SOPG Weekly Update: November 15-19

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

Monday, November 15
3:30-4:30pm - Chess Club for Beginners

Tuesday, November 16
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna After School Basketball (check game schedule for teams)

Wednesday, November 17
3:30-5:00pm - Chess Club for Intermediate/Advanced

Thursday, November 18
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna After School Basketball (check game schedule for teams)
5:30pm-7:30pm - Annual Turkey Shoot in the Gym

Friday, November 19
11:00am-1:00pm - Optional and Pod A Thanksgiving Feast
2:50-3:20pm - Optional Community Meeting in Sarah's Room

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

SOPG Weekly Update: November 8-12

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

Monday, November 8
3:30-4:30pm - Chess Club for Beginners

Tuesday, November 9
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna After School Basketball
6:30-8:30pm - SOPG Parent Work Night w/Pizza

Wednesday, November 10
3:30-5:00pm - Chess Club for Intermediate/Advanced

Thursday, November 11
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna After School Basketball

Friday, November 12
2:50-3:20pm - Optional Community Meeting in Sarah's Room
6-8pm - Susitna PTA Family Movie Night

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

SOPG Weekly Update: October 25-30

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

Monday, October 25
3:30-4:30pm - Chess Club for Beginners

Tuesday, October 26
10:15-11:00am - K/1 Storybook Character Share

Wednesday, October 27
12:30pm - Students are released for Parent - Teacher Conferences

Thursday, October 28
12:30pm - Students are released for Parent - Teacher Conferences

Friday, October 29
Inservice Day - No School for Students

Saturday, October 30
4pm - Susitna School Fall Carnival

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

SOPG Weekly Update: October 18-22

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

Monday, October 18
3:30-4:30pm - Chess Club for Beginners

Tuesday, October 19

Wednesday, October 20
3:30-4:30pm - Chess Club for Intermediate/Advanced

Thursday, October 21

Friday, October 22
1:30-3:15pm - PACT (Parents And Children Together) - Parent volunteers needed! Contact Nan Magrath (missnan60@hotmail.com) to volunteer.

Upcoming Events
Tuesday, October 26
2pm - K/1 Storybook Character Share

Saturday, October 30
4pm - Susitna School Fall Carnival

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

SOPG Weekly Update: October 11-15

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

Monday, October 11
3:30-4:30pm - Chess Club for Beginners in the Library - sign up with Ms. Jillian

Tuesday, October 12
6:30-8:00pm - SOPG Parent Group Meeting in Sarah's room. Chili will be served and children are welcome. Please come!

Wednesday, October 13
3:30-4:30pm - Chess Club for Intermediate/Advanced in the Library - sign up with Ms. Jillian

Thursday, October 14

Friday, October 15
2:50-3:20pm - Optional Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room

Upcoming Events
Friday, October 22
1-3:15pm - PACT

Tuesday, October 26
2pm - K/1 Storybook Character Share

Saturday, October 30
4pm - Susitna School Fall Carnival

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

SOPG Weekly Update: October 4-8

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

Monday, October 4
3:30-4:30pm - Chess Club for Beginners in the Library - sign up with Ms. Jillian

Tuesday, October 5

Wednesday, October 6
3:30-4:30pm - Chess Club for Intermediate/Advanced in the Library - sign up with Ms. Jillian

Thursday, October 7

Friday, October 8
2:50-3:20pm - Optional Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room


Upcoming Events
Tuesday, October 12
6:30-8:00pm - SOPG Parent Group Meeting in Sarah's B.'s room

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

SOPG Weekly Update: September 27-October 1

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

Monday, September 27
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna Running Club

Tuesday, September 28
10:15am-12:00pm - K/1 Portfolio Box Decorating

Wednesday, September 29
3:30-4:30pm - Susitna Running Club

Thursday, September 30

Friday, October 1
2:50-3:20pm - Optional Community Celebration in Sarah B.'s room
5:00-7:00pm - North Anchorage Cross Country Running Jamboree @ Bartlett High School

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

SOPG MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY 9/14/2010

Approximately 20 people were in attendance, including SOPG board and Ms. Jillian

Pizza and cookies were available to all attendees and children. Thank you SOPG!

Toilet paper game: we all introduced ourselves with the toilet paper game.

Principal's Message: Kim was missing, which is very rare.

H2Oasis ticket was pulled by Jonathan and Shailynn won. Yay, Shai!

Kris went over the SOPG event brochure and the lingo and explained most of the programs.

OPEN HOUSE for the neighborhood side is 9/15/2010 - PTA will be providing dinner for a small amount of money.

OPEN HOUSE for Optional is Thursday 9/16/2010. SOPG will not be providing dinner. There will be a small program then an in-class presentation. It lasts about an hour.

PACT (Parents and Children Together): 9/17/2010 starting at 1pm. Parents should arrive about 12:45 to help set up the MPR (multi-purpose room). This week's PACT is going to require a village of parents :)  We will have multiple stations holding 15 children while they await their turn in the house. If you have any good fire stories (probably useful and not too scary) please bring them along and discuss with a teacher like Jillian. Children will be at each station for 45 minutes.  Jillian is in need of several items: firefighter hat, boots, clothing, etc. There's going to be an event where children have to race to get into a firefighter uniform. 

Everybody should have received the permission slip for this event. This is going to be a very exciting PACT - it's all about fire safety. 

WHAT IS PACT? It's an event where parents act as teacher/helpers and we usually have one per month. This is when our teachers get together to plan for upcoming major events. April Ney is in charge of coordinating and setting up PACT. Most PACT events are from 1:30 - 3:15, but the PACT this week is longer than normal because of the specialty of setting up a two story house for the kids to evacuate.  If you have any ideas you think would be cool for the kids, please email April Ney. 

PTA: will need additional help from SOPG for a few items: festival, picture day, etc. There will be a competition for box tops - the class that collects the most box tops will win an ice-cream social. Although PTA is the neighborhood side, SOPG also benefits from PTA as well so we should all support them.

Project Day: traditionally held the first Friday in December, failed last year because we did not have 6+ parents to lead the 1/2 day morning class. It's all about making projects with the children. The kids usually give these as gifts. If you have a special talent or like doing something that children can do, please consider volunteering your time/talent for this day.

Volunteers: do whatever you can - either at home or at school. Most of us have jobs and can only do what we can. "Don't sweat it" per Nan.  We did go over the purple sign up binder and the volunteer log book. If you have questions about either, please contact Nan or Kris.

FALL bike trip recap: WET and FUN! Good times overall and we found out that we can fit the entire optional program under the  canopy at Goose Lake park!

Spring bike trip NEEDS:

1. A new coordinator to learn the ropes because Amy Johns will be leaving after this year.
2. Valley of the Moon permit now - April will do this right away.
3. A bike mechanic because so many bikes came in with bad tires, bad chains, etc and a bunch of guys spent a few hours getting bikes ready to go. 
4. Crosswalk guards
5. Signs set up
6. More parents on bikes and driving / volunteers - this is a huge event!
7. An event binder that explains everything that must be done before each ride.

Fundraising: do you have comments on it? Tonight there was a discussion about it and most parents rejected the idea of Innisbrook and their items. However, people were still interested in raising money and the discussion seemed to revolve around whether Optional can think up some different ways to raise money. If you have comments, please let Kris or Nan know. Tim suggested Green fundraising - as, traditionally, Susitna is a very green school and endorses recycling and such.  Tim has gotten a lot of information about recycling of toners, computers, etc. This has come up in the past and Tim will research it further for this year.

ART SHOW - Lucinda needs help framing everything before 9/25 or thereabouts. The art of Susitna children will be on display atKaladi Brothers Coffee - www.kaladi.com 621 W 6th Ave, Anchorage - (907) 277-1881 in October -- so your children might have pieces of art in a First Friday event!

http://susitnaoptional.org/

The 2010-2011 SOPG Board are:

Co-Chairs: Nan Magrath and Kristen Bierma
Secretary: Jamie Lang
Treasurer: April Ney
Members at Large: Teresa Wagar 

SOPG MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY 8/10/2010

Registration numbers: so far about 104 have registered. This is a HUGE difference compared to last year. Only a few haven't paid dues - again another HUGE difference compared to last year.

Theresa will continue to be a member at large; Khara is taking over as treasurer and they will do the deposit which Kim currently has in her office.

Andrea Scott still has NO email address and Sierra has transferred to Begich ... Oscar will be the only point of contact with his parents.

Yvonne is AMAZING! Thank you Yvonne.

There will be a volunteer log book, to keep track of your volunteer hours, next to the sign in log in the office. This will be tabbed and sorted by last name. Parents need to know about this so their hours can be tracked.

There is a PTA back to school ice cream social that SOPG will help with -- money-wise and event volunteer-wise.

Kindergarten reception. Jamie and Kris will help the teachers with this: coffee, treats, etc.

REGISTRATION 2010-2011

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

january 13, 2010 meeting minutes

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

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!