Swanson Families,

Happy February! The sunlight is increasing rapidly, and so is our progress with learning here at Swanson Elementary. Next week, we start our Spring Conferences. You can expect to hear about the great work your students are doing and about adjustments we are making to help support them as they grow. For some students, this will include discussions about progress in accordance with the AK Reads Act.

We have great data to celebrate as we reviewed our testing window from December. See some pictures and graphics below.

As always, reach out if you have any questions, or join me for coffee with the principal at "2nd Cup."

Educationally,

Joshua Rockey

Swanson Elementary School

507 N Gulkana St

Palmer, AK 99645

2/10/25

Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s):

Recently the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) released the 2023-2024 Report Cards to the Public for each school district and school in Alaska. These Report Cards present information about performance for the 2023-2024 school year. During this third administration of The Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessment, students in grades 3-9 were assessed in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 10 took the Alaska Science Assessment.

To view a 2023-2024 School or District Report Card to the Public, go to https://education.alaska.gov/compass/report-card. This is the link for all Report Cards. To view Swanson Elementary’s specific report, go to this link: https://education.alaska.gov/compass/Report/2023-2024/33/330080#overview. Swanson does not participate in the State Assessments that start at 3rd grade since we are a PreK-2nd Grade school, but our scores are tied to Sherrod Elementary. This user-friendly website aims to provide families with clear, common information. The Report Card to the Public contains data and information about academics, school environment, teacher quality, and more. If you are unable to access the Report Card to the Public online, please contact us.

We know that the Report Card to the Public is just one of many ways you will engage with us at Swanson Elementary School. We look forward to sharing our school’s successes with you and working together to make our school better every day. We are proud that at Swanson Elementary School the report card to the public shows us our partner, Sherrod Elementary School, doing well in both Reading and Math.

We hope you will closely follow your student’s academic progress and work with his or her teacher(s) to help ensure academic success. Working together as a team, we can improve not only how well our students are performing individually, but how our school and district is performing as a whole. There is nothing more important to administrators and teachers at Swanson Elementary School than ensuring that students are ready for the next step in their academic career. We look forward to partnering with you.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding our School or District Report Card to the Public, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 907-861-5300.

Sincerely,

Joshua Rockey – Swanson Elementary School, Principal

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Ph: 907-861-5300 | Direct: 907-861-5302

https://www.matsuk12.us/swe

Many of you have taken "Parenting the Love & Logic Way." This class teaches a powerful parenting approach that helps us:

• develop stronger relationships with our kids
• end arguing, backtalk, and begging
• teach responsibility without losing their love
• set limits without waging war
• avoid power struggles
• guide children to own and solve their problems
• complete chores without reminders and without pay

The class that will be offered in January is called, "Adults Supporting Youth with Challenging Pasts." In this class we not only learn the same powerful Love & Logic strategies, but we also learn why the Love & Logic approach is so good for our children and why this approach is vital with children who have experienced trauma or are angry, oppositional, or underachieving students.

When, Where, and How???

This class will be delivered to your home via ZOOM on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:45pm on the dates below:

January 22, 29

February 5, 12, 19, 26

March 5, 19, 26

If you would like to join this free class, simply sign up below so we can get you on the roster and deliver your free workbook.

Click Here to Sign Up!

https://forms.gle/6zs2h35JrJ1JspcR7

Swanson's Leadership Club is selling Valentine's Candy Grams.

Look for the candy gram sheet, fill out, attach money in an envelope and return back to school by February 12th.

Each gram is $1.00 and there is no limit! Ask your child's teacher or the office for more forms if needed.

Swanson Families,

Our school library is committed to promoting a love of reading and supporting teachers in delivery of curriculum at our school.

During the timeframe of February 10 - 19, we will host a Book Fair at the library. The purpose of this Book Fair is to encourage a love of reading in students. Additionally, proceeds gained from the sale of these books will be used to re-invest in the renewal and ongoing maintenance of our school library collections. By annually purchasing new books and other library materials, we are able to always have interesting, motivating and engaging books for students to enjoy and for staff to use in support of their classroom instruction.

As a courtesy to our school community, our book fair vendor, Scholastic, has provided this list of books you might see at the Book Fair. This preview may include titles we do not receive. We may also receive additional titles that are similar to those listed but not included in the preview.

Our annual Book Fair is an optional activity--that is, it is not a requirement to attend or participate in the Book Fair in any way. Our school always wants to be sure to ensure a safe school climate. As you review this list of books, please reach out to Kim Evans (907)861-5315 or Kim.Evans@matsuk12.us or our Principal, Mr. Rockey: Joshua.Rockey@matsuk12.us with specific book titles or specific concerns you may have about books on the list.

If you decide you do not want your child to participate in the Book Fair, please complete this Google form opting them OUT of the event before February 7th. Also, help us help you in enforcing this request to opt out by talking with your child about not attending or participating in the Book Fair. Again, this is an optional activity. No one is required to attend the Book Fair. If you are OK with your student's voluntary participation in the Book Fair, no action is needed on your part.

Thank you!

Kim Evans

Parents, here is the Book Fair Preview for the Fair that runs from February 10 - February 19, from 8:30 - 4:30 most days (we will close early the last day).

Scholastic Book Fair Preview | K6 Custom

Here is an opt out form, if you don't want your child to attend the book fair.

Book Fair Opt Out Request

Look for more the Scholastic Book Fair Flyer to come home soon.

Thank you,

Kim Evans

Swanson Elementary Library

Kim.Evans@matsuk12.us

(907)861-5315

Step 1: Visit shop.memorybook.com 90325 www.memorybook.com

Step 2: Login if returning or new users click ‘Register’ to create an account using school code 228044M

Step 3: Buy a yearbook for $18.00 through 3/18/2025 or a personalized book for $20.00 through 3/24/2025

Add a "Love Line" for $1.00

If your family qualified for Free and Reduced Meals for the 2024 school year you will need to reapply for the 2025 school year. Use the link below to see the guidelines and apply.

https://matsuk12us.finalsite.com/business-departments/nutrition-services/free-reduced-application

FlyersandCommunityInformation

Flyers and Community Information

Flyers and Community Information - Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

launchmatsuk12.us