Page 36 – KPBSD Communications Field Notes

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

KPBSD students connect with Syrian refugee crisis #videoconference

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.

Watch the same presentation through our KPBSD Polycom channel via this link: http://bit.ly/KPBSDvcSyrianRefugeeAid

Tsalteshi Trails Story Mapping and App Project

Skyview Middle School eighth grade students in Sheilah-Margaret Pothast’s classes took to the Tsalteshi Trails to learn about GIS (Geographic Information Systems), use GPS to map a new trail, build a mobile app, and provide research for a story map now posted on the Kenai Peninsula Borough website.

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.”

Thank you to the SMS staff, and amazing community partners and volunteers who did so much with our students, including: Bobbi Lay and Celina Robinson – KPB GIS Department; Nancy Carver – KPB Kenai River Center; Austin Johnson, City of Soldotna; Stephanie Queen – City of Soldotna Economic Development & Planning; Branden Bornemann – Kenai Watershed Forum GIS Specialist; Mark Laker – Kenai Wildlife Refuge Ecologist; and Bill Holt, Tsalteshi Trails Maintenance Manager extraordinaire.
Link: Tsalteshi Trail System

#iAmKPBSD Outstanding Students | Distance Learning

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
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
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 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
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.

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.

Thoughts please: KPBSD #StrategicPlan survey is open

News Release

KPBSD Five Year Strategic Plan Revision

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 survey open 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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Mind a-Mazes in Rodent Racers

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.

Junior Division

1st place – K-Beach Elementary “Caribou Creators”
2nd place – Redoubt Elementary “Unicorn Poprocks”
3rd place – K-Beach Elementary “The Speedsters”
Junior Spontaneous Challenge Winners – Seward Middle “Cheese Balls”
Junior Judges Choice Winners – Sterling Elementary “Rapid Racers”

Intermediate-Senior Division

1st place – Hope School “Twenty-One Mice”
2nd place – Kenai Middle “The Losers”
3rd place – Kenai Middle “Rodents of Unusual Size (R.O.U.S.)”
Intermediate Spontaneous Challenge Winners (tie) – Kenai Middle “Muelloffatchews” and Homer Middle “The Huskies”
Intermediate Judges Choice Winners – Nikiski Middle/High “Vinyl Girls

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

More photographs and details

Story contributed by Brian Bailey

More photographs and details

KPBSD schools ShakeOut on October 20, at 10:20 am

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

Resources, including audio clips for the drill, are available online at: http://www.shakeout.org/alaska/

Public invitation to KPBSD Key Communicator Hour

News Release
Public invited to KPBSD Key Communicator events

Soldotna, October 17, 2016—KPBSD is hosting three Key Communicator Connect & Collaborate Hours to converse about the KPBSD budget, five year strategic plan, and respond to questions and ideas about our diverse district. Key Communicators gather throughout the year; everyone interested in KPBSD schools is invited to attend:

Tuesday, October 18, 2016, Homer Middle School library, 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Thursday, October 20, 2016, Seward High School library, 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Tuesday, November 1, 2016, Soldotna High School library, 6:00 – 7:00 PM

“People move in the direction of their conversations and seek accurate stories and information about the school district.” –KPBSD Key Communicator network

Who are KPBSD Key Communicators?

Parents, students, business owners, staff, alumni, grandparents, retirees, everyone who cares about education. 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 in our schools and community 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 and advocacy.

Opportunity

In 2014, 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. Our Key Communicators are informed about school district initiatives, issues, and celebrations through responses to questions, email messages, news releases, and e-news from district office communications. Each school year an opportunity to meet in person takes place. Together we will broaden community advocates.
Links
KPBSD Key Communicators
Questions? Contact Pegge Erkeneff, KPBSD communications liaison, Pegge@KPBSD.org, 907.714.888
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news release: KPBSD needs public input for 2017-2018 school year budget

News Release
Input needed to solve the state and KPBSD fiscal crisis
Soldotna, October 14, 2016—Your KPBSD schools need you to participate in the FY18 budget development process, and assist with solutions to the fiscal crisis in the State of Alaska. Community budget meetings took place throughout the district at 30+ school sites on Thursday, October 13, 2016. It’s not too late to become involved.
Parents, staff, students, business partners, community members, and elected officials: KPBSD needs your help so that together we can continue to meet the needs of our diverse students, identify efficiencies, and examine contingencies for decreased funding of public education. Together, we can show how KPBSD is an excellent investment for everyone’s future, and become part of the solution to bring forward a sustainable multi-revenue fiscal plan for our state.

To-do ideas

Watch the nine minute video shown at the KPBSD community budget meetings to learn how KPBSD crafts a multi-million dollar budget in response to the fiscal reality impacting all aspects of state government and funding for public education.
View any of the other short videos that explain aspects of funding and budgets*
Offer your comments, ideas, and questions online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TKMYV3K
- What can KPBSD provide to help you—and others—understand the fiscal problem and assist with solutions?
- Which areas of the district budget, or a school site budget, could be reduced if there is a 3 to 20 percent reduction in state funding revenue to education in 2017-2018?
- What are your suggestions to legislators about funding shortfall solutions?
Attend a KPBSD Key Communicator Hour, school site council meeting, school board meeting, and have conversations with friends, neighbors, and elected officials.

*LINKS

KPSBD online video channel: Budget*

FY18 Community Budget Development presentation, 10-13-16, PDFand Video
Budget Basics PDFand Video
Fund Balance Categories PDFand Video
General Fund Revenue PDFand Video
Grants PDFand Video
Staffing Formulas PDFand Video

*link includes all videos & PDFs
“As the State of Alaska works to develop a sustainable long-term fiscal plan, our district will continue to provide the highest quality educational experience it can within that state plan. We are asking all of our stakeholders to be engaged in the budget process to help prioritize programs and services to be offered in our district. Some decisions may be difficult, but there are many opportunities, too. Ultimately, our budget process will help inform our state and borough leaders of the needs our schools have to provide an excellent education. I look forward to beginning this discussion and supporting all stakeholders to participate in the district and state planning process.” –Sean Dusek, superintendent
Input will be synthesized and presented to the KPBSD school board during board meetings and work sessions.
Links

KPBSD Finance Department
KPBSD Video channel

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