Nikiski North Star Elementary
Home of the Shooting Stars!
Vision
Students continuing their educational journey from Nikiski North Star will be competent and confident learners; informed, involved decision makers; caring, responsible individuals; and citizens with skills for life.
Mission
Nikiski North Star Elementary is committed to working with students, parents, and the community to provide opportunities for all children to explore and develop their maximum potential.
Contact
907.776.2600
45600 Holt Lamplight Road
Kenai, AK 99611
Demographics
- Principal Tenure:
- 5th year at NNS
- 9th year as Administrator
- 15 years of KPBSD service
- 19 years in education
- 21 Certified staff
- 1 Doctorate degree
- 10 Masters degrees
- 10 Bachelors degrees
- 10 Classified staff
- 4 Associates or higher
- 5 Paraeducator Online Training & Assessments
- 1 HS Diploma
- 19:1 P/T ratio
- 10 average Staff years of service
- Enrollment: 226 students
- Attendance Rate: 88.7%
Intervention Support
- NNS receives federal funds through Title I
- For the 2024-2025 school year, NNS will operate a schoolwide program model (K through 5th grade) based on our school’s needs
- Current focus areas include:
- Small group math and reading support
- emphasis on conflict resolution and self-regulation strategies
- increasing attendance
- communication with families and other stakeholders
Academics Assessments
mCLASS-DIBELS Assessment
- 65% mCLASS Kinder at benchmark or above on End-of-Year
- 60% mCLASS 1st grade at benchmark or above on End-of-Year
- 51% mCLASS 2nd grade at benchmark or above on End-of-Year
- 54% mCLASS 3rd grade at benchmark or above on End-of-Year
- 42% mCLASS 4th grade at benchmark or above on End-of-Year
- 48% mCLASS 3rd grade at benchmark or above on End-of-Year
2025 MAP Growth & Achievement
Reading
- Grade 3
- Achievement (Spring): 49th percentile
- Growth: 63rd percentile
- Grade 4
- Achievement (Spring): 43rd percentile
- Growth: 46th percentile
- Grade 5
- Achievement (Spring): 42nd percentile
- Growth: 33rd percentile
Language Usage
- Grade 3
- Achievement (Spring): 49th percentile
- Growth: 79th percentile
- Grade 4
- Achievement (Spring): 38th percentile
- Growth: 35th percentile
- Grade 5
- Achievement (Spring): 32nd percentile
- Growth: 26th percentile
Math
- Grade 3
- Achievement (Spring): 77th percentile
- Growth: 99th percentile
- Grade 4
- Achievement (Spring): 41st percentile
- Growth: 67th percentile
- Grade 5
- Achievement (Spring): 41st percentile
- Growth: 37th percentile
Elementary Specific Programming
Afterschool Programs
Nikiski North Star offers a variety of afterschool opportunities to keep students engaged and active beyond the school day. These include:
- Intramural Sports – Offered in multiple seasons throughout the school year, intramurals promote participation, teamwork, and physical activity in a fun, supportive environment.
- Boys and Girls Club – NNS Clubhouse – Provides afterschool care and enrichment activities. This program is operated by the Boys and Girls Club and rents space within our building.
- Girl Scouts – Encourages leadership, friendship, and service. This organization also rents space in our building to host meetings and events.
- Nikiski Freestyle Wrestling Club – Offers students the opportunity to learn and grow in the sport of wrestling. This club is independently operated and rents facility space at NNS.
These programs reflect our school community’s commitment to supporting the whole child—academically, socially, and physically—while partnering with outside organizations that share our vision.
iReady (Math)
The median percent progress towards Typical Growth for NNS is 91%. Typical Growth is the average annual growth for a student at their grade and baseline placement level.
CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts)
During the 2024–2025 school year, Nikiski North Star Elementary continued the implementation of the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum. Now adopted districtwide as the Tier I language arts program, CKLA is designed to build strong foundational literacy skills through a structured, knowledge-rich approach. It emphasizes reading, writing, speaking, and listening while introducing students to a broad range of content in history, science, literature, and the arts. This continued implementation supports the development of critical thinking and comprehension skills, providing a consistent and high-quality language arts experience across all grade levels.
School Projects/Initiatives
At Nikiski North Star Elementary, we are proud to be a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) school. This means we focus on recognizing and reinforcing positive student behavior to help prevent challenges before they arise. Staff actively acknowledge students through positive office referrals and praise tickets that include specific, encouraging feedback. Our goal is to build a safe, supportive, and respectful school environment where all students can thrive.
For the 2025–2026 school year, our classroom structure will include:
- Kindergarten
- Kindergarten/1st Grade (K/1)
- 1st Grade
- 2nd Grade (two classrooms)
- 3rd Grade
- 3rd/4th Grade (3/4)
- 4th Grade
- 5th Grade (two classrooms)
We also offer a well-rounded, integrated Specials program following the STREAM model:
Science, Technology, Recreation, Engineering, the Arts (including Music, Theater, and Dance), and Mathematics.
Each student receives:
- 3 days of Physical Education
- 1 Lab day (hands-on science and tech learning)
- 1 Arts Room day (focused on creativity and expression)
In addition to academics, we proudly support several schoolwide programs that help students develop self-regulation and conflict resolution skills, including Kelso’s Choices, Zones of Regulation, Second Step, and Empowering Education.
Intermediate grade students also have the opportunity to participate in intramural sports, such as cross country running, cross country skiing, and basketball—promoting teamwork, fitness, and fun.
We look forward to a fantastic year of learning and growth!
Honors, Awards and Recognitions
- Nikiski North Star Elementary (NNS) has earned several honors and recognitions that reflect its commitment to excellence in education and community engagement.
- Schoolwide Recognitions
- National Blue Ribbon School (1994): NNS was honored as a National Blue Ribbon School for Exemplary High Performance, a prestigious national recognition of academic excellence. Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
- STEM Design Challenge Champions (2021–22): Two NNS teams achieved first place in the KPBSD STEM Design Challenge, with their toothpick bridges holding over 40 pounds of water without structural failure.
- Student Achievements
- Future Problem Solving Team (2020): A team comprising Jackson Hooper, Eli Brigham, Alena Ellis, and Milly Hornung qualified for the state competition for the first time in over 15 years. They secured first place in the presentation of scenario division and second place in the problem-solving competition.
- Academic Competitions:
- Masonic Outstanding Student
- Spelling Bee Winner
- Staff Recognition
- Alan Haskins Principal of the Year (2023): Principal Jenna Fabian received this district-level award, acknowledging her leadership and dedication to the school community.
- Community and Cultural Engagement
- NNS has demonstrated a strong commitment to community involvement and cultural enrichment through various initiatives.
- Community Partnerships: Collaborations with local businesses, such as Nikiski Hardware & Supply, have provided students with hands-on learning experiences, including building planter boxes and participating in reading events.
- Arts and Performance: Students have engaged in musical productions, including a fifth-grade musical titled “Pirates,” and participated in local theater productions like “Mary Poppins” at the Triumvirate Theater.
- Social-Emotional Learning: The school has implemented programs to support students’ emotional well-being, with data indicating that 90% of primary students could articulate strategies to manage their emotions effectively.
- These accomplishments highlight Nikiski North Star Elementary’s dedication to fostering academic excellence, student development, and community engagement.
School Climate and Mindset Key Data
School Culture Highlights
At Nikiski North Star Elementary, the vibrant and diverse student population reflects a rich tapestry of backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. Approximately 8% of the students proudly identify with tribal affiliations, enriching the school’s cultural landscape. Additionally, 26% of the students receive Special Education support, including those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and gifted services, while another 25% benefit from targeted intervention support. Our school population experiences transiency, as students relocate to our community from other areas on the Kenai and even from out of state, which adds to the dynamic learning environment. This inclusive setting fosters a sense of belonging and encourages collaboration among all students.
Family and Community Engagements/Highlights
Nikiski North Star Elementary fosters strong connections between families and the broader community through a variety of meaningful initiatives:
Parent/Teacher Conferences
– Strengthens the partnership between home and school through regular opportunities for collaboration and goal setting.
Family Resource Center
– Provides games and educational activities for families to borrow, supporting learning and connection at home.
Communication
– Uses the schoolwide platform Bloomz to keep families informed and engaged in their children’s education.
Family Engagement Events
– Supported by the NNS PTO and Title I, events include Bingo for Books, Family Nights, and the annual Fall Carnival fundraiser that brings families and community members together.
Intramural Sports for Intermediate Students
– Offers cross country running, cross country skiing, and basketball to promote physical activity, teamwork, and school involvement.
Community Participation
– Attends local events such as Industry Appreciation Day and the Fun in the Midnight Sun Festival through the North Peninsula Recreation Center.
– Encourages family involvement by promoting attendance at Nikiski Middle-High School sporting events.
School Goals
School Climate and Mindset Key Data
Our dedicated staff, who choose to commute from a variety of areas, exemplify an unwavering commitment to fostering an enriching educational experience. Together with our strong, supportive community, we strive to create an inspiring and nurturing environment where every student can thrive.
Supporting a Positive and Safe School Environment at NNS
At Nikiski North Star, we are committed to creating a school environment where every child feels safe, supported, and ready to learn. Over the past two years, we’ve focused on building a positive school culture by teaching social-emotional skills and reinforcing positive behavior through schoolwide expectations.
What We Focused On:
Last year, we introduced tools like Kelso’s Choices, Zones of Regulation, and Second Step to help students learn how to solve problems, manage emotions, and treat others with respect. We also began using Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to create clear behavior expectations across our school.
What We Saw:
In the 2023–2024 school year, our office recorded 157 behavior referrals. Students also reported feeling more respected and confident in handling conflict, according to the district’s Hanover Survey.
This year, our goal was to reduce those referrals by 25% by May 2025. We worked hard to meet this goal by continuing SEL lessons, setting consistent expectations, and checking in with students regularly. In total, we recorded 163 referrals this year—a slight increase. While we didn’t see the reduction we hoped for, the positive changes in how students feel about school are worth celebrating.
What Students Are Saying:
The 2025 Student Climate & Connectedness Survey shows encouraging growth:
- 95% of students said they care about our school (up from 89%).
- 92% said they’re encouraged to do their best (up from 87%).
- 75% said students help each other—even if they aren’t friends (up from 67%).
- 83% said the principal listens to student ideas (up from 67%).
These responses tell us that students are feeling more connected to their school, to each other, and to the adults who support them. We believe this strong foundation will lead to even better outcomes in behavior and learning as we continue this important work together.
Thank you for being a part of our school community and for partnering with us to support your child’s success.