Child Find 9/5/25

More info here: https://kpbsd.org/free-child-find-developmental-vision-and-hearing-screenings-september-2025/

Would you like more information about your child’s development?
CHILD FIND Can Help!
9/5/2025 at the Seward Community Library

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) provides free screening for children birth through 5 years old (not yet in kindergarten)

Areas screened include: speech and language, learning and understanding, coordination and movement, social-emotional skills, self-helping skills (feeding, dressing, and toileting), vision or hearing.

Children already identified with disabilities should also be screened if not receiving special education services through the district.

Child Find brochure: https://kpbsd.org/…/2023-2024/Childfind-Brochure.pdf

Developmental Checks:

By Age 3
-Count to 3
-Speak to most adults and be understood
-Build a tower of at least 8 blocks
-Walk up and down stairs
-Run without falling very often
-Follow simple directions
-Repeat simple sounds or rhymes
-Match colors and shapes
-Put on some clothes without help
-Point to 6 parts of the body (hair, nose, eyes, feet, hands, mouth)
-Name several objects (chair, box, ball, etc…)
-Imitate drawing a circle (even if it is not quite round)

By Age 4
-Count to 5
-Speaks in sentences of about 5 words
-Asks “how” and “why” questions
-Cuts with scissors
-Stands on one foot without falling
-Catch and throw a ball
-Holds crayons with fingers, not fist
_Answers simple question like: “What do you do when you are hungry?”
-Recognize and name 3-4 colors
-Enjoys playing with other children
-Dresses self completely (with help on pullover shirts and sweaters)

By Age 5
-Count 5 objects
-Explain what objects are used for
-Understand the concept of “yesterday”, “today”, and “tomorrow”
-Climb a ladder to a slide
-Cuts with scissors on a straight line
-Copy a picture of a circle and a square
-Understand words like “on”, “under”, and “behind”
-Match colors and shapes
-Go to the bathroom without help

Free and Reduced Lunch

Apply for Free or Reduced Lunch:

https://www.schoolcafe.com/KENAIPENINSULABOROUGHSD

Free or reduced meal price eligibility is based on income and household size. If you are not sure if you qualify, we encourage you to apply.

Approval for Free or Reduced meals serves 2 primary purposes:

1) Provides families the financial benefit of receiving school meals at a reduced rate or even free. We do not want a family’s financial situation to determine a student’s access to breakfast or lunch.

2) Schools receive additional funding based on the overall percentage of approved applications. These funds can be used for additional staff to provide academic support for our students, pre-school programs, additional academic resources, etc…

Fall MAPS testing

3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade MAPS Testing starts next week.

MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing provides teachers with valuable, immediate insights into student learning, allowing for more tailored instruction and support. It helps identify students’ strengths and areas for improvement, fostering growth and informing instructional decisions. MAP also helps track student progress over time and compare it to national norms, offering a comprehensive view of academic development.

Seward Schools Art Show

Please join us for the Seward Schools Art Show. Featuring performances and pieces supported by the Seward Arts in Schools Program. Wednesday, April 30 at 5:45 at Seward Elementary School.

Book Fair!

Dear Seward El Families,


It’s Scholastic Book Fair time!!! The fair will be open April 14-17, and each class will have a chance to shop during their library time. Look for letters coming home this week with your student’s class shopping time. The fair will also be open to the public Monday through Wednesday, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

All proceeds from the fair benefit our school library program!

If you would like your student to be able to make purchases at the book fair, please see below for payment options:

* Cash (preferably in an envelope with your child’s name on it)

* Check (made out to Seward Elementary)

* Credit card— Send in a note and include your phone number. I will call you for your credit card information by Wednesday afternoon and your child’s purchase will be set aside until we have processed the payment.

* eWallet – this is a great new credit card payment method. Parents who tried out this option last year said it was super easy and convenient! Please visit this website to set up eWallet. https://www.scholastic.com/bf/sewardelementaryschool

If you would like your child to purchase something specific, please let us know! If there is no note, we will assume your child can spend the money however they wish.

Thank you for supporting our Seward Elementary Book Fair!

-Mrs. Bamford, Library Aide
(907) 224-7573
jbamford@kpbsd.org

P.S. The book fair is also available for online shopping April 14 through April 27. Just visit: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/sewardelementaryschool

We’re Hiring!

We are hiring for the 2025-2026 School Year! We are in need of a Special Education Intensive Needs Teacher, an Occupational Therapist, and a Speech-Language Pathologist. 

Special Education Teacher position posting & application: https://www.applitrack.com/kpbsd/onlineapp/default.aspx?AppliTrackPostingSearch=location:%22Seward+Elementary+School+-+Seward+Area%22

Occupational Therapist and Speech-Language Pathologist position postings & applications: https://www.applitrack.com/kpbsd/onlineapp/default.aspx?AppliTrackPostingSearch=location:%22Seward+Area%22