D I M O N D

A.J. Dimond High School Community Newsletter February/March 2015www.dimondhigh.com

Letter from the Principal

dimensionsSave The Date

Anchorage School BoardEric Croft, PresidentTam Agosti-Gisler

Bettye DavisPat Higgins

Cameron Perez-VerdiaKathleen Plunket

Natasha von ImhofSuperintendent

Ed Graff

Our mission is to facilitate optimal learning for all students to empower them to lead fulfilling and productive lives in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex society.

Greetings Parents and Guardians-Happy New Year to Everyone!

It is hard to believe we are halfway through the year. The 2nd semester is off to a great start. This edition of the newsletter will have pertinent information of upcoming events such as parent/teach-

er conferences, testing and many senior ac-tivities to mark for your calendar.

We are all anticipating graduation and want the seniors to continue working hard. Please encourage your senior to order his/her cap and gown online through Jostens. Also, this semester we will have Mrs. Lau-wers assisting seniors in the College and Career Resource room. She is available to help students with college searches, scholarship information, financial aid and career information.

February is Visit our Schools Month.

Beginning on February 3rd at 9:30AM our Student Ambassadors will provide a tour for visitors. Feel free to visit us on one of the Tuesdays in February. On February 24 at 6:00, the evening will consist of a Fresh-man Fair. Incoming 9th grade parents and students will receive information about ac-

ademic programs/courses, sports and clubs and tour the building as well.

Parent Conferences for 3rd quarter will be held on February 18th from 11:45-2:30pm and from 4:00-7:00pm. Please continue to monitor your student’s progress on Zangle and contact teachers or counsel-or with any questions.

The Dimond PTSA has been a wonderful resource for our teachers. Their organi-zation provided $11,000 in grants to assist teachers with direct instruction materials and other opportunities for student learn-ing. We are grateful for the grants process and appreciate the continued support of the PTSA.

We value your input. Parent feedback is important to helping us ensure that our families have positive experiences at Di-mond High School. Please take the time to complete the Parent Survey for Climate and Connectedness online at www.survey-monkey.com/s/2015FamilyClimate

Warm Regards,

Tina Johnson-Harris

January 26 7:00 pmJROTC 3rd Quarter Awards Ceremony

in Auditeria

January 30 1:20 pmSpirit Olympic Assembly

January 31 8:00-11:00 pmSadie Hawkins Dance

February 1811:45 am- 2:30 pm/4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Parent/Teacher Conferences

February 24 6:00 pmFuture Freshman Fair in Main Gym

February 26 7:30 amDimond Math Competition

February 26-28 7:00 pmStudent Directed One Act Plays in

Auditeria

March 4 12:10 pmSpring Academic Awards in Main

Gym

March 5 7:00 pmFine Arts Showcase

March 18 7:00 pmArea Wide Band Concert in Main

Gym

March 19 7:00 pmNational Honor Society Induction in

Auditeria

March 30 7:00 pmJROTC 4th Quarter Awards in

Auditeria

Frank Hauser, Curriculum Assistant Principal - 742-7008

CURRICULUM NEWS

COUNSELORS

Freshman House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jaime Boyd-KragtSpecial Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christine ZelinskySpecial Services 11-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evelyn OctukELL, Exchange & Special Services 9-10 . . . . . .Lee MontoyaSophomores, Juniors and Seniors:A – D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave DonkE – K (Seniors Dj-K). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rob HartleyL – Rd (Seniors L-P) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris HigginsRe – Z (Seniors Q-Z). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pete Mandel

As the second se-mester gets under-way, there are many exciting events and opportunities upcom-ing for Dimond stu-dents and families.

Career Resource Center extended

hours: Students and parents, I am excited to announce that the Dimond Career Re-source Center now has extended hours. Starting on January 20, Ms. Kim Lauwers (lauwers_kimberly@asdk12.org) will have the CRC open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm. This extended time provides more opportunity for students to research college and career opportunities, apply for scholarships, and get help with applications and portfolios.

Parent Conferences will be held on Wednesday, February 18. Conferences provide a great opportunity to meet with teachers, discuss students’ progress, and ask questions. Students will be released at 11:00 am, and there will be two sessions for conferences. The early session starts at 11:45 am and goes until 2:30 pm, and the evening session starts at 4:00 pm and goes until 7:00 pm. Please try to arrive as close

to the start of the session as possible, so you have enough time to meet with teach-ers.

The 2014 Spring Academic Awards As-sembly will be held on Wednesday, March 4 at 12:10 (5th period) in the Dimond Gym. The assembly will honor the academic ac-complishment of students maintaining a 3.5 GPA or higher for two or more con-secutive semesters. We are excited that so many students are meeting this rigorous standard.

CCRA Update: Students and parents, in previous newsletters and communica-tions, I have talked about the new State of Alaska College and Career Readiness As-sessment (CCRA). In November, we held the first CCRA assessment, the WorkKeys test. On Wednesday, February 25, juniors and seniors who signed up for the SAT will test. On Tuesday, March 4, students who signed up for the ACT will test. It is im-portant that students signed up for the in-school SAT and ACT arrive at school on time and ready to test. More information will be provided to students when we get closer to test time.

Honors Applications: Future 9th- and 10th-grade students interested in taking

an honors-level English or history class next year are invited to apply! Applica-tions, available from your current 8th- or 9th-grade English or history teachers, are due in early March (see each application for specific due dates). The applications also provide more information about the expectations in these classes to help you determine whether they are the right fit for you. Courses that currently require an ap-plication are as follows: Honors 9th-grade English and History, Honors 10th-grade US History, and Advanced Placement US History.

The Gifted Mentorship program is for the exceptional 11th- and 12th-grade stu-dent who has the self-discipline and inter-est to pursue independent study under the direction of a professional/expert in a field of great interest to the student. For more information about this program, contact Amber Jaasma, Gifted Mentorship Coor-dinator, at 742-3841 or jaasma_amber@asdk.org.

NHS Induction Season Approaches

The Kokogiak Chapter of the Na-tional Honor Society will conduct their spring induction ceremony on March 19, 2015 at 7 pm. Member-ship in NHS requires an application, which will be available in February outside B112 (Mrs. Bouton's room) and at Parent Teacher Conferences. Applications are due no later than 2:15 on Thursday, February 26! To be considered for membership, stu-dents must have 3 consecutive semes-ters of a high school GPA at 3.50 or greater (weighted) AND be an active member in one of Dimond's service clubs. The following clubs qualify: Key Club, Z Club, Partners Club, RARE-T, Green Effects and JROTC Color Guard or Flag Detail. Please direct any questions to Mrs. Bouton at bouton_lea@asdk12.org. Notifi-cations of selection will occur prior to Spring Break.

Dimond Math CompetitionThursday, February 26th

Anyone in Algebra I or Above Can ParticipateYou Need a Team of 4

Team Paperwork is Due by Friday, February 20thSpace is Limited!

Students and faculty at Anchorage School District schools will join the UAA Community & Technical College as well as other high schools, colleges, and training centers across the nation during the month of February to celebrate national Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month-TM. CTE Month provides CTE programs across the country an opportunity to dem-onstrate how CTE educates students to be college- and career- ready and prepares them for high-wage, high-demand career fields.

“The activities planned over the next month will illustrate the rigor and rel-evance CTE courses offer our students,” said Kelly Donnelly, Director of Outreach and Program Development at the UAA Community & Technical College. “By partnering with the business community, CTE programs are investing in students’ lives with the latest technology and skills that will prepare them to become success-ful employees as well as future leaders.”

Activities acros the state for CTE Month include career days, Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) competi-tions, media news stories, and social media campaigns.

CTE encompasses 94 percent of high school students and 13 million postsec-ondary students in the United States and includes high schools, career centers, community and technical colleges, four-year universities and more. CTE is a ma-jor part of the solution to myriad national economic and workforce problems, such as high school dropout rates, a weakened economy, global competitiveness and mas-sive layoffs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly one-third of the fastest growing occupations will require an associate’s degree or a postsecondary vocational certificate. At a time when job opportunity is so critical, CTE programs in every community are ensuring students are adequately equipped with the skills to suc-cessfully enter the workforce.

There are several social media efforts in the works. Follow us on Instagram. Take a virtual tour of UAA (http://curric.uaa.alaska.edu/admissions/vt/). Join us in the celebration through our “I believe in CTE because…” Facebook Campaign. It is simple to participate:

1. “Like” the UAA Community & Techni-cal College Facebook page at www.face-book.com/uaacte .

2. Take a selfie with some aspect of your CTE work or education and post it to the UAA Community & Technical College Facebook page.

3. Caption it with “I believe in CTE be-cause _______.”

CTE is the backbone of the Alaska econ-omy, training thousands of Alaskans for jobs in all aspects of industry.

UAA Community & Technical College Celebrates Career and Technical Education Month

Dimond GraduationMay 13th 2:00 pm

Have you ordered your CAP & GOWN?

It’s not too late. Go to Jostens web-site: www.jostens.com and type in A.J. Dimond High School in the high school field. Follow the links for your cap and gown. If you have questions call Scott Brown at our local Jostens office 562-2001.

News From Café Dimond High School New ItemOur students are enjoying the new Garlic-N-Cheese Potato Wedges. Food Allergies and Special NeedsIf your student has food allergies or special dietary needs, please contact our school nurse. She will then relay this information to the cafeteria. If your student has resolved food allergies or intolerances, the nurse needs this information also. Adding Money to Student Accounts and Paying ChargesMoney can be added to a student’s account by check or cash anytime in the Cafeteria. Money can also be added to a student’s ac-count on Zangle. It is an overnight process. All lunch charges are now due. Free and Reduced Breakfast and LunchIt is never too late to apply for free or reduced breakfast and lunch. An overnight process is avail-able online at asdk12.org. Paper applications can be picked up in the cafeteria or in the main office and at the counseling center. Please allow ten working days for processing. A new application must be submitted each school year.

     

Students participating in AMP It Up Day

Students throughout the state will take a new assessment this spring. Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP) replaces the Standards Based Assessments (SBA). Like the SBAs, students in grades 3-10 will take the AMP test to help determine their progress over the course of the year. Unlike the SBAs, AMP is computer-based.

The Anchorage School District has spent many months getting ready for these computer-based assessments. One important step is to do a trial run to see what kinds of technology challenges, if any, we might encounter with our computers or the Internet.

On Thursday, Jan. 29, schools across the state of Alaska will participate in AMP It Up Day. The goal of this day is to have as many students as possible taking a practice test so we can find out what final technology or logistics preparations we need to make for testing in the spring.

Many students will participate in AMP It Up Day at our school. It will be scheduled so that it does not interrupt classroom instruction. Most students will spend between 30 and 45 minutes taking the practice test. Teachers will help students understand the questions and how to answer them if needed. Students will not receive grades for this test. Our goal is to help students, and our school, be better prepared for the new test this spring.

More information about AMP can be found on our website at www.asdk12.org/ae/amp. Please contact your classroom teacher if you have any questions.

   

Tim Helvey, Activities Assistant Principal - 742-6996ACTIVITIES NEWS

Visit the Dimond High School Website for up-to-date information on our school and events at http://www.dimondhigh.com.

By the next activities newsletter we will be at the conclusion of winter sports.

This means spring sports begin and the end of third quarter. This will be my an-nual reminder of the direct impact that third quarter grades and end-of-year (second semester) grades have on the

academic eligibility of students for spring sports and for the fall sports season of next year.

For spring sports, students must have passed five or more classes at the conclu-sion of first semester with a 2.0 GPA or greater and do the same for third quarter.

Seniors are eligible, if they are enrolled in and passing four classes, providing that they are on-track to graduate.

All spring sports begin Monday March 9th this year, (Softball, Baseball, Soccer, and Track and Field. Third quarter will conclude on March 5 and March 6 will be an in-service day with no school for stu-dents. Sign-ups begin February 2nd.

Requirements for Student-Athletes:Under Alaska law, Anchorage School Dis-trict is required to have a program in place for the prevention and management of con-cussions in student-athletes. As part of this requirement, and our commitment to the health and well being of our students, mid-dle school and high school student-athletes signing up for an ASD sport that requires a physical must also take a computerized ImPACT Baseline Screening. (Once in middle school, once in high school). There is a $5 fee for this simple, non-invasive test.

Parents and student-athletes must also re-ceive and read “Concussion in Sports: A Fact Sheet for Anchorage School District Athletes and Parents” and sign the accom-panying Acknowledgement and Consent Form.

For more information on concussions in athletes, the ImPACT Baseline Screen-ing, or to download the fact sheet and Ac-knowledgement and Consent Form, please visit http://www.asdk12.org/activities/high/participant_HS.asp

Activities Fees are:$193 per activity – Track and Field$204 per activity – SoccerA $5 concussion baseline fee is required for all sports (one time fee)

Dates to Remember:February 6, 7Wrestling State Championships @ Chu-giak 8:00am

February 4 – 7 Lady Lynx Basketball Tournament TBA

February 2 – 7 Boys Region Hockey Championships TBA

February 12 – 14 Boys Hockey State Championships @ Wasilla TBA

February 13, 14 Cross Country Track Regions @ Kincaid 12:00

February 18 Region Cheer Championships in Old Gym 6:00pm

February 19 – 21 Boys JV Tournament in Old Gym 2:00pm

February 19 – 21 ASAA XCS State Championships @ Kin-caid 12:00

March 2 – 7 Basketball Region Championships @ West TBA

March 17 Cheerleading State Championships @ South TBA

March 19 – 21 Basketball State Championships @ Sulli-van TBA

Please continue to fill out the coaches’ as-sessment form and return to the activities office. Form is included in the newsletter for your convenience.

DIMOND NIGHT LIVE!!IT’S THE 10TH YEAR

ANNIVERSARY SHOW!

Dimond Night Live will be hosting it’s 10th year anniversary show on April 17 and 18th at 7 p.m. in the Di-mond Auditeria. This is a show that is loosely based on Saturday Night Live. It is largely student written and directed. The staff involved are: Ms. Dubie, Ms. Melican-Nevala, Ms. Melville, Ms. Romo, Ms. Smith, Ms. Stutzer, Mr. Vaughn, Ms. Davies, Ms. Golde, Ms. Hammerstrom, Ms. Long, Ms. Valantas. Tickets will be on sale at lunch and at the door for $5. Pro-ceeds go to senior scholarships. Try-outs are Feb. 4-6 and the 9th.

Come watch a hilarious tradition!

A. J. DIMOND HIGH SCHOOL COACH’S ASSESSMENT FORM

(Circle One) PLAYER PARENT

Parent/Students: We are seeking your input to review our sport/athletic programs. Your opinion is taken into consideration when evaluating our programs and identifying patterns of support or concern. Please take a few moments of your time to fill out this short survey. Your input is anonymous unless you add your name. However, recognize that the form and your written comments will be shared with the person for whom you are providing input. Please try to focus on comments that will reward a person for good performance or make specific suggestions on how performance might improve. Please return this assessment form via U.S. mail or bring it by the Activities Office. Thank you. SPORT_______________________________ LEVEL (Circle) C JV V COACH’S NAME_______________________________ DATE: ________________

Please rate the coach in each area on a scale from 1-5, with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. Circle the appropriate number or NA if not applicable, or if you are not able to rate the coach in an area.

Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent NA 1) Communication w/parents 1 2 3 4 5 NA 2) Communication w/ players 1 2 3 4 5 NA 3) Organizational skills 1 2 3 4 5 NA 4) Motivation of players/team 1 2 3 4 5 NA 5) Discipline of team/players 1 2 3 4 5 NA 6) Knowledge of the sport 1 2 3 4 5 NA 7) Game strategy 1 2 3 4 5 NA 8) Prevention and care of injuries 1 2 3 4 5 NA 9) Attitude/Conduct during game 1 2 3 4 5 NA 10) Attitude/Conduct of players 1 2 3 4 5 NA 11) Ability to teach skills 1 2 3 4 5 NA 12) Overall rating of coach 1 2 3 4 5 NA

Please add any comments below or on a separate sheet of paper. ______________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Name (optional)____________________________

PLEASE RETURN TO: Dimond H.S. Activities Office, 2909 W. 88th Ave, Anchorage AK 99502

STUDENT SERVICES/ATTENDANCE NEWSHolly Morris, Student Services/Attendance Assistant Principal - 742-7056

The School Dis-trict goal is to have 90% of students attend-ing school 90% of the time. Any absence (whether excused, pre-ar-ranged or unex-cused) is consid-

ered not present.

District wide, absences increased first semester (August-December 2014). The flu came early and ugly, which contributed to the increased absenteeism and could ex-plain the trend.

Comparing Dimond’s fall 2013 and fall 2014 attendance, we saw increased absenteeism among all student cohorts. Last year’s 9th graders were more absent this year as 10th graders. Last year’s 10th graders were more absent this year as 11th graders. And in a like fashion, last year’s 11th graders were more absent as 12th graders.

While illness was definitely a factor, we hope to see improved attendance and a de-crease in absences this spring semester.

The current number of students eligible for 95% attendance award at Dimond High School is 999. 108 students have perfect attendance! Everyday in school matters.

**Driving Pattern Change**

You may have noticed as you exit the stu-dent parking lot that a “no left turn” sign has been posted. Thank you for your co-operation with the change as we strive to improve safe driving conditions.

 

Dimond  High  School  Class  of  2015  

BACCALAUREATE  SERVICE  

A  non-­‐denominational  service  of  inspiration  and  blessing  will  be  held  for  the  

Class  of  2015  graduates  and  their  families  on  

Monday,  May  11th  at  7:00  pm  City  Church  

1301  W.  100th  Avenue        Anchorage    

R E M E M B E R

All ASD Buildings areDrug, Alcohol and Tobacco Free

Campuses

Part Time Work Available at Your Local School Cafeteria!

Work time is 3 – 7 hours per day during breakfast and/or lunch

To find out online which schools currently have position openings: § Go to www.asdk12.org § On the right side of the page, click on Employment § On the left, in the middle of the page, click on Food

Service and an info window will open with instructions for applying to be a Sub.

§ To apply for a regular position, click on Search and Apply for a Classified Position

§ Click on General Public & Temp Positions § Click on View External Job Postings § Click on Food Service, and if you see a

position you are interested in, click on the orange Apply button and follow instructions.

This site is updated daily.

 

Student  Cafeteria  Workers  Needed  We  are  looking  for  • Honest  • Dependable  • Responsible  workers  • Who  know  how  to  J  

                       You  will  receive  

• Minimum  wage  • Free  meal  • Work  experience  

 

If  interested  see  Cafeteria  Manager  for  an  application  

 

FRESHMAN HOUSE NEWSImtiaz Azzam, Freshman House Assistant Principal - 742-7069

Back by popular demand: Thanks to Ms. Christine Fisher, the small gym will once again be open to freshmen during lunch. Please take the time to thank Christine for volunteering to supervise the gym.

Need help with homework or math? The Homework Café’ will offer Math Tutorial after school on Tuesday and Thursday and it takes place in room B10, from 2:00 – 3:00, Homework Café’ will offer students assistance with homework, studying, or projects. No cost for either program, just show up!

As this new semester starts, I would like to remind parents to continue to encour-age their kids to come to school on time and to help them keep up with home-work. As you all know, attendance plays a crucial role in enhancing the graduation rate at our school. It is a true fact that the freshmen students’ attendance continues to increase at Dimond.I am pleased and proud to congratulate our freshmen stu-dents who have earned 95% perfect atten-dance for their first semester. Also, from data collected from first semester’s atten-dance, 358 freshman students out of a total of 473 have earned a 95% attendance rate. Congratulations! Keep going freshmen!

I would like to share the following with parents, the Required Notice 2015 Cli-mate and Connectedness Student Sur-vey. Each year Dimond High School par-ticipates in the School Climate and Con-nectedness Surveys. Data from these sur-

veys provide our school, district, and state with useful information on the student, staff, and family perceptions of school cli-mate and how they feel about their school. School climate data has been shown through research to be highly associated with student achievement and school per-formance.

Dimond High School surveys three sep-arate populations: students in grades 9-12, school staff, and families. The an-ticipated date for the ASD results to be shared with schools is the end of May 2015. The Survey Administration Window is for all three populations and will begin on January 20 and continue until February 27.

The Student Survey does not require pa-rental permission. If parents would like to request that their student does not com-plete/ participate in this survey, please con-tact your student’s school. Students will be taking the Student Climate Survey during class instruction for about 20 minutes.

We encourage parental participation in this Climate Survey as well. Parents’ participation will help provide Dimond with information about perception and experiences related to school climate and student connectedness for use in setting school goals and redirecting resources. As a parent it will take you about 10 minutes to complete the survey. Surveys are avail-able in English, Hmong, Samoan, Spanish, and Tagalog. Survey can be accessed from:http://www.asdk12.org/ae/surveys/cli-mateandconnectedness

Thank you for helping with this process. If you have any questions or feedback con-tact Assessment and Evaluation at 742-442

Our school was selected as a participat-ing school for the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) 2015. This survey is only administered to grades 9 – 12 with parental permission. The survey will be adminis-tered to students and completed by Febru-

ary 27th. The YRBS is part of an epide-miological surveillance system that was established in 1990 by the Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention (CDC). This anonymous survey examines a minimum of six categories of adolescent behavior: Behaviors that result in unintentional and intentional injuries; tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that can result in HIV infection, other sexu-ally transmitted diseases (STD’s) and un-intended pregnancies; dietary behaviors; physical activity.

Our Future Freshman Fair is set for Tuesday, February 24th from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in the Dimond High Audito-ria. At this event each club, activity, and sport hosts an information table. Eighth grade students and their families spend up to thirty minutes exploring the wide vari-ety of activities offered at Dimond. Then at 6:30 p.m. the parents meet their school counselor and academic department chairs to learn about Dimond’s courses, gradu-ation credits, and attendance policies. Please come! Welcome new Lynx!

If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns that you would like to dis-cuss regarding your Child’s needs or ex-perience, please feel free to contact me by email at azzam_imtiaz@asdk12.org or by phone 742-7069.

ENGINEERING ACADEMY NEWSLea Bouton, Marcus Reese, Wade Roach, Zion Russell & Chaz Vaughn

CANstruction Begins! For the 4th year in a row, the Principles of Engineering classes have been invited to compete in Anchorage’s CANstruc-tion competition. We are the only school group in this event, competing against 8 professional design and engineering firms to build a structure in 12 hours comprised entirely of canned food. The structures will be built on February 27 at the Univer-sity Center Mall and on display throughout the Fur Rondevous celebration. We are excited about our design concept for the theme “Under the Sea” and hope that you will come see all of the structures between February 28 and March 8! Each can in the structure, and those used as a vote for the People’s Choice Award (which we hope to win for the 4th straight year!) will be donated to the Food Bank of Alaska dur-ing one of their greatest times of need. In addition to the cans needed for practice and voting purposes, we are fundraising to pay for the cans in our structure. Carrs Safeway generously sells the cans and a reduced price, and our School-Business Partner Enterprise Engineering will match our fundraising levels. We hope to raise $1750 and every donation helps! If you would like to donate to our cause, please send monetary donations to the following address with “Dimond Engineering” in the memo line. The Food Bank will mail you a receipt for tax purposes.

Food Bank of Alaska, Re: CANstruction, 2121 Spar Ave, Anchorage AK 99501.

Robotics Season is Operating at Full Speed Ahead!

The Dimond Robotics Team “Nerds of the North” has started their 6 week build pro-cess in preparation for a trip to Sacramento in March. Approximately 15 students are working on the “big robot” and continue a Dimond tradition that started over 14 years ago. Mr. Roach is the lead instructor for the only team in the state, which meets both at Dimond and UAA.

Also in the robotics world – the FTC (First Tech Challenge) or “little robots” are con-tinuing their work from last semester. FTC teams are a new addition at Dimond since Mr. Russell began incorporating them in the IED curriculum last year. Over 50 stu-dents are working in teams that range in number from 6 to 10 individuals and are striving toward the goal of competing in the Super Regions competition in Oak-land, CA. To earn a trip to Super Regions, teams need to be in the top 6 teams at the state level. The FTC State Tournament is scheduled for Feb 18 at the UAA Sports Complex. Last but not least, it is worth mentioning that this year Dimond has a third robot-ics team in its midst. Five sophomore and junior students have joined forces to com-pete in the VEX robotics challenge. This is the only team in the state and are work-ing towards the VEX World Competition in Louisville, KY in April. We wish all of our teams the very best of luck!

It’s Time to Celebrate! Engineering Achievement Cords!!

In recognition of their achievements, Di-mond seniors are eligible to earn Engineer-ing Achievement Cords, which are worn with their graduation attire. These silver cords signify advanced work in the areas of science, math, and engineering, and stu-dents are held to high standards for both grades and course enrollment. We will be awarding these cords on Wednesday, April 8th in an evening ceremony. Feel free to join us to celebrate our soon-to-be gradu-ates and to engage in a poster session for the Engineering Design and Development course to hear what their bright ideas are for changing the future!

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE FINES & FEES

OFFICE

Many students have received a fines no-tice from 1st semester. Fines are given for lost/misplaced book (either class-room or library), parking ticket, class fee, uniforms, or lunch charges. We do not send letters home for fines but, we do post fine lists in the commons and cafeteria. Please ask your student if he/she is on one of the lists and to find out exactly what it is for and to settle the fine.

Please send your student to Ms. Dubie in the Fines & Fees Office, (before /after school or during lunch time) if they are on one of the lists. Or you may call me @ 907-742-7022 to see what the fine is.

Thank you, Mary Jo Dubie

STUDENT GOVERNMENT NEWSLem Wheeles, Advisor - wheeles_lem@asdk12.org

Crystal Ball King and Queen Crystal Ball 2014 was December 6. The dance was a success with over 300 students in attendance. Jackson Mills was crowned King and Rachel Warner was crowned Queen. Elections Student Government elections will be held after

Spring Break 2015. Students interested in serving next year should watch for signs and announcements the week after Spring Break. Questions? Talk to Mr. Wheeles, the

Student Government Advisor, in room B103. Valentines for Sale The senior class will be selling roses and chocolate candy for valentines day. The sale is a package deal for that special someone, buy a rose for $5 and you get candy with it for free. The sales are February 9-12, and the roses and candy will be delivered on February 13. The profits from the rose sale help pay for end of year activities for the Class of 2015.

Spirit Olympics 2015 The 2nd Annual Dimond Spirit Olympics will take place on Friday, January 30, during the assembly at the end of the day. The freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and staff will square off in 11 events during this special assembly. Whichever class (or the staff) who earn the most points through the games will be crowned spirit champions for 2015.

Prom 2015: Midnight in Paris

Prom 2015 will be held at the Denai’na Center on Saturday, April 25th, from 8 PM to Midnight. Tickets are $50 stag/$80 drag and must be purchased in advance. Tickets will be sold at lunch and after school the week of Prom.

Our mission is to convey the opinions of the student body to the administration, organize school events, increase participation, and promote school spirit.

Be  sure  to  “Like”  us  on  Facebook  (Dimond  Student  Government),  follow  us  on  Twitter  (@DimondStudGov)  and  Instagram  (@DimondStudGov)  to  keep  up  with  the  latest  news!  

OFF THE SHELF: NOTES FROM DIMOND LIBRARYSuzanne Metcalfe, Librarian - 742-7103

ALASKA / ALASKA / ALASKA / ALASKA

Eight stars of gold on a field of blue . . . Chances are if you have a freshman or junior, Alaska Studies is on your student’s schedule. With the social studies curriculum changes, this course has moved from 11th grade to 9th; and as we transition, the course is taught in both grades to make sure all students get this required course. Where can students find good Alaskan information? What if you are looking for yourself? Interested in just browsing some good Alaskan Web Sites? I recommend three starting points: The Alaska Resources Pathfinder, SLED, and the Alaska Digital Archives. All these are linked from Dimond Library Online (http://www.dimondhigh.com/library).

The Alaska Resources Pathfinder (http://www.dimondhigh.com/library/alaska-links) takes you to a list of websites that ASD and Dimond teachers, students and librarians have discovered over the years covering topics from Native Alaskans to demographics to politics to geography to science. We’ve covered just about every possible topic on Alaska!

SLED (STATEWIDE LIBRARY ELECTRONIC DOORWAY) (http://sled.alaska.edu/sled/) calls itself your

first stop for information for, about and by Alaskans. It offers great links to websites, the Digital Pipeline (Alaska State Databases), and the Digital Archives (more on that next!). Topics include art, literature, business, culture, tourist information, jobs, genealogy, kid’s stuff and so much more.

THE ALASKA DIGITAL ARCHIVES (http://vilda.alaska.edu) presents a wealth of historical

photographs, albums, oral histories, moving images, maps, documents, physical objects, and other materials from libraries, museums and archives throughout our state. There are two main collections: Alaska Native History & Culture and Movement to Statehood. You don’t have to be a student to enjoy browsing this resource.

J.R.O.T.C. NEWSMSG Shelley - 742-7010

On November 17th, the annual Bowling Tournament, hosted by Eagle River High School, was held at Polar Bowl on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Dimond had three teams of four participate; each team bowled three games. Although Dimond did not place, each cadet enjoyed themselves and tried their best.

The Second Awards Ceremony was

held on November 24th, at Dimond High School in the auditeria. Many cadets went on stage to receive awards they have earned since the last Awards Ceremony in September. A majority of the awards handed out included awards for being on PT teams, both for Raider Cup and Cadet Challenge.

At the end of the ceremony, the winners of various competitions, including Cadet of the Month and NCO of the Quarter, were announced. The Cadet of the Month winner for October was Sydney Sears, and the Cadet of the Month winner for November was Morgan Wiegele.

The Second Quarter NCO winner

was Matthew Banez Awards for Platoon Drill, Platoon of

the Month, and Honor Company were also given out. Alpha 1 won Platoon of the Month for the month of October and Bravo 1 won both Platoon Drill and Platoon Of The Month for the month of November.

Honor Company for October and November was Bravo Company.

On November 26th, the JROTC

program had their annual PT Banquet at Dimond High School in MPR 1. The PT Banquet is an annual banquet for the PT teams that have competed in Raider Cup and Cadet Challenge. Although all the teams for both Raider cup and Cadet challenge tried their hardest, Dimond Gold took first in both Raider Cup and Cadet Challenge. The Dimond Gold cadets for both Raider Cup and Cadet Challenge were awarded a gold hoodie. The Dimond Maroon cadets received a long sleeve maroon shirt, and the Dimond Grey cadets received a grey t-shirt. All of the clothing received can be seen supported proudly by the Dimond JROTC Cadets.

The Annual Cadet Overnight

Lock-in was held on December 20th through the 21st. Cadets arrived at the Church of the Nazarene on Friday at 7pm and were explained all of the rules and told when the Nerf War would begin. Instead of having the National Guard provide the inflatables this year, the program decided to rent a pugil stick pit, and a boxing ring. Many cadets enjoyed the games room, where among other things, they enjoyed singing their heart out on the karaoke machine. Around 11pm, chaos broke free when the Nerf War began.

Platoons from Alpha and Bravo went

head to head trying to be the last Platoon standing. After the platoons were done, cadets from both Alpha and Bravo, along with staff, went against each other in the biggest battle of them all. No definite winner was determined. After the Nerf War was over, cadets continued having mini Nerf Wars, watching movies, played video games, battled on the inflatables, and even slept. At the end, cadets cleaned everything then left at 7am Saturday morning.

Keep up the good work!

Attention Senior Parents

Senior Fun Day is on Friday May 1!

This day was created at Dimond High 26 years ago to replace senior’s unofficial "skip" day, and the tradition has since spread to all the other Anchorage high schools. On that Friday, students will be bussed from DHS to the ATT Center to enjoy a fun and stress-free day of prizes, games, food, and music. It has been a great success over the years in terms of student safety, community involvement, and provides a final get together between students, staff, administrators, and parents before graduation. Senior Fun Day needs volunteers, donations of cash, prizes, and food to be a success. SFD is funded almost exclusively through donations; last year over $6000 was spent on the Center rental, food, T-shirts, prizes, and entertainment. We would love to have your help putting together this important event; please contact Missy Nurmi (Nurmi_Missy@asdk12.org) if you would like to help or check the class news section of Missy Nurmi’s asd website for meeting dates, times and locations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A permission slip is required, so please read the following information and sign on the other side of this paper. I agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Anchorage School District and its employees, directors and designees for expenses relating to injuries, accidents, disease, property damage and/or loss which may occur as a result of the student’s participation in Dimond’s Senior Fun Day. I understand the Anchorage School District does not provide medical insurance coverage or liability insurance that would cover a student’s injuries or actions. It will be my responsibility to provide for payment of such expenses should they occur. I am aware of the hazards associated with participation in this activity. Knowing the risks of this activity, I give my permission for the above listed student to participate in the activity to include transportation as arranged by the event coordinators. I also authorize any necessary emergency transportation and medical treatment to be administered to the above named student. I understand the Anchorage School District assumes no liability for such emergency transportation and medical treatment and that such costs will be my responsibility. Allergies and/or special medical instructions for the student are listed below: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Donation Form

SENIOR FUN DAY "2015" Friday May 1st at the ATT Center

Name __________________________________ Phone:__________________ Address:____________________________________________________________ Enclosed is my donation of $_______________ in support of the Dimond High School Senior Fun Day 2015. Thank you for your contribution. 2015 Senior Class Please make checks payable to Dimond High School SFD. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Senior Fun Day 2015 Permission Form

I have read the information on the front part of this paper and give permission for my son/daughter to attend Senior Fun Day on May 1st at the ATT Center. Name of Senior (print) last___________________________, first________________________ Student ID#___________________ Event Day Parent Contact # __________________________

_ Parent/Guardian’s Printed Name Parent/Guardian’s Signature Date Alternate Emergency Contact Name Alternate Emergency Phone Number

Thank You School Business Partners!