Monique Cook represents the Port Graham School Class of 2019. Miss Cook is a life-long resident of Port Graham, and attended Port Graham School from kindergarten through graduation. “Monique is often recognized for her patience and caring demeanor when interacting and working with other students, especially younger students, when she volunteered to work with teachers and students in the elementary classrooms,” said Principal Hinds. “Monique is a talented and hard-working athlete who competed as a member of the Port Graham Native Youth Olympics Team where she demonstrated a strong mental attitude and commitment to the sport, as well as being an encouraging and supportive team-member for others.
She demonstrates a sincere and profound sense of introspection and reflective qualities, and uses these traits to make wise choices and intentionally chart her future course. Monique looks to the future and will be pursuing positions through the Job Core Program. She has expressed interest in pursuing multiple career paths, including careers in the education or health services sectors. Monique’s warm-smile and quiet, caring demeanor will be missed, but Port Graham School is proud of Miss Cook and eager to see where her future takes her!
Suzanne LaBelle is the Port Graham School Class of 2018 Valedictorian. Suzanne is compassionate and curious, traits that will serve her well in the future. When opportunities come Suzanne’s way, she rarely lets them go by without grabbing on. She has participated in numerous extracurricular leadership skills programs including a Chugach School District Voyage to Excellence camp where she rode 300 miles on bike in California. She was also the very first high school cross-country athlete to represent Port Graham School. When she thinks about being the first in her village to do this she states, “I felt really accomplished in being the first cross country athlete in Port Graham. I want other students to put themselves out there and participate in new experiences.”
In the fall, she will be attending the University of Alaska Anchorage to pursue a nursing degree. She understands that nursing is one of the most competitive fields to get into, but also one of the most highly needed—especially in Alaska. Someday she hopes to use her degree in pediatrics or another specialization. If Suzanne continues to explore the world and take chances in order to grow, there is nothing she cannot accomplish.
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Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award | May 7, 2018
Principal Nancy Kleine, Nanwalek and Port Graham Schools
As a consummate advocate for her students and schools, Mrs. Nancy Kleine is quick to brag about her student’s latest accomplishments, which is usually accompanied by a tour of the building. As a colleague, Nancy is supportive of District initiatives that benefit students. As a result, students from Nanwalek and Port Graham schools benefited from opportunities provided by multiple KPBSD UPSTREAM Academies, the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program Middle School Academy, and through opportunities with District partners such as the Kenai Peninsula Native Youth Leaders. eBook – Inspiring New Ways of Learning at Nanwalek School
Going above and beyond, in February, 2018, after working on the project for hundreds of hours, Nancy published a book in the Apple iTunes store. It’s 33 pages, free, and titled, “Inspiring New Ways of Learning at Nanwalek School.” This book chronicles the outstanding education contribution that is now in place for the current students, and students to come in future years. Nancy has worked with local tribal councils, and with partner agencies to publish Nanwalek historical resources about the school, and obtain permissions from older school materials that were produced to tell the story of Nanwalek and Port Graham. ConnectEd Grant
In 2015, Nancy was instrumental in garnering a ConnectEd grant from Apple for Nanwalek School. They were one of 114 schools across the country who received one-to-one iPads for each student, a Mac and iPad for each teacher, and an Apple TV in each classroom. In addition to the technology, the grant implemented processes for planning and professional learning. Her advocacy led to the acquisition of materials and ConnectEd included Port Graham School in their support. Nancy’s role was vital to the successful implementation of this technology and its transformative effect on both sites.
Additionally, as a seasoned educator, Nancy can be counted on to provide valid insight to situations, practices, and protocols. “Nancy has done a great job mentoring me this year,” says Josh Hinds, principal of Susan B. English School in Seldovia. “Her assistance, clarifications, and insights have been very helpful to me in my first year with the district,” he adds.
Devin Michel, teacher at Port Graham, says about Nancy, “She is the epitome of support. Nancy puts everything she has into her schools, students, and staffs. She works with people as individuals and helps them to utilize their strengths to benefit the greater good. When asked about such things as rabbits, salmon, or chickens, she enthusiastically wants her staff to take on projects that will truly have an effect on the life learning of her students. Nancy will be greatly missed in her retirement, as she has come to be the mother hen of both schools. She leaves big, warm, patient, and loving shoes to fill.” Renee Estelle, KPBSD Itinerant Teacher of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, adds, “It’s been an honor to work with Nancy and to see positive changes in Nanwalek School over the years she’s been at the helm. I appreciate Nancy’s hard work, her commitment to excellence, and her willingness to think outside the box to meet the unique needs of students. Her kindness and caring for students is evident as she encourages them to move ever upward toward success!”
When Nancy Kleine announced that she will retire at the end of this school year, it marked the end of a career in education spent entirely in Alaska. Nancy served KPBSD in multiple capacities and at multiple sites. After two years with Connections serving as an Academic Advisor, Nancy became the principal of Nanwalek School. A year later, she assumed leadership responsibilities at both Nanwalek and Port Graham, where she quickly brought with her the kind of credibility that can only come from a career in education. She is steadfast in her expectations as a school leader, for personnel and students alike. As a result, under Nancy’s leadership, both schools have seen a marked gain in the areas of academic achievement and attendance.
Principal Kleine’s tenure with the District will have lasting effects for the students, families, and schools she has served. Educators, more than anything, want to make a difference. It is clear that Nancy, through a career spent creating opportunities for students, has done this successfully.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Principal Nancy Kleine for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award | March 5, 2018 Mrs. Devin Michel Way, educator Port Graham School
Every school deserves to have at least one teacher as charitable and distinguished as Mrs. Devin Michel Way, for it is teachers like her that cause positive change not only in their own classrooms, but across the staff and beyond. Mrs. Way is a superlative example of an educator who cannot help but give of herself, and who moves through her practice with grace, no matter how large the task and no matter how much she offers to do. Her generosity of spirit builds relationships and trust, and on that foundation Mrs. Way acts as a guide for students and staff to learn and grow. A tightly choreographed dance
A kindergarten through fourth grade teacher at Port Graham School for the last three years, and a veteran teacher of eleven years, Mrs. Way is a master at differentiating for each and every student across five grades. For many, teaching five grade levels would be daunting, if not impossible, but Mrs. Way succeeds extremely well. Her expertise has grown from her unique experiences, including teaching preschool in Pennsylvania, fifth grade in the Marshall Islands, and a span of preschool to elementary grades in the village of Point Lay. Watching Mrs. Way’s classroom is akin to watching a tightly choreographed dance. Students know the steps, established early on, and learn happily in a relaxed, student-centered environment. Mrs. Way makes this dance look easy, and in her nurturing manner, Mrs. Way provides support to all. While soothing a crying kindergartener, she might chat with her fourth graders about a theme in a novel. All the while, other students are launched on their independent or collaborative projects. Too, over the year, students’ projects branch out into the community to provide service. She is truly an amazing teacher. Responsibility
Without being asked, Mrs. Way assumes a high level responsibility at Port Graham School beyond the classroom in communications, public relations, and day-to-day functions. Without a principal on campus four days per week, there are myriad challenges, including scheduling variances, community concerns, guest speakers, special events, student support, staff absences, mechanical issues (such as recently testing a generator!), internet outages, and nameless other issues. Mrs. Way cheerfully helps with these challenges. She communicates regularly with her principal, and follows protocols. She keeps parents informed of school activities, and acts as editor on the school Facebook page. She engages with all students, not just her own. She also coaches middle school cross country running, is the Assessment Coordinator, school librarian, and serves on Port Graham Site Based Council. She provides stability for the entire school. Mrs. Way does this all with a gentle spirit, willing attitude, and love for people. Professional Development
A particularly extraordinary aspect of Mrs. Way’s practice that goes above and beyond is her remarkable ability and eagerness as a professional development facilitator for Port Graham and Nanwalek Schools. This role began as a stipend position, during which Mrs. Way exceeded expectations by fully facilitating in-services, early release days, and collaborations. When the stipend was no longer available, she stepped forward to continue, and leads collaborative sessions for all instructional staff in both locations that could be likened to seminars led by professional facilitators. With a sensitivity to the needs of our K-12 rural schools, agendas center on initiatives such as personalized learning and ConnectED, with practical applications to multi-graded settings. With poise and a touch of authority, Mrs. Way facilitates new concepts, engages meaningful discussions, and requires participants to collaborate on products that can be applied to current practice. Apple and ConnectED
iPads for Orcas
Recognizing her skill and importance as a professional development facilitator, Apple, Inc. invited Mrs. Way to the Dallas ConnectED Academy with Team Nanwalek last February. Mrs. Way had helped initiate the “iPads for Orcas” technology program in Port Graham, earned status as an Apple Teacher, and is a constant resource to teachers in many areas, including technology. Apple Education Development Executive Katie VanSluys was excited to have Mrs. Way’s participation because of her collaborative nature and generous spirit. Ms. VanSluys stated, “Having worked with Devin over the course of two years—launching and growing programs to integrate and innovate with technology, it became immediately clear to me that Devin is a learning leader. Her work with kids and colleagues is passion-filled, professional, and caring. Her actions model what we, as educators, want to develop in our students. Devin identifies challenges, approaches problem-solving with intrigue and stamina, engages others gracefully and strategically, and finds joy in process of learning. She is a remarkable educator, respected colleague, and inspiring teacher to me and countless others.”
“Mrs. Devin Michel Way exemplifies what we dream that all educators can become,” said Principal Nancy Kleine. “We are fortunate that Mrs. Way is teaching in our district, and is driven to share her expertise with others. Mrs. Way is one of the finest educators because she reaches a hand out to share with others.”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mrs. Devin Way for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
During the Port Graham School 2017 graduation ceremony, natural storyteller, University of Alaska scholar, and graduate Rick Jager told the story of what helped him reach the finish line. Hard work and perseverance were part of it, but having a teacher who took the time to reach out to Rick during challenging times was the key to his success during his final year. Rick was speaking of his teacher, Mr. Colby Way, one of the 2017 BP Teachers of Excellence finalists. Rick’s story underlines that without supportive relationships, none of us can be as strong.
Port Graham is proud of Rick for finishing strong and graduating high school. Rick has the distinction of being Port Graham School’s 2017 UA Scholar. After working at the Port Graham Council for the summer, he will put his scholarship to good use with further education and training at Job Corp. He hopes to gain the skills he needs to find work and live in Anchorage.
Rick is an example of a student who values people. Whether it be a community member or the regional administrator coming to visit the school, Rick welcomes them pleasantly and with warmth, genuinely wanting a report on how they are. His respect for people does not discriminate by age: Rick is fantastic with younger students as well, and he encourages them to keep their heads up in difficult times.
That Rick’s commencement speech focused on how much his teacher helped him during his last years in school is not a surprise. Rick Jager is a young man who has his priorities straight, realizing that his own merits are worth so much more because of the care and support he received when he needed it. Rick will, in turn, give back to others.
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“Something that I would like to share with my students is: You can lose every material item in your life, but no one can take your education. This was told to me by one of my favorite aunts (a professor at Millersville University in Pennsylvania). I have carried this advice with me through the proverbial thick and thin of life. If I could have my students take anything away from my class/ teachings is: you have to cherish your education and constantly improve and expand your education. The reason being, there will be times in life where the world seems to be against you, and the only thing you may be able to rely on is your own education. If you have continued to learn and grow, these tough times may not be as tough as they seem; due to one being able to use their prior knowledge and problem solving skills.” –Colby Way
Colby Way is one of two teachers at Port Graham School in a community of fewer than 200 people across Kachemak Bay, near Seldovia. He teaches all subjects to a wide range of ages, grades five through 12. He’s been a teacher for six years, five of which have been in Alaska.
Colby began teaching in Pennsylvania, after attending West Chester University and Lock Haven University. He fell in love with teaching 17 year ago, when he was put in charge of running the kindergarten-level swim lessons. He says, “Teaching a child to do something they will know for the rest of their life sparked my interest. I was hooked.”
When he began his teacher career in earnest, Colby and his wife spent a year teaching at a small, private school in the Marshall Islands. After that, they came to Alaska. Colby says, “Living and working in a rural Alaska community requires one to be involved outside of the classroom. How the community perceives a teacher can be aided by just getting out and exploring.”
Colby and his wife attend community events, like pot lucks, open gym, dances and meetings. And they hunt and fish, of course, always inviting other community members to join. He also coaches the school’s cross-country running team–and, in fact, last year was the first year in school history that Port Graham had an official team of any kind.
Colby is using his experience in integrating school and community through his coaching. His cross-country team will be inviting community members and elementary-school students to join the student athletes in a community health initiative in which community members will have a choice of running, walking or biking along with their team during the off-season.
In the classroom, Colby uses the same charisma to teach a wide age-range of students. His fellow teacher says Colby is exceptional. “He can work with a senior on graduation, then turn around and help a sixth-grader with plotting points on a line.” Because Colby has to teach all subjects, again from basics to senior-level courses, he incorporates lots of fun into his teaching. His students have successfully raised salmon from eggs, did an entire field-to-table science unit with rabbits, started a student council program from scratch, and many other hands-on projects – all while also teaching the core curriculum.
His fellow teacher says, “If you’ve ever met Colby, you know he’s a presence. Colby dedicates his entire year to his students. He bonds with the students on a personal level and he always wants them the succeed.”
“Mr. Colby Way is one of those teachers who is a sterling exemplar of both the art and skill of teaching,” said Nancy Kleine, principal. “He is sensitive to every student’s needs as if the details of their education are essential for his masterpiece of who they are and can become. He is amazing amongst his fifth through twelfth grade students, never missing a beat, always in action, as he assesses and meets everyone—small or tall—at their current level, sets a high bar, builds confidence, and moves them forward. Mr. Way challenges every student through highly intentional project-based learning. An avid athlete, Mr. Way astutely initiated the “just right” sport for this small village: cross country running. To do this, he involved the entire community, enticing them into a running club to promote health, great relationships, and support for runners on the middle and high school teams. Port Graham is exceedingly fortunate to have Mr. Colby at the helm of their young adults’ education. His students will remember him always as the one who taught them how to keep trying and to live generously.”
This year’s nominees were again, an excellent representation of our staff as a whole,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “They are humble, hard-working and student-centered. They are willing to go above and beyond to help students succeed and reach their full potential.”
“BP is proud to honor these great teachers and their tireless work in the classroom,” said BP Alaska Regional President Janet Weiss. “We see it as part of our ongoing commitment to the communities where our people live and work – and an investment in the people who help make Alaska great.”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District BP Teachers of Excellence winners are:
Rabbit Project (aka Project X)
Port Graham School eighth through twelfth graders were involved in a project that began with raising rabbits, and ended with skin sewing from the tanned hides. Through active learning, students experienced every phase of this agricultural project that met both Science and Alaska Cultural Standards. This was a great opportunity for the community to help by sharing their expertise, especially for tanning and skin-sewing. Students in this small, two-room school kept the project a secret from the younger students in school, thus the project was dubbed, “Project X.”
This unique experience is highlighted here by Port Graham students Monique Cook, Rick Jager, Malachi Joseph, Suzanne LaBelle, Nicholas Meganack, and Kobe Norman.
Preparing for the Rabbits Arrival – Nick Meganack and Rick Jager
What we used for keeping the bunnies safe, was an old rowboat in the back of the school that no one ever used. As a class we spent a total of 4 hours, using a hand saw, to split the rowboat in half. Therefore, making the boat: 72 inches in length, and the height was 26 inches, with a width of 32 inches. For bedding we used hay that was from Save U More in Homer, AK. We just laid it all over the ground that was underneath the boat. We thought about what weather would come by in the village, which tends to be rain, wind, sunny days, and moisture during the months we cared for them. Therefore, we used screen and plastic wrapping, to keep out predators and the rain (and they did stay dry). They were accessible by using a board that can be lifted off of the pen.
Caring for the Rabbits – Monique Cook
Port Graham High School students took care of rabbits for about two months. When they first got here we all talked about what we would feed them, and where we would put them. First, we put them in the woodshop [in a small cage]. We made sure to give them a bowl of water every day. We put hay under the cage to keep them warm. We fed them hay, carrots, and lettuce. While they were in the woodshop, we built a little pen for them behind the school. We all picked up poop for an elder, because it made a good fertilizer for her garden.
Skinning the Rabbits – Malachi Joseph
Skinning rabbits for our project seemed exciting to me, because this was the first animal I skinned by myself. I have watched, but have not ever helped with skinning. Our teacher, Mr. Way, taught us the method called, tubing. That is the way he has been skinning animals. The first steps, all three of us had to do, were: wash our hands, get gloves on, find string (strong enough to hold the rabbit), find a place to hang the rabbit by its hind legs, and get a trash can, sharp knife, and a knife sharpener.
Once the rabbit was hung we cut around the back legs on both sides. Then we cut down to the middle of the rabbit, making sure to do this with both of the legs. Once you have done the legs, and have met in the middle, you need to cut off the tail. This gives you an open area to begin removing the skin. Once you have all of this completed, and have an opening, you need to look for the connective tissue between the skin and the muscle. This tissue is very easy to cut, and you have to make sure you only cut the tissue to not damage the fur. As you cut the connective tissue, pull the skin down as you go, until you reach the head. At this point, all you need to is cut the head off, and now you have tubed skin. With the skins we will be tanning and sewing.
Butchering and Cooking – Suzanne LaBelle, Nick Meganack
When preparing the rabbits we had to butcher them into parts that we ate, and didn’t eat. We cut the limbs, ribs, and parts of the back. We didn’t use the spinal column because there wasn’t much meat, so we gave it back to nature (fed the eagles).
After all the butchering, we made a marinade for the meat. One group made two marinades. One batch had a spicy taste, the other was earthier. We put them in a Ziploc bag with a little oil and the seasonings. Another group chose from: chipotle powder, curry powder, red pepper flakes, rosemary, or Old Bay. We marinated the meat for 24 hours.
The rabbit meat takes about four minutes to cook, on each side. The meat had to reach 160 degrees for it to be cooked through.
We then ate the rabbit meat. It was quite interesting because of the texture. The texture was like turkey. One member, Nick Meganack, wasn’t feeling well that day, but said “I wouldn’t have a problem with eating the rabbits. Since we cared for them I knew their wellbeing, and knew they didn’t have anything added to their diet.”
Tanning Process – Suzanne LaBelle, Malachi Joseph, Kobe Norman
The first thing we had to do was put the furs in a five gallon bucket with: warm water, pickling salt, and alum. We left the hides to soak in the bucket for about four days. After the rabbit hides sat in the bucket, we tore off the rest of the fat from the skin. It took us about half an hour to tear off all of the fat. When tearing the fat off the hide we had to be careful to not tear the hides.
We then stretched the hides by pinning them on a board overnight. After the hides were stretched we used Deer Hunters and Trapper Hide Tanning Formula on the skins. To get the formula ready, we put in hot water and let it warm up for about 15 minutes. We used about half of the eight ounce bottle. The tanning formula takes out the grease, and hardens the skin.
When putting the tanning formula on the skins we had to be careful to not put any of the formula on the fur, because it would ruin it. We let the skins, with the formula on them, set out overnight, then we started the next step in the process.
We washed the rabbit hides in dawn soap on the second day. After that, we all dried the skin side of the hides. We put more of the formula on the skin side, and then we needed to let the skins sit for four days. Teacher Mr. Colby Way: The last stages of the tanning process will involve the students: washing the hides in warm water only, painting more of the tanning formula on the skin side of the hides for two days, doing a final rinse, hang dry for three to five days. This will complete the project, the students will sewing the last week in April.
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:
