Trailside Parent Newletter
9/1/25 Educating All Students for the Success in Life
Message from the Principal
Hello Trailside Families!
We are off to a great start this 25-26SY! We are already noticing a smoother process with the RAPTOR sign-in and have had many parents complete the Volunteer Application Form in advance (must be completed each school year- see info below).
A friendly reminder that during arrival and dismissal- student safety is priority number 1- thank you for driving slow and being cautious and alert.
Once again I would like to thank your PTA for their help in the back-to-school meet the teacher event. Parents- are you a PTA member yet? Join today!
***We need your help :) Please join the PTA to help support the wonderful programs that make Trailside an amazing school.
Thank you!
Mr. Niessner
Upcoming Dates
Monday, Sept. 1- No School, Labor Day
Thursday, Sept. 4- 5th Grade Field Trip Campbell Creek Science Center
Tuesday, Sept. 16- PICTURE DAY!
Tuesday, Sept. 30- Dine to Donate @ Texas Roadhouse 4-9PM
Sat. Oct. 4- HIT THE TRAILS!!! (See Info Below)
Monday, Oct. 13- No School, Indigenous People's Day
Thurs. Oct. 16- Great Alaska Shakeout Earthquake Drill
Friday, Oct. 17, No School, End of First Quarter
Friday, Nov. 7- 5th Grade Field Trip to UAA for Men's Basketball Game. UAA vs Evergreen State. Tip off at 11:00am- More info coming soon.
Thursday, Nov. 20- Winter Choir Concert
mClass Testing This Week (K-3rd Grades)
As part of The Alaska Reads Act, the State of Alaska requires that districts administer an early literacy screening tool three times a year to students in grades K-3 to identify potential reading difficulties in order to improve reading outcomes for students. Families can read more about this comprehensive K-3 reading policy at The Alaska Reads Act website: education.alaska.gov/akreads
mClass with DIBELS 8th Edition Assessments is the State of Alaska Department of Education’s and ASD’s Early Literacy benchmark screening and progress monitoring tool for students in grades K-3 in reading. mClass utilizes curriculum-based measures and is used by schools as part of the ASD Comprehensive Assessment System to support informed instructional decisions.
The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development explains the decision to adopt mClass as the statewide literacy screener here:
https://education.alaska.gov/Alaska-Reading-Resources/Statewide-Early-Literacy-Screener
mClass screening assessments will only be administered in-person during the benchmark window listed below:
Fall 2025: September 2 - 12
Results for K-3 students that were assessed during a benchmark window, will be available in Parent Connect by September 26, 2025 ParentConnection Login Information and Reference Guide: parentconnect.asdk12.org
MAP Assessment Next Week for 3-5th Grade Students
MAP Growth is the ASD and State of Alaska required benchmark/interim reading and mathematics assessment for students in grades 3-9. Grades 10-12 students identified as needing Tier II and Tier III reading and mathematics support also take MAP Growth as part of the Anchorage School District's MTSS framework.
Alaska's Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) has partnered with NWEA to implement a creative approach to a balanced statewide assessment that connects fall and winter MAP Growth benchmark/interim assessments and the Alaska spring AK STAR summative assessment. AK STAR eliminates the spring benchmark/interim assessment window for grades 3-9 by combining the summative and benchmark assessment into one test that produces a spring benchmark score, which includes a growth measure. More information is available at the State of Alaska AK STAR website, education.alaska.gov/assessments/akstar.
MAP Growth is an online, adaptive assessment that provides each student a personalized testing experience with data that speaks to their individual progress and growth in mathematics and reading.
The MAP Growth reading and mathematics benchmark will be administered in person during the fall and winter benchmark windows. The spring benchmark will be embedded in the AK STAR summative assessment as outlined above.
Fall Benchmark 1: September 3 - September 12 (make-ups through September 19)
Winter Benchmark 2: December 1 - December 12 (make-ups through December 18)
Spring Benchmark 3: embedded in AK STAR administered during the summative assessment window: March 30 - April17 (make-ups through May 1)
MAP Growth assessment only: Grades 10-12 identified as needing Tier II and III support
MAP Growth practice tests and tutorials allow students and families the opportunity to become familiar with the types of questions and tools available on the actual MAP Grow assessments such as the highlighter and calculator. An overview of these resources with links to the practice tests are compiled on the MAP Growth Practice Tests Quick Sheet.
Message From Nurse Donna
Hello! Welcome to the start of the school year! The kids call me “Nurse Donna” and I am happy to be a positive part of your child’s educational journey.
The purpose of the school nurse is to help all students be healthy, safe and ready to learn.
Please contact me ASAP if your child has any allergies or health concerns so that we may help keep them safe at school. Per ASD, NO medications are permitted in school or on students without approval from the school nurse, signed parent consent, AND written authorization from the prescribing medical authority.
While in school and on a consistent routine is best for the social and emotional wellbeing of children, sometimes staying home is best. To help make this decision, please refer to ASD’s guidance on “When to Keep Your Child Home from School” which can be found here: https://www.asdk12.org/Page/6622
Per state law, routine school health screenings are done annually by the school nurse for vision, hearing and height/weight measurement. If any concerns with screenings are detected, the school nurse will contact parent/guardian for further evaluation. If you do not want your child screened, please inform the school nurse in writing.
Also, per state law, your child needs to be up to date with all required childhood immunizations OR have a current notarized religious exemption on file. This is a public health matter and your your child may be excluded from school if either of these requirements are not met.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concerns or comments regarding your child’s physical, mental and/or emotional wellbeing and readiness for school; it is my job to work with you to help ensure your child feels safe, accepted and is ready to learn in the classroom. While parents/guardians are welcome to call or stop in anytime, please know during the school day I am usually busy assisting students, therefore the best way to reach me is by email at wilson_donna@asdk12.org and I will usually respond to your email within 24 hours.
Music News From Ms. D!
Fall Choir ‘25
Mark your calendars for our Choir Show this year. We are programing songs from around the world, tapping into cultures represented in our school. The title has not been finalized, but the concert date has:
November 20
· Assembly performance for the school
· Evening performance for family and friends.
Bell Choir ‘26
Bell choir will begin in January! This is open to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. We will meet after school – the day is still to be decided. This is such a wonderful opportunity for Trailside students. We are one of the only elementary schools in the district that have handbells!
Classroom Music News
We are starting this year with the xylophones in all grades! We’re getting mallet technique down while we sing, keep a steady beat and create ostinatos.
K-1st is focusing on singing independently and practicing steady beat
2nd grades is singing, moving and we will begin rhythm reading
3rd-5th are all learning the National Anthem as well as barred instruments. (xylophones)
4th and 5th graders will both play recorders this semester.
Of course, we always sing in all the grades every time we meet!
Let me know if you want more details or have any questions!
Ms. D Davenport_liesl@asdk12.org
New Trailside Social Media Starting 25-26
Trailside is updating social media accounts! (Our current Facebook page is "owned" by a former principal from many years ago). Stay connected with us by "following" the following pages:
Facebook: Trailside Elementary. https://www.facebook.com/61568728824790/about/?_rdr
Instagram: TrailsideElemAK
