GOLDEN BEAR NEWS
A Family of Inspired Life-long Learners
HELPFUL LINKS
Principal's Minute
My principal's minute today is to share the news of our new principal, Val Baalerud, who is already a member of the Bartlett Family. This announcement brings me joy and also a lot of comfort because Ms. Val already cares deeply for our culture and the Bartlett Way. She is a phenomenal educator and has a sense of place and community I have always hoped for in someone who would ultimately take over the leadership role here in Bear Country. I trust her implicitly and know she will care for all of you in the same way I endeavored to. Be well Bears and please join me in welcoming Ms. Val as the new leader of the Bartlett Family of Inspired Life Long Learners.
As Always--Go Bears! 🐻💙💛
Sean
Attendance Line
Absences and Blue Passes
Please call the Attendance Line, 907-742-1832, to report your student's absence or request a Blue Pass (an early release pass). If we are unable to answer, it is critical that you leave a message. The Attendance Line voicemail is continually monitored and processed in the order in which they are received.
If you are a requesting a Blue Pass (needing a student to leave early), please give us 45 minutes to process that request. This gives us time to check the voicemail, locate what class the student is in, send the pass to the student, and gives the student time to collect their things and leave class.
Register For Next School Year - Now
Did you know you can get ahead of the Back-To-School Rush by registering your returning student for the 2024-2025 School year NOW?
Why Register Every Year?
Registration confirms that you will be returning to an ASD school, and to Bartlett. (If you want to then change to a different ASD school 🥺, its easy for the new school to do online)
Log into your ParentConnect Account (parentconnect.asd12.org) click on "Quick Links" and then click on the RED Registration link to get started. (Once fully completed that link will be Green).
Also, every year Health Forms need to be renewed - and are often overlooked in the registration process - specifically the Medication Forms. When you get to the health section, make sure you review those forms for next year.
Bear Brags
CHECK OUT THE EXCITING ACTIVITIES OUR STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN.
Senior Awards Night
Valedictorian: Eros Sotelo
Co-Salutatorians:
Nick Brandal & Jorin Kidder
Nicolas Begich Award: Samuel Mecham
Bob Bartlett Award: Avery James
Alaska History Day Champion
A huge congratulations to 9th grader, Savannah Knowles, who competed in the Alaska History Day competition and won her event, Senior Individual Documentary with her project:
The Race Across the Country: How the Transcontinental Railroad Changed History.
She is now an Alaska State Champion and has qualified for the National competition in College Park, Maryland this summer. Good work, Savannah, and good luck to you at Nationals!
Seward Tour
Mrs. Matsuoka took 67 Marine Biology students to tour Resurrection Bay in Seward where they participated in classes on the boat as well as touring the SeaLife Center.
ASAA State Art Competion Winners
Our talented students, Jakob Lee and Ellenia Dommek, have brought home glory from the ASAA State Art Competition. Jakob soared to 1st place, while Ellenia secured an impressive 3rd place both in the Photography category. Congratulations, Jakob and Ellenia!
1st Place - Photography
Sonder
By Jakob Lee
Artist Statement: At some point in your life, you have a profound moment of realization about the world around you. Suddenly you see it unfolding and you see the tapestry of interconnectedness between each of our lives. Each story, each life, as intricate and vibrant as our own. I seek to convey the richness of human existence, with its diverse ambitions, relationships, routines, and anxieties, all interwoven into a grand narrative. My work serves as a lens through which viewers can peer into the unseen depths of existence, where every individual plays a unique role in the intricate dance of life.
3rd Place - Photography
Notes of Rememberance
By Ellenia Dommek
Artist Statement: I’m fascinated by how still-life compositions can tell stories. Each object has its own meaning, like symbols in a story, and together they convey ideas and tales to those who see them. I’ve been playing the violin for six years now, and during the pandemic, music became a source of comfort for me. This piece of art draws inspiration from my study of Dutch masters from the Baroque period, especially the style of still life known as vanitas.
Medical Graduation Cords
Congratulations to all of the seniors who earned their Medical Cords that are to be worn at Graduation
Band Has Been Busy
Jazz band in main place during spirit week
Prom photo alongside Philip Afoa
Assembly dancers
Bartlett Wind Ensemble Large
Adam Edrosa on piano in main place playing
Prom
Community Involvement - Project Hope Opioid Rescue Kits
On April 25th, Anchorage Health Department hosted a Build Opioid Rescue Kits event welcoming over 60 volunteers. Side by side the volunteers created 4,364 opioid rescue kits (Narcan kits) that will be disbursed across Alaska to save lives from overdoses and poisonings caused by drugs like fentanyl and heroin.
Find Naloxone
Naloxone is life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.
If you are an individual who wants naloxone for yourself or a loved one, please contact one of our Project Hope partners.
If you want to become a distributor of naloxone or need a refill of your naloxone order, please email ProjectHope@alaska.gov.
Pictured: Tim Easterly - Project Hope Director; Elijah Gutierrez – Alaska National Guard Counterdrug Support Program Liaison; Jordan Sullivan - AHD Public Health Educator; Cha’Sae Harris - Bartlett High School Nurse in front of 4,364 completed opioid rescue kits.
Ship Creek Clean Up
Together with Mr. B, Ms. Nelson, Mrs. White, Mrs. Forsyth, and Mrs. Matsuoka led 61 of our wonderful students on a cleanup of Ship Creek and Reeve Blvd. Our group total was 1,117.49 POUNDS of trash removed from the area and filled the entire dumpster at the hatchery! They took a tour of the fish hatchery too! It was a great day and our Bartlett Bears deserve a pat on the back for their awesome work to clean up our environment.
Heads up!
Summer School Information is Here
There are 2 options for summer learning:
Face to Face at at Bartlett HS , Dimond HS or S.A.V.E HS
Online through AK Choice
See your School Counselor for more information or to sign up. Additional information can also be found out on the following website.
https://www.asdk12.org/Page/18097
Watch
True Colors - A Bartlett Story
Saturday, May 4 at 5:30 on Channel 2
Bartlett Track & Field Team Fundraiser
Come support the Track an Field Team Fundraiser, and celebrate Special Guest, Jordan Clarke. Mr. Clarke is a Bartlett Graduate and holds the state record for shot put and discus and will soon be inducted in the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.
May 8
6pm
Bartlett TTW Cafeteria
$10 per person
School Start Time Changes
Beginning with the 2024-2025 School Year, the Anchorage School District Start times will change.
Please start planning and making necessary arrangements for your family based on your family's needs.
Free Bicycle Helmets
With Spring here and the snow melting, kids are dusting off their bikes and heading to the great outdoors. Please protect them and have them wear a bicyle helmet. The Anchorage Fire Department has partnered with other organizations to offer FREE helmets. Please see the provided information on how to get helmets for your kids.
ASD Is Fragrance Free
We understand everyone wants to smell nice, but please be mindful of the amount of fragrances you are applying at home. All ASD facilities are fragrance free due to the number of people who are heavily affected by fragrance sensitivities and allergies.
Students should not be spraying any scented products at school. Please leave these items at home, and be mindful of the amount of these products you use at home prior to coming to school.
Anchorage School-Based Health Centers
Now is a great time to make an appointment for your student to get a physical with their regular doctor during summer break. All student athletes need to have a physical within the past 18 months.
High school fall sports include: running, swimming, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics, riflery, flag football (girls), and football (boys).
If you want your student to be seen in the school clinic, you can request a physical with this link https://forms.gle/DUMfETYDpArMaV23A
Don't wait until the last minute to get a physical!
Questions: 907-742-0479
Please call if you would like to give input about the school clinic.
Chromebook Return?
Who needs to return their Chromebook at the end of the year?
Graduates - See below for Chromebook Collection info on May 10th at Graduation Practice!
Anyone who is leaving ASD, by changing schools outside of ASD, moving, or graduating, those students are expected to return their Chromebook and charger on their last day of school.
Anyone not fitting into those 2 categories should keep their Chromebook and bring it back to school with you in the fall.
Incoming Freshman - In the fall, we end up seeing MANY new Freshman who returned their Chromebooks to their middle school. PLEASE - Current 8th Grade students should keep their Chromebook from Middle School and bring it with them to school in the fall.
Seniors and Graduation Information
Chromebook Return and Graduation Practice
During Graduation Practice on Friday, May 10, seniors will also return their Chromebooks. Once the Chromebook Account has been cleared, you will be able to receive your Graduation Tickets. Prior to Graduation Practice, please come over to Student Services before/after school or at lunch (not class time) to check the the Chromebook you are using is the one that is assigned to you on your account. By checking on this early, we are able to do some research to try to help track down any swapped or misplaced Chromebooks!
Receiving your Graduation Tickets is contingent upon clearing your Chromebook Account.
Graduation Day Information
Graduation will take place at the Alaska Airlines Center and they have updated their policies on what they allow in their building. Please see the infographic below, or their website for more information.
Seniors - Please come empty handed to the staging area. Space is limited for storing items securely. Leave items (including your phone!!) with family members, at home, or in your car. Arrange where you will meet up with your guests prior to graduation.
Family/Guests - The Alaska Airlines Center does not allow tailgating in their parking lot, nor do they allow balloons and any noisemakers in the building. The also do not allow confetti in the building or in their parking lot. We kindly ask that you keep the major celebrations off of their property.
Department Highlights - Science
Welcome to the Science Department
“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.” – Edwin Hubble
As summer approaches, the science classes at Bartlett High School have been very busy. We have bungee jumped with raw eggs in Physics, dissected cats in Human Anatomy and Physiology, analyzed crime scenes in Forensic Science, and visited sea creatures in Marine Biology. This year, Biology classes tried out a new approach to teaching science called Storylines, where students follow the stories of people interacting with science as they learn the concepts. Science is about making observations and investigation rather than just memorization. We strive to give students hands-on experiences in their science classes.
We hope our students learn science as a way of understanding the world we live in as well as a tool that can be used to solve problems. We encourage everyone to apply some basic scientific principles in their day to day lives - be observant, be curious, and be amazed at the beauty and complexity of the planet we live on.
PS: Bon voyage to our retiring science teachers, Yvette Stone & Susan Reynolds. Thank you for all that you have done for our students and our Bartlett community!
Nurse's Notes - IMPORTANT!
The nurse's office is for acute care only.
Acute Care is for active, but short-term treatments for an injury or illness, and is not to replace your pediatrician's care. The nurse can not diagnose, so if your child is sick, please keep them home and consider taking them to the doctor.
Please do not send your student to school if they are vomiting, have diarrhea, or have a fever of 101 degrees or higher. The nurse does not send a student home unless urgent care is needed.
Please encourage your students to stay hydrated and eat breakfast and lunch. One of the main reasons for headaches and stomach aches is not eating or drinking enough water. Please provide your student with a reusable water bottle to help keep your students hydrated.
Students should not be leaving their classes for minor situations, such as (but not limited to)
needing lip balm
needing a bandaid for a minor cut (teachers have supplies)
needing ice for an injury that happened more than 24 hours prior
When should a student see the nurse?
during passing period or lunch time for minor ailments
fever
vomiting
diarrhea
pre-authorized medications
new injury that happens at school
any other urgent care needs
Medications need to have proper documentation on file. The nurse can not administer any medication (except rescue medications) without the proper documentation on file. Please use this link to access the required forms https://www.asdk12.org/Page/7810.
Students cannot carry ANY medications unless documentation has been filed with the nurse. Students cannot carry ANY Over-The-Counter Medications.
Vaping - Increased Threat of Heart Disease
A new study suggests that vaping is the cause of a major increase in heart failure in young adults. We continually see an increase in teens that are vaping in schools and worry about their health because of it.
Please read the following article with compelling information about this study and the risks of vaping. Since vaping is still fairly "new" the many dangers are still unknown.
We encourage you to please talk with your children to discuss the dangers of vaping and to seek help for assistance in quitting. There are numerous programs to help you or your loved ones quit.
Alaska Department of Health Tobacco Prevention Control Program
Academies of Anchorage
The Fall of 2025, the Anchorage School District will begin the transition to the Academies of Anchorage Model in high schools. Each high school will have academic academies that will help students begin to their focus on college and career goals. Before that happens, many decisions will be made and we need your input on how this will look moving forward. To learn more, please go to the ASD Website https://www.asdk12.org/ccl
Work For ASD
Bartlett is Hiring Multiple Positions
CHROMEBOOKS
Whether the student uses a school-issued Chromebook or a personal laptop, these items are required for classes each day.
Students need to bring them charged and ready for class. Failure to do so means the student is not prepared for class and it may impact their grades. We also recommend that each student brings their OWN charger to school, in case they need extra power during the day. We recommend that they do not share their chargers with others, as this has caused many to disappear. Chargers are each student's responsibility and cost $20 to replace. A replacement charger can be paid for in the main office, and upon showing the receipt to Student Services personnel, the charger can be picked up before/after school or at lunch. Replacement chargers will not be issued during class time.
CURRICULUM CORNER
Greetings from the Curriculum office! We have a lot of exciting activities and opportunities for our students this semester.
PSAT, SAT, & ACT Information:
PSAT, SAT, & ACT Information:
2024 Seniors will need to take their SAT and/or ACT BEFORE they graduate high school in order to be eligible for Alaska Performance Scholarship
ACT
Test Date: Saturday, June 8, 2024
Registration Deadline: Friday, May 3, 2024
Fee: $68
*see school counselor to see if you qualify for a fee waiver
The ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY (ASVAB):
The ASVAB is a multiple choice test, administered by the US Military Entrance Processing Command, used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States Armed Forces. We recommend all seniors take this test to help identify potential careers.
ASVAB at Bartlett: 4/25/24. See your School Counselor to sign up!
FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA):
In order to apply for the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS), Federal and State loans, and work studies, you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
TRIO
Are you wanting to learn more about college or trade school?
Want to have more career exploration opportunities?
Do you need help with navigating financial aid?
Are you interested in gaining confidence in your abilities and having a support network?
TRIO provides assistance in all of these areas and more! Our goal is to help students plan for after high school, whether that be college, trade school, or starting your career. All of our services are FREE! You can find applications in the CRC office or room 341. Applications can be submitted to your counselor. See Ms. Heidi (room 341) or Ms. Jasmine (CRC Office) for more information. You can also apply online here.
Library News
STUDENT ACCIDENT & SICKNESS COVERAGE
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 accident insurance program. Information is available at the school's front office, online at www.myers-stevens.com or by calling 800-827-4695. Bilingual services are available.