Alpenglow Snow Leopards

The mission of the Alpenglow Elementary School staff to create confident learners for academic and social success.

Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that our school is on the traditional lands of the

Dena'ina People of Upper Cook Inlet. For thousands of years, the Dena'ina People have continued to be the stewards of this land. ASD is committed to diversity and inclusion, and it is with honor

and respect that we recognize all Indigenous people who live and

learn in our community.

I am incredibly proud of the growth our students are making! They continue to show tremendous progress across all academic areas, and it is clear that learning matters to them. The final three months of school will be busy, engaging, exciting, and filled with meaningful learning experiences.

As we move closer to spring, we sometimes notice an increase in poor choices and disruptive behaviors. Our teachers consistently review classroom rules and expectations, which are grounded in our school-wide commitments: Be Safe, Be Respectful and Kind, Be Responsible, and Be Ready.

We appreciate your partnership in helping us finish the year strong. Please take a few moments to talk with your child about continuing to make positive choices and demonstrating these expectations each day. Your involvement makes a significant difference in student success.

The Alpenglow staff truly appreciates your ongoing support and all you do at home to encourage learning and emphasize the importance of school. We are grateful to partner with you in this important work.

My door is always open; please stop by and say hello.

With gratitude,

Principal, Demetree-Trombley

Alpenglow Elementary School

demetree_denise@asdk12.org

Want to recognize a staff member for their amazing work? Click HERE to send a shout-out! Your kind words will be shared with them and are sure to brighten their day.

Your feedback helps us improve and understand the family experience at Alpenglow Elementary School.

Please take a few minutes to complete the family survey at:

surveys.panoramaed.com/aasb/asdfamily (select “Alpenglow Elementary”). The survey is open until March 20, 2026, and you may answer as many questions as you’d like—skipping any you prefer. All responses are anonymous and confidential.

Don’t delay—fill it out today! We genuinely appreciate your thoughtful responses and the time you take to share your perspective.

Each spring, Alaskan students are provided an opportunity to show what they know. When students show what they know, teachers and parents can partner to promote student success. The State of Alaska Department of Education has partnered with NWEA to align and connect the English language arts (ELA) and mathematics tests with the MAP Growth benchmark assessments students take in fall and winter.

This balanced assessment system targets instruction to better support meeting students’ individual learning needs. In addition, students will take only one assessment per content area (ELA and math) and be provided two scores as follows:

1. Summative assessment result at grade-level

2. MAP Growth interim benchmark result, including growth from fall to spring

AK STAR, the Alaska System of Academic Readiness, is comprised of English language arts and mathematics and is administered to students in grades 3-9. The Alaska Science Assessment is administered to students in grades 5, 8 and 10. The purpose of a large-scale, summative assessment is to provide parents and schools an overall picture of a student’s progress in meeting the Alaska standards at grade level.

Parents can locate resources for AK STAR and the Alaska Science Assessment, including directions for Student Readiness (Practice Tests and Tutorials), student testing times and general assessment information on the ASD website at https://www.asdk12.org/akstar.

Parents can also help by ensuring their children are well rested, eat a nutritious breakfast, and are at school on time for the days of testing. Please avoid scheduling appointments on your child’s testing days.

The ASD AK STAR and Alaska Science Assessment testing window allows for school assessment scheduling flexibility. Students! Get ready to show what you know during Alpenglow's AK STAR and Alaska Science Assessment testing dates is as follows:

• Tuesday, March 31 AK STAR MATH 3rd - 5th Grades

• Wednesday, April 1 AK STAR MATH 3rd - 5th Grades

• Thursday, April 2 AK STAR MATH 3rd - 5th Grades

• Friday, April 3 AK STAR MATH 3rd - 5th Grades

• Monday, April 6 Alaska Science 5th Grade

2026 ASD AK STAR and Alaska Science Assessment Testing Window:

March 30-April 17

(Make-ups through May 1)

State of Alaska Window: March 30-May

We are excited to invite families of future kindergarten students to our upcoming Kindergarten Round Up! This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about our school, meet staff, and get information about registration and what to expect in kindergarten.

📅 Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
⏰ Time: 8:45 - 9:45 a.m.
📍 Location: Alpenglow Elementary School

Families will have a chance to:

✔ Learn about kindergarten readiness

✔ Meet our kindergarten team

✔ Tour the building

✔ Get registration information

✔ Ask questions

If you know a family with an incoming kindergartener, please help us spread the word! We can’t wait to welcome our newest learners.

For questions, contact the office at 907-742-3300.

⏰ First bell: 8:50 a.m. on Mondays | 7:50 a.m. Tuesday–Friday
🏫 School begins: 9:00 a.m. on Mondays | 8:00 a.m. Tuesday–Friday
🚪 Students should enter through their designated grade-level door.
⏳ Students arriving after the bell are tardy and must check in at the front office for an admission slip.

• Call: 742-3300

• Email: alpenglowoffice@asdk12.org

We’re proud that 93% of students attended school at least 90% of the time in January and 92% in February at Alpenglow Elementary School, with a year-to-date attendance rate of 93%. Thank you for your partnership in helping every school day count as we work toward surpassing our 90% goal.

Arriving late means missing lessons, class discussions, and valuable time with peers and teachers. Let’s help students start the day ready to learn!

In January and February, students were tardy 649 times—let’s work together to improve this!

🛏 Keep a consistent bedtime and morning routine
🎒 Prepare backpacks, lunches, and clothes the night before
🚪 Arrive a few minutes early to start the day calmly

Every day and every minute counts—your support helps students be ready to learn and succeed!

Parents—friendly reminder to help your child keep working on their science project! It’s a great opportunity to explore ideas, ask questions, and learn like a scientist.

The Alpenglow Elementary School Science and Engineering Fair is coming up March 19–20 (non-competitive and focused on learning), followed by the Alaska State Fair on March 27–28.

Theme: “Science to Scale!”—big ideas and small discoveries.

Thanks for encouraging curiosity and hands-on learning at home!

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate, volunteer, donate, and make the night such a success. Events like this are only possible because of our amazing school community—we appreciate you!

It’s officially Iditarod season again! That means it’s time for our annual IditaRead challenge! From March 1–31, start counting all your reading minutes and turn them in to earn prizes along the trail. This is a 100% FREE event, and both students and staff can participate. Participants earn prizes as they reach checkpoints—and everyone who finishes the Iditarod trail by the end of March will receive a stuffed husky! Let’s get reading and race to the finish line! 🏁

To take advantage of the two free personalized pages in your child’s yearbook, be sure to order now! All individualized pages must be completed by March 23, so ordering early gives you plenty of time to customize and create special memories. Visit: Alpenglow Yearbook to order now!

📚 IditaRead – March 1–31
🍿 Popcorn Thursday – March 5
🌸 Spring Break – March 9–13
🥐 Pastries with Parents – March 17
📅 Next PTA Meeting – March 30

The PTA is open to everyone, and there is no obligation when joining. Becoming a member is a simple way to show your support for our students, teachers, and school community.

Alpenglow PTA - encouraging our students in Literacy, Outdoor Activity, Community Involvement, and Family Engagement.

📧 Email: alpenglow.alaska.pta@gmail.com

🌐 Website: https://alpenglow.givebacks.com/

📱 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/alpenglowpta

Alpenglow Spirit Store

We may all be dreaming of spring, but winter is still upon us. Please have your student bring a coat, gloves, hat, snow pants, and snow boots to school daily. Alpenglow does not have enough spare winter gear for the number of students that keep forgetting their gear each day. All students go out to recess down to -10 degrees.

Speaking of winter, respiratory illnesses are still in full swing. If your child needs cough drops during the school day, please fill out this e-form and email it to Nurse Sally. My email is netter_sally@asdk12.org.

Students are not allowed to self-carry cough drops per ASD policy. Cough drops are treated as a medication. A parent must give one-time verbal permission each time they are given, or can fill out the form above, and your child can come to the nurse for cough drops as needed. You can specify any restrictions (for example, "twice daily" or "give every 3 hours") on the form. As a matter of practice, I do not administer cough drops before PE, recess, or lunch.

I have cough drops available in the nurse's office for occasional use. If your child needs them regularly, please plan for a parent to drop off unexpired cough drops in their original packaging to the nurse.

Sally Netter, RN

School Nurse

Alpenglow Elementary School

AK Choice @ Alpenglow

netter_sally@asdk12.org

907-742-3304

Here come's the sun! Get out and be active! Log your activity minutes, get it signed by a parent or guardian, and return to Coach Pandres at the end of the month for a prize!

My counseling days since the holidays have been filled with social emotional learning (SEL) lessons for each classroom, student visits, focused small groups, and staff and school support. Some of our focus areas for lessons have included kindness; having a growth mindset; coping skills when we get upset; conflict resolution, and integrity.

I have also had the privilege of visiting with some of our Alpenglow parents. Sometimes a family can be going through a tough patch, or, a child is struggling with friendship concerns or some other challenge that keeps them from being fully present for learning in the classroom. Thank you for reaching out and asking me to check in on your student so we can offer wrap-around support between home and school for our students.

As we near Spring Break, our students can hardly wait for some rest and time to enjoy a ‘brain break’. I hope that time will be nourishing for all of you. We look forward to having them return to Alpenglow, refreshed and ready to learn!

Watch for ‘Donuts with Dads’, coming on April 7th! This before-school event, held once in the fall and once in the spring, offers a special time for relationship-building between dads and their Alpenglow students. There is a short program that offers a focus for conversation. We always see lots of smiles both from students AND their dads! (Note: we understand that family dynamics differ, so all are welcome.)

For our military families: while I am available for all students, our MFLC (military family life counselor), who specifically work with our military students, visits classrooms and gathers students during Lunch Bunches, to offer support for military-related issues (i.e. joining school during the school year; family deployment adjustments; etc.). We share an office in Room 213. The MFLC is a great asset to Alpenglow and is available on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

As a reminder, my schedule at Alpenglow is Monday and Tuesdays, all day, and Friday afternoons. I welcome a call or email from you at any time.

Warmly,

Your school counselor,

Jane Barber, M Ed

Email: barber_jane@asdk12.org

Alpenglow phone: 907-742-3300, message

Hello, Bookworms and Families! It has been an absolutely incredible month in the library. The energy is high, the shelves are getting a workout, and we are so excited to share what’s happening in our world of words!

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our Olympic Genre Challenge! We were blown away by your enthusiasm. You didn’t just read; you sprinted through biographies, tumbled into sports, and dived deep into non-fiction.

Because of your hard work, we saw a record-breaking number of books checked out! You all deserve a spot on the podium. Keep that reading momentum going!

Get your winter gear ready, because we are hitting the trail! We are officially kicking off the Iditaread, where students are challenged to "mush" their way across the wilderness by reading.

The goal? 975 minutes of reading—one minute for every mile of the historic trail from Anchorage to Nome!

• Track Your Miles: For every minute you read, you move one mile closer to the finish line.

• The Finish Line: Can you make it to Nome before the final musher crosses the burled arch?

• Brave the Elements: Whether it’s a blizzard of biographies or a frozen tundra of fantasy, every page counts toward your journey!

Grab your reading logs in the library this week. Let’s see who has the "paws-itive" attitude to go the distance!

Our poor Book Doctors are working overtime! We’ve noticed a lot of our favorite stories are spending too much time in the Book Hospital waiting for repairs.

To keep our library collection healthy and happy, let’s remember these three simple rules:

• Keep snacks and water bottles away from library books (soggy pages are no fun!).
• Use a bookmark instead of folding down the corners (no "dog-ears," please!).
• Find a safe "forever spot" at home (like a specific shelf or your backpack) so books don’t get stepped on or lost.

Let's work together to keep our books in "mint condition" for the next student to enjoy!

Spring Break is just around the corner, and we want to make sure you have plenty of adventures to take with you.

This week only, students who have no overdue books are allowed to check out ONE EXTRA BOOK! Whether you’re traveling far away or having a "stay-cation" in your pajamas, make sure your library bag is packed with a few great reads.

Get ready to rumble... with stories! When we return from Spring Break, we will be launching our March Madness Book Bracket. We’ll have sixteen of our most popular titles going head-to-head in a win-or-go-home tournament. You’ll get to vote for your favorites until we crown the 2026 MVP Most Valuable Pages! Which book will take home the trophy? Stay tuned!

Happy Reading,

Stacey Moncur

School Librarian

Alpenglow Elementary

907-742-3300

Youth Art Month (YAM)

Alpenglow artists and other ASD schools

Located at the Anchorage Museum

and the Chugiak/Eagle River Library

February 27th - April 4th

Anchorage Museum:

April 3rd will be free

from 6 pm-9 pm at night.

The artworks are on display at the Anchorage Museum on 625 C Street, Anchorage, Alaska and at the Chugiak-Eagle River Library on 12001 Business Blvd., 176, Eagle River Town Center, Eagle River, Alaska

Following the art show, the artwork will be returned to the students at school.

Let’s give a big "Congratulations!" to Kaladin Hadaway, Ethan Wilson, Zuri Link, and Declan Houser.

Thank you to all of my students for being creative, respectful, and responsible in the art classroom!

Sara Upicksoun

Art Teacher

Alpenglow and Homestead Elementary School

upicksoun_sara@asdk12.org

🥪 Noon Supervisors – Supervise lunch & recess (Mon–Fri, 10:45–1:15) → Apply HERE
🍎 Substitute Teachers – Support classrooms when teachers are out → Details HERE
🧹 BPO / Custodian – Keep our school safe, clean & welcoming → Contact Mrs. Demetree-Trombley at 907-742-3300.

Be part of a fun, supportive school community and make a difference every day!

To apply for these positions, please visit the Anchorage School District employment portal.

• Mondays: Wear your Kuspuk (or Qaspeq)

• Fridays: Show your school spirit with an Alpenglow shirt or our school colors: black, teal, and silver

1 - IditaRead begins

2 - Spirit Day: Fox in Socks - Wear Crazy Socks

3 - Spirit Day: My Many Colored Days - Wear as many colors as you can

4 - Spirit Day: Oh, the Places You’ll Go - Dress as the jobs you would like to have in the Future

5 - Spirit Day: Cat in the Hat - Wear your favorite hat

5 - Popcorn Friday (on Thursday)

6 - No School

8 - Daylight Savings Starts - Spring Back

9 - 13 - Spring Break
16 - Student Council Meeting
19 - Field Trip - 3rd/4th/5th Grade
26 - Spring Pictures
26 - Kindergarten Round Up

30 - PTA Meeting

31 - AK STAR MATH 3rd - 5th Grades

April 1 - AK STAR MATH 3rd - 5th Grades

April 1 - Paraprofessional Appreciation Day

April 2 - AK STAR MATH 3rd - 5th Grade

April 3 - AK STAR MATH 3rd - 5th Grades

April 3 - School Librarian Appreciation Day

April 6 - Alaska Science 5th Grade