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Parent News 10/5
DHS Tuesday News Blast 10/5/21
Dear Dimond Families,
I wanted to let you know that there are many good things happening at school. Our students are actively engaged in academics and are participating in extra-curricular activities. Teachers are presenting lessons that encourage discussion and hands-on activities that are relevant. Let’s keep motivating our students to work hard and finish the quarter strong. Remember the quarter ends on October 15th.
As you know, Dimond is committed to fostering a quality learning experience for our students. To help Dimond and other high schools with this commitment, the district has partnered with Equal Opportunity Schools. This non-profit education organization will help us to examine and develop the learning culture within our school and to find ways to increase student participation in challenging high school coursework.
To support these goals, we will have all students participate in a brief survey this month. The survey window closes October 30th. Survey questions will address students’ views on their coursework, their school experience, and the ways in which our school support their educational goals. The results will be used to inform and improve academic supports for students now and in the future. EOS and the Anchorage School District will ensure that in the course of this work, confidential information of students will only be assessed by district personnel and EOS personnel.
Lastly, we foresee only positive benefits for your student and are excited to gather data that will enable us to better prepare all students to succeed.
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
The quarter will end on October 15th. Please mark your calendar for Parent Teacher conferences on Wednesday, October 20th. Look for communication regarding the format of conferences in the next newsletter.
The times are below:
Wednesday, October 20, 2021:
--Student Dismissal 11:00 am
--Conferences 11:45-2:30 pm
--Teacher Break 2:30 pm
--Conferences 4:00-7:00pm
--Teacher Dismissal 7:00pm High School Schedule
Thursday, October 21, 2021:
--Regular School Day
Friday, October 22, 2021:
--In-service Day for Students
REMINDER:
ALASKA COMMISSION ON POST SECONDARY EDUCATION PRESENTS “FUNDING YOUR FUTURE”:
Wednesday, October 6th, 6-7:30pm
Join us for a zoom webinar for students and parents with the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE).
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81134570021
Meeting ID: 811 3457 0021
PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS LINK IN YOUR BROWSER IF UNABLE TO ACCESS.
What Financial Aid is, how it works, and how to apply
- Cost of Attendance (COA)
- Creating a FAFSA ID (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) (required by both student and at least one   parent before filling out a FAFSA.)
- Grants, scholarships, and loans
- WUE Exchange Program (a regional tuition-reciprocity agreement).                                 
Seniors and their parents are encouraged to attend this Zoom presentation with ACPE staff to discuss where to access scholarships, the WUE exchange program, the FAFSA form, and Post-Secondary Financial Aid Process.  Not only is the FAFSA form required to apply for financial aid, but it is also required for Alaska Performance Scholarship eligibility.  With the FAFSA window opening on October 1st, this presentation will outline what documents are needed for completing it. (FAFSAs are not completed at this event).
MATH TUTORING AVAILABLE:
We have begun our after-school math tutoring program. Students can come to B108 after school between 2:15-3:15 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays to receive math help. We encourage them to bring notes if they have them.
Frontier Tutoring Webinar: 9th & 10th Graders College Admissions Checklist
Tuesday, October 12 at 6:00 PM Alaska time
As a 9th or 10th grader, what should you be doing this fall to set yourself up for college admissions success? During our live webinar, Kimberly Hewitt, director of Frontier Tutoring's college counseling practice, will walk through the following fall semester priorities for freshmen and sophomores:
- Learn how to set a target GPA based on your eventual college admissions and scholarship goals. Discuss how to excel academically in a virtual school setting by building study skills and time management habits.
- Learn how to choose coursework and prepare for advanced coursework in 11th/12th grade
- Learn how your extracurricular activities factor into college admissions and how to optimize your extracurriculars to discover your interests and stand out
- Get a preview on when and how to prepare for the PSAT and SAT/ACT, including test-optional policies. (For sophomores, determine whether you should prepare for the PSAT this summer to potentially qualify for National Merit recognition and scholarships).
- Begin building a preliminary college list, which will drive all of your academic, testing, and extracurricular priorities for the remainder of high school
At the end of the webinar, we'll have time for Q&A about all things academics, testing, and college admissions.
A representative from the Dimond High School counseling department will also be available to answer any Dimond-specific questions.
Register now to save your spot
Or go to https://www.frontiertutoring.com/webinar/2021_10_12
Can't make the live webinar? Register now and we'll send you a recording after the event. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you online on Tuesday, October 12 at 6:00 PM.
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UPCOMING SPORTS START DATES AND SIGNUPS:
Please make sure to complete all forms on Planeths.com before the start date of the sport you are interested in. If you have any questions, please contact Chelsea Hunt in the Activities office at 742-7005. Office hours are & 7 AM to 3 PM with a closure at 12 PM for 30 mins.
Payments
Each sport costs $200.00, there is now a student cap of $400.00 per year. Once you have reached this amount all other sports will be free for the current school year. If your family is interested in a waiver, you will need to apply and be approved for the free and reduced lunch program. You can find this on Student Nutrition website.
Activity Stickers
Activity Stickers are available for purchase on ParentConnect. The cost is $50.00 for the school year. This will get your student in to any home or away game during the school year. Your student will receive a label on their Student ID they will need to present at the games.
October 4
Girls Hockey
October 13
Boys Hockey and Hockey Cheer
YEARBOOKS:
Purchase a 2021/2022 Yearbook!
Back-to-School Sale - Ends October 31st
Yearbooks $65
Senior Ads:
full - $280
1/2 - $140
1/4 - $70
To purchase a yearbook or senior ad, please visit yearbookforever.com. This is not a live link.
Senior portraits and quotes are due by December 31st. Email your portrait and quote to dimondlynxYB@gmail.com
AP SIGNUP AND TEST INFORMATION:
Please see attachment for important upcoming AP test information.
KING TECH 2ND SEMESTER:
Attention Juniors and Seniors! King Tech is now scheduling for 2nd semester, see your counselor to sign up, space is limited. You can find a list of courses here: https://www.asdk12.org/domain/1882
King Tech 3rd Session After School, grades 9-12
Starting on Monday, October 28, King Tech will be offering a number of Career and Technical Education courses after school at King Tech. The 3rd session will run for 8 weeks, Monday through Friday, from 3-5pm. Bus transportation will be provided. The courses are worth a .5 elective credit and a letter grade for completing the course.
Please see your counselor to register and please visit our website, https://www.asdk12.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=2524 for more details.
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ACT AND SAT PRACTICE TESTS:
10th, 11th & 12th Graders: Sign up for a free practice SAT & ACT, brought to you by the Dimond High School counseling team. After taking a full-length practice SAT/ACT released by the test maker, you will get a detailed score report with a roadmap to score improvement, plus guidance on whether to focus on the SAT or ACT. This semester, Dimond High School is hosting the following events:
- Practice ACT on Saturday, October 9. Check-in will begin at 12:30 PM, with testing running 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Online via Zoom.
- Practice SAT on Saturday, October 23. Check-in will begin at 12:30 PM, with testing running 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM. Online via Zoom.
View all practice SAT/ACT dates and reserve your seat for free at www.frontiertutoring.com/practicetest.
JOIN PTSA:
Support the Dimond PTSA by becoming a Member today DimondHighPTSA.memberhub.com
Reflections Art Program will be starting soon. Watch the Lynx Lair, Newsletter, and our website for student entry form.
Our first general meeting of the year will take place Oct 12 at 7 pm.
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We appreciate your efforts and helping to keep Dimond safe by keeping the school symptom free. Please continue to encourage your student to maintain proper mask-wearing, wash their hands and social distance when possible. If you have questions, please contact the administration or Nurse Julie Cheverton.
Warm Regards,
Tina Johnson-Harris
DHS Principal