The Scoop

Dear Chugach families,

It is hard to believe we are entering into the final few months of the school year. This is an exciting time for our upper students as I hear the singing in the MPR for the upcoming musicals and feel their excitement for their upcoming performances.

As many of you know Chugach is going through the budgeting crisis that all schools in the Anchorage School District are facing. I am still working to have our two teaching positions that were cut reinstated, and I have appreciated all of the help from parents who have advocated for our school. I will strive to keep you informed of any changes, and I will continue to work with the school district in support of our school.

The Anchorage School District also has a plan in the event that Mt. Spurr has an eruption before the end of school (asdk12.org/HotTopics). If the volcano erupts while school is in session and the ash cloud is moving towards Anchorage, the school district will announce an early release. Chugach Optional has enough masks on hand for all students, staff and parents who would be in the school. Masks would be distributed by the office staff and Nurse Maya. Additionally, all outside ventilation would be shut off. Should Mr. Spurr erupt when school is not in session, the school district would issue a school closure until such time as it is deemed safe to return.

As I grew up in Anchorage, I remember when Mt. Spurr erupted in 1992. I was working my summer job as a swamper (garbage man) for Anchorage Refuse. The ash cloud rained down on Anchorage, but we all survived. I remember the next day having to hose off 1-2 inches of ash from my parent's driveway, and there being a rush on air filters for cars, but life returned to normal within a couple of days.

Let's keep thinking positive thoughts and working to support our wonderful school.

Joel

Wednesday, April 2 - AK Star MAP testing (Middles & Uppers)

Thursday. April 3 - Dungeons & Dragons (3:00pm, Music Room)

Friday, April 4 - Parent Coordinator Meeting (8:30-9:30 in Seed Lab), Upper Field Trip to Eagle River Nature Center (9:00am-2:30pm), Primary Group Farm Songs & Presentation (1:00pm-1:30pm, Gym), Chugach's GOT TALENT (5:30pm-7:30pm, Gym)

Monday, April 7 - CEC Board Meeting (3:00pm-4:00pm, Conference Room), Dungeons & Dragons (3:00pm, Art/Health Room)

Thursday, April 10 -Dungeons & Dragons (3:00pm, Music Room)

Friday, April 11 - EARLY RELEASE DAY (Dismissal @11:15am)

Monday, April 14 - Kindy RAIN Day, Dungeons & Dragons (3:00pm, Art/Health Room), Track Club (3:00pm-4:00pm, meet in gym)

Wednesday, April 16 - Track Club (3:00pm-4:00pm, meet in gym)

Thursday, April 17 - !!!MINI-COURSE DAY!!!, Dungeons & Dragons (3:00pm, Music Room)

Friday, April 18 - April Closure Day - NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 21 - Dungeons & Dragons (3:00pm, Art/Health Room), Track Club (3:00pm-4:00pm, meet in gym), Ninja Warrior Family Night (5:30pm-7:30pm, gym)

Tuesday, April 22 - Kindy MUD Day

Wednesday, April 23 - Track Meet (4:30pm-7:30pm @ Hanshew)

Thursday, April 24 - Online REGISTRATION for returning students opens (Parent Connect), Dungeons & Dragons (3:00pm, Music Room)

Friday, April 25 - Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast (7:30am-8:30am, MPR), EARLY RELEASE DAY (Dismissal @ 11:15am)

Monday, April 28 - Dungeons & Dragons (3:00pm, Art/Health Room), Track Meet (4:30pm-7:30pm @ Chugach)

Wednesday, April 30 - Kindy SUN Day, Track Club End of Season Party (3pm-4pm)

The ASD Online Lottery for the 2025-2026 school year has now run and parents of incoming students were notified of results starting on Friday, March 28th. If you were notified that your NEW incoming child has a spot at Chugach Optional, you must ACCEPT the spot within two school days. Even if you are already a Chugach Family, failure to ACCEPT the spot for your NEW student in that time frame will be considered as declining the spot and the spot will be offered to the next student on the waitlist. This is an automated process and the front office staff is not able to make changes if you miss the deadline.

Immunizations:

The State of Alaska and the ASD require all students to be up-to-date on immunizations. Routine vaccination for Tdap occurs at 11 –12 years of age. Now is a great time for 5 & 6th grade students to get scheduled and stay up-to-date with vaccines. HPV & Meningococcal are not required for school, but are also recommended vaccines at this age.

Recommendations for Volcanic Ash Event for those with Respiratory Conditions

Join us for a fun evening of performances that showcases all the amazing talent in our community!

All students in grades 3-6 that are interested in participating in track club after school please sign the attached sheet and return it to Polly. The practice days and times will be Monday and Wednesday from 3:00pm – 4:00pm. Our first practice will be April 14th. Meet in the gym with running clothes, running shoes and a water bottle. We will be outside most of the time, so please have appropriate weather gear.

If any parents would like to help out with the practices I would greatly appreciate it!

I am looking forward to having a fun season with learning about all the different aspects of track: short distance, long distance, relays, long jump, and softball throw!

Schedule:

April 14 Practice 3-4

April 16 Practice 3-4

April 21 Practice 3-4

April 23 Track Meet @ Hanshew 430-730

April 28 Track Meet @ Chugach 430-730

April 30 End of Season Party 3-4

Thank you to all the volunteers who signed up to run a Mini course. We are on track for April 17 to have a great day. The kids will be signing up later this week, details will come from your teacher. For primary and kindergarten parents it would be helpful if you aid them in the process. It will be done on their Chromebooks in school. We will hand out paper descriptions of the classes available to each grade.

Nick "Iligutchiak" Hanson, also known as the "Eskimo Ninja," is an American Ninja Warrior competitor from Unalakleet, Alaska, who is known for his inspiring story of overcoming adversity and promoting positivity, especially among youth in rural Alaska.

Forest Strick is an American Ninja Warrior competitior from Wasilla Alaska. They will be sharing with our students during PE classes and then we will have a Family Night that evening! Come try your skills at being a Ninja Warrior!

Check this out! Chugach Optional will receive $5 for every student that registers to participate!!!!

Online Registration for students returning to Chugach Optional for the 2025-2026 school year opens on Thursday, April 24th. If you know that your student(s) will be returning to Chugach next year, please go into your ParentConnect Account starting on April 24th and complete the online registration process in the Quick Links section.

Class lists for next year cannot be confirmed until we have ALL students registered. The number of teachers a school is allotted is also highly connected to enrollment/registration numbers, so the sooner we have everyone registered the more secure our teacher number remains.

For more information about registering your student(s) for next year, please check out the ASD website (https://www.asdk12.org/register) or give us a call in the front office. A more detailed "How to" guide for Online registration will be sent out to families on April 24th.

Friends - please help our community to ensure a safe and efficient parking lot for arrival and dismissal.

We know parking is limited but please refrain from parking in any of the "RESERVED" parking spots, the fire lane or the loading dock area.

Also, please do not park in the handicapped parking spaces unless you are permitted to do so. We need to have these spots accessible to those who need them. We would also appreciate it if you could park in such a way as to not block others from getting out of their parking spots or that blocks the flow of traffic.

Chugach families are welcome to park at the New Hope Church across the street. Please be good neighbors and do not park in any reserved parking areas and be mindful of your speed at all times. Due to the current, heightened volcano alert status, we are unable to use the Municipal Emergency Office Center parking lot to our south for extra parking. Thank you for your cooperation.