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:
■ Nov. 7
■ Dec. 5
■ Jan. 16
■ Feb. 6
■ March 6
■ April 3
■ May 1 (Seward High School)
■ June 5
■ June 6 (Planning Session)
■ Oct. 27-28 – Parent-teacher conferences, no school for students;
■ Nov. 24-25 – Thanksgiving;
■ 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.
Tuesday — Kenai: Open Gym 12-2pm
Tuesday — Ecology Hike/ Fat Bike Trip from Diamond Creek Trail (more info below)
Wednesday — Soldotna: Math Tutoring at New Kaladi 1-2pm
Wednesday — Ageya Wilderness Center: 2-day, 1-night trip (more info below)
Oct. 20 — Eligibility Due For High School Students
Oct. 26 — Hay Maze at Solid Rock Camp 1:00-2:30 (more info below)
Oct. 27 — Soldotna: Connections Jam Session at Old Kaladi Bros 2:30-3:30
Nov. 4 — AVTEC Tour
Nov. 4 — Soldotna Picture Retakes 3-5pm at Borough Building Assembly Room
Ecology Hike/ Fat Bike Trip from Diamond Creek Trail: On October 11 at 11:00 a.m. Connections students and families are invited to attend a combined Hike and Fat Bike Trip. The hiking portion is open to K through 12th Connections students and parents. The Fat Bike portion is open to 6th through 12th grade students and parents. There are limited bikes available to rent. Please contact Jake Parrett jparrett@kpbsd.org or 226-1880 to reserve a spot!
Ageya Wilderness Center: A 2-day, 1-night trip to Ageya Wilderness Center focused on marine debris clean up, learning about local watersheds, and beginning to brainstorm ideas for a zero waste campaign back at home, school, or the community. The trip is Oct. 12 at noon until October 13 at 11 a.m. for Connections students in grades 5-9 and chaperones at Ageya Wilderness Center on the “bench” above Homer: http://ageya.org/. Cost is free for this portion (plus $10/person fee for food). Students are encouraged to commit to the zero waste campaign and participate in the spring trip across Kachemak Bay which may cost around $150 (allotments could be used). Contact Derek Bynagle at dbynagle@kpbsd.org or 226-1880 to sign up!
Annual Solid Rock Hay Maze: It’s time for the annual Hay Maze at Solid Rock Bible Camp! Please join Connections on Oct. 26 from 1-2:30 p.m. The cost is $6 per person (non-reimbursable). Please bundle up for this event; gloves, hats, warm layers and flashlights are encouraged. If you have any questions contact the Soldotna office at 907-714-8880 or email Shelli Furlong at sfurlong@kpbsd.k12.ak.us to RSVP or for more information.
Connections Jam Session at Kobuck Kaladi Brothers: Once a month Connections will have an impromptu music jam session at the old Kaladis off of Kobuck for high school students. Bring your laptops, homework, music and let’s and jam out while socializing! If you are interested in participating please email Shelli Furlong: sfurlong@kpbsd.org. Mark down Oct. 27 from 2:30-3:30 for this month and we hope to see you there!
AVTEC Tour: All Connections High School Students are invited to attend a free guided tour of AVTEC in Seward on Nov. 4 at 10:00 a.m. AVTEC offers a variety of educational programs such as: Construction, Welding, Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Maritime Studies, Electronics, Culinary Arts and many other courses.
Monday
— 3:45-4:45 Running Club
— 4:15 APC Work session, Budget FY18
Wednesday
— 3:45-4:45 Running Club
— 3:45-5:00 Dance Ensemble Club
— 1:30-3:00 Kindergarteners will walk to the creek
Thursday
— 6:00 p.m. District Budget Development Meeting – Kaleidoscope library
Friday
— Show your Kaleidoscope Pride and support for Breast Cancer Awareness by wearing KSAS school colors of royal blue and white and/or pink.
Mark your Calendar
— October 17, 4:15 APC Meeting, general meeting
— October 20, Great Alaskan Shake-Out earthquake drill
— October 21, Inservice Day, no school for students; last day of first quarter
— October 26, early release – School ends at 2:10 p.m. Six days throughout the academic year, students will meet the minimum day requirement, leaving teachers with approximately ninety minutes of additional time for planning/training. The length of the school day will be reduced by ninety minutes, for a total of nine hours during the 2015-2016 school year. On these early release dates, school will end ninety minutes (1.5 hours) earlier. Bus transportation will be adjusted by ninety minutes.
— October 27-28, Parent Teacher Conferences-No School for students
Lifeskill — Caring: To feel and show concern for others
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.
Lunch menus are now only available online. They are on the Kaleidoscope webpage as well as the KPBSD webpage and KPBSD app. They will also be attached to the weekly message sent the first of each month.
Last week’s Box Tops raffle winners were Oscar Marcou and Noah Hallam. Way to go, Caribou!
Mr. Daniels’s Class just completed an investigation on the vascular system of plants. They placed celery in colored water over the course of 4 days and watched as the colored dye slowly worked its way to the top of the plant. Then they completed an investigation analysis by creating diagrams and writing a conclusion.
Ms. Kaufman’s kindergarten class appreciates the fun field trip to Heritage Place to celebrate dignity with residents and staff.
We made dignity t-shirts, read stories about dignity, played recreation games, sang songs and shared our poster “I Can Show Others Dignity By…”. Kinders got to meet a 100 year old woman who sang them a song.
October 21 — Inservice Day; No School
October 26 — Early Release Day, K-Beach will dismiss at 12:55
October 27, 28 — No School due to Parent/Teacher Conferences
Congratulations to KCHS cross country team; the girls placed 2nd at State. The Kards were led by the fourth place finish of sophomore Jaycie Calvert, Rianna Boonstra in 6th, Brooke Satathite in 14th, Ithica Bergholtz in 25th, and Addison Gibson in 35th.
There will be no school for students Oct. 21st, 27 and 28 for end of the quarter in-services and conferences. The end of the 1st quarter is on Oct. 21, this is an in-service day. The end of the quarter will be followed by another opportunity for parents to meet with the teachers. Parent teacher conferences will be Oct. 27 from noon to 3 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The annual band fall concert will be Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. Bands performing will be the KCHS Concert Band, Drum Line, and the KMS Concert Band. Admittance to the concert is free.
Tuesday — KCHS Choir, 7:00
Wednesday — First day of hockey practice
Thursday — Volleyball (Home) vs Colony High School 3:30, 4:30, 6:00
Friday — Volleyball (Home) vs Wasilla High School 3:30, 4:30, 6:00; Swim and Dive at Palmer High School
Saturday — Volleyball (Home) vs Palmer High School 3:30, 4:30, 6:00; Wrestling (Home) Luke Spruill Memorial Tourney, times TBD; Swim and Dive at Palmer High School
Congratulations are in order!
Character Counts winners: Nolan Rogers and Rowyn Clucas
Boxtops for Books: Ethan Gerow and Michael Dominic
September Students of the Month: Samuel Baisden, Jayna Boonstra, Rachel Koppes, Logan Satathite, Daniel Shelden, Sorin Sorenseon, Jenna Streiff, Ayla Tallent, Zahara Wilshusen
Sixth graders will walk to the creek this week. The Rolph-Beck students will attend Tuesday. Tews students will attend Wednesday. Please be sure your students brings a hat, gloves and a warm jacket. The experience is so much better when the kids are warm!
Basketball Intramurals begin Monday for Boys and Girls in seventh and eighth grade. The cost is $30. A completed sports packet must be turned in prior to participating. Boys and Girls will alternate practice times starting with Boys from 2:30 – 4:00, Girls from 4:00- 5:30. Athletes with the late practice are required to stay at school for study hall.
Swimming for Group 1 ends Monday; for Group 2 it ends Tuesday.
KMS Choir will perform for the first time this school year on Thursday. The concert begins at 7:00 at KCHS.
Also on Thursday the KPBSD will host the Annual Budget meeting, to be held at the KCHS library at 6:00. All KMS parents, students, staff, and community members are encouraged and welcome to attend. This meeting is one of the most important meetings held each year. Please attend if you can. This meeting will be an important step in the process to develop the FY17 budget. We are hoping for a large turnout.
Students can pick up a permission slip for the Annual Hay Maze with Mr. Fischer starting Monday. Applications with a payment of $10 will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis and is open to the first 45 students. The event will occur on Oct. 20, from 2:30- 5:30.
The District Mind-A-Maze competition will be held on Saturday, October 15th at Soldotna Prep.
Save-the-Date:
Oct.18 — Band Concert
Oct. 20 — Picture Retakes
The PTA “Believe Kids” fundraiser catalog and information were sent home with students last week. Orders need to be turned in by today.
The Site Council will be meeting on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in the Library to participate in the districtwide KPBSD Budget Development. The public is invited to attend.
Students will be learning about Fire Safety Monday-Friday here at Mountain View Elementary. The Kenai Fire Department will be here to visit classes and take students through the Fire Safety House.
Picture retakes are scheduled for Oct. 19 for students needing to have their pictures retaken or students that missed the first picture day.
Oct. 21 is an Inservice day. There is no school for students.
Oct. 26 is an early release day. Those students being picked up will be dismissed at 1:50 p.m. and all other students will be dismissed at 1:55 p.m.
Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on Oct. 27-28. There will be no school for students.
Fire Prevention Week will be held at NNS today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The kids will go through the event during their music class on those days. On Tuesday, the firefighters will talk with the 5th graders during lunch about the job of being a firefighter and what types of skills and training are needed. NNS loves the Nikiski Fire Department!
Picture retake day will be on Wednesday. Bring in your picture packet if you want retakes. This is also a chance for students who didn’t get their picture taken last time to purchase pictures.
The annual NNS fall carnival will be held on Oct. 22 from 2:00 -5:00 at the school. There will be lots of game booths, food, prizes, costume contest, basket auction, cake walk, trick or treat alley and fun for all! Also, the Scholastic Book Fair will be open in the library. This is the largest PTA fundraiser and volunteers are always appreciated to help set up, run booths and clean up. Please contact Janell Grenier at 252-0457 if you would like to volunteer.
Last week’s Box Top winners – Emmett Roetman and Gavyn Cochran. Save your Box Tops, put your name on the back, and put them in the box outside the office. Weekly prize drawings are held.
Congratulations to Redoubt’s students for reaching their first PBIS goal this school year. Students enjoyed an outside celebration of fun activities. Thank you for being Respectful, Responsible and Safe.
Student Program Applications including Free and Reduced Lunches must be filed each year. We encourage all families to complete a Student Programs Application. Programs such as our Pre-K program, school lunch program, funding for technology equipment along with Athletic and Activity Waivers are dependent on these funds. Forms are available at the school office.
Volunteers and Field Trip Drivers – must complete the online school district volunteer application before volunteering in the school or on school field trips. Please go to the KPBSD website for additional information on how you can volunteer at Redoubt Elementary.
Redoubt’s Site Council committee is in need of two parent representatives. If you are interested in being a parent representative, please stop by the school office. Site Council will meet 5 times during the school year. Meetings are held at the school at 3:45pm. The school site council is an advisory body in the joint planning and problem solving processes for improving student learning that occur at the local school level. Get involved in your child’s education.
Site Council – Special Budget MeetingThursday, 6:00 p.m. at Soldotna High School. This meeting is open to the public.
Parent-Teacher conference forms have been sent home with students. Please complete the conference form and return it to your child’s teacher as soon as possible. Time slots are limited and filled on a first come first serve basis. Please use one form per family.
Mark your calendar –
Tuesday, 3:45pm – PTA Meeting, staff lounge, child care provided.
October 20 – Fun Fest, cost is $4.00 per student, 3:30-5:00.
October 21 – No school for students. In-service day for staff.
October 26 – Early Release Day for students, 1:45pm release time.
October 27-28 – Parent Teacher Conferences
Intramural Basketball begins today! All students who wish to join must turn in the required sports forms before participation. Forms must be filled out for each sport. All forms may be picked up at the Front Office or found online on the Skyview Middle School blog > Skyview Sports > Required Sports Paperwork. The fee for intramural basketball is $30. Girls information: Girls practice time will be from 2:30 to 4:30. Please pick up girl participants at 4:30. Boys information: A mandatory study hall with a certified math teacher will be from 2:30 to 4:15. Boys practice time will be from 4:15 to 5:45. Please pick up boy participants at 5:45.
New Date for Site Council Meeting: Today’s meeting has been cancelled and rescheduled to Thursday following the 6:00 p.m. School District Budget Presentation.
It is Spirit Week! The Panther Student Council is sponsoring a Decades themed Spirit Week October 10th through the 14th! Monday is 50s Day, Tuesday – 60s, Wednesday – 70s, Thursday – 80s, and Friday is Vintage Skyview Spirit day. A group photo will be taken at lunch for the yearbook of all those who dress up. Check your closets and join the fun.
Activity Night – The next Activity Night will be Friday from 2:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. There will be a Dance Off competition with a medley of music from the Spirit Week decades. Wear Vintage Skyview Spirit clothing and join the activity for lots of Fall fun including a Selfie Station, Desk Ball, a Cupcake Walk and more! Parent volunteers are always welcome and needed – please contact the office if you can help. All volunteers must have the KPBSD volunteer screening complete beforehand. See the KPBSD website for more information.
First Band/Choir/Drumline Performance – October 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Skyview Middle School Gym.
No School for Students / End of the First Quarter – October 21
Picture Retakes – October 24. Morning only.
Early Release Day – October 26. Students end the school day at 1:00 p.m..
No School for Students / Parent Teacher Conferences (one day only) – October 27
No School for Students – October 28
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
October 11 — Parent PACK Election Meeting 3:45 pm in the library
October 18 — Picture Retake Day
October 21 — In-service Day- No school for students
October 26 — Early Release 1:55pm
October 27-28 — Parent Teacher Conferences- No school for students
Soldotna Elementary celebrated the SMORES Summer reading participants in an Olympic-sized assembly! Participants included Tanner Hough, Carter Cannava, Anna Cannava, Parker Cannava, Regan Hunt, Patrick Anderson, Madelynn Crowder, Gracie Bras, Ben Bras, Isaac Garcia, Elizabeth Garcia, Sariah Barrett, Ben Habighorst, Niki Carson, Alexis Simmons, Ashley Simmons, Maddie Peace, Willow Duffy, Caitlynne White, Tristan Yoncher, Josiah Yoncher, Lucy Anderson, Shaylee Reed, Alexis Collins, Lacey M., Hamilton Hunt and Aidan Hunt. These students recorded a total of 70, 519 minutes read this Summer! Tristan Yoncher won 1st place, Elizabeth Garcia was awarded 2nd and Alexis Simmons along with Isaiah Garcia, tied for 3rd place. Congratulations to all participants! Thank you to the Soldotna Rotary Club, Heather and Heather, Inc Screen Printing and Gifts and the SMOREs Reading Committee for making this celebration possible.
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 students. To volunteer please sign up for email communications or follow the PACK on Facebook to keep up-to-date on Soldotna Elementary volunteer events.
Mrs. Kvamme’s school store is up and running this year. The store is open on Wednesday mornings before school. Students can purchase pencils, pens, folders, pencil holders and much more!
PTSA will host a Parents of Juniors committee meeting to begin the planning for After Prom on Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the SoHi Staff Lounge. All Parents of Juniors are welcome and encouraged to attend!
PTSA will host a Parents of Seniors committee meeting to begin planning for After Grad on Monday, October 17th at 6:00 p.m. in the SoHi Staff Lounge. All Parents of Seniors are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Please email Sheilah-Margaret Pothast at agr8fulmom@hotmail.com with After Prom or After Grad in the subject line with any questions regarding these meetings.
The Counseling Department will be hosting 2 College Goal FAFSA Completion Workshops for senior parents. Event will be Nov. 1 in Room 24 at 6:00 p.m. Bring your 2015 tax information. For more information, contact your school counselor.
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!
SoHi PTSA welcomes new members! Membership dues are $10 annually and forms can be picked up in the office. Please email Sheilah-Margaret Pothast at agr8fulmom@hotmail.com with “SoHi PTSA” in the subject line for more information.
Mr. Gordon is collecting Baby and Senior pictures for the Graduation Slide show. Turn in no more than one of each. December 2, 2016 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.
Cross Country end of season banquet, today, 6 p.m. in the SOHI Commons
Girls Basketball Parent Meeting, Tuesday, in the SOHI library 5:30 p.m.
Fall Concert, Tuesday, 7 p.m. in the SOHI Auditorium
Boys Basketball Parent Meeting, Wednesday in the SOHI library at 6 p.m.
The Soldotna High School PTSA will meet on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the SoHi Staff Lounge. New members are always welcome! Learn more about how you can be involved in your student’s school community! For questions, please email Sheilah-Margaret Pothast at agr8fulmom@hotmail.com with “PTSA” in the subject line.
Robotics Camp 1-4 p.m. Saturday Rm 19. For more information contact kmcglothen@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Wrestling practice: study hall 2:30-3:30 at the Prep. Practice is from 3:30-5:30 at the Prep.
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
Our Fall Fundraiser is here! If you would like to support our school, call our office to learn how!
Thank you to everyone who helped at our shed building party!
Thursday — Reading is Fundamental! PTA sponsored activity that gives a free book to each Sterling Elementary and Sterling Head Start student!
Oct. 20 — Falcon Fun Night 3:45-5:00 pm – Volunteers who have completed the background check process are encouraged to call our office to help!
Oct. 21 — No School – In-service/ End of quarter
Oct. 26 — Early Release – Students out at 2:05 pm
Oct. 26 and Oct. 27 — Parent Teacher conferences – schedule coming home soon!
Oct. 28 — No school for students
Oct. 28 — Sterling PTA Trail or Treat! 4:00 – 5:30 – includes trick or treating on our habitat trail, chili cook off and pumpkin carving contest! Donations of Halloween decorations and candy requested as well as volunteers who would like to participate and hand out candy on the trail!
October 18 — PTO Meeting, 4 p.m.
October 21 — InserviceDay
No School for Students
End of 1st Quarter
October 25 — Picture Retakes
October 26 — Early Release, 2:05 p.m.
October 27-28 — Parent Teacher Conferences
October 28 — Winter Carnival, 6-8 p.m.
October 31 — Site Council Meeting, 4 p.m.
