Newsletter

Thank you to all of those who have worked hard to get all of your work samples submitted for semester one and to get a great start on semester two 👏

Our office will have grades updated in Q by the end of the day today. Of course, you can also check the OLS to confirm student grades.

📅 Mark your calendars for the upcoming Principal Parlay next Wednesday, January 21st at 3:00 pm via Zoom. This is an opportunity to hear an update from me, ask any questions, and share ideas on how we can continue to help FPCS thrive. The session will be recorded for anyone who is unable to attend, but we hope you can join us!

I sometimes receive questions about how parents can use Structured Free Time funds. These funds are intended to support research-based best practices such as brain breaks and inquiry-based activities. For younger students, think classroom-style “center time,” where children rotate between activities like building with blocks or Legos, listening to an audiobook, or working on a puzzle 🧩.

For older students, Structured Free Time might include activities that get them moving or engage their brains in a different way—such as a small set of weights, a Sudoku puzzle, or tossing a football with a sibling or parent ⚽. To qualify as a Structured Free Time item, the activity must be something that can be done at home or just outside the home between classes. Because of this, items like zoo passes or rock-climbing gym memberships do not qualify, as they cannot be used quickly or easily from home and would need to be tied to a PE class. However, items such as an inexpensive guitar or basic exercise equipment may qualify since they allow for a brain break right at home. While musical instruments and exercise equipment are typically tied to classes, I will allow inexpensive options specifically for brain breaks 🎵.

That’s it from the principal’s desk this week—keep up the great work! 😊

Daniel Cooley

Principal, FPCS

email: cooley_daniel@asdk12.org

phone: 742-3700

🏢📊

Reimbursement Reminder: Handwritten Receipts

Please note that handwritten or generic receipts (without a printed invoice) must include all required information to be accepted for reimbursement.

Handwritten receipts must clearly show:

• Business name with logo or stamp

• Date of purchase

• Item or service description

• Total amount paid

• Payment method (cash, card, check, etc.)

Receipts missing this information may be delayed or returned for correction.

We truly appreciate your attention to these details.

If you ever have questions or need guidance, our team is happy to support you.

We are so thankful to the Law family for sharing their story and photos with us. It has been a joy to be part of their educational journey, and we are grateful that they chose Family Partnership as their homeschool community.

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It has been a great pleasure working with the Family Partnership Charter School teachers, staff, and administration during my sons’ education. These photos of our boys receiving their rank advancement to Cadet Master Sergeants in the Arcturus Squadron of the National Civil Air Patrol are just a small example of the value and training they have received as part of their homeschooling education.

Thanks to FPCS funding for their classes and enrichment programs, my sons have had the opportunity to participate in many activities, resulting in achievements well beyond our family’s expectations. Two of the boys are on track to complete high school at the same time they earn degrees from the University of Alaska, graduating with a Bachelor of Science with a Professional Piloting emphasis. The other is in his second year at UAA, working toward a Mechanical Engineering degree, and is on track to complete it just before his 20th birthday.

The opportunities afforded to our boys through FPCS include learning guitar and piano, participating in racquetball, handball, and pickleball, horse care and riding, a collegiate piano class, Civil Air Patrol, FAA flight school testing, and completing high school and college GER courses simultaneously — and, my favorite, travel.

The flexibility of homeschooling gave us the opportunity to visit Mexico, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and more than 20 states, providing our boys with real-life experiences and lessons in science, history, national landmarks, public figures, culture, people, and economies — an understanding much richer than simply memorizing facts from a book.

An FPCS education has been one of the best decisions we have made for our boys. We truly appreciate the support from our partner teachers, staff, and administration. While our boys’ discipline, integrity, and motivation have played a major role in their academic and extracurricular success, the financial support and guidance provided by FPCS have been a blessing to our family as well.

Thank you,
Cathy Law

This week, approximately 100 FPCS students and parents attended the lively concert and enjoyed an unforgettable, high-energy performance.

Join us for a fun winter field trip sponsored by Alaska Department of Fish & Game!

FPCS families are invited to enjoy ice fishing at Jewel Lake on Wednesday, February 4th from 12:00–1:00 PM.

The cost is $1 per person, and bait and fishing poles will be provided. Students must attend with a parent, and siblings are welcome.

📌 Space is limited — registration opens January 16th at noon.

Field trip details are included in the attached flyer.

How to Sign Up

• Registration opens January 16th at noon. (The field trip button will not be available before then.)

• Log in to your child’s OLS page.

• Select a subject to enter the field trip. This is best listed under a PE or Science class, but may be entered under any subject.

• Click the green pencil to the right of the selected subject.

• Click “Add Field Trip.”

• Under the Trip dropdown, select one spot for the student and click Save.

• Under the Trip dropdown, select one spot for the parent and click Save.

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Families will be contacted on January 29th to confirm registration and receive additional information. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m happy to help!

Karin Owens

(contact information is listed below in the banner)

It’s time for another Musk Ox Roundup at Family Partnership!

Students can make friends, play games,

and have a great time learning new card or board games —

or bring a favorite to share! 🎯

🕐 Grades 3–5: 12:30–1:30

🕑 Grades 6–8: 2:00–3:00

📍 C-SPACE Building

👩‍🏫 This activity is for students only.

Parents and siblings are welcome to wait in the library.

Don’t miss out on the fun! 🎉

Each time a student reaches 1,000 questions answered in IXL, they can stop by the office and choose a prize — no proof of 1,000 questions is required! 🎯✨

If you have any questions, please contact Shelby Theriault at

theriault_shelby@asdk12.org