The Scoop

Dear Chugach Families,

It is hard to believe that our first quarter is nearly over! Time certainly has flown by the start of this school year, and I am so proud of how our students did on their first round of Benchmark testing. This really does help our teachers gauge the quality of the reading and math work they do with all of our students, and the data also shows that Chugach Optional is a shining star for the school district.

If you have been following the news, you will know that the Anchorage School District may be facing a $75m deficit even with the increased base student allocation (BSA) last year. This is partially due to millions of dollars of funding being taken away at the federal level. Please continue, as many of our Chugach families did last year, to reach out to your representatives down in Juneau, as well as to our State Representatives in Washington, D.C.

We are also entering our Chugach tradition of having fun community events, and we’ll be kicking things off with our Fall Festival this Saturday from 3-5 pm.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Joel

Wednesday, October 1 - Soccer Jamboree (3:00pm-4:30pm @ Bowman Elementary)

Saturday, October 4 - Chugach Fall Carnival (3:00pm-5:00pm on playground)

Wednesday, October 8 - Upper Battle of the Books Info meeting (11:45 in Heidi's room), Middle Group Battle of the Books Info meeting (11:30am & 3:00pm in Mikelle's room)

Thursday, October 9 - Flag Football Jamboree (3:30pm-5:00pm @ Homestead Elementary)

Friday, October 10 - Early Release Day (Dismissal @ 11:15am), Early Release @ the Museum (1:00pm-3:00pm)

Monday, October 13 - Indigenous Peoples Day [[NO SCHOOL]]

Tuesday, October 14 - Primary Portfolio Share (8:10am-8:45am)

Wednesday, October 15 - Primary Portfolio Share (8:10am-8:45am)

Thursday, October 16 - Primary Portfolio Share (8:10am-8:45am), Kindy Fire Station Field Trip (12:15pm-2:30pm), Middle Portfolio Share (2:00pm-2:50pm)

Friday, October 17 - Student Release Grading Day [[NO SCHOOL]]

Monday, October 20 - Primary Portfolio Share (8:10am-8:45am), Upper Portfolio Share (12:40pm-1:40pm), Circus Arts with Mag Family Night (6:00pm-7:30pm in the Gym)

Wednesday, October 22 - Early Release for Conferences (Dismissal @ 11:15am)

Thursday, October 23 - Early Release for Conferences (Dismissal @ 11:15am)

Friday, October 24 - Student Release Day [[NO SCHOOL]]

Chugach’s Fall Festival is Saturday, Oct. 4, 3-5 p.m. Let’s celebrate the season with baby goats, the haunted house, bounce slide, cotton candy, cakewalk, BYO-mini pumpkin decorating, and more! This year, we’re moving the event outdoors (weather dependent), so dress accordingly!

Buy your Fall Festival tickets here! Tickets are $5/person or $20 for a family pass (four people or more). You can also buy tickets Thursday and Friday morning at drop off and at the event.

The Kindy family groups are excited to host a Mini-Pumpkin Decorating Booth. Each child who would like to participate should bring their own mini pumpkin to the carnival. Decorating supplies will be provided. Kids can let their creativity shine and take home their festive pumpkin when they’re done!

Additionally, if you have any size 'scarecrow' type clothing that you would like to donate there is a green basket next to the scarecrow by the fall festival bulletin board. And, as long as you are checking out the bulletin board we are still looking for grown-ups to volunteer for set-up, tear down, and other odd jobs during the event.

Please check in with your family group PCs to find out how you can help your family group booth, including signing up to bring individually wrapped baked goods for the cakewalk. These can be dropped off in the MPR before the event.

BAWK, BAWK, BAWK! Do we have your attention?! We only have two weeks left of our Big Simple fundraiser and we are still pecking away at our goal! Have you contributed yet? If not, please hatch a plan to donate! You can make your contribution any time between now and Friday, Oct. 10.

Big Simple powers the classroom programs, supplies, and experiences that make Chugach such an awesome place to learn and grow. The suggested donation is $125 per student. Head over here to learn more about Big Simple and make your contribution.

The CEC is organized under IRS code section 501(c)3 as a tax-exempt public charity. Your donation to the Big Simple is tax deductible. The Chugach Educational Corporation Tax ID Number is 92-0156985. Don’t forget to ask your employer if they will match your donation!

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. We would like to build up a supply of loaner rain jackets as well. If your family has outgrown raincoats you would like to donate to Chugach, please see Maya. We are also in need of size 6-8 regular pants for both boys and girls.

October means it is time to kick off this school year’s Battle of the Books season!

General information regarding Battle of the Books: Battle of the Books is a statewide reading comprehension and motivation program sponsored by the Alaska Association of School Librarians. The goals of the program are to encourage and recognize students who enjoy reading, broaden reading interests, increase reading comprehension, and promote academic excellence.

From October to February, students are engaged in reading a pre-selected set of books from various genres. Battle is great for students who already have a passion for reading, but it is also a fun and engaging opportunity for growing readers by getting all children excited about reading and giving them opportunities to read books outside their comfort zone.

At the beginning of the season, students are often skeptical about some of the book titles. By the end of the season however, they are often surprised to find that they really enjoyed some books they did not initially want to read and disappointed by some they thought they would love.

There will be an informational meeting held in Heidi's Family Group room on Wednesday, October 8th during lunch for all 5th and 6th graders who want to participate. Battle practices will be held on Mondays in Heidi's room from 11:45am-12:20pm.

Calling All Middle Group Readers!

Mikelle will be hosting an informational meeting for all middle group students who are interested in joining the Battle of the Books this year. Book lists will be given out and any questions about the practices and battles can be addressed. Two times are available on Wednesday Oct. 8th. All meetings will be held in Mikelle's room. Those interested should plan to attend one of the meetings.

Wednesday 10/8 at 11:45 am - Students can come check out the books and ask questions!

Wednesday 10/8 at 3:00 pm - Families are welcome to come and get a rundown on practices, reading requirements, and have a chance to ask questions.

*All children must be accompanied by an adult for the after-school meeting

Wednesday, October 22nd and Thursday, October 23rd are Early Release days (dismissal @ 11:15am) to accommodate Family-Teacher conferences in the afternoons. Teachers will be sending out specific instructions on what it looks like at each grade level. Please send any questions to your students teacher. To access the Online Conference Scheduler click here.

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!

Congratulations to our 2025 Flag Football team. Your sportsmanship and game play was awesome!

Keep us informed

Please get in touch with Nurse Maya if your child has a new medical/health condition that the school should be aware of, starts a new daily medication or has an injury that affects their ability to participate in recess and/or gym class - Musculoskeletal Injury Care Plan. Having up to date health information on our students helps us support student needs and ensure their safety.

When to Keep Your Child Home from School

• Temperature of 100.4 F

• Vomiting more than 2 times in 24 hours

• A constant runny nose and/or a cough that is frequent and wet

• Experiencing nausea or is too tired and uncomfortable to function at school

For more details on when to Keep Your Child Home, please click HERE

Head Lice: A Friendly Reminder about an itchy subject….. 🐜

Lice do not carry disease but are a nuisance. They are not a sign of uncleanness; they love clean hair because it is easier to hold on to! Lice are transmitted by direct contact, head to head. They crawl, they do not fly or hop.

• Remind children to not share: hats, scarves and hairbrushes with their friends

• If you notice your child itching their head, or if you notice sores (caused by scratching) please check their head and hair

• If you find head lice on your child notify Nurse Maya and treat your child’s hair with lice shampoo

• If you need assistance, Nurse Maya is happy to check your child's hair for you 🙂

Please see this link for more detailed suggestions for handling head lice—so we can stay ahead of potential cases in our school community.

Our lost & Found is growing like a weed! Please take a moment to check out the hooks by the music room and shelves in the MPR for any missing items. Smaller lost items (rings, earrings, glasses, keys) are kept in the front office and can be picked up from Carrie or Kelsey.

A few updates from your CEC!

Community Assembly Meetings

Our first Community Assembly Meeting (CAM) of the year focused on an introduction to Chugach and the CEC, with breakout sessions on Learning and Assessment at Chugach, Family Participation in the Classroom, and Chugach Culture. If you missed the meeting, you can find the

meeting minutes and links to presentations or documents here: https://www.chugachcommunity.org/meeting-minutes

Thank you to the teachers (Genie, Else, and Kris) who helped facilitate the breakout sessions. We appreciate you donating your time to make this community wonderful. And thank you to all of the families who came to the event! It is your participation that makes this school special.

Open CEC Board Seats

Join the CEC team! We currently have two open board seats we are actively recruiting to fill:

• Vice President (VP): The VP provides leadership and collaborates on CEC projects and fundraising. The VP has the option of serving as President the following year.
• Secretary: The Secretary records and manages minutes from all executive and Community Assembly meetings and provides additional administrative support.

Let’s get real, friends. No one has loads of free time and serving on the board seems like a big commitment. We get it! But when the CEC is at full strength, we are a team that collaborates and shares the load. We are also flexible – whether you’re great with numbers or spreadsheets, organizing events, or keeping everyone on track, we can use your talents, ideas, and perspective to make our school stronger. These positions can also be split – we can have co-Secretaries and co-VPs! If you’re interested, but have questions or hesitations, please consider coming to our next CEC meeting and/or talking to a current board member. You can also email chugachoptionalcecboard@gmail.com. We hope to hear from you!

Looking for a fun gift or stocking stuffer? Chugach is selling $20 Dave & Buster’s Power Cards—and 50% of pre-sales go directly to our school!

• Buy as many as you like for kids, gifts, or yourself (you deserve it 😉). With PFDs arriving, it’s the perfect time to give back and have fun!
• ✨ Use your Power Cards anytime, but they’ll be extra fun at our Spirit Event on Friday, Nov. 7—an afternoon of food, games, and family fun!
• Cards will be handed out at the November 7th event or sent home the following week.
• 🕛 Pre-sales end Wednesday, Nov. 5 at midnight—don’t miss out!

🎁 Pre-order here: https://ChugachOptional.betterworld.org/events/dave-busters-power-card-pre-sale

Let the games begin!

Our fall picture day went great, and we got some amazing student, staff and class photos. Picture re-takes will be on November 3th for those who either missed the first day or are unsatisfied with the ones they already got. If you have any questions about pictures or need help with ordering, please ask Kelsey in the front office or reach out to Lifetouch directly at the numbers below.

Mark your calendars and get ready for an epic day of fun! Join us on Friday, November 7th from 12PM- 3PM for our Chugach Spirit Event at Dave & Buster’s — an afternoon packed with games, food, laughter, and school spirit!

🎮 Bring the whole family and make memories while supporting Chugach!

🎟️ Use your pre-purchased Power Cards to rack up points and prizes.

🍔 Grab lunch, play games, and connect with other Chugach families.

No pressure, no program — just a great time with our amazing school community. And remember: every purchase helps give back to our school!

🕖 When: Friday, November 7th 12PM-3PM

📍 Where: Dave & Buster’s – Dimond Mall

🎁 Bonus: Power Cards will be distributed at the event!

Let’s pack the arcade with Chugach pride and turn lunchtime into GAME TIME! 💙💛

It’s time to break out your scrunchies, neon windbreakers, and slap bracelets… Chugach’s biggest fundraiser is going totally 90’s! Get ready party people, Saved by the Auction Bell is coming SOON!

💻 Visit our rad new webpage for all the essentials! ChugachCommunity.org/events/auction. This is your one-stop spot for all things Chugach Auction - Event details, ticket info, procurement materials, donor shout-outs, and more!

📅 Friday, November 21 at 49th State Brewing. Grab your friends and let’s relive the decade of mixtapes and high-tops as we raise critical funds for our amazing school! Get your tickets ASAP, early bird pricing ends Oct 31.

✨ We Need Volunteer Heroes! From basic data entry, to tracking down awesome auction items and picking up donations, to transforming the venue with totally 90’s flair – Teamwork makes the dream work! 📧 Email ChugachAuction907@gmail.com and join the crew that makes this night unforgettable.

Don’t miss this totally rad party for a great cause! Join us for a night of nostalgia, community, and epic support for Chugach Optional.

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.

  
  

  
  

The Chugach Optional Office is open from 7:30am - 4:00pm every school day. We can be reached at 907-742-3730 or by email at ChugachOffice@asdk12.org