School board to meet
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets at 7 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 dtressler@kpbsd.k12.ak.us no later than three business days before the meeting date. The board will meet:
■ March 2;
■ April 6;
■ May 4 (at Seward High School);
■ June 1;
■ June 2 (Board planning session).
Career and tech training offered
KPBSD Career and Tech Department is offering free after school academies to train students in the welding, construction and medical field. Listed below are our upcoming academies.
Nikiski High School will be offering a welding academy beginning Jan. 6, running every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Students will be learning Oxy-Acetylene Cutting, torch safety and set up, cutting torch free hand, interpret welding symbols and much more.
In January we will be offering a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) class that is limited to juniors and seniors only. This class will take place at the Workforce Development Center. Students will learn how to physically care for people. Students who are close to the age of 18 by May 2014 will receive a State Certificate after passing the exam. The class is limited to 12 students. Textbooks will be provided, however they are available to purchase for $35 if a student chooses to keep their book. There will be a mandatory meeting (dates and times to be announced). During this meeting class times will be set depending on student and instructor’s schedule.
Any high school student is able to participate in any of our academies. If a student successfully completes the 60 hour academy they will receive a half practical art credit.
To sign up students can see their counselor, call Debbie Pearson at 283-2145 or go to MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from “onestop.kpbsd.k12.ak.us” claiming to be onestop.kpbsd.k12.Alaskaus/
Funding for the Alaska Construction Academies comes from a grant from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and The Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development.
Connections Home School Program
Dates to remember:
■ 02/18 – Salmon in the Classroom Sport Lake Ice Fishing @ 11:10-12:10
■ 03/01 – Fee for Winter Ecology Program Due
■ 03/09-03/13 – Spring Break: Homer & Seward Offices Closed; Soldotna Office Open – No Advisors Available
■ 03/19 – Winter Ecology Overnight Program
■ 03/30-05/01 – Alaska Measure of Progress (AMP) Testing
■ 03/30-03/31 – Soldotna Safe Sitter Class (see below for more information)
■ 03/31 – Purchasing/Ordering Deadline
■ 05/07 Talent Show @ SoHi Auditorium @ 5:00 p.m.
Sport Lake Ice Fishing:
Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game is inviting our students to spend one hour on the ice fishing for rainbow trout and Chinook salmon at Sport Lake. Students learn proper fishing techniques, catch and release etiquette, ice fishing regulations, and safety on the ice. This is an annual event held on February 18th. The time slot for Connections homeschool students is from 11:10 – 12:10. All equipment is provided; participants over 16 need a fishing license. Please remember to dress warm and bring a snack if you plan on staying a while. If you have any questions please call the Connections office at (907) 714-8880.
Winter Ecology Overnight Program:
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS) and Connections Homeschool Program are teaming up again for a fun and educational overnight field trip at Ageya Wilderness Center on the bench above Homer. This trip is open to all Connections Homeschool students in grades 5-8.
This is a 1-night program with lodging in. Topics include adaptations of plants and animals, animal tracking, cold weather safety & survival, shelter-building, guided snowshoe hikes, dutch oven cooking, astronomy, and night (snowshoe) hikes. We will meet in Homer on March 19th @ noon and will be finished March 20th @ noon. Cost for the trip is $82 per person, which can be deducted from the student allotment if the student has a class on their ILP related to this activity. There is also a $10/person fee for food that will be prepared and served on site – this fee needs to be paid out of pocket for all and is non-refundable. All fees will be due by March 1st.
Space is very limited – a maximum of 30 people will be able to attend! Please notify Derek Bynagle in the Homer office or Mark Wackler in the Soldotna office of your interest in this trip as soon as possible or if you have specific questions or concerns. Derek Bynagle – dbynagle@kpbsd.k12.ak.us 226-1880 Mark Wackler – mwackler@kpbsd.k12.ak.us 714-8880
Safe Sitter Course:
Connections and Central Peninsula General Hospital are partnering together to offer the Safe Sitter class for homeschoolers. This is a two day class and will be offered March 30 & 31 from 9:00am to 3:30pm. Children need to be between the ages of 11 & 13 to attend. The cost is $50.00 and may be reimbursable by Connections. For more information go to www.safesitter.org or www.cpgh.org click on quick links, go to community programs and click on safe sitter. For more information, or help registering, please contact Marcia Knowlton 598-0950 (Instructor/Parent contact) or Sheila or Roberta 714-4775(Hospital contacts). Please register with the Hospital Cashier to reserve your child’s seat today!
Connections Talent Show:
The Connections Talent Show has become an event we look forward to each school year. We enjoy seeing the work & success our students are finding outside of the academic realm, and we love giving them a chance to put those talents on display each spring. If your student has a talent they may wish to share at out talent show this year, please contact our talent show coordinator, Mark Wackler, at mwackler@kpbsd.k12.ak.us . The show will be held on May 7th at the Soldotna High School Auditorium at 5:00pm. We look forward to seeing you at the 2015 Connections Talent Show!
Connections Homeschool Science Fair:
It’s time again for the Connections Homeschool Science Fair! Attached to this email is a registration form that needs to be submitted by all students interested in participating in the science fair by February 13th. Projects will be displayed in the office for 1 week (February 23-27) and each student that submits a project will be awarded a small prize. Central peninsula students will submit their registration forms and projects to the Soldotna office, and southern peninsula students will submit their registration forms and projects to the Homer Office. If you have any additional questions please contact advisor Mark Wackler at mwackler@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or 714-8880.
Alaska SeaLife Center:
Freezing Winter Wednesdays: Every Wednesday until February 25th Alaska residents receive free admission to the SeaLife Center! You must have proper Alaska identification and it cannot be combined with any other discounts. For more information please call 888-378-2525. You can also visit their website: www.alaskasealife.org
Kenai Middle
Congratulations to the KMS Math Counts team for their success in the regional competition in Anchorage over the weekend, where they went head-to-head against Homer, Kodiak, and Anchorage teams! Damien Redder, Justin Anderson, and Tucker Mueller, along with Dominik Efta from Aurora, won 2nd place in the team competition. Justin and Tucker also placed in the top 12 in the individual scoring, and Justin went on to win 1st place in the CountDown Round! Team members will go on to state competition in Fairbanks on March 28th.
Congratulations to Gary Dent, Tucker Mueller, Jacob Nabholz, and Maria Salzetti, our 7th and 8th grade Battle of the Books team and to Isabelle Harris, Abigail Moffett, and Racheal Pitsch, our 6th grade battle of the Books team, each who took 3rd place in the contest held last week.
There is Volleyball for A, B, and C teams in Homer on the 17th beginning at 3:30.
The KMS Site Council will meet on February 17 at 4:45. Everyone is welcome.
There is more Volleyball for A, B, and C teams on the 19 in Nikiski beginning at 3:00. Good Luck Lady Kossacks!
Cross Country skiers will compete @ SMS on February 20 beginning at 3:00.
The Borough Wrestling meet will be held @ SMS on February 21 beginning at 10:00.
Have a great week!
Mountain View Elementary
The Site Council will be meeting on Thursday, February 19 at 4:00 PM in the Library. The agenda will include discussion on the process for choosing a parent representative for site council and progress on the Mountain View Strategic Plan.
The D.A.R.E. graduation for 5th grade students will be on Tuesday, February 24 at 6:00 p.m. in the gym.
February is Love of Reading month. We have invited a variety of community members to come visit classrooms at Mountain View and read to students on Thursday, February 26.
Friday, March 6 is an in-service day. There is no school for students.
Spring break is the week of March 9 – March 13.
Redoubt Elementary
February 26 – Pre-registration forms for next year 15/16 school year will be sent home.
February 28 – Winter Carnival Noon – 4:00 p.m.
March 6 – No school for students – In-service day for teachers
Yearbooks are on Sale – $15.00 pre-order yours now, make checks payable to Redoubt Elementary. Yearbooks will arrive in May. Order forms have been sent home with students.
Redoubt’s Third Annual “Winter Carnival”. Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 28th, noon to 4:00 pm. This event is open to the community. Come join us for an afternoon of fun. There will be door prizes, raffles, games, and a silent auction. Don’t miss the opportunity to dunk Mr. Pothast in the dunk tank. If you would like to volunteer to help at the carnival please call the school office. Maybe you own a business and wish to make a donation of goods or services for the auction, if so, please contact the school office. Themed basket items are being collected from each classroom for the silent auction, please contact your child’s teacher for the theme of their classroom basket. A complete list will be printed in the school’s weekly newsletter. Watch the weekly school newsletter for additional raffles and information about the carnival.
HELP WANTED
We are looking for volunteers for our Winter Carnival, Saturday, February 28. If you would like to help we would be happy to have you join us. Please contact the school office for more information.
Raffle tickets are currently on sale for $20.00 each. First place – iPad Air 2 64GB, Second Place –
2 RT tickets to Anchorage/Kenai on Grant Aviation & Third Place Toshiba Tablet 8GB. Drawing to be held at the Winter Carnival on February 28th. Only 450 tickets will be sold. Stop by the school office to purchase your tickets.
Congratulation to Redoubt students for meeting this quarter’s PBIS goal. In celebration, students enjoyed an hour of playing board games and snacks.
Mr. Joachim Redoubt’s PE teacher has taken PE to the next level. Last week students began using the new skis purchased by the Redoubt PTA. Students will learn how to maneuver on skis and enjoy the outdoors with a new perspective.
Good luck to all of the 4th, 5th and 6th grade students competing in our school wide forensics meet next week.
Nikiski Middle-High
Monday, February 16
■ JV Girls Basketball @ Nikiski vs. Homer – 3:00 p.m.
■ JV Boys Basketball @ Nikiski vs. Homer – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 17
■ Middle School Volleyball @ Nikiski vs. Skyview Middle – 3:00 p.m.
■ JV Girls Basketball @ SoHi – 3:00 p.m.
■ JV Boys Basketball @ SoHi – 4:30 p.m.
■ Varsity Girls Basketball @ SoHi – 6:00 p.m.
■ Varsity Boys Basketball @ SoHi – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 19
■ Middle School Volleyball @ Nikiski vs. Kenai – 3:00 p.m.
Friday, February 20
■ Middle School Cross Country Skiing @ Homer Invite – 3:00 p.m.
■ JV Girls Basketball @ Seward – 3:00 p.m.
■ JV Boys Basketball @ Seward – 4:30 p.m.
■ Varsity Girls Basketball @ Seward – 6:00 p.m.
■ Varsity Boys Basketball @ Seward – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 21
■ Middle School Wrestling Boroughs @ Skyview – 10:00 a.m.
Nikiski North Star Elementary
NNS is celebrating Love of Reading Month during the whole month of February. Our “One School, One Book” activity has begun. We are reading Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White. We ask families to read the assigned chapter at home every night and discuss what happened in the chapter. The following day, we will announce questions related to the chapter during morning announcements. There will be prizes awarded for students who are able to answer the questions correctly. This is a wonderful activity for you to be involved in with your children and enjoy the love of reading together as a family. On Friday, February 27th we will have a family movie night at 5:45 pm in the gym. We will be showing the movie of Charlotte’s Web and have popcorn, drinks and a very special themed cake. It is sure to be a fun filled evening and a wonderful way to conclude our Love of Reading month!
Thank you to Travis Moore for donating his time and energy for manning the Scholastic Book Fair held during the week of parent/teacher conferences. You are a valuable volunteer to all of us! Also, thank you to Robin Thye and Monica Heath for coaching our Battle of the Books teams. Each and every one of you are appreciated at NNS!
River City Academy
Last week RCA held a coin drive to raise money for the Model United Nations program. Participants added their spare change to the jar of their favorite teacher, student or staff person. The ‘winner’ was treated to a water balloon soaking on Friday. Teacher Annaleah Karron was the unlucky winner with a total of $156 in change in her jar. Students surrounded Karron outside of the RCA building and enjoyed throwing more than 100 water balloons at the defenseless teacher. In total the students raised $535 for the Model UN program!
Fourteen students and three adults will travel to Anchorage on February 26-28 to participate in the Model United Nations program at UAA. The students will represent four countries this year; Syria, South Africa, Vietnam & Venezuela. This year’s topic is “Waste” and students are expected to research and debate from an accurate cultural point of view. This is River City Academy’s second year participating in the program and we hope to make it an annual academic event. RCA is still fundraising for travel and lodging expenses including an upcoming Spaghetti feed on Monday, February 23, and possibly finding some annual company sponsors who want to partner in support of the program.
RCA will be offering Saturday school opportunities beginning February 21st until the end of the academic school year. Students will be able to focus on specific contents with support from school staff to complete missing work, work toward graduation or accelerate their progress. Classes will be from 8am-1pm and there will be ten Saturday offerings from now until May. Please call the RCA school for specific dates, check out our Facebook Page, or the calendar on our district web site.
RCA is accepting enrollment applications for students in grades 7-12 who are interested in a unique school experience. Students who are looking for a smaller, more personal education and who demonstrate skills in being self-motivating, self-managing and self-advocating are often an ideal fit for RCA. The performance-based model offers students choice in their education, while maintaining a consistent standards-based curriculum. For more information about our upcoming Open House, to register for the Shadow Day or if you have questions, please call 714-8945.
Skyview Middle
Congratulations to the Battle of the Books team for placing Second in the District competition on Monday, February 9! Great job to Mrs. Amy Angleton and the following team participants: Hali Andersen-Currier, Gracie Bass, Kennedy Holland and Jacob McConnell.
Sports Schedule for this week:
■ Tuesday, February 17 – Volleyball – Skyview 7th vs. Nikiski @ Nikiski – 3:00 p.m.
■ Tuesday, February 17 – Volleyball – Skyview B vs. Nikiski B @ Nikiski – 4:30 p.m.
■ Wednesday, February 18 – Volleyball – Skyview 7th vs. Skyview 8th @ Skyview – 3:00 p.m.
■ Wednesday, February 18 – Volleyball – Chapman vs. Skyview B @ Skyview – 4:30 p.m.
■ Friday, February 20 – Volleyball – Homer vs. Skyview 7th @ Skyview – 3:00 p.m.
■ Friday, February 20 – Volleyball – Homer B vs. Skyview B @ Skyview – 4:30 p.m.
■ Friday, February 20 – Nordic Skiing – Homer Invitational @ Homer – 3:00 p.m.
■ Saturday, February 21 – Volleyball – Skyview 8th vs. Homer @ Homer – 10:00 a.m.
■ Saturday, February 21 – Wrestling – Borough Tournament @ Skyview – 10:00 a.m.
Soldotna High
Parents of Seniors, on February 17th at 6:00 there will be a meeting in the Staff Lounge to get started on the After Grad party planning.
The KPBSD Board of Education seeks public input into its process to select a superintendent of schools. The school board invites input from everyone interested in schools, including parents, students, KPBSD staff, site councils, PTAs, volunteers, business and community organizations that partner with schools, community groups, and the public.
Visit the district’s website, www.KPBSD.org, and follow the link on the homepage to rank attributes of importance in the next superintendent, submit general comments, and for more information about further opportunities for input as the process progresses.
The KPBSD Board of Education seeks public input into its process to select a superintendent of schools. The school board invites input from everyone interested in schools, including parents, students, KPBSD staff, site councils, PTAs, volunteers, business and community organizations that partner with schools, community groups, and the public.
Visit the district’s website, www.KPBSD.org and follow the link on the homepage to rank attributes of importance in the next superintendent, submit general comments, and for more information about further opportunities for input as the process progresses.
The National Honor Society will be hosting auditions for the annual Talent Show. The show will be on Thursday, April 2nd at 6:00 PM in the SoHi Auditorium cost is $2. The show will include performing arts in the auditorium as well as the visual arts, which will be on display. Get your acts together along with your talent and your talented friends. In order to participate, you must fill out and sign a registration form as well as attend the mandatory audition & dress rehearsal, which will be Tuesday, March 31st at 2:30 PM. Art students wishing to enter art pieces need to fill out the forms & category and give it to either Ms. Taylor or Ms. Cox along you’re your art piece. You may get the audition forms from Mrs. Raemaeker (room 88) or at the office. These forms must be turned in either to the office or Mrs. Raemaeker by Tuesday, March 31st at 12:00 noon. It is a great night of music, vocals, dance, theatrical pieces and art displays.
The Media Center is open until 5pm Monday-Friday. There are buses at 4:15 for those students working in the Media Center. If your student were to stay after school and would need a bus home at 4:15 please contact Tamra Wear at 260.7036 or twear@kpbsd.k12.ak.us <mailto:twear@kpbsd.k12.ak.us> to give her the bus drop off location for your student.
Soldotna Montessori Charter School
Kindergarten students are beginning a cartography unit. They will map their own classroom before exploring and creating maps of other geographic regions. They are also beginning a study of the Water Cycle.
Primary students kicked off their study of anatomy by dissecting real fish with the help of volunteer Jenny Cope from the Department of Fish and Game. Ms. Cope will also help students conclude their fish anatomy studies with an ice fishing trip to Sport Lake on February 18. Students will use real fish to make “fish prints” using water colors.
Primary students are also learning about the night sky and the phases of the moon. They are making “moon prints” using repeated shapes and texture.
Intermediate students are studying cell structure. Students made models of animal cells by assembling and labeling their own small group pizzas. The pizzas were then baked and eaten!
Intermediate students are also involved in twice-weekly visits to volunteer at the Food Bank, Riverside Assisted Living and the Senior Center this quarter.
Several staff members will attend the Alaska State Montessori Conference at Denali Montessori in Anchorage on February 20.
Maria Allison and Tomoka Raften will perform piano and flute pieces for the 4th – 6th grade students of Soldotna Elementary and Soldotna Montessori on Friday, February 20.
February 27 will be Family Movie Night. Pizzas may be pre-ordered. The gym opens at 5:00 and the movie begins at 5:30.
Soldotna Prep
The National Honor Society will be hosting auditions for the annual Talent Show. The show will be on Thursday, April 2nd at 6:00 PM in the SoHi Auditorium. The show will include performing arts in the auditorium as well as the visual arts, which will be on display. Get your acts together along with your talent and your talented friends. In order to participate, you must fill out and sign a registration form as well as attend the mandatory audition & dress rehearsal, which will be Tuesday, March 31st at 2:30 PM. Art students wishing to enter art pieces need to fill out the forms & category and give it to either Ms. Taylor or Ms. Cox along you’re your art piece. You may get the audition forms from Mrs. Raemaeker (room 88) or at the office. These forms must be turned in either to the office or Mrs. Raemaeker by Tuesday, March 31st at 12:00 noon. It is a great night of music, vocals, dance, theatrical pieces and art displays.
The Hospital Career Fair is open to students in Grades 9-12 and is a great opportunity for those students interested in pursuing a career in the Healthcare Field. There are over 170 different jobs available in this field within the Central Peninsula Hospital organization. Increasing your awareness can assist with your Personal Learning and Career Plan. Applications are available in the Counseling Office and are due back by Wednesday, February 18.
Lego Robotics Camp February 21 1-4 PM at SoPrep. $35 per student ages 6-9 and 10-14. For more information contact Mrs. McGlothen at 260-2333.
Tutoring Monday through Friday in Rm 10 during the lunch hour
Chess Club meets during lunch hour Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in Rm 18
Baseball conditioning 2:45-5:00 in small gym Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, until March 16
After-School Tutoring Monday through Thursday 2:25-3:25
Native Youth Leadership Club in Rm. 10 2:15-3:00 the first and third Wednesday of every month
Poetry Out Loud meetings in Rm. 10 2:15-3:00 the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month
Visit Soldotna Prep blog for current information: http://soldotnaprep.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/wpmu/
Sterling Elementary
■ Sterling held the school Forensics Meet on February 13. Drama and humor prevailed!
■ Sterling PTA meets on February 24 at 4:00 p.m. in the library.
■ Skyview Middle will be coming to Sterling to register our 6th graders for next school year on February 24.
■ Sterling Site Council meets February 26 at 4:00 p.m. If you have recommendations/ comments regarding our birthday invitation policy, now’s the time to bring them up! You can email dkelly@kpbsd.org to give your input for our staff and our site council to review.
■ The PBIS focus for February is Playground Expectations. Students have the opportunity to earn one Super Special Super Big Super Golden Pompom. One adult per recess has one of these pompoms to give out to the one student who displays the best playground behaviors. Parents are called and students become celebrities for their class. The class with the most golden pompom winners is the Super Star Class of the Month for February.
■ Stop at the front desk and fill out a “Kudos” slip for one of our Sterling Staff members. Every slip for a staff member will be celebrated with a Kudos granola bar and the recognition that someone thanks them for what they are doing!
■ Spring Break is March 9 – 13. Enjoy your family time and rest!
Tustumena Elementary
February 17 PTO Meeting, 4 p.m.
February 23 Site Council meeting
February 25 Skyview Middle School Counselor’s Visit 6th Grade
February 28 District Wide Forensics at Tustumena School 10 a.m.
Wings Christian Academy
Happy President’s Day! Today, Wings Christian Academy does not have school. School will resume on Tuesday, February 17. Merit store will also be taking place on that day so bring your merits! This week, Vanessa Uei and Ethan Berga won the “Cleanest Desk of the Week” award.
This is Ethan Berga’s third week in a row winning this award! Will he have any competition next week? Thursday, February 19 is the deadline to bring in Box Tops and Campbell’s Labels for the 3rd quarter.
Collection sheets will be going out at the beginning of the week. Next month, beginning March 5, Wings will be going to the Soldotna. Sports Center to ice skate for PE. The cost for that will be $5 per student. We will also be having our Lost and Found auction that day.
Spring Break will take place the next week from March 9-13. School will resume on Tuesday, March 17.
