for a great year of learning at your Susitna Optional Program. Have a great summer and we look forward to seeing you at school start on Wednesday, August 19!

Monday, April 20
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

• Read with your child
• Share student written stories
• Write a story together
• Do math activities
• Play a literacy game
• Play a math game
• Play with pattern blocks
• Play dominoes
• Play word games
• Finish math journal pages
• Finish homework

Tuesday, April 21
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

1:45-2:45pm - Susitna Talent Show in the Multipurpose Room

Wednesday, April 22
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Thursday, April 23: Last Day of School for Students
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

10-11:30am - 5th Grade Recognition Ceremony in the Multipurpose Room

Please remember to pay any outstanding lunch charges and return any overdue library books.

Friday, April 24: Last Day for Teachers

Have a great summer and we’ll look forward to seeing you in the Fall!

SOPG Weekly Update: April 20-24

Here's what's happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program!

Monday, April 20
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

• Read with your child
• Share student written stories
• Write a story together
• Do math activities
• Play a literacy game
• Play a math game
• Play with pattern blocks
• Play dominoes
• Play word games
• Finish math journal pages
• Finish homework

Tuesday, April 21
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Wednesday, April 22
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Thursday, April 23
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Friday, April 24
8:50-9:15am – Optional Program Community Celebration - Come to Ingrid’s classroom to sing the new Optional Program Song and to enjoy other songs, poems and readings from students.

Special Thanks to Dale Brainerd and all those who helped make last Friday's Susitna Optional Dinner Dance/Sock Hop such a success. If you couldn't make it this year, be sure to join us next year!

Reminders: Saturday is the Heart Run- register online at http://www.heartrun.com and next Tuesday the 28th at 7pm is the K/1 musical, BUGZ!

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

SOPG Weekly Update: April 13-17

Here's what's happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program!

Monday, April 13
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

• Read with your child
• Share student written stories
• Write a story together
• Do math activities
• Play a literacy game
• Play a math game
• Play with pattern blocks
• Play dominoes
• Play word games
• Finish math journal pages
• Finish homework

Tuesday, April 14
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Wednesday, April 15
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

11:30am-12:30pm - "K/1 Learning Lunch" - Kindergarten/1st grade Parents: This is a great opportunity to come and have you child share what they've been learning with you and have a bite of lunch together. It means a lot to your child, so please join us! This is the last Learning Lunch of the year.

Thursday, April 16
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

1:30-3:00pm - "PACT - Parents And Children Together" - Please come and help lead or assist with a pre-planned art project with students. The teachers plan the art project and have it all prepared for the parents to lead. Teachers then use this critical time to plan and collaborate with their Optional Program colleagues. If you have an idea for an art project to do with students, please share it with your child's teacher. We need your help, so please join us!

Friday, April 17
8:50-9:15am – Optional Program Community Celebration - Come to Ingrid’s classroom to sing the new Optional Program Song and to enjoy other songs, poems and readings from students.

7pm-9pm - Susitna Optional Dance/Sock Hop - Come on out and "get your groove on" with the whole family! Admission is $4.00 per person or $10 for a family of three or more with pre-schoolers free of charge. Admission includes a meal of hot dog or sloppy joe, chips, cookie and drink. Music and line dancing are courtesy of Sahara Entertainment and Christy Shulenski. There will be a costume contest and a drawing for prizes so be sure invite a friend (and their family)!

• Set up is 5pm-7pm
• Dance 7pm-9pm
• Clean up is 9pm-10pm

Please help where/when you can to make this a great event! Questions? Contact Event Chair Dale Brainerd (contact info in the Optional Program Directory). Thanks!

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

SOPG Weekly Update: April 6-10

Here's what's happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program!

Monday, April 6
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

• Read with your child
• Share student written stories
• Write a story together
• Do math activities
• Play a literacy game
• Play a math game
• Play with pattern blocks
• Play dominoes
• Play word games
• Finish math journal pages
• Finish homework

Tuesday, April 7
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Statewide Standards Based Assessment (SBA) Testing for Students in Grades 3-5: Please make sure your child is well-rested and prepared to do their best! For more information, go to the ASD Testing web page.

Wednesday, April 8
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Statewide Standards Based Assessment (SBA) Testing for Students in Grades 3-5

Thursday, April 9
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Statewide Standards Based Assessment (SBA) Testing for Students in Grades 3-5

Friday, April 10
8:50-9:15am – Optional Program Community Celebration - Come to Ingrid’s classroom to sing the new Optional Program Song and to enjoy other songs, poems and readings from students.

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

PACT Help Needed!!

Calling all parents (and grandparents) of Susitna Optional Students:

Your help is desperately needed to help this Thursday from 1:30pm-3:00pm!

PACT is a monthly Optional Program activity that happens at all grades in all classes. Parent volunteers are needed to help lead an art project with small groups of mixed age children so that teachers can have joint planning time necessary for Optional Program activities to become a reality.

Your help is needed and it's a lot fun. Please join us by contacting your child's teacher and volunteering to help!

Thanks for your support!

SOPG Weekly Update: March 2-6

Here's what's happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program!

Monday, March 2
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

• Read with your child
• Share student written stories
• Write a story together
• Do math activities
• Play a literacy game
• Play a math game
• Play with pattern blocks
• Play dominoes
• Play word games
• Finish math journal pages
• Finish homework

Tuesday, March 3
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

6:30-7:30pm - SOPG Meeting - All Optional Program parents are invited to join us in Sarah's room. This is YOUR program! Childcare provided.

Wednesday, March 4
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Thursday, March 5
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Friday, March 6
End of Third Quarter Report Card Day - No School!

6pm - Susitna Optional First Friday Art Showing at Kaladi Brothers - Children's art work will be on display and for sale at Kaladi's downtown on 6th Avenue next to the Performing Arts Center. Show children you support their hard work and creative genius!

Next week, March 9-13 is Spring Break. Have a wonderful holiday and we'll see you back at school on Monday, March 16!

SOPG Weekly Update: February 23-27

Here's what's happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program!

Monday, February 23
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

• Read with your child
• Share student written stories
• Write a story together
• Do math activities
• Play a literacy game
• Play a math game
• Play with pattern blocks
• Play dominoes
• Play word games
• Finish math journal pages
• Finish homework

Tuesday, February 24
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Wednesday, February 25
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Thursday, February 26
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Friday, February 27
8:00-8:45am - Dr. Seuss Birthday Breakfast - Come and celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with breakfast! Bring a dish to share and eat for free, or bring $1 per person to eat. All proceeds go to purchasing Dr. Seuss books to add to the library's collection.

8:50-9:15am – Optional Program Community Celebration - Come to Ingrid’s classroom to sing the new Optional Program Song and to enjoy other songs, poems and readings from students.

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

SOPG Weekly Update: February 16-21

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

Monday, February 16
“Presidents’ Day” - No School

Tuesday, February 17
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

Read with your child
Share student written stories
Write a story together
Do math activities
Play a literacy game
Play a math game
Play with pattern blocks
Play dominoes
Play word games
Finish math journal pages
Finish homework


Wednesday, February 18
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

11:30am-12:30pm – “K/1 Learning Lunch” - Kindergarten/1st grade Parents: This is a great opportunity to come and have you child share what they've been learning with you and have a bite of lunch together. It means a lot to your child, so please join us!

Thursday, February 19
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Friday, February 20
8:50-9:15am – Optional Program Community Celebration - Come to Ingrid’s classroom to sing the new Optional Program Song and to enjoy other songs, poems and readings from students.

Saturday, February 21
2:45-3:45pm – Susitna Optional Family Swim Day at West High Pool – Come join us for family fun on the water slide at West High Pool! There’s no cost for admission, but donations of up to $5 per family are welcome. Please note that children under 7 MUST be accompanied by an adult in the water. Hope to see you there!

Special Note: To make up the snow days in January, Third Quarter Parent/Teacher Conferences have been cancelled. March 25 and 25 will be normal school days. Thanks for your understanding and please feel free to contact your child’s teacher with any questions.

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

SOPG Weekly Update: February 9-13

SOPG Weekly Update: February 9-13

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

Monday, February 9
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

• Read with your child
• Share student written stories
• Write a story together
• Do math activities
• Play a literacy game
• Play a math game
• Play with pattern blocks
• Play dominoes
• Play word games
• Finish math journal pages
• Finish homework

Tuesday, February 10
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Wednesday, February 11
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Thursday, February 12
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

1:30-3:00pm – PACT (Parents and Children Together) – Please come and help lead or assist with a pre-planned art project with students. The teachers plan the art project and have it all prepared for the parents to lead. Teachers then use this critical time to plan and collaborate with their Optional Program colleagues. If you have an idea for an art project to do with students, please share it with your child's teacher. Thanks!

Friday, February 13
8:50-9:15am – Optional Program Community Celebration - Come to Ingrid’s classroom to sing the new Optional Program Song and to enjoy other songs, poems and readings from students.

Special Note: To make up the snow days in January, Third Quarter Parent/Teacher Conferences have been cancelled. March 25 and 25 will be normal school days. Thanks for your understanding and please feel free to contact your child’s teacher with any questions.

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

SOPG Weekly Update: February 2-6

Lots of things happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program!

Monday, February 2
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

• Read with your child
• Share student written stories
• Write a story together
• Do math activities
• Play a literacy game
• Play a math game
• Play with pattern blocks
• Play dominoes
• Play word games
• Finish math journal pages
• Finish homework

Tuesday, February 3
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Wednesday, February 4
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Thursday, February 5
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

6:30-7:30pm – Susitna Optional Parent Group Meeting – All parents are encourage to meet in Sarah’s room for a brief meeting to help plan upcoming events and support the Susitna Optional Program. Treats are served and childcare provided.

Friday, February 6
8:50-9:15am – Optional Program Community Celebration - Come to Ingrid’s classroom to sing the new Optional Program Song and to enjoy other songs, poems and readings from students.

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

SOPG Weekly Update: January 26-30

Here's what's happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program!

Monday, January 26
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

•Read with your child
•Share student written stories
•Write a story together
•Do math activities
•Play a literacy game
•Play a math game
•Play with pattern blocks
•Play dominoes
•Play word games
•Finish math journal pages
•Finish homework

Tuesday, January 13
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Wednesday, January 14
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Thursday, January 15
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

1:15-2:15pm – Spring Community Outreach Begins

Friday, January 16
8:50-9:15am – Optional Program Community Celebration - Come to Ingrid’s classroom to find out which student entry has been selected as the new Optional Program Song and to enjoy other songs, poems and readings from students.

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

SOPG Weekly Update: January 19-23

Lots of things happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program!

Monday, January 19
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday – No School

Tuesday, January 20 – Happy Inauguration Day!
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

• Read with your child
• Share student written stories
• Write a story together
• Do math activities
• Play a literacy game
• Play a math game
• Play with pattern blocks
• Play dominoes
• Play word games
• Finish math journal pages
• Finish homework

9:30-10:30am – Inaugural Re-broadcast at Susitna – We’ll be enjoying a re-broadcast of the Presidential Inauguration in both the gym and the multi-purpose room.

Wednesday, January 21
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Thursday, January 22
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

1:30-3:00pm – PACT: Parents and Children Together – Parents are invited to come help with a pre-planned art project in their child’s classroom.

Friday, January 23
8:50-9:15am – Optional Program Community Celebration - Come to Ingrid’s classroom to find out which student entry has been selected as the new Optional Program Song and to enjoy other songs, poems and readings from students.

11:30am-12:30pm – K/1 Learning Lunch – Come to Lucinda and Brittany’s K/1 classrooms to have your children share their second quarter learning with you and stay for lunch!

11:45am-12:30pm – Portfolio Share – Parents are invited to join their children in grades 2-5 classrooms as they share their second quarter learning portfolios.

2:15-3:00pm - Geography Bee - Come cheer on our Sustina children as they participate in this year's Geography Bee.

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

SOPG Weekly Update: January 12-16

Lots of things happening this week at your Susitna Optional Program!

Monday, January 12
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

In K/1 classes, parents and children will write in their journals and then transition to exploration time.

In 2/3 and 3/4 classes, children and parents will do one or two of the following activities:

• Read with your child
• Share student written stories
• Write a story together
• Do math activities
• Play a literacy game
• Play a math game
• Play with pattern blocks
• Play dominoes
• Play word games
• Finish math journal pages
• Finish homework

6:30-8:00pm – Optional Program Family Get-together – Come meet in Sarah’s and Ingrid’s rooms for an opportunity to chat with other parents and teachers. Pizza will be provided so you don’t have to worry about cooking dinner tonight! We hope you’ll come join us!

Tuesday, January 13
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Wednesday, January 14
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

Thursday, January 15
8:30-8:50am – “Meaningful Mornings” - Spend quality learning time with your child, drink coffee and connect with other parents. Parents must stay with their children in one classroom, together, to ensure safety.

2:15-3:15pm – Susitna Geography Bee – Come out and cheer on the students at this year’s Geography Bee, held in the multi-purpose room (aka the cafeteria).

Note that PACT has been rescheduled to next Thursday, January 22 due to the conflict with the Geography Bee.

Friday, January 16
8:50-9:15am – Optional Program Community Celebration - Come to Ingrid’s classroom to find out which student entry has been selected as the new Optional Program Song and to enjoy other songs, poems and readings from students.

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