Crawford Elementary

Wow, has this year flown by. It seems like I just got here and it is already time to say goodbye. When I initially accepted this one-year assignment in August I had no idea how difficult it would be to leave. It has been a true honor to be a member of the Crawford team and I feel most fortunate to have had the chance to work at such a great school.

By now you have heard that in August we will be welcoming a new permanent principal to the Crawford community, Barbara Sperl. Barbara is a longtime Fairbanks teacher and has most recently been working at Ticasuk Brown Elementary School. Years ago she also taught at Crawford so she is familiar with Eielson and is well known by many folks on our staff.

Thanks to everyone who made this year such a fantastic experience for me. What a pleasure it has been working with such a hardworking staff and terrific, respectful students. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our families for your continual support. We, at school, know that it takes all of us working together for our students to be optimally successful. A big part of the reason we can do as much as we do is because of you.

I realize that many of our families will also be leaving us and moving to different parts of the globe. To each of you we wish safe travels and exciting adventures ahead. Thanks to everyone for traveling on this journey with me. Although our time together has been short, I know that together we truly have made a difference. Godspeed.


Barbara Pile, Principal

The district is pleased to announce that Barbara Sperl will be the new principal of Crawford Elementary at the start of the 2013-2014 school year.

Barbara is a fourth grade teacher at Ticasuk Brown Elementary and brings 17 years of educational experience to her new role at Crawford Elementary.

“I am honored to have been selected to serve as the principal of Crawford Elementary and am excited to lead the Crawford community in their continuing pursuit of academic excellence,” said Barbara.

While her position does not officially begin until August, Barbara will work behind the scenes throughout the summer to prepare for the new school year.

The selection was the result of a process that spanned several months and included input from a screening committee, district staff and the Crawford Elementary community.

Welcome to Crawford Elementary, Barbara!

Call the Safety HOTLINE, 457-SAFE (7233) to report school related safety and security concerns.  For emergencies, call 911.

Pile to Parent: April at Crawford

Happy April! Get ready to enjoy some great music again this month because on April 25th our band and orchestra students will be presenting their spring concert at 1:00 and 5:30. As is the custom at Crawford, the afternoon concert will be for students and the evening concert will be performed for family and friends. If you can’t make it to school at 5:30 please feel free to attend the student performance in the afternoon.

During the month of April families will be getting a sheet to assist us in the process of predicting class sizes for next year. You’ll be asked to tell us if your children are planning to return to Crawford, if you are moving, or if you are still unsure. In May we will tentatively assign teachers to grade levels. These assignments are based on district projections and the feedback we get from you. On an accompanying form you will have the opportunity to tell us anything we might need to know to find the best class for your child. We give a great deal of thought to class placement and we always appreciate any extra insight you can give us into finding the best match for your particular child. If you have siblings in the same grade in your family it is also good for us to know if you want them assigned to the same class or not. Similarly, if you or your child knows he/she would do better separated from a classmate we need that input as well.

Starting on May 1st we will begin accepting next year’s Out-of-Attendance Area (OAA) requests. These forms must be filled out each year for children from families who live out of the Crawford attendance area. As per district policy, OAA requests will not be approved at any school until we see how many children show up in each grade level at the beginning of the year. It is our hope that we can accommodate every child who wants to attend our school but it really depends on the way the numbers fall. Getting your request in early is the best way to make sure your child has the best chance. Forms will be stamped with the date and time we receive them. OAA forms are available in the Crawford office.

And, just a reminder… as you heard in March, April is the month that is designated for Fairbanks 3rd - 6th grade students to take the Alaska Standards Based Assessments (SBA’s). These tests, which are scheduled to be administered on April 2nd, 3rd and 4th for all students (as well as an additional test on April 10th for 4th graders), present a wonderful opportunity for our students and teachers to showcase all of the hard work they have put forth during the school year. Anything you can do to motivate your child to put out extra effort on the assessments will be greatly appreciated. Together, we make a difference! See you at school…

Barbara Pile, Principal

It is almost springtime (yea!) and there are lots of exciting things happening around Crawford during this next month of school. On March 6 our students will be presenting Crawford’s annual “Music Mania Concert” at 1:00 and 5:00. The 1:00 performance is primarily for students and the evening performance is for moms, dads and anyone else who wants to enjoy the musical talents of some very enthusiastic students. Of course if you can’t make the evening performance please feel free to stop by in the afternoon. On Friday of that same week is the End of Third Quarter, which is an early dismissal day for students as they go into their weeklong Spring Break. We return to school on March 18. The following day (March 19) we invite you to have “Lunch With Your Child.” The menu for that day is a grilled chicken sandwich or a cheeseburger. You are welcome to pre-order lunch at school or bring something from a restaurant or home. The cost of school lunches is $5.50 for adults. Students really look forward to these special lunches with you so if you have some time we would love to have you to join us.

The Standard Based Assessments are scheduled for all Crawford students on April 2-4 this year with the fourth graders continuing onto the Science portion of the SBA’s on Tuesday, April 9. Crawford students typically do an outstanding job on these statewide tests and we have every reason to believe this year will not be an exception. The children, teachers and tutors have been working hard all year to get our youngsters ready for these exams. Tuesday’s test will cover Reading, Wednesday’s will be on Writing and Thursday’s will be on Math. You can help your child do his/her very best by making sure he/she arrives at school on time, is well rested and gets a good breakfast each day that week.

If this is your first year in Alaska... congratulations! You have made it though the worst weather of the year. From now on you will notice an enormous amount of daylight and your energy will begin to soar. Be careful as the temperatures warm up and the roads become slippery. In another month or so the snow will be gone and you’ll really begin to appreciate this beautiful state. We are pleased to travel with you on your Alaskan journey and are grateful that you are part of the Crawford Family. Together, we make a difference. See you at school...

Barbara Pile, Principal