Educators From Across the Country Selected for 2024 Class of Global Learning Fellows The NEA Foundation is proud to announce the 2024 Global Learning Fellows. The new cohort will include 48 public school educators from 36 states. A year-long professional learning experience focused on educating and empowering students for global citizenship, the fellowship will enable fellows to enhance their knowledge and skills to bring global competency into their school communities and help students thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. The 2024 fellows represent the depth and breadth of the teaching profession in urban, rural, and suburban communities. They work at work at elementary, middle and high schools and teach across a wide array of subjects including visual and performing arts, English as a second language, social studies, special education, and science. More than a third of the fellows are teachers of color. The diversity of this cohort provides a tremendous opportunity for the group to learn from each other. Beginning this fall, The NEA Foundation staff, partners, and program alumni will support the fellows over the next year as they immerse themselves in online coursework, webinars, reading and reflection. The fellows will participate in a two-day professional development conference in October and a ten-day international field study to Costa Rica next summer. The field study brings the cohort together as they investigate the historical and cultural context of the country they visit and learn about its education system through meetings with policymakers, business and nonprofit leaders, as well as visits to schools to meet teachers, students, and administrators. The fellows will conclude their fellowship with a capstone project that enables their learning to be shared more broadly with educators beyond the program. Congratulations, Ms. Hannam, we are so proud to have you on staff at Mears!

Thank you for the warm welcome to your community. I enjoyed meeting many new families at Open House and the opportunity to reconnect with so many of you after our meet and greet at Panther Camp in August. My heart was warmed by the care and consideration you've taken to check on my transition to our community as well as checking on my dependency on GPS to navigate the city 😂

I realize there are families out there whom I haven't had the chance to meet yet, so I would like to take a moment to tell you a little about myself.

I grew up in a small community in rural Connecticut, Coventry. I graduated with my Bachelors Degree in History and Social Science with a teaching certification, and immediately after graduating, I secured an 8th grade US History and English Language Arts teaching position in the middle school I graduated from! After 8 years, I transitioned to teach in our gifted education program for 4 years supporting students in grades 3-12, while at the same time obtaining my Masters Degree in Education. In 2010, I earned my Sixth Year degree in Administration, and I transitioned to serve as a school leader where I served in a variety of roles including a middle school Assistant Principal, middle school Acting Principal, and the Director of Educational Technology and Curricular Innovation.

In 2017, I married my second husband and since my husband is an avid fisherman and hunter, we decided to move to Alaska! In 2018, my son, my husband, and I moved to Fairbanks and built a cabin in the Goldstream Valley. I served the FNSBSD in a variety of roles including Assistant Principal, Principal, and Executive Director of Student Support Services.

Our family enjoys fishing in Prince William Sound, the Copper River, and fishing all over the Kenai Peninsula. Four wheeling, snow machining, and camping in our incredible state has truly been a pleasure where we've made beautiful memories to last a lifetime. I am looking forward to exploring the Anchorage community and hope to one day get back to one of my lifelong passions ~ horse back riding!

Monday:

09/25/2023: We will be practicing our evacuation drill and will go to our primary evacuation site, Bayshore Elementary School. Students will walk with their class to our school's primary rally point, Bayshore's fields. Also, I would like you to know Mears has a secondary rally point if needed located at Kingdom Life Church Alaska located at 1301 W 100th Avenue.

Tuesday:

09/26/2023: School Debate Club from 2:45-4:00 (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

09/26/2023: Home Basketball Game, 5:30 pm

Thursdday:

09/28/2023: School Debate Club from 2:45-4:00 (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

09/28/2023: Home Basketball Game, 5:30 pm

Friday:

09/29/2023: Archery Session #1 Ends

All Week:

09/25/2023-09/29.2023 NJHS Bake Sale to support the Humane Society Fundraiser during both lunch waves

October 2023

October 11, 2023: PTSA Virtual Meeting 6:30 pm-7:30 pm

Over 96% of Mears students completed math and ELA testing over the past few weeks. Students put forth a worthy effort to demonstrate achievement! Thank you to Mears families and staff for supporting a successful round of benchmark testing for our students. Fall MAP results will be available in your student’s Q profile on September 29.

Important Testing Dates:

Dec. 5-14 - Winter MAP Benchmark (7th and 8th )

Feb. 2-5 - ACCESS Testing (ELL students)

Feb. 26-Mar. 8 - STAMP (World Language students)

Mar. 18-Apr. 18 - DLM (students with alternate assessment)

Feb. 29 - NAEP Testing (8th )

Mar. 26-29 - AK Science Testing (8th)

Apr. 2-12 - AK STAR Testing (7th and 8th )*

* Please note that the spring MAP Benchmark is incorporated into the AK STAR assessment.

Please reach out to Tara Bivins, the Mears testing coordinator, with questions related to standardized assessments.

bivins_tara@asdk12.org

The after-school debate team is off to a great start! We currently have 3 teams building their arguments on two different topics. More debaters are always welcome, and we will coach you in everything you need to argue your claim!

Debate is a competitive program that grows critical thinking, logic, public speaking, writing, and confidence (not to mention participation looks great on resumes and applications down the road). The benefits are many for students, and we have a good time.

*Coaches: Mrs. James and Mr. Middleton

*Practices are after school Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4pm.

*One Saturday tournament per quarter

competing against all other middle schools.

* 1st Q Tournament = October 14 at Central Middle School

Please see Mrs. James or Mr. Middleton for more details!

Do you have a lonely guitar buried in your closet or under the bed collecting dust?

It would be much happier being played every day by one of our smart and hard-working middle school students!

Mears Middle School is hoping to offer a Beginning Guitar class next semester.

We are seeking instrument donations.

We are primarily seeking nylon stringed classical guitars.

Please text or call me if you have a guitar to donate.

Thanks!

Matt O’Connor

Mears Middle School

907 575-9784

Mears staff will be looking to recognize students who demonstrate a commitment to respect.

Respect: Treating others with honor and dignity

Congratulations to the winner of the Blackstone Team T-shirt design contest, Liam David! We had several great entries to choose from. Thank you to all who participated. Order forms have gone home. The last day to order will be October 5th.

Permission slips for our October 6th Bowling Field Trip have gone out. They are due September 29th.

Please turn in your Skateland field trip permission slip to Mr. Peterson or Mrs. Daniel by Friday, September 29. If you didn’t get a permission slip, please find one on our Team Muir bulletin board.

Friday, October 6 is Team Day! WEAR any and ALL THINGS BLUE!! Team Surprise will be spending the morning Orienteering around campus and the afternoon watching a movie. Please send in baked goods or snacks to share for students to enjoy during the movie.

Ms. Hubbard handed out t-shirt design templates earlier this week. Designs are due Monday (9/25).

Our Cross Country team had a race at Chugiak High School on September 20, 2023 as the rain and the leaves continued to fall! The runners are improving daily and love being outdoors!

Boys Basketball prepares for the end of season tournaments at the end of September!

Session 1 ends Sept. 29th. Coach Fleming & Anderson are having a great time every day after school. Session II begins Nov. 1 and still has a few openings for new participants.

Sports fans are encouraged to support your classmates in sporting events, however, fans must be accompanied by an adult. Go Panthers!

Students can pick up info packets and an application for this wonderful opportunity in Rm 116 from Ms. Hubbard. Mears will be taking up to 18 7th and 8th graders 5/27 - 6/4/2024.

The first fundraiser of the year for Tomo No Kai will be held Oct 14, 2023 at Mears. All families are welcome!

Admission is free. We will have an exciting night planned including a silent auction, Japanese arts & crafts, bounce house, Taiko Drumming, and a dessert walk! Drinks, snacks, and merchandise will be available for purchase.

Dinner can be pre-ordered. Visit www.tomonokai.org or scan the QR code to order your dinner (catered by Hula Hands) by October 8.

Bus information can be found in Parent connect. If you have any questions regarding bussing please call transportation at 742-1200.

Please know that if you change your student's address, it can take up to a week for transportation to assign your student a bus.

If your student lives in two households, please fill out the bus exception form. This will allow two addresses to be listed in Q, and your student will be assigned to the appropriate bus for each household.

We love our Panther families and community partners, please consider becoming a school volunteer. The revised volunteer packet is included below for your convenience! Please remember this packet must be completed and renewed annually.

Our office staff is available daily, please don't hesitate to reach out if we can help you in any way, our hours are 7:30-3:00. Thanks so much, we are here to help serve you!

Is your child going to absent from school? Save time and send a quick email to our attendance email box, mearsattendance@asdk12.org or you can call the school at 907-742-6400 and select the Attendance Line option to leave us a voice mail, either option is a great way to notify us!

Making

Everyone

Accepted

Respected

Safe

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