Tag: volunteer

Volunteer Red Asselin Martin awarded Golden Apple

Volunteer Red Asselin Martin receives Golden Apple award at Paul Banks Elementary during a Virtual Board of Education meeting

Ms. Red Asselin Martin, Paul Banks Elementary volunteer
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Golden Apple Award | June 1, 2020

“As the principal of Paul Banks Elementary in Homer, Alaska, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible resource that “Red” or Ms. Lisa Asselin Martin is for our school,” wrote nominator Eric Pederson. “She is a parent, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) president, Sprout partner, and community advocate, and emulates all of the qualities the Golden Apple award represents. In the three years I have worked with her, she has gone from active parent to school leader.”

–Nominator Eric Pederson, Paul Banks Elementary principal

Paul Banks Elementary has numerous activities throughout the school year such as fundraisers, movie nights, Bingo for Books, and the Scholastic Book Fair, and it does not take long to notice that Red is behind many of them. As the PTA president, she saw a need for afterschool childcare when we moved to an early start and dismissal—so she created our afterschool program. All kindergarten to second grade students are invited to participate, including our students with special needs. Because of her leadership and skill in recruiting community members to teach, students have been able to choose from a variety of activities, including sign language, Japanese, Legos, Zumba, Outdoor Explorers, and Sports Hour.

During the potential KPBSD staff strike last fall, Red assembled pop-up childcare for working parents, utilizing volunteers and church space, and coordinated with other schools. As a Birth to Three Sprout staff member, she collaborated with Paul Banks Elementary to provide a weekly open gym playgroup for children ages one to four. This has allowed many of our young students to arrive already being familiar with our school. Red teaches parenting classes open to the whole community that benefits our families.

Recently, Red organized and facilitated a State Education Budget 101 for our entire community. The event brought people from opposing fiscal viewpoints together where factual data was shared and everyone had a great discussion.

The Paul Banks Elementary staff shared the following descriptors for Red: “persistent, thoughtful, caring, persistent, compassionate, gracious, persistent, hilarious, approachable, supportive and PERSISTENT.” Principal Eric Pederson wrote, “Red is one of those parents who has made me a better and more thoughtful person and leader. Her support, innovation, and contribution to our school community will be dearly missed at Paul Banks Elementary when her child moves to West Homer Elementary for the August 2020 school year.”

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Ms. Red Asselin Martin for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.

Volunteer Red Asselin Martin receives Golden Apple award at Paul Banks Elementary during a Virtual Board of Education meeting

Volunteer in a KPBSD school

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Thank you FY18 volunteers
3,787 people volunteered in a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District school in the 2016-2017 school year!

Will you volunteer in the new year beginning August, 2018? Kindly complete your new or returning online volunteer application, it only takes a few minutes. 

KPBSD safeguards students while they are in our care. Therefore, every school volunteer must complete the online volunteer application on an annual basis. Thank you for helping students, staff, and schools be vibrant centers for learning.
link: Online volunteer application for KPBSD schools

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

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Thousands of lifejackets, among millions, in Lesvos, Greece
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Volunteer Julieanne Super receives Golden Apple award

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Golden Apple Award | October 3, 2016
Mrs. Julieanne Super
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Mrs. Julianne Super is a “super” volunteer in the classroom, with cocurricular activities, and school events. “I have the opportunity to work with many fantastic parents and community members who volunteer in our school, but one person stands out above the rest,” said Kari Dendurent, Homer Middle School principal. “I’ve have had the opportunity to know Julieanne over the past three years, as well as two of her children who have attended HMS. Julieanne has worked in so many areas of our school, faculty members each wanted to reflect about her volunteerism.”
Dan Calhoun, 8th grade math and algebra teacher says, “She is always so positive and cheerful. Julieanne has been volunteering in the Homer schools for the past twelve years. At Paul Banks Elementary School she performed many classroom duties and tasks. At West Homer Elementary she volunteered most of her time in the math classroom. At Homer Middle School, she volunteers in the math classroom as a tutor. She is reliable, consistent and great with students! I appreciate her clear, concise and accurate assistance for all students at all ability levels. In addition, she is willing and capable to do any task she is asked to assist with.”
Jen Booz, 8th grade science teacher and cross country running coach states, “She has volunteered for cross country for both years when her son, Andy, was here. She is always willing to do whatever is asked—no matter what. For our home meets, she often took on the role of volunteer coordinator since I couldn’t be with the students all of the time. She even ended up assigning jobs to parents who showed up to help. Julianne was able to run the finish line table, which is the most challenging job of the meet, and involves taking runners’ names and places, then matching them with their times. She also provided snacks for the runners and helped clean up after the meets.”
Amy Johnson, band teacher shares, “Julieanne has been a great help to the Homer Middle School Band program for the past five years. She comes in to help copy music and programs for all of our concerts, as well as helping to sort uniforms, music, and anything else as needed. She does the webcast for every single concert that Homer Middle School puts on.”
Nurse Janette states, “She will come and assist at the drop of a hat. She is amazing! She has helped with many health screenings and is always the first person I call. She even helps with picture day! Plus, Julieanne is the first person Marilyn, our school secretary, calls. And, ‘we fight over her.’”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mrs. Julieanne Super for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Link

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Mrs. Julieanne Super, Golden Apple award recipent

News Release: KPBSD Indian Education advisory committee seeks members

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
Indian Education advisory committee seeks parent, student, and staff members to serve

Soldotna, September 7, 2016—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)
  • Seat D—Region 4 (Ninilchik, Anchor Point, Homer)
  • Seat E—Region 5 (Seldovia, Nanwalek, Port Graham)
  • Seat F—At-large (any region)

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

Seat terms will be staggered in the first year of bylaw implementation:

  • Seats A, B, and C, and seats D, E, and F will rotate on two year terms (except for the first year the bylaws are in effect)
  • Seats A, B, and C will be a one year term in FY17
  • Student Seats G and H will be a one year term
  • Staff Seat I will be a two year term

New members will be voted by a majority of a quorum to accept new members to the Committee, and nominees must be present to be elected.
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 September 20, 2016, 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.

Links

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This and all KPBSD media releases are online at this web page: http://bit.ly/MediaPublicRelationships

Time to volunteer on a KPBSD committee?

Are you interested in health and wellness, or sports and cocurricular activities? Indian education? Setting the districtwide school calendar?

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Consider volunteering for a KPBSD committee! Several opportunities are open:

KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALLThe Kenai Peninsula School Activities Association (KPSAA) is seeking a Parent Representative to serve the remainder of the current term ending with the current school year. Parent Representatives are an important voice on the KPSAA Board, and will seek information from other KPBSD parents to report back to the KPSAA Board at our quarterly meetings. For more information, please contact Tiffany Eck no later than September 9, 2016 via email teck@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or by phone 907-714-8884. Our first meeting is scheduled for September 15, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Soldotna Prep school.
KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALLThe KPBSD Wellness Committee is seeking nominations for a Parent Representative. The Wellness Committee is responsible for reviewing Board Policy 5141.6 Student Nutrition and Physical Activity for districtwide compliance and seeks input from our schools, parents and community members. The committee meets 2-3 times per year, typically in the central peninsula area. For more information, please contact Tiffany Eck no later than September 15, 2016, via email teck@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or by phone 907-714-8884. The first Wellness Committee meeting will be held on October 4, 2016 at the District Office building from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALLThe KPBSD Title VI Indian Education advisory committee seeks parent, student, and staff members 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? Committee members must commit to quarterly meetings, usually held at the KPBSD office building in Soldotna. Remote area representatives participate via Skype for Business. Nominations for membership are due by September 20, 2016, 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.
KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALLThe KPBSD is recruiting members to review the 2017-2018 school calendar and make recommendations to the Board of Education for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years. Details and the application can be found here. Questions? Email NBates@kpbsd.k12.ak.us, or call 907-714-8858. Apply by October 3, 2016.

Coach David Thomas receives Golden Apple award

Golden Apple recipient Coach David Thomas, and KMS MathCounts team
Golden Apple recipient Coach David Thomas, and KMS MathCounts team

Peninsula Borough School District
Golden Apple Award | April 4, 2016
Mr. David Thomas, Community Member

“In 2012, David Thomas, a parent of a Kenai Middle School student, approached administration and suggested that we add a MathCounts team to our school,” explained Vaughn Dosko, principal. “Not only did he suggest adding the team to our afterschool program but offered to head it up. From that day forward our program has grown in size and KMS students have been very successful in the state and national competitions. MathCounts began with a handful of kids and now we have a classroom full of kids and also fifth grade students from Mountain View Elementary arriving at KMS for math enrichment. The program meets weekly afterschool and sometimes more often when they are getting ready for a competition. Mr. Thomas has also met with kids during the summer months at the Kenai Public Library.”
Through countless hours of educating students to think differently about math, the Kenai Middle School MathCounts team has been very successful. Students who have a talent and passion for math are challenged, and meet other motivated students. Finishing first place in state competitions, the KMS team and individual competitors have also scored with numerous second place finishes. Accolades can be seen in the front display case at Kenai Middle School.
Coach David Thomas has dedicated his time to taking kids to levels of math that they would not have gotten to on their own. He has driven the KMS team all over the state to compete, including at competitions from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Additionally, he has taken students to national MathCounts competitions outside of Alaska.
KMS is a better place for the time and dedication that Mr. Thomas has invested in math students at Kenai Middle School.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mr. David Thomas for his dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Mr. David Thomas was nominated by Principal Vaughn Dosko, on behalf of Kenai Middle School.
Link
Golden Apple recipients

Coach David Thomas quizzing KMS students to demonstrate their math skills at April 2016 school board meeting #golden
Coach David Thomas quizzing KMS students to demonstrate their math skills at April 2016 school board meeting #golden

Community member Amy Hankins receives Golden Apple

Golden Apple recipient, Ms. Amy Hankins
Golden Apple recipient, Ms. Amy Hankins

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Golden Apple Award | April 4, 2016
Ms. Amy Hankins, Community Member

Ms. Amy Hankins consistently demonstrates deep support for the students of Seward schools. She has served on the Seward School Site Based Council and is currently serving as the Arts Chair on the board of the Seward Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA). In addition to serving on the PTA board, Amy generously offers her time and talents as the chair of the PTA’s Arts committee. This committee is charged with making the arts available to Seward area students. Last year, Amy spearheaded an 18 month effort to bring Jabali, an African dance troop, from Mombasa, Kenya, to Seward. She coordinated all aspects for this production, including fundraising, PR, ticket printing and sales, transportation and lodging, so that this cultural extravaganza could be enjoyed by the community of Seward and all three Seward schools, along with students from Connections Homeschool and Moose Pass School. This year she spearheaded Scrap Arts music to come to Seward in April 2016.

Amy also has a passion for technology. In 2013, Amy joined with two other staff members to lead a community-based computer programing club for youth aged nine to 18. The Seward Community Library and Museum generously hosts club meetings and activities. Amy’s work with this group eventually evolved into her work with Lego Robotics in the schools.  Amy works with two Lego Robotics groups in Seward: one meets after-school and one meets during school.

The after-school Lego Robotics team, comprised of Seward Elementary and Seward Middle School students, and a homeschool student, met last year to learn to build and program Lego vehicles to perform specific tasks. Co-coach Leigh Ray said, “Amy leads the club by exuding enthusiasm for coding and robotics, which helps the kids get unstuck when the programming gets tough! She is becoming a very accomplished robotics programmer herself!” In 2015, the team competed in the first Lego League regional competition in Anchorage. They were then invited to return and compete in the state championship. At the end of the regional competition in Anchorage, Amy received the Coach Award for her excellence in coaching.

At Seward Elementary, Amy introduced Lego Robotics during the 2013-2014 school year. She worked with approximately 55 second grade students, teaching building and programing skills. This year, she has continued the program with the same students, who are now in third grade, as well as teaching it to all of the current second graders. Students enjoy the challenge of building and coding. Second grader Van Shank says, “It was fun programing the computers. Mrs. Hankins did a really good job.” In addition, Amy began training a teacher to continue the program as the current third graders move up a grade. “We value the way Amy looks for opportunities to enhance the education of all students in Seward through her ongoing dedication to the arts and technology,” said Principal David Kingsland.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Ms. Amy Hankins for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Ms. Rankin was nominated by Principal David Kingland, on behalf of Seward Elementary School.
Link
Golden Apple recipients

Ms. Amy Hankins and Board Member Lynn Hohl
Ms. Amy Hankins and Board Member Lynn Hohl

Maddy Rea’s senior year adventure | Seward High School #Classof2016

Maddy Rea’s Adventure

Maddy Rea and capybara
Maddy Rea and capybara

Maddy Rea [Seward High School, Class of 2016], set a goal early in her high school career to travel abroad and volunteer to work with animals. At first, her plan was to travel to Malaysia and work with Sea Turtles. When she discovered that this program was not accepting more applications, her research landed her in Yungas, Bolivia, at a place called La Senda Verde (which means The Green Path). Further research convinced her mom, CJ, that Maddy had found, “the most incredible place on the planet” and that this would be an amazing opportunity for Maddy to see her goal to fruition.
La Senda Verde takes in animals that were victims of illegal animal trafficking and, with the help of volunteers, tries to return them to a life as close to normal as they can have. It is illegal to re-release an animal once it has been trafficked in Bolivia. They are currently working with 550 different animals.
Maddy secured a position for two and a half months. She saved the money from her summer job to buy her tickets, visa, and pay for her volunteer position. Many of their volunteers are there for just two weeks. Volunteers like Maddy, who stick around, get to do a lot more with the animals. Her favorite animals to work with are what they call the “special animals.” These are all of the small primates (Lucachi, Squirrel, and Owl monkeys), Capybara and Paca (both really big rodents) and the Margays and Ocelots (cats). Based on skills she learned as a volunteer at the Alaska Sealife Center she is trying to train the Capybara (attached picture is a mural of a capybara). La Senda Verde has animals of all kinds; Spider, Capuchin, and Howler monkeys, Andean Spectacled Bears, Parrots, Toucans, Macaws, Tortoises, and Coatis.
Maddy’s days begin at 6:45 a.m. and she starts work at 7:30. She works until 5:30 p.m., has dinner and then socializes a bit. She works six days a week and on her seventh day she usually makes it into the town of Coroico where she has access to the internet. There are no other American volunteers. She lives in a dorm styled room with six other people, and has met people from Australia, Brazil, Belgium, France and other countries. She has also experienced tarantulas in her bed and the shower.
Maddy will return in mid-May to participate in graduation with her class at Seward High School and begin her summer work to save for college.

Giving thanks in Kenai

November 15, 2011
A feast was held today! Kenai Alternative High School served their 21st annual Thanksgiving Day Meal to 166 parents, students, and invited guests–many who were community members active with the high school throughout the year. Greeters at the door welcomed everyone with hellos and smiles. What a contrast to the frigid, wind-to-the-bone noon day winter sun! Smells flooded the hallway–turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes–my taste buds quivered when I took the few steps to the gym.

Inside, more students welcomed everyone who gathered and stood in line for the feast! Students said they’d been cooking since the previous Friday, and shared the story of oh, so many spuds. After a meal fit for a king (or queen) I wandered the room with my camera, talking to students, a 2011 graduate who had returned to help, and community members. At one round table members from local churches explained to me they cooked a hot meal each morning for the students, five days a week, serving between 25-70 breakfasts each day. Another table of pre-school students wore festive hats, and posed for several delightful photos–little faces complete with the remnants of  pumpkin pie crumbs. High school students were warm and welcoming, thanking me for coming. A young Mom took a few minutes to visit while she rocked her baby to sleep in his stroller (except I kept smiling at him so his eyelids were slow to close.)  A few photos from the day are in the Kenai Alternative High School photo album at the KPBSD Facebook page.

Let us give thanks for these students, for their parents, community members, and for everyone who shared a meal together. The noon-day sun flooding through upper windows in the gymnasium highlighted warmth in the belly, mind, and heart of all who gathered.
Thank you Kenai Alternative High School–may you continue this tradition for decades to come. The community appreciates you–and clearly you appreciate students, parents, and local residents.