Dimond Newsletter
April 15, 2025
Dear Dimond Families:
Dear Dimond Families:
As the snow melts and the temperatures warm, we all get a little of the summer itch! However, we still have five weeks left of school, and I’m sure we all need help staying focused on academics. Attendance matters now more than ever to ensure students are set up for success on finals, projects, passing grades and eligibility for activities.
This is also ceremony season, where we are able to honor the hard work and dedication of students in the many programs offered at Dimond High School. I am impressed and humbled when I hear about our students’ accomplishments!
This Friday is a closure day, and I hope students are able to enjoy the last long weekend of the school year!
Warm Regards,
Principal D’Atri
New News for This Week's Newsletter
Summer School- Credit Recovery
Summer school is available for those students who have failed courses at Dimond this academic school year. If you’re looking for ways to make up those credits see the QR code in the flier below!
AK Star Testing
AK STAR Assessment and Alaska Science Assessment started TODAY
Our freshmen and sophomores are taking make-up AK Star and AK Science Assessments this week. The assessments will take place during morning testing time blocks. Once a student is finished testing they may return to class.
The period for "refusals" (previously known as "Opt-Out") ended on March 21st. If your 9th or 10th graders are at school, they will be tested.
If you have any additional questions, please call the curriculum office, 742-7000-press 5.
School Calendar
April 15th: Honor Grad Ceremony in the Dimond Auditeria at 7:00pm
April 18th: No School- Spring Closure Day
April 23rd: World Language Recognition the Dimond Auditeria at 6:00pm
May 1st: Japanese Completion Ceremony in the Dimond Auditeria at 7:00pm
May 2nd: Senior Fun Day on the Alumni Field at 11:30am
May 6th: Senior Finals- Periods 1, 2 and 5 (See Schedule Below)
May 7th: King Tech Finals
May 8th: Senior Finals- Periods 3, 4 and 6 (See Schedule Below)
May 8th: Life Skills Graduation
May 9th: Seniors Last Day
May 13th: Dimond Alumni Awards in the Dimond Library at 4:00pm
May 15th: Dimond Graduation at the Alaska Airlines Center at 2:00pm
School is dismissed at noon.
May 20th and 21st: Dimond Finals for grades 9-11 (More information to come)
Academies of Anchorage
On April 9th, we had the privilege of welcoming Detective Amanda LaPorte from the Anchorage Police Department to Dimond High School. Detective LaPorte, who serves as a Robbery Assault Detective and Polygraph Examiner, provided our students with an expert presentation on the use of polygraphs in law enforcement.
Students had the unique opportunity to learn about how polygraphs are used in real-world investigations and the important role this tool plays in the justice system. It was an engaging and informative experience that really connected classroom learning to practical application in the field.
A huge thank you to Detective LaPorte and the Anchorage Police Department for taking the time to come speak with our students and for providing such a valuable learning experience. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to future opportunities to work together.
Then, on Wednesday, April 16th, we are hosting FBI Special Agent Derek Espeland. Agent Espeland brings over 20 years of experience in law enforcement. He has served as a bomb technician, worked extensively on terrorism investigations, and has been an active member of the Evidence Response Team since 2004, participating in numerous searches. His visit will give students a valuable look into the world of federal investigations and career pathways in criminal justice and national security.
These visits are a fantastic opportunity for our students to connect classroom learning to real careers in public safety and law.
Upcoming Field Trip – ACCD Event in Palmer
On May 8th, we’ll be taking a group of students to Palmer for the 2025 Alaska Construction Career Day (ACCD). This event will allow students to explore career paths, educational programs, and hands-on learning opportunities. More information on how to sign up will be shared soon.
DHS Sports
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.
Students participating in fall sports need to be aware that the prior spring semesters’ grades count towards their fall eligibility.
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.
Important Information From Past Newsletters
Senior Finals
We have exactly 4 weeks until our senior class will be taking their last finals! This semester we will not be modifying the bell schedule for finals. We have found that the majority senior only classes can finish their finals in the 80 minute block periods we already have. We are also working the King Tech finals into our schedule this year to reduce the stress on our students that attend both schools. Dimond senior finals will be on Tuesday, May 6th and Thursday May 7th. See the schedule above for more information!
Blood Drive
Jillian Dolph, a Junior at Dimond is working on an exciting project for Mr. Reese's AP Language and Composition class. She is organizing and hosting a blood drive in partnership with the Anchorage Firefighters. The blood drive is from May 12th, 2025, through May 17th, 2025. See the flier below for more information.
Mount Spurr Eruption Plans
What to Expect When Mount Spurr Erupts
If school is NOT in session and ashfall is on the way, ASD will close schools.
After-school activities and community rentals will be cancelled.
2. If school IS in session and ashfall is imminent, we’ll dismiss early so everyone can get home safely.
Bus routes may change to avoid hazardous roads.
After-school activities and community rentals will be cancelled.
How ASD Is Getting Ready:
Keeping Students & Staff Safe:
Schools will check in with students and staff who have respiratory conditions and take extra precautions.
Families, if your child has a condition we don’t know about, please let your school know.
Emergency Plans in Place:
Every school has a volcano response plan with shelter-in-place procedures and air quality measures.
We’re working closely with local, state, and federal partners to stay on top of the situation.
Protecting Indoor Air Quality:
We’ll take steps to keep ash out, including shutting down HVAC exterior vents and limiting when exterior doors are opened.
Schools have specialized air filters, and we have extra replacements ready to go.
Ventilation systems will be adjusted as needed, and our crews will start cleaning up ash when it’s safe.
Stocking Up on Supplies:
We have 22 emergency connex units across the district filled with N95 masks, first aid kits, and essential supplies.
How to Stay Updated:
New volcano web resource page https://www.asdk12.org/Page/21131
Latest updates and safety tips
Sign Up for Emergency Alerts
Follow ASD on Social Media
Dimond Specific Plans:
Admin will make an announcement that an eruption has occurred and direct the release of students over the intercom for the following 10 minutes. We ask that all staff remain for those 10 minutes before leaving (if leaving was prearranged in the form).
Student release order will be as follows:
Bus riders will be released first to the auditeria, and grouped by bus #
Parent pick ups will be released second to the gym
Student drivers and walkers will be released last, but will leave campus immediately
Once all students have been released from classrooms, staff will be split between the auditeria and gym for support. We will have cloth masks for students when/if needed.
Students picked up by parents will still require Q contact verification or parent permission, and we encourage text communication for this using student phones when possible, since we anticipate phone lines will be overloaded.
As we near the time of ash impact, staff will reduce exterior door use to minimize ash exposure inside the building.
Seniors
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. This link has graduation dates/times as well as other important dates for seniors to know.
If you haven’t purchased your cap and gown, there's still time, please click on the seniors link above for more details.
Also in the link above the request form for extra graduation tickets is now live!
Parent Meeting for Dimond Lynx Football 2025 Season on April 16th at 6pm @ Dimond High in MPR!! Join us to learn more about the upcoming season, summer workouts/activities, fundraising opportunities and to meet the DHS State Champion Coaching Staff!
Career Resource Office
Our Dimond Career Resource Center is run by Mrs. Lauwers and is open on Tuesdays and Fridays or afterschool by appointment only. She is here to help you with anything related to college applications, scholarships or life after high school. If you would like to speak to her and she is not in her office her email is lauwers_kimberly@asdk12.org.
A.J. Dimond High School
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/dimond
Location: 2909 West 88th Avenue, Anchorage, AK, USA
Phone: (907) 742-7000