Category: Community Partners

Project SEARCH grows skills for interns

Project SEARCH Intern Showcase

Bailey Holt; Annabel Mendoza; Skylair Childress; Jamie Topp; Ross Pilatti
Bailey Holt; Annabel Mendoza; Skylair Childress; Jamie Topp; Ross Pilatti

Videos, posters, resumes and Project SEARCH interns combined to make a memorable evening on Monday, February 22, 2016. Guests perused booths staffed by Project SEARCH interns at Central Peninsula Hospital. Skills obtained while working alongside hospital mentors were highlighted by each KPBSD student intern. Poster boards created by students featured skills such as taking vitals, slicing and dicing with kitchen knives, reading gauges and gases, sanitizing beds, and scanning, faxing, copying. Individual posters showed snippets of interns in action.
Each intern prepared a video showcasing themselves in action, demonstrating skills learned on rotation. Everything from tightening a bolt with wrenches to analyzing and adjusting anesthesia billing sheets rolled across the screen. The event, attended by family, school district employees, hospital employees and the public provided a glimpse into the valuable job skills the interns are learning and their future plans of employment utilizing these skills.
Links

Story contributed by Cindy Worley, Project SEARCH teacher

Bailey Holt and Jeff Dolifka discuss Bailey’s rotations in Maintenance and Respiratory Therapy
Bailey Holt and Jeff Dolifka discuss Bailey’s rotations in Maintenance and Respiratory Therapy

Jamie Topp shared her skills from Laundry and Day Surgery
Jamie Topp shared her skills from Laundry and Day Surgery

Ross Pilatti explains to Austin Hansen how the skills he learned in Materials Management and Patient Financial Services/HIM translate into possible future employment opportunities
Ross Pilatti explains to Austin Hansen how the skills he learned in Materials Management and Patient Financial Services/HIM translate into possible future employment opportunities

Skylair Childress shared his passion of making pizzas and caused several attendees to express a sudden craving of pizza
Skylair Childress shared his passion of making pizzas and caused several attendees to express a sudden craving of pizza

Annabel Mendoza, answered questions about how she plans to use the CNA skills she is gaining both in her CNA class and Project SEARCH CNA shadow rotation on the Med Surg floor to assist her in obtaining employment as a CNA
Annabel Mendoza, answered questions about how she plans to use the CNA skills she is gaining both in her CNA class and Project SEARCH CNA shadow rotation on the Med Surg floor to assist her in obtaining employment as a CNA

Public invited to Title VII Indian Education Advisory Committee Meeting

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
Title VII Indian Education Advisory Committee Meeting

Soldotna, February 24, 2016—The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Title VII Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Borough Assembly Chambers, Soldotna, Alaska.
The Title VII Advisory Committee is comprised of parents and guardians of Title VII students who have been appointed by school site councils. Interested tribal elders, community members, students and parents are encouraged to participate.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Borough Assembly Chambers
Borough Administration Building
144 North Binkley Street, Soldotna, Alaska 99669
Agenda:

  • Update on students who are served in Title VII
  • Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP) update
  • Partnership updates
  • Set priorities for the 2016-2017 school year
  • Draft Title VII Advisory Committee By-Laws

 
The KPBSD Title VII, Indian Education Program, supports Alaska Native and American Indian students for a successful experience throughout their K-12 schooling years. The Title VII Program is designed to assist and support students’ academic achievements, social and emotional development, and cultural awareness in the classroom.
Please RSVP to Maribeth Snell, MSnell@KPBSD.k12.ak.us
Direct further questions to: 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, 907.714.8829
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LINK
KPBSD Federal Programs webpage

info: Public Invited to Testify on Governor’s Proposed Income Tax

The KPBSD Board of Education encourages everyone to participate in Governor Walker’s Sustainable Future: conversations with Alaskans through an interactive revenue and expenditure model that “allows you to fix Alaska’s budget your way.”
In addition, this invitation to the public to testify is shared on behalf of the Alaska Senate Majority:
 

Public Invited to Testify on Governor’s Proposed Income Tax

Alaska Senate Majority
For Immediate Release: February 22, 2016
JUNEAU – The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee will host public testimony regarding Gov. Walker’s proposed individual income tax this Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. both evenings.
Citizens may testify in-person at their local LIO; submit written testimony to be placed on the record and distributed to committee members; or call to testify by phone. There are a limited number of phone lines to the Capitol; please plan to attend and testify at your local LIO.
WHO: Alaska public
WHAT: Public testimony on SB 134
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Alaska LIOs and Beltz Room 105, Thomas B. Stewart Legislative Office Building, Juneau
Call-in number: (907) 465-4962
Written Testimony: Send to Senate.Labor.and.Commerce@akleg.gov
Live stream: http://akl.tv
For more information, please contact Michaela Goertzen in the Senate Majority press office at (907) 465-3803.

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Upward Bound at Nikiski Middle High School

Upward Bound students on a Major Marine tour in Seward
Upward Bound students on a Major Marine tour in Seward

“My grades are the best they’ve ever been.” — Angel, sophomore
“It’s made me make more responsible decisions and think seriously about my life.” – Kaitlyn, junior
“It has helped me expand my options and shown me other things that I can do to achieve the goals I want to achieve. I now know how much more important my grades are and it has helped me have extra time to work on my schooling and get ready for my future.” – Seyara, junior
“It’s helped me stay focused in school, helped me keep my mind set on what my goals are and it’s taught me the steps to achieve my goals.” – Corin, senior
“I’ve learned life lessons and skills that I will hold onto and remember: like working and talking to people you normally wouldn’t, being a leader in a crowd, the importance of my decisions now, and time management.” – Destiny, senior
What are all of these students referring to? Their experience as a participant in Upward Bound.
Upward Bound is a federally funded U.S. Department of Education TRiO program hosted in ten high schools throughout the state of Alaska. Nikiski Middle-High School (NMHS) is fortunate enough to be one of those ten schools. In order to qualify as an Upward Bound participant, students must meet certain criteria including coming from a low income household and, or being a first generation college student. The program is designed to offer motivated students extra support and guidance throughout high school as they prepare to enter post-secondary education. Upward Bound really opens doors for students. When students were asked what they have learned about as participants in Upward Bound, they stated that they’ve learned about all sorts of college-related topics including scholarships, college entrance exams (ACT, SAT), the college application process, the FAFSA and student loans, study abroad opportunities, dorm-life, etc. Taylaur, a NMHS junior, sums it up when she said that, “In Upward Bound, students learn about adulting.”
All of this adulting focused education takes place at twice-weekly Upward Bound meetings. On Tuesdays, NMHS Upward Bound students work with their coordinator, Nicole Gaunt (Ms. G), covering college-related topics and checking in with their accountability partners to set and review progress towards their goals. Thursday meetings focus on grade checks and study hall. This emphasis on grades and goals are key as Upward Bound students are expected to strive for at least a 3.0 GPA. This past semester, NMHS’s group celebrated when nine of 14 students made the honor roll!
For their hard work and dedication, students are compensated both financially, with the chance to earn up to $40 month, as well as with opportunities to participate in the Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) project, in cultural fieldtrips and in the Upward Bound summer programs at UAF. The summer programs allow students to experience living and learning on a college campus while working on academics, earning high school and even college credit, and exploring what Fairbanks has to offer.
While the summer programs are the icing on the cake, a lot of work goes into the day-to-day challenge of maintaining good grades as a high school student while preparing for the future.  When NMHS Upward Bound students were asked to describe how participating in the school-year Upward Bound program with Ms. G has impacted their lives, a few common themes shine through: positivity, opportunity, encouragement and support.
“Upward Bound has taught me that getting help is okay.” — Avery, junior
“It has helped me reach my goals because I feel like I can get help from any of the people in there. I always feel welcome and all of them help each other stick to our goals. It has helped me have inspiration to keep my grades up.” – Lauren, junior
“Being in Upward Bound has given me the drive to pay more attention in my life, and focus on the goals I set.” – Lochlan, junior
“There’s just something about encouragement, and someone else wanting you to do something that is motivating and confidence building. My advisor cares about my success in life, and has helped me acquire skills and strategies to use while in college and beyond.”— Destiny, senior
“It’s helped me to try really hard to keep my grades up and apply for college. It’s given me a nice push.” – Shayne, senior
Sometimes we all need that little push to set and work towards our future goals. Nikiski Middle-High School is very proud of our Upward Bound students and program. It is inspiring to watch as these students to learn and grow, transitioning from high school and adolescence into college and adulthood.
Story contributed by Nicole Gaunt, School Counselor, NMHS
Upward Bound students showing off their new UB swag thanks to GCI
Upward Bound students showing off their new UB swag thanks to GCI

 

Key Communicators connect to solve problems and learn issues

KPBSD Key Communicator Collaboration
COVER 1 IMG_3436
Hosting a mix of eighty people, KPBSD facilitated five active hours at the Challenger Learning Center on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, following a school board worksession. School board members, high school students, KPBSD Key Communicators, school site council leaders, school principals, district leadership team members, and invited community members and business partners participated in the first Key Communicators Collaboration, an event designed to educate, gather input from the community, and grow advocacy for public education and KPBSD schools. At a time when the state fiscal climate is a top topic, KPBSD gathered a bunch of smart people together to brainstorm and face the challenges in the district, and to offer solutions.
A mix of presentations began in the morning with the State of the KPBSD—highlighting awards and accolades, innovation, funding, and legislation—and in the afternoon, identifying positive #golden stories in the schools and with KPBSD graduates. The interactive day concluded with tips about how to communicate collaboratively, with each person choosing one action they could take during this legislative session that was unique to their own personality, care and concern, and talent.
“I was very pleased that so many of the key communicators were able to attend our meeting that really strengthened our communication lines with stakeholders,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “The energy in the room was positive all day and I am looking forward to continued engagement with all of our stakeholders to help our schools improve how they meet the needs of our students.” With people from Seward, Seldovia, Sterling, Homer, Ninilchik, Nikiski, Kenai and Soldotna, and all areas in between, excellent perspective and common themes emerged. The feedback from everyone was, “let’s do this more often,” and “thank you for helping me understand the real issues that the district is addressing.” “A focus on the positive stories in coming months that happen every day is critical, and we need help from everyone to share these stories,” said Pegge Erkeneff, one of the presenters and organizers of the day. “Our Key Communicator network was started two years ago, and is growing. Conversations happen every day—in school parking lots, the grocery store, and with our elected officials. This started as a two-way exchange between the school district and people that each school principal identified in their school community. Now it is expanding to include students, and community partners. It’s a fantastic opportunity to hear from people who care about our schools, and also to share issues the district is facing. We look forward to a continued conversation, and interaction.”

Teens can meet college representatives at Kenai Peninsula College Fair

News ReleasePrint
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
Soldotna, October 2, 2015—Peninsula high school students have an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 40 educational institutions

Tuesday, October 20, 2015
10:00—1:00
Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska

Choosing a college takes time and effort so KPBSD is making it easier for students to dream for and plan their future education path by inviting college representatives to come and meet with students here on the Peninsula. The sixth annual Kenai Peninsula College Fair is free, and no appointments are needed.
KPBSD juniors and seniors will attend with their schools. Connections, IDEA and Cook Inlet Academy students can sign-in at the door.
Students and parents can learn more about scholarships, loans, state and federal financial aid programs at the Financial Aid booth.
KPBSD students must sign-up with their school counselor to attend; transportation is provided.
Confirmed educational institutions: Alaska Bible College, Alaska Christian College, Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, Alaska Job Corps OA/CTS, Alaska Pacific University, AVTEC – Alaska’s Institute of Technology, California Baptist University, Central Washington University, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, Colorado Mesa University, Colorado State University, Eastern Washington University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fort Lewis College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Idaho State University, Institute of American Indian Arts, Kenai Peninsula College, Lincoln College of Technology, Linfield College, Mayville State University, Northern Arizona University, Northern Industrial Training, Oregon Coast Culinary Institute, Oregon Institute of Technology, Pacific Lutheran University, South Dakota State University, Southern Oregon University, Southwestern Oregon University, St. Olaf College, The Art Institutes, The College of Idaho, The Master’s College, UAA College of Engineering, Universal Technical Institute, University of Alaska – Anchorage, University of Alaska – Fairbanks, University of Alaska – Southeast, University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Idaho, University of Portland, Willamette University.
2015 college fair flyer
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KPBSD Key Communicators

People move in the direction of their conversations and seek accurate stories and information about the school district. 

KPBSD Key Communicators help people in their local communities learn more about KPBSD, while also assisting the school district to learn and understand more about what people think, feel, and know. The concept is to promote a continuing exchange between Key Communicators and the school district, creating a loosely connected group of parents and citizens for two way communication.
People move in the direction of their conversations; KPBSD Key Communicators will be kept informed through email messages, media releases, and news from the KPBSD district office communications.

Key Communicators

Opportunity

KPBSD formed a network of people who are interested in our schools in order to cultivate positive relationships with the school district and in our diverse communities. Conversations happen every day in school parking lots, at the grocery store, via social media, and so forth. The idea is that our Key Communicators will be kept informed about school district initiatives, issues and celebrations through email messages, media releases, and newsletters from district office communications. Together we will broaden community advocates and help share the golden stories that happen everyday in our schools and district.

Commitment

Key Communicators are asked to simply read the emails and information sent from KPBSD Communications, and potentially share any misconceptions, perceptions, or concerns they hear with KPBSD communications. If a particular issue arises, we may opt to ask you brief questions, utilize an area gathering, advocate or testify with legislators and community members depending on the topic, or broaden our understanding by directly contacting Key Communicators. Your name and contact information will not be published online anywhere as a contact for your school. Participation in Key Communicators is open, with no time frame limit. An annual survey will be conducted to determine shifts needed to grow positive and effective communications.

Meet and Greet

Key Communicators, district leadership, school board members, and any interested school staff are invited to gather informally for a meet and greet. This is an opportunity to meet face-to-face, connect, ask questions, and learn a bit more about things that are happening in the school district and with Key Communicators.
Three dates take place in September 2015, one each in the Central Peninsula, Seward area, and Southern Peninsula, with additional times throughout the 2015-2016 school year.

  • Thursday, September 10, 2015, Seward Middle School library, 5:30-6:30 PM
  • Tuesday, September 22, 2015, Soldotna High School library, 5:30-6:30 PM
  • Monday, September 28, 2015, Homer Middle School library, 5:30-6:30 PM

Action

In early 2014, school principals nominated 2-3 people in their school community and provided Pegge Erkeneff, communication liaison, with the name, context, connection, or position in the community, and contact information including email, address, and telephone. Every year, principals and school board members offer additional names, and everyone interested in KPBSD schools are welcome to attend area gatherings.
If you are interested in becoming a KPBSD Key Communicator, please email Pegge Erkeneff, communications liaison, at Communications@kpbsd.org.
people working together

First time: Maritime Awareness Day

2015 Seward High Maritime Academy
Thunder, lightening, and rain didn’t stop Seward High Students from painting, welding and working on heavy equipment at the Vigor Shipyard, September 10, 2015.
The interactive tour started at AVTEC when students from Seward High, AVTEC’s Welding, Diesel Mechanics and Constructions classes met with employers, department officials from DOT, and the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Labor, Joe Thomas. Students travelled to the shipyard where Vigor employees had a welding lab, machine shop demonstration, and fabrication shop stations, then they learned the art and science of the boat painting industry followed by the heavy equipment and Dry Dock facility. Students loved the hands on, action packed day, and returned with inspiration, new learning, and ideas!
ACCD_Maritime_Poster_2015_Revised_high_res

Mountain View Elementary parade time is overall win-win

Shoutout to Mountain View Elementary students and staff for “Honoring Hometown Heroes” in the Kenai Fourth of July parade, and taking prize for the Overall Award winner!
4 july 1
Thank you to Snug Harbor Seafoods for donating the use of the 20-foot trailer, and Stanley Ford providing a new truck to pull the trailer.
4 july 3
4 july 4
4 July 2
Connect online:

 

1:1 iPads bring dynamic learning opportunity to Nanwalek School through White House ConnectEd initiative

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD 50 years logo Smallest version
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
iPads bring dynamic learning opportunity to Nanwalek

Soldotna, August 17, 2015—Palpable excitement is in the air today at Nanwalek School, where 80 kindergarten through twelfth grade students anticipate receiving their own Apple iPad on Tuesday August 18, 2015.
A year in the planning, the rollout celebration to begin the comprehensive 1:1 technology solution for every student and teacher, including Apple hardware, software, and services, begins at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 18, 2015, with guests and dignitaries present to speak to students, staff, and the community. The upcoming year is a game-changer for Nanwalek School, the only school in Alaska, and one of 114 schools in the country, to receive an Apple grant as part of the White House ConnectEd initiative begun in 2013.
Nanwalek School is located in a small village on the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, across the bay from Homer, Alaska. By giving students access to the latest technology and powerful learning tools, we’re working to transform the classroom into a place of deeper exploration and creativity.
“We are very excited about this opportunity for our students in Nanwalek,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “A key part of any initiative is professional development for our teachers and through the training commitment from Apple, we are confident that the new technology will have a tremendous positive impact for all of our Nanwalek students.”
As a result of the initiative to receive iPads, Apple TVs, and MacBook laptops for teachers:

  1. Students and teachers will be introduced to a new level of technology that they have not previously experienced in the village or school. This experience will be enhanced by faster Internet installed by the district through ACS in September 2014
  2. Academic core learning will be strengthened through resources and e-books on the devices
  3. This grant includes professional development for teachers in differentiation to strengthen core instruction, and intervention processes to increase achievement

IMG_9979Nanwalek School honors cultural identity while developing students to be effective members of society. School goals for the ConnectEd initiative include:

  • Students, parents, and community will be our partners
  • Teaching will be transformed
  • Students will be active learners
  • Students will strengthen their academic learning
  • Students will have a tool for preservation of language and culture
  • Students will have more possibilities for postsecondary options

 Links

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This and all KPBSD media releases are online at this web page: http://bit.ly/MediaPublicRelationships
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Please contact me with questions or connections to be made for your KPBSD district and school stories.