Leopard Lines

• Parent Pick-Up and Drop-Off
• Rally Point Drill
• National Suicide Awareness Month

• PBIS Rewards

• Title I Parent Advisory Committee Opportunity

• Vaping/E-Cigarettes Safety

• Student Advisory Board Members

• Parent Notification of the Right to Inquire about Title I Educators

Drop-Off: When you drop-off your students in the morning, please only drop students from the inside (nearest the school) lane. No stopping is allowed in the outside lane. It is important that we keep this lane moving so that drivers can exit after they drop off their students and so that students are not walking in front of moving vehicles.

Pick-Up: During student pick-up, please do not stop in the outside lane. Parents/guardians who are stopped and waiting to pick-up their student must be in the inner (closest to the building) lane. The outside lane is reserved for moving vehicles, allowing drivers who have already picked up their students to exit quickly. Thank you for your help in this matter. These rules are designed to help keep students safe and move cars as efficiently as possible.

On September 18th, Begich will complete its annual walk to the rally point evacuation drill. All students will evacuate the building and walk west towards Muldoon Community Assembly (MCA). MCA is Begich's rally site in case of an emergency that would render the building unusable. Students will not cross DeBarr, but will be able to see where MCA is located. Students will then walk down Patterson and return to Begich through the Chester Court walking path. APD will assist Begich in keeping students safe as we complete the drill.

How can you make a difference in suicide prevention? Learn about what to do if you think someone might be at risk for self-harm by reading these 5 Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain.

Starting this year, students will earn digital "Begich Bucks" for meeting school expectations. Specifically, we're looking to see actions where students are kind, safe, and responsible. When students meet expectations, or go above and beyond expectations, teachers and staff members can award Begich Bucks. Students can then redeem those bucks for rewards at the online Snow Leopard Store. The Snow Leopard Store is only open for shopping on Mondays. Purchased items will be delivered on the following Friday. Begich Bucks is a component of Begich's implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and is designed to promote positive behaviors in our school.

Vapes and e-cigarettes are extremely common in our community. As a school, we are working hard to keep our building free of alcohol and drugs, including vapes and e-cigarettes. On Monday, September 25th, students will participate in an informational lesson on vaping and e-cigarettes during their advisory class. More information about vaping and e-cigarettes and how you can support your student can be found here.

Congratulations to Charlotte Hemming and Viviana Hursh for being selected to participate in the Student Advisory Board. They will represent Begich each month at meetings with all the other middle and high school representatives. We are thankful for their willingness to speak on behalf of our school.

Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the parents of students attending Title I schools have the right to request the professional qualifications of their children’s teachers. I can assure you that all teachers in the Anchorage School District meet strict state standards and are indeed qualified to teach, but you have the right also to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers:

• Whether the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development has issued an Alaska teacher’s certificate for the grade(s) and subject(s) he or she teaches.

• Whether the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development has decided that your child’s teacher can teach without being certified under state regulations because of special circumstances.

• Whether the teacher is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.

• Whether any classroom aides or other paraprofessionals provide services to your child and, if they do, their qualifications.

If you would like specific information about your child’s teacher or paraprofessional, please contact me at carter_laura@asdk12.org. For general information about ESEA, please contact Zareena Clendaniel, Federal Programs Compliance Coordinator, for the school district at clendaniel_zareena@asdk12.org or 907-742-7819.

I know you want the very best for your child. All of the educators in the Anchorage School District join me in wanting to make sure every child succeeds in school. We look forward to working with you to make sure all students get the quality education they deserve and all schools are successful.

Sincerely,

Laura Carter

Principal, Begich Middle School