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, as students and staff bring the first semester of the school year to a close. In addition to working hard to complete Winter MAP testing, students completed their final class projects and assignments of the semester. Meanwhile, teachers are busy grading and compiling final grades. To celebrate all this hard work, Mears hosted some very fun events on our last day of school, including an outrageous Pie Face event, hosted by NJHS, and the annual Students v. Staff Volleyball game. It may come as no surprise, that Mears Girls Volleyball Team were victorious in their match up against the teachers. Go Panthers!

Great Video Highlights of Mears Pie Face Assembly! Click Here

12/22: Teacher In-Service - NO SCHOOL!!!

12/23: First Day of Winter Holiday Break!

12/26 thru FRI 12/30: Week 1 Winter Holiday Break

1/2/23 thru FRI 1/6/23: Week 2 Winter Holiday Break

1/7/23 thru THU 1/12/23 - Japanese Immersion Exchange Student Program Mears MS

1/9/23: Happy New Year! First Day Back to School!!! Mears/Chitose Welcome Assembly

1/7/23 thru 1/12/23 - Japanese Immersion Exchange Student Program Mears MS

1/10/23 - 3/3/23: Boys Basketball (see school website/calendar for details)

1/11/23 - 2/7/23: Archery Session Two (see school website/calendar for details)

1/11/23: Last day for Student Schedule Change Requests

1/12/23 - 3/2/23: XC Skiing (see school website/calendar for details)

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

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

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

12/22: Teacher In-Service Q2 Grading & Assessment, Grades due by 3 p.m.

12/23: First Day of Winter Holiday Break!

12/26 - 12/30: Week 1 Winter Holiday Break

1/2/23 - FRI 1/6/23: Week 2 Winter Holiday Break

1/9/23: Happy New Year! First Day Back to School!!! Mears/Chitose Welcome Assembly

1/7/23 thru 1/12/23: Japanese Immersion Exchange Student Program Mears MS

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

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

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

2/20/23: 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

Thank you, Mears Families, for all you have done this semester to get your students to school on time, every day! 90% school-wide attendance is truly exceptional, especially considering the challenges we have faced with transportation shortages and snow days. Your commitment to strong attendance is the very best thing you can do to support the educational growth and success of your student. Let's all keep it up during Spring Semester!

Due to the return of full bus service for students, Mears will return to its usual pick up and drop off locations. Beginning on Monday, Jan. 9th, Mears will have one pick up and drop off location, which is the on the east side of campus near the MPR. This location has been used for 8th graders only since the beginning of the year, but will now serve the entire student body. The lot in front of the school, currently used for 7th grade drop off and pick up, will be reopened for faculty parking. Beginning second semester, all 7th graders should dropped off and picked up on the east side of the school, near the MPR. Thank you.

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 7:45am 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 3:30pm. Thank you.

Friendly reminder:

As of Dec. 5, new bus transportation details have been published via Parent Connect. For more information and to find your student's bus line, visit ASD's Bus Transportation webpage.

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.

Sincerely,

Eric Backman

Mears Middle School

Principal

Panthers! We are now accepting forms for Basketball and Cross-Country Skiing! First practice for Basketball is January 10th and first practice for XC-Skiing is January 12th!

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.

Mears Holiday Photos: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B135PGIXyhkfkG

Thank you students and families for all of your hard work in finishing Semester 1 2022 strong! When students return, posters will be in the MPR by grade level/student last name telling students where to report for 1st hour. 1st hour teachers will pass out Semester 2 schedules. Student Reminders on Schedule Changes:

• Elective change requests-students must submit a "Request to see Counselor" with the specific request. We will respond in the order received.

• Student schedule requests will only be heard through Wednesday January 11th

• MAPS testing results may impact student schedules to ensure students are appropriately placed. Counselors will attempt to have those changes complete

Christmas Break is just around the corner and counselors are seeing a lot of requests to change classes, electives and schedules. Please be sure to use the proper form to request counselors (Link Here) We love when students stop by the office to say hello but to get into the virtual counseling line for scheduling, the request to see counselor form is necessary. We may not get to you right away for schedule changes, but we will answer each request!

We also want to remind students to finish strong! There is a lot to complete before the semester ends so be sure to get your sleep, balance your screen time, and don’t miss school days (unless you are sick). These simple steps can help you be successful as we complete semester one. Looking forward to a GREAT month of Decemeber!

All library books will be due by January 11, 2023. Please remind your child to bring any library materials back to school with them.

Have a happy winter break!

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 11, 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