D I M O N D

A. J. Dimond High School Community Newsletter October 2012

Letter from the Principal

dimensionsSave the Date

October 1 Monday 7:30 AMDimond Engineering Academy

Advisory Council

October 2 - 4 HSGQE Test forSelected Juniors & Seniors

Oct. 2 – HSGQE Reading RetestOct. 3 – HSGQE Writing Retest

Oct. 4 – HSGQE Math Retest

October 5 Friday Period 4Senior Assembly for Graduation

Supplies

October 17 – 20 7 PMDimond Musical Cinderella

October 24 WednesdayParent-Teacher Conferences

11:45 – 2:304:00 – 7:00

Students are dismissed at 11:00 AM

October 25School is in Session

October 26 FridayInservice Day

Deadline to submit Senior Pages in Yearbook

Dear Dimond Parent/Guardian,

“If you build it, they will come.”I’ve modified this quote a bit from the movie Field of Dreams, one of my favor-

ites. There aren’t any cornfields around Dimond, however, we have built some magic on 88th Avenue and Arlene St. As in the movie, we gained much, much more than we anticipated. These terrific re-

sults were made possible by a shared vi-sion, a shared belief in the goal, and col-laboration throughout the Dimond com-munity.

Let’s begin with Dimond’s new eight-lane track that circles Dimond Alumni Field like a beautiful maroon ribbon. Di-mond Alumni Association Don Winchester, Senator Lesil McGuire, and Representative Mia Costello, who worked together to se-cure the legislative funds, made this addi-tion possible. Already, community mem-bers and student-athletes are enjoying the track. Dimond is now able to host large state and local track and field events.

Second is the remodeled Dimond En-gineering Academy. The carpets, small doorways and bulky folding wall are re-placed with industrial flooring, snorkels, and a glass dividing door. Teachers can

now supervise activities in the fabrication lab as well as the computer work on Inven-tor and Rivet. Funding was provided by legislative grants and an ASD Career Tech-nology Education grant.

Third is the incredible facility, itself. Di-mond High houses facilities to promote vi-sual arts, music, health and the most rigor-ous math, science, social studies, language arts, world language, JROTC and engineer-ing.

If you build it, they will come…… Di-mond staff offers students a world-class education. Students just need to show up. Show up rested, prepared and on time. Parents, students and staff, together, can make this the most pro-ductive and suc-cessful year ever.

Cheryl Guyett, Principal

!

Anchorage School Board Jeannie Mackie, President Tam Agosti-Gisler Gretchen Guess Pat Higgins Natasha Von Imhof Kathleen Plunkett Don Smith ASD Superintendent Jim Browder, Ed.D.

James Bell, Curriculum Assistant Principal - 742-7008

CURRICULUM NEWS

COUNSELORS

Freshmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jaime Boyd-Kragt9-12 Special Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tracie AshmanELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lee MontoyaSophomores, Juniors and Seniors:A – Di and ELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave DonkDo – K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rob HartleyL – P. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris HigginsR – Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pete Mandel

I want to thank everyone who volun-teered and helped with our registration and start-up this school year. Current-ly 1737 students are attending Dimond. Opening day was terrific and we got off to a smooth start. I also appreciate everyone that was able to make it to Open House last month. I can’t stress enough the importance of your involvement in your student’s life here at Dimond High School. Making sure your child attends on a regular basis and is on time is critical for effective education.

It’s easy to stay connected with your Zangle Parent Connect and see your stu-dent’s progress at Dimond. It is never too early to be in communication with your child’s teacher and make sure that we all support your child academically. If you have any questions regarding a specific grade or missing assignments, please con-tact your child’s teacher. Teachers’ names are hyperlinked in both the Parent Con-nect and Student Connect, making it easy to click on the teacher’s name and send an email.

Students also have the ability to go on-line and access their grades through Zangle Student Connect. This helps stu-dents stay on track and see their individual progress just like Parent Connect. It is im-portant for students to be accountable for their progress and know where they are

standing in each of their classes. Please encourage your child to use this useful tool to build on their success at school. With both parents and students having access to this information, great conversations can be held at home.

Please allow time for teachers to grade assignments and tests. Don’t expect that the grades will be posted on the same day the assignments are due. If it appears that your child’s information has not been up-dated within the last two weeks, feel free to contact the teacher. Keep in mind though, even in the fast-paced world of the Inter-net, quality grading and feedback still take time.

HSGQE Retakes: Juniors and seniors who have not passed one or more of their HSGQE tests will retake the test(s) Octo-ber 2 – 4. We will notify the family of each junior or senior who needs to retest. The Reading test is on October 2nd, Writ-ing on October 3rd and Math on October 4th. It’s important to make sure your stu-dent is there to test since their only other opportunity this year is April 2 – 4.

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Conferenc-es are on Wednesday, October 24. Students are released at 11:00. We strongly encour-age you to attend this event to discuss your child with teachers. The two sessions run

from 11:45am – 2:30pm and from 4:00pm – 7:00pm. Attending early in the session makes it easier to meet all of your chil-dren’s teachers.

Eligibility Criteria for the Alaska Per-formance Scholarship is increasing for the classes of 2013 and 2014. Please take time to look at the criteria that is enclosed in this newsletter. Alaska state law requires that all credits must be earned at the high school level. No course work that is com-pleted in Middle School can be accepted. Students must also have their SAT, ACT and Workkey’s scores sent to Dimond High School to apply towards their eligi-bility status.

Seniors! Remember that Honors Gradu-ate standing is determined by the seventh semester cumulative grade point average. Seniors must have earned a minimum 3.5 G.P.A. in January 2013 to qualify as an Honors Graduate.

When requesting a letter of recommen-dation from a counselor or teacher, or when asking a counselor or teacher to fill out a college entrance application form, please allow a minimum of two weeks for staff to complete your request. Letters of recommendation packets are available from the student’s counselor or from Mrs. Kim Lauwers in the CRC.

Class of 2013 & Class of 2014A L A S K A P E R F O R M A N C E S C H O L A R S H I P

Eligibility Progress Checklist

Student GPA: ______________________ Student Test Score & Test Date: ____________________________________________

Find details and subscribe for updates at APS.alaska.gov

OR

Math & Science Curriculum

Social Studies & Language Curriculum

cultural heritage may be substituted for one unit in social studies.

* Two language units must be in the same language, and may be foreign language, Alaska Native language, or American Sign Language.

4 units Math

4 units Science

4 units Language Arts

4 units Social Studies*

APS Level 1 APS Level 2 APS Level 3 (up to $4,755 per year) (up to $3,566 per year) (up to $2,378 per year)

Curriculum and Curriculum and Curriculum and

GPA: 3.5 and GPA: 3.0 and GPA: 2.5 and

ACT: 25 or SAT: 1680 or ACT: 23 or SAT: 1560 or ACT: 21 or SAT: 1450 or

WorkKeys: 13 (no score below 4)* WorkKeys: 13 (no score below 4)* WorkKeys: 13 (no score below 4)*

* A combined score of 13 or higher, with no score below 4, is required in Applied Math, Locating Information, and Reading for Information. Students with only WorkKeys scores can receive a Career/Technical Education (CTE) APS award which may

be used to fund a certificate program but not an associate’s or other degree.

To apply for the APS, students must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by June 30th of each year.

9/10/2012

A L A S K A C O M M I S S I O N O N P O S T S E C O N D A R Y E D U C A T I O NAlaska’s Higher Education Agency

2 units World Language*

3 units Math

3 units Science

4 units Language Arts

4 units Social Studies

Class of 2015 & BeyondA L A S K A P E R F O R M A N C E S C H O L A R S H I P

Eligibility Progress Checklist

OR

Math & Science Curriculum

Social Studies & Language Curriculum

C O U R S E L I S TMath

algebra I algebra II geometry trigonometry pre-calculus calculus calculus II statistics ____________________

Science physical science earth science biology chemistry physics marine biology anatomy and physiology ____________________

Language Arts composition American literature world literature speech and debate advanced composition creative writing British literature ____________________

Social Studies world historyAmerican historygeographyAmerican government/civicseconomicsAlaska historywestern or eastern civilizationpsychologysociology ____________________

4 units Math

4 units Science

4 units Language Arts

4 units Social Studies

must be the same foreign, Alaska Native, or American Sign language

APS Level 1 APS Level 2 APS Level 3 (up to $4,755 per year) (up to $3,566 per year) (up to $2,378 per year)

Curriculum and Curriculum and Curriculum and

GPA: 3.5 and GPA: 3.0 and GPA: 2.5 and

ACT: 25 or SAT: 1680 or ACT: 23 or SAT: 1560 or ACT: 21 or SAT: 1450 or

WorkKeys: 13 (no score below 4)* WorkKeys: 13 (no score below 4)* WorkKeys: 13 (no score below 4)*

* A combined score of 13 or higher, with no score below 4, is required in Applied Math, Locating Information, and Reading for Information. Students with only WorkKeys scores can receive a Career/Technical Education (CTE) APS award which may

be used to fund a certificate program but not an associate’s or other degree.

To apply for the APS, students must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by June 30th of each year.

In addition to APS standard courses appearing on the course list provided, each school district can offer other approved courses in two categories: 1) equivalent and 2) additional. Any approved equivalent or Advanced Placement course may be substituted for the relevant APS standard course.

For the Social Studies & Language Curriculum, substitution of an approved additional course for an APS standard course is limited to one unit in any single subject area (math, science, language arts, and social studies). For the Math & Science Curriculum, substitution of an approved additional course is limited to one unit of math, two units of science, one unit of language arts, and two units of social studies; and, a foreign

substituted for one unit of social studies.Contact your counselor for more information about equivalent and additional courses approved for the APS

at your school district. Approved courses may also be available through resources such as Alaska’s Learning Network (AKlearn.net) or the University of Alaska. Eligibility is determined based upon courses contained in your school’s permanent student record.

2 units World Language

3 units Math

3 units Science

4 units Language Arts

4 units Social Studies

Student GPA: ______________________ Student Test Score & Test Date: ____________________________________________

Find details and subscribe for updates at APS.alaska.gov9/6/2012

A L A S K A C O M M I S S I O N O N P O S T S E C O N D A R Y E D U C A T I O NAlaska’s Higher Education Agency

SAT & ACT Important Information

NEW! When signing up for the SAT and ACT, students will be asked to provide a photo at online registration. This photo will be printed on their admission ticket. Each student will be asked to bring this admission ticket and state I.D. on the day of the test. See SAT and ACT dates and websites below.

ACTRegister online! www.actstudent.orgFees: No writing $35.00 With writing $50.50

TEST DATE REGISTRATION DEADLINE LATE REGISTRATION, FEE REQUIREDSEPT. 8 AUG. 17 AUG. 18-24OCT. 27 SEPT. 21 SEPT. 22-OCT. 5DEC. 8 NOV. 2 NOV. 3-16FEB. 9 JAN. 11 JAN. 12-18APRIL 13 MARCH 8 MARCH 9-22JUNE 8 MAY 3 MAY 4-17

SATRegister online! www.collegeboard.orgFees: SAT $50 SAT Subject $23 Late Fee: $77

TEST DATE REGISTRATION LATE REGISTRATION, FEE REQUIREDOCT. 6 SEPT. 7 SEPT. 21NOV. 3 OCT. 4 OCT. 19DEC. 1 NOV. 1 NOV. 16JAN. 26 DEC. 28 JAN. 11MAR. 9 FEB. 8 FEB. 22

Bell schedule for Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, October 24: Period 1 7:30 – 8:00 Period 2 8:06 – 8:36 Period 3 8:42 – 9:12 Period 4 9:18 – 9:48

Period 5 9:54 – 10:24 Period 6 10:30 – 11:00

KCC will be holding !"#$%&''('#)*%+.

No PM KCC classes on conference day. PM KCC students may leave or report to the library.

Parent/Teacher Conference Schedule:

11:45 – 2:30pm Parent Conferences

4:00 – 7:00pm Parent Conferences !

FRESHMAN HOUSE NEWSDavid Legg, Freshman House Assistant Principal - 742-7069

The Freshman House has gotten off to an extremely good start. Enthusiasm is up and discipline referrals are down. This is great news considering that the fresh-man year is critical in deciding who will graduate in four years and who will not. The goal of the Freshman House is to provide critical supports and programs to give freshmen a successful start to their high school careers. Aside from having an incredible teaching staff, the Fresh-man House has a dedicated administrator, counselor and security. This team consists of myself; Mrs. Boyd, freshman coun-selor; and Mr. Kubosh, Freshman House security. Because we work directly with freshmen throughout the year, we are able to learn more about their individual needs and problem solve concerns on a more per-sonal basis.

To be successful, students need to know and understand the expectations of high school. To assist with this effort, all teach-ers devoted time to review their class-room expectations and review the student handbook for ASD/Dimond. This was fol-lowed by a quiz and feedback to clarify as needed. Mrs. Boyd, Mr. Kubosh and I visited each classroom to discuss expecta-tions and address questions that students had regarding rules. Most importantly, we were able to introduce ourselves to every

freshman so they would have a familiar face and name in time of need. Some of the items discussed during our visits were: dress code, hallway transitions, lunchtime expectations, the use of electronic devices and general behavior at school functions.

Not only is it important that students know what is expected of them, it is also important that they know what to ex pect from the staff. The Freshman House cre-ates an environ ment that is predictable, kind, caring, and extends the necessary support servic es, and resources to meet the needs of all students. These structures discourage undesirable behaviors and rein-forces positive ones. Excessive tardies, absences, and truan-cies will reflect natural consequences due to lost instructional time but may also result in additional consequences such as lunch detention, afterschool work de-tail, and Monday morning detention.

We closely monitor behavior referrals, attendance and grades. After the first 10 school days, the staff from the Freshman House met to discuss students' progress. Students needing more support were as-signed a staff member to track and help them

Home Work Café during freshman lunch or Home Work Center after school are two great times for students to receive extra help from teachers. Specific days and times will be announced soon. We also recognize students for a job well done, whether it's academic successes or simply a demonstration of good character. Several times a year, teachers nominate students for the Phenomenal Freshman award. If your child is nominated, you will receive a phone call notifying you and in-viting you to the lunchtime presentation. Battle of the Books has begun! All fresh-men should be reading, reading, READ-ING! Titles and books for this year’s com-petition are available in the library, as are summaries of each book. You may email your child’s teacher or the school librarian for more details. If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns that you would like to discuss regarding your child’s needs or experience, please feel free to contact me by email at legg_david@asdk12.org or by phone 742-7069.

JAMES BELLCurriculum

Assist. Principalbell_james@asdk12.org

DAVID LEGGFreshman House/Staff Services

Assist. Principallegg_david@asdk12.org

A. J. DIMOND HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION 2909 West 88th Avenue Anchorage, Alaska 99502 (907) 742-7000

TIM HELVEYActivities

Assist. Principalhelvey_timothy@asdk12.org

HOLLY MORRISStudent Service/Attendance

Assist. Principalmorris_holly@asdk12.org

YEARBOOK NEWSCullen LIckingteller , Advisor - 742-7167 lickingteller_cullen@asdk12.org

Dimond High School is committed to providing a quality yearbook full of memories that reflect our student body, our school staff, and our community. We strive for excellence on each and every page. It is our pleasure and privilege to record the story of our year.

There are a number of deadlines and specials that parents and students need to be informed about through the year.

The dates are similar to last year and the prices are the same as last year.

If Senior pictures are submitted by Octo-ber 31, we can guarantee the replacement of the picture taken during registration.

The resolution needs to be a mini-mum of 300 dpi. A thumb drive is an easy way to submit a picture, but other methods are feasible so long as we can download the image. Send a CD or email it to me. Sometimes an email doesn’t always go through, so a removable data storage device is the best bet.

Think about the traditional Senior Quote to accompany your picture in the yearbook! Consider a profound, enlight-ening, message that typifies you and your philosophy of life. Turn it in with your pic-ture.

SENIOR ADS

If you meet with us by October 26, the standard prices apply:

Full page-$450• Half-page-$250• Quarter-page-$150•

After October 26, deadlines to the printer create time crunches, but we may still be able to create and process a Senior page.

1. Email me to schedule a meeting with the Yearbook staff. Bring several photographs and the message you wish to include on the page.

2. After we consult you concerning color schemes, font styles, layout, and other aes-thetic concerns, we will work up a draft and insist you review and initial it for your approval.

3. Next we make changes and have you re-view and initial again.

4. We submit the copy to the Activities Principal, Mr. Helvey, for approval.

5. If all is well, we can submit the final design to the printer and the graduating student will permanently have a heartfelt message to carry from these memorable times into the future.

Mr. Cullen Lickingteller lickingteller_cullen@asdk12.org

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.

CAREER RESOURCE CENTER NEWSKim Lauwers - 742-7020

October is a busy month in the Career Resource Center. We have many college representatives coming to visit our students at Dimond. The list of colleges and the time they will be here are below. Students can sign up to visit with the college representative by signing up in the CRC office. I will also be visiting with parents and/or students about college planning on Oct. 4th at 7 p.m. in the Dimond MPR1 room. No sign up for this event is needed.

2012 Events and College Visits to Dimond (subject to change)

Oct. 1 Alaska Pacific University 9:15Oct. 4 College Planning Night (MPR1) 7:00 p.m.Oct. 9 Mayville University 12:15Oct. 11 Embry- Riddle University 8:30Oct. 16 Boise State University 1:20Oct. 16 All Academy Night at Chugiak 7 p.m.Oct. 17 Eastern Washington University 12:15Oct. 17 Perry Tech Institute 1:20Oct. 18 Western Washington University 10:45Oct. 18 Montana State University 9:20Oct. 18 Washington State University 8:25Oct. 21 Christian College Fair at Grace Christian School 1-3 p.m.Oct. 22 College and Career Fair (bus) TBA Oct. 23 Willamette University (TBA) 8:30Oct. 23 University of Northern Colorado 12:30Oct. 23 Columbia University 1:20

Oct. 11 ASVAB test at Dimond. Students interested in the ASVAB test must sign up in the CRC office. The test will be at 7:30 a.m.. THE ASVAB CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM is a career planning and exploration program that combines a multiple-aptitude test with an interest self-assessment and a wide range of career exploration tools.

Oct. 19 UAA Preview Days. This campus visitation program allows students, parents, and counselors to discover firsthand all of the wonderful opportunities UAA has to offer. www.uaa.alaska.edu/futurestudents.

Oct. 20 PSAT test at Dimond for Juniors and Seniors. $20.00. You must pay $20.00 to Mrs. Schroeder (in the main office), then bring your receipt to the CRC and sign up with Mrs. Lauwers. Mrs. Schroeder will accept payments before school, at lunch, and after school. The test will be at Dimond H.S. at 7:45 a.m. and begin at 8 a.m. The test is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.

Participating in a wide variety of events could help students develop a resume that is attractive in the college entrance process, job applications and to the scholarship committees. All students should get involved in as many extracurricular activities as possible. Look into all the sports, clubs and organizations that Dimond and the Anchorage community has to offer. Also, being involved in community service projects can have a positive effect on your resume too.

Senior students should be requesting their letter of recommendations from their teachers, employers, and/or counselors this month as well as beginning their senior portfolio. Please allow a minimum of two weeks for staff to complete your request. If you need help, please come to the CRC office.

Alaska Career Information System - www.akcis.org. Find 500 occupations, 4,000+ accredited 2 and 4 year colleges, universities, and technical schools, 1,200+ scholarships. Free. Go to the web and type in: akcis.org. Click on the first choice. At the AKCIS Homepage click on “login AKCIS” (from the top tool bar). For USERNAME type in: dimondhs. For PASSWORD type in 4akcis.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT NEWSLem Wheeles, Advisor - 742-7113

It is the policy of the Anchorage School District to provide equal educational and employment opportunities, and to provide services and benefits to all students and employees without regard to race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, marital status, and change in marital status, pregnancy, parenthood or other prohibitions. This policy is consistent with numerous laws, regulations, and executive orders enforced by various federal, state, and municipal agencies, including but not limited to Executive Order 11246, Title 41, part 60-1, 60-2, 60-3, 60-20, Title VI and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and Section 504.Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the School District’s Equal Employment Opportunity Director, who also serves as the Title IX Coordinator, Boniface Education Center, P.O. Box 196614, Anchorage, AK 99519-6614, (907) 742-4132 or to any of the following external agencies: Alaska State Commission for Human Rights, Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, Director of the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services.

Homecoming 2012

The students at Dimond High showed their

school spirit by dressing up the week of

homecoming. Each class worked hard to create

floats for the Homecoming festivities and

competed for the top spot during halftime.

Seniors won with Fantasy Land. Juniors came in

second with Adventure Land and sophomores

and freshmen placed third and fourth

respectively.

Dimond came out with a win against the Bears

17 – 14, despite the hailstorm.

Homecoming Queen and King were also

announced at the game. Tiffany Hubbard and

Armani Tufaga were honored with the royal

titles.

King Armani Tufaga and Queen Tiffany Hubbard

!Senior Float – Fantasy Land

Junior Float – Adventure Land

Upcoming Events

December 1, 2012

- Crystal Ball

!

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

Dimond Library has been hopping since the first day of school. We are so lucky to have an admin team led by Ms. Guyett who supports students’ use of their library and a school board that values school li-braries.

So, you may ask, just what do your stu-dents do in the library? Here’s just a sampling, with photos of students using the library.

Science Research

Social Studies Research

College Applications

Set up Accounts in Turnitin (THANKS PTSA!), EasyBib and Google Apps

Quiet Reading

Use the PAC to find books

Browse the Nonfiction Shelves

Study at lunch

Find great books

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

“One always has time enough, if one will apply it well.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Thank you to all the parents that are ac-tively helping students arrive to school on time! We began the year with a new tardy policy, Safe Transitions And Reduced Tardies (START), and we are already see-ing great results. With the cooperation and collaboration of the entire staff, as well as a new 2-minute warning bell, students in-tentionally move through the hallways to their destinations.

Monday mornings, however, are still our greatest challenge. Please encourage your student, or whoever provides the transpor-tation, to allow enough time for traffic and weather. The snow will fly soon, which slows all commutes.

Safe Transitions And Reduced TardiesIndividual tardies are accumulated for the semester and consequences are as follows:

1st-6th tardies – students’ START tar-• dy form sent home7th, 8th & 9th tardies – lunch deten-• tion 10th, 11th & 12th tardies –work detail • after school13th, 14th & 15th tardies – 1 day In • School Suspension16th tardy – referred to student servic-• es for continued disciplinary action

As ASD Superintendent Dr. Browder has observed, 19 absences in a year indicate a student is present only 89% of the time. Class attendance is imperative; a student must be present to receive the instruction and learn the material.

TruanciesStudents who skip class will receive an un-excused absence and will be subject to the following consequences:

1st truancy – lunch detention or after • school work detail2nd truancy – Monday school• 3rd truancy – Saturday school• 4th truancy – referred to student ser-• vices for continued disciplinary action

“I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time.”

Charles Dickens

Japanese Immersion Program's 16th Annual Fall Family Dinner and Silent Auction

When: October 6, 2012 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Where: Mears Middle School

What: Fundraiser for Tomo No Kai

Please join us for this fun family event and help support the Chitose student exchange for all

schools and the interns who bring so much to the entire Immersion program!

Attention Parents of Student Athletes!

If your student has any interest in participating in college athletics, he/she must:• Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. • Meet the requirements for eligibility.• Take high school classes that are approved by the NCAA.

Please note that eligibility requirements are increasing for Division II athletes for class of 2013.

NCAA does not approve many high school elective classes.

The ASD Program of Studies, available on the ASD website and in the Dimond counseling office, lists the NCAA requirements on page 102. Approved courses are also designated as such in the Program of Studies.

It is the responsibility of the students and parents to know and meet the eligibility requirements for college athletics.

If you need assistance, you may contact Chris Higgins with any specific questions you might have about this process at742-7058.

Helpful Resources:ASD Program of Studies online http://www.asdk12.org/forms/details.asp?FormID=147NCAA parent resources online http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html#

PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT-ASSOCIATION NEWSKathryn Eckhoff, President - 229-8499

Dear Dimond Community,

Our year is well underway, in fact this month we are getting ready for the Teach-er Luncheon on Wednesday, October 24. Lunch is provided for the faculty and staff on the day of Parent Teacher Conferences. Usually, there is no time for these people to leave the school until late into the evening. To show our appreciation, the PTSA provides a hot meal they can enjoy here in Dimond’s MPR1. Last year Gumbo was served as a main course. In the past, we have also served soup, along with rolls from Great Harvest Bread Company. The parents of the PTSA provide homemade salads and desserts. We do the set up and take down, as well as the serving and planning. There will be requests for volunteers for this day. Watch your email. The PTSA has received a shipment of spirit wear, and we ordered extra smalls and mediums in everything. It was sold at Back

to School night on September 13, as well as Homecoming. We always have gear for sale at the school store during lunch or before school. Currently, lanyards are on order, but everything else is available. We are looking for a Volunteer Coordina-tor. It is a position that can be done from one’s computer at home. There is a program set up in which it is easy to set up schedules and send out requests for volunteers when needed. We have someone who will be glad to help you get started and answer any ques-tions as the year progresses. If you are inter-ested, please contact Kathryn Eckhoff: keck-hoff@gci.net, Ginger Jenkins: jenkins_gin-ger@asdk12.org, Theresa Barnard: tabbie@ak.net, or Michelle Summers: michsumm@yahoo.com.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Dimond’s PTSA President,

Kathryn Eckhoff

Kathryn EckhoffPresidentkeckhoff@gci.net344-8844 - Home229-8499 - Cell

Ginger JenkinsVice President

Theresa BarnardTreasurer

Michelle SummersSecretary and Hospitality

ACTIVITIES NEWSTim Helvey, Activities Assistant Principal - 742-6996

Dimond athletes are in their 6th week of competitive action and all of our teams are doing exceptionally well. The pride and dedication our athletes show on the court, turf, pool, and mat is evident and needs to be commended.

A.J. Dimond High School has over 500 student athletes competing in activities this fall. Current registration for Riflery will see our numbers soar even higher. It is a great honor to represent such a great school with a history of great athletic tra-dition.

Dates to Remember:October 17-20 Cinderella @ A.J. Dimond High School Auditeria 7 PM

To view the Dimond Sports Activity Cal-endar go to: http://www.dimondhigh.com and click activities.

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 concussions in student-athletes. As part of this requirement, and our commitment to the health and well-being of our students, students signing up for an ASD sport that requires a physical must also take a com-puterized ImPACT Baseline Screening. There is a $5 fee for this simple, non-in-vasive 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.

Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) Concussion Management Poli-cyThis is a guide to help parents understand the steps taken for concussed athletes.

In 2011, the Alaska State Legislature passed House Bill 15 and Senate Bill 22, requiring school districts to consult with Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) to develop and publish guidelines and other information to educate coaches, student athletes, and parents of student athletes regarding the nature and risks of concussions. Guidelines must include a de-scription of the risks of return to play and standards for return to play, including pro-cedures required under sections (c) and (d) of Section 14.30.142, Concussions in Stu-dent Athletes: Prevention and Reporting.

Return to Play Protocol - Only when the concussion symptoms have been entirely absent for 24 hours, and the healthcare pro-fessional has cleared the athlete to begin the Return to Play Protocol, does Day 1 of the progressive return to physical activity begin. The Return To Play Protocol is to take place over a minimum of six days, with at least 24 hours between each step. The rate of progression through the steps in the program should be individualized. Factors which may slow the rate are young age, history of previous concussions, num-ber/severity/duration of concussion symp-toms, medical risk factors, and the concus-sion risk of the sports to which the athlete will return. Physical or cognitive activity that provokes recurrence of concussive symptoms will delay recovery and increase the risk of future concussion. Therefore, if symptoms recur at any step, then physical activity should stop for 24 hours and re-sume at the previous step.

Gradual Return to Play

* Day 1: * Begin when symptom free for 24 hours.

* 15 min light aerobic activity (walk, swim, stationary bike, no resistance training).* If no symptoms, then:

* Day 2:* 30 min light-mod aerobic activity (jog, more intense walk, swim, station-ary bike, no resistance training).* If no symptoms, then:

* Day 3:* 30 min mod-heavy aerobic activity (run, swim, cycle, skate, Nordic ski, no resistance training).* If no symptoms, then:

* Day 4:* 30 min heavy aerobic (hard run, swim, cycle, skate, Nordic ski) *15 min Resistance Training (push-up, sit-up, weightlifting) *If no symptoms, then:

* Day 5: * Return to Practice, Non-contact Limited Participation (Routine sport-specific drills).* If no symptoms then:

* Day 6: * Return to Full-Contact Practice * If no symptoms, then:

Day 7:* Medically Eligible for Competition when completes RTP Protocol and is cleared by Healthcare Professional* ASAA Eligibility Criteria must be met before return to competition.

Forms and other information can be locat-ed at http://asaa.org/sports-medicine/

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

Summer Camp

Over the summer Dimond JROTC held their annual summer camp on Fort Rich-ardson. This year’s camp lasted for 6 days and all of the cadets stayed at the Mandragen building. The first day all of the cadets ar-rived early in the morning at Dimond High School to wait for the bus that would take them on base. Upon their arrival, the first activity for the day was the Obstacle Course that consisted of over 18 different obstacles. One of the more popular obstacles of the day was the low crawl where cadets crawled un-der low hanging bob-wire.

After complet-ing the Obsta-cle Course they marched back to the Mandragen Building to partici-pate in some team building activities. One of which was an activity where one of the cadets is blindfolded while

another cadet directs, by speaking only, through orange cones and rocks tied with or-ange string. For the second day cadets participated in the Jump Tower. For the very first time, after attending 3 other times, Cadet Andrew Banez fi-nally jumped off the Jump Tower. Con-gratulations on get-ting over your fear of jumping!

Many of the cadets jumped off the jump tower this year and most of them went mul-tiple times. After the jump tower cadets par-ticipated in the Rappel Tower. First they rap-pelled down the 45 degree tower to learn the basics on rappelling. After practicing rap-pelling the cadets went up the vertical Rappel Tower. Ca-det Chris Lindbeck went up the tower with his younger sister Cadet Meghan Lindbeck, who had never been to sum-mer camp before, and helped keep her calm by talking to her while they slowly rappelled down. Every-body had a tough and yet exciting day. For the third day the cadets participated in the water survival training where they went to the Buckner pool to learn about different ways to stay up in the water. The swimmers were in the deep end while the non-swimmers stayed in the shallow end of the pool. All the cadets wore ACU's or BDU's and even learned how to use the pants and the jackets as if they were life vests.

Afterward, the cadets went and rode in the Blackhawk helicopters. They rode in the Blackhawks for around 20 minutes over Fort Richardson and around the edge of the mountains.

The next day was the P.T.-A-Thon. The P.T.-A-Thon started with the Davy Jones Relay where the cadets swam down to the bottom of the pool and blew air into an upside down jug. They then ran to the CPR station where they demonstrated what to do when someone is choking. Then they ran to the rock climb-ing wall and raced to the top. After that theyr ran down the road to the station where a LET I recited the cadet creed. Then the cadets ran a mile to the Run, Dodge, and Jump. Next they ran to another station where they did a timed sprint. Last, they went to Otter Lake to compete in the Tug-O-War competition. The cadets spent the rest of the time hanging out at Otter Lake roasting marshmallows and go-ing on the paddle Boats.

For the fifth day the cadets participated in Orienteering. They ran around the base (in groups for safety!) using a map to find dif-ferent terrain features throughout Fort Rich-ardson.

On the last day the cadets went to H2Oa-sis for a few hours and then returned to the school for the awards ceremony to receive a ribbon or an arch.

JROTC News continued. . .

Leadership Seminar The first event of the 2012-2013 school year was the Leadership Seminar which was held at the school for three days. On the first day the cadet leadership taught classes on what each of their job responsibilities, the responsibilities of a platoon leader and pla-toon sergeant, and how to command P.T.

On the second day the cadet leadership taught classes on how to command a drill formation, how to grade the uniform, and also how to react to different leadership sce-narios. The last day started with creating the Battalion Goals for the current school year, reviewing the grading policy to see if any-thing needed to be changed, and then white water rafting.

New Cadet Invite Night The new cadet invite night was held Au-gust 31. All of the cadets were invited and were also allowed to bring friends that were not in JROTC. The event included a potluck where everyone played video games, athletic games and watched movie. Everyone had an exciting time and many cannot wait for the next JROTC event.

2012-2013OPTIONAL STUDENT FEES

Activity Sticker $25.00Activity Fee (Price depending on sport) $175.00-$195.00Parking Permit (Year) $110.00Yearbook (Price when purchased at registration) $65.00PSAT $20.00

ELECTIVE CLASS/LAB FEESAdvanced Art I $30.00 sem.Advanced Art II $30.00 sem.Art I $25.00 sem.Art II $25.00 sem.Art Studio $30.00 sem.Digital Electronics $35.00 yearElectronic Communications $25.00 sem.Food Science $25.00 sem.Guitar $15.00 sem.Multimedia Design $25.00 sem.Nutrition/Food Prep. $25.00 sem.Photography 1 $25.00 sem.Photography 2 $25.00 sem.World Language Workbooks:German I & II $15.00 yearSpanish I & II $15.00 year

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A. J. Dimond High School2909 W. 88th Avenue

Anchorage, AK 99502

Non-ProfitOrganization

U. S. POSTAGEPAID

Permit #258Anchorage, Alaska

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERSMain Line (Switchboard) 742-7000Main FAX 742-7007Attendance Office 742-7009Registrar 742-7026Counseling/Guidance 742-7008Activities/Athletics 742-7005Nurse 742-7052Career Resource Center 742-7020Student Services 742-7056

A. J . DIMOND HIGH SCHOOL

Visit our Dimond High School Website for current information on our school and activities @ http://www.asdk12.org/schools/dimond/pages/

To The Parent or Guardian of:

SCHOOL BUSINESS PARTNERS:American Legion Spenard Post 28Anchorage Kiwanis ClubBagoy’sDavis Construction & Engineers Inc.Dimond Alumni FoundationEnterprise Engineering Inc.GCI Communications CorpGreat Alaska Pizza Co.HalliburtonMichael Foster & AssociatesOrthopedic Physicians AnchoragePapa Murphy’sReger Physical TherapySiemens Building TechnologiesSteam DotTastee FreezU.S.K.H.