School board to meet
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. in the borough building at 148 N. Binkley Street in Soldotna (unless otherwise noted). For more information, call 907-714-8888 or visit kpbsd.k12.ak.us. The agenda and packet items are posted on Wednesday afternoon prior to the date of the Board meeting. Persons with disabilities who need accommodations to participate at the School Board meetings should contact Debbie Tressler at 907-714-8836 or email dtressleratkpbsd.k12.ak.us no later than three business days before the meeting date. The board will meet:
— March 6
— April 3
— May 1 (Seward High School)
— June 5
— June 6 (Planning Session)
Holidays and vacation days scheduled
— March 10 – End of third quarter, no school for students;
— March 13-17 – Spring Break;
— May 24 – Last day of school.
Scholarship opportunities available
— The Soldotna High School counselor’s office is accepting 2017 Cody Honrud Memorial Scholarship applications for a $2,000 scholarship. The scholarship is available to all 2017 SoHi seniors. Applications and instructions are available at the counselor’s office. All applications must be turned in to the counselor’s office by April 15.
— The Central Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary has released the application packets for its 2017 High School Senior Scholarships. There will be 2 scholarships awarded at $4,000 each. To be eligible, you must be a senior in high school, and have at minimum a 2.5 GPA. You must also be majoring in a medical career. For more information or an application please come to the Central Peninsula Hospital Gift Shop or call Jim Childers at 907-714-4543.
— Kenai Historical Society is offering a $1,000 scholarship to graduating seniors in the KCHS attendance area, including Home School students. Recipient must be enrolled in post-secondary training, academic, or apprenticeship program. The funds may be applied to any school expense, including rent. Criteria for selection includes community service, extra-curricular participation and academics. The application is available online at the KPBSD website under ONESTOP or from the KCHS counselor.
— The Soldotna Rotary Club, and its satellite club in Ninilchik, will be offering eight $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from Cook Inlet Academy, Soldotna High School, Ninilchik High School, River City Academy, as well as local home-school graduates living in the Soldotna area, or actively attending a class or sporting program at one of the above mentioned schools. The Soldotna Rotary Scholarships are based on the Rotary Motto of “Service Above Self.” Recipients will be selected based on community service performed by the applicant during their high school career. Applications are available at school counselor’s offices or the office of Foster Construction. Applications must be postmarked by April 3. Grade Point average or parental financial information is not required.
Child Find preschool screening planned
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Child Find Program will be offering free screenings for preschoolers (3 to 5 years old) at the Ninilchik School on March 22. Your child’s motor skills, speech, early learning concepts, vision and hearing will be screened. Children are seen by appointment only. To make an appointment, please call the Ninilchik School at 567-3301. For more information, contact Robin at 714-8930.
Connections Home-school
Dates To Remember:
Tuesday – Homeschool Gym Time 12-2 p.m.
Thursday – High School Eligibility Due
March 22 – Child Find Preschool Screening at Ninilchik School (more info below)
March 23 – Child Find Preschool Screening at Chapman School (more info below)
March 24 – Child Find Preschool Screenings t McNeil Canyon School (more info below)
April 19 – Connections Art &Talent Show Rehearsal at SoHi 3-5 p.m.
April 20 – Connections Art &Talent Show at SoHi 5:00 p.m.
Iditaread: Our annual Iditaread program starts March 1st! So get out your favorite books or those you haven’t read yet and start keeping track of your reading minutes. When you’ve read your way to Nome and crossed the finish line, see your Connections Office for a prize! If you have any questions, please call the Connections office (714-8880) or email: cnolden@kpbsd.k12.ak.us for more information and how to log onto the Iditarod Insider. Happy reading and MUSH ON!
South Peninsula Child Find Preschool Screenings For: Ninilchik, Homer, Anchor Point, Nikolaevsk, Razdolna, Voznesenka, K-Selo: The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Child Find Program will be offering free screenings for preschoolers (3 to 5 years old). We will screen your child’s motor skills, speech, early learning concepts, vision and hearing. There are three screening dates to choose from:
— Ninilchik School: March 22, 9:30 a.m. to 2: 30 p.m. To make an appointment for your child, please call the Ninilchik School at 567-3301.
— Chapman School, March 23, 9:30 a.m. to 2: 30 p.m. To make an appointment for your child, please call the Chapman School at 235-8671.
— McNeil Canyon School, March 24, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To make an appointment for your child, please call the McNeil Canyon School at 235-8181.
For more information about the screenings, contact Robin at 714-8930.
IDEA Home-school
IDEA is now enrolling students for the 2017-2018 school year! Sign up at www.ideafamilies.org.
All activities and signups are listed in detail on the Region K Blog at www.ideafamilies.org.
Thursday — Last Crazy 8s Math Club
March 14 — Salmon Dissection No. 2. Join Alaska Fish and Game at the IDEA Office for an afternoon full of fish biology! Signups are on the Region K Blog.
Don’t forget to check out IDEA’s Intentional Math emails! These emails are full of wonderful ways to encourage students in the world of math! Math can be fun! Parents can also post daily math activities on IDEA’s regional Facebook page for a chance to win a $25 gift card.
Want up to date information on IDEA activities? Check out the Region K Blog at www.ideafamilies.org.
Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science
The Life Skill we are focusing on this week is Resourcefulness: To respond to challenges and opportunities in innovative and creative ways.
Check out the electronic bulletin board in the entryway for all upcoming events and meetings as well as pictures of Kaleidoscope in action.
Monday
— Artist in Residency (Elizabeth Ware) will be here to work with staff and students.
Tuesday
— Artist in Residency (Elizabeth Ware) will be here to work with staff and students.
— 9:15, Kindergarten are going to Kenai Wildlife Refuge
— 5:30, All the World’s a Stage: Family Event with Guest Artist Elizabeth Ware. All KSAS families are invited to come have fun with theater and drama games suited for the whole family. Maybe even learn some Shakespeare!
Wednesday
— Artist in Residency (Elizabeth Ware) will be here to work with staff and students.
— 4:00, Lottery
— 4:40, APC Special Meeting
Thursday
— Artist in Residency (Elizabeth Ware) will be here to work with staff and students.
— 5th grade $60 fee due for Fjords study trip
— Spirit Day – “Out of This World” – wear your favorite space shirt, pants, or outfit.
— 9:00, 1st &2nd Grade will be going to the Challenger Center
— 3:45-4:45, Creativity and Science Clubs meet
Friday
— Inservice-No School
March 13-17
— Spring Break No School
Two steps are required each school year to be an approved volunteer. Go to http://kaleidoscope.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/wpmu/volunteers and click the link to the background check. This may take 2 weeks for approval to be returned. The next link on the page will take you to the Online Volunteer Training. Read and complete the quiz at the end.
Mark your calendar
March 23 — Spring Pictures-sibling pictures will be from 12-1. Only students who have purchased packets will get pictures taken.
March 27-31 — Staff Appreciation
March 27 — 4:15 APC meeting
April 3-7 — 3rd &4th will be participating in state testing
April 5 — Early release- School ends at 2:10 p.m.
April 10-14 — 5th grade will be participating in state testing
April 10-13 — Kindergarten Visitation for our incoming kindergarteners.
April 17-21 — 4th grade will be will be participating in state testing on Science
April 14 — 5th grade will walk to the creek.
April 19 — 1:30 Kindergarten will walk to the creek.
April 20 — 5:30-6:30 Kindergarten Music Concert
April 24 — 6:00 a.m. 5th grade will go on a Kenai Fjords trip in Seward
Winter is here and students need to be prepared to go outside unless the temps are below -10. Please remember to send them to school with their name written on their snow pants, hats, gloves and coats as well as on their backpacks and lunch boxes.
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary
It has been a month of competition at K-Beach. Congratulations to Aliah Schouweiler, our Spelling Bee champion. She will be representing our school at the state Spelling Bee at the end of the month. We would also like to thank our awesome judges, Dr. Kashi, Mrs. Mullet, Mrs. Stockton and Mrs. Duhan.
We have some terrific public speakers at K-Beach who represented our school at the District Forensics Competition on Feb. 25. Our sixth grade competitors Avrie Medina and Madisyn Braden took 3rd place in interpretive reading multiples. From fifth grade, Haily Woodward placed 6th in non-humorous poetry, Hally Elder-Hanson placed 2nd in humorous prose, and Abriella Werner placed 2nd in non-humorous prose. Finally, from our very talented 4th grade group, Madelyn Ross was 1st place in humorous poetry, Kaydence Monti took 1st place in interpretive reading, and Delaney Smith won 1st place in storytelling. A giant thank you to our volunteer judges, Mrs. Reynolds, Mr. Dolphin, Mr. Klaben, Mr. Moos, Mrs. Dolphin and Ms. Kaufman.
K-Beach Leadership will be starting a fundraiser called Pennies for Pets. This fundraiser will run through the month of March. All proceeds will go to the Soldotna Animal Shelter.
The K-Beach 6th graders would like to thank all of the generous businesses and community members for their donations to our Peterson Bay field trip.
Mr. Daniels’s class has two winners of the KPBSD District Forensics Competition. Madison Ross and Delaney Smith both placed 1st in their categories. The class is very proud of them.
The students have started working on constellation reports. Each student will be researching a particular constellation, creating a Microsoft PowerPoint, and presenting to the class by the end of the week.
Since the class recently read a story about service dog training, they got to Skype with a parent on Friday who needs a service to help her with a form of diabetes. The students listened to her presentation, watched a video, and had a chance to ask questions.
Friday — Inservice day, no school.
March 13-17 — Spring Break, no school.
Kenai Central High
Friday is the end of the quarter/teacher in-service day. Spring Break will start Friday for the students and school will not resume until March 20. Have a safe and relaxing break!
Spring athletes will be finally able to spring into action as softball, track and field, and soccer practices can start in early March. Students wanting to participate in Spring Sports must have a current physical, turned in all the required paper work, and pay their dues before they can participate in any sport.
Thursday:
— Boys Varsity Basketball at Regions Kodiak High School TBD
— Girls Varsity Basketball at Regions Kodiak High School TBD
Friday:
— No School: Teacher In-service
— Boys Varsity Basketball at Regions Kodiak High School TBD
— Girls Varsity Basketball at Regions Kodiak High School TBD
Saturday:
— Boys Varsity Basketball at Regions Kodiak High School TBD
— Girls Varsity Basketball at Regions Kodiak High School TBD
Kenai Middle
Congratulations to our Character Counts winners Aicha Kisena and Maryna Hurst. Thank you for your continued efforts to be an example of good character at KMS.
We have a new Boxtops for Books winner for the month of February. Congratulations to Esther Joseph.
Our February Students of the Month are: Taylor Carver, Nekoda Cooper, Milena Doyle, Delaney Duck, Leroy Evarts, Summer Foster, Joseph Foster, Ester Joseph, Bethany Morris, and Rylie Sparks. Congratulations to each and every one of you! These students will receive pizza for lunch on Tuesday.
This is the last week for After-School Tutoring.
Come join us for the 3rd Quarter Band Recital today in the KMS Gym. Beginning band will perform at 5:30, Intermediate Band at 6:15, and Concert Band at 7:00. We look forward to seeing you there.
On Tuesday, Mrs. Bird and the KMS Choir will host the Annual Spring Concert. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to hear them in action. It’s always a treat! The concert begins at 7:00 and will be held at the KCHS auditorium.
The annual 8th grade field trip is Thursday. 8th grade students will visit Solid Rock for a day of fun and adventure! All students must have their fieldtrip permission slip turned in. The fee is $15.
Friday there is no school for students. Enjoy the long weekend and the rest of your Spring Break!
March 13-17 is spring break! We hope you have an enjoyable and safe holiday and we look forward to seeing you bright and early the morning of March 20.
Mountain View Elementary
Junior Achievement members will be visiting Mountain View Elementary on Thursday. Members of the business community will spend the day in classes teaching students about business management, entrepreneurship, and finances.
Friday is an Inservice Day for staff. There is no school for students.
Spring break is the week of March 13 – March 17.
Nikiski Middle-High
Congratulations to Bryan Rutherford, Carlee Rizzo, Lochlan Quiner, and Katelyn Moore for competing in the DDF state finals. Bryan Rutherford placed 6th in Humorous Interpretation. Carlee Rizzo, Lochlan Quiner, and Katelyn Moore placed 7th in Reader’s Theater.
Thursday-Saturday – Region III Southcentral Conference Basketball at Nikiski. Come and support the Bulldogs! The games will be streamed. A link and the bracket will be available on the Nikiski Middle/High home webpage. Games begin at noon on Thursday and Friday. Games begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Basketball State Tournament — March 23-25 at the UAA Alaska Airlines Center.
Friday — No School for students/teacher in-service, end of 3rd quarter
March 13-17 — Spring Break – School closed
Nikiski North Star Elementary
The NNS Science Fair was a huge success! Congratulations to the grand champion, Maggie Grenier! Students in grades three, four and five participated and the winners from each grade are: 3rd and 4th grades – 1st place – Ashlynne Playle and Jackson Anding, 2nd place – Jackson Wittmer, Kailey Stynsberg and Avery Ellis, and 3rd place – Laura Barger, Bailey Demello-Rice, Everett Chamberlain and Dresden Reith; 5th grade winners: 1st place – Diva Thies, 2nd place – Zoey Ellis and 3rd place – Julia Smith, Brooke Able and Nolan Boehme. A special thank you goes to Janell Grenier for helping to make it all a success!
There is no school on Friday because it is teacher inservice. Spring Break is March 13th through 17th. School resumes on March 20th. NNS wishes everyone a very restful, safe and fun break!
Skyview Middle
Last week of the Third Quarter! Please check your child’s progress on Power School.
Tuesday – 8th grade students will register for 9th grade classes. Ms. Ruebsamen from Soldotna Prep will visit Skyview Middle School.
Thursday – Last day of third quarter.
Friday, March 10 to Sunday, March 19 – No school for students – Spring Break.
Track and Field begins on April 3! This is a no-cut sport. Any student who wishes to join Track must turn in the required sports forms before participation. Forms must be filled out for each sport. All forms can be picked up at the Front Office or found online at http://skyviewmiddleschool.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us > Skyview Sports > Required Sports Paperwork> Forms 1 – 2.
Congratulations to the February Students of the Month: Austin Adlam, Ashlee Anderson, Oliver Barnes, Evan Bergevin, Brier Books, Emma Brantley, Heidi Brendtro, Aldon Burns, Ellie Burns, Blake Bush, Ashlee Byers, Taylor Bynum, Micha Campbell, Rhys Cannava, Morgan Chace, Anna Chadburn, Miyah Clark Hassenfratz, Wyatt Conner, Katherine Conner, Tyler Cox, Cory Curry, Dylan Dahlgren, Shraddha Davis, Shaeley Derleth, Rozilynn Dobson, Cole Donovan, Seraiah Dorman, Eva-Maye Dunn, Taylor Edwards, John Einerson, Mackenzie Elsey, Ethan Evans, Montana Fischer, Mack Frost, Brian Fry, Brayden Gagnon, Victoria Garcia, Misty Gardiner, Matthew Gist, Caleigh Glassmaker, Lexi Gridley, Louis Grimaldi, Ava Grossl, Gwendolyn Hagelund, William Hamby, Justin Hansen, Avery Hart, Kaidence Harvey, Blaine Hayes, Paige Hegwer, Jordan Henley, Angel Howlett, Thomas Hudson, Angela Iraheta Sorto, Harley Johnson, Kenneth Johnson, Nathanael Johnson, Satvia Kidd, Catherine Kline, Christian Kuczmarski, Sierra Kuntz, Noah Land, Brittany Lewis, Felix Lybarger, Loretta Maal, Cesar Mariscal, Claudia Martinez, Nicholas McConnell, Grace McElroy, Lila McKay, Melanie Misner, Josie Moore, Priscila Moreno, Isaac Nagasako, Jerrod Oberts, Snowy Pannell, Kluane Pannick Pootjes, Joshua Pieh, Giovanni Rigutto, Ricardo Rincon, Isabella Rodriguez, Kendra Rolenc, Thea Scanlon, Zekarias Schwartz, Ayden See, Deanna Shepard, Tristin Sipes, Derek Spezialy, Kaidan Spies, Morgan Spies, Laynee Strausbaugh, Jordan Strausbaugh, Cole Stubblefield, Carly Sturman, Crystle Tapia, Jacob Tiedemann Rattray, Isabella Tough, Zachary Ulrich, Kody VanDyke, Kalee Vanderwall, Alice VanHoose, Hosanna VanHout, Lainey Wattam, Dominic Wendell, Reece Wick, Jolie Widaman, Evelyn Wilcox, Sarina Wilkinson, Aiden Willets, Aleena Zener, Bryce Zimmer.
Soldotna Montessori Charter School
It will be a busy 4-day week for students.
Mrs. Romberg’s class will perform original puppet shows at the Soldotna Library on March 9th and 23rd.
The kindergarteners are having a “Brownies in a jar” fundraiser, $8. a jar for chocolate or butterscotch. Pre-order and it will be ready on Thursday.
It will be the last week for community service groups. For the last 8 weeks, intermediate students have been volunteering:
4th grade — Bishops Attic
5th Grade — Food Bank
6th Grade — Zero Waste Initiative, including a mini-pantry.
Monday — Admission Lottery drawing conducted. Admissions will be posted on March 27.
Tuesday — PTO meeting at 4:00
Wedsday — Mrs. Carter’s class goes snowshoeing to conduct a winter investigation at the Kenai Wildlife Refuge.
Thursday — Mr Faris’ class goes to Alyeska 7:30 am-6:30 p.m.
Friday — Teacher Inservice/no school for students.
Have a safe and happy Spring Break March 13-17.
Soldotna High
Soldotna High School and Soldotna Prep School are happy to announce the official opening of the Cinderella Closet 2017 hosted in the Choir Room of Soldotna Prep School, 426 W Redoubt Ave., Soldotna. Opening Dates: March 6, 7, 21, and 23 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
The SoHi and SoPrep libraries are collaborating for another year of March Madness! Students will be given the opportunity to vote on the (Sweet) 16 most checked out books from this school year. Every 3 days the books will be whittled down parallel to the actual March Madness schedule. Students will vote on the Elite 8, the Final 4, and the Top 2. The Championship book will be announced at lunch on April 4.
Parents of Juniors: After Prom fundraising is underway. Your help is needed. Please contact Sheilah-Margaret Pothast at agr8fulmom@hotmail.com with “After Prom” in the subject line for more information. Our next meeting is March 9 at 6 p.m. in the SoHi Staff Lounge. Please consider assisting with this event that provides a fun and safe place for our young people to go after the Prom. Thank you!
Parents of Freshmen and Sophomores: Volunteering with After Prom is a great way to get involved and see what’s coming up for you in the years ahead! Please contact Sheilah-Margaret Pothast at agr8fulmom@hotmail.com with “After Prom” in the subject line for more information.
SoHi PTSA does not meet in March due to Spring Break. Our next meeting is April 13 at 5:30 p.m. in the SoHi Staff Lounge. ALL parents are welcome and encouraged to be a part of our membership.
Fundraising for After Prom is underway! All Parents of Juniors are encouraged to help out with this event. Monetary donations in any amount are needed and appreciated and can be sent into the school in care of “After Prom.” Volunteers are needed to help get donations from local businesses and organizations, plan games and activities, help take tickets at Sneak A Peek, set up and clean up the event, and chaperone the event. There are many areas available to volunteer and we encourage every Parent of a Junior to contribute in some way. Our next planning meeting is February 16 at 6:30pm in the SoHi Staff Lounge right after the PTSA meeting. Please contact Sheilah-Margaret Pothast at agr8fulmom@hotmail.com with “After Prom” in the subject line with any questions or to volunteer/donate. Thank you so much for supporting our efforts to provide a fun and safe place for our young people to have fun after the Prom on April 1.
Graduation is May 22 at 7pm at the Sports Center.
The SoHi SkillsUSA chapter is having a fund raiser selling rural mail boxes. Contact Advisor Mr. Gordon at 260-7000 for more information.
The afterschool tutoring buses leave at 4:15. You must be on the route list to ride the bus. See Ms. Wear or Ms. Bartman in the library to find out more information and/or get on the bus list. You can also email them at twear@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or call 260-7036.
Soldotna Prep
SoPrep and SoHi libraries will together participate in a March Madness playoff bracket with 16 books in the running until a champion will be announced on April 4th. Every 3 days a new email link to the recent batch of winners will be available for all students and staff to vote until there is one champion left standing. For any questions come to the library!
Today — Bon Voyage Concert (7:00 p.m., SoHi Auditorium)
Friday — End of 3rd Quarter / No School (In service Day)
March 11-19 — Spring Break
Robotic Club meets Monday and Thursday from 2:30 – 4:30 in Room 19.
After School Tutoring Monday and Wednesday 2:30 – 3:30 in Room 14 and Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 30, and during the lunch hour Monday through Friday in Room 10.
Please visit Soldotna Prep School Page for important information http://soldotnaprep.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/home/.
Sterling Elementary
We have a new challenge! We are challenged to make only positive comments through the month of February! Help us at home! Turn those negative comments into positives!
March 6-March 10 — Love your People Week at Sterling Elementary! We have a whole week planned of staff appreciation! We didn’t want to wait until teacher/ staff appreciation week in May! If you have someone on our staff that you want to appreciate, please do!
Today — Board of Education Meeting 6:00 p.m.
Thursday — Doughnuts with Dads! 8:15 in the cafeteria! Dads, come join your children for a sweet morning treat!
Friday — Teacher in service day – No school for students!
March 13 – 17 — Spring Break! Enjoy your family time!
March 23 — Site Council Meeting – 4:00 p.m. Mrs. McKinley’s room
March 31 — Spring Picture day
Tustumena Elementary
Thursday — 6th Grade vs Staff Basketball Game, 2 p.m.
Friday — Inservice day, no school for students, end of third quarter
March 13-17 — Spring Break
March 21 — PTO Meeting, 4 p.m.
March 23 — Lynx Track Movie at Orca Theater
March 27 — Site Council, 4 p.m.
