Anchorage School District - Educating All Students for Success in Life |
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A Message From Our Superintendent |
Dear ASD Families and Community members,
Happy New Year! Whether you love setting a new year’s resolution or don’t subscribe to the notion, a new semester marks a fresh start in many ways.
ASD leadership is committed to making high-quality in-person education a priority, while maintaining a safe environment for students to learn. The District will continue to be cognizant of the new COVID-19 variants and the challenges that may affect staffing and operations. I will continue to provide a twice-monthly COVID-19 update letter to families in an effort to communicate the state of ASD and the latest information.
This month, the District continues to focus on preparing a balanced budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year which begins July 1. Our focus is on small class sizes, maintaining safety, and meeting Board goals to promote students’ academic growth. The balanced budget will be submitted for public consideration later this month, with Board deliberations in February.
I would like to thank the Anchorage Assembly for reinstating funding for the ASD School Resource Officer Program (SRO) through the end of this school year. This strong, long-standing partnership and shared dedication to student well-being and to our community are immensely valuable.
By the end of this month, the 2022 ASD bond proposition will go to the Anchorage Assembly for approval to be included in the April 2022 Municipal ballot. Once this process takes place, look for more information on the bond that is comprehensive in scope and has projects benefitting all areas within the Municipality.
Finally, I want to congratulate 2019 Service High School graduate, Emma Broyles!! She is Miss America 2022, an historic achievement in the scholarship pageant's 100-year history. Way to go, Emma!
Cheers,
Deena Bishop, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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Opportunity for ASD 2022-2023 Budget Feedback Later This Month
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This month the District will present a balanced budget that will be submitted for public consideration in late January, with Board deliberations in February. Those interested in providing feedback should sign up to provide public comment on a non-action item at the upcoming Jan. 18 Anchorage School Board meeting.
For the latest information on 2022-2023 budget planning view the ASD Hot Topics page.
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ASD to Follow Updated CDC COVID-19 Isolation Recommendations |
On Jan. 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated it’s COVID-19 isolation and quarantine recommendations for K-12 Schools.
For ASD, the amount of time to stay home if you test positive for COVID-19 has been reduced from 10 days to 5 days . There are no additional changes to our mitigation plan at this time.
The Districtwide mask requirement remains, along with testing and other mitigation procedures that were in place prior to winter break. A decision about extending the mask requirement past Jan.15 will be made by Jan.14.
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The spring lottery opens for parents on Feb.1 for the 2022-2023 school year.
In order to participate in a school or program outside of your child's neighborhood school, an application must be submitted.
ASD's online system allows parents to easily apply to the desired school or program.
If your child is currently attending a school/program as a result of a lottery placement, a new application is not necessary for that school each year. Your child may continue attending until aging out of the school/program.
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ASD Welcomes Additional Afghan Refugees at the Start of the Semester |
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Over the Winter Break ASD continued to welcome Afghan refugees into the District and is prepared to provide supports to ensure that new students and their families engage meaningfully in the full array of educational programs and services provided by ASD.
ASD anticipates about 100 Afghan refugees will arrive in Anchorage during the 2021-2022 school year, and many of these include families with school-aged children.
Christine Garbe, director of the ASD English Language Learners (ELL) Department says ASD is one of the first stops once a refugee family arrives in Anchorage.
"We have an obligation to help remove barriers so all students achieve academic success,” said Garbe. "How do you put wraparound services in place for a student who is the only one in a large high school who speaks a certain language?"
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Cancelled: 2022 Visit Our Schools Month |
The 2022 Visit Your Our Schools month has been cancelled due to the recent spike in COVID-19 spread in the Municipality of Anchorage. Visit Our Schools Month has historically taken place during the month of February. ASD is considering a centralized information fair at the Education Center later this spring. Please stay tuned for more information! |
#ASDShineBright Campaign Shares Stories of Hope |
As the daylight dwindles and the temperatures drop, ASD will focus on the glow from the good things happening within our schools. Let’s shine a light on the small but bright moments that happen every day. ASD will highlight stories of kindness, students accelerating individually and in group projects, and staff successes using the hashtag #ASDShineBright. |
Above: Students in Mr. Dahl’s physical education class at Aurora Elementary enjoy new kick sleds and fat bikes as part of their P.E. curriculum. Both are unique activities that can only be done in specific environments and are not always available on school curriculums. By teaching these sports/skills, it helps students connect to the unique place they live. This sense of place can help military students who move regularly find a feeling of place within their community. It creates a lasting bond between the student, place, activity, and other participants.
The equipment was purchased through a grant and provide the opportunity for challenge-by-choice. More competitive students can have races, and less competitive students may choose to simply participate, and students new to the sport benefit from more 1-on-1 coaching/instruction from the teacher.
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ASD Presents 2022 Legislative Updates, Priorities |
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Anchorage School District Superintendent Deena Bishop presents to a group of Alaska State Legislators during the Legislative Priorities Luncheon at King Tech High School. (Robert DeBerry/ASD) |
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The pathway to achieving the School Board’s goals includes a number of priorities and will require close collaboration and partnership with the Alaska State Legislature.
Last month The District Administration met with state legislators and Anchorage Assembly members during the Legislative Update Luncheon hosted at King Tech High School. Lunch was provided by King Tech culinary arts students. During the luncheon, administrators presented an overview of District priorities, Board Goals, and Board Guardrails.
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A King Tech High student representative greets Representative Matt Claman during the Anchorage School District Legislative Luncheon at King Tech High School in Dec. 2021. (Robert DeBerry/ASD) |
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Fall Denali Award Winners to be Honored at the Feb. 8 School Board Meeting |
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Mark your calendars! The 2021 Fall Denali Award winners will be honored next month, at the Feb. 8 Anchorage School Board meeting.
Denali is an Athabascan word meaning “great one,” and the Anchorage School District is proud to have employees that display greatness in the areas of achievement, service, and dedication. The Denali award is the highest award offered by the District.
Twice each year, supervisors submit nominations, and a panel of ASD employees selects a number of co-workers and teams of colleagues that demonstrate outstanding commitment to the District’s mission of educating all students for success in life.
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New Video Educates Families on Social Media Safety |
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A new video by Victims for Justice provides information on social media safety for families. The video was produced through a grant procured by Anchorage Health and Human Services. The video is approximately 10 minutes and serves as a great reminder of how to keep students safe in the ever-growing social media environment. |
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High School Students: Alaska Works Partnership to Offer Free Carpentry Training During Spring Break |
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Alaska Works Partnership is a non-profit organization that gives Alaskans access to jobs and careers in the construction industry.
ASD high school students are invited to apply for a free pre-apprenticeship youth training that takes place during spring break and teaches carpentry skills.
When:
March 7 through 11 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
Where:
161 Klevin St. Suite 203
Anchorage, AK 99508
Requirements
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Apply online at alaskaworks.org under the Youth Tab or scan for the QR code above
- Must be 16 or older and enrolled in an ASD high school program. (graduating seniors are eligible)
- Must provide your own transportation and be able to attend each day of training in order to be considered for selection
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Anchorage School Board Leadership Series: Upcoming Dates |
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Take the Superintendent Search Survey Now! |
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The Anchorage School Board encourages anyone interested in learning about roles and responsibilities of board members, governance, and the District, to participate in leadership academies that are held periodically throughout the year.
Upcoming Sessions
Jan.13 5:30-7 p.m.
- Role of the School Board
- Board standards
- Governance vs. Management
- Board Policy
- Board/Superintendent relationship
Jan. 27 5:30-7 p.m.
- Parliamentary procedure
- Meeting conduct
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The Anchorage School Board is starting the search process for a new superintendent and wants to hear from you! What qualities do you desire in the new superintendent?
All members of the Anchorage community are encouraged to complete this short survey to provide input to the School Board.
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The Alaska Native Cultural Charter School (ANCCS) Yup'ik choir performed during their open house on Wednesday, Jan. 5. Various tribal leaders were invited to attend to learn more about the school. Veronica Kaganak is the Yup'ik choir leader and has been a teacher with ANCCS since the school opened in 2007. The Yup'ik choir has not held many performances since the pandemic. This was their second performance this school year. The students performing are in grades 2-8. Veronica shared how proud she is of the students and their dedication to practicing and learning Yup'ik words as well as singing in unison to be able to perform the songs. |
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ASD is Hiring! ASD has immediate full and part-time openings for: cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and substitute teachers. Apply today and make a difference for kids across our community.
ASD is an equal opportunity employer.
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Margo Bellamy, President
Andy Holleman, Vice President
Kelly Lessens, Treasurer
Carl Jacobs, Clerk
Dave Donley
Pat Higgins
Dora Wilson
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Mon. Jan. 17
Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
Tues. Feb. 01
Lottery application period opens
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5530 E Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99504
907-742-4000
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