DIMOND Newsletter
October 21, 2026
Hello Dimond Families!
Winter is coming, and that means snow, ice, and more dangerous road conditions. It is a great time to have a safe driving conversation with your driving teenager, and review defensive driving techniques, especially for parking lots. This is also the time of year where there is a temptation to use the staff parking lot as a drop off or pick up zone because the normal lanes might take longer with traffic. However, using the staff parking lot for drop off or pick up puts our staff at risk. Please help keep our staff safe and be a good role model for students - they are always watching!
Speaking of parking lots, we are continuing our campaign to encourage a clean campus - let’s make Dimond shine! We will be messaging to students through our school values (community, integrity, and respect) and hope that you can help us reinforce those school values in conversations at home.
On another note, I am excited to announce that we have hired another security guard, Mrs. Brittanee Harris! This is her first week and she is learning the building, student and teacher names - it’s a lot! We are very happy to have her and she will be working mainly with the alpha group of last names A-G.
Next week is parent conferences on Thursday. It’s a half day for students so that families have more time to meet with teachers. We will provide a map of the building and have staff available to help you locate rooms, but you will need the names of all of your child’s teachers - or better yet, bring your child! We look forward to seeing you next week for conferences!
Sincerely,
Principal D’Atri
Upcoming School Calendar
- Spirit Week!
Monday - Pink Day (Breast Cancer Awareness Month)
Tuesday: Hero vs. The Villain (dress as your favorite hero or villain)
Wednesday: Halloween Costumes (see rules below)
Thursday: Zoom Day on the HALF Day (Top HALF Business, Bottom HALF Casual)
October 29th: Half Day (student release at 12:15pm); Parent-Teacher Conferences are 1-3:30pm and 5-8pm. (** Also Flue Clinic at Dimond During Conferences)
October 30th: No School- Staff Professional Development Day
November 3rd: No School- Election Day
November 11th: Veterans Day
November 26th and 27th: No School- Thanksgiving Break
Halloween Costume Guidelines
Next week is Halloween and costumes are welcome. Guidelines for wearing a costume to school are as follows:
Costumes must follow the regular school dress code and must not be overly gory or inappropriate
Fake weapons are not allowed, even as props
Make-up and face paint are okay, but should not cover the whole face
Masks and face coverings are not permitted
Inflatable costumes are NOT permitted
Staff must be able to tell who students are
We encourage costumes, but students may want to bring a change of clothes in case of any confusion about costume expectations. We look forward to seeing all the creativity and encourage students to enter the costume contest during lunch on Wednesday.
Conference Schedule
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
AP Tests
Attention parents of students taking AP tests, please read this important info regarding how to order an AP test. The deadline to pay for an AP test is Nov. 6th at 3pm.
Academies of Anchorage!
First Quarter in the Books – Career Exploration in Full Swing at Dimond!
With the first quarter behind us, what an exciting start it has been for the Academies of Anchorage at Dimond High School! Our students have already participated in some incredible career exploration experiences, connecting what they are learning in the classroom with opportunities available right here in Alaska and beyond. And the best part? We have so much more to look forward to!
Career Expo – An Incredible Experience!
Our freshmen recently attended the 2026 Career Expo, and what an awesome experience it was! Students had the opportunity to connect with professionals from a wide variety of industries, explore careers available throughout Alaska, and discover possibilities they may never have considered before.
From hands-on activities and demonstrations to meaningful conversations with industry professionals, the Expo gave our students a firsthand look at the many exciting pathways available after high school.
A huge thank-you to our teachers, chaperones, community partners, and everyone who helped make this experience such a success! Events like this are a great example of how we can connect education with real-world opportunities for our students.
Career Exploration Continues!
The opportunities just keep coming! Our freshmen recently connected with Dimond's School Resource Officer and other law enforcement professionals, learning about careers in law enforcement, the different opportunities within the field, and the personal career journeys of those serving our community.
We also recently completed an awesome two-day experience with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for all of our freshmen! Students had the opportunity to interact directly with BLM professionals, learn about the important work they do throughout Alaska, and explore a variety of careers connected to our state's land, natural resources, and public service. It was another fantastic opportunity to bring career exploration directly to our students and expose them to possibilities they may not have considered before.
Speed Networking This Friday!
This Friday, our freshmen will participate in Speed Networking, another exciting opportunity to connect directly with professionals from a variety of career fields!
Students will engage in short, interactive conversations with community and industry partners, ask questions, learn about different career pathways, and hear firsthand about the experiences that helped shape their careers.
These conversations are a great way for students to practice their communication skills, build confidence, and discover career opportunities they may not have previously considered. We are excited to welcome our community partners back to Dimond for another meaningful experience with our freshmen!
Calling All Creative Lynx! We Want YOU!
Love photography, making videos, social media, or telling a great story? Here's your chance to put those skills to work!
The Academies of Anchorage at Dimond High School is looking for 3–4 creative, motivated students to join our team as CTE Communications Interns!
Our interns will help capture the exciting things happening at Dimond through photography, video, and other creative content. From school events to career exploration experiences, you'll help us share the amazing stories of our students, teachers, and community partners.
And here's a bonus! Students who successfully complete two semesters of the internship can earn 1 CTE elective credit while gaining valuable real-world experience!
Interested? Stop by the Curriculum Office and talk with Mr. Lewis to learn more.
Think you've got what it takes to help tell Dimond's story? We'd love to hear from you!
[CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE INTERNSHIP APPLICATION]
Click Here To View The Internship Flyer
Opportunities for Our Upperclassmen
Our upperclassmen are also taking advantage of some incredible experiences! On October 7, Anatomy students had the opportunity to visit Providence for a live surgical viewing of open-heart surgery, providing a unique firsthand look into the medical field.
On November 9, our Health Science and PE students will participate in Stop the Bleed training, gaining valuable, potentially lifesaving skills and learning more about emergency response and healthcare careers.
Additional opportunities include Civil Engineering career exploration on November 10, connecting students with professionals and introducing them to the exciting possibilities within engineering and related fields.
We are also working on an exciting opportunity for our Criminology and Forensics students to visit the Anchorage Federal Courthouse during the winter or spring. This experience will provide students with a unique opportunity to explore our federal judicial system, learn about careers in law and criminal justice, and connect what they are studying in the classroom with real-world applications. Stay tuned for more information as plans come together!
These experiences are helping our students explore their interests, discover potential career pathways, and make meaningful connections with professionals throughout our community.
What a Great First Quarter at Dimond!
We are excited about the opportunities ahead and grateful for the teachers, staff, and community partners who continue to help make these experiences possible.
Stay tuned for more exciting opportunities as we continue connecting our students with careers, our community, and their futures!
Career Resource Center
The CRC will be open from 8:45am to 3:15pm on Tuesdays starting Tuesday, October 6th. 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!
Sports Information
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
September 30th
Wrestling
Bowling
Each Monday we will post the sports activities for the week on our Facebook page. Come cheer on our amazing Lynx athletes!
Important information for Seniors
Important information for Seniors
Attention Seniors and parents! Please read this important information from the Dimond Counseling office.
Important Information from Last Weeks Newsletter
Detentions
Lunch detentions are given for each tardy. Detentions are served in room B211 Monday-Thursday. Students must report within 10 minutes of the lunch bell and will be released with enough time to eat lunch afterwards.
Monday School is from 8:45-9:30am in the cafeteria on Mondays only.
Parking Permits
All students driving a vehicle to school need to obtain a parking pass from Mrs. Gonzalez in the front office. Vehicles without a visible parking pass will be ticketed and fined.
Click on this link to get started! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfz1oapaAa-b4WyRytlsPyf01JKNm0ieOJn2bMgEq7h9Kz2Eg/viewform
After School Homework Club
After School Homework Club
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.
Monday School
Monday School is from 8:45-9:30am in the cafeteria on Mondays only.
2026-2027 Yearbook
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
College Admissions and SAT/ACT
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:
Building Your College List: A Five Step Process
Wednesday, September 30 | 6 PM
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 September 26th | 1:00-3:30 PM
SAT Practice Test - Saturday October 10th | 1:00-3:30 PM
SAT Practice Test - Saturday October 24th | 1:00-3:30 PM