AUGUST / SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER
COMING UP…....
August:
15……………....…..Kindergarten Parent Meeting
18…………..…..Meet & Greet & Supply Drop Off
22………..……..…………..….1st Day of School
24…...…….Dismiss 1 Hour EARLY (1:20 & 2:05)
29…....FastBridge Testing Begins (K-2nd Grade)
29…….….NWEA Testing Begins (3rd-5th Grade)
September:
5..…………………....…..Vacation Day, No School
7……..…….Dismiss 1 Hour EARLY (1:20 & 2:05)
8…………………………………….….Parent Night
13………………………………….…PTA Gathering
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year!
We would like to welcome our new and returning families to Alkali Creek! I look forward to seeing all of our families and getting to know our students. I hope you’ve had a fun and safe summer. We are looking forward to a great year ahead.
INCOMING KINDERGARTEN PARENT Meet
MONDAY, August 15th from 5:30-6:30 pm This meeting is for parents. It will last about an hour. If you have someone who can watch your student(s) it'll be easier to listen and engage in the presentation as it'll be quite boring and long for children. If not, we understand and will have a few quiet activities for students. You will be able to meet all three of our kindergarten teachers, counselor and principal. There will be a wealth of information shared during the Kindergarten Parent Meeting. We look forward to seeing you!
Meet ‘n Greet & Supply Drop Off
Parents and students are invited to meet your teacher on AUGUST 18th, from 5:00-6:00 PM. Thanks to our PTA for providing ice cream, to be picked up as you leave.
CLASS LISTS will be posted in PowerSchool by Thursday, August 18th, at 12:00 pm. PLEASE go to https://powerschool.billingsschools.org/public/ to ensure you can access your PowerSchool parent account with the username and password you previously set up. ***Changes may continue to be made to our class lists up until this time. Please log in and confirm your child’s teacher after 12:00 pm on August 18th.
ANNUAL UPDATE FORMS
All first day forms are to be completed online. These forms include the Annual Update Form, Weapon’s Contract, Media Release, etc. Please log into your PowerSchool for Parents account, click on your students name, then click on Forms on the left-hand side. Please complete all forms by Friday, August 26, 2022.
BREAKFAST & LUNCH PRICING
We NO LONGER have free breakfast and lunch for all students.
Online Free & Reduced Applications will be available at https://www.mymealtime.com/ or paper copies may be picked up at the office before school starts. CHARGES will accrue and need to be paid for any meal purchases prior to approval of the application.
BREAKFAST START TIME!! Our breakfast students may arrive at 8:00 am IF they are eating breakfast.
All other students may not arrive until 8:05. There is NO supervision until 8:05 and students may not be left unattended.
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
Attendance Phone 281-6200
Please call the above number if your student is sick, will be tardy or needs to leave school for an appointment. If your student is sick, please call before 9:30 AM to report the absence.
Morning Walk or Soft Start Routines -
The first few days of school ALL students will be greeted by their teachers outside at 8:05. Teachers will be spread out over the entire playground. Each classroom teacher will have a sign with their name and grade. Our kindergarten teachers will be in the GYM; use Entrance #2. Our 1st and 2nd grades will meet on the South side of the school. Students in 3rd through 5th grade will be on the North side of the school. The first bell rings at 8:20. The tardy bell rings at 8:25. Students who arrive late will need to enter through the main doors.
After the first couple of days morning routines will begin to change. For example, some classes will have a soft start and enter as soon as they arrive while other classes will begin with morning walk or another outside activity and then line up and enter at 8:20.
Entering the School -
When possible students will enter and exit using the same doors. This will be determined based on proximity to their classroom.
Exiting the School at Dismissal -
Each class will exit through the same door they entered to start the school day. Our younger students will return to their designated area on the blacktop or lawn where parents can meet them. Our 4th and 5th graders exit on the Northwest side of the school and tend to disperse, walking home or to parent vehicles. We will continue as we have in the past with this practice.
EVERY WEDNESDAY - Dismissal is 1 hour early
Our Kindergarten through 3rd grades dismiss at 2:20 everyday except Wednesdays which is always a 1:20 dismissal time. Students in 4th and 5th grades dismiss at 3:05 everyday except Wednesday which is at 2:05.
SNACKS & WATER BOTTLES are encouraged - PLEASE send healthy snacks. We are not overly critical or picky; however, cookies and chips are not healthy mid morning snacks. Students may not have beverages in classrooms other than water unless it is for a special occasion and has been approved by their teacher. Please do NOT send your child to school with coffee, hot chocolate, koolaid, etc.
PLEASE HELP KEEP OUR PARKING LOT SAFE
The front sidewalk of the school is NOT a drop off/pick up zone. It is a bus zone only. Please do not park or drop off kids at the curb! You are more than welcome to drop off and pick up kids at the following areas.
Drop off spots:
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Parking spot in the parking lot.
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Park along Alkali Creek Road.
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Park along Indian Trail Road.
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Park along Moon Valley Road.
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Park along Tumbleweed Drive.
REMIND Helps Us Stay a Step Ahead!
REMIND will allow parents to receive newsletters, announcements and reminders about upcoming events, deadlines and activities at Alkali Creek as a text message directly to your phone. Parents are auto enrolled through your PowerSchool parent account and will be our primary form of school wide communication.
Parents who do NOT have a PowerSchool parent account will NOT be automatically enrolled in REMIND this school year. Parents may add themselves by texting @22-23ace to the number 81010 (see image below).
Please contact Tami Concepcion at concepciont@billingsschools.org or 281-6829 if you are having trouble or have questions. You may ‘unsubscribe’ by replying with a text message @LEAVE.
MEET OUR TEACHERS (as of 8/5/21, changes may occur)
Kindergarten: Ms. Johnson, Ms. Malia, Ms. Szillat
1st Grade: Ms. Cunningham, Ms. Parish, Ms. Zimny
1st/2nd Combo: Ms. Thorson
2nd Grade: Ms. Soelter, Ms. Tindle-Byler
3rd Grade: Ms. Gleason, Ms. Wagner
4th Grade: Ms. Johnson; Unknown at this time
5th Grade: Ms. Baker, Ms. DeShaw, Ms. Palm
BASE Classroom: Ms. Leslie
Learning Center: Ms. Dundas
Counselor: Ms. Meyer
Librarian: Ms. Hanson
Health/PE: Mr. Frenk
Music: Ms. Small, Ms. Murphy
Art: Ms. Kolbe
Interventionist: Ms. Aldinger
PLEASE READ!! VERY IMPORTANT!! **SAFETY**
When parents/visitors arrive any of the Billings Public Schools buildings, they will be asked the purpose of their visit and will be asked to show a picture ID prior to having the door opened at the main entrance. You will be asked to hold up your picture ID to the outside camera. You must also sign in when entering the building. Anyone going beyond the front entrance, must also take a visitor pass.
Thank you for your understanding as we try to keep our schools as safe as possible for our students and staff!!
PETS need to be left at home. Although they make wonderful additions to our families, not all students or adults feel safe around animals. Billings Public Schools policy prohibits dogs on school grounds unless they are certified service animals.
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