Hello Highland Families!

I hope that everyone is enjoying their summer! Over the next couple of weeks, I will be sending out quite a bit of information, updates, and reminders. Please be sure to read thoroughly and don't hesitate to reach out via email (crosby_nicole@asdk12.org) or phone 907-742-1700 with any questions. We look forward to the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

If you haven't already done so, please be sure to complete your child's online registration for the 2026-2027 school year. Registration is required every year for all students. Log in to Q/ParentConnect to complete this important step before the school year starts.

Please join me in welcoming two new members of our team! Mr. Drotar joins us as our High School Math teacher and High School Advisor, and Nurse Katrina will be providing all school nursing services in her part-time role. We are excited to have them both on board and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our school community!

We are currently seeking an Administrative Assistant to join the Highland team for the upcoming school year. If you are interested in this opportunity, or know someone who would be a great fit, please click the link below to view the job description and complete an application.

Please see below for additional information regarding Highland's Academic Calendar, Back to School BBQ, School Supply List, Bell Schedule, Empower Login Information, Chromebooks, Lunch, and so much more!

We will be rolling out the red carpet for all students on Wednesday, August 19th for our first day back to school. Come hungry, as we will be providing pancakes first thing in the morning. We are looking forward to a great start of the year!

2026-2027 Registration

If you haven't already done so, please ensure registration for the 2026-2027 school year has been completed.

APPLY TODAY!

Welcome Back BBQ!

All families are invited to join us on Tuesday, August 25th between 5:00-6:30 for our Open House and Back to School BBQ event. Highland’s PTSO will be grilling food and hosting activities, while teachers are available for meet and greets. This is a great opportunity to connect with staff members and other Highland families. We look forward to seeing you for an evening of family fun!

School Supplies

Students should have the following items on a daily basis:

Pens/pencils
3-ring binder with dividers and lined paper
(2) Composition notebooks
Charged Chromebook
Reusable water bottle

Other helpful items include:

Sticky notes
Highlighters
Athletic shoes for those students in PE

Teachers always accept donations of:

Clorox wipes
Hand sanitizer
Low odor dry erase markers
Poster markers
Sticky notes
Kleenex
Pencils

Bell Schedule and Student Schedules

Highland will continue to use a 7-block modified bell schedule this year. Classes start promptly at 8:30 every day. We highly encourage families to drop off students between 8:00-8:20 to ensure they arrive to class on time.

Be on the lookout for an Elective Request Survey coming later this week. Students will have the opportunity to request the elective classes they are most interested in taking. We do our best to honor student choice, as long as the schedule allows and student needs are met.

Student schedules will be available in Empower on Monday, August 17th. Log in to Empower and change the date to August 19th to see the full class schedule.

Empower Login Information

Empower is up and running for the 2026-2027 school year. If you are new to Highland, please use the following login information to access your account:

Username: FirstnameLastname

Password: Welcome2027!

Once you log in, please change your password to something you will remember. If you have any trouble logging in to Empower, reach out to Ms. Crosby for support (crosby_nicole@asdk12.org).

If you haven’t already done so, take some time to familiarize yourself with Empower, Highland’s learning management system. Empower is an integral part of student learning, as teachers assign and assess work through this program. Students should be logging in everyday to access and submit work, receive feedback, check scores, etc. We highly encourage parents/guardians to log into Empower with their child on a regular basis to view progress. Please take a few minutes to watch this Empower tutorial video.

Empower Learning

Chromebooks

Students that do not already have a Chromebook, will be assigned a school Chromebook and charger at the beginning of the year. It is their responsibility to take care of the device, bringing it fully charged, to and from school every day. Computers are used on a regular basis, and it is critical to the learning environment that students are using technology appropriately. The school network and computers are not intended or provided for personal use. It is our expectation that students adhere to district policy, as well as Highland policy and classroom expectations.

Lost, stolen, or intentionally damaged devices and accessories are the responsibility of the student and parents/guardians involved in the loss of property. Fines may be charged for any repair or replacement of the Chromebook based on the following fee schedule:

Lost/Missing/Damaged Chromebook $225
Lost/Missing/Damaged Charger $20
Screen Replacement $50
Hinge $15

A more comprehensive list of repair and replacement fees can be found on our website.

All students are assigned a Google Account (asdk12.net), providing them access to school issued Chromebooks and their Google Drive. The Anchorage School District monitors student accounts, flagging inappropriate content and use. Misuse of a school device may result in a restrictive technology plan or temporary suspension of a student’s account.

Lunch

We encourage all of our students to bring their own lunches to school every day. Highland does have a school store, stocked with a variety of drinks, chips, burritos, pizza pockets, cup of noodles, and uncrustables for purchase. We also serve Costco pizza every Friday, $2 a slice! As we move toward a cashless system, lunch punchcards can be purchased at the front office with cash or check or on Q/ParentConnect with a credit card. Punchcards can be purchased in increments of $20.

Volunteer Form

Volunteers help make field trips and events possible! If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the required ASD Volunteer Form as soon as possible. We appreciate your time and support!

Activity Fee

We request that all families pay a $150 supply and activity for the school year through Q/ParentConnection. These funds help pay for intensives, student-led activities, class sets, and more. If this is a hardship, or you would rather donate your time, we would be happy to work with you.

Academic Policy Committee (APC)

As a charter school, Highland Academy is governed by an Academic Policy Committee (APC). It is the APC's responsibility to oversee the implementation of the school's mission and vision, oversee finances, and develop a strategic plan to support the continued growth of the school. The APC works directly with our staff, students, and families to develop goals and action steps to support our school community. The board's first work session of the school year is on August 5th at 5:00 in the Highland conference room. Our first regularly scheduled board meeting of the school year is August 12th at 6:00 via Zoom. All community members are invited to attend APC Meetings and Work Sessions. All APC meeting dates, Zoom links, and agendas will be posted on our website in advance. For more information about our APC, please check their page on our school website.

We are still looking for two parents/guardians to join our Academic Policy Committee. This is a great opportunity to get involved and support the continued growth and success of Highland. If you are interested in joining, please reach out to Ms. Crosby.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to the Highland community! Be on the look out for weekly communication from the school every Friday. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Enjoy these last few weeks of summer!

-Ms. Crosby, Principal

crosby_nicole@asdk12.org

https://www.asdk12.org/highlandacademy

Educating for Leadership, Educating for Life

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Highland Academy Charter School | Anchorage AK

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Highland Weekly

August 3rd, 2026

Hello Highland Families!

Welcome Back BBQ!

School Supplies

Bell Schedule and Student Schedules

Empower Login Information

Chromebooks

Lunch

Volunteer Form

Activity Fee

Academic Policy Committee (APC)

Follow Highland on Social Media

Highland Academy Charter School | Anchorage AK

Highland Academy Charter School (@highlandacademyak)

Hello Highland Families!

Welcome Back BBQ!

School Supplies

Bell Schedule and Student Schedules

Empower Login Information

Chromebooks

Lunch

Volunteer Form

Activity Fee

Academic Policy Committee (APC)

Follow Highland on Social Media Follow Highland on Social Media

Follow Highland on Social Media