The Scoop

Chugach Families,

I blinked, and October has come to an end! Thank you for supporting our students and teachers and for being here to volunteer at our school. Your involvement, whether in family groups, Battle of the Books, D & D club, music club, the fall carnival, or any of our other activities, helps make Chugach Optional a special place to be.

As we head into November, please make sure students are coming to school prepared for the winter weather. This time of year, we can start the day with dry pavement and end it with a snow-covered playground.

As always, I look forward to seeing you and chatting in the hallway or when you stop by the office to say hello.

Have a great November, and I’ll see you around the building.

Joel Akers, MAT

Principal

Chugach Optional

Sunday, November 1 - Daylight savings time ends. Turn clocks back 1 hour ⏰

Monday, November 2 - CEC Board Meeting (8:45am - 9:45am in Conference Room)

Tuesday, November 3 - Student Release Day [[NO SCHOOL]]

Wednesday, November 4 - Upper Instrument Exploration Club (3:00pm-3:45pm in Music Room)

Thursday, November 5 - Middle Battle of the Books (11:30am-12:20pm in Music Room), Upper Battle of the Books (11:45am-12:35pm in Kris's Room), Staff Meeting (3:05pm in library)

Friday, November 6 - Parent Coordinator Meeting (8:30am-9:30am, Music Room), Early Release Day (Dismissal @ 11:15am)

Tuesday, November 10 - Middle Battle of the Books (11:30am-12:20pm in Music Room), Upper Battle of the Books (11:45am-12:35pm in Kris's Room), Else's Family Group Field Trip (12:45pm-2:15pm), D&D Dungeon Master Training (3:00pm - 3:45pm in Music Room)

Wednesday, November 11 - VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY - [[NO SCHOOL]]

Friday, November 13 - BIG (1:15pm - 1:45pm, Gym), Chugach Auction (6:00pm @ Alaska Aviation Museum)

Tuesday, November 17 - Middle Battle of the Books (11:30am-12:20pm in Music Room), Upper Battle of the Books (11:45am-12:35pm in Kris's Room), Jihee's Family Group Field Trip (12:45pm-2:15pm), D&D Dungeon Master Training (3:00pm - 3:45pm in Music Room)

Wednesday, November 18 - Upper Instrument Exploration Club (3:00pm-3:45pm in Music Room)

Thursday, November 19 - Staff Meeting (3:05pm in library)

Friday, November 20 - Early Release Day (Dismissal @ 11:15am), Early Release Friday: STEM Meets Arcade Fun @ Dave & Busters (12:00pm - 3:00pm)

Tuesday, November 24 - Middle Battle of the Books (11:30am-12:20pm in Music Room), Upper Battle of the Books (11:45am-12:35pm in Kris's Room), D&D Dungeon Master Training (3:00pm - 3:45pm in Music Room)

Wednesday, November 25 - Upper Instrument Exploration Club (3:00pm-3:45pm in Music Room)

Thursday, November 26 & Friday, November 27 - THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY [[NO SCHOOL]]

Our Chicken and Cheetahs community came together in a BIG way, reaching our fundraising goal and making an incredible impact on our school! What an amazing accomplishment!

A big shout-out to our alumni Chicken (& honorary Cheetah) for returning to their old stomping grounds to support our school!

And a special thank-you to our Match Monday business sponsors, all businesses associated with Chugach families : Alaska eBike, Alaska Real Estate Connection LLC brokered by Herrington and Company LLC, Blue Sky Studio LLC, Conoco Phillips, Hilcorp, Jams for Fams and Spencer Lee, Playful Connection Counseling, RSA Engineering, The Mail Cache.

The Chicken and Cheetahs team came through for our teachers! We are so grateful for this generous, caring community. Every donation, share, and word of encouragement made a difference.

Stay tuned! We’ll be sharing the final fundraising totals and a breakdown of contributions in an email coming soon!

We set a goal, came together, and made it happen! One incredible community. So much generosity. One big reason to celebrate! 🐔🐆💛

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 and encourage them to go outside with all their gear on.

Nurse Maya has extra winter gear (boots, coats, snow pants, hats, and a few pairs of gloves) available to loan out to students when it is forgotten at home.

In order to gauge interest, we are asking anyone who might be interested in having their child participate fill out this survey. Please respond by Friday, November 13th.

At our BIGs this year, we have enjoyed poetry from our Upper and Middle friends, an insect song and “Make New Friends” song from Primary friends, and an apple chant from Kindy friends. We have talked about our Chugach WE’s and Upper friends read Peter H. Reynolds’ book “We Are Community.” This year, we are working to make these BIGs a regular, thoughtful occurrence, and we wanted to share answers to some questions you may have.

What is a BIG? A BIG is part of the work of creating community. It is a meeting where all of the students at Chugach Optional join together in the gym to share and celebrate our learning, to get to know each other and make connections, and to solve problems as a community. They are opportunities to communicate with each other and preview what kids will be doing in years to come.

Have there always been BIGs? BIGs have been part of Chugach Optional for a very long time, although their focus and frequency has varied from year to year. They are purposefully making a ‘comeback’ to support our vertical K-6 community connections.

When will the BIGs be this year? We are planning to have BIGs on the first full Friday of each month from 1:15 to 1:45 p.m. Our next BIG will be Friday, November 13.

As a parent, should I come? You are welcome to come - especially if your child is sharing something special - but you do not need to come. They will be brief - about a half an hour - and we won’t plan on setting chairs out.

If you have any questions, please connect with your child’s family group teacher. We look forward to our next BIG!

The countdown is on! Join us Friday, November 13, at the Alaska Aviation Museum for a night of great items, good company, and awesome FUNdraising for Chugach Optional. We have some incredible auction items packed and ready, and you won’t want to miss out!

🎟️ Get Your Boarding Pass! Purchase your tickets in advance! Admission includes hearty appetizers and two drink tickets. Want to fly first class? Our VIP Happy Hour in the Merrill Tower has only 16 spots remaining - No standby, grab yours while you can!

❤️ Help Our Crew Come Aboard! Sponsor a Chugach staff member and help them join the fun. We want every seat occupied!

🅿️ Take Your Shot at the Parking Spot! Enter the Chugach Parking Spot Drawing for a chance to land the ultimate school parking perk. Winner will be drawn at the auction, but you don’t need to be present to win!

👀 Your Preflight Checklist: Keep an eye out for our auction preview the week before the event to scout the incredible items and packages coming your way.

Get ready for takeoff! Buy your tickets, grab those VIP spots, and join us for a night that’s sure to soar! ✈️🐔🐆

Our next Community Assembly Meeting (CAM) of the year will be all about Science Share! Please join us on Wednesday, November 18th from 6-7:30 PM via Zoom (link will be sent out closer to the date). If you missed the October meeting, you can find the meeting minutes here: https://www.chugachcommunity.org/meeting-minutes

Need spirit wear? Shop our online school store! Check out Chugach’s online spirit wear shop and have your new swag shipped directly to you!

🎮 Power Up & Support Chugach! 🎮 Dave & Buster’s Power Card Presale

Get $20 Dave & Buster’s Power Cards for gaming, holiday gifts, or a fun family treat! Chugach receives 50% of every presale purchase, making this an easy way to support our school.

Use your cards our upcoming November 20th STEM Play Academy Early Release Event or on any future visit. Cards will be distributed at the event or sent home with your child the following week.

⏰ Presale ends Thursday, November 19, at noon! Buy as many as you’d like!

🎟️ Purchase Power Cards Here

🧪🎮 Early Release Friday: STEM Meets Arcade Fun!

Don't just play the game—figure it out! Join Chugach at Dave & Buster’s on Friday, November 20, from 12–3 p.m. for TWO hands-on STEM labs exploring game strategy and the physics behind arcade games. Students will design, test, and improve their own game models, then put their skills to the test!

🎟️ Student tickets: $50 each, including buffet lunch, Two STEM labs (Strategy & Physics), and a $20 Power Card for gaming.

🙌 Grown-ups can join the fun, too! Purchase a $40 adult ticket that includes buffet lunch and a $20 Power Card

🎮 And the fun doesn't stop at the STEM labs! After using the card's credits for ticket-earning games, the Power Card switches to unlimited Blue Light Games (non-ticket games) for the rest of the day, until midnight!

Come for the STEM. Stay for the games!

🎟️ Register Here Dave & Buster's STEM Play Academy Early Release Event | BetterWorld

This is not a drop-off event. Students must attend with a guardian.

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.

Lace up for an afternoon of family fun at the Dimond Center Ice Chalet on Friday, December 4, from 12–3 p.m. The rink is reserved just for Chugach! All skating levels are welcome, so bring the whole family.

Tickets are just $10 per person and include skate rental, or bring your own skates. Join us for a fun early-release outing while supporting our school!

🎟️ Get your tickets today! Early Release Ice Skating Fundraiser @ Dimond Ice Chalet | BetterWorld

Parking Etiquette

• 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. We are now able to park in the municipal parking lot to the south of Chugach. However, please limit parking in this area to the spots along the fence and only during drop off and dismissal. If you plan on staying at Chugach for any length of time, please find alternate parking.

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.