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 dtressler@kpbsd.k12.ak.us no later than three business days before the meeting date. The board will meet:
■ Sept. 8 (Homer High School).;
■ Oct. 5;
■ Nov. 2;
■ Dec. 7;
■ Dec. 8 (Worksession);
■ Jan. 11;
■ Feb. 1;
■ Feb. 2 (Worksession);
■ March 7;
■ March 21;
■ April 4;
■ April 5 (Worksession);
■ May 2 (Seward High School);
■ June 6;
■ June 7 (Planning Session);
Holidays and vacation days scheduled
■ Sept. 7 — Labor Day;
■ Oct. 29-30 — Parent-teacher conferences, no school for students;
■ Nov. 26-27 — Thanksgiving;
■ Dec. 16 — End of second quarter, no school for students;
■ Dec. 21-Dec. 31 — Winter vacation;
■ Jan. 18 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day;
■ Feb. 4-5 — Parent-teacher conferences, no school for students;
■ March 11 — End of third quarter, no school for students;
■ March 14-18 — Spring Break;
■ May 18 — Last day of school.
Connections Home School Program
Dates To Remember:
■ Sept. 7 – Labor Day – Office Closed
■ Sept. 10 – Back To School BBQ! 12-2 at Soldotna Creek Park
■ Sept. 8 – Seward School Pictures 12 Noon – @ Seward Middle School
■ Sept. 8, 9 and 15 – Soldotna AIMS Web; please see below for more information
■ Oct. 1– Soldotna School Pictures – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. @ Borough Building: Assembly Room
■ Oct. 15 – Homer School Pictures – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. @ Paul Banks Gym
Back To School BBQ!!!
Please come celebrate the start of another great school year with our annual Back to School BBQ! We will provide: hamburgers & hotdogs, water, chips, cookies. Our staff will have fun activities such as: a scavenger hunt, fishing, face painting along with kick balls, kites, bubbles and more for All Homeschool families!
■ Where: Soldotna Creek Park
■ When: Sept 10 from 12-2 p.m.
If you are interested in homeschooling and any homeschool family is invited – We would love to see you there!
Seward School Pictures 09/08/15:
Seward – 12 Noon @ Seward Middle School
AIMS Web Assessments K-6th Grade Soldotna Office:
Soldotna Connections will be offering AIMS WEB (Math and Reading) Testing on:
■ Sept. 8 at 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
■ Sept. 9 at 5 8:30 – 4 p.m.
■ Sept. 15 at 1:30 – 4 p.m.
The assessment is a brief literacy and math test. Wendi Dutcher and Shelli Furlong will be administering the assessments at the Soldotna Connections office. Please call the Soldotna Connections office at 714-8880 to schedule your student’s appointment.
School Pictures Soldotna Office: 10/01/15
Soldotna – 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. @ Borough Building in the Assembly Room
Homer School Pictures 10/08/15:
Homer – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. @ Paul Banks Gym
Practical Positive Parenting:
Interior Distance Learning of Alaska
IDEA Homeschool is now enrolling. You can apply online at www.ideafamilies.org or come by the IDEA office! Our office is open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Come by and take a look at our Resource Room, filled with curriculum ideas!
Or check out a book in our extensive library! Want homeschooling ideas or advice? Come in and speak with any of our experienced staff, all with homeschooling experience! We are here to serve you!
IDEA has many events coming up:
■ Sept. 8- Orientations at the IDEA office
General Orientation at 12 p.m.
Are you new to IDEA? This is your time to learn the policies and procedures for homeschooling with IDEA. This orientation is to help you find out what services are available for you, learn how to navigate your way around our website, what forms to use and more!
Whether you are new to IDEA or you need a little brush up on our policies; this orientation is for you.
■ FAST Orientation at 1:30 p.m.
The FAST Orientation will teach you to use and access your allotment tracking system. With FAST you can place orders, request reimbursement, check your budget and more! If you are new to IDEA, this orientation is a must! You do not have to be a new IDEA family to attend. If you just want to renew your skills, you are more than welcome.
■ Sept. 11- Back to School Picnic at Soldotna Creek Park on Sept. 11 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. to celebrate a new school year! IDEA will provide the hot dogs, buns and condiments! Please bring a side dish or dessert to share! Don’t forget your water bottles
■ Sept. 15 – Outdoor Education Day at Solid Rock Bible Camp – There are 2 different options to choose from. Check it out online at www.ideafamilies.org.
Signups and more details can be found on our website www.ideafamilies.org. Check out our Region K Blog for up to date events! We look forward to seeing you soon!
Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science
Dates to remember:
Tuesday, Sept. 8
■ 6 p.m. 3rd/4th grade parent night
■ 6:30 p.m. 5th grade parent night
Wednesday, Sept. 9
■ 8 a.m. 1st/2nd Study trip to the Russian River
Thursday, Sept. 10
■ 7 a.m. 5th Grade study trip to Exit Glacier
■ 8:35 a.m. PTA Habitat trail meeting
■ 4 p.m. Family Fun Night Committee meeting
■ 6 p.m. 1st/2nd parent night
Mark your calendars:
■ Sept. 16, 8:35 a.m. PTA meeting
■ Wednesday, September 16 is an early dismissal day. School is dismissed at 2:10 p.m. and buses will run 90 minute earlier than the regular schedule.
■ Sept. 18 Fall Pictures. Packets will be sent home in Friday Folders. Siblings are from 12:00-1:00. To order online visit mylifetouch.com; enter picture day ID code AK315255Q0
■ APC meeting Sept. 21 4:15 p.m.
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary
Mr. Daniels’s Science Class is discovering the wonders of life in the pond! It’s like a page out of a science fiction film. There are creatures with 8 arms, gill fins, and clear bodies. There is another creature with no arms that moves through the water with a spinning motion. The kids look on in amazement as these tiny specks in the water come alive on the projector screen in the classroom. The pond exploration activities are part of an introduction to a life science study of plant and animal structures that support life.
Ms. Chambers’ class has been working hard at Edperformance testing. This will help us to identify individual student needs and track progress. In Social Studies we are reviewing and learning new geographical terms. 4th grade is off to a great start!
Kenai Central High
School pictures were taken Wednesday Sept. 2. If your student was absent, he/she needs to have a picture taken on Picture Make-up Day, Oct. 8. All students need to have their photo taken for a school ID card and yearbook picture.
Activity cards are on sale this year for $20. Admission to all athletic events (excluding region or state tournaments) at KCHS. It’s a great deal for high school students!
Kenai Central is participating in Suicide Prevention month by creating a “Wall of Hope”. The “Wall of Hope” is a way for students to work together with their peers, teachers, counselors, with a goal of reducing teenage suicide rates and creating a healthier, happier, and brighter Alaska for future generations.
■ Tuesday, Sept. 8 Freshman Eligibility Night & Pizza 6 p.m.
■ Thursday, Sept. 10 Volleyball Home vs Kodiak 3:30, 4:30 and 6 p.m.
■ Friday, Sept. 11 Swim/Dive @ Homer, Cross Country @ Seward
■ Saturday, September 12th Football @ Eagle River 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Volleyball Home vs Kodiak 3, 4 and 5:30 p.m.
■ Homecoming Week is Sept. 14 – Sept. 19. The Homecoming theme this year is Star Wars. Feel the force of Homecoming and come get involved!
Kenai Middle
Time is running out to get in your free/reduced lunch applications. You have until Sept. 30 to complete and turn in an application to avoid interruption of benefits.
Even if you have received benefits in the past, you will need to submit a new application. If you have questions, please contact the school at 283-1700.
Box Tops for Pizza has begun for the 2015/2016 year! The student who brings in the most Box Tops for the month wins a pizza for lunch. Start clipping and saving! We always appreciate the support!
Friday, Sept. 11 is a busy day! It is Picture Day! Picture packets were sent home with all students last week however there are additional copies available at the office.
Pictures can be ordered online as well. The School Nurse, Miss Dixie, will also conduct growth screenings on Friday for all students. And on Friday KMS will host Seward for Soccer, both A and B teams will play! Cross Country Runners will compete in Homer beginning at 3:30 p.m. Be sure to head out in the fresh air to support your Kenai Kossacks!
Mountain View Elementary
There is no school on Monday, Sept. 7.
The first PTA meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. in the Library.
Our Open House/Ice Cream Social will be on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Each grade level is being asked to bring different toppings for ice cream sundaes.
Come socialize and meet other parents, chat with your child’s teacher in a casual setting, learn about our amazing PTA, about volunteer opportunities, and extracurricular activities your child can participate in.
We will have our volunteer orientation on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 9 a.m. and again at 5 p.m.
If you would like to volunteer in your child’s classroom or participate in a classroom field trip, please plan to attend one of these orientation sessions.
All volunteers are required to pass a background check through the KPBSD website. If you have any questions or need help with this process please call the office at 283-8600. Volunteers are very important and appreciated here at Mountain View Elementary!
Mountain View students will be dismissed at 1:55 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16. This early release day allows grade level teachers to begin collaborating early in the afternoon and then continue after normal release time as part of their scheduled staff meeting time.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 is Picture Day. More information will be coming home soon.
Nikiski Middle-High
Monday, Sept. 7 – No School! Labor Day.
Tuesday, Sept. 8
■ Middle School A & B Team Soccer @ Skyview- 3 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 10
■ Volleyball @ Nikiski vs. Grace Christian School. C Team @ 3 p.m. Junior Varsity @ 4p.m. Varsity @ 5 p.m.
■ Middle School B Team Soccer @ Kenai – 4:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 11
■ Volleyball @ Nikiski vs. Houston. C Team @ 3:00 p.m. Junior Varsity @ 4 p.m. Varsity @ 5:30 p.m.
■ High School Cross Country Running @ Seward Invite
■ Middle School Cross Country Running @ Homer Invite – 3:30 p.m.
■ Middle School A & B Team Soccer @ Nikiski vs. Homer – 3 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12
■ Football @ Nikiski vs. Houston. Junior Varsity @ 11:00 a.m. Varsity @ 2:00 p.m.
■ Volleyball @ Nikiski vs. Anchorage Christian School. C Team @ 12:00 p.m. Junior Varsity @ 1:00 p.m. Varsity @ 2:00 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 14
■ C Team Football @ Homer – 4 p.m.
Nikiski North Star Elementary
Fifth grade band begins on Tuesday, Sept. 8. A flyer was sent home with students explaining practice times and information on instruments. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher or music teacher, Audra Faris at 776-2634 or email afaris@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
There will be a bus evacuation drill on Wednesday at 3:20 p.m.
Plan now to attend the NNS site council meeting on Monday, Sept. 14 at 3:45 p.m. in the staff lounge.
The purpose of the council is to give input and guidance to the school and serves as a resource, sounding board, and core for communication between the many areas of our school. Members are responsible for bringing the information to the council. It is a great way to get involved within the school. If you have any questions, please call the school office at 776-2600.
Anyone interested in being a school volunteer needs to complete an online form and agree to a background check even if you volunteered last year.
All information will be kept confidential. To complete the screening process, visit the district web page at: www.kpbsd.org and follow the links. NNS will offer volunteer training on Sept. 17 at 9:30 a.m. in the library.
The first early release day for this school year will be on Wednesday, Sept. 16. NNS will dismiss at 2 p.m.
Redoubt Elementary
Mark your calendar –
■ Sept. 7 – No School – Happy Labor Day
■ Sept. 8 – PTA Meeting 3:45 p.m. staff lounge. Parents are encouraged and welcome to join Redoubt’s PTA, membership forms are available at the school. Free child care is provided at monthly PTA meetings.
■ Sept. 9 – Site Council Meeting 3:45 p.m. staff lounge.
Site Council – There is one parent representative position that needs to be filled. Redoubt is currently accepting nominations for this open position.
Nomination forms are available at the school office or in last week’s school newsletter. Elected representatives meet once each month to discuss important school issues. This is a two year term.
■ Sept. 16 – Early Release Day for students – 1:45 p.m. Boys and Girls Club will be open and buses will be operating.
■ Sept. 17 – October 8 – School Wide Fundraiser “Believe Kids”; Information will be sent home with students.
■ Sept. 17 – School Photos (retakes Oct. 27)
Free and Reduced Lunch Program – Applications have been sent home in student/parent folders.
Additional applications are available at the school office. Students who were receiving lunch benefits at the end of last school year will continue receiving benefits through Sept. 30 2015. Oct. 1 is the drop date unless a new application has been submitted and approved.
A new application must be filed each year.
Update your child’s contact information. Student contact information forms have been sent home with students. Please update your child’s contact information and return the form to your child’s teacher.
Power School – Parents activation letters have been sent home. Power School is a great way to keep up with your child’s grades, lunch account, test scores and much more.
Parents, please make sure to have an after-school plan in place for your child. Students are released at 3:18 p.m. If your child is being picked up, please make sure you arrive in time to pick them up by 3:18 p.m.
Redoubt has a few extra backpacks and school supplies to help out those students who may need these items. Please contact the school office for additional information.
Skyview Middle
Please mark your calendar:
■ Monday, Sept. 14 – First Site Council Meeting @ Skyview Middle School – Home Ec Room — 3:30 pm.
■ Wednesday, Sept. 16 – School Pictures – Students will receive a picture packet this week.
■ Wednesday, Sept. 16 – Early Release For Students – Students at Skyview Middle School will end the school day at 1 p.m. Bus schedules have been adjusted to accommodate this time change.
Sports Schedule for this week:
■ Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Soccer Team A – Skyview vs. Nikiski @ Skyview – 3 p.m.
■ Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Soccer Team B2 – Skyview B2 vs. Nikiski @ Skyview – 3 p.m.
■ Friday, Sept. 11 – Cross Country – Homer Invitational @ Homer – 3:30 p.m.
■ Friday, Sept. 11 – Soccer Team B1 – Skyview B1 vs. Chapman @ Chapman – 3:30 p.m.
Student Council: What a great year so far! There was a LARGE turnout for the new member informational meeting held last week! A reminder to any student who wishes to join the Panther Student Council, please return a new Member Commitment Contract to Mrs. Pothast by Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Student Fee Information: All elective class and sport fees are required to be paid within the first two weeks of the class or sport. Please check Power School see if your student has any outstanding fees. Payment for any fee needs to be paid to the office as soon as possible.
Any money collected will be applied to a class fee first. Please call Mrs. Kircher @ 260-2500 with questions.
Student Bus Passes: Any student who wishes to ride a bus and get off at a stop that is different than the student’s physical home address MUST have a bus pass from the office.
To obtain a bus pass, a parent/guardian needs to write a note giving permission for the student to do this. The note needs to include the number of the new bus and the street names of the new stop. Parents may call First Student at 260-3557 to find this information. Please remember that Route 38 is closed to ALL bus passes. This bus is at capacity and cannot take extra students. Thank you!
Soldotna Elementary
Here is what is happening with the Soldotna Elementary Wolf Pack:
■ Sept. 7- There will be no school in observance of Labor Day.
■ Sept. 10- Mrs. Straw and Ms. Buben’s classes will take a field trip to the Soldotna Historical Society Museum.
■ Sept. 16 is the first early release day this year. Students will be released at 1:55 p.m. Students riding the bus will be dropped off 90 minutes earlier than their regular scheduled time.
■ Sept. 18- Ms. Davis’ class will take a field trip to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
The Parent PACK would like to welcome anyone interested in volunteering this year. With support of amazing parent volunteers the Parent PACK is able to offer many fun events for our students.
To volunteer please sign up for email communications or like us on Facebook to keep up-to-date on volunteer events in the school.
Soldotna High
Seniors – Senior Parent Night is Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. in the Soldotna High School Library. Please invite your parents to attend as we will review Senior Year activities and discuss yearbook photo deadlines. We will also provide some information on college admission deadlines, scholarships, SAT and ACT test dates, and requirements for playing college sports. Hope to see you there!
Every Friday is spirit Fridays! Wear your Sohi gear for a chance to win gift cards and more!
The SOHI Library Media Center will be open 7:30 a.m. — 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. Contact Ms. Wear at 260.7036 or twear@kpbsd.k12.ak.us for information on the 4:15 p.m. bus.
Soldotna Prep
On Sept. 11, Officer Brennan from the Soldotna Police Dept. will conduct an assembly to prepare our students in the ALICE protocol.
SoPrep will be on an assembly schedule for that day
After school Tutoring Monday through Thursday 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Check school blog for important information and updates http://soldotnaprep.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/wpmu/
The SoHi PTSA would like to extend a special invitation to the families of 9th graders to join the PTSA to promote a deeper connection to the high school and to increase parental support for all members of the SoHi/Prep family.
Parents/caregivers participating in “Parents of Seniors” (After Grad) and “Parents of Juniors” (After Prom) activities are required to be PTSA members in order to be covered under our insurance. Both events benefit by getting participants on board early in the year… planning and fundraising are a lot less stressful that way.
PTSA officers for 2015/16 are: President – Sheilah-Margaret Pothast, Vice President – Christy Green, Secretary – Michelle Blackwell and Treasurer – Christine Carlson.
The first meeting of the SoHi PTSA (for the 2015-2016 school year) is scheduled for Thursday Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the SoHi staff lounge.
All Team 2 students will be attending the Manhattan School of Music “Thunder Drums” presentation on Sept. 10 in Mr. Sparks class from 9:30-10:25 a.m.
Sterling Elementary
■ Labor Day Holiday – No School – Sept. 7
■ Bus Evacuation Drills and PBIS Bus Expectations Assembly- Sept. 11
■ Picture Day! – Sept. 15
■ Sibling Pictures are 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
■ Early Release – Sept. 16 – Students released at 2:05 p.m. – Teachers will be learning more about and collaborating to write their Student Growth Maps
■ Site Council Meeting – Sept. 24 – 4 p.m. in Mrs. Van Slyke’s room
■ PTA Meeting – Sept.29 at 4 p.m. in the library – Childcare provided! Please join us in supporting our school!
Please remember to drive the speed limit in our school zone when the lights are flashing! It is a really quick change from 55 to 20 during those times of the day, so be extra vigilant and don’t miss it!
The Study
The Study is excited to offer academic pre-k/kindergarten and first/second grade in the 2015/16 school year!
The Study is an accredited learning center that partners with the KPBSD, home school entities, and private schools. We offer private tutoring in all academic subjects, music (guitar, voice, and piano), and a variety of courses for high school credit. Contact us about all of our summer classes!
Check us out on the web at thestudysoldotna.com or call us at 262-6227.
Tustumena News
■ Sept. 7; Labor Day — No School
■ Sept. 8; Picture Day
■ Sept. 12; 5K Annual Fun Run Registration 9 a.m./Run starts at 10 a.m.
■ Sept. 15; PTO Meeting, 4 p.m.
■ Sept. 16; Early Release, 2:05 p.m.
■ Sept. 28; Site Council Meeting, 4 p.m.
Wings Christian Academy
Cleanest Desk Awards this past week went to: Ariana Cazares, Valerie Cazares and Tyrrell Correia. We are encouraging students to participate in “Design a T-Shirt” for our upcoming Triathlon.
We are excited that Volleyball season is soon to start: Practices will be each Monday Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Remember to bring in Box Tops and Campbells Labels. Kindergarten news: Students are working on Days of the Week, Writing numbers 5-10 and counting into the teen. In Language Letter I, u, e and Letter Aa and Oo. In Literature “Apple Theme”.
We had “Free Pizza” Wednesday, A “BIG” Thank goes to Big Daddy Pizza. We appreciate your generosity.
