Panther Pride News

Panther Pride News is published weekly to keep all members of the school community informed and involved.

It's been a very exciting week at Mears! For the first time since the Covid pandemic hit in 2019, the Mears school community has hosted guests from our sister-school in Chitose, Japan. Both middle school and high school students, along with five education and civic leaders, joined us at Mears this week for a very successful educational and cultural exchange. The week was filled with activities, both in and outside the classroom, including: skiing, sledding, a visit to the Anchorage Museum, the Mayor's Office, Dimond High and Sand Lake Elementary, shopping in the Dimond Mall, and lots of fun and friendship-building. Special thanks goes out to all the teachers involved, along with our incredible host families and Tomo No Kai, for their generosity and ongoing support for Japanese Immersion. Go Panthers!

1/16/23: MLK Day (National Holiday) No School

1/25/23: NJHS Induction Ceremony Time TBA

1/27/23: MMS Advance Band - Elementary School Tour 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

1/30/23 thru 3/9/23: Extended School Day 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

2/16/23: Spelling Bee 8:45 a.m. MPR

2/16/23: Annual MMS Music Department Cake Auction Fundraiser 6 - 8 p.m. MPR

2/17/23: Spelling Bee 8:45 a.m. MPR (only if necessary)

2/20/23: President's Day (National Holiday) No School

2/22/23 & 2/23/23: Snow Day Make Up - School In Session Full Day

2/24/23: Snow Day Make Up - School In Session Full Day

1/16/23: MLK Day (National Holiday) No School

1/17/23: MMS Leadership Team Meeting 3 p.m. Library

1/24/23: All employee Staff Meeting 3 p.m. LIbrary

1/25/23: NJHS Induction Ceremony Time TBA

1/27/23: MMS Advance Band - Elementary School Tour 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

1/30/23 thru 3/9/23: Extended School Day 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

1/31/23: CT Collaboration Visit @ MMS Full Day

2/1/23 - 2/15/23: Access Testing

2/14/22: MMS Leadership Team Meeting 3 p.m. Library

2/15/22: ASD CT Leads Meeting

2/16/23: Spelling Bee 8:45 a.m. MPR

2/16/23: Annual MMS Music Department Cake Auction Fundraiser 6 - 8 p.m. MPR

2/17/23: Spelling Bee 8:45 a.m. MPR (only if necessary)

2/20/23: President's Day (National Holiday) No School

2/22 & 2/23: Snow Day Make Up - School In Session Full Day

2/24/23: Snow Day Make Up - School In Session Full Day

With the return of full bus service at school, Mears will reestablish its usual pick up and drop off times. Parents and families should be aware that beginning on Jan. 9th, the school building will open at 7:30am and will close at 3:15pm. Please be sure to plan accordingly. Unless your student is participating in after-school activities, they will need to be picked up by 3:15pm. Thank you.

Dear Mears MS Parents and/or Guardians:

The purpose of this communication is to outline the educational plan for middle and high school if we have additional closure days this school year.

As of January 9, 2023, any additional closure days will be declared remote learning days for schools.

Schools will begin reinforcing expectations around technology immediately:

Students should bring their Chromebook (or personal devices) and charger home every day

If a remote learning day is declared, secondary teachers will post an assignment for each class by 8:00 am on the morning of the closure day(s). Assignments can include building on previously assigned content or providing an original assignment for the day.

On remote learning days, classroom teachers will also host Zoom office hours from 9:00-10:00 am and 1:00-2:00 pm. Zoom links will be posted in the teacher’s Canvas course page. While students are not required to attend office hours, they are strongly encouraged to attend. Teachers will use office hours to answer questions, clarify expectations, and provide support for students. Some classroom teachers may provide additional remote support to students during the school day via zoom.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at backman_eric@asdk12.org.

Sincerely,

Eric Backman

Mears Middle School

Principal

Dear Mears MS Parents and/or Guardians:

I am writing to you today to communicate plans on how ASD plans to make up the missed snow days that occurred in December and further detail how Mears Middle School plans to implement these adjustments to the schedule.

• From Monday January 30th to March 9th, 30 minutes will be added to the end of the instructional day. Middle school hours will be 8:15am to 3:15pm Monday through Friday. This will give us back 3 days over this 6 week period.

· Why begin January 30th? This will allow school leadership teams to create the most affective academic plan for the added time each day.

• Wednesday, February 22nd and Thursday February 23 will become full instructional days in lieu of the scheduled parent-teacher conferences. This will make up 1 full day.
• Friday, February 24th will become a full instructional day in lieu of the planned in-service day. This will make up 1 full day as well.

The Mears Leadership Team will work to develop a plan to optimize the value of additional instructional time during the school day to support and enhance learning. More details will follow after our return to school on Jan. 9th. We are confident that our school community will see the benefit of the additional time returned to students during the second semester.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at backman_eric@asdk12.org.

There is still room on the X-Country Team for more sign ups.

Boys Basketball is currently full, though will still take sign ups who will be placed on a wait list.

If your student has already participated in a sport this year, and their sports physical is still valid, you will only need to submit the Activity Participation Form. If this is their first time participating in a sports activity at Mears, be sure to turn in the Activity Participation Form, the COVID-19 Waiver, and a valid sports physical completed by your healthcare provider.

Fees will not be due until January and if the fee is a hardship for your family, you may request a fee waiver by email Ms. Svendsen at svendsen_crysta@asdk12.org, or Mr. Backman at backman_eric@asdk12.org. Students who have already paid for two sports activities have met the sports cap, so no fee will be due.

If you have any questions regarding forms and fees, please feel free to email Ms. Robin at spartz-hays_robin@asdk12.org.

Using secret ballots, staff and students chose bookmarks created by Kaylin Kirkham and Maximus Heilman to represent Mears in the district bookmark competition. Congratulations, Kaylin and Max!

December Writing Contest Results

Winning first place, for her “Quick and Easy Recipe for Joy,” is Madden Hamey.

Runner up for “Aila’s Whimsical Happiness Cake,” is Aila Marvin.

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to all students who submitted many wonderful recipes for happiness.

Read winning happiness recipes here.

https://sites.google.com/asdk12.net/mears-creative-writing-contest/winning-submissions

There are a lot of sicknesses going around the Anchorage community. Here is a link to an article about flu and RSV, which are both affecting a large amount of the Anchorage population, especially the pediatric population.

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2022/12/04/hospital-pediatric-units-around-alaska-are-packed-as-flu-rsv-makes-its-rounds/

We can all do our part to keep ourselves healthy. Please stay home when you are sick. Here is the link to ASD’s When to Keep Your Child Home From School: www.asdk12.org/Page/6622 . Please note the exclusion includes if your child is “...too tired and uncomfortable to function at school, it is best to keep the child home for a day or two.”

Check out the new nursing page on the Mears Middle School website! Go to the ‘Welcome’ tab and click on ‘Nurse’. The link is also available below:

https://www.asdk12.org/domain/6116

PTSA General Meeting Schedule: All Mears Community Members are Welcome -- Second Wednesday of each month @ 5:30pm via Zoom

Semester 2: Jan 18, Feb. 8, Mar. 8, Apr. 12, May 10

https://asdk12.zoom.us/j/94592593995?pwd=QVFMZUxkZUdnYzdWa0c1b0dkNC8wdz09

Meeting ID: 945 9259 3995

Passcode: 854629

Join Team PTSA: Volunteer Interest Form:

https://forms.gle/P8yYKMPSuwzPR2ZU8

Please like and follow us on Facebook Mears Middle School PTSA for more information

• Visit www.MearsPTSA.com for general information

To purchase Mears Gear (including gym clothes), visit the Mears Middle School Store

Yearbook is Now on Sale

Mears families can also order online by going to: ybpay.com using access code 13921123 (see the attachment). Please be certain to print and keep a copy of your receipt after completing and paying for the online purchase. Please do not wait to submit your yearbook order(s). Understand that orders made online after 11:59 p.m. on night of March 26, 2022 are not guaranteed a yearbook order. Questions? Please contact the Mears MS PTSA via email at: mearsms.ptsa@gmail.com

Mears Middle School acknowledges that we operate and gather on the traditional land of the Dena’ina Peoples and honor, with gratitude, the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations.

Email: backman_eric@asdk12.org
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/Domain/72
Location: 2700 West 100th Avenue, Anchorage, AK, USA
Phone: 907-742-6400