Alaska Native Cultural Charter

February

• 2/1 - Online Lottery Opens for NEW to ANCCS K-8 students
• 2/3 - 2/7 - ACCESS Testing for ELL students
• 2/10 - 2/14 - Spirit Week!
• 2/12 - Cross-Country Skiing Field Trip (grades 6 & 8)
• 2/16 - Elizabeth Peratrovich Day
• 2/17 - Presidents' Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL
• 2/18 - ANCCS Academic Policy Committee (APC) meeting
• 2/19 - Chickaloonies Artist Visit
• 2/24 - Deadline to Submit APC Board application (4:00 pm)
• 2/26 - 2/28 - Preschool closed for professional development & conferences
• 2/26 - Full School Day (other ASD schools have a half day)
• 2/27 - NO SCHOOL for parent/teacher conferences (other ASD schools have a half day)
• 2/27 - ANCCS APC Election - please vote!
• 2/28 - NO SCHOOL - Staff professional development day

March

• 3/6 - Last school day of Quarter 3
• 3/7 - Quarter 3 Grading Day - NO SCHOOL
• 3/10 - 3/14 - Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
• 3/17 - Classes resume for Quarter 4
• 3/18 - 5th Grade Museum Field Trip
• 3/20 - Middle School Museum Field Trip
• 3/20 - Badminton Team Field Trip for Colony Tournament
• 3/24 - 4/4 - AK Star / Spring MAP, grades 3-8
• 3/27- ANCCS Family Night, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

During the first week of February, our English Language Learner (ELL) students completed ACCESS testing, which is a comprehensive language test in the domains of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Completing the ACCESS test is a big accomplishment and we are proud of each of our ELL students for their tremendous effort! We're excited to celebrate their growth!

This second week of February is our Valentine's Day spirit week! Our ANCCS student ambassadors have planned a week full of fun and uplifting activities to celebrate love and kindness in our community.

The following week is a short week with the Monday holiday. Our students will be learning about Elizabeth Peratrovich, her flight for civil rights for Alaska Natives, and the impact her work and message has on us all today.

Finally, we look forward to connecting with each of you during parent-teacher conferences on February 27. Unlike other ASD schools, we have a full day of school on February 26 followed by no school on February 27 (for parent-teacher conferences) or February 28 (for staff training).

ASD Lottery opens February 1! Please share with any friends or neighbors who may be interested in ANCCS for their child.

Families interested in joining ANCCS (including current ANCCS Pre-K students planning to attend ANCCS for Kindergarten and beyond) need to apply through the ASD lottery. Current ANCCS K-8 students do not need to reapply. Siblings of current ANCCS students must apply and will receive sibling priority if their lottery application is linked to a current ANCCS sibling.

The District utilizes a randomized lottery system to provide equal opportunity for all students who would like to participate in alternative schools or programs other than their child's neighborhood school. Please visit the ASD Lottery Website for more information about the lottery or call the office at (907) 742-1370.

For K-8 students NEW to ANCCS (including current preschool students):

• Spring lottery opens for parents on February 1, 2025 at midnight for the 2025-2026 school year
• Spring lottery closes for applications on March 20, 2025 at 5:00 pm
• Spring lottery runs March 21, 2025
• Parent notifications released March 28, 2025 at 5:00 pm

For new preschool students:

Families interested in ANCCS preschool for 2025-2026 will need to apply through the preschool department. The application will be posted in February.

LINK TO PRESCHOOL APPLICATION:

Preschool / General Education Preschool Programs

Please select the General Education Preschool, then Alaska Native Cultural Charter School.

Join our ANCCS student leaders, the student ambassadors, in celebrating love and kindness all week long while showing your ANCCS spirit!

Waqaa ANCCS families,

My name is Michael Patterson, and I am a parent member and the vice president for the Academic Policy Committee (APC). The APC would like to announce to ANCCS families that it is election time and that we are currently accepting applications for the APC. There is one (1) staff seat, two (2) community seats, and two (2) parent seats on this year’s ballot. Applications are due Monday February 24 at 4:00pm. There is physical application at the front office, and you can apply online at the school’s website. If you are interested in running for a seat, please use the following link to apply:

https://tinyurl.com/2025APCElectionApplication

ANCCS election day is Thursday February 27. That is the same day as ANCCS Parent-Teacher Conferences.

As a parent of an ANCCS student, serving on the APC is way I can have a greater impact on my child’s education and serve the whole ANCCS community.

ANCCS APC regular meetings are held every third Tuesday of the month we invite you to attend. The APC is also looking for volunteers to start a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). If you are interested in starting a PTO, please email me at Patterson_anthony@asdk12.org.

The APC would like to thank the ANCCS community for all the hard work and dedication to ANCCS students.

Quyana,

The Academic Policy Committee

The Kids Heart Challenge helps children and adults right here in Alaska in addition to people all over America. The American Heart Association has sent a representative to teach Hands Only CPR to all of our middle school students this year.

Our school goal is to have 100 students go online to register and complete at least part of Finn's Mission. We are currently at 55 students.

ANCCS has one more weeks to meet our challenge! The event ends on February 14, so show some love by helping those in need with heart disease and other heart related issues.

Our wonderful Alaska Strong coordinator, Ms. Diana, has several exciting opportunities planned for the coming weeks. Please use bit.ly/akstrong1 o r the QR code below to join the February or March Atauchikun cohorts.

While the days are getting longer, the weather remains quite cold! Please take some time to review your student's winter gear and make sure they have winter boots, a warm coat, snow pants, gloves/mittens, and a hat with them at school every day. If something is missing, please stop by to check out our Lost & Found--lost and found items that are not claimed are donated monthly. If your family is in need of appropriate winter gear, you also may reach out to Nurse Frost at (907) 742-1370.

ASD Goal: Every student will attend school at least 90 percent of the time.

ANCCS Goal: Less than 8 is Great!

The graph below shows our 90% attendance rate throughout the school year. As of the end of January, 67% of ANCCS students have achieved 90% attendance. Did you know--students who do not achieve 90% attendance are considered chronically absent? Chronically absent students do not have the same academic, social, or emotional outcomes as students who attend school regularly. Please let your student's teacher know how we can partner together to support your student attending every day.

Quyana to our families for your dedication in bringing your student to school! As an all-driving school, our families work hard to get their children to school. We appreciate the effort and sacrifices you make to bring your kids to school. Every day that you bring your student to school or arrange a ride for them, you are investing in their future.

Let's aim for at least 75% of our students to achieve 90% attendance in February! There are 18 days of school in February. Can your student commit to being present for 17 of those days?

Complete an application at www.anchoragelionsvision.org

Our students celebrate the primary (K-3) and intermediate (4-8) classes with the best attendance for the month by passing on the ayaruq.

Our 4th graders have been working on Tlingit formeline design with guest artist Ashley Young.

At ANCCS, we share what we have. Over the past weeks, teams of students have shared their knowledge regarding books and literature at Battle of the Books. We are proud of our ANCCS readers!

At ANCCS, we take care of others. Our ANCCS student ambassadors have been working hard to provide an uplifting spirit week for all students.

Celebrating Ms. Starr's 4th grade students at Yuuyaraq Gathering for their hard work at iReady pathway lessons.

Our student ambassadors represent ANCCS at the ASD alternative and choice school expo.