Harborview Express

Wow, we have had a busy first week back! Kids came into school full of smiles and stories of Winter Break and it was just so fun to see them all coming back. I try to be in the entryway greeting kids and families and it is just the best way to start each day. We had a contest in November where kids tried to guess which student was Mrs. Harvey in my 4th grade class picture from Gastineau Elementary back in 1983! 4 kids picked me out (first one, red overalls and mom's best attempt at a perm). :) So this week we had lunch together in my office and cupcakes and ice cream for our special treat! I love getting these times to hang out and get to know the kids! They are so funny!

This Thursday, January 19th, the Board of Education will be meeting with site councils from around the district. This meeting is open to the public. We will be discussing the current budget shortfall the district is facing and the factors that have led to where we are today. If you would like to learn more about how we might advocate for our schools, please join us at Thunder Mountain High School from 5:30-7:30 in the auditorium.

It was a hard fought battle that lasted a little over an hour but in the end we had our school Spelling Bee Champion 2023! Congratulations to our Champion Lily Gibson and our First Runner-Up Gabe McGuan. We had 18 spellers this year and they were absolutely amazing. I am so proud of all of them! Gabe and Lily will now go on to represent Harborview at the District Spelling Bee. I'd also like to give a HUGE thanks to Kacie Andreotti for taking the lead as our spelling bee coordinator!

Make books special. Turn reading into something special. Take your kids to the library, help them get their own library card, read with them, and buy them books as gifts. Have a favorite place for books in your home or, even better, put books everywhere.

Find ways to encourage your child to pick up another book. Introduce him or her to a series like The Boxcar Children or The Magic Tree House or to a second book by a favorite author, or ask the librarian for additional suggestions.

Different strokes for different folks. Read different types of books to expose your child to different types of writing. Some kids, especially boys, prefer nonfiction books.

Teach your child some “mind tricks”. Show your child how to summarize a story in a few sentences or how to make predictions about what might happen next. Both strategies help a child comprehend and remember.

"Tips for Parents of Third Graders", ReadingRockets.org

Research has shown the following benefits from consistent and on-time attendance including:

• Sleeping and eating patterns are stabilized with good effects on health.

• A predictable schedule builds the child’s confidence at home and school.

• Children know what to expect in the classroom because they were there the previous day.

• Children recognize they are part of a community; their peers and teacher expect and include them and miss them when they are gone.

• Ongoing, extended conversations and learning are able to be built upon.

• Children learn to increasingly control their emotions simply by being in a consistent environment and on schedule every day.

• Teachers spend less time “catching them up” and more time building on what they learned the day before.

• Parents and families feel more a part of the school community and are able to support and engage with each other.

Thank you for making attendance a priority and please reach out if we can assist you in any way. As always, if you are planning a trip during the school year please complete the long term absence form on our website.

Jan. 16th Marting Luther Kind Day No Student Attendance

Jan. 19th Super Site Council Board Meeting 5:30-7:30 Thunder Mountain High School

Feb. 13th Curiosity Unleashed, a K-5 STEAM Family Night 5:30-7:30 Thunder Mountain High School

Feb. 16th Elizabeth Peratrovich Day

Feb. 16th-17th Parent Teacher Conferences

Feb. 20th President's Day No Student Attendance

March 20-24 Spring Break No Student Attendance

AND AS ALWAYS, PLEASE REFER TO YOUR CHILD'S CLASS NEWSLETTER FOR SPECIFIC CLASSROOM EVENTS!

• Principal: Kelley Harvey TCLL Principal: Molly Box
• email: harborview@juneauschools.org
  
• Phone: 907 523 1850
• wesite: hves.juneauschools.org