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Nicholas J. Begich Middle School

May Newsletter
Bravo to our students and their families!

During the month of April, we celebrated the many accomplishments of our students. We also extend a special welcome to our new students who will be attending Begich Middle School next year.
Read more in the newsletter » (PDF)

Our theme for 2007-08

You make a world of difference!

Students

Begich MS rules (PDF) »

Photos »
New photos added May 8
Requires Flash Player 7 or higher

Includes: In the classroom, student activities, fall carnival, sports, student-led conferences

Parents

Parents are children’s first and most important teachers. We encourage family support and participation »

Facts about our school

We have 24 reported languages spoken at our school, 211 students in our ESL program, and 69 other students from families who speak another language.  The languages, in order of frequency, are:  Hmong, Samoan, Spanish, Filipino, Yupik, Mien, Korean, Inupiat, Russian, Lao, Thai, Hawaiian, Palau, Tongan, Khmer Cambo, Wolof, Nuer, Vietnamese, Chinese, German, Tlingit, Eskimo, Yoruba, and Trukese.

Mascot and colors

Snow LeopardAfter visiting all seven feeders schools and counting nearly 800 ballots, the official mascot has been voted the SNOW LEOPARD and our colors are BLACK AND SILVER! Thanks to all who helped participate in the democratic process! Current middle schools' colors & mascots.

On November 13, 2006 the Anchorage School Board chose Nicholas J. Begich Middle School to be the name for the new Muldoon area middle school. Learn more: Biography | ADN article

 

Begich MS has chosen Snow Leopards as their masoctNicholas J. Begich Middle School

Snow Leopard Camp

Come join other new students at Begich Middle School for Snow Leopard Camp. Some of the activities you'll enjoy:

  • Learn your way around Begich Middle School
  • Meet and get to know others through fun team games
  • Learn about technology at Begich Middle School
  • Make a specially designed t-shirt to wear to school
  • Learn how to be successful in school

Register to participate in either the August 11th or 12th camp. Your form must be turned in by August 8th at 3 p.m. »

Staff

Please check our staff list to see pictures and read biographies of all our staff. If you need to contact the school the staff listed below can assist you.

PhotosView other staff and community photos » NEW photos added Nov 12

Name   Position Phone
Jeanne Fischer   Principal 907-742-0500
Please feel free to call us.
We welcome your questions,
ideas or comments
Teresa Toliver   Administrative Assistant
Kimberly Matier   Financial Data Control Clerk

Begich MS Snow LeopardsInformation and announcements (May 13, 2008)

Thank you to:

  • Band and orchestra students for their successful spring concerts and Sonic Boom performance at the Sullivan Arena.
  • Cast and crew of the “In Our Own Words,” director Betsy Douds, and sponsor Carolyn Butler, for preparing the assembly for sixth graders.
  • Anne Barnett for coordinating our “Super Sweepers” to clean up the groups and all staff who supervised clean up crews.
  • PTSA members and parent volunteers who provided teacher appreciation gifts and food this week.  
  • Parent Robin Cole-Barden, who secured donations totaling $783.00 from the American Legion Post 34, Ladies Auxiliary, Anchorage Democrats, New Hope Baptist Church and Q-Doba, so that our Maine Biology class could go on a SeaLife field trip to Seward.
  • Ghislaine Gillespie and Denise Tilley for accompanying 20 of our students to the YWCA Female Multicultural Leadership workshops at the Egan Center. Several of our students were involved in making presentations at the workshops.  
  • All staff for welcoming our guests and being flexible about our building use and multiple activities.  Because of your support and patience, we hosted numerous activities and our students participated in many enrichment activities.  For example, in the past week our students were involved in the Intertribal Gathering, In Our Own Words Hmong student performance, music concerts, Polynesian assemblies, clean up, field trips to Baxter Bog and SeaLife Center, YWCA Female Leadership conference, Asian dance and music celebration at the PAC, soldiers returning from deployment as guest speakers, marketing experts as judges for the mini-society class panel, and parent and community member guests for our assemblies.

Congratulations:

  • All the students on the track and field tam and their coaches Kluever, Lozano, Murphy, Quinn, Sheehy for our first successful season.  The team coped with the remarkable weather conditions but remained positive and resilient.

For your information:

  • Sales close on May 16 for Memory Books. Updated sale lists are posted in the MPR for your reference.   We will have a lottery if sales exceed the number printed.
  • Scott McKim will collect names of students trying to cross DeBarr or Muldoon and contact parents so that our students do not cross the hazardous streets. They should ride school buses if they live north of DeBarr and east of Muldoon. Please help by reminding students not to use this hazardous crossing.
  • Check out our Smart Tunnel, staff sharing section and our Web site for weekly updates and photos maintained by ASD webmaster, Kathy Griffith.

Meetings, events and key dates »

Building a School Community

Hallway in Nicholas J. Begich Middle School, October 2006During the winter of 2006-07, all staff members participated in the UAA Education 555 “Building a School Community” course which met bi-monthly in various locations throughout the Muldoon community. These classes were also community meetings open to all students, parents and community members so that everyone can provide input for the development of our school.  In addition to getting acquainted with each other, we discussed and established the mission statement and guiding principles that will be the foundation of the school.  Each staff member was involved in one of the following working committees:  activities, positive climate, safety and decorum, scheduling, and technology.

Construction

PhotosView construction photos » NEW photos added Nov 1

Construction of the the new Nicholas J. Begich Middle School began in April 2005 and was completed ahead of schedule and within budget.

Frontier Spirit: Maine to AlaskaBegich Middle School is home to approximately 1,000 students living in northeast Anchorage. The new school helped relieve long-standing overcrowding at three middle schools and houses sixth-graders from five elementary schools. This is the district’s second 6-7-8 middle school.

The 174,000 square foot school is a two-story facility that features the latest technology to enhance instruction and includes a fully-equipped science lab with preparation rooms, applied technology, art, family and consumer science, physical education and music areas. The school design is focused on multi-purpose use for the school and community.

1% for Art

Elizabeth Busch was commissioned to create a piece of artwork for the 1% for Art program that now hangs in Begich Middle School. The piece, titled "Frontier Spirit: Maine to Alaska", is made of woven mylar panels that are strung on strong steel frames and suspended by cable.

Facts about the school

Learn more about the facility and its construction, find boundary information, and view photos and movies. Fast facts »

Dedication and Ribbon-cutting ceremony

Dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony

The school was formally opened as Nicholas J. Begich Middle School during a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony on August 10, 2007. The public was invited to attend the ceremony and tour the school.

Download the dedication ceremony program »  (PDF)

View photos of the dedication ceremony »

 


Begich Middle School
Principal
Principal Jeanne Fischer
Location
7440 Creekside Center Drive
Anchorage, AK  99504
Near the intersection of DeBarr and Muldoon roads
Phone
907-742-0500
Fax
907-742-0510
Movie Tour Movie requires free Quicktime plug-in
Check out this student-created iMovie for a tour of Begich MS (Quicktime 12 MB)


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