HMS Teams

 TEAM UPDATES - SCROLL DOWN TO FIND YOUR TEAM

Cascade Mountains

We have had quite a few parents sign up as Canvas Observers!  This is a useful tool for helping your student stay on track - you can monitor past and upcoming assignments as well as  grades.  Here is the link if you would like to sign up:   ASD Parent Observer


Science (Weingartner) - Our Astronomy unit is wrapping up and we are starting our Genetics unit.  We’ll be learning how genetics and DNA affect everything from how you look to the animals that live in Alaska to the vegetables you buy at the store!


Math (McKenzie) - In Math 8, we are continuing our study of functions. Algebra 1 students are working on quadratics functions. And the geometry class is diving into an on surface area and volume.


Math (Riordan) - Math 8 - Powers of 10 and Scientific Notation


Social Studies (Dyer) - In 7th Grade Geography we are continuing to  learn about the human and physical geography of Africa and will begin our Asia in mid-April. In 8th Grade U.S. History, we are learning about the era of Andrew Jackson and westward expansion.


English/Language Arts (Thompson) - We have started a new unit called “The Challenge To Make A Difference.”  It is about the Holocaust.  There are several short stories and writing assignments that coordinate with this subject.


English/Language Arts (Twiner) - Eighth (8th) grade students are working towards writing as a researcher during the fourth quarter of the 2022/2023 school year.  Students are using two (2) paper packets daily in class for writing assignments, research, vocabulary, locating information sources, and planning their research.  Students have homework daily:  read aloud for twenty (20) minutes to an adult at home.

Revelation Mountains

Happy April Hanshew families! We hope you are enjoying the sunshine. This month, students will take the AKSTAR test. The AKSTAR test will occur from April 4 - April 6. This test will assess our students' learning in Math and ELA. During this time period, students will follow a different bell schedule, where students will test every other day from 8:15am - 11:10 am. Please remind students that they are not allowed phones, smart watches or other personal electronic devices. They only need their school issued chromebook. 


In Mr. Magnuson’s Science classes we are working on presentations to teach about the different energy resources we use in society.  After presentations, we will start learning about waves and light.


In Ms. Franklin’s Language Arts classes, students have begun reading a novel. Some classes are reading Tangerine by Edward Bloor and others are reading Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. A book talk was given for each novel and then students, as a class, voted on which novel they were going to read. Students are also reviewing parts of speech and figurative language. 


In Mrs. King’s Math classes, we will begin calculating percent, percent change, and interest. In addition, this month students will take the AK Star state test in mathematics. I am confident they will perform to the best of their abilities! 


In Ms. Stewart’s Social Studies class, we are studying the geography and culture of Europe. Students have been identifying the different countries of Europe along with the continent’s main physical features. As we move forward, students will learn about the history and culture of various countries as well as discussing the changes to European boundaries. 


Mount Olympus

SCIENCE Happy Spring! In science, students will be learning about Energy Resources during the month of April. They will have a large project with several smaller components. Parents, please review your student's Canvas Grades Tab on a weekly basis. Grades are due for Quarter 4 Progress Reports for Team Mt. Olympus students on April 14th. I look forward to a rewarding final quarter with your student. ~Mrs. Heath


SOCIAL STUDIES Greetings from Social Studies! We are traveling around the world and finding out about various places. We will be focusing on South American, Europe, and the Middle East in April. Current events keep popping up as well! So we will be keeping up with the news of the world throughout the year. - Mr. Petrash


MATH Hello everyone! Math 7 classes have wrapped up a very large unit on area and volume! Next we are going to be learning about sampling populations for surveys.  Pre-Algebra is in the middle of our most important and challenging unit of the year- Linear Equations. Our next unit will cover square roots and the Pythagorean Theorem! -Mr. Priest


LANGUAGE ARTS Happy Spring!!  For the month of April, we will be starting our novel studies and engaging in a poetry unit. Please be mindful of Popsicle Day~ April 18th for those with no missing, nor incomplete assignments.  Progress report packets will be sent home that day, too. Email me (lake_noel@asdk12.org) with any questions, please. Best regards, Mrs. Noel Lake


SOCIAL SKILLS I will continue to work on Social Skills with students in the areas of anger management, teamwork, dealing with stressful situation and self-esteem enhancement. Also, some student will continue to work on Affective Skills. I look forward to working with your child throughout the remainder of the school year. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at Jackson_lisa@asdk12.org.

Wolverine Peak

Team Wolverine Peak students should plan to bring the following items to all core classes:



In Mrs. Whitesell’s Social Studies class, we are learning about the launching of a new republic. We talked about what a precedent is, and all the new ones being set by our first presidents and government. Students are seeing how political parties and foreign nation affairs are dividing our nation with strong opinions on each side. We will be studying the Jefferson era, the Louisiana Purchase, and the explorations of Lewis and Clark in the next couple weeks. 


In Mr. Gumlickpuk’s Math 8 class, students just started Volume 2 of our iReady workbooks. We will try to cover the majority of the book. In Volume 2 we will work with properties of exponents, scientific notations, rational and irrational numbers, the Pythagorean Theorem, and introduction to Statistics.


In Algebra, students have been working with polynomial functions and learning how to multiply, add/subtract, and factor a polynomial completely. Afterwards we will work on graphing quadratic functions and solving quadratic equations. Our last unit will cover radicals and solving rational expressions.


In School Business Partnership, students will learn more about our school business partners within the Hanshew community. In addition, they will learn more about careers and post secondary education and trade school. 


Mrs. Giraldo’s ELA classes are enhancing their writing skills by learning to join simple sentences with conjunctions to form compound sentences. In the unit, “The Challenge of Making a Difference,” we’re reading selections from the Holocaust across various genres, including memoir, poetry, and drama.. We’ll end the year with a bit of humor in “The Challenge of Comedy.”


Mr. Mittelstadt’s Science classes are in the middle of our Unit in Geology and will explore Plate Tectonics and how this theory helps explain why we have Earthquakes and Volcanoes in Alaska.  Above left is a photo showing convection currents in the Earth’s mantle we worked on earlier.


In Mr. Oliver’s Science 8 and Advanced Science 8 classes, we are beginning our studies of biology by learning about the genetic code and DNA. Recently, we made DNA models out of food; soon, we will extract real-life DNA out of strawberries. In Animals of the World, we are learning about marine biology and the plethora of life beneath the waves - right now, we are in the midst of our first annual class Shark Week! 


Ms. Lovelace’s Science 8- We are working on Genetics in Science 8.  We are learning how to make proteins and will be learning about inheritance.  In Animals of the World, we are talking about animals in Africa and Australia.  In Strategies of Success, we have worked on public speaking and will continue to do so. Students also review their learning for the week in each class and complete grade checks each Monday. 


In Mrs. Chico’s ELL Newcomers Academy, we are in US History and Government in Social Studies and currently finishing the Declaration of Independence and moving on to The US Constitution. In Language Arts, we are working hard on enhancing our English language skills using the SIPPS and Springboard curriculum. In Math, we are using our close reading skills in story problems while improving our Math skills on graphing in iReady Mathematics. In Science, we are learning Mass, Volume and Density and doing mini labs.

In 7th period ELL Strategies of Success, we are in SEL units. Daily work and participation log is due every Friday.


In Ms. Lowery’s Life Skills has enjoyed Snowshoing in APE. The kids loved it and requested more. In Math, we are working on the dollar up method.  What is the dollar up method? It's very simple. You look at a price (say $1.50) and you give one more dollar than the number of dollars in the price (you give $2). So, if you want to buy something that has a price for 4.50, you give $5 and get back the change. In Science they have been learning about energy. What is the difference between Potential and Kinetic energy. Now they are making a roller coaster out of paper so they can demonstrate the forms of energy. This has been a fun activity to watch their creativity blossom as they discover what works and what does not work. We are in the planning for 2 different field trips in May. Please be watching for the field trip permission trips to come home. 


Lazy Mountain (PE/HEalth)

Hello Hanshew Families, 

Students will be participating in inside and outside activities so please dress for the weather but remember students should still have the required Hanshew PE shirt under the sweat suite or coat.  

Montes Rook (FINE ARTS)

The band, orchestra and choir have recently wrapped up a great large group festival season and now we are working toward our spring concerts.  The jazz band will also have a combined concert with Service High School in April.  Come for wonderful evenings of music and hear how much our students have grown.  Here are all of the dates.  We hope to see you there!


Jazz Combined Concert with Service High School - Wednesday, April 12th - 7pm @ Service High School

Choir - Tuesday, May 9th - 6pm @ Hanshew

Band - Wednesday, May 10th - 6pm @ Hanshew

Orchestra - Thursday, May 11th - 6pm @ Hanshew


MACHU PICCU (SPANISH)

In April there is a big celebration in Spanish-speaking countries called Semana Santa.  It is a week-long celebration that takes place in cities all over Spain–particularly in Andalucia.  During the festival thousands of people take part in processions as massive floats carrying religious statues are brought to the church.  They are also accompanied by marching bands playing religious music with crows lining the streets to witness it all!  The festival pays homage to Jesus Christ’s last days before he was crucified.  

Many floats feature an effigy of him either carrying a crucifix or already on it.  The Virgin Mary is also a prominent effigy.  There are several daily processions in the week running up to Easter Sunday and they go on throughout the day and into the night.  People taking part are members of a brotherhood, which usually means they belong to the same church.  As with other Spanish festivals, there are months of preparation beforehand and it is seen as an honor to take part in the festival.

Mauna Kea (CTE)

Mr. Korniczky

Careers students are on the 2nd of 4 units in this Careers elective course. They have completed Unit 1 Exploring Careers and working on Unit 2 Developing Career Skills. Students have the opportunity this year to combine hands on activities with traditional Chapter Studies while in Mr.Korniczky's Technology Lab . An example was assembling rubber band/ propeller airplanes and also studying the airline industry.


Applied Technology students are presently working on Technical Drawing unit learning how to create oblique and isometric 3D drawings, multi-view drawings and when completed will move on to a manufacturing project utilizing the classroom machines.


Mr. Bushey

Multimedia: Students are learning about digital photography. This includes composition and post-processing of photos. Once students complete their unit on digital photography, they'll move onto learning about filmography. I'm excited to see what they create.


Advanced Computer Technology: Students are learning about cyber security. This includes digital literacy, common security risks, and how to keep their information private while online. Once students complete their unit in cyber security, they'll move onto learning about computer programming and theory.