MUSTANG MINUTE
DECEMBER
December 19, 2022
Mustangs,
Special holiday wishes to our Mustangs families! Only a few days until holiday break and some much anticipated rest and relaxation. Between the cold and the snow this has been a December to remember. As we wind down the end of semester one let us continue to focus on our mission to Inspire Students, Excel Academically, and Strengthen Community. However, you and your family celebrate this season, CHS wishes you the best.
A reminder that there is no school for students on December 22 and December 23. Classes will resume on January 9.
Sincerely,
Megan Hatswell
Principal- Chugiak High School
#Mustang Strong
The Mission of Chugiak High School:
Inspire Students. Excel Academically. Strengthen Community.
SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUESTS
Class change requests for Semester 2 will begin via our online system starting today, December 13th through January 13th. Please check our website for links to the form. Please remember this form is for semester long elective request changes only.
· ALL Class changes need to be submitted via the google form (not email)
· Class changes are intended to modify semester long elective options only. Please do not request teacher changes.
· The counseling team will work hard to accommodate student needs in the best way possible, but please note not all class changes are available due to class caps.
· Class changes will be accommodated as quickly as possible. Please allow your counselor a few days to get to your request.
ACTIVITIES UPDATE
We would like to Congratulate all Wrestlers for having a great season! They showed great effort and skill at the State Championship Competition this past weekend! Mustang Strong!
As always if you have any questions please contact the Activities office at 742-3067.
Travis
GIFT CARD DRIVE
For the past 9 years the nurse’s office has held a gift card drive at ASD schools. Last year CHS families raised over $2000.00 in gift cards for families that could use a boost this holiday season. We have already received $600.00 without even asking. Our community is so generous!
Please consider donating a gift card of any amount, Walmart or Fred Meyer are preferred. My 🙂 favorite gift was two dollars from a second grader.
If you are a family that could use a boost this holiday season, please call or email Nurse Amy!
GET YOUR GRADUATION GEAR NOW!!
CHS Traffic Pattern to Remain the Same
Beat the Holiday Blues-Tips for the Holidays for Parents
Mary DuHoux, Ph.D., NCSP Hidemi Yamagishi
School Psychologist School Psychologist Intern
Holidays are supposed to be fun. You can get together with family members and friends whom you haven’t seen for a long time, and you can indulge yourself in wonderful foods. However, they can be very stressful: shopping for presents, going out for parties, hosting parties, expectations, etc. For people who have experienced some tough times such as going through a divorce, losing someone, or moving away from loved ones, this can be a tough time. Our number of military families also face unique challenges with family members being deployed or stationed worlds away from Anchorage, Alaska. A “better” Christmas time may be remembered, and they can have a difficult time or even mild depression. Even for people without the diagnosis of depression, holidays can cause an emotional roller coaster. And it is not only adults who may suffer from these “blues” but adolescents also can have difficulties.
It is important to recognize the adolescents’ negative emotions and deal with them as soon as possible.
Warning Signs of Depression in Teens
- Feeling sad all the time or anxious/numb
- Feeling hopeless about everything
- Change in appetite
- Poor concentration/difficulty making decisions
- Feeling guilty
- Feeling worthless
- Having many physical problems (headaches, stomachaches)
- Feeling irritable/argumentative
- Feeling restless and fidgety
- Feeling tired/sleeping all of the time
- Thinking about suicide/death a lot
- Being less interested in social activities/physical appearance
- Becoming involved in high risk activities/engaging in self-abusive behavior
Suggestions for Parents: Dealing with the Holiday Blues and Depression
Help your teen distinguish between events that they can control from those that are uncontrollable.
- Give frequent and genuine praise.
- Be aware of your child’s moods, feelings and attitudes.
- Don’t judge your child. Make time for them and let them know that you will listen.
- Let the teen know that you are there as a parent to help them, that you care for them and love them.
- Don’t minimize or downplay their feelings. It may not just be a “phase” that they’re going through.
- Don’t hesitate to talk to your child about depression.
- Pay attention to verbal and nonverbal cues. Any threats of self-harm or self-abusive behavior should be taken seriously.
- Don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance.
Resources in Anchorage
¨ Providence Adolescent Mental Health Services 212-4843
¨ Providence Emergency Department-Crisis Intervention 563-3200
¨ Alaska Behavioral Health 563-1000
¨ Alaska Behavioral Health-Crisis Line 563-3200
¨ North Star Behavioral Health 258-7575
¨ Alaska Psychiatric Institute 269-7100
¨ Southcentral Foundation Behavioral Health Services 729-2500
¨ Private therapists and agencies
*Also, encourage your teen to talk to you about their feelings. If they don’t, encourage them to talk to a school counselor, a school psychologist, or an adult that they can trust.
Adopted from Psych Savvy: Depression in Adolescents from Anchorage School District Psychology Department, Handling Holiday Doldrums from Holiday Survival Handbook by Coveant Behavioral Health, and Teen Survey Reveals Dangerous Behavior during Holidays (Choi, 2002) from eurekalert.org.
Frontier Tutoring Practice Tests
Take a free, full-length practice SAT and/or ACT to see where you stand.
Anchorage Area Practice SAT/ACT Test Dates
Thursday, December 22, 2022 SAT
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
(Join by 8:55 AM)
ONLINE
(sign-up will close on 12/19/2022)
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH
Free and Reduced-price (F&R) Meals have returned, which means families with students attending Chugiak must apply for F&R meal benefits this year. Please visit the Student Nutrition website (https://nutrition.asdk12.org) for more information and to complete an online application. The website includes instructions to help parents complete the online application.
STUDENT ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS COVERAGE
This is a reminder that Anchorage School District does not provide medical coverage for student injuries. However, ASD has made available an option for families to purchase a low-cost student accident insurance program.
The new Voluntary Student Accident Insurance Cover Letter can be found here,
Information is available at your school's front office, online at www.myers-stevens.com, or by calling 800-827-4695. Bilingual services are available
ACTIVITIES HANDBOOK
THANK YOU TO OUR SCHOOL BUSINESS PARTNERS
OOPSIE DAISY
JITTERS /PICTURE THIS
CARRS EAGLE RIVER
EAGLE RIVER ROTARY
NATIVE VILLAGE OF EKLUTNA
WALMART EAGLE RIVER
Chugiak High School
Website: asdk12.org/Chugiakhigh
Location: 16525 South Birchwood Loop Road, Chugiak, AK, USA
Phone: 907-742-3050
Twitter: @ChugiakHS