Tag: Soldotna Middle School

Soldotna 7-12 grade schools reconfiguration

News Release

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Advisory Committee recommendations for Soldotna schools 7-12 grade reconfiguration

Soldotna, November 8, 2013—The Soldotna area 7-12 grade schools Advisory Committee completed its work and presented recommendations to the KPBSD Board of Education during a work session on November 4, 2013.
Last spring, the school board voted to reconfigure the three Soldotna area secondary schools which set in motion a series of events to address the details of what needed to be in place for these schools at the start of the FY15 school year. One of these events was the administration’s creation of an advisory committee. This committee was tasked with making recommendations on school names, school colors, school mascots and suggestions on how to address the pending changes in school cultures.
This committee’s work is complete, and Doug Hayman, Transitions Coordinator, presented the following recommendations to the school board on November 4, 2013, during a work session. Consensus by the Advisory Committee was reached on the following topics:

  • The 7-8 grade middle school be named Skyview Middle School
  • The 7-8 grade middle school mascot be a Panther
  • The ninth grade school be named Soldotna Prep
  • Two 10-12 grade high school name possibilities are Soldotna High School or Soldotna Central High School
  • The ninth grade school and 10-12 grade high school mascots both be a Star
  • The available colors for all three schools be blue, purple, black and white. (This palette opens the possibility but does not require additions of complementary highlights.)
  • The committee recommends that the current student body of each of the three schools, with the guidance of staff, develop and plan the transfer and preservation of all cultural and historic elements.

“I am pleased that the advisory committee accomplished so much and I want to thank each member for their positive, can-do approach toward their committee membership,” said Dr. Atwater, Superintendent. “Now that the committee’s recommendations have been made, it is important to dispel the misinformation that large sums of money will be required for next steps. As necessary, the district will change small items, e.g., signs in front of a school, but will not commit to large cosmetic changes, e.g., changing the gym floor. I encourage everyone to look forward to the benefits that the students will receive from this reconfiguration. We have an excellent secondary staff at our three schools who will do all that they can to ensure that the transition to the new schools will be smooth.”
Thank you to Soldotna Schools Reconfiguration Advisory Committee
Community and Parent Representatives: Michelle Blackwell; Lynne Carter; Dale Dolifka; Michael Gallagher; Roxanne Miller
Skyview High School: Paul Kupferschmid, site council; Darren Jones, staff; Austin Laber, student
Soldotna High School: Kathy Gensel, site council; Troy Minogue, staff; Kelci Benson, student
Soldotna Middle School: Krista Arthur, site council; Joel Burns, staff; Jode Sparks, student
Doug Hayman, Transitions Facilitator
 School reconfiguration

  • Soldotna area 7-8th grade students will be housed at the existing Skyview High School
  • Soldotna area 9th grade students will be housed at the existing Soldotna Middle School
  • River City Academy (7-12) will be moved to the existing Soldotna Middle School
  • Soldotna area 10-12 grade students will be housed at the existing Soldotna High School

Links

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Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release: 2013_11_08 Soldotna area schools Advisory Committee recommendations to KPBSD school board

Soldotna 7-12 grade school administrators announced for 2014-2015

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KPBSD announces Soldotna 7-12 grade administrators for 2014-2015

Soldotna, October 2, 2013—The principals and assistant principals for the Soldotna schools reconfiguration were determined this week after an interview process. Dr. Steve Atwater, superintendent, made the final decision. The assignments will take effect in the 2014-2015 school year, and each of the five is an administrator in good standing with the district. The administrators will remain in their current position for the 2013-2014 school year.
“One of the more pressing needs of our reconfiguration process is naming the administrators for the three Soldotna area secondary schools. In response to this need we created a process that included district administration interviewing the five Soldotna area secondary school administrators,” said Dr. Atwater. “I am pleased with how the process worked and am confident that the five will work well together in their assignments to ensure a smooth transition for our Soldotna area secondary students and staff.” The new assignments (school names are not yet determined) are:
10-12 grade high school at current Soldotna High School campus:

  • Principal: Mr. Todd Syverson (currently Soldotna High School principal)
  • Assistant Principal: Mr. Randy Neill (currently Skyview High School principal)

Grade 9 at current Soldotna Middle School campus:

  • Principal: Mr. Curt Schmidt (currently Soldotna Middle School assistant principal)

7-8 grade middle school at current Skyview High School campus

  • Principal: Mr. Sarge Truesdell (currently Soldotna Middle School principal)
  • Assistant Principal: Mr. Tony Graham (currently Soldotna High School assistant principal)
  • River City Academy (7-12 grade) will relocate from the Skyview High School campus to the current Soldotna Middle School campus. Mrs. Dawn Edwards-Smith will remain the administrator.

Todd Syverson said, “Over the past 24 years the KPBSD has blessed me with the privilege and honor of working with the greater Soldotna area at Skyview High School, Soldotna Middle, Redoubt Elementary, Soldotna High School, and now as the principal of the new 10-12 grade high school. My vision is to continue to strive for excellence in creating a school that has our students ready for career or college pathways that will land our students with rewarding careers and a promising future!”
“It’s been a privilege working the past nine years at Skyview High School,” said Randy Neill. “I look forward to continuing to work with students, staff, and the community in the coming years. This is great opportunity to help students and staff come together to bring out the best of both schools.”
Curtis Schmidt, new principal for the ninth grade school said, “I am excited and privileged to be selected as the principal for the Soldotna area ninth grade school. It is my intent to assist every ninth grade student in making a successful transition to high school and to provide them with a learning experience that is engaging and challenging.”
“It is an exciting time to be a member of the team at Soldotna Middle School and I feel privileged to be chosen to lead such a great school,” said Sarge Truesdell. “I look forward to being here to support our students, staff, and stake holders as we transition to a new building in 2014-2015.”
Tony Graham, who will be the new assistant principal at the 7-8 grade school said, “I am thankful to be given this opportunity and I am looking forward to cultivating a new educational community along with Sarge Truesdell. I plan to use my experience to help support students, staff, and community transition and grow.”
The Board of Education will approve these five contracts in the spring during the normal process of administrator contract renewals.

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KPBSD and Alaska Shield 2012 simulation

KPBSD is participating in the Alaska Shield 2012 simulation exercise.
Thank you to staff, Soldotna Middle School, custodians, Student Nutrition Services staff, and locals who will stay at the SMS shelter.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management explains:

The Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) is participating in Alaska Shield 2012. Alaska Shield is an annual, state-wide exercise to test the ability of emergency responders to manage disasters and emergencies. Alaska Shield 2012 will SIMULATE a natural gas outage in Soldotna and Sterling during a period of extreme cold. In a real gas outage emergency, many people would have difficulty heating their homes, cooking and so on.
As part of the exercise, an emergency shelter will be established at SMS to provide a refuge for people who would not be able to stay safely in their homes. There will be NO ACTUAL interruption in natural gas service.

In the event of a REAL gas shortage, residents would be requested to:
• Set thermostat at 60 degrees in living areas (55 if away)
• Turn water heater gas valve to “pilot”
• Do not use natural gas fireplaces, decorative heaters or gas grills
• Consolidate household activities into as few rooms as possible
• Use the microwave for cooking
Links:
Kenai Peninsula Borough homeowners: Do you know you can register your cell phone to receive emergency messages?
Aaron Selbig, KBBI reports “Emergency Responders Participate in Alaska Shield 2012”
Peninsula Clarion reports: “Preparedness exercise a good reminder to us all”
Press Release from the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Mind A-Mazes: Fantastic Flight

Fifty-eight student teams from twenty-two schools designed, built, and flew paper airplanes on Saturday, October 8, 2011, in the annual KPBSD Mind A-Mazes contest sponsored by Quest.

A KPBSD problem-solving competition, 3 to 4 students work in a team to solve a long-term problem, prior to the competition. In addition, the day of the competition, a spontaneous problem is presented for teams to solve in a short period of time. A dedicated blog, hosted on our KPBSD servers provides an opportunity for students to ask questions, receive and post answers, and demonstrate collaboration in action.

The 2011 Long-term  Fantastic Flight problem instructions:
Teams will design and create paper devices that will be used to earn points by performing a series of tasks. Devices will be constructed for competition at the time of the event, using paper that will be provided. Students will not be allowed to bring any devices that were constructed prior to the event into the competition area. Up to five different devices may be constructed during the competition and will be used for attempting the following flight challenges: Distance; Flight Duration; Accuracy; and Altitude.

Congratulations to the 2011 Winning Teams and Schools
Junior Division (4th-6th grade)
1. West Homer – “The Paper Bombers”
2. Nikiski Middle/High – “Flying Bacon Strips”
3. Mc Neil Canyon – “McNeil Canyon 4”
Judges Choice – Nikiski North Star – “The Flaming Hawks”
Spontaneous –  West Homer – “Ernie Airlines”
Intermediate/ Senior Division (7th-12th grade)
1. Hope – “Ice Cream Ninjas”
2. Kenai Middle – “The Firebolts”
3. Nikiski Middle/High – “Mach 5”
Judges Choice – River City Academy – “Angry Birds”
Spontaneous –  Ninilchik – “Team Wilcow”
Thank you to Soldotna Middle School, and all the students, educators, volunteers, and families who participated this year in the district-wide Mind A-Mazes academic program.
Please share a comment here, and view photographs or add yours to the Mind A-Mazes photo album on the KPBSD district Facebook page.