Soaring Eagle

Dear Mendenhall River Community School Family,

It has been another fantastic week at Mendenhall River Community School! Our halls were filled with laughter and creativity today as students showed off their wild and wonderful hairstyles for Fun Hair Day, kicking off our October Spirit Days in true MRCS style. The energy and enthusiasm our students bring each week continue to make this school such a joyful place to learn and grow.

As we begin October, our character trait of the month is Grit. Grit means working hard, staying focused, and never giving up, even when things get tough. It’s an important skill that helps students learn perseverance, build confidence, and find success in all areas of life. We’ll be talking about grit throughout the month and celebrating students who show determination and a strong work ethic — both in the classroom and beyond.

Here are some upcoming events and reminders for the month ahead:

• Monday, Oct. 13 – Full-School Evacuation Drill during the day; PTO at 5:15 pm and Site Council at 6:00 pm.

• Wednesday, Oct. 15 – Earthquake Drill for the Great Alaskan Shakeout.

• Thursday & Friday, Oct. 16–17 – Student/Family Conferences (no school for students). Teachers will be sending out digital sign-up sheets soon so families can select their time slots.

• Friday, Oct. 10 – Pajama Day

• Wednesday, Oct. 15 – Mismatched Everything Day (since we do not have school that Friday)

• Friday, Oct. 24 – Favorite Color Day

• Friday, Oct. 31 – Costume Day (students may wear a Halloween costume or dress as what they want to be when they grow up)

And exciting news... the Book Fair is coming to MRCS! It will take over the library starting October 10th. Students will get to preview the Book Fair and create their wish lists from October 13–15, and the main sale days will take place during conference days. The Book Fair will also be open on the afternoon of October 15th until 3:00 pm for teachers and parents who want to browse early.

Thank you for all that you do to support your children and our school community. Your partnership, encouragement, and involvement make such a difference in helping our students learn, grow, and thrive. Let’s continue to show our MRCS spirit as we head into another great month together!

Kindest,

Eric Filardi

Principal

Mendenhall River Community School

Last year, with the help of three other families across the U.S., we reached the incredible milestone of raising the $3 million needed to manufacture the gene therapy drug to stop the progression of Cade’s disease. Now, we are in the final push to raise the remaining funds needed to begin the last phase of clinical trials at UT Southwestern this November.

So far, we’ve raised $250,642 toward the $1.15 million needed for hospital and regulatory costs—not including all the current fundraisers already in motion. That leaves $899,358 to go. These numbers will be updated in the coming weeks, but one thing is certain: we are closer than we have ever been, and we are so grateful for this community standing by us every step of the way.

With heartfelt thanks,

Emma and Dylan Jobsis

This week, our school came together to celebrate Ms. Leslie Antolick, who is moving on to a new position within the Juneau School District after more than ten years at Mendenhall River Community School.

Leslie has been the face of MRCS for so many families and the calm, steady voice that keeps our school running each day. She has greeted students with warmth, comforted children who needed care, and supported staff and families through every imaginable situation. Her kindness and patience have touched every corner of our school.

To honor her many years of service, MRCS staff held a special celebration on Friday, October 3rd, by dressing up as Leslie. The day included puffy slippers, cozy vests, and plenty of stuffed dogs in tribute to her beloved and well-known companion, Camper. The laughter and joy in the building said more than words ever could about how much she means to all of us.

Leslie has been the heart of our front office and a source of comfort and strength for our entire community. While we will miss her deeply, we are proud of her and excited for her next chapter with the district.

Thank you, Leslie, for your dedication, compassion, and love for the students, families, and staff of MRCS. You have made this school a better place for everyone who walks through its doors!

To: Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

Hearing and vision screenings will be administered starting in October until they are completed to all Pre-K, Kindergarten, and students in grades 1, 3, and 5 as required by state law and school district policy. We will also try to screen 7th grade and 9th grade as time allows.

Why is it important to have your student’s hearing and vision screened?

• Hearing is important for speech, language development, reading, learning, and social interactions

• Children with hearing loss may appear to have poor attention or other learning problems.

• Hearing can change between screenings.

• Vision problems affect 1 in 20 preschoolers

• 1 in 4 school-age children experience vision problems

Vision screening will consist of one or more of the following:

1. Distance Vision – ability to see objects far away

2. Photo screening – to see how well the eyes work together

3. Near visual acuity – ability to see objects up close

Hearing screening will consist of one or more of the following:

1. Audiometry – ability to hear various tones

2. Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) – test of inner ear response to specific sounds

3. Tympanometry – test of middle ear function

A hearing screening does not diagnose a hearing loss but identifies students who should have further evaluation. A vision screening provides only a snapshot of how your child does on the day of the test. It is not a substitute for a complete eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

How will the results be shared?

• If your student passes the vision and hearing screenings, you may be contacted by your school nurse or health assistant with the results. You are welcome to contact the Health Office to learn the screen findings.

• If your student does not pass the screenings, they will be rescreened two weeks later. If your student does not pass the rescreening, the school nurse or health assistant will contact you to share the results and will make a recommendation for further evaluation with your provider.

If you have any questions about the school hearing and vision screening program, please contact your school nurse or health assistant.

Halloween Books Are Out!

Our Halloween collection is now on display — stop by the library to check out some fun and spooky stories to get into the spirit of the season! (See attached pictures.)

New Titles for Fall
We’ve added many new books to our shelves, including some wonderful new picture books and nonfiction titles that are perfect for reading aloud at home or in class. You can browse the collection here: View Our New Fall Titles

Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books is back for 3rd–6th graders! Students can start reading this year’s titles now. Participants should aim to read all 12 books for their grade level by January, and meetings will begin in November. Battle books also make great family read-alouds, so enjoy them together! If you’d like a recommendation, stop by the library — I’ve read many of them and would love to help.

Book Fair Coming Soon!
The MRCS Book Fair will take over the library beginning October 10th!

• Preview Days: October 13–15 (students can browse and make wish lists)

• Main Sale Days: During Family Conferences (October 16–17)

• The Book Fair will also be open on October 15th until 3:00 pm for teachers and parents.

Next week, I’ll also be selling bookmarks and pencils (50¢ each before school) to raise funds for gift certificates for students whose families may need assistance purchasing books. Families can also contribute directly through the “Share the Fair” link on our Book Fair homepage:
👉 MRCS Book Fair Homepage

There’s never been a better time to fall into a good book!

— Mrs. Heiman
MRCS Librarian

Would you like to donate to put books in the hands of more MRCS students?

The Scholastic Book Fair’s giving program is open to businesses, organizations, alumni, and the entire community! Anyone can support students in our school who need help buying books.

Learn more at:

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/mendenhallrivercommsch

Hello MRCS Families,

As the weather cools and we spend more time indoors, it’s that time of year when colds and flu begin to spread more easily. While it’s normal for students to catch an occasional bug, there are many simple ways we can help keep our school community healthy.

Here are a few helpful reminders:

• Wash hands often. Encourage your child to wash their hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds — especially before eating and after coughing, sneezing, or using the restroom.

• Cover coughs and sneezes. Teach children to use their elbow or a tissue, and to throw tissues away right after using them.

• Stay home when sick. If your child has a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or is feeling unwell, please keep them home until they are symptom-free for 24 hours without medication.

• Eat well and get plenty of rest. A balanced diet and good sleep help strengthen the immune system.

• Hydrate! Drinking water throughout the day keeps the body healthy and supports recovery if illness strikes.

Thank you for helping us keep MRCS a healthy and safe place for all students to learn and grow. Working together, we can limit the spread of illness and keep everyone feeling their best through the colder months ahead.

Stay healthy,
Nurse Erica

This week and next, all grade levels at MRCS will be reviewing the Kelso’s Choices Wheel, which presents children with nine simple strategies for solving small problems on their own. The goal is to help students feel empowered and confident in managing everyday conflicts.

We are also discussing the importance of identifying safe adults students can talk to when a problem feels too big to handle alone. We encourage families to continue this important conversation at home.

If you’d like to learn more, you can explore the parent resource page here: Kelso’s Choices Parent Page.

This week's word of the week is the word "learn."

• Tlingit: koo awsikóo (At school we koo awsikóo)

• Tagalog: matuto

• Tongan: ako

• Ukrainian: вчитися (vchytysia)

• Italian: imparare

• Spanish: aprender

• Lithuanian: mokytis

• Samoan: a‘oa‘o

• French: apprendre

• Japanese: 学ぶ (manabu)

• German: lernen

• Braille (English): ⠇⠑⠁⠗⠝

• Russian: учиться (uchit’sya)

• Hawaiian: a‘o

This month at MRCS, we’re focusing on Grit — the courage and determination to keep going, even when things get tough. Grit is what helps students push through challenges, learn from mistakes, and stay focused on long-term goals. It’s one of the most important skills a child can develop, both in and out of the classroom.

Having grit means:

• Trying again after something doesn’t go right the first time

• Sticking with a problem until it’s solved

• Working hard, even when it’s not easy

• Believing that effort leads to growth and success

How families can build grit at home:

• Praise effort, not just results. Encourage your child when they try hard, not only when they get the right answer.

• Talk about perseverance. Share stories about times you worked through something challenging and how it felt to finally succeed.

• Let them struggle (a little). It’s okay to let your child face small frustrations and work things out. That’s how persistence grows.

• Celebrate progress. Recognize growth over time — remind your child how much they’ve learned since they started.

When students learn that success comes from practice, patience, and persistence, they gain confidence to take on any challenge. Grit helps children grow into resilient learners who don’t give up — and that’s something to be proud of.

Literacy Game: “Word Chef” 🍽️

What You Need:

• Paper and pencil (or a small whiteboard)

• A timer (optional)

• One “menu word” (any word your child is learning to spell or read — for example, education, pumpkin, or river)

How to Play:

1. Write your “menu word” at the top of the paper.

2. Tell your child they are the Word Chef, and their job is to “cook up” as many smaller words as they can using the letters from the menu word.

   • Example: from education you could make cat, ten, coin, nice, date, eat.

3. For each new “dish” (word), they earn a point!

4. Add a challenge: give categories — for example, “Make a dessert word!” or “Find a word with three letters!”

5. When time’s up, read all the words together and circle the ones that are new to your child’s vocabulary.

Variations:

• Family Feast: Work together to beat a family record — how many words can you “cook up” in 5 minutes?

• Chef’s Specials: Have your child use their favorite new word in a sentence or a silly short story at the end.

Why It Works:
“Word Chef” builds spelling skills, phonics awareness, and vocabulary — all while making reading playful and creative. Kids love pretending to “cook,” and you’ll love watching them whip up a feast of words!

Get ready for a fun and active winter! Registration for the Juneau Nordic Ski Club’s youth ski programs is now open!

The JNSC is excited to welcome new and returning families to the trails this season. Two of their programs are perfect for elementary and middle school students:

• Junior Nordic (Grades K–5): A great way for kids to build confidence, make friends, and learn skiing skills in a fun, supportive environment.

• Middle School Team (Grades 6–8): Designed for young athletes who are ready for more skill development and adventure on the snow.

Whether your child is new to skiing or already loves the sport, these programs are a fantastic way to enjoy Alaska’s winter outdoors while staying active and connected with friends.

For more information and registration links, visit www.jnski.org/youth-programs.

Questions?
Contact Tristan Knutson-Lombardo, JNSC Executive Director
📧 info@jnski.org | 📞 907.723.1772

Bundle up, grab your skis, and get ready to glide into another amazing Juneau winter!

Center for Safe Alaskans’ reflective tape mailing program is open for the season. Any household with an Alaska mailing address or an organization serving Alaskans (also with an Alaska mailing address) can order reflective tape to be sent to them for free: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1MHcSStzbW/. To order tape for yourself, please visit our Reflective Tape webpage.

Be seen

Low light and snow-covered sidewalks make it hard for drivers to see people walking. Wearing reflective materials can help keep pedestrians safe. Someone wearing reflectors can be seen up to 500 feet away, while someone in dark clothing is only visible from 55 feet.

Reflective tape can be applied to jackets, backpacks, walkers, and other outdoor items.

Order here

Click here to order for your household

Please note: Two pieces of tape will be sent for each household member, with a maximum of 50 pieces per order.

Click here to order for your organization

To order more than 50 pieces, use the form above. If you wish to receive more that 500 pieces of tape, please contact us directly at info@safealaskans.org.

Did you know you can help MRCS PTO earn donations just by using your Fred Meyer Rewards Card? It’s easy! Sign up for the Community Rewards program and link your Rewards Card to Mendenhall River Community School PTO (organization #HS191) at fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.

Every time you shop with your Rewards Card, you’ll still earn your regular rewards and fuel points, but MRCS will also receive a donation! It’s a simple way to support our school while doing your everyday shopping. Thank you for helping us make a difference!

Weekend Food Bags