Active Minds – Palmer High School Chapter Advisor: Amy Ippolito, School Psychologist Meeting Times: To be determined in August 2025
The PHS Active Minds chapter will meet on Wednesdays after school in the library. All students are welcome to attend and get involved.
Mission: Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization focused on mental health awareness and education for young adults. We are dedicated to saving lives and to building stronger families and communities. Through education, research, advocacy, and a focus on young adults ages 14 - 25, Active Minds is opening up the conversation about mental health and creating lasting change in the way mental health is talked about, cared for, and valued in the United States
Meeting Times: Fridays, 2:15 - 5:00 pm, Palmer High School Lobby
The Palmer High School Dungeons & Dragons Club meets every Friday throughout the school year and is open to all high school-aged students in the Valley—homeschoolers welcome!
To be a member in good standing, students must:
Submit yearly club paperwork to the office (available at the SRO Office)
Pay $20 yearly dues to the front office
Join the club’s Google Classroom using code: p3s2env
Membership Perks: Members receive a set of dice, a club t-shirt, and eligibility to attend the class trip in late April.
Club Expectations: Members are expected to participate in Nerd Con AK, the club’s primary fundraiser held the first Saturday of April at PHS. Proceeds help offset the cost of the class trip.
Leadership Opportunities: The club holds annual elections for the following officer positions:
Important: Students must be officially registered for Esports before participating in gameplay. This includes registration through Big Teams and PlayVs.
Palmer FFA is a youth leadership organization. It allows students an opportunity to meet people around the state and country, develop leadership skills, get hands-on opportunities in various career fields, improve their public speaking, and much more! We are excited to work with amazing students in such an amazing organization.
To join FFA all you have to do is take an agriculture class at Palmer High School. Once enrolled in the class, you are automatically enrolled in FFA. We believe that FFA is intra-curricular meaning that agricultural education and FFA work together.
Explore the wide range of agricultural classes offered at Palmer High School by heading to the CTE section under the Departments tab on the PHS website. Interested in what Palmer FFA is all about? Take a look at our annual event calendar to find opportunities that interest you and learn how to get involved.
Stay connected with updates and reminders:
Remind Notifications: Students and parents can receive important updates by joining Palmer FFA’s Remind. Text @3a4g623ff to 81010 to sign up.
Monthly Newsletter: To receive the Palmer FFA monthly newsletter with details on upcoming events, email corinne.henderson@matsuk12.us and request to be added to the mailing list.
Key Club is a student-led organization that encourages high school students to become leaders through service. By taking part in meaningful projects, members build character, develop leadership skills, and make a positive impact on their school and community. The club promotes responsible citizenship, teamwork, and values such as compassion and inclusion.
ICE FISHING TEAM UPDATE (12/17/2024) sean.niekamp@matsuk12.us Google Classroom Code: elf2g3j T-Shirt Sizes: We are working on getting everyone on the PHS Ice Fishing Team a t-shirt for their participation. Go to the team Google Classroom and input your shirt size on the spreadsheet. Team Names: On the Google Classroom, there is a spreadsheet with all team names and members. If your name is not on the list, be sure to let Mr. Niekamp know so he can get your name and team on the list (teams of two). Club Meetings January in School: ● January 14th 2:20 - 3:00: Fishing gear collection and organization. Lesson on rigging up a pole for fishing. Snacks and drinks will be provided by Mr. Niekamp. ● January 21st 2:20 - 3:00: Preparation for first tournament day (Jan 25th). Review tournament rules, lake depths, areas to fish, what kind of baits to use, and go over the plan for the day. Continue any gear prep as needed. ● January 28th (2:20 - 2:45): Tournament day results, general discussion, tell some fishing stories, snacks and drinks will be provided. Tournament Days 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (weather permitting): ● January 25th - Matanuska Lake ● February 8th - Finger Lake ● February 22nd - Big Lake State Tournament TBD February 28th or March 1st on Big Lake
Students with a 3.5 GPA or higher during their junior or senior year may be eligible for National Honor Society. Selection is based on academic performance and an application process that takes place in the spring of a student’s sophomore or junior year.
Membership is based on four pillars: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Applications are reviewed by Mr. Henry and may be evaluated using a rubric.
NHS members play an active role in community service, including organizing and assembling bags for the Sandwich Project, which supports 300 students across the Valley. They also lead a Thanksgiving basket drive within the school.
Native Youth Olympics (NYO) is a statewide athletic program that encourages students to improve academic performance, promote overall health and wellness, and develop key values such as leadership and respect - qualities that strengthen communities and shape future leaders.
NYO is open to all students, regardless of cultural background. Participation is not limited to Alaska Native or IEA-qualified students.
No prior experience is needed - come ready to learn, grow, and compete in a positive and collaborative setting.
Senior NYO is available to students in grades 7 - 12. Sixth grade students may participate by invitation.
Student government serves as a voice for the student body, working to represent their interests and enhance the overall school experience. Members help organize events such as assemblies, dances, spirit weeks, and fundraisers, while also promoting school pride and communicating student feedback to the administration. It’s a great way to get involved and have a voice!
Student government is open to all students in their grade. Elections will take place during the first week of school for the following positions:
Students enrolled in French or Japanese are eligible to participate in World Language Declamation, an event where they can showcase their language skills through prepared presentations and performances.
