KPBSD Antigen Screening for Student Athletes Update 8/18/2021

The KPBSD has updated the KPBSD Mitigation Plan item 10. Sports and Activities.

  1. Sports and Activities Daily symptom check for athletes and coaches, weekly antigen testing (no symptoms/no exposure), antigen testing will depend on travel destination, COVID Return to Play, Before or After Activity Best Practices, volunteer screening. For the health and safety of student athletes and coaches a 12-foot buffering zone from spectators will be in place. Best practice is to place athletic teams on one side of the gym and spectators on the opposite side as gym space allows.

First Day of School Info.

Tuesday is the first day of school!!

With that being said, there are a few things I want to make sure everyone knows before school starts.  The first is that cell phones are not allowed during the instructional day at the middle school any longer.  Students are asked to keep them in their backpacks or their lockers.  If you need to get ahold of your student call the front office at (907) 224-9000, and we will get them the message.  Thanks for your understanding.

The second is that we, along with the elementary and high school, will have our front doors locked from 8:20 onwards.  This out of an abundance of caution as well as being a covid mitigation.  Call the front office, and we will let you in.  Following this, all visitors and volunteers must wear masks if in the school building during the instructional day.  Also, if you plan on volunteering or being a frequent visitor to the building, please go through the background check process of the district website.  Thanks!

Third, there have been some questions about what constitutes a close contact during the school day.  Per Nurse Yoly, a close contact is anyone who is within 6’ of someone for more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period.  A person will be considered a close contact regardless of whether they were masked or not.  However, if a person is vaccinated, they do not need to stay home.  However, it is advised that they are tested 3-5 days after exposure.  This is a fluid situation and subject to change; as we get updates, we will update you.  Thanks for your understanding.

Finally, on Tuesday, students will go into areas by grade level.  6th grade goes to the North Pod where the 6th grade classes are.  7th will go into the south pod.  8th will stay in the auditeria.  Teachers will be stationed in each pod with the student’s schedules and be able to answer any questions that come up. 

Thanks,

Matt Potter

Mpotter2@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

(907) 224-9025- office

(907) 570-1505- cell

Principal Welcome Back Letter

Welcome Back Students!

First off, I would like to say how excited I am to be working in Seward and with all of your students.  I would also like to take the time to welcome Lizzy Sutphin onboard as our 7th/ 8th Grade ELA Teacher.  Congratulations Lizzy!!

I hope everyone is excited for the 2021-2022 school year.  Our staff is currently hard at work preparing to welcome students back into the building, starting August 17th.  The school day will run from 7:50-2:20. 6th Grade Orientation will be Thursday, August 12th from 5-7 PM.  We are also inviting students and families in either 7th or 8th grade who haven’t attended Seward Middle School before to swing by to get a tour of the building.  Open house for all grades will happen once school starts, and we will send the dates out to you all.

We are all ready to get back to school and look forward to working with you all this year.  Please keep an eye on the website and Facebook page for any updates throughout the school year, and don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email.  I have talked to a decent number of families and will be reaching out to the rest of you in the coming week.

Thanks,

Matt Potter

Principal

Mpotter2@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

(907) 224-9025- office

6th Grade Orientation

Hello 6th Grade Families!!

On Thursday, August 12th from 5-7 PM please join your student’s 6th grade teachers; Mr Ellsworth, Mrs Dixon and Mr Cee Jay along with Mr Potter for 6th Grade Orientation.  Meet your teachers!! Figure out how your lockers work!!  See how the school is laid out!!  Get any questions about the upcoming school year answered!! We look forward to seeing all of you at the Middle School!!

2021 Alaska History Teacher of the Year!

Myla Liljemark has been named the 2021 Alaska History Teacher of the Year, an award presented annually by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to K-12 American history education.

In 2021, parents, students, teachers, and administrators nationwide nominated a record 8,510 teachers for the History Teacher of the Year Award.  Amidst a very competitive field, Myla Liljemark rose to the top in Alaska.

Inaugurated in 2004, the History Teacher of the Year Awards highlights the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school.  The award honors one K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and US Territories.  In fall 2021, the National History Teacher of the Year will be selected form the pool of state winners.

In addition to a $1000 honorarium, our school will receive a core archive of American history books and Gilder Lehrman educational materials and recognition at a ceremony in Alaska.

Here is a link to the website and all state winners:  here is the link

School starts August 17th @ 7:50 am!

Registration for school is now open to students, if you are new to the district you can get registered online here: https://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/students_parents.aspx?id=448

If you are a returning student you may register here at this link:https://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/students_parents.aspx?id=39221

More info. coming soon about open house and 6th grade orientation.

Please contact the school secretary, Loretta Honebein with any questions at 224-9000 or lhonebein@kpbsd.k12.ak.us.