DIMOND Newsletter
September 3nd, 2026
Hello Dimond Families!
This week is spirit week leading up to homecoming on Friday. The theme is Around the World, and students have been showing their spirit with a Night in Tokyo, All Things Paris, Antarctic Attire today), Real in Rio (Thursday), and then Maroon and Gold for the assembly on Friday. We hope you can join us for the flag and football game on Friday!
MAP Testing is coming up for Freshmen as is the visit to the UAA campus and a tour of the different programs offered. Lunch is provided that day.
Finally, please remember that the staff parking lot is not for student drop-off or pick-up. Please use the student parking lot or the main pull through. Thank you for helping keep our staff and students safe.
Warm Regards,
Principal D’Atri
Warm Regards,
Principal D-Atri
Upcoming School Calendar
September 2nd through September 12th: Map testing
September 7th: No School-Labor Day
September 12th: Freshmen visit UAA
September 26th: Career Expo
October 12th: No School- Indigenous Peoples Day
October 16th: No School- End of 1st Quarter/ Teacher Grading Day
October 30th: No School- Staff Professional Development Day
MAP TESTING
New to this year!
This fall, students will be taking the MAP Growth Assessment during the testing window which occurs September 8th-18th. The assessments will be taking place during classes as part of the curriculum for the course.
MAP growth assessments are important benchmark assessments that help measure student learning throughout the year and ensure proper placement in students' courses.
Their assessments are also great predictors of student success in classes as well as nationwide tests such as the PSAT and SAT. Please see the following link for further information - 2026 Dimond MAP Newsletter.
Freshman Academy
Career Exploration Starts Here!
We are excited to kick off another great year at Dimond! Throughout the year, our students will have opportunities to explore careers, connect with community partners, and experience learning beyond the classroom.
For our freshmen, this means early exposure to the many possibilities available after high school. For our upperclassmen, we will continue providing more focused opportunities to connect with professionals and experience careers firsthand.
Students can look forward to guest speakers, workplace visits, hands-on experiences, career panels, college and training opportunities, and connections with professionals from industries throughout Alaska.
Coming Up for Our Freshmen
September 18th – UAA Freshman Experience
Our entire freshman class will visit UAA to explore the campus, programs, careers, and opportunities available after high school.
October 2nd – Freshman Career Expo
Students will explore a wide variety of careers and meet professionals representing industries and organizations from across Alaska.
These are just the beginning! Our goal is to help students discover new interests, see what opportunities are out there, and begin making connections between school and their future.
We are looking forward to another great year of career exploration at Dimond!
Sports Information
Activity Stickers:
Activity Stickers are available for purchase online through ParentConnect. The cost is $50.00 for the school year. This will get your student into any home or away game during the school year. Your student will receive a label on their Student ID they will need to present at the games
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 2nd - Riflery
College Admissions and SAT/ACT
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:
9th & 10th Graders College Admissions Checklist
Wednesday, September 9 | 6 PM
11th & 12th Graders College Admissions Checklist
Wednesday, September 23 | 6 PM
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 5th | 1:00-3:30 PM
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
PSAT/NMSQT
Attention Juniors and interested Sophomores. The PSAT/ NMSQT will be held at Dimond High School in the Multipurpose Room and Library on Saturday, October 17th from 9am - 12:00pm. The PSAT/NMSQT is only open to 10th and 11th graders.
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) measures what students learn in school, determine if students are on track for college success, and open doors for opportunities to prepare and pay for college. PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/psat-nmsqt-student-guide.pdf
The cost is $25. Students can sign up/register starting September 2nd. Registration runs through September 30th. Parents can pay online through QParentConnect via credit card or in person to Ms. Gonzalez, in the main office; before school, at lunch, or after school.
From the Counseling Team
Thank you for your patience as we transition to 4 counselors instead of 5 this school year. Counselors continue to complete schedules and are actively working on schedule changes, please be patient. The best way to reach out to your counselor is via email.
Students are assigned to counselors based on the student's last name, with the exception of freshmen. The following is a list of counselors and the alpha group they serve:
Freshman Class Only: Eric Hallis
A-G: Amber Jaasma
H-O Mary Lynn Zock
P-Z: Wanda Wright
If you have not signed up to be a canvas parent observer for your student(s), this link will help you set it up. Becoming a Canvas parent observer allows you to see class notes, assignments, deadlines, and submissions, and in many cases, class expectations or content from the class
A Few Important Policy Reminders
Picture Day
Picture Day
Dimond High School portraits are ready to view and purchase!
Access Link: **Dimond High School Fall 26-27
To view your photos, please enter your child's ASD student ID number. This number can be found by logging into Q/ParentConnection and clicking on "demographics" (listed as the "local id"), or it can be found on the student ID card provided on picture day.
Questions? Please email Sarah@FitzgeraldPhotos.com.
Important Information from Last Weeks Newsletter
Building Hours
Lockers
Each student is issued one locker, and the front office can only provide access to that locker. We do not support students sharing lockers, and Security will not give access to a locker that is not assigned to a student.
Additionally, it is important to know that anything found in a student's locker is their responsibility per the Student Handbook. We strongly encourage students to keep their locker combination to themselves. If students have any issues with their lock, they can get help from Security or the front desk.
Bell Schedules
School start times remain the same for the 2026/2027 school year, school start times continue to be:
Monday PLC Schedule
Start Time: 9:45 a.m.
Release Time: 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday-Friday Schedule
Start Time: 8:45 a.m.
Release Time: 3:15 p.m.
The only items changed in our Dimond Schedule is our Advisory/Homeroom class. With more information to come!
Door Dash, Uber Eats, Etc.
Using a food delivery app is very convenient, but also a risk. We do not accept them at the front office and will not allow students to miss class to accept an order. All food deliveries will be placed on a table outside the front office. If your student must use a food delivery app for their lunch it must be delivered to them during lunch. Students will not be given a pass from their teacher to retrieve their lunch.
Don’t forget we have great hot school lunches available 5 days a week! Visit the Student Nutrition website for more information. (https://www.asdk12.org/Page/13240)
Drop-Off and Pick-Up
Please review the traffic flow map for the current school year. You'll note that there are two primary areas for student drop off and pick up:
The sidewalk area adjacent to the student parking area.
The sidewalk area contained in the front-of-school roundabout.
Please note that all other areas are for staff or buses only. Importantly, although the staff parking area appears a good location for drop-off and pick-up, it cannot be used by non-staff members, as its layout creates safety concerns for those entering and exiting the parking lot: Please do not enter this area.
Thanks for your help in ensuring a safe and smooth start to the school year!