Mr. Dorris' Message

West Families-

Its that time of the year when the school year where things start moving along pretty quickly, Back to School Night, Homecoming all in the rearview mirror and the time starts to fly by. Speaking of flying by the quarter ends on October 15th. With the end of the quarter approaching, we have 9 more class days, including today, left in the quarter. This is the first report card for the 2026-27 school year, helping everyone understand how students are performing in their 1st semester classes. Students should check their class grades regularly and identify any assignments that need to be submitted by the teachers' deadline, if it's still an option. Teachers will report grades on October 16th.

Lots going on in Monday News this week so make sure you check the whole edition.

XC running just had their State Championships, congrats to the girls team for taking 4th and to the boys team for winning State and becoming STATE CHAMPIONS, see the pics below. I am really proud of both the boys and girls winning the GPA Award, showing what it means to be a student athlete. The tennis team just finished up winning Regions for the 9th straight year in a row, they finish up their run for another STATE TITLE next weekend. Flag football and football start their playoff this week. Good luck to all of those players and their teams.

The Fine Arts Department is now in full swing as they just finished up the first theatre performance of the year and the reviews were awesome. They are gearing up for the next performances see the flyer and information below. The Fall Concerts are all schedule for this week so be sure to check those out they are all in the West Auditorium and you can attend free of charge.

Choirs, Tuesday @ 6:30

Orchestra, Wednesday @7:00pm

Band, Thursday @ 6:30

Here is the link for all the Fine Arts Performances for the year.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g1qMQYKK_DZH95JL1GpDusq3HjsMA7qg0rvQw60DySU/edit?usp=sharing

October 16th is a grading day for teachers so there is NO School for students.

Save the date, Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday October 29th from 1:00pm-3:30pm and for the evening session they will run from 5:00pm-8:00pm

Also Thursday will be a half day and Friday will be an In-Service day, so no school for the students, the the graphic below.

The PTSA is looking for some part time volunteer help during our lunches to provide some minimum support for the Eagles Cache. Also PTSA is having their October meeting in the library on Thursday 10/8 in the library at 5:30pm

Picture Make Up Day will be October 8th. If you haven't had your pictures done please make sure to take advantage of this last time to get your pictures taken. They will be done in the morning in the Eagle Cache.

Have a Great Day the West High Way!

Ja Dorris

Celebrating Students

State XC Running was this past weekend and our girls team of Chloe Hayner, Kendall Barnett, Marcelle Shasby, Sadie Haas, Vivienne Raun, Lily Poray Neve Hagenstein took 4th place in a crowed field

The Boys team of Atlin Frederick, Arlo Jespersen, Will McMahn, Finn Dudley, Elias WIlliams, Axel Stone, Kenny Mullins took home the STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Nice work XC Runners!!

Celebrating Students

The Tennis Team won Regions over the weekend. Congrats to Kana Cebrian (1st place girls singles) Cherish Cebrian (2nd place girls singles) Adam Kaufman (1st place boys singles) Grace Yang and Maria Hrgovic (1st place girls doubles). Congrats to all Tennis teams members

College Match October 7th

The EAB College Match Program Event for Rising Seniors Event

Hey Westies,

West is hosting a launch even for the EAB College Match program on October 7th, 6-7:30pm in the West High Library Annex.

- Consider this program “reverse admissions.” Each student completes a profile that takes 20-30 minutes, the counseling team will upload the student’s transcript.

- The Match program then anonymizes each student’s profile and transcript, which the participating colleges/universities review the student profiles beginning the 1st day of each month.

- The 3rd week of each month, students will receive only “Yes” from any institutions, often with scholarship money.

- The student then identifies that they are interested in the school or not. Once the student says they are interested, the school receives all the previously anonymous information and the student is considered an admitted student to that school. - Sign-up to attend this event with this link: https://forms.gle/yc4Hg2DkwAwUiHWa7

This link has information for Parents: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:b4fa491e-745a-4666-a669-502d19b7ed53?viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover

This link has information for students: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rND_R5WQiSDPxKVBUYLtHKyGRw_UJJ2z/view?usp=sharing

If you have any questions, please email Mr. Henry at: henry_scott@asdk12.org

Important 1st Semester Dates

This link contains 1st semester important dates and is updated frequently so check back from time to time.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iLSWDzsRgc5rxeUNRPvTSNMsIjdoAeiktRfxTtdboko/edit?tab=t.0

Audition Notice - AS YOU LIKE IT Musical

Named one of The New York Times’ Best Shows of 2017, As You Like It is an immersive dream-like tale of faithful friends, feuding families and lovers in disguise.

Forced from their homes, Orlando, Duke Senior, his daughter Rosalind and niece Celia escape to the Forest of Arden, a fantastical place of transformation, where all are welcomed and embraced. Lost amidst the trees, the refugees find community and acceptance under the stars.

Featuring an original folk-pop score by Shaina Taub. Fall under love’s spell with this magical story!

AUDITIONS will be held October 14, 2026 in the West High Auditorium. Newcomers are very welcome to audition! The Audition Format will be to sing 32 bars of a song that shows off your vocal talents and recite a prepared 1-minute Shakespearean Monologue

If you are interested in working backstage on this production, please come to auditions. Questions? Contact Director Mr. Lyke at lyke_brian@asdk12.org

RSVP for Auditions!

That's a wrap for PETER PAN GOES WRONG!

What a magical weekend we had at the West High Auditorium. Thank you to everyone who came out for ONE-ACT PETER PAN GOES WRONG. It was a blast to prepare and perform, and we so appreciated the audience that witnessed our work. By 10pm Saturday, the auditorium was returned to it's original state, ready for another creative adventure.

If you are free this week, West Fine Arts music concerts will be held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. These events are free, and run about an hour long. Be sure to check them out.

Seniors, Parents and Guardians

Seniors and Parents/Guardians,

UAA Admissions counselors will be at West High School on October 22, 2026, from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM in the library to assist seniors with applications for college admission for the 2027–2028 school year.

Students should bring their Social Security Number or birth certificate.

This is a great opportunity to get help with the application process, ask questions, and learn more about UAA.

Yearbook News

MAKE YOUR YEARBOOK

ONE-OF-A-KIND

Visit jostens.com to purchase and design a page in honor of your graduating senior.

Order a yearbook for your student and make it even more special with their name on the cover and the chance to save up to $20 on icons. Use promo code YBKICONS at checkout to save. PERSONALIZE YOURS ›

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LIMITED-TIME OFFER

Make your student's yearbook even more special with a personalized yearbook cover and save up to $20 on icons. Choose from over 65 custom icons featuring sports, hobbies, clubs, grad years and many more. Offer ends Friday, October 2.

SAVE $20 ON ICONS ›

Nadejda Hess

CTE Internships are Open

Fall 2026 CTE Internship Applications are Open!

CTE Internships are open to students aged 16 and older who have shown interest in certain career fields through CTE classes or by contacting West's Graduation Coach, Ms. Stolee (Room 68 or stolee_kendra@asdk12.org). See the CTE Internship website for more information.

West's Communication Internship

Do you have an interest in creating content and telling West's story? If so, we are looking for 3-4 students who would like to earn credit while telling West's story. See the flyer for more information and a QR code for interest (also can complete the form here). Questions can be directed to Ms. Stolee at stolee_kendra@asdk12.org

After School Pick Up

After School Pick Up

All students need to exit the building at 3:30 unless they are directly supervised by a coach or club sponsor. Students in the halls past 3:30 will be asked to exit the building.

Students may go to the library until 4:15 at which time both West and Romig students will be asked leave the building.

CTE and Science wings close and lock at 3:30. Students are not allowed to remain in these foyers past 3:30.

West High Clinic Information

The West High Clinic is up and running. Students need parent permission to be seen. Appointments can be requested using a this online form:

https://forms.gle/DUMfETYDpArMaV23A

Questions: Call or text 907-917-6764

Club Opportunities

West has an amazing assortment of clubs and student led groups that typically meet during lunch. This is a great way to get connected to like minded students and make connections. This list is constantly growing, so be sure to check back from time to time. If you don't see something you like feel free to start your own club. Stop by the Activities Office for more information on how to start your own club. https://west.asdk12.org/sports-activities/clubs

Hispanic Heritage Month

"As we begin National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), we take special pride in celebrating the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans throughout our school community.

Here at West, our vibrant Spanish program and our deep community of native and heritage Spanish speakers are core parts of our identity. This month offers a dedicated opportunity to uplift student voices, honor family traditions, and recognize how bilingualism and cultural diversity enrich our entire campus culture—from academic achievement to student leadership.

We invite our families to join in the celebration by sharing stories, traditions, or community events with us. Thank you for partnering with us as we empower our students to lead, learn, and take pride in their cultural and linguistic heritage."

"Al iniciar el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana (del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre), nos llena de orgullo celebrar las ricas historias, culturas y contribuciones de los hispanos y latinoamericanos en toda nuestra comunidad escolar.

Aquí en West, nuestro dinámico programa de español y nuestra valiosa comunidad de hablantes nativos y de herencia son partes fundamentales de nuestra identidad. Este mes nos ofrece una maravillosa oportunidad para destacar las voces de nuestros estudiantes, honrar las tradiciones familiares y reconocer cómo el bilingüismo y la diversidad cultural enriquecen toda nuestra cultura escolar, desde el rendimiento académico hasta el liderazgo estudiantil.

Invitamos a nuestras familias a unirse a esta celebración compartiendo con nosotros sus historias, tradiciones o eventos comunitarios. Gracias por colaborar con nosotros mientras motivamos a nuestros estudiantes a liderar, aprender y sentirse orgullosos de su herencia cultural y lingüística."

Chromebook Update

There are still students who do not have a Chromebook. Many of our 9th graders who never had an ASD issued Chromebook have received their computers. There are still many students (9th through 12th graders) who do not have a Chromebook due to a variety of reasons. If a student was issued a Chromebook from an ASD school before, they are responsible for using that Chromebook. If that Chromebook is broken or damaged, they need to bring the broken or damaged Chromebook into Ms. Goldie (her office is near the Student Activities office) so that she can replace it. If a student has lost a Chromebook, they need to complete the appropriate form in Student Services to start the process of replacing the Chromebook, if available.

Academy Integrity Policy

Academic Integrity Policy- UPDATED

Academic integrity is the foundation of trust and learning. Consequences are upheld for cheating/plagiarism or AI use.

1st offense:

Teacher contacts parents
Teacher meets with student
Student given option to redo the assignment or do a replacement assignment

2nd offense:

Teacher contacts the parents
Parent/Teacher/Student conference with administrator
0 for the grade with no option to redo

3rd offense:

Administrator contacts parents
0 on the assignment
Parent/Administrator conference to review removal from the course with a W/F and/or removal from special program/class

*Consequences are cumulative across all classes

West Community Opportunities

Opportunities for our West Community

Attached are some flyers that could benefit a variety of our community members.

Seniors: The UAA Scholarship is open to students who are interested in the UAA Civil Engineering program.

Parents/Community Members: We will host our 3rd Career Speed Mentoring event for our 9th grade students on Thursday, October 29th from 8:30-12:15. We would love to see a variety of careers highlighted for our students to understand what exists in our Anchorage community (and beyond). Here is the link for responding to the QR code: https://forms.gle/pLNfN8GQnQTRdhX2A. Parents, please note that following the Career Speed Mentoring event is Fall Parent Conferences starting at 1PM here at West.

Yearbook Information

Yearbook News: Senior Portraits and Quotes

Attention all seniors:

Senior portraits and senior quotes are due on November 15th for yearbook.

Please email your senior portrait and senior quote to: westyearbook1953@gmail.com no later than November 15th. Along with your portrait, include your first and last name.

Visit jostens.com to order your yearbook! Special pricing by October 2nd.

PSAT Information

The PSAT will be offered at West on October 29th at the beginning of the school day. This exam is primarily for Juniors. If space allows, sophomores can take it with approval of the PSAT Coordinator. We want families to have this information early for planning purposes. The sign-up process will begin shortly after school starts.

Activities Stickers

Activity Stickers are available for $50.00. This allow you to get into all HOME and AWAY games for free. This includes all Sports for the entire year. You may purchase Activity Stickers on Parent Connect

Library News

Library News:

It's great to have students back on campus once again! Reminder, our library hours are:

Monday: 9:15 - 4:15

Tuesday - Thursday: 8:15 - 4:15

Students are welcome to visit the library independently with a pass or during an open period, but they must follow the campus cell phone policy and be mindful of any classes in session. We appreciate the cooperation!

West Spirit Gear

The Spirit Gear store just got a fresh restock of flannel lounge pants, and tons of items are on sale as we make room for next year's inventory - great time to stock up!

Order online for pickup at the main office or ship directly to you: west-anchorage-high-school-ptsa.square.site Spirit Gear is also available in person every Monday during lunch.

🎨 And calling all student designers! We're hosting a Spirit Gear Design Contest - submit your original design by May 1st for a chance to win $100 in store credit and see your artwork on official West High Spirit Gear. Enter here: https://forms.gle/WsA2UBMBWgBktxjY7

Parent Connect

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is really important for your student’s education.

Parents, we are really trying to streamline our process and make your life easier as well as ours.

BEST OPTION

PARENT CONNECT

-You can do “anything” attendance in Parent Connect. You can excuse an absence, you can excuse 1st hour tardy (only 1st hour), you can enter a blue pass. Please allow 60 minutes if you are entering a blue pass, it takes time to process electronically.

LEAST FAVORED OPTION

PHONE CALL

-You can call 907-566-2500 and leave a message to excuse an absence. You can also excuse a 1st hour tardy (only 1st hour). This is a message only number and you will not be called back.

In your voice mail please include the following information

-Students Full Name

-Date of Absence/Tardy (1st hour tardies only)

-Reason for Absence/Tardy

For All Other General information you can call 907-742-2502

Student Transportation

Stopfinder App Launch for 2026-27 School Year

ASD Transportation and Communications Departments are excited to introduce Stopfinder - the all-in-one parent engagement app designed by parents, for parents. With the Stopfinder app, parents can track their child’s bus in real time, get instant notifications when the bus arrives at school, and stay connected and informed. The District will be sending out invites to families on Saturday, August 2.

If schools have any questions, please refer to the StopFinder website (https://www.asdk12.org/stopfinder) or email ASD Transportation TransportationSupport@asdk12.org .

West High Contacts

Email: dorris_ja@asdk12.org
Website: asdk12.org/west
Location: 1700 Hillcrest Drive, Anchorage, AK, USA
Phone: 9077422500
Twitter: @ONE_EAGLE_WHS

West High News

Monday News October 5th

Mr. Dorris' Message

Celebrating Students

Celebrating Students

College Match October 7th

Important 1st Semester Dates

Seniors, Parents and Guardians

Yearbook News

CTE Internships are Open

After School Pick Up

West High Clinic Information

Club Opportunities

Hispanic Heritage Month

Chromebook Update

Academy Integrity Policy

West Community Opportunities

Yearbook Information

PSAT Information

Activities Stickers

Library News

West Spirit Gear

Parent Connect

Student Transportation

West High Contacts