DUE: Please remember to send students to class with lab payment for the fees for art and design and modeling electives!

9/1 to 9/29: Session #1 Archery

9/5: MAP testing for ELA and Math begins

MAP Growth is the ASD and State of Alaska required benchmark/interim assessment for students in grades 3-9 in reading and mathematics. Grades 10-12 students identified as needing Tier II and Tier III reading and mathematics support also take MAP Growth as part of the Anchorage School District's MTSS framework.

Alaska's Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) has partnered with NWEA to implement a creative approach to a balanced statewide assessment that connects fall and winter MAP Growth benchmark/interim assessments and the Alaska spring AK STAR summative assessment. AK STAR eliminates the spring benchmark/interim assessment window for grades 3-9 by combining the summative and benchmark assessment into one test that produces a spring benchmark score, which includes a growth measure. More information is available at the State of Alaska AK STAR website, by clicking the link below.

MAP Growth is an online, adaptive assessment that provides each student a personalized testing experience with data that speaks to their individual progress and growth in mathematics and reading.

The MAP Growth reading and mathematics benchmark will be administered in person during the 2023-2024 fall and winter benchmark windows. The spring benchmark will be embedded in the AK STAR summative assessment as outlined above.

• Fall Benchmark 1: September 5 - September 15 (make-ups through September 22)

• Winter Benchmark 2: December 4 - December 15 (make-ups through December 21)

• Spring Benchmark 3: embedded in AK STAR administered during the summative assessment window: March 25 - April 5 (make-ups through April 26)

• MAP Growth assessment only: Grades 10-12 identified as needing Tier II and III support

MAP Growth practice tests and tutorials allow students and families the opportunity to become familiar with the types of questions and tools available on the actual MAP Grow assessments such as the highlighter and calculator. An overview of these resources with links to the practice tests are compiled on the MAP Growth Practice Tests Quick Sheet.

Practices will start on September 19th for eighth grade and on September 20th for seventh grade. Practices will be held during lunch. I am looking forward to great discussions about books! Please see Ms. Fleming in the Library Media Center for more information!

Cornerstone is making steady progress on the Mears siding project. They receive shipments of the panels frequently and are eagerly awaiting the printed panels to start putting up more siding, they currently only have the plain panels on site. With this being said, we've noticed damage on the currently installed aluminum panels. Many of you live in the neighborhoods surrounding the school, so if you see anyone defacing the panels at any time for any reason, please contact APD after hours or call the school immediately, if during the day. Thank you for protecting our community resources!

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

Respect: Treating others with honor and dignity

Our parent pick-up and drop-off has been going extremely well, thank you for your cooperation. I've studied the traffic patterns and consulted with our School Resource Officer regarding further traffic control plan refinements. Another way we can create further efficiencies, is by refraining from taking a left turn out of the parent-pick up driveway during the hours of 2:45-3:00, If you can adjust your route, this will further facilitate our traffic pattern at Mears. As always, remember to please pull forward as to allow cars to queue up safely, off of 100th Avenue, while you wait for your child. Thank you for working together to keep our students and families as safe as possible.

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a great first couple days of school! I want to send a reminder to families of all students who have prescription and emergency medications. For prescription medications given at school, a current prescription medication form needs to be signed by your student’s doctor. For emergency medications, a current Asthma and/or Allergy/Anaphylaxis Care Plan needs to be signed by your doctor, a parent and the student if the student will be self-carrying their medications. Please reach out to me if you have any questions/concerns. My email is richards_karin@asdk12.org and my office number is 907-742-6401.

• Boys basketball games start Thursday, 09/07/23. Please turn in money for game shirts.
• Saturday baseball, every weekend.

Mark your calendar and join us for our virtual PTSA meeting, we are looking forward to meeting you. This is an excellent way to learn more about the innovative ways our vibrant community organization supports our students. Our first virtual meeting is on September 13, 2023 from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm. I've included the zoom link for your convenience. The dates of the monthly meetings are:

• September 13, 6:30pm-7:30pm
• October 11, 6:30pm-7:30pm
• November 8, 6:30pm-7:30pm
• December 13, 6:30pm-7:30pm

To join the Mears PTSA go to www.mearsptsa.com, use the yellow Become a Member button, then follow the prompts. We look forward to welcoming you at our first virtual meeting!

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