School Stories – KPBSD Communications Field Notes

Flex day: 215 Hours of Community Service Learning

215 Hours of Community Service Learning in Skyview Middle School Flex Day
I.N.S.P.I.R.I.N.G. rippled throughout Kasilof, Soldotna, and Sterling on Thursday, December 14, 2018, when Skyview Middle School students assisted in elementary schools, at the Food Bank, visited Kenai Peninsula College, and visited local Soldotna businesses.
Principal Sarge Truesdell explained,

“The Skyview Middle school staff worked with our students to create a “flex day” for students to experience voice and choice in their 6.5 hour school day. Students provided teachers with feedback about activities they wanted to see offered in the flex day schedule. Administration created a master schedule that included enough academic offerings for students who needed and or wanted extra time to work with their teacher in core academic areas, and provided several enrichment and fun activates in each of the 90-minute blocks. Through an online program created by the KPBSD internet technology department, students selected their academic and enrichment schedule for the day. Along with on campus academic and enrichment actives were also community work service opportunities and field trips. One group of students chose to go to Kenai Peninsula college and tour the campus and dorms, another group chose to donate their time at the Kenai Peninsula Food bank, and 30 Skyview students chose to visit their former elementary schools and spend the day with future Skyview Middle School students!”

Arriving on time at elementary schools and ready to work, the schools created schedules for students. Every elementary school that feeds into Skyview Middle School was enthusiastic to welcome Skyview students in their building. Shanna Johnson, Skyview Middle School teacher said, “The teachers were excited to have them in their room assisting in a myriad of ways. The extra set of hands during a Christmas Fair, was invaluable! These were just a few of the comments given to us. Every time I asked our student, ‘How is it going? Would you do this again?’ A resounding ‘YES’, came from every one of them!”

Sterling Elementary Principal Kelly said that students were super excited to be there this morning. At Soldotna Elementary, a student was working with kindergarten students, building a craft. The schedule was about to change, and Mrs. Murr’s first-second grade combo teacher was looking forward to students “running” a reading group. She planned on modeling how it would be done, and then letting Skyview enthusiasm take over.

The Soldotna Montessori helpers were all assistants at the Christmas Fair, helping the younger students choose a gift. Some were calculating the cost of purchases, others were walking students back to their rooms. Student William Stang said he was looking forward to the next hour block, when he and his friend were going to be in the “Hot Seat,” answering questions about middle school life and how it was different!

At Redoubt Elementary, students read aloud and helped 1:1 as math buddies. K-Beach Elementary students helped everyone get ready for lunch and with outside activities.

Tustumena students had an interesting “no power” morning at the school. They learned what it takes to adapt curriculum and locations. The Skyview assistants helped kindergarteners get geared down from recess, while first grade was reading stories in the library. Sixth grade teacher Mrs. Werner said, “Can we do this again soon? They are doing individualized math tutoring and have been invaluable today!” Fifth grade teacher Mr. Michaels said, “The Skyview student has been an outstanding asset today assisting in small group, we would love to have them again!”

Bill Withrow, Redoubt Elementary principal said,

“All I can say is AWESOME! This has been a tremendous event for everyone involved. Staff at Redoubt has nothing but positive things to say about all the students who have come back to Redoubt and work with students of all ages. We are hoping that this is something that becomes an annual event or even grows to something bigger. Awesome idea!”

“During the flex day we accumulated more than 215 community work service hours,” said Principal Truesdell. “The student flex day at Skyview was created as a pilot to meet the academic needs of our students as well as give kids opportunities to give back to the community. Administration is collecting feedback from our stakeholders to see if we should offer a student flex day multiple times each year. For a number of years the Skyview Middle School site based council had a community work service goal and the student flex day provided the time during the day where students could be off campus working in the community but not miss new academic instruction.”

Photo album on Facebook

Understanding Disabilities and Celebrating Kindness

Individuals with disabilities, as well as experts in the field of disabilities, came to Mountain View Elementary to set up eight different stations for presentations on a wide variety of physical and cognitive disabilities. These experts presented information about disabilities to our students and staff and provided engaging activities that facilitated the understanding of challenges that individuals with disabilities face and overcome on a daily basis. Among other activities, students had hands on experience with creating and reading Braille, using alternative communication devices and manipulating artificial limbs. Art was the focus at one station where students worked with illustrator Maggie Winston to paint without using their hands. Her artwork, done holding the paintbrush in her teeth, was yet another example of focusing on abilities as opposed to disabilities.

As KPBSDs largest open enrollment elementary school, Mountain View provides a number of programs designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities. All of our students benefit from their daily interactions within this diverse student body. It was our hope that this year’s Diversity Day would broaden this natural development of empathy and further prepare our students to participate in an inclusive society.
Kindness was the focus of a school wide assembly. A variety of short skits, songs and other presentations focused on all aspects of kindness. Teachers and students from across the school teamed up to celebrate the conclusion of our annual start of the year, and eight weeks focus on Positive Responses to Conflict and Kindness. During these eight weeks, age appropriate lessons for our teaching kindness, empathy and our six positive responses to conflict happen at all grade levels.
Combined, these two events provided a powerful message to our students of what we value here at Mountain View Elementary, Kenai’s Neighborhood School.
https://www.facebook.com/MountainViewElementaryKPBSD

Christmas Cheer in the Ninilchik Senior Center

“Singing in a small choir group this year was the best decision I have made! It was my way of relaxing after a long day of school. I became closer with some of the girls I barely knew. When we had a chance to sing carols at the senior center, I refused to pass this up! Even though I am glad we no longer have the pressure of performing in front of our school for a grade, I miss singing in front of a crowd. We practice two days a week during our advisory singing our hearts out. The senior center performance is the best memory I have of choir since I joined last year. I feel like I am giving back to the community that does so much for us. Even though we had a small crowd, I enjoyed every second if it. It was a great experience and I hope to do it in the future!” –Tala Marystar Hadro, Ninilchik School student

“My Foods 1 class made cookies for our senior center, and Eric Simondsen’s choir class delivered them to the senior center, and sang songs on December 19, 2017. The girls performed admirably. Mr. Simondsen conducted a great medley of Christmas time favorites, including a number from ‘The Grinch’, requested by the choir. Snow was falling and the seniors very much enjoyed the young voices and cookies provided. We hope to make it an annual event.” – Joel Hilbrink, Ninilchik School teacher
Thank you to Joel Hilbrink, story contributor

Tebughna youth learning traditional Native American skills

Tebughna School middle and high school students are participating in a Native American unit of study, where they read Native American themed novels, write Native American folk tales, and practice picture-writing. Students are studying Native American geographical regions, and researching famous Native Americans. In science, students are using STEAM* engineering challenges to create the various types of housing used, such as teepee, long house, adobe, and wigwams. Students learned how to make fry break “aladies”, dissected salmon, learned bear safety, and heard about Tyonek history from Katherine Chickalusion (elder niece of Chief Chickalusion). Students are practicing singing and drumming, beading, making spears, and painting using traditional ochre.
Thank you to Monty Rogers for teaching Tebughna student’s traditional skills!
*STEAM is short for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics

Great Caribou Migration builds teamwork

The tradition continues! K-Beach Elementary participates in their annual Great Caribou Migration in early fall. Proudly donning their bright red t-shirts to record laps, the students stormed the field to support the PTO and school. This yearly event has become a tradition in which students, staff, parents and community members share in exercise, teamwork and school pride. Through diligence and perseverance, students worked together to walk, jog, or run over a thousand miles in a 45-minute time slot!

Cinderella's Closet is open for prom shopping!

The Soldotna Prep School music room is transformed, and open Monday and Tuesday from 3:00-6:00 for all area teens from schools in the KPBSD.
Local area ladies in 9th through 12th grade are invited to shop for prom shoes, dresses, and makeup.
Thank you to the volunteers, and for donations from businesses, and ladies in the area—all items are free to the teens who shop!

K-Beach fourth grade engineering and design

Fourth grade students were guided through the engineering design process by a parent who is an engineer! Hands-on learning included brainstorming, designing, constructing, testing, and redesigning. The three day tower project included seismic, wind, and strength tests. Winners were determined based on their performance. We had a lot of fun and learning!
“We are thankful for our involved parents, Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, who visited our class for the three day tower project with the K-Beach fourth grade students!” –Jason Daniels, fourth grade teacher, K-Beach Elementary School

Soldotna High Making a Difference

“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

Commit to Respond to Conflict in a Positive Manner

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 5^th 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.

New Learning Opportunity: iPads for Orcas

“iPads for Orcas” Celebration Rolls Out New Learning Opportunities for Port Graham School

Wednesday, September 21, 2016, rolled out iPads for Orcas, a festive celebration in Port Graham School. Students, staff, community, and guests gathered in anticipation for every student to be presented with their very own iPad for use in school. Before presenting the devices, Principal Kleine explained to the joyful audience how this project came to life.
Until just a few years ago, Port Graham was not only geographically isolated—technology more typical of what students on the road system experience was not available, as the internet was exceedingly slow. In 2014, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District subsidized a microwave broadband upgrade in Nanwalek and Port Graham, allowing much faster access. As students and staff watched neighboring Nanwalek School enter a new way of learning through the Apple ConnectED Grant, staff and site council supported efforts for iPads to become a reality for Port Graham students.
Through requests, Port Graham School was awarded donations from two corporations that important to Port Graham residents. Chugach Alaska Corporation donated $10,000, and through the Paluwek Heritage Foundation, Port Graham Corporation provided $4200, the remainder of the funds that would have provided a 1:1 implementation. However, Port Graham experienced a population explosion this fall, growing from the expected 29 students to 36! Determined to put ipads into every student’s hands, the staff opted to use rollover funds from the school budget for the remaining iPads.

Principal Kleine expressed thanks to everyone who helped this innovation, and invited students to be like the orcas for which they were named. She invited them to swim into the digital world, exploring safe places on the internet, and apps that would help them increase their skills. She encouraged them to dive as deeply as they dared into their research, learning to think more deeply as well. In this celebratory environment, she asked everyone to be partners in this new way of learning, and “to keep a joy of learning in our school, using our strength of helping each other as we leap into this new world of technology!” Teacher Devin Michel read the vision statement for the project, encapsulating the ideas by asking students to “Develop the way we think, the way we work, and the tools we use to expand our minds.”

As words of gratitude and invitations to learn were presented, students were signaled to express their joy with kazoos and pompoms whenever Principal Kleine sounded her tambourine. Finally, each student’s name was announced in a commencement-like manner, and elementary teacher Ms. Devin Michel presented each with an iPad, followed by congratulatory hand-shakes from Second Chief Martin Norman, site council secretary and staff member Heather O’Domin, and secondary teacher Colby Way.
Title VI tutor Camille Parry guided students in front of a poster thanking Chugach Alaska and Port Graham Corporation. After a group photo, and cake, students went to classrooms to turn on their iPads and take their new devices for a spin. The activities were riddled with smiles and laughter as the “iPads for Orcas” came to life!
Story contributed by Nanwalek School and Port Graham School Principal Nancy Kleine

Port Graham School website
Port Graham School on Facebook