Upcoming EventsNo School - Winter Break: Fri., Dec. 22nd - Mon., Jan. 5th Students Return to School Tue., Jan. 6th January
**Safety alert**Please be mindful of the dark, wintery conditions in the student drop off area. Use extra precautions when dropping off and picking up students. If you choose to use the North parking lot, walking students to the front gate is mandatory. Safety is the number one priority at American Charter. Thank you for partnering with the school to keep everyone safe! Ms. Farren A Note From Your AMC SecretarySubway order forms will go home on January 6th for orders to resume on Friday, January 9th. Pizza order forms will also go home on January 6th for orders to resume on January 12th. If you paid for pizza on Monday, 12/8, when school had closed for extreme weather, your purchase will be added the next available date for purchase for your student. If you have any questions of when that is, please contact me through a direct ParentSquare message. Mrs. Ostendorf and Mrs. Yerbich's class trip has been rescheduled for January 8th. If you had not already made payment, please do so here. Ice Skating Field Trip - The entire school will be headed to the Brett Ice Arena the last week of January. Payment is $5 and can be paid anytime between now and January 23rd here. student HighlightsMrs. voigt's ClassroomWhen the weather is cold the students in Mrs. Voigt's class enjoy indoor recess.  Mrs. Ostendorf's classroomIf you looked up into the night sky, could you pick out a favorite constellation? Students in Mrs. Ostendorf's class discovered an organization called Night Sky International. From there, stars became a focus of study. Students researched a constellation displayed in the Northern Hemisphere. Students then orchestrated a display and presentation for visiting classrooms. With the approach of Christmas and the upcoming New Year, it is logically the time to celebrate the season of stars!
mrs. brady's classroomMrs. Brady's classroom has been getting some hands-on science learning. Picture 1: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Hmmm… Does that also apply to my school work, Mr. Newton? Picture 2: Does the Law of Conservation of Energy mean I have a good excuse for staying in bed?? Picture 3: The Center of Gravity on display!
middle school danceAMC's middle school dance was a wonderful success, bringing students together for a fun and memorable evening with a Cozy Cabin theme. The space was transformed with festive decorations creatively made and set up by the students themselves, adding to the warm and welcoming atmosphere. Throughout the night, students enjoyed playing games, dancing with friends, and participating in exciting door prize drawings that kept the energy high. The combination of student involvement, engaging activities, and a cozy setting made the event truly special and one everyone will remember.
amc's spirit weekThank you to all of the students who joined the Student Council in showing School Spirit this week! Monday: Cozy Monday Morning, Tuesday: Holiday Socks Wednesday: Excessive Holiday Accessories Thursday: Channel Your Flannel
Primary prep fieldtripPrimary Prep visited the Discovery Center at the Anchorage Museum this month. They explored a variety of hands-on learning displays and a reptile exhibit. Each student was given the opportunity to learn about the importance of enrichment activities for animals and create one of their own.
december assemblyStudent Council hosted the end of the quarter assembly. Highlights included a trivia contest, poetry reading, and a performance by AMC's Christmas Choir. Bonus Trivia: What did Thomas Edison invent in 1880? Answer: The first electric sting of lights.
amc gives backAMC proudly participated in a food drive benefiting the Fire-N-Fire Food Bank. Classrooms competed to collect the most donations, with the winning class earning a root beer float party. Congratulations to Mrs. Blankenship’s advisory class, whose canned goods weighed in at an impressive 193.2 pounds! In total, AMC donated 649.8 pounds of food to support our community. Thank you to all students, families, and staff who helped make this effort a success.  january kidwind fundraiser new school updateWalls are going up at the new school! The second story framing and the gymnasium framing have begun. The progress is most exciting
quest clubsSession 3 Quest Clubs: January 12th - February 27thMonday: *Made for the Stage (select small group rehearsals) Battle of the Books 3rd - 6th Grade (Full) Tuesday: *KidWInd - 4th-8th Grade (Full) Thursday: Volleyball-4th-5th Grade Mrs. Worley Jamboree February 28th (max 12 students) Chess-3rd-8th Grade Mr. Johnson Friday: *Made for the Stage 1st - 8th Grade *Club will continue past Session 3 AMC Eligibility Requirements for after-school Quest Club Participation
Attendance and timeliness Incredible accomplishment AMC Families! December has been a Great Month for improved attendance and timeliness. The absenteeism rate fell below 5% for the first time this year at 4.7%, and there were 34 fewer tardies in December than there were in November (December IS a shorter month, but only by 3 days). I'm pleased to know students are in school on time, in classrooms learning, and demonstrating Academic Excellence the American Way. A very bright report for approaching the new Year!! PRincipal's corner Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, AMC Families! As the year comes to a close, I want to personally thank everyone for contributing to the success of American Charter Academy. Thank you for your support, constructive feedback, and ongoing collaboration. Seeing students fully engaged and continuing their pursuit of academic excellence is inspiring and rewarding. Thank you to our staff and families for all you do to keep AMC moving forward. The first two quarters of School Year 2026 have been filled with enriching in-school and after-school activities, including Reading, Spelling, Key Boarding, Geography, Writing, Student Presentations, Science, Math, Social Students, Running Club, Flag Football, Primary Games, Choir, Origami Club, KidWind, Made for the Stage, Poetry Reading, and Basketball. Seeing our students actively participating in these programs and embrace learning is truly exciting. I look forward to welcoming everyone back in January as we continue to ‘Stay True to Our Mission, as we Plan for the Future.’ Sincerely, Ms. Farren STUDENT OF THE MONTH AMC's Student of the Month will return in January.
December
***Safety alert***Please be mindful of the dark, wintery conditions in the student drop off area. Use extra precautions when dropping off and picking up students. If you choose to use the North parking lot, walking students to the front gate is mandatory. Safety is the number one priority at American Charter. Thank you for partnering with the school to keep everyone safe! Ms. Farren student highlightsMrs. kerkove's classroomWe wrapped up October with a fun hands-on pumpkin investigation! Students explored the inside of a pumpkin, counted seeds, made weight guesses, and even tested whether a pumpkin would float. They loved getting messy and learning like real scientists! As we moved into November, we kicked off our Thanksgiving fun with our annual Turkey in Disguise projects. The creativity this year was fantastic, and the students were so excited to share their clever disguises! Next, they will begin a writing piece about how their turkey will avoid being eaten-always a class favorite!
mr. deboer's classroomStudents in Mr. DeBoer’s class just finished studying the Revolutionary War. One way they demonstrated their learning was through a creative “one pager” about some of the little-known American heroes of the war. Pictured are a few students whose high-quality work is showcased in a corner of the classroom.  red ribbon weekOctober 27-31 AMC celebrated Red Ribbon Week, a campaign to promote healthy living by staying drug free. Activities included: decorating classroom doors, a school wide poster contest, hanging red ribbons on our courtyard fence, and signing healthy living pledges. Students also had fun dressing in spirit themed attire.
4th/5th grade basketballWe had a great turn out for our second year of elementary basketball. Coached by Mrs. Worley and Mrs. Kotyk, the boys were able to learn and strengthen their skills though practices and scrimmages against other Mat-Su schools, even traveling as far as the Butte (thank you, parents). The seasons ended with a district wide Jamboree. The team worked hard and made AMC proud. Go Eagles!!
christmas choir Among the highlights of the AMC Christmas Choir program this year will be some well-known favorites. The youngest choir members, three primary prep girls, will be singing "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two-front Teeth" by songwriter Donald Yetter Gardner. Another well-known holiday favorite the choir will present is "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" by John Rox. Families and AMC staff may hear choir members humming "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells" as they prepare for one of the happiest times of the year! quest clubsSession 2 Quest Clubs will be wrapping up December 12th. Session 3 Quest Clubs will begin January 12th. The sign up form for Session 3 Quest clubs will be included in the December Newsletter. AMC Eligibility Requirements for after-school Quest Club Participation
*Made for the Stage 2nd - 3rd Grade *Battle of the Books 3rd - 6th Grade Tuesday: Games K-1st Grade Origami/Paper Crafts 3rd-4th Grade *KidWInd - 4th-8th Grade Wednesday (alternating): Christmas Choir K - 6th Grade (11/26, 12/10) Friday: *Made for the Stage 4th - 6th Grade *Club will continue through Session 3
kidwind fundraiser at raising cane's new school update The concrete work has been completed and the walls are being erected! The close-in date for the building is scheduled for February; at that time, a final building completion date will be determined. attendance and timeliness The bright spot in November was... there were two consecutive days when there were NO TARDIES!! How wonderful is that!?! Great accomplishment AMC Families. Also, the amount of Tardies dropped by three. The absenteeism rate in November was 5.31% which increased slightly from October. Let's keep working on timeliness and attendance keeping in mind how important it is to form habits of excellence. student of the monthNovember student of the month will be included in the December Mid Month Snapshot. principal's corner “Thanksgiving Turkey”
by George Parsons Lathrop Valleys lay in sunny vapor, And a radiance mild was shed From each tree that like a taper At a feast stood. Then we said, “Our feast, too, shall soon be spread, Of good Thanksgiving turkey.” And already still November Drapes her snowy table here. Fetch a log, then; coax the ember; Fill your hearts with old-time cheer; Heaven be thanked for one more year, And our Thanksgiving turkey! Welcome, brothers—all our party Gathered in the homestead old! Shake the snow off and with hearty Hand-shakes drive away the cold; Else your plate you’ll hardly hold Of good Thanksgiving turkey. ~Wishing Everyone a Wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday, and sincerely thanking everyone for 'Staying True to AMC's Mission as We Plan for the Future.' Warmly, Ms. Farren Upcoming events
Student HighlightsPrimary Prep ClassroomsPrimary prep had a wonderful visit from Josh the Otter, a fun and educational program that teaches children about water safety. This was a great reminder for AMC students about how to stay safe around water while having fun. We encourage all families to continue the conversation about water safety. Ask your child what they learned from Josh, and together review the following three key rules they learned: Never go near water without an adult, first learn to float and/or swim before going into water, and always swim with a buddy.
mRS. VOIGT'S cLASSroomOctober is wrapping up with unbelievable speed! Mrs. Voigt's class has been learning SOOOO many things this month! We celebrated our friend's book report projects and discovered that only 3% of Earth's water is fresh: with only 1% of that being thawed and accessible!
MR. Johnson's classroomIn Mr. Johnson’s language arts classes, students recently worked with a partner to write original short stories, practicing narrative structure and creative expression. After completing their drafts, they turned their stories into illustrated comics that highlighted the key events and characters. To finish the project, students read their stories aloud to the class giving them valuable practice in public speaking while sharing their creativity with peers.
Made for the stage
Alaska Native Heritage Center field tripStudents from the Mulit-Age classrooms learned about Alaska Native historical homes, dances, and sports in a fantastic field trip to the Alaskan Native Heritage Center.
American charter foundation Update A HUGE Thank you, AMC Families for volunteering for the Fun Fall Fling, donating baked goods for the bake sale, and volunteering to work at the bake sale table. The total profit of the bake sale was $964.50 which will go toward moving expenses for AMC's Big Move next summer!
Quest clubs Session 2 runs from Nov. 3rd- Dec. 12th The following clubs are starting this session. Mondays:
Tuesdays:
on going clubs The following clubs are on going. Mondays: Battle of the Books - 3rd-6th Grade - Mrs. McElvain/Mrs. Kerkove (sign-ups closed) Made for the Stage - 2nd/3rd Grade - Mrs. Ostendorf (this runs until 3:00 pm) - open to new sign ups Wednesdays: Christmas Choir - Every other Wednesday until 3:30 pm (Nov. 12th, Nov. 26th, Dec. 10th). We are accepting new students including kindergarten (limit 4 kindergarteners). Fridays: Made for the Stage - 4th-6th Grade - Mrs. Ostendorf (this runs until 3:30 pm) - open to new sign ups *Made for the Stage: The spring production will be A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. Attendance and timeliness The numbers are in!! There has been more improvement. Last month the absenteeism rate was 5.35% and this month the absenteeism rate is 4.6%; that is a substantial improvement. Way to go AMC Families. Tardies in October held steady at 127, so let's keep working on timeliness and attendance. Remember, when a student misses 2 days of school per month, they miss 20 days of school per year, and research shows when a student misses 17 days of school or more, they have lower reading proficiency by 3rd grade, lower middle school achievement, and decreased rates of high school graduation? When a student is absent 10% or more, they are considered chronically absent and are at risk of falling behind. AMC student of the month
Principal's Corner Hello AMC Families,
Thank you, families and teachers for making Parent/Teacher Conferences last week a success! Everyone has been working hard since August as we ‘Stay True to AMC’s Mission & Plan for the Future.’ One of the results of everyone's efforts is how many students earned First Quarter Honor Roll: 59% of AMC’s 4th – 8th grade students earned a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) or above, and 8, AMC students had a 4.0 GPA earning the Principal's Honor Roll of Excellence! Wow, what wonderful accomplishments and cause to celebrate! Last week, all AMC 2nd – 8th grade students were acknowledged for their academic dedication and hard work by receiving a classroom treat and honor roll recipients were awarded certificates. Additionally, thirty-three AMC students received perfect attendance certificates at AMC’s First Quarter Assembly, which means, thirty-three AMC students were at school everyday and had zero tardies. I am continually grateful and amazed by the positive support American Charter receives. Thank you for choosing to be a community member of the ~Best Little School House in Alaska! Sincerely, Ms. Farren Upcoming events
Student HighlightsPrimary Prep fieldtripThe Primary Prep classrooms enjoyed a day at the Big Lake Library and the Meadow Lakes Park. For some Kindergarten students it was their first ride on a school bus! The kids enjoyed story time featuring fall and hibernating animals and made a hedgehog craft afterward. Eating lunch at the park and playing with their friends was definitely a great way to spend a cool September day.
Mrs. Yerbich's ClassroomMrs. Yerbich's class remembered September 11th by hiking and raising the flag. They also want to thank all of the families that participated in the fundraising for craft supplies.
Mrs. blankenship's classroomMrs. Blankenship’s Physical Science students investigated Newton’s Force Laws by building spaghetti bridges and calculating the force exerted on the bridge. Team members Zion Johnson, David Khuda, and Dane Laulainen had the winning design, which supported six textbooks weighing 2,610 grams. The record to beat was 83,914 grams accomplished by Elijah Chestnut and Aaron Carpenter last year.
Gold Mint Trail Middle School Field TripSTARTING THE 2026 SCHOOL YEAR STRONG! The American Charter Academy Middle School recently went on a hike and science excursion along the Gold Mint Trail in Hatcher Pass. This adventure makes learning engaging by offering amazing experiences outside the classroom and keeping both our minds and bodies active. The hike provided students with the opportunity to get to know new students, explore nature, discover, and connect with science in a real-world setting. ~Leigha Bird, AMC Grade 9, Writer  amc's running clubAMC's Running Club started practices the end of August and ran each Tuesday after school to prepare for fall competitions. This year AMC Runners competed in two events: The Colony Invitational and the MSBSD Elementary Competition. Participants in the Colony Invitational were Finn Jarik, Leon Durance, Bernadette Maixner, Aloisa Maixner, Abigail Andrews, Brynn Bird, and Grady Johnson.
Ground Breaking Ceremony for AMC's New SchoolThe Mat-Su Borough organized a wonderful groundbreaking ceremony in September for AMC's new school! Several assembly members, state legislators, district personnel, and AMC families attended the event. I was overwhelmed by the community support and am still amazed at the accomplishment of getting the building bond passed, the years of effort given to obtain land for the school, designing the school with Wolf Architecture, and the incredible support of American Charter families over the years! Truly, AMC's new school is a result of our community working together. Thank you, AMC families who were able to attend the event! I was so excited to see everyone there; if you haven't seen the new school site, drive north on Church Rd past Seldon and you can't miss seeing the ongoing construction by Big Dipper and Roger Hickel Contracting! NEW SCHOOL COMING SOON... SUMMER OR FALL 2026!!!
Student of the month-September 2025
Attendance and timeliness ** CORRECTION... Did you know last September, American Charter Academy had a 5.15% average absenteeism rate and a total of 142 tardies? Yes, that is correct; not 58 tardies, but 142 tardies September 2024. Do you think AMC did better this September? Did the number of tardy students decline? Did the absenteeism rate decline? Yes, the amount of tardies declined, but no, the absenteeism rate increased. September 2025: there were 127 tardies and an absentee rate of 5.35%. That is an improvement; let's build on the momentum and beat October 2024 stats: 225 total tardies and 5.62% absenteeism. Stay tuned to see what the American, Can Do, mindset will accomplish! The rate of absences and tardies can be improved. Join the school; Stay True to AMC's Mission, and Achieve Academic Excellence! Let's do this!!!
Principal's COrner Hello AMC Families,
It’s hard to believe the first quarter is winding down with just three weeks left! Already students have participated in several learning and athletic events: mClass & MAP testing, daily classroom assignments and projects, middle school & primary prep field trips, running club competitions, and flag football games. Amidst all the activities, remembering AMC’s mission and vision is of utmost importance. Mission Statement – Achieving academic excellence… the American way! Vision Statement – American Charter Academy students will thrive both academically and in their future careers. We aim to nurture a generation of young individuals equipped with the habits, skills, and attitudes needed to succeed as lifelong learners, contributing members of society, and exemplary citizens. As we say goodbye to September, let's embrace October as a great month to focus entirely on learning; thank you for everything you do to make AMC such a wonderful school!! Thank you for partnering with AMC as we, ‘Stay true to our mission and plan for our future.’ Sincerely, Ms. Farren upcoming Events
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Testing September 3rd - 5th
American Charter Academy values the process of students showing what they know. Each class will be setting aside time to have students participate in beginning of the year assessments.
Please join with the school in making testing week successful and smooth. Be sure students are rested, have nutritious meals, and arrive to school on time. Make up testing will be the week of September 8th. Healthy Futures
American Charter Academy participates in the Healthy Futures Program. Each month students track their time playing outside on a form and turn the form into their teacher.
The goal is to play outside 60 minutes for at least 15 days per month. At the end of the month, the student hands in their completed form and gets a prize. Of course, the true prize is that by being active they will have a healthy future. Last year American Charter was recognized for the amount of time students spent outdoors. Forms are given to students by their teachers, and additional forms are available at AMC's front office. Thank you, Mrs. Yerbich for organizing this event for AMC students. American Charter supports healthy lifestyles and active play outdoors! Student highlightsMrs. Voigt's ClassroomMrs. Voigt's class learned all about computer procedures on the first day of school. They also enjoyed an art class led by Mrs. Yuill titled "All About Me". Mrs. Crum's Classroom  In Mrs. Crum's class, the first week of school, secondary math classes created a "Graph of Me". Students answered true/false questions about themselves, plotted the true statements on a coordinate plane, and finished by coloring it their favorite color. RUnning club  Running Club has begun! Once a week we run 1-3 miles on surrounding roads and trails. Led by Mrs. Yerbich, our goal is to grow a love of running and being outside. At the end of September our 4th and 5th grader runners can participate in the Mat-Su Elementary Cross-Country Meet, held at Palmer High School. This is a great event, and students are always rewarded with a real sense of accomplishment. attendance and timeliness
Did you know last September, American Charter Academy had a 5.15% average absenteeism rate and a total of 58 tardies? Yes, that is correct; 58 tardies last September.
Do you think it is possible to improve the rate of absenteeism this September? Can the number of tardy students be reduced? Absolutely! With the American, Can Do, mindset, the rate of absences and tardies can be improved. Join the school; Stay True to AMC's Mission, and Achieve Academic Excellence! Let's do this!!! Quest Club Sign ups
Session 1 Quest Clubs will be starting Monday September 8th unless previous information has been provided.
A ParentSquare message was sent home with the sign up form on Monday Aug. 25th. Please contact the office with any questions. Mrs. Ostendorf is offering three clubs that have been added to the Session 1 Quest Clubs sign up form. Made for the Stage - Starting September 29 for Spring Performance Monday Rehearsals 2:00 - 3:00 Grades 2 - 3 At a designated time, students will join older student performers. In the spring, some Saturday rehearsals will be needed to prepare for the downstairs portion of the building. Made for the Stage - Starting October 10 for Spring Performance Friday Rehearsals 2:00 - 3:30 Grades 4-6 At a designated time, students will join older student performers. In the spring, some Saturday rehearsals will be needed to prepare for the downstairs portion of the building. Christmas Choir - Starting October 1 - ending in December with a presentation at the School Assembly Alternating Wednesdays 2:00 - 3:30 Grades 2 - 6 Stars and Stripes Student Council
This school year, AMC's Stars & Stripes Student Council will be meeting during the school day on the first Tuesday of each month at 1:30pm. The exception is the first meeting, which will be September 9th. Mrs. Worley is supervising student council, and each classroom/advisory nominates a class representative from grades 5th - 8th grade to be on student council. Please reach out to Mrs. Worley or AMC's front office with any questions you might have about AMC's Stars & Stripes Student Council.
New School Update
Principal's corner Hello AMC Families,
School Year 2026 has gotten off to a wonderful start. Classrooms are full, the weather has been spectacular, and AMC has several new and returning families. With 100% AMC staff retention, the stage is set for Achieving Academic Excellence! Last year’s Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) and Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) data demonstrated the dedication of AMC families, students, and staff members: MAP SPRING 2025 SCHOOLWIDE DATA- Reading improved 6%, Language improved 10%, and Math improved 8% in student proficiency. AK STAR SPRING 2025 SCHOOLWIDE DATA- Reading remained the same rate of proficiency and Math improved 4.5% in student proficiency. A Highlight from Spring 2025 AK STAR data is 92% of AMC 6th grade students were proficient or above in Math! WOW, Congratulations, teachers, parents, and students... what an AMAZING accomplishment! I am looking forward to building momentum this year and seeing what the outcomes will be; let’s “Stay True to Our Mission as we Plan for the Future.” Thank you for ALL you do to make AMC a school of Excellence, Ms. Farren |
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