The Scoop

Dear Chugach Families,

November is just around the corner (tomorrow), and we should expect our winter weather to show up at any time. This will mean when the snow starts to fall, our parking lot may become a little more tricky to navigate. Please make sure that you are driving at a safe rate of speed, and with the darkness, you are looking out for parents and students walking into school. If you do need to park along 12th or 13th Avenues, or in the New Hope parking lot, please make sure to use the street crossing on 12th. That is where our Chugach crossing guard (Andy or Marco) is. The 12th Avenue doors to our building are open from 7:45 until the start of school.

In closing, I just want to thank all of our families for the help and support you show our school. You definitely make Chugach a great place to be.

Joel

Monday, November 3 - School Picture Retake Day!, CEC Board Meeting (8:45am-9:45am - Conference Room), Upper Battle of the Books (11:45pm-12:20pm, Heidi's Room)

Wednesday, November 5 - Auction Meet-Up (8:30am-9:15am, MPR), Middle Battle of the Books (3:00pm-3:50pm, Mikelle's Room)

Friday, November 7 - PC Meeting (8:30am - 9:30am, Seed Lab), Uppers - Kids Don't Float (8:45am-10:45am @ West Pool), Early Release Day (Dismissal @ 11:15am), Early Release Spirit Afternoon @ Dave & Busters (12:00pm-3:00pm)

Monday, November 10 - Upper Battle of the Books (11:45pm-12:20pm, Heidi's Room)

Tuesday, November 11 - In-Service Day [[NO SCHOOL for Students]]

Wednesday, November 12 - Auction Meet-Up (8:30am-9:15am, MPR), Middle Battle of the Books (3:00pm-3:50pm, Mikelle's Room)

Thursday, November 13 - Heidi's Family Group Field Trip to UAA Fine Arts Play (10am-12:00pm)

Monday, November 17 - Upper Battle of the Books (11:45pm-12:20pm, Heidi's Room)

Wednesday, November 19 - Auction Meet-Up (8:30am-9:15am, MPR), Middle Battle of the Books (3:00pm-3:50pm, Mikelle's Room), Community Assembly Meeting (6:00pm-7:30pm on Zoom)

Friday, November 21 - Upper Boat Regatta (8:30am-10:30am), Early Release Day (Dismissal @ 11:!5am), CHUGACH AUCTION! (6:00pm-10:00pm, 49th State Brewing CO.)

Monday, November 24 - Upper Battle of the Books (11:45pm-12:20pm, Heidi's Room)

Wednesday, November 26 - Middle Battle of the Books (3:00pm-3:50pm, Mikelle's Room)

Thursday, November 27 & Friday, November 28 - THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY - [[NO SCHOOL]]

Join us on Friday, Nov. 7, 12-3 p.m. (after early release) for a Spirit Afternoon at Dave & Buster’s (800 E. Dimond Blvd, Suite 240, inside the Dimond Center Mall). Mention Chugach when you make a purchase between 12-3 p.m. at the spirit event, and 20% of your purchase (food, non-alcoholic drinks, extra Power Cards) goes to Chugach! You do not need to buy tickets or Power Cards in advance – just come and have a good time!

We are also running a Dave & Buster’s Power Card fundraiser. You can pre-purchase $20 Power Cards online, and Chugach gets 50% of the sales. Even if you can’t attend the Spirit Afternoon, you can still purchase Power Cards for use anytime. They make great stocking stuffers! Power Cards will be handed out at the Spirit Afternoon or at school the following week. The Power Card pre-sale ends at midnight Wednesday, Nov. 5. Get your $20 Power Cards here (buy as many as you want!).

Hey Early Birds and Chugach Cheetahs! Today - October 31 - is the final day for early bird ticket sales. Don’t miss your chance to save now and bid later in support of Chugach's biggest fundraiser of the year! Want to show a little extra appreciation? Consider donating a staff ticket to help our incredible Chugach teachers and staff attend the festivities! Get your Chugach Auction tickets HERE

Join us for an adults-only night out on Friday, November 21 at 49th State Brewing, where we’ll throw it back to the ‘90s with great food, drinks, and plenty of nostalgia. With 100+ amazing auction items (and more arriving daily!) there’s something for everyone.

Get all the event details, ticket info, and donation links on the Auction website:
👉 https://www.chugachcommunity.org/events/auction

And don’t forget to enter the drawing for the coveted Reserved Parking Spot at Chugach!

Let’s make Saved by the Auction Bell a night to remember — all for a great cause and our amazing Chugach community!

Big Simple Success!

We closed the coop on Big Simple 2025 in early October, but we wanted to say thank you to our community for making this year’s fundraiser such a squawking success.

Here’s our 2025 Big Simple numbers:

· $27,443.87 in direct donations from our community

· $3,750 in business matches

· $1,529.87 in employer matches

· $3,000 anonymous donation

· For a grand total of $35,723.74

And perhaps the best two numbers of all:

· 80% of our community participated in Big Simple!

· 100% funded Big Simple budget that directly benefits our teachers and students this year!

Thank you to ConocoPhillips, Delta Airlines, and TOTE Maritime Alaska who provided employee-matched donations – and thanks to our parents who donated and coordinated these matches with their employers.

We are also incredibly grateful for the generosity of our Match Monday donors, all businesses associated with Chugach families: Alaska Architectural Lighting; Alaska Serenity Clinic; Blue Sky Studio LLC; Foley, Pearson, Riekkola & Iverson, P.C.; Jams for Fams; Playful Connection Counseling; RSA Engineering; Salamatof Native Association; and The Mail Cache.

Way to go, Chugach! Your participation and efforts were nothing short of egg-straordinary!

Chugach Optional students go outside for morning and lunch time recess in almost all weather. The only exception is when the outdoor temperature falls below -10F. Please make sure your student(s) come to school with the appropriate outdoor gear and encourage them to go outside with all their gear on.

Nurse Maya has extra winter gear available to loan out to students when it is forgotten at home. Please be sure to return loaner gear to the nurse's office.

Join the CEC on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 6-7:30 p.m. on Zoom for our November Community Assembly Meeting (CAM) and learn all about Science Share, our non-competitive science fair.Click HERE to join the Zoom on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 6-7:30 p.m.

Field trips give our students great learning opportunities, and we can’t do them without volunteer drivers. Getting forms in early helps our teachers plan smoothly.

Link for the Volunteer Driver Form: https://www.asdk12.org/fs/resource-manager/view/0dbbdd78-8ac1-4f40-84d5-7cb942593dbc

Email forms to chugachoffice@asdk12.org or drop them by the office. Thanks for supporting our students and teachers!

Hello everyone, This is Logan Power, the school counselor at Chugach Optional. I know that with Saturday's first snow, winter is upon us! Due to this, I want to share some resources with you:

HOT MEALS

• Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission: daily - 4pm-6pm

• Church of the Nation: Sunday 3pm-4:30pm

• Downtown Hope Center: Monday-Friday 12pm-1:30pm

THE AK CUBS CLOSET

Provides gently used clothing for children.

Address: 3231 Spenard Road, Anchorage AK, 99503

Email: theakcubscloset@gmail.com

Phone: 907-903-6341

Downtown Soup Kitchen Hope Center

240 E. 3rd Ave 907-277-4302

Provides an overnight shelter for women and dinner (served in the early evening) to all adults.

Parents/Guardians must call the Attendance Line by 9:15 a.m. when their child will not be at school for the day. Please provide the following information on the attendance line:

Student name

Parent/Guardian Name

Reason for Absence

If your child’s absence is not called in by 9:15am or if a reason for the absence is not provided, parents/guardians will receive an automated ASD phone call regarding their unexcused absence.

Excused Absences: Absences may be excused for health reasons (including medical appointments), family emergencies, participation in religious activities, or other reasons as approved by the principal. If no reason is given the absence will be considered unexcused.

Pre-Arranged Absences: If you know your child will be out for longer than a few days please fill out a Pre-Arranged Absence Form, available in the Front Office. Travel/Vacation is generally considered a Pre-arranged Unexcused Absence (unless otherwise determined by the principal).

Late arrivals: Students are considered Tardy if arrival at school is between 8:20am -9:10am. Arrival after 9:10am is considered a morning absence. Please be sure to check in with the office when arriving after 8:20am to let them know you are here and to have your school lunch counted.

Parking Etiquette

• Please refrain from parking in any of the "RESERVED" parking spots, the fire lane or the loading dock area. We know parking is tight but for safety and courtesy reasons these areas/spots must be respected. We are now able to park in the municipal parking lot to the south of Chugach. However, please limit parking in this area to the spots along the fence and only during drop off and dismissal. If you plan on staying at Chugach for any length of time, please find alternate parking.

Parent/Visitor Sign-in

• All parents, visitors, and volunteers who are going to be in the school after 8:30 am need to sign in at the office using the RAPTOR kiosk. Please have your driver's license ready to scan when entering the building.

Opportunities

• We are in need of Noon Duty attendants to assist with outdoor recess and lunch room supervision. Please go to the ASD website to apply or ask for more details at the front office.

• We are currently seeking a Paraprofessional Educator to support our Special Education Resource program. If you or anyone you know are interested, please click here to view the full job listing and information.