ASD Letter to ASD Families

Dear ASD Families,

After the second week of in-person learning for our youngest students, I continue to be impressed by the commitment of our school staff, the enthusiasm of our students, and the overwhelming support from families. Everyone involved with in-person classes has quickly adapted to their school’s safety protocols and mitigation efforts, paving the way for grades 3-6 to return. While a handful of schools welcomed grades 3-6 back this morning, the majority of these students will return February 8.

For families of students returning to school buildings, I invite you to familiarize yourselves with your school’s mitigation plan on our website. Additionally, on our Back-in-School page, you will find a host of other resources to assist with this transition.

With the recent announcement of Anchorage’s Emergency Order 18, we are excited that our basketball and cheer teams may begin competitions as of today, February 1. We appreciate Acting Mayor Quinn-Davidson and her staff for prioritizing student athletics and activities and for recognizing their importance to a well-rounded student experience. This is one more gradual step toward bringing our middle and high school students back into schools.

With so much emphasis recently on our youngest learners, I want to acknowledge our high school seniors and the unique sacrifices they’ve made during the pandemic. Seniors have forfeited many of their senior-year rites of passage, such as prom, in-person activities, athletic competitions, and the opportunity to be present with friends. I know how much our seniors value these experiences, and I truly empathize with how they must feel.

In line with trying to do our best for them, I want to officially announce that the District is actively planning for in-person, outdoor graduation ceremonies this year for our seniors. Our goal is for them to experience a traditional ceremony. While the specific locations and details are still being determined, graduation dates are scheduled and preparations have begun. We are excited to give our seniors the kind of in-person celebrations they have earned.

It’s an exciting time at our schools across the District. I want to acknowledge the work done internally in our schools, classrooms, and at the District level, as well as the work our families did at home to prepare their students for this transition. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Deena M. Bishop, Ed.D.
Superintendent