In Nanwalek, Alaska, Sean Moonin, a second grade student has proven that if you set your mind to doing something–even something unlikely—it can be done. Through his leadership and perseverance, Mrs. Kara Fraser’s second and third grade class earned 48 “Eagle Days” in 2015-2016. “Eagle Days” are a motivational strategy that Nanwalek School uses to increase attendance, and are earned when every student in a class is at school and on time, no matter what. Sean used social engineering to make sure his class rose to the top this year, and beyond what any class is known to have done in Nanwalek in recent years. Sean was a role model himself, achieving perfect attendance—a feat in itself, after having missed over 30 days the year before.
How did this class excel in earning so many Eagle Days through Sean’s leadership this year?
When asked this question by Principal Kleine, every student pointed to Sean. Sean organized and directed others to assist his efforts, but all agreed that Sean was definitely the reason these kids achieved what was highly unlikely without this young leader.
What was Sean’s strategy? Call his classmates every morning? No! Could he text them to get them going? Not in Nanwalek–there is no cell service. Then what?
Sean was very systematic in his approach. He woke up each day on his own, an hour before he planned to be at school. That in itself is remarkable for a second grader! He came to school a half hour before the bell rang for classes, took inventory of his classmates to see who was missing, gathered help from classmates who were there, ran to each village house of the missing students, and knocked on their door. “It was pretty surprising,” said Bella Velez, a third grader, “we haven’t seen this before.” Another third grader, Juanita Wood, said, “It is a bit thrilling. Even though it’s a small group, it takes all of us and we are really far apart with our houses.”
“Really far apart” is a relative term.
Nanwalek is a small village, but it also does not have street lights everywhere to light the way, and the weather can be very challenging. These factors did not stop Sean Moonin.
Besides earning a Perfect Attendance Award, Mrs. Fraser awarded Sean a Leadership Award for his efforts at getting his classmates to school. The class was awarded intermittently throughout the year for reaching a certain number of Eagle Days. In a grand finale, Principal Kleine gave these youngsters an unexpected surprise that is really special in Nanwalek: Subway sandwiches and cookies, all served on the new picnic tables outside.
Bravo, Sean Moonin! You may only be in second grade, but you are a leader and have made a difference in your community!
Nanwalek School
Category: Education
Students host science fair in Nanwalek
Sixth through twelfth grade students at Nanwalek hosted a Science Fair for their community. The Nanwalek community showed tremendous support for students by helping them with their projects and coming to the science fair to listen to student presentations and learning about their topics. The Nanwalek gym was buzzing with excitement! A few of the highlights for students:
- “Talking to community members about things we were working on”
- “Researching and learning on our own”
- “I think the best part was being able to teach and present”
- “Being able to give our ideas to the community”
- “Interviewing community members about our topic”
- “Learning a lot about our village population and capacity”
- “I’m more comfortable presenting and conversing with people”
- “Learning from my classmates about local, helpful plant-life”
The science fair was definitely a hit. Students, staff, and community members are already looking forward to next year’s science fair!
Story contributed by Penny Bearden
Suggest or contribute a story online link: http://bit.ly/SuggestKPBSDstory
KPBSD students score at SkillsUSA conference
Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) add value to the overall development of our Career and Technical Education (CTE). KPBSD students from CTE classes have the opportunity to be involved in the SkillsUSA CTSO organization. This organization, or club, allows students to compete against other students in competitions that involve the use of the skills taught and developed in KPBSD CTE classes. An example of this is the welding competition. Students that are currently enrolled in (or have already taken) a welding class compete against other students across the state in a competency test involving welding. In this particular event students take a structural welding test similar to what a welder would have to do in order to prove his or her competency for a construction company.
Judges, usually from industry, evaluate the welds by visual and bend tests, just like in the real world, and a winner is chosen. Students also compete in leadership competitions. These competitions include: Job Interview, Prepared Speech, Extemporaneous Speech and Quiz Bowl. OurSkillsUSA students that participate in the district, state, and national events get to experience what it’s like to compete in a competitive job market, which is very similar to what they will be experiencing when they compete in the world of work.
Cam Wyatt said, “SkillsUSA is the best keep secret in Alaska. Our kids love it and it is a pure “performance based assessment” that incorporates soft and hard skill sets.”
Alaska State SkillsUSA State conference
March 31 – April 2, 2016
Action Skills
2nd place – Maguire Merriman, Soldotna High School
Carpentry
1st place – Gregory Smith, Homer High School
Crime Scene Investigation
3rd place – Afton Carlson, Soldotna High School
3rd place – Derek Lewis, Soldotna High School
Culinary Arts
3rd place – Brianna Bushnell, Kenai Central High School
Early Childhood Education
1st place – Margaret McGlothen, Soldotna High School
2nd place – Savannah Kreider, Soldotna High School
3rd place – Hannah O’Dell, Soldotna High School
Employment Application Process
1st place – Maguire Merriman, Soldotna High School
Extemporaneous Speaking
1st place – Nolan Bunting, Homer High School
2nd place – Margaret McGlothen, Soldotna High School
Job Interview
1st place – Mara Youngren-Brown, Kenai Central High School
Photography
2nd place – Nolan Bunting, Homer High School
Prepared Speech
1st place – Michael Lewis, Soldotna High School
2nd place – Nolan Bunting, Homer High School
3rd place – Afton Carlson, Soldotna High School
Quiz Bowl, 1st place team
Afton Carlson, Soldotna High School
Ashley Jones, Soldotna High School
Derek Lewis, Soldotna High School
Michael Lewis, Soldotna High School
Maguire Merriman, Soldotna High School
Restaurant Service
1st place – Andrew Agosti, Kenai Central High School
2nd place – Ashley Jones, Soldotna High School
3rd place – Mara Youngren-Brown, Kenai Central High School
Technical Drafting
2nd place – Liam Floyd, Kenai Central High School
Welding
1st place – Hayden Chase, Homer High School
Professional Development Program, Students who Scored 75% or higher
- Soldotna High School, Hannah O’Dell
- Soldotna High School, Savannah Kreider
- Kenai Central High School, Alexis Koroll
- Soldotna High School, Afton Carlson
- Soldotna High School, Ashley Jones
- Kenai Central High School, Andrew Agosti
- Homer High School, Nolan Bunting
2016-2017 SkillsUSA State Officers
- Derek Lewis – Soldotna High School, Historian
Exploring Careers at ANSEP Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Summer Academy
Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP)
Partnering with the University of Alaska ANSEP program for the first time this year, we recruited qualified students from 27 of our schools to attend the ANSEP Middle School Academy. Of the 1,014 identified native students in the district, 245 attend middle school (6-8 grade), with 143 of the students meeting the requirement of being on track for success in grade 8 algebra.
KPBSD sent 48 students and eight chaperones to the 10 day Middle School Academy. Students experienced high quality, upper level science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) problem-solving activities taught by college staff while on the University of Alaska campus. KPBSD is committed to continue this recruitment effort in 2015-2016. Successful academy completers are not allowed to participate in future academies that occur during the school year but are invited to apply for ANSEP’s follow-up summer academy.
Twenty-two of the 48 students followed the complicated application process and were accepted to the 2015 summer academy for continued guidance and learning. These photos were taken during the summer ANSEP Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Career Explorations.
Reading Comes Alive in Port Graham
The village of Port Graham has seen a burst of activity in the area of reading this year. Students’ interest in curling up with a good book has been sparked by two programs, Accelerated Reader and the Battle of the Books.
Elementary teacher, Stephanie DeVault had used the Accelerated Reader (AR) program in a previous district and saw how it motivated students to become avid readers. AR is web-based software that allows teachers to monitor students’ independent reading. It does this by providing comprehension tests on an enormous range of books. In short, students read a book at their reading level and then take a short, multiple choice test. Upon successful completion of the test, students are awarded points based on the length of the book. This allows teachers to set goals for students, monitor student understanding of reading, and provides a motivator for students to finish books on their own.
The program, naturally, is not free. Because DeVault had seen it provide the impetus needed for students to dramatically increase their reading, she was determined to implement it in Port Graham. She wrote a grant using a website called Donors Choose. Donors Choose was designed to help teachers access funds from donors for classroom supplies. People wishing to contribute to education can browse the website and choose projects they find meaningful, but all materials are purchased by the organization. Teachers are never tasked with handling the funds. This allows donors to give tax-deductible donations, but protects teachers from showing extra income.
The grant posted in mid-September and donations started arriving from friends and family of locals in the village and even from parents of Stephanie’s former students who had watched AR transform their children into voracious readers. At best, Stephanie guessed that it would take two to three months for the grant to be fully funded. In early October, the grant was complete! A generous donation from Chevron, as part of their Fuel Your School program, had paid the balance.
Story contributed by Principal Nancy Kleine, Port Graham School
Connect:
HB72 and Education Funding in KPBSD
HB72 and Education Funding in KPBSD
- Prioritize Alaska’s future.
Our children have one chance for a K-12 education and it needs to be the best we can provide. KPBSD is committed to deliver a quality education to our students and provide stability for our staff and communities. Unanticipated education funding reductions, proposed this late in the budgeting process, compromises our ability to prepare our students for their future.
- Proposed cuts will compromise the ability of schools to deliver quality education and vital programs.
“In addition to our Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses, art, music, and technology education, we have been able to increase the amount of college prep classes we are able to offer at our school,” said Dan Carstens, Nikiski Middle-High principal. “Our AP course offerings have doubled in the past year and we were able to offer an honors course to our freshmen and sophomore classes. Our main focus is to differentiate what we offer to our students to best meet them at their current levels. The bottom line is that we have a fine balance of offerings to meet the needs of our diverse population at Nikiski Middle-High School.
For the next school year, in part due to enrollment and budget reductions, we already needed to eliminate one full position. We were able to manage this reduction while still being able to offer our complement of courses, albeit at a decreased level. Obviously it was not our desire to eliminate a position, however, we also understand the need to reduce our spending with the state income not what it used to be.
When I learned of the possible additional reduction to the BSA [Foundation Formula 4.1% reduction], I was taken aback and immediately examined my current staffing sheet to determine what else could go. It came down to programs and opportunities for our students. … I then looked at our CTE programs and would have to have lighter versions due to the fact that our instructors would need to teach a wider variety at mainly a beginning level. In other words, not a deep understanding, only introductory. Which would be a shame, especially with the variety of equipment we currently possess.
Again, I understand the need to make reductions. It is imperative, however, that these reductions are incremental and they are not applied all at one time. We have made our plans for next school year to continue our services. Each year we have the normal attrition of our staff from retirements and resignations; we examine how we can restructure our staffing on a regular basis to continue to meet the needs of our students. As you know, it is never easy, but we have made those decisions based on what our students need to graduate and be successful beyond high school whether it is in college or a career.”
Please contact legislators to voice your opinion about the proposed reductions to education funding.
Last Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee amended HB 72, with a 4.1 percent reduction to the Foundation Formula educational funding. The impact to KPBSD is:
- Reduction of state contribution to KPBSD: $4,238,432
- Reduction of local (borough) contribution to KPBSD: $977,007
Governor Walker proposed an operating budget reduction of educational One-Time Funding in HB 72.The impact to KPBSD is:
- Reduction of state contribution to KPBSD: $2,262,989
- Reduction of local (borough) contribution to KPBSD: $520,487
Potential 2015-2016 revenue loss to KPBSD: $7,998,915
- Total possible reduction in state funding to KPBSD: $6,501,421
- Total possible reduction in local (borough) funding to KPBSD: $1,497,494
A joint Finance and House conference committee has formed for HB 72 and will be meeting soon.
- Email the entire Legislature: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/poms/
- Individual Senator Contacts: http://akleg.gov/senate.php
- Individual Representative Contacts: http://akleg.gov/house.php
*HB72 Operating Budget Conference Committee Members
- Representative Mark Neuman – Representative.Mark.Neuman@akleg.gov – 800-505-2678
- Representative Les Gara – Representative.Les.Gara@akleg.gov – 888-465-2647
- Representative Steve Thompson – Representative.Steve.Thompson@akleg.gov – 877-465-3004
- Senator Pete Kelly – Senator.Pete.Kelly@akleg.gov – 877-665-3709
- Senator Anna MacKinnon – Senator.Anna.MacKinnon@akleg.gov – 800-861-5688
- Senator Donald Olson – Senator.Donny.Olson@akleg.gov – 800-597-3707
Kenai Peninsula Legislators
- Senator Peter Micciche, Senator.Peter.Micciche@akleg.gov– 907-465-2828
- Senator Gary Stevens, Senator.Gary.Stevens@akleg.gov– 907-465-4925
- Representative Mike Chenault, Representative.Mike.Chenault@akleg.gov– 907-465-3779
- Representative Kurt Olson, Representative.Kurt.Olson@akleg.gov– 907-465-2693
- Representative Paul Seaton, Representative.Paul.Seaton@akleg.gov– 907-465-2689
- Representative: Louise Stutes, Representative.Louise.Stutes@akleg.gov – 907-465-2487
Connect with KPBSD on Facebook, twitter, our Mobile App, and website to follow updates. Contacts for Alaska legislators are noted in this announcement, and also on the Alaska State Legislature webpage.
Links
- HB 72
- KPBSD and the Legislature webpage
- The Alaska State Legislature webpage
- Media Release April 3, 2015: Proposed reduction to education funding in Alaska
- April 7, 2015: Education Funding and KPBSD
- April 8, 2015: HB72 Conference Committee Education Funding and KPBSD
Contact Pegge Erkeneff, Communication Specialist
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
907.714.8838
Communications@KPBSD.org
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Parent Survey: Do student early release days make a difference?
Dear KPBSD parents and guardians,
Please take a brief four question survey, open April 1 – 24, 2015, to share your perceptions and thoughts about the six early release days for students.
KPBSD staff is also completing a similar survey.
“Each school day, more than 1,200 KPBSD employees do all that they can to provide a quality education to our district’s students. A part of this work is our continuous improvement process that requires us to regularly evaluate our practices so that we can in turn, make the necessary changes to help our students find success. An intricate piece of our improvements is our professional development for our certified staff. With the need to do more for our staff in this area, for the past two school years we designated six school days as minimum days—with a 90 minute early release for students, while staff works a maximum day in order to deliberately devote time to collaborate and collectively address the learning needs of our students. Now that you are familiar with these shortened student school days, we want to receive your feedback on them. Please complete these questions, and provide your optional comments. Thank you very much for your time.” – Sean Dusek, Superintendent
Links
Seward High students grow greens
Students at Seward High School are using their greenhouse to supply the school with healthy greens, which provides essential nutrients and supports the local student body. Greenhouse preparations began in November and planting started the first week of January. Seeds were planted a week apart in order to have a sustained yield, which means the students can harvest every week. The first batch of lettuce was delivered on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, and demand exceeded supply.
By utilizing the greenhouse, students can extend the growing season in Alaska throughout the winter. The project will conclude before the spring term ends. The greenhouse is an interactive way of getting greens locally, which is fresher, cleaner, and helps consumers know what is put into their food. This is project-based experiential learning. It helps students in finance with business planning, students in environmental science with agricultural understanding, and students in statistics with concepts and data.
–Story contributed by George Reising, Seward High School math and science teacher
News Release: KPBSD Pre-Kindergarten assessment dates
Pre-Kindergarten Title I assessments will take place in April
Soldotna, March 17, 2015—Children who will be four years old by September 1, 2015, have an opportunity to attend pre-kindergarten classes at their local area school in the fall. To qualify for the classes, parents and guardians must contact their local area school to schedule a Pre-K assessment, and complete an application prior to the school screening appointment date.
“The Title I funded Pre-K programs available at specific sites in the KPBSD provide an excellent opportunity for children who turn four by September 1, 2015, to get a jumpstart on success in school. KPBSD’s Pre-K teachers are all certified and have specialized training in early childhood education. As a result, the programs they offer are engaging and developmentally appropriate, with an emphasis on preparing children to be successful when they enter kindergarten. Pre-K the KPBSD way focuses on experiences that facilitate each child’s growth in the targeted areas of social and emotional development; approaches to learning; communication, language, and literacy; cognitive development, and; physical well-being.” –Dr. Christine Ermold, director of elementary education
Parent or guardian action steps before school assessment date in April
- Contact local attendance area school for times and testing locations. (See alphabetical list of schools offering Pre-K sessions*)
- Complete a Pre-K Application—the school office in your attendance area will provide applications
- Return the application to your neighborhood school office during school hours
- Schedule your child’s assessment prior to the date for your neighborhood school. (Dates listed below)
- Children must be age 4 by September 1, 2015
- Title I KPBSD programs web link: Title 1 programs at KPBSD
*KPBSD Title I Elementary Schools and Screening dates
Students qualify for Title I services based on academic need
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Chapman Elementary, 235-8671, April 14, 2015
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Mountain View Elementary, 283-8600, April 16, 2015
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Nikiski North Star Elementary, 776-2600, April 15, 2015
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Paul Banks Elementary, 226-1801, April 23, 2015
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Redoubt Elementary, 260-4300, April 28, 2015
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Seward Elementary, 224-3356, April 30, 2015
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Soldotna Elementary, 260-5100, April 28, 2015
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Sterling Elementary, 262-4944, April 29, 2015
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Tustumena Elementary, 260-1345, April 9, 2015
Title I programs are required to utilize effective, research based instruction, and must also provide evidence that students receiving Title I support are showing academic growth. Such evidence is gathered through regular formative assessments and through annual state standardized tests.
Link
Title 1 Programs at KPBSD
Media Release: March 17, 2015: Title I PreK testing in April
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SALT offers flexibility and individuality, a bedrock for success
Soldotna Alternative (SALT) is new program at Soldotna High School designed to serve primarily juniors and sophomores who are at risk of dropping out or not graduating from high school on time. SALT enables students to earn credits at an accelerated rate through an individualized learning experience, smaller class size and an altered school schedule. Ultimately, SALT offers students the flexibility, small class size, and individuality needed for them to succeed.
A day in the life of a Soldotna Alternative student looks a little different from other students at Soldotna High School. Each day includes time to journal, eat a hot breakfast, extended time to focus on only two subjects at a time, and get some physical exercise. To help meet their physical and emotional needs, a hot breakfast is cooked every morning and consumed as a group. Each learning “rotation” lasts approximately six weeks so students are able to make up missed credit at an accelerated rate while having the ability to focus their attention on only a couple of classes at a time.
This is what students have to say about the program:
- “We have more time to do work.”
- “It’s small, calm and I can clearly think.”
- “It has helped me calm down about school work and has helped me catch up.”
- “I’m getting my credits back that I’m missing.”
The goal of Soldotna Alternative is for every student to graduate high school with a diploma and be able to pursue their own dreams. This is based on the belief that all students are important and capable of learning and succeeding.
Questions? Please email or call Soldotna Alternative School, housed in Soldotna High School, 907-260-7000.