The Scoop

Dear Chugach Families,

We’re off to a great start this year, and it is so wonderful to have all of our kindergarteners in the school and learning about their Family Groups. Starting the first week of September, Chugach will be doing our MAP benchmark testing for 3rd through 6th grades, and on September 10th we will be doing our mClass benchmark testing for grades K-3. It is important that Chugach students complete these benchmarks as they will provide us with a starting point for showing academic growth over this year for reading (K-6) and math (3-6).

I would also like to remind families that the Anchorage School Board has set an electronic device policy (cell phones, smart watches, etc.) for all students in grades K-12. On the elementary and middle school level, students are not allowed to access electronic devices during the school day. Students can have their devices out before the start of the school day and after the end of the school day. At Chugach, many of our students have cell phones and/or smart watches, and we ask them to just keep them in their backpacks. As a staff, we feel it is important that we model the same expectations, so our staff have committed to not access their cell phones during class time.

As always, stop by and say hello if you have the opportunity.

Joel

Monday, September 1 - Labor Day [[NO SCHOOL]]

Tuesday, September 2 - MAP Testing (READING - Grades 3-6)

Friday, September 5 - Parent Coordinator meeting in Staff Lounge (8:30am-9:30am)

Monday, September 8 - MAP Testing (MATH - Grades 3-6), Running Club (3:00pm-4:00pm)

Wednesday, September 10 - mClass Fall Testing (Grades K-3), Running Club (3:00pm-4:00pm)

Wednesday, September 10 - Friday, September 12 - !!UPPER OUTDOOR SCHOOL!!

Friday, September 12 -EARLY RELEASE DAY (Dismissal @ 11:15am)

Sunday, September 14 - Bears Tooth Movie Fundraiser - WILD ROBOT (1:00pm-3:00pm)

Monday, September 15 - School PICTURE Day!, Running Club (3:00pm-4:00pm)

Wednesday, September 17 - Running Club (3:00pm-4:00pm); CAM meeting (6:00pm-7:30pm in library)

Monday, September 22 - Running Club (3:00pm-4:00pm)

Wednesday, September 24 - Running Club (3:00pm-4:00pm)

Thursday, September 25 - Cross Country Jamboree (@ Bartlett, Time TBD)

Friday, September 26 - EARLY RELEASE DAY (Dismissal @ 11:15am)

Monday, September 29 - Running Club (End of Season Party, 3:00pm-4:00pm)

Woohoo! We have a new Cafeteria Manager!! Miss Carrie is a seasoned ASD Cafeteria Manager transferring to Chugach Optional. Hot lunch service is scheduled to return to Chugach on Thursday, September 4th. For more details regarding lunch service and pricing check out the ASD Student Nutrition webpage here or the Lunch Info page on the Chugach Optional website.

Cross Country running will begin Monday, September 8! Please send in the attached permission slip to Polly. We will meet from 3pm-4pm each practice day. We need a lot (20-30) of Group Leaders, so we can have several small groups of runners about the same speed. Please see Polly if you are interested in being a Group Leader and please make sure you fill out the Volunteer Application online.

KINDERGARTEN RUNNERS MUST COME WITH AN ADULT

Dates for Running Club:

Monday September 8 practice 3-4 Meet in Gym

Wednesday September 10 practice 3-4

Monday September 15 practice 3-4

Wednesday September 17 practice 3-4

Monday September 22 practice 3-4

Wednesday September 24 practice 3-4

Thursday September 25 Jamboree at Bartlett High School

Monday September 29 End of Season Party 3-4

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

Medications at School

If your child needs to take medication during the school day (prescription or over-the-counter, including cough drops) please get in touch with Nurse Maya. More details and medication forms can be found with this link: Medications at School

No nuts/peanuts policy in our classrooms

We ask that families pack a snack that does not contain peanuts or tree nuts for snack time. Peanuts and tree nuts are not allowed to be consumed in our classrooms.

Birthday Snacks or Shared Treats in the Classroom

Most of our classrooms have at least one student with food allergies, ranging from mild to severe Anaphylaxis. Before bringing food to share in your child’s classroom please check with their classroom teacher to see if there are any allergies or dietary restrictions so all children can enjoy the treat safely.

Student Health Screenings

Throughout the school year, school nurses will provide vision, hearing, and growth screenings according to AS 14.30.127(a). The extent of the routine screening depends on the grade. If your child has abnormal results in hearing or vision you will be contacted. However, any time a teacher or parent has a concern they can reach out to Nurse Maya.

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.

We would like to congratulate Benjamin Conrad, Yuri Jang and Uri Schulgasser for completing the ASD English Language Learners Program. Pictured with the students is Principal Joel and ELL Tutor Miss Sara.

We want to share that some staff members at Chugach experience fragrance sensitivity. This condition can be triggered by a variety of everyday products, including (but not limited to) toiletries, cosmetics, air fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry detergents, and pesticides.

While fragrance sensitivity is different from an allergy, the symptoms it causes can significantly affect a person's ability to learn and work effectively. We're sharing this information to help raise awareness and foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone in our community.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.asdk12.org/Page/3096

School Picture Day for Chugach Optional is Monday, September 15th. Lifetouch will be taking both individual student pictures and family group class pictures. Students will be bringing home flyers with order information the first week in September. Pictures can be ordered via the paper orders or online at mylifetouch.com. The Student School ID is EVTF7T2X (use for individual student picture). The Picture Day ID for family group pictures is EVT46NX4S. See attached flyers for more information.

The Chugach Educational Corporation (CEC) invites you to our first Community Assembly Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the library. Join us for a fun and friendly orientation to Chugach Optional! Meet Chugach families; find out more about the CEC, as well as Learning at Chugach, Culture, and Family Participation in small-group sessions hosted by the parents and staff. The CEC will provide light refreshments, and we are organizing childcare to be provided in the gym. If you plan to attend, please RSVP here by Friday, Sept. 12.

Attached below is your Physical Fitness Activity log. Please fill out each day that you do a cumulative of 60 minutes of activity (i.e., PE, recess, playing outside, walking the dog, soccer, swimming etc) At the end of the month please turn it in to Polly for an incentive award.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Our community’s response to Big Simple, Our Community Fundraiser has been nothing short of eggs-traordinary! Better yet, there’s still plenty of time and ways to contribute to Big Simple. You can make your contribution any time between now and Friday, Oct. 10, and for the next two weeks all contributors will be entered to win four tickets to see The Wild Robot at Bear Tooth Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Thanks to Blue Sky Studio LLC for sponsoring our first Match Monday this week and contributing an additional $250 toward our goal. If you are interested in sponsoring a Match Monday, please email Brandi Askeland at brandi.askeland@gmail.com.

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.

Chugach’s Fall Carnival is Saturday, Oct. 4, 3-5 p.m. Let’s celebrate the season with games and other activities at this community event. This year, we’re moving the event outdoors. Sip some cider, decorate a pumpkin, and enjoy fall at Chugach! Look for more information coming soon. Have ideas or want to help? Contact Fall Carnival Coordinator Becca Stein at rebecca.s.stein@gmail.com.

Celebrate early release with an educational field trip to the Anchorage Museum on Friday, Oct. 10, 1-3 p.m.! This is our first early release community event of the year! Families are invited to take part in a curated visit full of discovery, guided by grade-specific itineraries — including a Planetarium show and time to explore the museum's most popular exhibits! Tickets are $15/person. Each attendee (child and adult) must have a ticket, and you can choose one itinerary that fits your family. Head over here to review all of the itinerary details and purchase your tickets. The deadline to purchase tickets is Thursday, Sept. 25.

ASD requires ALL volunteers (including parents) to complete a volunteer application and waiver before participating in volunteer activities at our school.

Volunteer applications must be completed EACH school year.

Please note the volunteer application system has been updated and can only be done online.

• To start the process, go to the ASD Volunteer webpage (asdk12.org/Page/13771). Click the second blue button from the top that says “Online Application and Waiver”.

THANK YOU TO THE 179 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP!

WE LOVE OUR CHUGACH VOLUNTEERS!!!

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.

Outer wear

• 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.

Please encourage your student(s) to be prepared.

• 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.

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.