January 15, 2025

Families of Mat-Su Central,

Welcome to the new year, even if it doesn’t look much like January in Alaska out there! This will be an historic year in Mat-Su Central’s history as we look to move into a new school home (more on that below). As always, check out our full calendar here, and keep an eye on the website for the most up to date information (like the FREE Family Skate on February 5). In the meantime, here are some important highlights.

AAC Elections:

• The Academic Advisory Council (AAC) at Mat-Su Central School is a group composed of parents, school staff, principal and school board member(s). It was formed to address urgent needs at the school, express parent concerns, and to give parent educators a strong voice in decision-making and policies at the school and District level. We have three seats open for election next month; if you are interested in helping shape our school, you can apply by completing this short form and/or voting when the election opens up from February 10-14.

S1 Grades:

• Thank you for your patience with the changes to MSBSD’s parent portal. If you have not yet submitted S1 grades to your advisor, please contact them immediately in order to do so. We want to help support your student’s learning and ensure your family allotment remains open to educational purchases.

Reimbursement Deadline:

• All reimbursement requests for items/services dated July 1-December 31 must be submitted by January 25. You can help streamline the process by making sure you follow the steps outlined in this video and reviewing the FAQs for allotment. You can also enroll in direct deposit by completing the relevant form and returning it to MCS. Remember, it is always a good idea to discuss potential purchases with your advisor, particularly if the cost is above $300.

Important Dates for New Building Move-In:

• F-E Contracting is in the final stages of construction in our new building, at which point we will begin organizing furniture, fixtures, and internal equipment. While we are braced for our current timeline to change, here are some important dates you can keep in mind as we plan for a transition:some text
  • Feb 24: Bookroom and Library Closed
  • Mar 7-14: Spring Break
  • Mar 17-21: Buildings closed for move-in
  • Mar 24-28: New Building open to appointments (no on-site classes)
  • Mar 31: On-site classes begin in new building
  • Apr 4: MCS families (and friends) new building tours
  • May 9: Open House/Picnic

Immunizations Reminder

• In order to continue funding, the state requires updated annual exemption forms or contact with families’ primary care providers to ensure that vaccinations are up to date. Mat-Su Public Health Center on Palmer-Wasilla Highway doesn’t require an appointment for vaccines if families want to get their students up to date. Here is a link to the State of Alaska immunization requirements for on-site school attendance.

Vendor Highlights: At over 300 community instructional partners (full list here), it can be hard to keep up with the best fit for your family. Talk to your advisor and other homeschool families to learn more, but here are a few options we are featuring this month:

• Alaska Taildragger Co. gives high school students the chance to begin their journey into the world of aviation.
• Benteh STEAM Academy is offering a variety of classes for students 6-12, with a special Open House for MCS families on January 17.
• Back to Basics Learning is starting a Foundation in Sounds Tutoring for students in Preschool to 1st grade.
• Larae’s Music Lessons just might be the right fit for your child to grow in his/her musical talents.

Feedback: MCS thrives thanks to the creative insights from home educators. If you have any ideas for how we can improve our program, please share with us here.

Honored to partner with you,

Stacey McIntosh and Nathan Chud

Principal Team | Mat-Su Central

“Developing lifelong learners through meaningful partnerships and dynamic personalized learning."

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