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 (Work session);
■ Jan. 11;
■ Feb. 1;
■ Feb. 2 (Work session);
■ March 7;
■ March 21;
■ April 4;
■ April 5 (Work session);
■ 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
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year! Every week I send out an email listing information and activities for our families. Below is a list of upcoming activities for students and families to participate in along with a description of the activity under the date section. If you have any questions please call our office at 714-8880 or email cnolden@kpbsd.k12.ak.us. Thank you and have a great day!
Dates To Remember:
■ Sept. 4 – 2nd Yukon Island Kayak Trip – Homer
■ Sept. 7 – Labor Day – Office Closed
■ Oct. 1 – Soldotna School Pictures – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. @ Borough Building: Assembly Room
■ Oct. 8 – Homer School Pictures – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. @ Paul Banks Gym
Yukon Island Kayak 3/4 Day Trip
“Picture paddling through craggy rock arches, bald eagles flying overhead and silently watching sea otters napping in kelp beds. . . . Snowcapped mountains always in the background.”
Connections is again partnering with True North Kayak Adventures to offer a 3/4 day kayak trip around Yukon Island in Kachemak Bay! Along with learning safe paddling practices True North’s amazing guides will lead students in educational experiences including Alaskan coastal ecology, environmental responsibility, and local archaeology.
When: Monday, Aug. 31 9:30 – 3:30 and Friday, Sept. 4
Who: Connections students grade 4-12
Jake and Derek from the Homer office will chaperone but parents are encouraged to come as well. (Students in grades 4-6 must have adult with them)
Where: Homer Spit with water taxi to Yukon Island
Cost: $105 (student allotments can be used, parents must pay their own way)
This includes the water taxi, kayaking, and snacks. Bring your own lunch!
Contact: Derek Bynagle (dbynagle@kpbsd.k12.ak.us) 226-1880 or sign up with your Connections advisor.
Space is limited so sign up ASAP! Parent payment may be submitted to your local advisor.
School Pictures Soldotna Office: Oct. 1
Soldotna – 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. @ Borough Building in the Assembly Room
Homer School Pictures Oct. 8:
Homer – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. @ Paul Banks Gym
Practical Positive Parenting:
South Central Parenting is holding weekly parenting workshops at Cook Inlet Academy starting Sept. 1st. The cost is $35 per family and includes:
■ Family Dinners
■ Challenging Behaviors
■ Communication Challenges
■ Child Development
■ And much more!
For more information you can go to their website: www.southcentralparenting.org (Please Note: this is a non-reimbursable activity).
Interior Distance Education 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. through 4:30. 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!
Aug. 31: First Lego League meeting at 1 p.m. at 818 Cook Street, in Old Town Kenai. FLL teams are for students in grades 4-8 (ages 9-14); Jr. FLL teams are for students in grades K-3 (ages 6-9). If we have enough students interested and parents to coach, we will do Jr. FLL teams this year. The FLL season typically runs late August through November, meeting for at least two practices per week. FLL Teams that qualify for the state competition continue into January.
We need: 2 coaches per team, 6 students per team and suggestions for meeting places. If you have a church or building that can be used for hosting Lego practice for a team (or many teams) AND storage of that team’s equipment, we would love to hear from you at the meeting.
This meeting will be for signing students up, dividing into teams, registering parents that can volunteer as coaches for the season, discussing what First Lego League is all about and what the commitments are for students and parents. We will briefly discuss the challenge question, which will be released on Aug. 25! NOW is the time to start a new team, so if you need help with that, please come!
If you cannot attend the meeting but would like to start a team, volunteer, or get your student involved, please contact me at 907-398-3895 or cmireland@ideafamilies.org
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
Aug. 31, 2015
Please note that all students arriving late or leaving early need to be signed in/out at the office by a parent.
If you would like to be a volunteer, be sure to complete your background check. Go to http://kaleidoscope.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/wpmu/volunteers and click the link to the background check. Please allow up to 2 weeks for this to clear. The next link on the page will take you to the Online Volunteer Training for those who were unable to attend the in-house training last week. These 2 steps must be completed in order to volunteer at Kaleidoscope. Volunteers make all the difference and are very appreciated!
Mark your calendars:
■ Sept. 2, 9:15 a.m. PTA Fundraising Committee meeting
■ Sept. 3, 9:15 a.m. PTA Gear Committee meeting
■ Sept. 10, 8:35 a.m. PTA Habitat meeting and 4 p.m. Family Fun Night Committee meeting
■ Sept. 16, 8:35 a.m. PTA meeting
■ Sept. 18 Fall Pictures. Packets will be sent home in Friday Folders.
■ Sept. 21 APC meeting 4:15 p.m.
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary
K-Beach Bands are getting fired up again! Caribou Band Members have started rehearsing, and the new K-Beach Beginning Band is forming and should be playing their instruments soon. Looks like a great new crop of band students! Please check out this year’s Band Handbook, as we have made some changes in it this year. Happy playing!
Ms. Chambers’ class is off to a great start using Kagan strategies to increase cooperative learning skills. We are striving to make our classroom an environment of Positive Interdependence, Individual Accountability, Equal Participation, and Simultaneous Interaction!
The annual RIGS (Reading Is Great In Summer) assembly will be held on Sept. 18 at 8:00 a.m. in the K-Beach gym to recognize the students who participated in the summer reading program.
Mr. Daniels’s Class started the year with a bang! We have a great group of learners this year. Thank you to the parents who have signed up to help the class. Mr. Daniels will be contacting you when the schedules are in full swing. Please be sure to go through the volunteer screening process on the School District Website.
■ Sept. 4 – School Picture Day
■ Sept. 7 – NO SCHOOL due to Labor Day
■ Sept. 16 – Early Release Day: K-Beach will let out at 12:55 p.m.
■ Sept. 18 – RIGS assembly 8 a.m.
Kenai Central High
Welcome back! School got off to a great start with a back to school assembly and class meetings.
Activity cards are on sale this year for $20. Admission to all athletic events (excluding region or state tournaments) at KCHS.
■ Tuesday, Sept. 1 Volleyball Home vs Nikiski 3:30, 4:30 & 6:00 p.m.
■ Wednesday, September 2nd is school picture day. All students need to have their photo taken for a school ID card. Picture packets are also available.
■ Thursday, Sept. 3 – Open House from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Please join the Kenai Central High School staff for this event and an opportunity to meet the administration and teachers.
■ Friday, Sept. 4 – Football Home vs Houston 3:30 & 6:30
Swim/Dive Home vs Soldotna & Seward 2:15
■ Friday, September 4th & 5th – Volleyball @ Seward Tourney
■ Saturday, September 5th Cross Country @ Palmer
Homecoming Week is September 14th – September 18th – be on the lookout for more information!
■ Tuesday, Sept. 1 Kenai Central will be 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.
■ Wednesday, Sept. 2, Kenai Central High School will be having their annual College Colors Day!
Kenai Middle
What a successful first 8 days of school we have had! Thank you for your commitment to getting your students in to school on time and ready to learn!
Math counts will now meet on Thursdays from 2:30 – 5 p.m. in Mrs. Nabholz’s room.
There will be a KMS BBQ and Open House on September 3rd from 5:35-7:40. Please join us to meet your student’s teachers and follow along in a shortened version of their daily schedule. We look forward to seeing you here.
KMS Soccer will compete in Homer on Friday, Sept. 4 in their first official match of the season. Games will begin at 3:00. Also, Cross Country Running will compete on this day at Skyview Middle School @ 3:00. Head out to show some support for your fellow Kossaacks! Go Kenai!
Don’t forget there will be no school on Monday, September 7th, in observance of Labor Day. Enjoy the extra day in your weekend.
Mountain View Elementary
The school year is off to a great start! If you have questions about bussing, lunch money, or schedules please call the office at 283-8600. If you need to make changes to your child’s bus route or after school routine, we ask that you call before 2:30 p.m
■ All Mountain View students will be dismissed at 1:55 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16th. 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.
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.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 is Picture Day. More information will be coming home soon.
Nikiski Middle-High
Upcoming Dates:
Monday, Aug. 31 – C Team Football @ Nikiski vs. Kenai – 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – Volleyball @ Kenai.
■ C Team @ 3:30 p.m.
■ Junior Varsity @ 4:30 p.m.
■ Varsity @ 6:00 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 4
■ High School Cross Country Running @ Anchorage Christian School Class Races
■ Middle School Cross Country Running @ Skyview Invite – 3 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 5
■ Junior Varsity Football @ Homer – 11:00 a.m.
■ Varsity Football vs. Vosnesenka @ Homer High School – 2 p.m.
■ High School Cross Country Running @ Palmer Invite
Monday, Sept. 7 – No School! Labor day.
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Middle School Soccer @ Skyview – 3 p.m.
Nikiski North Star Elementary
Picture day will be held on Tuesday, September 1st in the library. Your child will be bringing home a packet for you to fill out and return to school. Sibling pictures will begin about 2:30 pm. If you have any questions, please call the school office at 776-2600.
NNS would like to recognize the following new teachers to our staff: Laura Barrows – reading, Sarah Bressler – 1st grade, Cathy Kibling – Sped/Title 1, and Nicole Stein – 2nd/3rd grade. Welcome!
Nikiski North Star participated in the 2015 Cosmic Summer Reading Challenge. Participants included students, parents and teachers who logged their reading minutes each day. Some logged them in airports, waiting rooms, cars, at bedtime, reading with pets and siblings and also each morning at B&G Club. We had a grand total of 82 participants. The top two winners for logging the most minutes are Ashlee Barger for primary and Lilly Anderson for intermediate. Congratulations! Students who logged 1200 minutes or more received a Cosmic Summer t-shirt, ice cream treat and a free book. Many thanks to Trisha Young for coordinating this annual summer event!
Redoubt Elementary
Welcome back to school!
School Hours – Front doors are unlocked at 8:15am. School is in session 8:45am -3:18pm. It is important that students are at school on time every day.
PBIS – “Positive Behavior Intervention Support”
Students at Redoubt Elementary are off to a “Responsible, Respectful, and Safe” school year. Grades 1-6 participated in PBIS lessons reminding them of the Redoubt expectations. We are working hard to demonstrate these expectations to our new kindergartners. Everyone is super excited to get back into the routine earning pink tickets, Roadrunner cards, and class compliments. Ask your child about the 3 Redoubt expectations and take a peek at the PBIS board outside the office.
Mark your calendar –
■ Sept. 8 – PTA Meeting 3:45 staff lounge. Parents are encouraged and welcome to join Redoubt’s PTA, membership forms are available at the school.
■ Sept. 9 – Site Council Meeting 3:45 staff lounge.
■ 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 8th – 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. Communication with parents is important, so please let us know if you have a new mailing address, telephone/cell number or email address. 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 3:18pm. New staff to Redoubt this school year – Mr. Withrow, Principal & Ms. Rogers, 5th grade teacher.
Skyview Middle
Soldotna Elementary is off to a great start for the 2015-2016 school year. Here is the latest information from our school:
To keep our school safe, visitors and volunteers are asked to sign in at the front office and pick up a visitor badge to wear while in the school. Anyone interested in volunteering can complete an online form by visiting the KPBSD website at www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us and click on the volunteers link. This process must be completed each school year. Please contact the Human Resources Department with any questions at 714-888.
There will be no school on Monday, Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day. Please return the Parent/ Student Handbook Acknowledgement of Receipt to Soldotna Elementary. You can view the handbook online at http://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/students.parents.aspx?id=28047 or access a printed copy in the office.
The Title 1 Pre-K program is still taking applications for the 2015-2016 school year. Children must be 4 years old by Sept. 1. Paperwork is located in the Soldotna Elementary office.
Please wait in the lobby if you pick your child up in the afternoon to help keep our hallways and classrooms clear. Teachers will always escort students to the lobby for dismissal. The Soldotna Sentinel is our school newsletter. It will be sent out via e-mail the first Tuesday of each month or you can access it on our school website. Watch for the Sentinel to get the latest news and updates from Soldotna Elementary.
Skyview Middle
Welcome Panthers!
Special Dates to mark on your calendar:
■ Monday, Sept. 7 – No School
■ Monday, Sept. 14 – First Site Council Meeting @ Skyview Middle School – Home Ec Room — 3:30 p.m.
■ Wednesday, Sept. 16 – School Pictures
■ Wednesday, Sept. 16 – Early release, No School for Students – Students at Skyview Middle School will end the school day at 1:00 p.m. Bus schedules have been adjusted to accommodate this time change.
Fall Sports – Cross Country Running and Soccer are underway! Event Schedule for this week:
■ Friday, September 4 — Cross Country – Skyview Invitational @ Skyview – 3 p.m.
■ Friday, September 4 — Soccer Team A – Skyview vs. Seward @ Skyview – 3:30 p.m.
■ Friday, September 4 – Soccer Team B – Skyview B1 vs. Seward @ Skyview – 3 p.m.
For a complete sports schedule, please visit the Skyview Middle School Blog Sports Schedule.
Student Council: An information meeting will be held in the library on Tuesday, Sept. 1 for any 7th or 8th grade student that is interested in learning about the Skyview Middle School Student Council. Member expectations and requirements will be reviewed and commitment contracts available for students who wish to join. Please contact Mrs. Pothast, Student Council Advisor, with questions.
Activity Night: The first Activity Night was held on Friday, Aug. 21. Congratulations to limbo winners: Avery Hart and Camden Langley – and – candy jar winners: Madison Merly, Tiffany Chesley, Emmalia Papp, and Trayce Lyon. Special thanks to all the staff and parent volunteers who made this event a success!
Attention Parents! Have you activated your PowerSchool account? If not, please contact the school at 260-2500 to request the information you need to view your child’s grades, attendance, and fees. This is an excellent way to monitor their progress throughout the school year!
Soldotna High
Picture day is Aug. 28.
Every Friday is spirit Fridays! Wear your Sohi gear for a chance to win gift cards and more!
The Media Center is open until 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. There are buses at 4:15 p.m. 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 p.m. please contact Tamra Wear at 260.7036 or twear@kpbsd.k12.ak.us to give her the bus drop off location for your student.
ATOSS tutoring will start in the Library on Aug. 25 and run until May 4 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
SoHi Pool Schedule:
Morning Lap swim 5:30-7:30 Mon – Friday
Evening Lap swim 6-7 Mon, Wed, Fri
Evening Open swim 7-8:45 Wed and Fridays
SoHi will be locking the Parking lot entrance Door during the following hours:
■ 7:40 a.m. to 11:55 p.m.
■ 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Also note that during school hours the only open door will be the Front Entrance Commons/Flag Pole doors. The above is to improve our overall school security. There are two ways to order a transcript. Each way serves a different purpose.
If you need a transcript sent to a college or NCAA or a similar agency, then you will need to log on to: www.parchment.com to order transcripts to be sent. The request is then forwarded to SoHi. After processing, it then goes through cyberspace… rather than the US mail… to get to its destination, which is much faster! All transcripts that are headed for NCAA, colleges, etc. have to be processed this way!
Final Transcripts! A final transcript is one that shows your second semester grades… If you order your transcript when we are IN second semester… you will need to make sure you choose “next grading period” when you go on to Parchment… that way your transcript request will wait until the grades are in at the end of the year before it is sent.
Soldotna Prep
■ School Pictures Aug. 31 7-10:30 a.m. in the small gym.
■ 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/
■ KPC tour and BBQ Monday, August 31 and September 1.
Star Spirit Program: Each Friday staff and students will be awarded one raffle ticket if they are wearing a Soldotna High School shirt or a current sports jersey. A piece of tape stating “Soldotna high school” on a shirt does not count. Student council students will come to each homeroom. These raffle tickets will be compiled for the semester. Each week a winner will be drawn for a gift card. At the end of the semester, 20 names will be drawn for a full breakfast provided by Student Council.
Sterling Elementary
■ PTA Meeting – Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. in the library – Childcare provided! Please join us in supporting our school!
■ Labor Day Holiday – No School – Sept. 7
■ Picture Day! – Sept. 15
■ Sibling Pictures are 11:45 – 12:45
■ Early Release – Sept. 16 – Students released at 2:05 pm – 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
The Study
Academic Kinder Prep and Kindergarten
■ Aug. 31 – May 27, Monday-Friday 8:30 – 2:30. This course features Sunday’s Lets Play, Learn, Spanish, technology, music and movement, and Saxon math.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade:
■ Aug. 31 – May 27, Monday-Friday 8:30-2:30. This highly academic program features research based curriculum taught at a grade level above including voice, piano, and guitar lessons, private tutoring year round for all ages, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Alaska Studies, US Government, Spanish, and Art for credit!
(Must have at least 2 students to run a credited course)
Tustumena Elementary
■ 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
Our Kindergarten is working on : Math Number’s 1,2,3,4, 5, 6, counting to ten and recognizing numbers out of numerical order. Language : Litter I, U and E. 1st and 2nd graders working on Calendar and Weather. Field Trip to the Norman Lowell Art Gallery is on Friday, September 11, 2015. We have a contest for the Triathlon T-Shirt, we encourage each student to come up with art design for the t-shirts, this year’s theme is “Rooted in Christ”. Triathlon will be on Monday, September 21, 2015. Students are already getting pledges for the event. We are honored to have Mrs. Linda Kincaid back this year for music, she teaches Piano, Voice and leads for Lower Learning Center Choir as well as the Upper Learning Center Choir. We are grateful to have her.
