Category: News Release

Free eBook! Inspiring New Ways of Learning at Nanwalek School

School principal authors free interactive eBook to showcase 1:1 iPad initiative

Nanwalek School ebook

Free eBook!
Inspiring New Ways of Learning at Nanwalek School

Learning leaders in Nanwalek, a small village on the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, across the bay from Homer, Alaska, published Inspiring New Ways of Learning at Nanwalek School. The free interactive digital book details and celebrates the journey and accomplishment to leverage iPads for learning across the classrooms and community.
The 33 page eBook Inspiring New Ways of Learning at Nanwalek School, showcases how Nanwalek School worked to capture and archive cultural stories, teach native language, personalize learning, and transform classrooms into places of deeper exploration and creativity.
In August, 2015, Nanwalek School became an Apple and ConnectED school, when a comprehensive 1:1 technology solution for every student and teacher kicked-off, and included Apple hardware, software, and services.*
kids running with iPad
“The process of transforming learning at Nanwalek School through technology has been an incredible experience for everyone, and I believe it is important to capture the beginning of what can only continue to grow and expand,” said author Nancy Kleine, principal of Nanwalek School. “Learning focuses on strengthening academic skills while treasuring cultural values and resources at the heart of our students’ lives. Nanwalek’s isolated geography accentuates the impact of our 1:1 iPad initiative through the Apple & ConnectED grant, for it truly unveiled the world and its possibilities to students. However, what we are doing is relevant to everyone.

We offer learning that is engaging, personalized, and place-based.

“I attribute our successes to the time dedicated to strategic planning in partnership with students, parents, community, and the school district. We have provided a model for transforming learning. Sharing our work to date is a way to benefit others, contribute to the collective imagination of the educational community, and most importantly to help all students expand their options to live happy, hopeful lives. This book was created as a gift to the students and community of Nanwalek—people I have come to love dearly—and to the educational world at large.”
“I am very proud of Nanwalek School and Principal Kleine for their work on a book describing learning and traditions at Nanwalek School,” said Superintendent Sean Dusek. “It captures the hard work the students, staff and community do every day to help everyone be a life-long learner to reach their fullest potential. Great work and I look forward to many more years of blending tradition and technology to inspire learning at Nanwalek!”
Links

 

 

*August 17, 2015 News Release: 1:1 iPads bring dynamic learning opportunity to Nanwalek School through White House ConnectEd initiative
Inspiring New Ways of Learning at Nanwalek School book cover

Facebook LIVE Q and A with Instructional Team

2018_03 Instructional Team Facebook Live QnA

You’re invited to a
Facebook LIVE Q & A
with the KPBSD Instructional Team

Thursday, March 22, 2018
7:00 – 7:30 p.m.

How-to watch:

It’s simple. Go to the KPBSD Facebook page on 3/22/18, at 7:00 PM, via your device or computer, and connect! You’ll see that KPBSD is live – click to view.

How-to ask questions or share thoughts:

Post your questions ahead of time on the Facebook event page, or live during the event in a comment on the live video.

How Facebook LIVE Q&A works:

  • KPBSD launches Facebook LIVE video, viewers click to view, and see content live in real time.
  • Viewers type comments into the feed below the video.
  • KPBSD does not “see” viewers via videoconferencing, this is a one way video view feed from KPBSD. Interaction happens via comments and post likes or emojis.

Everyone is invited to tune in – KPBSD parents and students, staff, community members, KPBSD partners, and KPBSD Key Communicators. Afterwards, the Q&A will be saved as a video to review at your convenience.

Why?

This Facebook live event is the first in a series to expand the KPBSD Key Communicator program, engaging our people and publics with conversation, and offering accurate stories, information, and responses to questions about the KPBSD. Please join in, and offer your thoughts and ideas.

Tip:

You don’t need a Facebook account to watch live.

  • At 7:00 PM, go to https://www.facebook.com/livemap. Locate the live event streaming from Soldotna, Alaska, using the interactive map.
  • Click the blue dot indicating Facebook LIVE is happening in Soldotna, and the video will pop up.
  • Click on the video image to enlarge it on your screen. https://www.facebook.com/livemap
  • note: You cannot post questions without a Facebook account. You can email them to communications@KPBSD.org, and we will answer as many as we can during the video LIVE Q&A.

The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
www.KPBSD.org
Facebook Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Questions?

Contact Pegge Erkeneff, KPBSD Communications Liaison, communications@KPBSD.org. Or private message Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Facebook.

Facebook Live Q and A plus Community Budget Forums

News Release
Budget development forums
Soldotna, January 29, 2018—Do you understand how the KPBSD school district budget will affect what KPBSD can offer in schools to educate our youth? If you wonder about what you can do, or what might change in the 2018-2019 school year, you’re invited to join a KPBSD February Facebook Live Q & A, and a budget forum in your community.
Learn: planning for 2018-2019 school year, KPBSD faces a $3.3 million dollar budget deficit.
Get Facts: You’re invited to participate online, or in person, to ask questions about revenue, expenses, funding, and cuts that potentially impact the classroom. Please become involved so as a community we can make informed decisions that will affect our schools. Parents, staff, students, business partners, community members, and elected officials—please participate:

Facebook Live Q & A

 

Community Budget Forums

  • Homer High School Library: Tuesday, February 20, 5:30 PM
  • Kenai Central High School Library: Thursday, February 22, 5:30 PM
  • Seward High School Library: Tuesday, February 13, 5:30 PM
  • Soldotna High School Library: Wednesday, February 21, 5:30 PM
  • Susan B. English and Tebughna School: Wednesday, February 21, 5:30 PM Videoconference from Soldotna High School forum

“Our annual budget is one of the most important things we do each year,” said Dave Jones, assistant superintendent of instructional support. “We want to give our parents, staff, students, and community members a chance to learn about our budget, participate in the process, and ask questions.”

Be informed so you can advocate for the 2018-2019 school district budget which will define opportunities and offerings in August, 2018. The budget recommendation will be presented to the school board on March 5, 2018.

“Alaska is addressing its ongoing fiscal challenges, and it is important that everyone is involved in the conversation to ensure a long-term fiscal plan is implemented,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “As a part of this conversation, we will continue to prioritize services to provide the most effective and efficient education possible for all of our students. Your voice will help shape those priorities as well as clearly communicate that all students should remain the number one priority in Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula Borough.”

Action ideas

  1. Attend a Facebook Live Q & A; community budget forum; KPBSD school site council meeting, school board meeting; Borough Assembly meeting; Alaska legislative opportunities with elected officials
  2. Communicate with your school, friends, neighbors, legislators, and elected officials
  3. View any of the other short videos that explain aspects of funding and budgets, and review handouts. Links:

Webpage: KPBSD Finance Department
If the future success for our KPBSD K-12 students is dependent on a quality education so graduates will be prepared for college or a career, funding public education is crucial. KPBSD asks everyone to attend a public budget meeting, and become involved in the financial solutions for our school district and state.
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Alert: Two-Hour Delay Start for these KPBSD schools on 1.23.18

KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL►ALERT: TWO HOUR DELAY START on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, for KPBSD schools in the southern peninsula and Seward area, following an earthquake in Kodiak, and Tsunami warning. These schools will start two hours later than normal, and buses will run two hours later than normal.
*note: as of 4:15 a.m. the Tsunami alert for the coastal waters of Alaska is cancelled. However, these schools will be on a two-hour delayed start:
HOMER AREA:
Chapman Elementary School
Fireweed Academy
Homer Flex School
Homer High School
Homer Middle School
Kachemak Selo School
McNeil Canyon Elementary School
Nikolaevsk School
Paul Banks Elementary School
Razdolna School
Voznesenka School
West Homer Elementary School

ACROSS THE WATER IN SOUTHERN PENINSULA:
Nanwalek School
Port Graham School
Susan B. English School
SEWARD AREA:
Moose Pass Elementary School
Seward Elementary School
Seward High School
Seward Middle School
Be safe everyone, and get some sleep!
For updates on emergency alerts in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, follow the Kenai Peninsula Borough on Facebook and register for rapid-notify through the Borough.
 

News Release: Title VI Native Education Meeting

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Title VI Native Education Meeting

Soldotna, December 5, 2017—The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Title VI Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2017.
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.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
3:00—4:30 p.m.
Borough Assembly Chambers, Borough Administration Building
144 North Binkley Street, Soldotna, Alaska 99669
Agenda includes:

  • Partnership Updates
  • KPNYL – Kenai Peninsula Native Youth Leadership
  • Native Leaders Gathering and next steps
  • KPBSD Upstream Academy
  • Shared Values Exercise and Identified Title VI numbers

KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee is a requirement of the federal government to receive Title VI funds and assists KPBSD in setting the priorities to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of Alaska Native and Native American student population. The KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee will also consider and make recommendations as to programs, projects, or other efforts specifically aimed at encouraging or assisting Alaska Native and Native American students to stay in school and pursue further education.
Contact: Conrad Woodhead, KPBSD Native Education Coordinator, at cwoodhead@kpbsd.k12.ak.us. Questions? Please call 907-235-8671.
Links

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Upstream Academy October 2017 (1)

Sources of Strength suicide prevention efforts in KPBSD

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Suicide Prevention and Awareness

“While suicide is sometimes a difficult topic to discuss, it is also paramount that we as a community address it head on. Programs such as Sources of Strength are critical components of our commitment and dedication to support our students through the myriad of issues they may experience throughout their lives.” –Sean Dusek, superintendent

KPBSD is dedicated to provide suicide awareness and wellness education to students, staff, and the greater Kenai Peninsula community. GCI and The Alaska Foundation released a PSA video on September 22, to highlight the work KPBSD is doing with Sources of Strength, through the GCI Suicide Prevention Grant.

September is national suicide awareness month, and the Alaska suicide rate is twice the national average. Several schools are creating a Wall of Hope. In addition, KPBSD received a variety of grants from the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) and the Alaska Community Foundation to support suicide prevention programming and training to not only our adults, but also our students. In the spring of 2017, over 75 students and adults from Homer, Kenai, and Seward received training in Sources of Strength (SOS). SOS is a strength-based comprehensive wellness program that focuses on suicide prevention but affects other issues such as substance abuse and violence. In early October, Soldotna High School will join the SOS team, and on October 13, high school students from Seward, Homer, Soldotna, and Kenai will participate in a Sources of Strength Upstream Conference in Kenai.

“At the school level, our school psychologists and school counselors are trained and use suicide risk assessments for students who are in need of support,” said Clayton Holland, director of pupil services. “Their good work together with our staff and school administration offer support to at-risk students and provide resources to students and families.”

Several KPBSD counselors are trainers for evidence-based wellness programs such as Youth Mental Health First Aide and The Fourth R. KPBSD will continue to foster and share resources with mental health organizations to increase coordination and support for our students and community members about suicide prevention and wellness.
Sources of Strength frisbee KPBSD
Links

GCI Press Release: ‘Sources of Strength’ bolsters suicide prevention efforts on Kenai Peninsula

2017 Sources of Strength training
 

News Release: Native Education Title VI Advisory Committee

KPBSD Native Education Title VI Advisory Committee seeks parent, student, and staff KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALLmembers to serve

Are you interested in setting priorities to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of our 1,200 Alaska Native and Native American students? Is encouraging or assisting our Alaska Native and Native American students to stay in school and pursue further education a value to you?

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Title VI (Indian Education), formerly known as Title VII, seeks parent, student, and staff advisory committee representatives. The qualities desirable in the members of the advisory committee are:

  • Willingness to actively participate
  • Involvement in community affairs
  • Represent the interest of all children in the KPBSD who are eligible for Title VI

Committee members must commit to quarterly meetings, usually held at the KPBSD office building in Soldotna. Remote area representatives participate via Skype for Business.
Seats by Region
Parent Representative A parent is any person who on the date of election for Advisory Committee membership is the parent, acting local parent, legal guardian, or elder of a student currently eligible for Title VI and enrolled in KPBSD

  • Seat A—Region 1 (Tyonek, Nikiski, Kenai)
  • Seat B—Region 2 (Sterling, Soldotna)
  • Seat C—Region 3 (Seward, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Hope)

Student Representative Any KPBSD Title VI enrolled student

  • Seat G—At-large
  • Seat H—At-large

Staff Representative Any KPBSD employee

  • Seat I—At-large

The KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee is a requirement of the federal government to receive Title VI funds and assists KPBSD in setting the priorities to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of Alaska Native and Native American student population. The KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee will also consider and make recommendations as to programs, projects, or other efforts specifically aimed at encouraging or assisting Alaska Native and Native American students to stay in school and pursue further education.

Nominations for membership are due by noon on September 19, 2017, and can be submitted by Region to Conrad Woodhead, KPBSD Native Education Coordinator, at cwoodhead@kpbsd.k12.ak.us. Questions? Please call 907-235-8671.

A Title VI Advisory Committee Meeting will take place September 20, 2017, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. in the Borough Assembly Chambers in Soldotna.
Links

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Future State Trooper Nash

KPBSD observes international FASD Awareness Day

News Release
Soldotna, September 8, 2017— Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) do affect KPBSD students, and September 9, 2017, marks international FASD awareness day. The KPBSD, together with our board of education, community agencies, and families recognize the challenges of FASD. We are working with and supporting our students and families, providing FASD education, awareness, and parent support groups. On September 1, 2017, Governor Walker proclaimed September 9, 2017 as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day in Alaska.

No FAS

Public awareness

Learn about the danger of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and the plight of individuals and families who struggle with the impact of FASD challenges.

KPBSD focus

“Our goal is to understand and support our students with FASD, provide support for their families, and hopefully create enough awareness about FASD that we significantly alter the number of future students impacted with FASD,” said Clayton Holland, director of KPSBD pupil services. “It is estimated that 2-5% of the entire population of the United States is impacted by FASD. Alaska has taken the lead in recognizing this disability and doing proactive work in this area. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has a long term commitment to training our staff to work effectively with students impacted by FASD, providing preventive education to our students and the community, and providing support to the families and care providers of those with FASD. Our work has already resulted in a significant reduction in discipline across the district and we believe the long term outcome is a healthier community and state.”

Deb Evensen, FASD expert, said, “I am honored to be assisting KPBSD as they work toward their goal of more effectively supporting students with FASD, in every grade level and in every program. This work is a bold step for KPBSD who is leading the way to address this challenge. As we improve our understanding and support for those now living with FASD, we nurture the growing public awareness of what causes this disability, and help create the path to a future where FASD no longer exists.”

“FASD Awareness Day should be a time for all of us at KPBSD to consider the effects of this disorder and to learn how we can better support our students who have this disability,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent.

2017 August FASD potluckSaturday, September 9, 2017, KPBSD Fall FASD Family Potluck

All birth, foster, and adoptive families in KPBSD raising children with FASD are invited to come together for a picnic on International FASD Day, from 11:00 – 2:00, at Soldotna Creek Park. Families are asked to bring a potluck dish to share and table service for their family. This event marks the beginning of four FASD family support events for the year.

FASD projects in the KPBSD

  • Beginning, intermediate, and advanced training on FASD available to all educators throughout the district
  • Specific on-site consultations and assistance in the classroom regarding specific students
  • A friendly support group for caregivers of children with a FASD diagnosis
  • Work with health teachers to provide FASD information and awareness for all students

 KPBSD parent education and support meetings

Several times throughout the 2017-2018 school year, an evening is scheduled for KPBSD caregivers for children with FASD to meet. The gatherings connect caregivers, and take place in Homer, Seward, and the central peninsula. We’ve learned that our parents experience relief and appreciation to be able to talk with each other in a group facilitated by an FASD expert. Call 907-714-8881 for additional details.
Links

 

News Release: State, district, and school PEAKS results now online

DEED PEAKS
State, district, and school PEAKS results now online
Soldotna, September 1, 2017— The first year results of PEAKS, the online assessment for students in grades three through ten in English language arts and mathematics are now available online. KPBSD students continue to outperform state median scale scores in both English language arts and math.

 “PEAKS is one part of the overall picture about how well our students and schools succeed,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “KPBSD focuses on continual improvement, creating lifelong learners, and believes the shift toward a greater emphasis on problem solving skills and critical thinking will make a significant, positive difference on all assessments that are implemented in our schools.”

Parents will receive individual student reports with English language arts and math results in mid-September. KPBSD will mail reports from the district office. It is important to remember:

  • Student achievement has not declined
  • What is expected of students, and measured, is different than in previous years
  • These first PEAKS results are setting a new baseline to help educators understand where students stand on their path to success
  • PEAKS results are only one data point. Multiple factors demonstrate student success and drive district decision making processes

 A September 1, 2017, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) press release states, “Alaska educators have been involved in determining student performance criteria on the PEAKS assessment. A group of 35 Alaska educators gathered in April to decide how much students should know and be able to do at each achievement level. In early June, 84 Alaska educators gathered to determine the range of scores for each of the four achievement levels.”
As teachers and students gain more experience in the new and more rigorous standards, PEAKS scores will rise. This has been true for other states which adopt higher standards.

  • PEAKS is not a pass-fail test
  • PEAKS scores do not affect course grades, graduation, or grade retention, but students will receive focused support to improve
  • PEAKS, the AMP test and the SBAs are not comparable because they measure different standards, have different questions, and use different scoring
  • Fewer students meet the new standards than used to meet the old standards; the new standards focus on higher order thinking skills and problem solving

 

 Links

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Graduate Survey: How Did KPBSD Do?

News ReleaseKPBSD logo 4c today
KPBSD Classes of 2010 to 2017, How Did KPBSD Do?

To improve schools, KPBSD seeks graduate input from the Classes of 2010 through 2017.

A brief survey is open through September. Please assist the KPBSD to reach 4,978 graduates.

The alumni survey will help KPBSD understand how well students were prepared to meet goals for college and a career. KPBSD will use feedback to ensure that the district’s academic and career-focused programs provide the best possible preparation for graduates.
Survey link: http://surveys.hanoverresearch.com/s3/7fcac49f64dd or http://bit.ly/KPBSDGraduateSurvey
The graduate survey will be open through September 29, 2017.
This survey is being administered on behalf of the district by Hanover Research. Responses will remain anonymous, feedback is essential, and participation will improve the education experience for current and future students.
KPBSD partnered with Hanover Research to administer this survey. Hanover Research is an independent education research firm based in Washington, D.C., and is in no way affiliated with any other entity or organization. All responses will be kept completely anonymous, and no identifying information will be provided to the district. Similarly, grouped results will not be presented in a way that could potentially allow the identification of any specific respondents (e.g., faculty within a specific grade teaching a specific course).
Questions or difficulties with the survey? Contact Conor Kelly, Hanover Institute, ckelly@hanoverinsights.com.
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2017 Graduate Survey