“Every day I speak to students at Soldotna High School about respect, treating people right, kindness, and dreams. I tell them that the choice is theirs: they can choose to make a difference in their lives as well as the lives of others.
Actions speak louder than words, and this year they broke the sound barrier!
With the help of the students, staff, and the community, we were able to fill 25 baskets for families in need at Soldotna High School, give 30 turkeys and all the meal fixings to Love Inc., and still donate over 900 pounds of food to the Food Bank. All-in-all, we had enough food to feed 75 families this Thanksgiving year.
I am so proud and extremely thankful to call this my community and be a part of the Soldotna High School family. Make it a great Thanksgiving. Remember, the choice is yours!”
–Tony Graham, Principal, Soldotna High School Donated to the Food Bank … 908 pounds! Love, Inc food baskets donations
KPBSD students across the Kenai listen and learn firsthand about the Syrian refugee crisis, via a videoconferencing presentation from Seward, Alaska, USA.
Teresa Gray, a retired paramedic, spent several weeks volunteering in Lesvos, Greece, greeting and serving refugees from Syria, offering medical aid, hugs, and suckers, alongside volunteers from other countries.
At a camp on the beach, where she spent three weeks, she said, “The whole point is to get them at least fed, and dry, and warm, and a smile on their face. They didn’t spend long at this temporary camp. … In the 21 days I was on Lesvos, 60,000 people came in those 21 days. Four hundred people drowned, trying to make it.”
That’s only the beginning of a powerful hour, with Gray’s photos, recounting of facts, and her sobering, heart-wrenching experience.
Students from Kenai Central High School, Kenai Middle School, Seward Middle School, Soldotna High School, Soldotna Prep, and countless others logged in to watch live through the videoconference (VTC) link. KPBSD students in the Polycom Certification Practicum helped facilitate the VTC.
Mrs. Pothast explains, “My first and second hour eighth grade American History classes participated in much of the research “grunt work” guided by our outstanding adult volunteers. Many of the ideas for direct links, etc. that you’ll see in the product are ideas the kids recommended. Our adult volunteers contributed the expertise in their respective fields as well as the actual technical construction of the map. Students worked with adults to add attributes to the app and worked in teams led by the adults to develop the basic content ideas for each tab. Students are seeing the work for the first time and loving it! They are also already thinking of ways to improve it. This has been a wonderful learning experience for all of us, and one I look forward to continuing in the future. Many thanks to our adult volunteers without whom this would not have been possible.”
Meet #iAmKPBSD outstanding Distance Learning education students, Fall 2016
Annie Quinn Soldotna High School
Distance Class: Computer Applications
Distance Teacher: Darren Jones
“Annie Quinn completed all three computer applications courses this year earning her six college credits from Kenai Peninsula College. Annie has a great work ethic, time management skills and has demonstrated outstanding computer skills.” David Weisser Connections Homeschool
Distance Class: Biology A
Distance Teacher: Kim Leslie
“David’s creativity and enthusiasm for learning shine through on all of David’s work in Biology. He moves through this rigorous course on pace, showing strong understanding and bringing a level of curiosity that honors the wonders of science.” Caleb Rauch Homer High School
Distance Class: World History
Distance Teacher: Steve Cothran
“Caleb finished the whole semester of World History by the quarter mark, and more importantly, did so while maintaining the highest quality of work. His assignments were always comprehensive and he looked for meaningful insights between the course material and his contemporary world.” Gage Charlesworth, Connections Homeschool Gage Charlesworth Connections Homeschool
Distance Class: Health
Distance Teacher: Amanda Adams
“Gage has demonstrated true diligence in his first online course! Working continually to understand the material and remove roadblocks along the way. He responds to feedback by thinking deeper about the topics, and furthering his understandings.” Kaitlyn Johnson, Nikiski Middle-High School Kaitlyn Johnson Nikiski Middle-High School
Distance Class: Language Arts 10
Distance Teacher: Amanda Adams
“Kaitlyn continually demonstrates diligence in her efforts to become a better reader and writer. Her work ethic is unwavering, always reworking assignments, clarifying with questions, and applying feedback. Kaitlyn allows her creativity to shine through into her writing, and she isn’t afraid to take risks in trying new things with the goal of expanding her ability.” Olivia Delgado, Ninilchik School Olivia Delgado Ninilchik High School
Distance Class: Pre-Calculus
Distance Teacher: Gabe Evins
“Olivia is doing outstanding in Pre-Calculus online and is seven assignments ahead of schedule. Olivia continues to be one of my best students and shows exemplary work. She is very respectful with her communications and is not afraid to ask for help if help is needed.” Marissa Geissler, Homer High School Marissa Geissler Homer High School
Distance Class: Italian 1
Distance Teacher: Emanuela Pokryfi
“Marissa has been a remarkable student with her positive and proactive attitude throughout the first quarter. She was very helpful by letting me know of errors or issues with the course and its content whenever she found one, suggesting possible solutions. Marissa also agreed to meeting with another student in her school who is enrolled in the same online course to help her in getting more grounded in the course.” Learn more: KPBSD Distance Learning Department
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to develop productive, responsible citizens who are prepared to be successful in a dynamic world.
Mountain View Elementary Celebrates School-Wide Commitment to Responding to Conflict in A Positive Manner
Nobody likes to get their feelings hurt! While most of us mask the hurt pretty well, it negatively effects affects us in a variety of ways. Most certainly it affects students who may have a hard time learning if they remain focused on a negative interaction with a peer or teacher.
With that realization in mind Mountain View Elementary developed and implemented a Positive Responses to Conflict Curriculum for students Kindergarten through 5th grade. All adults in the school have also been trained to model these basic practices in their conflicts with students and each other. At a recent assembly the school celebrated the completion of the annual seven week rotation of teaching grade level appropriate lessons on kindness and the six basic positive responses to conflict.
Staff members entertained students and provided reinforcement for the following positive responses to conflict:
Assume positive intent by asking clarifying questions in a positive manner, these questions often begin with “Did you know….”
Politely ask someone to stop a behavior and tell them why.
Wait and cool off followed by using another strategy.
Simply let it go.
Compromise and share.
Talk it out using a structured process including: calming strategies, positive body language, and script prompts.
“The Conflict Wheel” is a graphic designed by Mountain View staff to promote the use of these strategies. The conflict wheel can be found on posters in all all rooms of the building, on a large sign on the playground and on lanyards carried by teachers while on recess duty.
A smaller version of the conflict wheel, with a description of the 6 strategies is discussed with and given to families at open house and conferences to promote its use at home. In April 2016, 87% of the 189 Mountain View Elementary families who returned a survey stated they utilized the 6 positive responses to strategies to resolve conflicts at home.
Do you know that over 114 Alaska Native Tribal affiliations are represented in nearly 1,200 identified Native students in the KPBSD Title VI program?
The KPBSD Title VI Indian Education Program supports Alaska Native and American Indian students for a successful experience throughout their K-12 schooling years, and invites everyone to a public meeting on Wednesday, November 9, 2016.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 3:00—5:00 p.m. Borough Assembly Chambers, Borough Administration Building 144 North Binkley Street, Soldotna, Alaska 99669
The Title VI Committee is comprised of parents and guardians of Title VI students who have been appointed by school site councils. Interested tribal elders, community members, students and parents are encouraged to participate. The Title VII Program is designed to assist and support students’ academic achievements, social and emotional development, and cultural awareness in the classroom. KPBSD Title VI students will be supported and enabled to receive an educational foundation, and given the skills to respond successfully with adults, situations, circumstances, activities and opportunities in school and life. Agenda includes:
• Title VI Election Results
• Nominations for Chair and Vice Chair
• Update on identified students
• Native Youth Project Grant
• Title VI Program Updates
• Partnership updates
Please RSVP to Deanna Leslie, dleslie@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Questions? Contact Conrad Woodhead, KPBSD Native Education Program Coordinator, CWoodhead@kpbsd.k12.ak.us, 907.235.8671 or Tim Vlasak, Director of Federal Programs and Assessments TVlasak@KPBSD.k12.ak.us, 907.714.8892
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Soldotna, November 7, 2016—Do you have an opinion about how to improve KPBSD schools?
Community members, families, students, and staff are invited to offer thoughts for the KPBSD 2017 – 2022 strategic plan revision through an online surveyopen through November 21, 2016.
KPBSD is refreshing and revising our five year strategic plan. Each of you has a unique perspective that will help guide our planning. Community members, families, students, and staff can have a voice in this process by completing the Survey. Your opinion will assist KPBSD to determine long term goals. Brief survey questions designed for our diverse schools include these topics:
Evidence of Education Quality
Challenge and Issues Impacting Education Quality
Educational Priorities
Student Skills and Abilities
Financial Priorities
Your Suggestions to Improve Quality of Education
The Survey is online, through this link:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/83VBSQY
The KPBSD webpage also includes a link to the survey, www.KPBSD.org.
Superintendent Sean Dusek said, “In an effort to improve our school district, we need a good plan to guide that effort. As a stakeholder in our community, you have a unique perspective that will help in the development of our new strategic plan. Your opinion will help develop areas the school district should focus on and guide which goals we should set. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey as we chart the direction of our schools for the next several years.”
Survey results will be essential in the process of refreshing and developing our long-term KPBSD strategic plan. A synthesis of the responses will be shared with the Board of Education, and available online. Thank you for making time to complete this valuable survey. Your feedback is important.
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Forty-four registered teams with close to 200 students from fourth grade through high school competed in the KPBSD annual “Mind A-Mazes” meet on Saturday, October 15, 2016, at Soldotna Prep School. Teams came from all parts of the peninsula – Homer, Hope, Seward, Nikiski, Moose Pass, and the Central Peninsula.
This year’s annual “Mind A-Mazes” challenge had teams exercise their communication, teamwork, engineering, and problem-solving skills while constructing and testing a vehicle powered solely by a single mousetrap. The annual challenge is made possible through the active participation of district Quest program (gifted education) teachers, as well as a host of other teachers, volunteers, and supporters. The “Rodent Racers” problem challenged team vehicles to travel a distance of 21 feet with accuracy and speed. If a team’s device met all of the problem requirements and limitations and hit a can target at the end of a 21 foot lane (without going outside of a three foot wide lane), then it qualified for a second heat in which the speed at which it traveled the lane and hit the target were measured.
Thank you to all the students, parents, coaches, teachers, volunteers, judges and coordinators who made this year’s meet such a wonderful experience for students! Link Mind a-Mazes Blog
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888 News Release
Two KPBSD educators are Teacher of the Year finalists
Soldotna, October 22, 2016—KPBSD is so proud! Two of the three finalists for the Alaska Teacher of the Year make a difference every day in our district. Join us to celebrate Stephanie Cronin, Seward High School, and James Harris, Soldotna High School, who are finalists chosen by a team of educators from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.
“These finalists for teachers of the year represent their profession and remind us of the many great teachers in Alaska,” Commissioner Johnson said in a statement. “We see a common thread of teachers who are enthusiastic about their subject and about learning. They relate to students and place a priority on creating a healthy community in the classroom. They are leaders in their school and community.”
Stephanie Cronin, Seward High School
Stephanie Cronin has been teaching mathematics and engineering at Seward High School for 17 of her 19 years in the profession. A leader in our district and the community, she serves on committees for effective instruction, teacher evaluation, professional development, assessment, curriculum, and educational technology, the school site council, and the local Native Youth Olympics.
“Of course Ms. Cronin is a finalist for the Alaska Teacher of the Year!” said Trevan Walker, principal. “Her genuine love of teaching compels her to continue to learn and grow within the profession. This growth has made her a teacher-leader in technology integration among her colleagues at Seward High and as a member of the KPBSD effective instruction committee. Most importantly, however, is that Ms. Cronin is a caring and compassionate human. Her Positive Math Attitude (PMA) is more than a catch phrase or mantra—it is a philosophy that permeates every interaction she has with her students and they love her for it.”
Cronin says her greatest contribution to education is her impact on students, which is based on respectful, close relationships. Her passion is to show students the beauty and possibilities of mathematics. One student wrote that Ms. Cronin planted the seed that it’s okay to be excited about mathematics. “She increased my positive math attitude exponentially,” the student said, mathematically. She is a leader in Seward High School’s technology-heavy hybrid model, which offers students many ways to earn credits, videotaped lectures to make the most of class time, and online parallels to courses so students have some control over where and when they learn.
“Ms. Stephanie Cronin is clearly one of the best teachers in our district,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “Her excellence stems from the positive relationships she establishes with all of her students and her ability to make math relevant for her students. I am proud that she is a finalist for the Alaska Teacher of the Year award and believe this honor is well deserved.”
James Harris, Soldotna High School
“I feel incredibly honored to be considered a finalist for the 2017 Alaska State Teacher of the Year Award, and proud to teach in the best district in the state,” said James Harris. “I am absolutely thrilled to be thought of highly enough by my colleagues and the Department of Education and Early Development to be considered a finalist. I wouldn’t be half the teacher I am without amazing colleagues who constantly challenge and inspire me, or without the support of administrators who work so hard to create an environment for both students and teachers to grow. One of my favorite aspects of teaching, aside from the fun we have in class, is working with so many supportive parents who hold a deep value and respect for education and the opportunities it provides. Finally, no one makes me a better teacher than my students. I thank my students for challenging me, using strong verbs, and making me thankful every day for my life on the Kenai.”
James Harris is a 12-year professional, and has taught English at Soldotna High School for seven years. A published writer, editor, and college educator, he chairs the English department and professional development at his school, and coaches youth hockey. Harris said he overcame a tumultuous childhood with the help of several teachers who could see the goodness and potential in him. He says, “Through literature I hope to help my students empathize with the human story, open themselves up to the joys, sufferings, motivations, disappointments, and triumphs of others, and thus achieve a kinder and more complex understanding of themselves.”
Once students graduate, they start the stories of their own lives. Harris said he uses every skill, experience, talent, and tool at his command to give his students what they need to face their life choices armed with literacy, empathy, and a deeper sense of what they can contribute to our human community.
“Mr. James Harris is one of the best teachers in our district,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “He implements rigorous and relevant instruction into his classroom every day. The students know he cares about them as individuals through his personalization efforts and how he engages them in goal setting and individual improvement. It makes me proud that he is a finalist for the Alaska Teacher of the Year award and I believe this honor is well deserved.”
October 22, 2016: James Harris; Stephanie Cronin; KPBSD Superintendent Sean Dusek
“Overall, it is very exciting that two of the three Alaska Teacher of the Year finalists are educators in the KPBSD. They are both excellent representatives of the teachers in our district and I am proud to have them working with our children every day.” – Sean Dusek, superintendent
October 22, 2016: Tony Graham, Soldotna High School principal; James Harris
“James is such a phenomenal teacher. His work and dedication to the craft pushes me to be better. I only wish I had been as good of a teacher as he is. This is an honor he truly deserves.” –Tony Graham, Soldotna High School principal
News Release KPBSD schools ShakeOut on October 20, 2016
K-12 schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will participate in the Great Alaska ShakeOut “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” earthquake drill on Thursday, October 20, 2016, at 10:20 a.m.
KPBSD students and staff join more than 120,000 Alaskans who have already registered to participate. Dave Jones, assistant superintendent of instructional support, said, “We need to be prepared for incidents we hope never happen, but if they do, we can minimize the danger to our students, staff, and community.”
Earthquake preparation and the proper “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” technique is valuable safety education for our students and employees. We will also practice a radio check-in to the district office from each of our schools following this earthquake drill.
Alaska schools, families, and businesses are encouraged to participate. Links
