Around the District

Schools close for holiday break

The last day of classes at area schools will be Friday. Schools will be closed through the Christmas and New Years' holidays and will reopen Jan. 6. The Peninsula Clarion will not publish a Schools section Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.

After the Bell offers holiday programs

The Soldotna Boys and Girls Club After the Bell program will be open several days during winter break for students in grades one through eight. The "Cultural Christmas" program will operate from Soldotna Middle School and will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 27 and 30 and Jan. 2 and 3. The club is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the holidays. There will be additional fees for field trips. For more information, call 262-5412 or 398-2923.

Challenger Center offers winter missions

The Challenger Learning Center of Alaska will present "Houston, We Have a Problem," a special mission for third- and fourth-graders from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 27. Admission is $20, and a minimum of 12 participants is required. To register, call the center at 283-2000 by Friday.

The center also will host "Mission: Impossible," a double mission for fifth- through seventh-graders, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 3. Cost is $65, and a minimum of 14 participants is required. To register, call 283-2000 by Dec. 27.

District offers AVTEC, KPC scholarships

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is sponsoring scholarships for a 2003-04 full-year tuition wavier from the Alaska Vocational Technical Center in Seward and for a 2003-04 full-year tuition waiver from Kenai Peninsula College. The scholarships are available to students graduating in May 2003. Applications are available at www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/voced/ default.htm or by contacting a school counselor. All applications must be postmarked by March 14.