The Girdwood News: February 27

Grizzly Families,

Third quarter has brought strong momentum to the Den. Classrooms feel focused, routines are steady, and our students are leaning into learning with increased independence and confidence. This time of year often reveals growth not just in academics but in character. We are seeing perseverance, kindness, and responsibility across grade levels.

Thank you for your Partnership

Thank you for joining us for Parent Teacher Conferences. These conversations matter deeply. When families and educators come together to celebrate progress, name next steps, and problem solve collaboratively, students feel the consistency and care surrounding them. No child learns alone. Your partnership is one of the most powerful influences on student growth, and we are grateful for the time, questions, and advocacy you bring to the table.

Family Climate & Connectedness Survey

Your voice matters and we need it. We invite all families to complete the ASD Climate and Connectedness Survey by March 20. This survey helps us understand how students and families experience safety, belonging, communication, and partnership within our school community.

Last year, 64 Girdwood families completed the survey. This year, we are aiming to reach 70 responses. Your feedback directly informs our school improvement planning and helps us strengthen what is working while identifying areas for growth.

Family Survey: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/aasb/asdfamily/surveys?language=en

Thank you for partnering with us in building a school where every student feels connected, supported, and valued.

Ski School: Community in Action

Ski School continues to be a highlight of the quarter. Our students have demonstrated kindness, encouragement, and resilience on the slopes. Watching peers cheer one another on whether mastering a new run or simply trying again has been inspiring. We are especially grateful for our chaperones and community support. The investment of time and care from families makes this program possible and reflects what makes Girdwood so special.

🏃 Save the Date: PTA Run for SPARK – May 1
Our PTA will host the Run for SPARK on May 1. SPARK supports Sports, Programs, Activities, and Recreation for Kids and helps provide meaningful opportunities for students both during and beyond the school day. More details from PTA will be shared soon.

Budget Update

The district budget has now been passed. We know there are significant changes across the Anchorage School District, including school closures, PTR increases, program shifts including IGNITE and reimagined elementary specials to include a few changes.

As I learn more about how these decisions specifically impact Girdwood School, I will continue to communicate openly and transparently. I understand these changes bring questions and concern, and I remain committed to keeping families informed as details become clearer.

Closing Reflection

Third quarter has shown us what steady effort can build. The growth we are seeing now did not happen by accident. It is the result of daily commitment from students, families, and staff working together. Confidence is deepening, habits are strengthening, and our Grizzlies are stepping more fully into who they are becoming.

As we approach Spring Break, we hope your family enjoys a well earned pause to rest and reset. When we return, fourth quarter begins. It is a powerful final stretch of the school year. This is a time to sharpen goals, sustain focus, push through challenges, and celebrate just how much growth has taken place.

The finish matters. And together, we are ready for it.

Go Grizzlies! 🐻

⭐ Thank you to Alyeska team members Matty P from the Grooming Team and Tim with Rentals for hosting information sessions for our K-2 students during our ski school days.

⭐ A HUGE thank you to all of our chaperones who have supported and continue to support our Friday Ski program, without you we would not be able to do what we do with this program and it is truly incredible. And a thank you for donations for hand warmers and buff for keeping our students warm on the cold Fridays.

⭐ Thank you to Donna Knutson and the Lions club for completing a second vision screening for students.

⭐ Thank you to everyone who has donated to the 4th/5th grade silent auction.

⭐ Thank you to all the families who donated food for the taco bar during conferences, it kept us fed for two days!

⭐ Thank you to the Girdwood Goldstitchers Quilt Guild for supporting our Family & Consumer Science class with sewing pillowcases for our students to keep and donate.

This quarter, we refreshed our Behavior Flow Chart to ensure alignment with ASD definitions and to support consistency between staff managed and office managed behaviors. This clarity helps us respond in ways that are restorative, predictable, and skill building.

Alongside this work, our staff has been intentionally focusing on increasing positive interactions and using behavior specific praise to reinforce expectations.

Instead of general praise like “Good job,” behavior specific praise names exactly what the student did well and connects it to our expectations.

At school, this might sound like:

• “Thank you for being Responsible by starting your work right away.”

• “I noticed you were Respectful when you disagreed and used calm words.”

• “You were Ready for learning today with your materials out before the bell.”

• “I appreciate how you included others at recess. That shows strong citizenship.”

• “You kept trying even when it was challenging. That shows perseverance.”

When feedback is specific, students understand what success looks like and are more likely to repeat the behavior.

At home, this could look like:

• “I noticed you put your shoes away without being reminded. That is responsible.”

• “Thank you for turning off your device the first time I asked.”

• “You handled that frustration calmly. That took self control.”

• “I saw you help your sibling. That was thoughtful and kind.”

• “You stuck with your homework even when it felt hard.”

Small, specific acknowledgments build confidence and strengthen habits. Thank you for partnering with us in reinforcing these skills both at school and at home.

Storytelling Came to Life!

On January 27th , our students welcomed the Chickaloonies for an engaging visit centered on the power of storytelling. Through a hands-on graphic storytelling workshop, students moved from imagination to illustration, thinking creatively, sharing ideas, and bringing their stories to the page.

Thank you to Mrs. Nedwick for organizing this meaningful experience, and to Four Valleys Community School and the Girdwood PTA for sponsoring and supporting this opportunity for our Grizzlies.

Experiences like this highlight the strength of our community partnerships and the many ways stories help us connect and grow together. 💙🐻✏️

We have had a wonderful start to our Ski School days in February. The remaining dates are:

⭐ Thursday, March 5 (Last day before Spring Break)

🎿 Friday, March 20

🏂 Friday, March 27

NEXT Girdwood PTA Meeting: Wednesday, March 4, @ 430 pm located at Girdwood Brewing.

We are working on creating a resource and building connections within the Girdwood community to support our school. The first step is for community members to complete the ASD volunteer application. Once submitted, and with your permission, we will include your name in our volunteer directory.

If you have already completed the ASD volunteer application, we are now seeking your permission for someone from our Volunteer Connect program to reach out and connect you with one of our classrooms or school programs in need of support.

Please take a moment to fill out the Volunteer Connect form if you are willing to share your contact information with our Volunteer Connect Coordinator.

Girdwood Grizzly cross country skiers braved rain, ice, freezing cold, winds and the threat of a a moose on a race course this season to again pull off impressive performances. All the while, the squad bonded as a team, refined techniques and had some serious fun.

Throughout our ski season, Girdwood Nordic Ski Club volunteers continued to groom perfect trails, sometimes on marginal snow, for our skiers to train. Skiers also played one-ski soccer, had hot chocolate and whipped cream on the trail, provided a cross-cultural exchange by teaching a lessons to a first-time Peruvian skier, and helped with younger Grizzlies in a Four Valleys nordic program.

Big thanks to parent drivers, skiers and race boosters! And thanks to Subway for helping with pre-race nourishment. Another great Grizzly nordic season is in the books!

Our small but mighty wrestling team had a strong season of tournaments. They closed our the season on February on the 14th.

Stayed tuned for Track and Field season starting after spring break. Coach Murphy and Donnely will be reaching out soon.

Here is the link to the Track & Field Schedule.

🗻 March 🌞

3 4th & 8th Graders take NAEP Assessment

4 Spring Musical @ 6:30 pm

5 School Ski Day & End of 3rd Quarter

6 Student Release Day for Grading

9-13 Spring Break

16 4th Quarter Begins

20 Ski School Day

26 3rd Quarter Awards Assembly

27 Ski School Day

🍀 April 💚

1 AK Star & Map Testing Window

17 School Open - Weather Make-up Day (Originally was scheduled as school closure day)

🌼 May 🌼

1 Run for SPARK (Sports, Programs, Arts, Recreation for Kids)

21 End of 4th Quarter - Last Day of School for Students!

14 4th Quarter Awards Assembly

20 8th Grade Graduation

21 Kindergarten Graduation, Lions Club BBQ, Grizzly Buck Bonanza, Student Last Day

Support the Girdwood PK-8 School and show your Girdwood Grizzly spirit with our new zip up hoodies in fun fresh colors!

Class Colors are:

PK--Neon

K--Red

1--Orange

2--Yellow

3--Green

4--Blue

5--Purple

6--Pink

7--White

8--Black

Order at the Link Below

Hi Girdwood Community,

Please save the date for our 2026 Girdwood Graduation Celebration. We appreciate and value all the help and support for this wonderful event. Please reach out if you have any questions.

The 2026 Girdwood Graduate Planning Team

• February Conferences Schedule
• Family Climate and Connectedness Survey

• New Semester

• Ski Days

• Chickaloonies

• Student Government

• Grizzlies are Ready

• Semester Reflections

• Last week of December Activities