Panther Pride News

Panther Pride News is published weekly to keep all members of the school community informed and involved.

Today, Friday, Dec. 9, is the third snow day in a row. With record snowfall mid week, ASD has had to close schools throughout the district due to transportation challenges city-wide. Assuming the municipality is able to clear roads over the weekend, classes are set to resume on Monday, Dec. 12. With three days of school lost, all of us--students, teachers, and staff--will have to work very hard over the next week and a half to make the most of the time remaining this semester. We are encouraging all students to Finish Strong this semester to ensure that their final grades reflect their best effort. Go Panthers!

Last week, Mears and PTSA co-hosted a Family Engagement Night Event focused on vaping prevention. Special guest, Ms. Tiffany Lund, from the American Heart Association, gave the highly informative presentation about the serious health risks of vaping. Families are encouraged to watch each of the videos above and also to review the slide show included as an attachment with this week's newsletter. Mears is committed to an education that promotes good health and wellness for all students. Go Panthers!

SAT 12/10: Volleyball Jamboree 2 (V, JV2, C2, & C3) @ 9 a.m. See coaches for specific location(s) & time of matches.

MON 12/5 - FRI 12/9: MAP Testing Language Arts

MON 12/12 - FRI 12/16: MAP Testing Language Arts Make-Up

TUE 12/13: Advance Band, Orchestra & Chorus Evening Concert 7 - 9 p.m.

WED 12/14: Advance Band, Orchestra & Chorus Evening Concert, 9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

WED 12/14: Intermediate Band, Orchestra & Chorus Evening Concert 7 - 9 p.m.

FRI 12/16: Teams Muir & Raven 8th Grade Field Trip 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

FRI 12/16: Volleyball Assembly Staff vs Varsity & JV 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

WED 12/21: Last Day of the Semester (with student in attendance)

THU 12/22: Teacher In-Service - NO SCHOOL!!!

FRI 12/23: First Day of Winter Holiday Break!

MON 12/26 - FRI 12/30: Week 1 of Winter Holiday Break

MON 1/2/23 - FRI 1/6/23: Week 2 of Winter Holiday Break

MON 1/9/23: Happy New Year! First Day Back to School!!!

MON 12/12 - FRI 12/16: MAP Testing Language Arts Make-Up

TUE 12/13: MMS Leadership Meeting 3 p.m.

FRI 12/16: Volleyball Assembly Staff vs Varsity & JV 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

THU 12/22: Teacher In-Service Q2 Grading & Assessment, Grades due by 3 p.m.

FRI 12/23: First Day of Winter Holiday Break!

MON 12/26 - FRI 12/30: Week 1 of Winter Holiday Break

MON 1/2/23 - FRI 1/6/23: Week 2 of Winter Holiday Break

MON 1/9/23: Happy New Year! First Day Back to School!!!

Friendly reminder:

As of Dec. 5, new bus transportation details have been published via Parent Connect. For more information and to find your student's bus line, visit ASD's Bus Transportation webpage.

Panthers! We are now accepting forms for Basketball and Cross-Country Skiing! First practice for Basketball is January 10th and first practice for XC-Skiing is January 12th!

If your student has already participated in a sport this year, and their sports physical is still valid, you will only need to submit the Activity Participation Form. If this is their first time participating in a sports activity at Mears, be sure to turn in the Activity Participation Form, the COVID-19 Waiver, and a valid sports physical completed by your healthcare provider.

Fees will not be due until January and if the fee is a hardship for your family, you may request a fee waiver by email Ms. Svendsen at svendsen_crysta@asdk12.org, or Mr. Backman at backman_eric@asdk12.org. Students who have already paid for two sports activities have met the sports cap, so no fee will be due.

If you have any questions regarding forms and fees, please feel free to email Ms. Robin at spartz-hays_robin@asdk12.org.

Winter Break is just around the corner and counselors are seeing a lot of requests to change classes, electives and schedules. Please be sure to use the proper form to request counselors (Link Here) We love when students stop by the office to say hello but to get into the virtual counseling line for scheduling, the request to see counselor form is necessary. We may not get to you right away for schedule changes, but we will answer each request!

Lots of snow and one week to go but you can still finish strong! Be sure to get your sleep, balance your screen time, and don’t miss school days (unless you are sick). These simple steps can help you be successful as we complete semester one.

Christmas Break is just around the corner and counselors are seeing a lot of requests to change classes, electives and schedules. Please be sure to use the proper form to request counselors (Link Here) We love when students stop by the office to say hello but to get into the virtual counseling line for scheduling, the request to see counselor form is necessary. We may not get to you right away for schedule changes, but we will answer each request!

We also want to remind students to finish strong! There is a lot to complete before the semester ends so be sure to get your sleep, balance your screen time, and don’t miss school days (unless you are sick). These simple steps can help you be successful as we complete semester one. Looking forward to a GREAT month of Decemeber!

ASD Library Bookmark Contest

2022 - 2023 Theme is:

Learning for Life @ Our Library

Use your imagination and any ideas relating to reading, literacy and the love of the library!

Entries are due December 9, 2022. Submit your entry to Mrs. Fleming, the librarian. The winning school entries will go to district judging. Entries become the property of the Anchorage School District and may be used in other advertisements.

Entries must:

• fit the theme and include the phrase Learning for Life@ Our Library™

• be the original work of the student, whether hand drawn, digital art, or computer generated

• be the correct size: 7” x 2 ¾” either horizontal or vertical

• be submitted with the student's full name and grade on the back of the bookmark

No copyrighted characters may be included on the bookmark.

Forms with the correct size template are available in the library.

It’s December and a short month, so it’s also a short prompt:

Write a recipe for happiness. What would the ingredients be? In what order and amounts would you add them? What instructions would you provide for assembling, cooking and serving it? Decide what makes you happy and write the recipe.

See full details and tips for getting started by visiting Panther Participation and clicking on the creative writing contest link.

Deadline is Monday, December 19th.

Happy writing!

Here's the link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lFtziAqbf1R_9LmGD2bbyfEWWHYxqseUa_UZ1RknDs4/edit?usp=sharing

There are a lot of sicknesses going around the Anchorage community. Here is a link to an article about flu and RSV, which are both affecting a large amount of the Anchorage population, especially the pediatric population.

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2022/12/04/hospital-pediatric-units-around-alaska-are-packed-as-flu-rsv-makes-its-rounds/

We can all do our part to keep ourselves healthy. Please stay home when you are sick. Here is the link to ASD’s When to Keep Your Child Home From School: www.asdk12.org/Page/6622 . Please note the exclusion includes if your child is “...too tired and uncomfortable to function at school, it is best to keep the child home for a day or two.”

Check out the new nursing page on the Mears Middle School website! Go to the ‘Welcome’ tab and click on ‘Nurse’. The link is also available below:

https://www.asdk12.org/domain/6116

PTSA General Meeting Schedule: All Mears Community Members are Welcome -- Second Wednesday of each month @ 5:30pm via Zoom

Semester 1: Dec. 14

Semester 2: Jan 11, Feb. 8, Mar. 8, Apr. 12, May 10

PTSA Zoom Meeting Link

Meeting ID: 981 2989 0912

Passcode: 986530

Join Team PTSA: Volunteer Interest Form:

https://forms.gle/P8yYKMPSuwzPR2ZU8

Please like and follow us on Facebook Mears Middle School PTSA for more information

• Visit www.MearsPTSA.com for general information

To purchase Mears Gear (including gym clothes), visit the Mears Middle School Store

Yearbook is Now on Sale

Mears families can also order online by going to: ybpay.com using access code 13921123 (see the attachment). Please be certain to print and keep a copy of your receipt after completing and paying for the online purchase. Please do not wait to submit your yearbook order(s). Understand that orders made online after 11:59 p.m. on night of March 26, 2022 are not guaranteed a yearbook order. Questions? Please contact the Mears MS PTSA via email at: mearsms.ptsa@gmail.com

Mears Middle School acknowledges that we operate and gather on the traditional land of the Dena’ina Peoples and honor, with gratitude, the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations.

Email: backman_eric@asdk12.org
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/Domain/72
Location: 2700 West 100th Avenue, Anchorage, AK, USA
Phone: 907-742-6400