Dimond Newsletter
October 22nd, 2024
Dear Dimond Families:
Students have completed the 1st quarter! The marks for this quarter are a progress report and should provide students an understanding of how they are doing and whether they are on track for the semester. Parent Connect is a great way to help you with your child’s academic progress and success.
Thursday is Parent-Teacher Conferences!
This is an opportunity for parents to speak with teachers about their students' progress. Please note the times below for planning the time that you would like to attend. Parents will be able to freely navigate the building to meet with teachers in classrooms.
Please have your student’s schedule handy when you arrive, and we will provide a map.
Warm Regards,
Principal D’Atri
End of 1st Quarter and Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences are on Thursday, October 24th. You do not need to sign up in Conference Scheduler to meet with your students’ high school teachers.
We’ll use the schedule below for the week of Parent- Teacher Conferences.
This is the schedule for conference:
12:15pm: Student Dismissal ** No School Lunch will be provided**
1:00pm - 3:30pm: Parent-Teacher Conferences- Session 1
3:30pm - 5:00pm: Teacher Break
5:00pm - 8:00pm: Parent-Teacher Conferences- Session 2
8:00pm: Parent Teacher Conferences conclude
PM King tech Students are only expected to attend their 1st, 2nd and 3rd period classes on Thursday, they are dismissed for the rest of the morning.
A quick reminder that the canvas gradebook is only for Canvas assignments and is not a reflection of your student’s overall achievement in the course (unless this course is completely online). Please consult ASD’s Q Parent Connect for official grades.
Course Changes
Please remember that there will be no schedule or course changes made for 2nd Quarter. Any changes to your students' 2nd Semester courses can be made in January through their counselor. More information about 2nd Semester course changes will be available in December.
New News For this Week's Newsletter
Activities Bus For State Football Championship
Dimond is providing 50 students with the opportunity to take a bus out to the State Championship Football game this Friday 10/25. The bus will leave at 4:50 PM. Please go to the link provided for more details and how to get a spot for your child to ride the bus.
Tardy Culture
This week, as we’ve been welcoming students to school in the morning, we’ve also been counting how many students arrive after the tardy bell. On both Monday and Tuesday this week, there were over 70 students walking in tardy. That is 5% of our whole student body! This indicates a culture of tardiness that does not serve students well in their employment beyond high school. Tardiness also sends a message to our community that school time isn’t important. In an effort to change a culture of tardiness, the student services team will implement the following strategies starting the week of October 28:
Each morning there will be a table set out for students who come in after the bell. They will fill out a “tardy slip” with their name, the time, and which class they are going to. There should not be any students in the hall after the tardy bell without a white tardy slip or a pink pass.
We will conduct one random tardy sweep per day for the next two weeks, then three times a week after that. At the start of the second semester it will be once every day for two weeks again. We do not need to call home on instant detentions issued during a tardy sweep.
Monday is “Tardy Monday.” Our Attendance Office will run a report in the morning that details each student’s tardies from the previous week. If the student has 4 tardies, they will be served a lunch detention and their parents will be called. If they have 8 or more for the week, they will be assigned a day of ISS by Assistant Principal Hayden.
King Tech
Registration is open for King Tech courses 2nd semester for juniors and seniors. Students attend in the morning or afternoon. Students, contact your counselor if you are interested in attending.
Vaccine Clinic
Hello DHS families and support systems!
Thursday October 24th from 1pm-8pm DHS will be hosting a vaccine clinic. At this time your student and your family can receive a flu shot at no cost. ASD will also be offering Tdap/DTaP immunizations. I cannot wait to see you all there!
Urgent Call for PTSA Board Members & Volunteers for the Dimond High School PTSA
The Dimond PTSA is in urgent need of volunteers to fill the roles of Treasurer, Secretary, and President. These positions are currently held by parents whose students graduated in May, and we are ready to pass these responsibilities to current Dimond parents.
We understand time is valuable, and these roles do not require extensive hours—just a small but meaningful commitment to help support our school community.
If you’re interested in any of these positions, or would like more information, please reach out to us at DimondPtsaboard@gmail.com or send us a message on Facebook.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to get involved and make a difference at Dimond High!
This message highlights the urgency, the limited time commitment, and how easy it is to get involved.
Parent volunteers are a vital need to keep the lynx lair open daily. We are currently operating only 3 days a week. Without being fully open daily we lose sales that go back to our students and staff through grants. If you are available Monday or Tuesdays let us know and we will get you trained.
NEW ITEMS ALERT
Lynx Lanyards, sweats and crewnecks to purchase these visit Dimondhighptsa.givebacks.com
Reflections Art Contest is live. Visit our website for details.
Unlock Your Child’s Potential with Hatch Coding!
Help your child gain real-world coding skills in JavaScript or Python while supporting Dimond High. 40% of your $14/month subscription goes back to the school’s PTSA, funding valuable programs for all students. Give your child a head start today!
Upcoming Sports Start Dates and Signups
Each sport costs $225.00. There is now a student cap of $675.00 per year. 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 make sure to complete all forms on Planeths, before the start date of the sport you are interested in participating in. Each student must check in with Chelsea Hunt in the Activities office to receive a Golden Ticket before they are eligible to participate in their desired sport.
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 2:15 PM for 30 mins.
Sports start Dates
Oct. 30: Nordic Ski
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 that are not eligible will not be able to participate in their sport or activity
School Calendar
Upcoming School Calendar-
- October 22 and 23- Modified Bell Schedule 1.
October 24: Parent Teacher Conferences, Student Dismissal at 12:15, no lunch service this day. Modified Bell Schedule 2,
October 25: No School- Professional Development Day
November 5th: Remote Learning Day- Election Day
November 6th and 7th: Abbreviated Cell Schedule- All 6 Periods.
Survey From The Academies of Anchorage
ASD is exploring adjustments to the high school class schedule to provide additional opportunities for students to earn credits through courses of their choice. This will support the district’s efforts to have all students graduate college, career and life ready.
Additional elective credits will increase access to career-themed electives through the Academies of Anchorage, provide more opportunities for academic support (credit recovery, special education, English language learners) and offer additional collaboration time for educators.
Review this webpage that compares the current schedule and what a 7-period or 8-period schedule would look like, explores the potential benefits of each option, and provides links to sample schedules and research.
Please share your feedback on the bell schedule options, the survey is open now through Oct. 25.
If you are looking for information pertaining to seniors, please click this link! This a live link to a Google Doc that will be updated throughout the year.
Senior Information from the Counseling Office
Attention seniors and parents of seniors! Please read this senior fall information and contact your counselor if you need assistance or have questions.
If you would like to pay by cash please contact any Varsity Volleyball Player or Coach Lauwers! Cash will also be collected by Volleyball Players at Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 24th. All Wreath Sales must be completed by Friday, October 25. Please help us by supporting this long standing Lady Lynx fundraiser!
A.J. Dimond High School
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/dimond
Location: 2909 West 88th Avenue, Anchorage, AK, USA
Phone: (907) 742-7000