Parent News 5/6

DHS News Blast 5/5/2020

May 5, 2020

Greetings Dimond Families:

Please help us celebrate Teachers Appreciation Week! Amidst this pandemic, we must particularly recognize the efforts of our teachers to make digital learning work for students. They have put in many hours to prepare for instruction and work daily to help students navigate independent learning at home. There are three weeks remaining in the semester. With the end of semester approaching quickly, students are encouraged to continue to make progress between now and May 21st. In determining grades, it will be important that students are engaging in their online coursework to ensure their grade does not drop below whatever mark earned 3rd quarter. We acknowledge the challenging circumstances of many students. We hope that any frustrations can be addressed with patience and respect as we work to finish the semester. During, this unprecedented time, we appreciate your continued grace and understanding. Teachers are available to assist you with any concerns or questions. Thank you for your support in ensuring your student is engaged in digital learning.

STUDENT BELONGINGS RETRIEVAL

May 6 and 7, Wednesday and Thursday, we will be holding a pick-up schedule for you to come to the school and get things that were located in hallway lockers, gym lockers, and musical instruments. You will also have the opportunity to return textbooks and library books. If you missed pick-up on Monday and Tuesday, you may stop by Wednesday and Thursday. Please see the details here:

1. Enter the student parking lot (Arlene Street entrance by pool). Follow security’s directions. Remain in your vehicles. A staff member will come to your car (we will all be wearing face masks and gloves).

2. Let the staff member know your name and grade

3. If you share a hallway locker with someone (which isn’t allowed by the way), the student who is assigned the locker will be the one we release the items to. You will have to coordinate to get your items from that person.

4. If you have a gym locker and or instrument, those items will be included with locker content.

5. The staff member will go retrieve your items and bring to you.

6. If you have library books or textbooks, the staff member will have a plastic garbage bag for you to place them into. The staff member will then take those into the building. Some reminders about library books:

1. ASD never charges late fees for library books, so don't worry about overdue books right now.

2. You may keep books for the summer if you are not yet finished with them and will attend any ASD school next year.

7. We will not be going to look for any items out of classrooms. If you need anything out of classrooms, that will have to happen next school year, once teachers return.

CHOIR OUTFITS:

If you have a choir outfit to turn in, we will NOT be taking those at Dimond High School. Please take those to Fireweed Cleaners. These must be turned in by May 8th. Fireweed Cleaners will mark your name off of a list, will clean those items, and then we will retrieve them, cleaned. If you have any questions regarding these please contact Mrs. Gardner directly.

JROTC UNIFORMS:

If you are NOT returning to Dimond High (including Seniors), you need to return your JROTC uniform directly to Dimond High School. These items must be placed in a plastic bag and have your name on them. If you WILL be back at Dimond in the Fall, keep your uniform and you’ll return it when you return in August. If you have any questions regarding these, please check with your instructors.

BAND PERFORMANCE OUTFITS:

As with ROTC, if you are NOT returning to Dimond High (including Seniors), you need to return your outfit directly to Dimond High School. These items must be placed in a plastic bag and have your name on them. If you WILL be back at Dimond in the Fall, keep your outfit and you’ll return it when you return in August. If you have any questions regarding these, please check with Mr. Edwards.

INSTRUMENTS:

If you have a district-owned instrument that you need to return, we ask that you take those to either the “Horn Doctor” for band instruments or “Petr’s Violin” for orchestra instruments. These businesses will be expecting you and will clean the instruments, fix anything that is broken, and then return them to us.

MULTIPLE HOUSEHOLD STUDENTS:

If you have more than one student, you can pick up items for all of your students at once. Please use the earlier time, such as do your Junior’s time rather than your Freshman’s time.

Wednesday, 5/6 - Sophomore Day

8:30am - 11:30am Students Last Name A-L

11:30am - 12:00pm Break

12:00pm - 3:00pm Student Last Name M-Z

Thursday, 5/7 - Freshman Day

8:30am - 11:30am Students Last Name A-L

11:30am - 12:00pm Break

12:00pm - 3:00pm Student Last Name M-Z

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND COUNSELOR ZOOM SESSION

The school psychologist and available counselors will be hosting a zoom session for interested students to help facilitate discussion and provide some ideas and tips.

Seniors Thinking About the Transition from High School (for seniors only)

Please join us on Thursday May 7, 2020 at 1 pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82560155930?pwd=cTFFUHg5S0I2TzVROVpZK3lRQzkxQT09

Meeting ID: 825 6015 5930, Password: 8r6BQs

ELECTIONS:

Student Government Elections for next year's officers are underway this week. Students can log on to vote at https://ajdimond.voting4schools.com. Voting ends Friday at 5 PM.

SENIOR SLIDE SHOW

We are still doing a senior slideshow. Pictures can be sent to dimondseniors@gmail.com. No baby pictures. Pictures from elementary, middle school, and high school are great. Group pictures with lots of faces are the best. Pictures must be appropriate.

Kristen Melican-Nevala

melican-nevala_kristen@asdk12.org

ASD GIFTED MENTORSHIP UPDATE 20/21

**Attention Sophomores and Juniors: Would you like to explore a career and earn credit? The ASD Gifted Mentorship Program is accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year and the first deadline to apply is May 5th.

You must meet GPA, coursework, and standardized test score requirements to qualify. Students spend 45-60 hours with a mentor in their field of interest and complete various assignments, including a final project. Mentorships are available in many fields including Engineering, Nursing, Economics, Architecture, Physics and more! Visit the website for more information: https://www.asdk12.org/giftedmentorship or contact the coordinator, Amber Jaasma, jaasma_amber@asdk12.org (907) 529-1479

SUMMER SCHOOL INFORMATION:

Summer Extension will be offered from June 1st-26th for any student who receives an F in a course. This extension will be offered through Canvas, and students will have the opportunity to complete assignments for courses in which they received an F.

Any student who wishes to retake a course for grade improvement will be able to do so through ASD iSchool at no cost for the summer. If the course is not available through the expanded iSchool catalogue, then students can explore additional options with their counselor. Students are limited to 2 iSchool courses for the summer term.

Any student who wishes to take a course to get ahead or so that they can have an additional elective during the next school year can do so through ASD iSchool. This will also be at no cost for the summer. Students are limited to 2 iSchool courses for the summer term.

See attachment for more summer school information.

AP EXAM INFORMATION:

Advanced Placement Exam Information for Parents & Students

Advanced Placement tests will take place over two weeks from May 11-May 22. These tests are shortened (45 minutes in length) and will be taken at home. The following is the schedule of AP exams.

EXAM START TIME ALASKA TIME 8 AM ALASKA TIME 10 AM ALASKA TIME 12 PM

MON, MAY 11

PHYSICS C MECHANICS US GOV & POLITICS

TUES, MAY 12 CALCULUS AB CALCULUS BC

WED, MAY 13 ENGLISH LIT & COMPOSITION

THURS, MAY 14 CHEMISTRY

FRI, MAY 15 US HISTORY COMPUTER SCI A

MON, MAY 18 BIOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

TUES, MAY 19 PSYCHOLOGY JAPANESE LANGUAGE & CULTURE

WED, MAY 20 GERMAN LANGUAGE & CULTURE ENGLISH LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION MICROECONOMICS *ART PORTFOLIOS SUBMITTED

THURS, MAY 21 FRENCH LANGUAGE & CULTURE WORLD HISTORY MACROECONOMICS

FRI, MAY 22 COMPARATIVE GOV & POLITICS STATISTICS SPANISH LANGUAGE & CULTURE

On exam day, please do the following to help ensure your child does his/her very best on the AP exam.

1) Provide a quiet testing environment free of distractions

2) Keep other internet usage within your household to a minimum

(Limit online games, streaming videos, etc.)

3) Help make sure your child is well-rested and has a healthy breakfast.

Students need to login to the test site 30 minutes before the time listed above.

More information about AP exams can be found here:

Over the next week, AP teachers will be sharing information during Zoom sessions with students about how to access AP tests, what students should expect on test day and helping to make sure students are prepared for the testing experience.

Please make sure that your child is connecting with his/her AP teacher and reading Canvas announcements for times when these Zoom meetings will take place. In addition to meetings during office hours, teachers will also be hosting the following Zoom meetings.

ASD GRADUATION CELEBRATION TV AND RADIO SCHEDULE:

Please see attachment for all ASD High School Grad Celebrations.

DHS GRADUATION RECOGNITION:

May 18th-20th, Monday-Wednesday, Dimond High School will be celebrating the Class of 2020.

What is this all about?

1. Graduation box with diploma cover, chords, certificate and letter honors, and memorabilia.

2. Chance to get items left at school and turn in textbooks, library books and uniforms.

3. A collection box at each station for students to drop off letters for teachers.

4. Graduation photo will be taken.

5. Staff celebrating your achievement.

Schedule an appointment.

1. Go to: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/DimondHighSchool@asdk12ak.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/

2. Select as day and time. Make sure you schedule for the day designated based on last name.

- Monday, May 18th - Last Name A to G

- Tuesday, May 19th – Last Name H to O

- Wednesday, May 20th – Last Name P to Z

On Your Scheduled Day

1. Enter the student parking lot (Arlene Street entrance by pool).

2. Follow security’s directions.

3. You will be directed to a station to receive your Graduation Recognition box and then on to another to get your picture taken.

Stay Safe! Stay Well!

Sincerely,

Tina Johnson-Harris

Dimond High School Principal