Dear Anchorage School District students, parents/guardians, staff and faculty:

Anchorage is currently experiencing an outbreak of mumps. Since May 2017 over 230 people have been diagnosed with mumps. Prior to this outbreak, only 3 persons in Alaska were diagnosed with mumps in the past 5 years. Some students and staff in the Anchorage School District have recently been diagnosed with mumps. Mumps is a contagious viral illness that is spread from person to person by contact with respiratory droplets such as when coughing, sneezing, talking, touching contaminated surfaces and sharing cups and utensils. Common symptoms are painful, puffy, swollen cheeks, a tender swollen jaw, fever, tiredness, and muscle aches. It usually takes about 14-18 days from when someone is exposed/infected with the virus to when they develop symptoms. Infected individuals can spread mumps without realizing it; the infectious period is 7 days, 2 days before symptoms start and for 5 days after. The most effective way to prevent mumps is vaccination – 90% of persons who have had two doses of MMR vaccine are immune to mumps. It is recommend that persons who received their second MMR vaccination more than 5 years ago get a 3rd dose now to provide greater protection during this outbreak. Make sure you and your family members are up to date on MMR vaccination. If you, your child or another family member has mumps symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider. Because mumps is contagious, healthcare workers may not want you to come to the clinic and sit in the waiting room. To stop the spread of mumps, persons with mumps should stay home and away from others for five days after the start of puffy cheeks. If you are unable to see a healthcare provider, please contact the Anchorage Department of Health at 343-4767 or 343-4799 to make arrangements for testing. If you have any questions please call the Municipality of Anchorage, Department of Health at 343-4799 or the State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology at 269-8000. Sincerely, Bruce Chandler, MD, MPH Medical Officer Municipality of Anchorage.  See ASD Mumps letter HERE.

Extreme is Alaska’s longest running technology camp. We have been featured on KTUU and the Anchorage Daily News. Join us! See flyer HERE

The Valentines Day Dance is Friday so buy your tickets, dress up for spirit week, and get those permission slips turned in for Activity Day (Wednesday).

Spirit Week:

• Monday:  Hoodies
• Tuesday: Holidays (other than Valentines Day)
• Wednesday:  School Colors (blue and green)
• Thursday:  Nerds vs. Jocks
• Friday:  Meme Day (be appropriate)

This week’s block schedule:

• Monday:  Periods 1, 2, AG, 3, lunch, 6
• Tuesday:  Periods 1, 2, 4, lunch, 5
• Wednesday: Activity Day – Meet in your AG first
• Thursday:  Normal
• Friday:  Normal

Hey all of you students that are interested in going to Alyeska to go skiing or snowboarding with Jason on Feb 24, Mar 3, and Mar 10. On Wednesday, Alyeska resort closed registration for Block 3, because it was full, but they have added another bus, and are opening registration for one more week! Don’t miss out. Several students have asked about joining this week, but Jason had to tell them it was too late. It is now not too late, and you can get in, but you have to act fast! Go to https://www.alyeskaresort.com/mountain/learning-center-discover-program to register. Choose BOOK NOW, then pick if you want lower or upper mtn with/without lesson and Block 3. Email collins_jason@asdk12.org if you have questions, but don’t delay! This bus will fill up fast!

APPLY FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IN PARKS (YEP). The YEP program is a 10 week summer work program for Anchorage teens. Get paid to improve local parks and trails, and be outside all summer long! You are an ideal candidate if you are…

•  An Anchorage resident
•  16-19 years old on or before June 4, 2018
•  Ready for the best summer of your life!

To apply visit:www.muni.org/jobs or www.AnchorageParkFoundation.org

The Anchorage Park Foundation builds healthy parks & people by mobilizing public support and financial resources for parks, trails and recreation.

Applications are due by March 11, 2018.

There will be a parent meeting for the Steller intensive trip to Italy & Greece that is happening December 2018. It will be held Thursday, February 15th at 6:00pm at Steller Secondary in Simone’s room. Please attend the meeting if you and your student are interested in the travel intensive — there will be a presentation and plenty of time to answer any questions you may have. Svetlana and Simone will see you on the 15th!

See flyer HERE

Thursday night at 6:00 pm is Steller’s Open House/Ice Cream Social.

Please come and bring your friends and introduce them to the Steller Community. Students will lead tours to show prospective Steller families around the school and our wonderful Steller Staff will be on site to answer questions about curriculum and Steller’s Passage and Intensive programs. Don’t forget to have your friends stop by the office to sign up to “Shadow”. Steller offers a wonderful opportunity to prospective students to spend a day in the life of a Steller students and shadow a student in class. Hope to see you all there!  See flyer HERE