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 http://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/board.aspx?id=28035. 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 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 3;
■ April 14;
■ May 5 (at Seward High School);
■ June 2;
■ June 3 (Board Planning Session).
Early release dates for KPBSD schools
Six times throughout the academic year, on a Wednesday, schools will meet the minimum day, so that teachers may have approximately 90 minutes of additional time to work on improvement strategies. On these early release dates, school will end 90 minutes earlier. Bus transportation will be adjusted by 90 minutes. Upcoming early release date is: Apr. 16.
Spring Break for schools
March 7 is an in-service day. Students will not have school. KPBSD schools will be closed for spring break March 10-14.
KBEA scholarships up for grabs
The Kenai Borough Employees Association scholarship committee is currently accepting applications for three scholarships of $500 each. The scholarships are available to all 2014 graduates of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, including public schools, private schools and home-schooled. Applications and instructions are available from any Kenai Peninsula Borough High School counselor’s office or on the borough’s website at borough.kenai.ak.us. Applications must be delivered or postmarked by March 28. Applications can be mailed or dropped off at the KBEA Scholarship Committee, 144 N. Binkley St., Soldotna, AK 99669.
Scholarship available to Nikiski students
If you will be a graduate in 2014, live in the community of Nikiski, and plan on continuing your education after graduation, please consider applying for the Thelma McConnell Scholarship. Applications are available at Nikiski Middle-High School. The deadline for applications is March 31. If you have questions, please contact Patti Floyd at the Nikiski Senior Center at 907-776-7654.
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.
There will be a summer construction academy at the Workforce Development Center (located behind KCHS). Students will be constructing a greenhouse and a shed. Class days will be May 28-30 and June 2-6 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Also offered this summer is an Emergency Trauma Technician (ETT) academy. Dates and times TBA. This course will cover all areas required to receive certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. The last week of class will be for review and the final exam. If you pass the exam you’ll receive your certification and an ETT patch.
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 ∏ practical art credit.
To sign up go to http://onestop.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/ or for more information call Debbie Pearson at 283-2145 or students can see there counselor.
Funding for the Alaska Construction Academies comes from a grant from the Ak Dept of Labor and Workforce Development, The Ak Dept of Commerce and Economic Development and The AK Youth First Program.
Connections Home-school
Dates To Remember:
March 7 — High School Eligibility Due; Ice Skating Party in Homer at Kevin Bell Arena 1:45-3:15 p.m.
March 26 — Job and Career Fair at Peninsula Job Center 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
March 28 — Alaska Sealife Center – Nocturne Program
March 31 — Last Day To Turn In Connections Orders (date subject to change); Last day to turn in Iditaread minutes
April — Enrollment for 2014/2015 Begins This Month
April 1-3 — HSGQE Grade 10 and Retest Grades 11th & 12th; Standard Based Assessments (SBA’s) Grade 3rd – 10th
April 1 — Connections Photo Contest Deadline
April 8 — Science Assessments for Grades 4th, 8th & 10th
Iditaread
Attention all readers: the 2014 Iditaread is here and it’s time again for Connections Homeschool’s Iditaread Challenge to all K-6th grade students! The Iditaread Challenge will begin March 1. Stop by your local Connections Office between now and then for more information and to get your sled ready to hit the trail! The challenge will run through March 31.
Running/Walking Club
Connections is hosting a running/walking club starting March 19. This fitness fun is welcome to all Connections families.
Please RSVP and share your ideas and questions with Shelli Furlong. sfurlong@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Alaska Sealife Center — Nocturne Program
Enjoy an overnight adventure at the Alaska SeaLife Center! Students will spend the evening honing observation skills and participating in hands-on marine science programs. At night they’ll fall asleep with the seabirds, Stellar sea lions and Harbor seals. The Nocturne Sleep over includes, a scavenger hunt, free time to tour the Alaska SeaLife Center, two programs, and an optional dinner and breakfast venue. Please contact your advisor for more information.
Talent Show
Mark Wackler is putting together the program for the talent show therefore if you want to participate please RSVP: mwackler@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or call 714-8880. The date for the Talent Show is April 29, show starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Sohi Auditorium. If you are interested or have any questions please contact us ASAP.
Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science
March 3 — 4 p.m. APC Meeting in the library, discussion will be on class configurations and budget update; 6-7 p.m. New parent informational meeting in the library. This meeting is for all families in the lottery, on the wait list, and those who are enrolled in Kaleidoscope who have not yet attended a meeting.
March 4 — 3rd and 4th grade will be having their end of quarter celebration; 5th and 6th grade will be having their End of quarter celebration and Science night; 9:15-10:15 a.m. PTA will be having their general meeting.
March 5 — Cooking Club is meeting today from 3:45-4:45 p.m.
March 6 — Relaxing read in day; Tap Dance Club is meeting from 3:45-4:45 p.m.
March 7 — Lottery Application Deadline is Friday at 4 p.m. If you would like your child enrolled in the lottery for the 2014-2015 school year, your application must be summited by this date
PTA
Yearbooks are on sale through April 4 for $18. Reserve your copy today!
Watch for flyers to come home for Staff Appreciation Week and the carnival – lots of volunteer opportunities!
Reminders
The Life Skill we are focusing on this week is Responsibility: To respond when appropriate; to be accountable for one’s actions.
March 26 at 4 p.m. our lottery will be held.
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary
The first grade classes had a blast learning about the Iditarod and will be tracking the race. Dr. Seuss’ Birthday was yesterday, March 2. We will be reading Dr. Seuss books all week and we have many first graders as Thing 1 and Thing 2s on display in the hall.
Second graders from Mrs. Bates’ class at Mt. View Elementary and Mrs. McCoy’s class at K-Beach Elementary have been busy for the past two weeks, sampling cookies and learning to write opinion papers. On Wednesday, February the 24th, the two classes will join each other via Skype to to present their opinions about the best cookie in the world and vote in the Great Cookie Election. Stay tuned to find out whether Oreos, Fudge Stripes, or Chips Ahoy will win the election!
Things are getting “fishy” at K-Beach! Third graders dissected salmon last week with Biologist Jenny from Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Mrs. Romatz and Mr. Vedders also took their classes ice fishing. Myles Evarts caught the biggest fish and Maddy Braden caught the most fish! Third graders have also been involved in a yearlong salmon incubation project. The Coho salmon alevin are now gulping air to fill their swim bladders and becoming free swimming fry!
This week in Mr. Daniels’ Class we are colliding objects together. Just what 4th graders love to do…smash things together! In reality we are learning about how energy is transferred from one object to another through those collisions. In other news, we will be heading to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Center to learn about Wildlife in Winter. It’s a program that teaches kids about how animals adapt to a winter environment and how they can survive the harsh winters in the northern climate.
March 18 – Band concert in the K-Beach gym at 6:30 p.m.
Kenai Central High
Spring athletes will be finally able to spring into action as softball, track and field, and soccer practices start soon. 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.
Kenai Middle
The Intermediate Band concert will be tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the library. Concert band will follow at 7:15 p.m. in the library as well. There will be a Choir concert Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the KCHS auditorium.
The end of the Third quarter will be this Thursday. Friday will be an in-service day. There will be no school.
Congratulations to last week’s Character Counts award winners: Brittany Gilman and Travis Lindley. Good Job!
Mountain View Elementary
Applications are available for the 2014-2015 Mountain View Pre-K Program.
Screenings for this program will be held at the Kenai Community Library on April 15. In order to be considered, a child must be 4 years old by Sept. 1 and have a completed application returned to Mountain View Elementary. Screenings will be scheduled after applications are brought back to the school. For information please call 283-8600.
There will be a PTA meeting at 3:45 p.m. on March 4 in the staff lounge.
The D.A.R.E. graduation for 5th grade students will be on March 6 at 6 p.m. in the gym.
March 6 is “Wacky Hair” day at Mountain View.
Congratulations to our Soaring Eagles for the month of February. They are Alyssa Berg, Tait Cooper, Arianna Hensley, Kaylee Jones, Aben Larson, Peyton Malmquist, Brendon Mowery, Devin Murphy, Malerie Nunn, Rylee Olympic, Willow Patrick, Caleb Russell, Jordan Smith, Keagan Stanley, Patience Toepel, Kayden Velvick, Haven Walluk, Liam Whitney and Finn Wilkins.
Nikiski North Star Elementary
NNS is participating in the Healthy Futures Challenge this year. The contest will run for the months of February, March and April. Healthy Futures is an activity the help youth build positive, lifelong physical fitness habits through two core programs: the Healthy Futures Activity Log Challenge and promoting youth attendance at local recreational events. NNS is committed to helping students develop the skills, knowledge and desire they need in order to be physically active now and for the rest of their lives. Your child should keep a log of their physical activity. They turn in the logs to their teachers in exchange for exciting prizes. Logs are included on the monthly newsletter. For more information and to learn how to get involved in this program, please call the office at 776-2600.
Redoubt Elementary
Redoubt Elementary 2014/2015 Preschool applications may be picked up at the school office. Children must be 4 years old by Sept. 1.
Box Top winners last week were; Vincent Santana & Alexandra Saito
Redoubt’s Fifth grade classes will be hosting a Wax Museum March 4, 1-2:30 p.m.. This is a fun and educational event. Parents are invited to come and enjoy.
Kindergarten and new student registration will be held April 1 through April 3
10a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Please bring your child’s immunization records and a copy of their birth certificate.
Pre-Registration forms for the 2014/2015 school year were sent home Feb. 27. Parents are asked to complete the form and return it to school with your child by March 6. All students in the same household may be listed on one form.
All volunteers must be registered with the school district prior to volunteering in classrooms/driving on field trips. Field trip drivers must complete a driver form and submit required documentation when driving on school related field trips. Please contact the school office for additional information or go to http://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/ click on volunteer link and follow the instructions.
Forensics Results
4th Grade
Humorous poetry — Cayden Kelly, Ashton Wright-Hanke, Caleigh Glassmaker; Non-humorous poetry — Simon Graham, Emma Brantley, Dylan Dahlgren; Humorous prose — Jacob Belger, Audrey Larson (no 3rd place); Non-humorous prose — Brier Books, Lincoln Saito, Evan Bergevin
5th Grade
Humorous poetry — Davis Schramm, Mack Frost, Emma Craig; Non-humorous poetry — Israel Aley, Claudia Martinez, Taylor Edwards; Humorous prose — Erika Arthur, Kirsten Figueroa (no 3rd place); Non-humorous prose — Spencer Kapp, Sierra Kuntz, Kati Koch; Interpretive reading-singles — Josh Bond, Bridger Brewer; Story telling-singles — Brittany Lewis, Madelyn Barkman
6th Grade
Humorous poetry — Galen Brantley, Elena Dimitrovski, Aubree Cude; Non-humorous poetry — Jersey Truesdell, Hunter Johnson, Sue Heidi Hugarte ; Humorous prose — Brooke Belluomini, Gracie Caston, Aaron Faletoi; Non-humorous prose — Andrew Fletcher, Levi Rosin, Tyler Morrison ; Interpretive reading-singles — Shannon Yeskie, Matthew Lewis; Story telling-singles — Cameron Blackwell, Kaylyn Bearup, Whitney Benson; Interpretive reading-multiples — Elena Dimitrovski, Whitney Benson; Poetry multiples — Chris Edelman, Robbie Mize; Prose multiples — Brooke Belluomini, Cameron Blackwell, Kianna Holland
Skyview High
The ski team raced at State. Mika Morton finished 3rd for small schools in the 7.5k classic race.
The girls basketball team defeated Grace Christian 42-35, but lost to ACS. The boys lost to Grace and ACS.
There will be a Video Conference Opportunity in Mr. Sparks World History class on March 5, 7-8:30 a.m. entitled; Middle East in Transition: Peace and Conflict. This session will explore how we think about the choice between violence and non-violence, both in terms of how we remember the history of the movements, and in the current context of transition in the Middle East. Students will explore their personal and moral response to violence, and how they view the difference between terrorism and self-defense, or between inappropriate and appropriate violence. Students will explore the balance of violence and nonviolence involved in key historical transitions in order to better understand current resistance movements across the Middle East.
March 3 — Music In Our Schools Month Concert at 7 p.m. in the commons
March 4 — Winter Sports Assembly at 2 p.m. – Regular bell schedule with 7th hour shortened
March 6 — Beauty and the Beast Competition at 4 p.m. in the upper gym
Soldotna Elementary
Congratulations to last week’s Reading Counts winners! They are Andrew Stoner, Alexis Martinez, Alyssa Almeida, Hayes Howard, Rhys Cannava, Logan Cotton, Josh Pieh, Brett Spence, and ShaneRay Schneider. Good job, guys and girls! Keep up that great reading!
KPBSD is providing a final sub training session on Tuesday, March 18th, at 10:00 a.m. in the KPBSD conference room which is upstairs in their building. The training is for anyone who would like to sub as a teacher, aide, tutor, secretary or custodian. This will be the last class until next fall. Please call Randi Broyles at 714-8888.
We have the Spring Break coming up soon. There will be no school for students on March 7. Teachers and support staff will be in session, however, reviewing and adjusting school goals and compiling report cards. Then the actual Spring Break will arrive on March 10 – 14. See you back at school on Monday, March 17th, and remember to wear something green that day to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.
Pre-registration forms for the school year 2014-2015 have been sent home. Please review all the information carefully. Make changes as needed, sign, and return to SOEL by March 6. This information is needed to plan classroom assignments for next year. Thank you so much.
Come join our wonderful PTA on March 17, 3:45 p.m. in the library. Childcare will be provided, and we really hope to see you there.
We are still accepting Title 1 applications for the 2014-2015 school year. Please stop by the office to pick one up if you’re interested. To be eligible, students must be 4 years old by Sept. 1. Please contact Katrina Cannava at 260-5142 or katrinacannava@kpbsd.k12.ak.us.
Calling All SOEL Sixth Graders — Soldotna Middle School Parent Night is March 18 at 6:30 p.m. Be informed!
Gustav Klimt was an Austrian born symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession Movement. He is known for his murals, sketches, paintings and other art objects. Please notice the Gustav Klimt inspired paintings that our preschoolers have painted and displayed outside Mrs. Cannava’s classroom. Trees of gold are a central theme. I’m sure you will enjoy them as much I do.
Soldotna High
Cinderella’s Closet is opening soon. March 18, 20, 25, and 27 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the theater dressing rooms at Soldotna High School. Look for the pink signs! This is a program where we help local ladies in need with free prom dresses, shoes, and accessories. We have helped over 342 ladies in the past 4 years. Last year, we provided items to 92 local students from Soldotna High, Cook Inlet Academy, Skyview High, River City Academy, Kenai Central High, Nanwalek, Port Graham, Susan B. English (Seldovia), and Nikiski High. Please share this/post at your schools. It is “housed” at SoHi, but is open to any peninsula high school students. Donations can be dropped off at the Soldotna High School office from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. We are in need of formal dresses, accessories, and shoes. Thank you for your support.
SoHi will be well represented on the Alaska Junior National Nordic Team. Sadie Fox & Hannah Pothast will both be competing in Stowe, Vermont the first week in March. Congratulations!
Higher Expectations Greater Success Parent Guide (Alaska Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics) is now available at the front office. Alaska’s standards in English and math set high expectations for students from kindergarten to grade 12. Students who meet these goals will be ready for success after high school-whether it is in the military, on the job, or in a union apprenticeship, technical school, or college. Your schools will decide how to meet the standards through a local curriculum and teaching methods that respect your community’s cultures.
Soldotna Middle
Danica Schmidt was chosen as the February 7th Grade Chamber Student of the Month. She will be honored at the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce luncheon on April 29. Congratulations Danica!
Events this week!
March 3-5 — SMS Counselor/Principal representatives will visit local elementary 6th grade students.
March 4 – Spring Band and Choir Concert at 7 p.m. – Soldotna Middle School Large Gym. All welcome to attend!
Important: SBA Testing for ALL 7th and 8th Grade students will be April 1, 2, 3. If you know your student will be absent from school any or all of these days, please contact the front office at 260-2500 as soon as possible to make arrangements for alternate testing dates.
Tustumena Elementary
Congratulations to the following students who won our school Forensics competition and will be competing at the District Wide Forensics: Dana Gibson, Kelar Sooter, Briar Goldstein, Cayce Warner, Janel Olsen and Emily Hinz, Kaytee Hackett, Austin Matheson, Ree’Lyn Lisenby, Amanda, Wylie and Korrin Nyren.
March 4 — SMS Counselor’s visit the 6th Grade Class
March 18 — PTO Meeting at 4 p.m.; 6th Grade Parent Orientation at Skyview at 6:30 p.m.
March 26 — Lynx Track Activity
March 31 — Site Council Meeting at 4 p.m.
Wings Christian Academy
This week at Wings, Charisma Watkins and Joanna Grant won the “Cleanest Desk of the Week” award. Wednesday is a “Quiz-em Day” for chapel. The students will test their knowledge from the past chapels and see how much they remember. This week will be the final ice skating activity for the LLC PE class; next semester they will be going to Jumping Junction once a week. The ULC PE class is finishing up their semester with a final bowling activity on Thursday. March 7 is the first volleyball game against the WHCS Archers! Everyone is invited to attend; it will take place at Wings Christian Academy at 1 p.m.
