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:
— Dec. 5
— Jan. 16
— Feb. 6
— March 6
— April 3
— May 1 (Seward High School)
— June 5
— June 6 (Planning Session)
Holidays and vacation days scheduled
— Dec. 22 – End of second quarter, no school for students;
— Dec. 22 to Jan. 6 – Winter vacation;
— Jan. 16 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day;
— Feb. 9-10 – Parent-teacher conferences, no school for students;
— March 10 – End of third quarter, no school for students;
— March 13-17 – Spring Break;
— May 24 – Last day of school.
Connections Homeschool
Dates To Remember:
Nov. 29 — Kenai: Open Gym
Nov. 30 — Math Tutoring at new Sterling Hwy Kaladi Brothers – 1:00-2:00
Nov. 30 — Soldotna Office: Battle of the Books for 3rd & 4th Grade at 3:00pm
Dec. 1 — Soldotna Connections: Jam Session at Odies 2:30-3:30 (more info below)
Dec. 2 — Homer K-12 Art Show
Dec. 14 – Site Council Meeting at Soldotna Office 11:30-1:00
Dec. 16 – 1st Semester Reports Due
Dec. 16 — Soldotna Connections Skate Party (see below)
Dec. 19 — All Stocking Stuffer Items Due! Soldotna Office!
Connections Jam Session at Odies in Soldotna: Once a month Connections will have an impromptu music jam session for high school students. Thursday, December 1st the meeting is at Odies in Soldotna from 2:30-3:30. Bring laptops, homework, music and let’s and jam out while socializing! Call Connections at 714-8880 for more information and we hope to see everyone there!
Homer Connections First Friday K-12 Art Show, Dec. 2, 3-4 p.m.: If you are taking an art course this semester: painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, printmaking, digital art; please share your work! This is an opportunity to recognize students with artistic ability in the Connections’ program. Student Art will be displayed for students, parents, and the community members during an Open House. The deadline for entering artwork is November 29th. Appetizers, coffee, and hot cocoa will be provided. Please contact Jake Parrett at jparrett@kpbsd.org or call 226-1880 to reserve a spot. Please include Name/ Grade/ Category when reserving your spot.
Soldotna Connections Skate Party: Soldotna Connections is hosting an ice skating party at the Soldotna Sports Complex from 1-2:45 p.m. Dec. 16. Refreshments will be served and ice skates will be provided free of charge! All homeschooling families are welcome. Please remember to bring hats, gloves, coats, spare socks and helmets. We look forward to seeing everyone at the rink!
Operation Stocking Stuffer, Soldotna Office: Please join the Soldotna Connections staff in a Holiday Stocking Stuffer Drive! Connections is collecting items at the Soldotna office until Dec. 19. All proceeds will be donated to Love Inc. Suggestions: hats, gloves, socks, safe small toys, stuffed animals, toothbrushes, coloring books, crayons, books, markers, comb/brushes, games, pens/pencils, hair accessories. If you have any questions please call 714-8880. Thank you for your generous donations!
IDEA Homeschool
Dec. 2 — Application Day for high school seniors. Students will meet at the IDEA Office anytime from 11-2 for help from UA staff to apply to KPC or any school in the UA system. Laptops will be available, but it is recommended for students to bring their own. The cost of the applications will depend on the degree programs that the students choose. The fee for a Certificate or Associate Degree is $40, and the application fee for a Bachelor’s Degree is $50.
Dec. 15 — Winter Celebration at the Soldotna Sports Center. There will be skating from 1-2:45, a student craft sale, STEAM activities and crafts, board games and more. Cost for skating is $6 person, this includes skate rental. Don’t forget a snack to share.
Dec. 15 — Calling all crafters! IDEA will be having a craft sale during the Winter Celebration on December 15th, 1:00 – 3:30 pm at Soldotna Sports Center! This is the time for students to pair their crafting side with their business side. Registration is required. Call Suzanne at 260-3158 or email Suzanne.alioto@ideafamilies.org for more information.
Jan. 12 — Crazy 8’s Math Club is coming. IDEA Families are invited to participate in eight weeks of math activities. Watch for details coming out soon!
Jan. 17 — Performance Night at the IDEA Office. This is time for students to show off anything from music to art to PE. Signups are available on the Region K Blog.
Jan. 20 — Geo Bee at the IDEA Office. Join IDEA students in grades 4th-8th for the annual Geography Bee. The local event will be at 1:00. The winner will represent IDEA-Kenai at the Alaska State Geography Bee to be held at the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage on March 31, 2017. Any questions? Call Marian Werth at 260-7555.
Jan. 20 — National Geographic Geography Bee at the IDEA Office at 1:00. This competition is for students in 4th – 8th grade. All students participate in one and the same bee, there are no grade specific bees. The winner of the local bee will represent IDEA – Kenai at the Alaska State Geography Bee to be held at the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage on March 31, 2017. Please call Marian Werth at 260-7555 or email her at marian.werth@ideafamilies.org.
Feb. 10 — Spelling Bee at the IDEA Office at 1:00. The winner of our local bee will represent IDEA-Kenai at the Alaska State Spelling Bee to be held at the Performing Arts Center in Anchorage on March 31st, 2017. IDEA Families should check the Region K Blog for a list of practice words for the National Spelling Bee. Any questions? Call Marian Werth at 260-7555.
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.
BookIt! Coupons are available at the IDEA Office. IDEA Families are encouraged to participate in this program where students read for pizza coupons.
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 Flexibility: To be willing to alter plans when necessary.
Check out the electronic bulletin board in the entryway for all upcoming events and meetings as well as pictures of Kaleidoscope in action.
Monday
— Food Drive begins
— 4:15, APC Meeting
Tuesday
— Food Drive
— 1:30, Family Fun Night Committee Meeting
— 2:30, PTA general meeting
Wednesday
— Food Drive
— 3:45-5:00, Dance Ensemble
Thursday
— Food Drive
Friday
— Food Drive
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 backpacks and lunch boxes.
Mark your Calendar
Dec. 5-9 — PTA Penguin Patch Store will be open.
Dec. 6 — 7:00 p.m. Holiday Concert at KCHS with 1st-5th graders performing and well as the Dance Ensemble
Dec. 16 — Family Fun Night- Movie Night
Dec. 22 — Inservice Day – no school for students
Dec. 23 — January 6 Winter Break No School
Volunteers: 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.
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary
Mr. Daniels’s class is in the middle of a ceramics project. The students are making drape molds using clay draped over rocks. They are imprinted with designs and legs are molded into them so they stand up. They have learned how science and art can combine to create beautiful things.
Students learned some of the vocabulary and words associated with ceramics. They also learned about the process of making ceramic projects. At this point they have fired their projects in the kiln to harden them, glazed them to give them a shiny appearance, and they are ready to fire their projects a final time to seal the glaze on the clay.
Dec. 15 — K-2 Winter Concert 6:00 p.m.at Sohi Auditorium
Dec. 20 — K-Beach Band Concert 6:30 p.m. in K-Beach gym
Dec. 22 — Inservice Day; NO SCHOOL
Dec. 23 to Jan. 6 — Winter Break; NO SCHOOL
Kenai Central High
Seniors, Jostens orders for graduation materials are due by the end of the month. Order can be completed online. A representative from Jostens will be at KCHS on Tuesday to answer any questions and collect completed order forms.
KCHS is holding a silent auction and spaghetti dinner from 6:00 – 7:30 on Dec. 10 in the school cafeteria to help us raise money for the KPBSD Students in Transition Program. The SIT program helps provide assistance to local homeless children and provides them with clothes, school supplies, food and other necessities. Attendees can pay at the door $10 per plate or $30 per family. We look forward to seeing everyone there.
Kenai High School is putting on a canned food drive November 2nd – December 9th Donations will be given to our local community food bank.
Reminder there is after school study hall for KCHS students. Study hall is in the library 2:30 to 3:30 Monday through Thursday. Teachers are available as well as National Honor Society student tutors during the study hall. This is great opportunity for students to get some extra help with their school work
Wednesday:
— First Day of Basketball and Cheerleading
Thursday:
— Hockey at Colony, 7:00
— Wrestling Dual vs Soldotna High School, “Senior Night,” 6:30
Friday:
— Hockey at Wasilla, 7:00, The Brett
— Varsity Wrestling at Wasilla
— JV Wrestling at Redington
— KCHS Drama Performance, 6:00, Little Theatre
Saturday:
— Hockey at Palmer at the Brett 3:45
— Nordic Ski at Wasilla, “Government Peak”
— Varsity Wrestling at Wasilla
— JV Wrestling at Redington
— KCHS Drama Performance, 7:00, Little Theatre
Kenai Middle
After-School tutoring resumes this week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Tuesday KMS “A” Basketball teams will play Nikiski at KMS. Girls will play at 3:00, Boys at 4:30.
KMS “B” teams will play at the Kenai Rec. Center. Boys will play first at 3:00, Girls will play at 4:30.
Due to increased interest, the registration deadline for the 8th grader Spring Break trip to Washington D.C. and Williamsburg has been extended to Wednesday! Don’t miss out on this experience of a lifetime. Contact the school or Mr. Summer at 907-283-1700 for details.
Our KMS canned food drive begins Wednesday, as well. This year will be a competition between the boys and girls! May the best team win!
Thursday, KMS “A” Basketball teams will play at Skyview Middle School. Girls will begin at 3:00; Boys at 4:30.
Friday KMS “A” teams will play Seward here at KMS. Girls will play at 3:00; Boys at 4:30
KMS “B” teams will play at the Kenai Rec. Center. Boys will play at 3:00; Girls will play at 4:30.
It’s time to start thinking about Christmas! If you could use a little assistance this holiday season or if you are willing to help a family in need, you may request a form at the office. The deadline to request is Friday.
Mountain View Elementary
Christmas Drive forms were sent home last week. If you are in need of a Christmas basket, applications must be returned by Friday. If you would like to sponsor a child or a family or make a cash donation please call the office at 283-8600.
Members of the Mountain View after school Youth Chorus will be performing at the School Board Meeting at the borough building on Dec. 5 at 6:00 p.m.
The after school Youth Chorus and the 5th grade band will hold a winter concert on Dec. 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the Mountain View gym.
The primary winter concert for all 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students will be on Dec. 15 at 6:00 p.m. in the Renee C. Henderson auditorium at Kenai Central High School. The PTA will be hosting a bake sale after the concert to benefit the Music program at Mountain View. If you would like to donate baked goods please dropped your baked goods off at school the day of the performance or call the office at 283-8600.
Nikiski Middle/High School
Tuesday
— Middle School Basketball at Kenai – 3 p.m.
Wednesday
— High School Basketball begins
Friday
— Wrestling at Wasilla – North/South Tournament
— Middle School Basketball at home vs. Homer – 3 p.m.
Saturday
— Wrestling at Wasilla – North/South Tournament
Nikiski North Star Elementary
There will be a PTA meeting on Thursday at 3:45 p.m. in the staff lounge.
The first and second grades will have a Christmas concert on December 6. The concert will be held at Nikiski Middle High School beginning at 6:00 p.m. For more information please call the school office at 776-2600.
NNS is participating in the “21 Days of Kindness” program. This program is a school wide activity for students, teachers and staff members working together to achieve the common goal of spreading kindness. NNS is creating a paper chain in the hallways to display the acts of kindness for others to see. Some ideas for ways to be kind are: be positive, say nice things to others, tell someone you admire them, laughter, help someone who needs your help, be thankful, encourage someone who is down and tell others that they are important and that they matter.
Please “like” the NNS Facebook page to keep up with all of the events happening at NNS.
Redoubt Elementary
Helping Redoubt Families: Does your family need help this holiday season? Complete the form on the back of Redoubt’s weekly newsletter and return it to Mr. Withrow by Friday. Please call the school office if you have questions regarding this program.
Redoubt’s Elf Shelf Holiday Store is coming Dec. 6-8. Redoubt PTA sponsors this annual gift shopping opportunity for students. Complete information will be sent home soon.
Redoubt students collected and donated over 990 pounds of non-perishable food items for the Peninsula Food Bank to use for families in need this holiday season. Mr. Stitt’s classroom delivered the food items to the food bank before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Mark your calendar:
Dec. 8 – Winter Concert grades 1-3, Soldotna High School 6:00pm.
Dec. 13 – PTA Meeting, 3:45 in the staff lounge.
Dec. 13 – Band Concert, Redoubt Gym 6:00pm.
Dec. 16 – 4th grade fundraiser MOVIE NIGHT.
Dec. 22 – No school for students, in-service day.
Skyview Middle
Only 18 days left in the Second Quarter! Please check your student’s progress on Power School.
Basketball Schedule this week:
Thursday – Skyview 8th Girls vs. Kenai at Skyview – 3:00 p.m.
Thursday – Skyview 8th Boys vs. Kenai at Skyview – 4:30 p.m.
Katherine Delker was chosen as the 8th Grade November Chamber Student of the Month. She will be honored at the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday. Congratulations Katherine!
Congratulations to the 8th graders for winning the Penny Drive competition! Many thanks to all those who contributed and special thanks to the Student Council members who volunteered to count all the coins. A total of $438.94 was raised for Skyview Neighbors in Need. Great job everyone!
Holiday Activity Night is Friday from 2:45-4:45 p.m. Student Council members should check the sign-up sheets outside Mrs. Pothast’s door to volunteer for the event. Last day to sign up is today! Parent volunteers are always welcome and appreciated. Please contact the front office if you would like to help chaperone Activity Night. All volunteers must be cleared through the District screening process prior to attending.
The Skyview Angel Tree is located in the school commons. If you would like to help a Skyview Middle School student in need, please stop by to select a card from the tree. All items purchased need to be returned to the front office by Dec. 5.
Soldotna High
Volunteers are needed to assist with the PTSA hosted SoHi and SoPrep Staff Luncheons on Dec. 7 and Dec. 15 respectively. Please e-mail Sheilah-Margaret Pothast at agr8fulmom@hotmail.com with “PTSA” in the subject line if you can help Beth with either of these events.
Class of 2018 Parents of Juniors will meet on Jan. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the SoHi Staff Lounge. Prom is early this year, April 1, so we need to kick off fund raising efforts right away! If you’d like access to the google doc link for that purpose, are interested in volunteering, or have questions please e-mail Sheilah-Margaret Pothast at agr8fulmom@hotmail.com with “After Prom” in the subject line.
SoHi PTSA will meet on Jan. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the SoHi Staff Lounge. New members are always welcome
Graduation is May 22, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the Sports Center.
Soldotna High School is collecting gently used formal dresses, shoes, and accessories for Cinderella’s Closet 2017. This is a program which helps all area high school ladies with free prom dresses, shoes, and accessories. We have helped over 500 ladies in the past 7 years. We are taking donations of prom dresses, shoes, and accessories. All sizes dresses are welcome, however we are in particular need of dresses in size 12 to 18. These items can be dropped off to the main office at Soldotna High School between 8am-3pm. Since the donations are made to a school, tax donation forms can be issued by SoHi upon request. If you have any questions, please email epokryfky@kpbsd.org for more info. Thanks for helping the young ladies of the Kenai Peninsula!
The SoHi SkillsUSA chapter is having a fund raiser selling rural mail boxes. Contact Advisor Mr. Gordon at 260-7000 for more information.
Mr. Gordon is collecting Baby and Senior pictures for the Graduation Slide show. Turn in no more than one of each. Friday is the due date for all pictures to be turned in. We will also be collecting video highlights from the various extra-curricular events throughout the year. Due date for the video highlights will be April 21, 2017 but please turn them into Mr. Gordon immediately after the events if possible. Pictures and video clips can be sent by email to dgordon@kpbsd.k12.ak.us. Pictures and video clips turned in after the above dates will not be included in the Graduation Senior Video/slide show.
Soldotna Stars Letterman Jackets are available to order at www.neffco.com. Click on Varsity Jackets, find our school by State, select Soldotna High School, starting at $149 you can personalize it anyway you would like. Any questions contact Heather Parkki, 907-260-7022. Makes a great Christmas gift!
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 Montessori Charter
Intermediate classes concluded their study of the Civil War with a powerful re-enactment.
Primary grades portrayed their own story of Stone Soup. Families and friends enjoyed their homemade creations at the annual Stone Soup gathering.
Learning about Thanksgiving, kindergartners used clay to form pinch pots. Two firefighters came to their class to talk about fire safety.
Two vision specialists visited Mrs. Holt’s class. Students learned about Braille and new technology to help the visually impaired.
Mark the dates:
Dec. 2 — Fifty Cent Friday
Dec. 5 — PTO meeting at 4:00
Dec. 6 — Primary Winter Concert at Sohi: 5:30, Cookie Train Fundraiser; 6:00, Performers arrive; 6:30, Concert begins
Soldotna Prep
Soldotna Prep wishes to thank everyone who supported the book fair and the “All for Books” bake sale. The school earned $2,500 in fair sales which awarded a 50 percent profit and provided a wonderful amount of free books and resources to the library students’ enjoyment and growth. The almost $200 from the bake sale supported the Lucky Locker free book awards and was also matched 100 percent by Scholastic to support national reading programs. Zack Ness was the winner for the guess how many gold (chocolate) nuggets were in the jar. SoPrep sends a special thank you to all the volunteers and bakers who made the fair and sale a great success.
Volunteers are needed to help with the December Staff Appreciation luncheons at SoHi on Dec. 7 and at SoPrep on Dec. 15. Please email Sheilah-Margaret Pothast at agr8fulmom@hotmail.com with “PTSA” in the subject line if you can assist Beth with either of these events.
Robotic Club meets Monday and Wednesday from 2:30 – 5:00 in Room 19 and Thursdays from 5-7 p.m.
After School Tutoring Monday and Wednesday 2:30 – 3:30 in Room 10 and Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 30.
Please visit Soldotna Prep School Page for important information http://soldotnaprep.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/home/
Sterling Elementary
Our 21 Day Kindness Challenge started on Nov. 1! We are winding down to day 21! Please join us for our celebration assembly!
Thursday — 21 Day Kindness Challenge Final Celebration – 2:30 p.m. –Sterling Elementary School Gym
Thursday — Site Council Meeting – 4:00 p.m. – McKinley’s room
Dec. 5 — Board of Education Meeting – 6:00 p.m. – Borough Assembly Chambers, Sterling Elementary is presenting!
Dec. 6 — Fundraising Celebration assembly – 3:00 p.m. – We earned enough for Mrs. Kelly to kiss a pig!
Dec. 6 — PTA meeting – 4:00 p.m. – library
Dec. 13 — K – 3 Winter Concert 6:00 p.m.
Dec. 15 — 4 – 6 and Band Winter Concert 6:00 p.m.
Dec. 22 — No School for students – end of quarter and teacher inservice
Dec. 23 — January 8 Winter Break – Happy Holidays!
Jan. 13 — Falcon Fun Night
Thank you for the kindness that you show to each other every day! Sterling Elementary is proud to be sharing in this kindness!
Tustumena Elementary
Today — Site Council Meeting, 4 p.m.
Friday — Cash Raffle 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 9 — Spelling Bee
Dec. 13 — Winter Concert, 6 p.m.
Dec. 16 — Geography Bee
Dec. 21 — Reindeer Games
Dec. 22 — NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS – Inservice Day – End of 2nd quarter
Dec. 23- Jan. 8 — WINTER BREAK
School information may be submitted to schools@peninsulaclarion.com. Submissions are due at noon on the Wednesday before publication. For more information, call 907-335-1251.
