Dear ASD Families and Staff,

As we near the end of another academic year, I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the graduating class of 2024. 

Your hard work, dedication, and resilience have culminated in this significant achievement. Graduating high school is a momentous occasion, and you should be immensely proud of your accomplishments.

To the families of our graduates, thank you for your unwavering support. Your guidance and encouragement have played a crucial role in the success of your students. Your dedication to their education is truly commendable.

I also want to acknowledge our exceptional staff. Your commitment to providing a high-quality education, even in the face of unprecedented challenges, is truly inspiring. Your passion for teaching and learning makes a positive impact on the lives of our students, and for that, we are incredibly grateful.

And lastly, as we celebrate the achievements of our graduates, I want to recognize the hard work of our entire school community and community partners. Your dedication and commitment have not gone unnoticed. Thank you for your continued support of ASD. It’s a true team effort that is a testament to the success of our students and staff in and out of the classroom.

Again, congratulations Class of 2024! On behalf of the entire Anchorage School District, I wish you success in your future endeavors. 

Sincerely,

Jharrett Bryantt, Ed.D.

Superintendent, Anchorage School District

#ASDShineBright Willow Crest Elementary Student Saves A Life!

Hear how a Willow Crest Elementary student saved the life of a classmate by applying the skills he learned from his health teacher this school year. 

#ASDShineBright: Scenic Park Elementary School Teachers Jill Abrams and Kristy Marostica

Shout out to Jill Abrams and Kristy Marostica for their work in organizing a Literacy Night at Scenic Park Elementary School.

Jill and Kristy worked endlessly in creating activities that connect to the science of reading and allow parents to work with their children.

The event was well attended, and families left with reading materials, activities, and books.

Thank you Jill, Kristy, and all the Scenic Park staff that made this event a great success.

Scenic Park Principal Marco Christian

#ASDShineBright: 2024 Afterschool Super Hero Goldenview's Eric Heil

Congratulations to Goldenview Middle School Health & PE Teacher Eric Heil who was named an Afterschool Superhero by the Alaska Afterschool Network.

Mr. Heil is also the Dept. Chair, Head Coach of Track & Field, Head Coach of Cross-Country Skiing, Assistant Running Coach, & Assistant Volleyball Coach at Goldenview is known for dedication, patience, and care to his students.

We appreciate you! 

To read Mr. Heil’s bio please click the link below:

www.akafterschool.org/blog/2024-superheroes/#eric-heil

#ASDShineBright - DanceWest Presents Supernova

Recently, DanceWest, in collaboration with West High Robotics Club

and the West Anchorage High School Theater Department, performed an all dance story which took the audience on a cosmic journey through space.

Supernova featured all of your favorite dance styles in an exciting new show written and directed by Irenerose Castillo and Vicente Capala III.

#ASDShineBright - East High School Dance Contempo Presents: Unspoken Connections

#ASDShineBright - Mt. View Elementary Goes To Aladdin

It was all smiles as Mountain View Elementary School took their entire school community of students, staff, and family to watch Aladdin - The Musical at Alaska Center for the Performing Arts as part of Broadway Alaska!

Photos Courtesy: Erica Rose

#ASDShineBright - Orion Elementary PartnersAlaska National Guard for Earth Day

Orion Elementary School joined up with the Alaska National Guard environmental team for the first annual Earth Day event that took place at Camp Denali, on JBER.

With the focus on how they can safeguard and protect natural and cultural resources in Alaska, students did a trail clean-up and explored ways to support the environment on and off military installations. 

Photos: Alaska National Guard

#ASDShineBright - ASD Competes In Native Youth Olympics

Congratulations to all the ASD student-athletes who participated in the 2024 Native Youth Olympics (NYO) Games at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Hundreds competed in the toe kick, wrist carry, Alaskan high kick, scissor broad jump, Eskimo stick pull, one hand reach, two foot high kick, kneel jump, Indian stick pull, one foot high kick, and seal hop.

Photos Courtesy: NYO Games Alaska

#ASDShineBright Government Hill Elementary Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Multicultural Festival

There was a full house at Government Hill Elementary as students, staff, and the community celebrated 30 years with culture, food, music, dance, and fun!

#ASDShineBright ANCCS Yup'ik Choir Participates in Child Abuse Awareness Walk

The Alaska Native Cultural Charter School Yup'ik choir led by teacher Veronica Kaganak participated in the Child Abuse Awareness Month observance and walk at Southcentral Foundation.  

The students did the National Anthem, the Yuuyraq Pledge in Yugtun (Yup'ik), and sang a few songs. 

#ASDShineBright - Williwaw Elementary Multicultural Night

#ASDShineBright Chugiak & Eagle River HS Choirs - Anaheim Heritage Festival Champions

The Chugiak & Eagle River HS Choirs showed out recently at the Anaheim Heritage Music Festival.

Concert choir-GOLD rating 1st place!🥇

Treble Choir -GOLD rating 2nd Place🥈

Men’s Choir- SILVER rating 1st Place🥇

BACK TO BACK CHAMPIONS

Concert Choir SWEPT the competition and are officially….BACK TO BACK OUTSTANDING AWARD CHAMPS!! (Highest Scored performance in the Choral Category)

BACK TO BACK MAESTRO AWARD - EMILY COOLEY! 🥇

Follow ASD on social media as we shine a light on the small but bright moments that happen every day in our schools. ASD will highlight stories of kindness, students accelerating individually and in group projects, and staff successes using the hashtag #ASDShineBright.

Check out the new podcast, ASD Shine Bright, which highlights the awesome things students and staff are doing in the Anchorage School District.

Listen to amazing stories, journeys, challenges, and successes.

Check out the latest episodes below:

As we approach the end of the school year, routines tend to relax and graduations and celebrations are just around the corner. This is a great opportunity for us at the Anchorage School District (ASD) to highlight the importance of mental health and wellness. 

Our community’s collective wellbeing is central to ASD’s mission. A wellness-centered perspective is the foundation of ASD’s initiatives, goals, and guardrails. This perspective is deeply rooted in our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) – which is our framework to organize how we meet the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students in ASD.

Throughout this month, we will be engaging with our students, staff, and community, sharing ways to stay mentally fit. Here’s some useful information to get you started:

Mental health is for everyone! It is never too early or too late to learn positive coping strategies to impact wellness.

You are not alone. Everyone has ups and downs, and it is okay to not be okay. If someone asks how you are feeling, be honest. We have been there.  

Not sure what to share when things are tough?

Try the following: 

• I am actually going through some tough things right now.

• Today is just not my day.

• I am on the struggle bus. 

• I am having one of those days.  

• It has been one of those days. 

Working on our mental health can be viewed as a lot of little things adding up to a big thing.

Check out some simple strategies to strengthen your mental muscle:

• Take a screen break. Get away from your phone or computer. 

• Check in with your basic needs. Are you well hydrated? Are you getting enough sleep?

• Make a list of your strengths. You are awesome! 

• Create something.

• Try a guided meditation.

• Text or call a friend.  

Thank you for prioritizing the well-being of our students, staff, and community.

Through open conversations, destigmatization, and encouragement, we can build a community where everyone feels supported and valued, and finish the school year stronger than ever.

For more information about mental wellness and PBIS, click here.

We are seeking your input on an incredibly important topic: The future of the Anchorage School District’s (ASD) facilities in our community.

We want to hear your perspective on what rightsizing ASD means to you, and whether you believe it is possible for this to be done in a way that acknowledges our community values.

Please visit our Rightsizing ASD webpage, take our survey, and learn more about this important project. 

The district is staggering the first day of school to support students transitioning to new buildings/programs.

By providing students in grades 6,7, and 9 a day at school with a smaller student population, schools can prioritize onboarding activities and supports.

Due to the staggered start date where all school staff will be on hand to support students, middle and high schools will not hold optional orientations or camps for students prior to the first day of school.

ASD community rental pricing increase will take place in July

Beginning July 1, rental fees for community spaces will increase. Please see guidance linked on the Community Services website, and look for the Fees and Conditions link.  

ASD has also updated the following guidance and ask that each community group review this documentation and share with your participants.

• Use of School Facilities
• General Code of Contact

Questions? Please contact the Community Services team via email at Rentals@asdk12.org. 

Registration for the 2024-25 school year is now open!

Register returning ASD students online! 



• Returning students can be registered through Q/ParentConnection for the 2024-25 school year starting April 25th.
• Instructions for logging in and registering are available here: Online Registration Video
• Although Online Registration is open April 25th through August 15th, registering before August 8th is appreciated.
• Primary contact, address, and school changes will need to be made at your child's school in the fall. This should not prevent you from completing Online Registration. 

New to District Pre-Enrollment online!

• Opens on July 15th 
• New-to-district student information can be found here
• Instructions for pre-enrolling are available here

What to do with your student Chromebook: 

• Students who are returning to ASD (Fall 2024) and have devices checked out are to keep their device and power cord over the summer and bring them to school at the start of next school year. More info available here. 

Student Nutrition



•  2024-2025 application for Free and Reduced Priced Meals opens August 1st
• Check Student Nutrition page here for list of schools that can apply, and updated meal prices

If you’ve missed the spring lottery don’t fret; the Anchorage School District fall lottery is now open.

This is a second opportunity to request to attend an alternative school/school outside of your child’s neighborhood school.

The fall lottery closes for applications July 19, 2024. The lottery runs July 23, and notifications of lottery results will be released July 26, 2024 at 5 p.m.

Please note, there is no need to re-apply for a school if you are already on that school’s waitlist. The fall lottery is available for those who did not enter the spring lottery and to families who would like to apply to additional schools.

Dates to note: 

July 19, 2024 – Lottery closes for applications

July 23, 2024 – Lottery runs

July 26, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. – Notifications of lottery results are released

When entering the lottery, please consider new school start times, before and after-school care needs, and remember sixth graders in neighborhood schools are moving to middle school starting in August 2024.

For more information or to apply for the fall lottery, click here.

For public score posting at the State, District, and School level, visit DEED's Assessment Results page.

We’re approaching a major milestone in the community-driven process to build the Academies of Anchorage.

Last week, our fourth Community Convening took place where representatives from business, industry, higher education, community partners, staff, and students worked to finalize the pieces of our master plan. 

Next, the Anchorage School Board will hold two work sessions, May 7 and 21, to review the plan, budget considerations, and progress made to date on building the high school academies.

The Board will then vote to accept the master plan at its June 4 meeting. From the start of this project, the community has had a say in how the academies move forward. We welcome your feedback at the Board meetings and you can ask a question through our online feedback opportunity.

The Academies will kick off this fall with the Freshman Academy. School will start on August 15 for 9th graders to give them an orientation day. Classes will begin the following day for grades 10-12. See our school start times page for more information on the staggered start for the first day of school.

The Academies of Anchorage are being developed to improve workforce readiness for all ASD graduates. They provide equitable opportunities and we are confident there will be measurable improvement in student engagement and graduation rates.

Partnership Achieving Community Excellence (PACE) Program at Bartlett HS Uses Peers For Success

ASD Students Compete in HOSA Conference

ASD students from Bartlett High School, Robert Service High School, and West Anchorage High School represented at the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Alaska State Leadership Conference where they participated in competitions showcasing their instructional knowledge in classes such as physical therapy, dental science, nurse assistant, sports medicine, forensics, vet science, and phlebotomy.

KING TECH 2024 HIRING EVENT

It was a packed house for the recent King Tech High School 2024 hiring event that ASD students and employers both say opens doors to jobs now and careers in the future.

ASD Gifted Mentorship Program

ASD celebrates the over 40 students who participated in the Gifted Mentorship Program this school year!

The program gives students an idea of what it’s like to work in a field of their interest with professional mentors.

Thank you to all the mentors who spent up to 60 hours with students who completed their independent studies.

From lending a helping hand during difficult times to dedicating themselves to essential causes, Alaska youth demonstrate acts of kindness and bravery that deserve recognition.

Alaska Communications and Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska want to learn more about these youth and invite you to tell us about a young hero.

Through the Summer of Heroes program, young people statewide who have made a positive impact in the state will be recognized with $2,000 scholarships via Alaska 529 and special recognition within their local communities.

Anyone can nominate a young hero in their life.

Tell us about a child or teen, age 6-18, who is improving life for those around them. Whether supporting others during a critical season, volunteering where there was an important need or an ongoing effort, or taking action on other’s needs before their own. Individuals and businesses alike are encouraged to fill out a Summer of Heroes nomination form by June 14. Heroes do not need to be affiliated with Boys & Girls Clubs.

Learn more about the program and access the nomination form at www.alaskacommunications.com/summerofheroes.