Dimond Newsletter

Every day of school counts, and strong attendance is directly linked to a student's academic success. When students are in class, they engage in hands-on learning, build critical skills, and stay connected with their teachers and peers. As we wrap up our first seven weeks of school, students who have missed three or more days of school are considered chronically absent. Being chronically absent makes it much harder to keep up with coursework and maintain good grades. I encourage you to review your child’s attendance in ParentConnect. Our staff love seeing your children every day, and we appreciate your partnership in helping them arrive on time and ready to learn!

Over the past few weeks, our community and parent networks have raised concerns regarding the state of the student parking lot, and frankly, I agree that the litter has become a real issue. The Dimond Student Government has purchased extra trash cans for the parking lot, but we need your partnership to keep our campus clean. This simple action connects directly to our school values and what it means to stay golden. As members of the Dimond family, it is our collective responsibility to take care of our community. Doing the right thing by properly disposing of litter shows true integrity and demonstrates respect for our shared culture. Our school community deserves a campus that reflects who we are, so let’s work together to make Dimond shine!

Reminder: there is no school on Monday (10/12) for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and next Friday (10/16) is an inservice day (no school for students) due to the end of first quarter. That also means it is a good time to check grades in ParentConnect!

Sincerely,

Principal D’Atri

• October 12th: No School- Indigenous Peoples’ Day

• October 16th: No School- End of 1st Quarter/ Teacher Grading Day

• October 29th: Half Day (student release at 12:15pm); Parent-Teacher Conferences are 1-3:30pm and 5-8pm.

• October 30th: No School- Staff Professional Development Day

• November 3rd: No School- Election Day

• November 11th: Veterans Day

If you're new to high school conferences, you do not need to make an appointment. Each teacher will be set up either in their room or the auditeria. If the teacher is not in their room they will have a sign on the door directing you to the auditeria. We encourage you to come with your student, but we will have maps near the front office that you can use to navigate the building if your student isn’t with you.

Schedule for Parent Teacher Conferences on October 29th:

Student Dismissal: 12:15pm

Parent-Teacher Conferences- Session 1: 1:00pm - 3:30pm

Teacher Break: 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Parent-Teacher Conferences- Session 2: 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Parent Teacher Conferences conclude: 8:00pm

The Dimond High School PTSA will be hosting our annual "Bun•dle of Thanks" Staff Appreciation Lunch before Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 29, 2026. We're treating our amazing teachers and staff to a delicious lunch featuring favorite meals on a bun, plus sides, desserts, and beverages.

We need your help to make this event a success! Please consider signing up to donate food, beverages, volunteer your time, or make a monetary contribution to help fill any gaps. All main dishes, sides, and desserts should be delivered to the front office by 9:00 a.m. on October 29. Nonperishable items and beverages may be dropped off anytime during the week leading up to the event.

SignUp Genius Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0849AFAF2EABFAC70-66015344-teacher

Thank you for helping us show our appreciation for the incredible teachers and staff who support our students every day! ❤️🐾

We also need help selling Spirit Wear during the conferences. Please consider volunteering. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0849AFAF2EABFAC70-65327302-2026

We will be hosting a Flu Vaccine Clinic at DHS during parent teacher conferences on Oct 29th. All students, family members and staff are welcome to get a flu shot. We will also be offering DtaP for any students still needing the immunization.

As we near the end of the 1st Quarter, please remember that there will be no schedule or course changes made for the 2nd Quarter. Any changes to your students' 2nd Semester courses can be made in January through their counselor. More information about 2nd Semester course changes will be available in December

Please read this important information from the Dimond Counseling office.

Senior portraits and senior quotes are due by the end of school day on December 12, 2026. Portraits must be vertical orientation, and file size must be 225-300 DPI or 750 x 1050 pixels.

Quotes should be limited to approximately 120 characters.

Senior ads purchased by parents and families are due by the end of school day on January 24, 2027.

Everything can be sent to dimond_yearbook@asdk12.org

The CRC will be open from 8:45am to 3:15pm on Tuesdays. If you need an appointment outside of those hours please contact Kim Lauwers.

The CRC is there to help students and parents navigate life after high school, whether that be Trade Schools or College. She can help with FAFSA, finding and helping to secure scholarships, guidance on letters of recommendations and so much more!

More to come!

Grades Matter! Academic Eligibility for Sports and Activities:

Students participating in sports or all-state academic/ fine arts activities must remain academically eligible. Eligibility is checked at the beginning of the 1st and 2nd semesters, as well as the beginning of the 2nd and 3rd quarters. ASD VIRTUAL STUDENTS be aware that although virtual courses are self-paced, a quarter grade will be given based on your work completed during the grading period. This grade counts towards your academic eligibility. Students who are not eligible will not be able to participate in their sport or activity.

UPCOMING SPORTS START DATES AND SIGNUPS-

Tier 1 Sports $300/Tier 2 Sports (Swim/Hockey) $500. Cap of $800. Non ASD students cost more please reach out to Chelsea Hunt in the Activities office. Once you have reached this amount, all other sports will be free for the remainder of the current school year. If your family is seeking a financial waiver, you will need to apply and be approved for the Free and Reduced Lunch program. You can find this application process on the Student Nutrition website.

Please register on arbiter.io. This is the online application for sports

If you have additional questions, please contact Chelsea Hunt in the Activities office at 742-7005. Office hours are 8 AM to 4 PM with a closure at 12 PM for 30 mins.

START DATE

OCT. 14th

Hockey

Hockey Cheer

Oct. 28th

Ski

Each Monday we will post the sports activities for the week on our Facebook page. Come cheer on our amazing Lynx athletes!

Coming soon, the commemoration of Japanese photographer, Hoshino Michio, who spent 18 years traveling across Alaska recording life in the Far North with striking photos of nature and insightful essays. See the attached flyer for more details about this FREE event.

After school Homework Club has begun. Students may get additional help in any subject but expertise in math is available. Homework club is available on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30pm - 4:30pm in room B108.

Students are encouraged to bring supplemental notes or assignments with them.

Photos can be ordered from http://fitzgeraldphotos.com/. Your students ID number will gain you access to order your students photos.

Dimond High School is partnering with Frontier Tutoring to deliver free college admissions webinars for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade parents and students. Parents must register for the webinar in advance at frontiertutoring.com/webinars. The webinars will cover SAT/ACT testing strategy (including test-optional policy updates and the new digital SAT), the college list building process, how to develop your college application essays and obtain strong letters of recommendation, preparing your Common Application, and more!

UPCOMING FREE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS WEBINARS:

• The Ultimate Guide to Writing Your Personal Statement

• Wednesday, October 7 | 6 PM

• 3 Steps to SAT/ACT Success: with Test Optional, dSAT, and Enhanced ACT Updates

• Wednesday, October 14 | 6 PM

Dimond High School is also partnering with Frontier Tutoring to offer free SAT and ACT practice tests for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. These practice tests give students the chance to experience the full test-day process without the pressure of a real score. Parents must register for a practice test in advance at frontiertutoring.com/practicetest. After each practice test, families may schedule a free personalized score review and receive a free detailed report highlighting the student’s strengths and areas for improvement.

• SAT Practice Test - Saturday October 10th | 1:00-3:30 PM

• SAT Practice Test - Saturday October 24th | 1:00-3:30 PM

Volunteers Needed at Lynx Lair!

Want a fun, easy way to get involved at school and meet other parents? We’re looking for volunteers to help sell snacks at the Lynx Lair during student lunch breaks! Shifts are scheduled for 1.5 hours per week, and individuals may register for a recurring position or serve as an occasional substitute. We urgently need at least two parent volunteers for Monday, Thursday, and Friday lunches from 11:00 – 13:00! We are also asking for students who would like to help at the Lynx Lair during lunches to earn volunteer hours. We will do a drawing every week for the students to put their name in and get a free drink of any kind.

The Lynx Lair is more than just snacks—it’s a vital fundraiser that supports school activities like the annual art contest, fall carnival, and teacher appreciation events. Sales also provide mini grants to teachers for classroom projects, field trip support, and extra materials. Sign up today, check out our newly designed website, or email dimondptsaboard@gmail.com and be part of something fun and meaningful at our school.

Reflections Art Contest

The Reflections Art Contest is administered by the National PTA and coordinated at the local school level. The Reflections program offers students valuable opportunities for recognition and engagement in the arts, which fosters confidence and success both academically and personally. Participation is open to all students, and the 2026-2027 theme is “What my culture means to me!”

Entries may be submitted in the following categories: Film Production, Music Composition, Photography, Literature, Visual Arts, Dance Choreography, and Special Artist. Entry forms are available in the Lynx Lair or online at https://dimondhighptsa.memberhub.com/. All entries must be submitted by November 21. Please encourage your students to participate. Dimond PTSA will award gift card prizes to top entries, and additional honors are available at both the State and National levels