Tiger Tracks

Dear NLABC Families,

We have had a wonderful start to our school year, and I want to take a moment to share a few celebrations, reminders, and a very important thank you.

We were fortunate to have a wonderful first-day visit from Dr. Bryantt. One exciting result of that visit was the opportunity to bring back Ms. Nicole to NLABC! Having Ms. Nicole back gives us additional support throughout the school day, including much-needed help with recess duty. We are very happy to welcome her back and grateful for the additional support for our students and staff.

Speaking of duty...

Our teachers have really stepped up this year and taken on additional responsibilities with arrival, dismissal, recess, and other duties throughout the school day. They are working hard not only in their classrooms, but also outside of them to help keep our students safe.

Please remember to extend kindness and respect to our teachers and staff when they remind families or students of school procedures. Whether it involves parking, drop-off, pick-up, crossing areas, or another school expectation, they are not trying to make anyone’s day more difficult. They are simply doing what I have asked them to do—help us consistently follow procedures that support the safety of all of our children.

A little patience, kindness, and cooperation go a long way, especially when our staff members are taking on these additional responsibilities for our school.

I also want to remind families how important it is to support our PTA and Parent Advisory Committee. Both groups are made up of volunteers who give generously of their time and energy to NLABC. When you attend an event, volunteer, participate in a fundraiser, join a meeting, or simply lend a hand, that support ultimately comes right back to our students.

Please support these wonderful groups and the people who volunteer to serve on them. Supporting our PTA and Parent Advisory Committee means supporting our kids, and after all, it really is about the kids.

And what incredible kids they are.

NLABC students are some of the very best. They are kind, caring, responsible, hardworking, and smart. Every day, I have the privilege of watching them learn, grow, help one another, laugh together, and demonstrate what it means to be an NLABC Tiger.

With all of the busyness that comes with running a school—schedules, duties, procedures, meetings, parking lots, academics, activities, and everything in between—it is important that we never lose sight of our reason for doing all of it.

The students are our “why.”

And this year, we are incredibly blessed to have 610 wonderful reasons to give our best every single day.

Thank you for your continued partnership, your support of our staff and volunteers, and most importantly, for trusting us with your children.

We are looking forward to a great year together.

Warmly,

Dorissa Martin
Principal
Northern Lights ABC

At NLABC, our school community is built on more than academics, it is built on shared expectations, respect, responsibility, and strong character. Our Philosophical Agreement helps guide the partnership between families, students, and staff, ensuring we all understand and support the values that make NLABC unique.

We also encourage everyone to remember that being part of our community extends beyond the classroom. Parking lot etiquette helps keep our students, families, and staff safe while demonstrating patience, courtesy, and respect for one another.

Finally, our Character Building Blocks are woven throughout the school year, helping students develop important qualities such as friendship, respect, responsibility, perseverance, honesty, courage, self-discipline, and more. These values help shape not only successful students, but thoughtful and responsible members of our community.

Thank you, NLABC families, for partnering with us to uphold the philosophy and values that make our school such a special place!

Welcome back, students, staff, and families! I am so excited to begin another school year and look forward to serving our school community as your school counselor. My goal is to build a welcoming, supportive, and comprehensive school counseling program that helps students feel connected, supported, and prepared to succeed both in school and in life.

As a school counselor, my role extends beyond academics. I support the whole child through academic, character education, and career development. A comprehensive school counseling program provides opportunities for students to develop skills such as self-awareness, responsible decision-making, positive relationships, goal setting, coping strategies, and problem-solving. I also work collaboratively with teachers, staff, and families to identify student needs and connect students with the appropriate resources and support.

One of the highlights of the first week of school was having the opportunity to visit every classroom and introduce myself! It was wonderful to meet students, share a little about what I do, and begin building those important relationships. I want students to know that the counselor's office is a place where they can come to be heard, supported, encouraged, and helped.

What’s Coming Up?

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be meeting briefly with each student for a quick “Minute Meeting.” These short conversations will give me an opportunity to get to know students individually by learning about their likes, needs, interests, and the support they feel would be helpful. While these meetings will be brief, they are an important first step in making sure our counseling program is responsive to the students we serve.

I will also be sending out a needs assessment survey to parents and staff. Your feedback is incredibly valuable! The survey will help me better understand the needs of our school community and learn how my counseling services can be most effectively utilized to support students, staff, and families.

I am looking forward to a wonderful year of building relationships, supporting student success, and partnering with our entire school community. Please know that I am here to listen, collaborate, and help however I can.

We are going to have a great school year! 💙

Your School Counselor

Elizabeth Congdon-McGee (Ms. C)

907 742-7521

Congdon-McGee_Elizabeth@asdk12.org

New Orchestra Teacher

We’re so excited to welcome Mrs. Sterkel to our NLABC music program, and so happy to have Mr. Toba here again this year! Your NLABC music team is working hard to build minds, skills, and community with all of our students.

Classroom Music

Our students are doing a great job starting the year in their K-5 music classes. We are singing songs, playing instruments together, moving with the music, and working on our music literacy skills.

Parents, please remember that ASD cut elementary music classroom time by 16%, meaning less time with your students this year. This impacts their music education as well as time to practice and learn about many of the musical portions of our NLABC program, including morning songs, Thanksgiving songs, Red White and Blue songs, singalong songs, and more. Remember, music education correlates with gains in math and reading, as well as social skills, so please don’t miss your music day! 🙂

Choir

Our choirs are off to a great start! Our initial list of concert dates is below. Band and Orchestra families, several of these dates are the same; Mrs. Sterkel and Mr. Toba will fill you in on the differences.

• Fall Showcase (MS BOC only): Weds. Oct 7th, 6 pm

• MS BOC All City Auditions: Oct 19-22 (2.5 Dec. Days)

• 6th grade BOC Winter Concert: Tues., Dec. 8th, 1:15 pm

• Winter Choir Concert: Weds., Dec. 9th, 6 pm

• MS BOC School Winter Concert: Thurs., Dec. 10th, 1:15 pm

• ASD MS BOC Solo and Ensemble Festival: Fri., Feb 5th, 9-5.

• BOC Fundraising Concert: Thurs., Feb 11th, 6 pm

• ASD MS Choir Festival: Weds., April 14th at West, 7 pm

• 6th grade BOC Spring Concert: Tues., May 11th, 1:15 pm

• Spring Choir Concert: Weds., May 12th, 6 pm

• MS BOC School Spring Concert: Thurs., May 13th, 1:15 pm

I’m excited about this school year and looking forward to working with your students.

If you have questions, you can reach me at congdon_Darinda@asdk12.org

September 7: No school (Labor Day)

September 8: ABC Parent Advisory Committee meeting @3pm

September 10: Picture Day (please see below)

September 11: Jogathon (please see below)

September 18: Q1 mid-quarter

To send me a message, email: Martin_dorrisa@asdk12.org.

To call me: (907) 742 - 7500
Or just stop by! I want to hear from you :)