Education

After accepting his diploma, River City Academy graduate Maxwell Mock shakes hands with Kenai Peninsula School Board member Marty Anderson during River City’s graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Monday, May 21, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).

River City Academy graduates nine

The nine River City Academy students who turned their tassels at a Monday afternoon graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex spoke about the… Continue reading

After accepting his diploma, River City Academy graduate Maxwell Mock shakes hands with Kenai Peninsula School Board member Marty Anderson during River City’s graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Monday, May 21, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary first-graders Maddi Redder (left) and Brayden Gregory prepare to rig a beam to a shop crane during their class’ field trip to Alaska Crane Consultants on Monday, May 7, 2018 on Kalifornsky Beach road. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Students try their hands at heavy equipment at Alaska Crane Consultants

Kristi Felchle’s first grade class at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary added a hands-on element to their recent lesson about work and the community: Taking a field… Continue reading

Kalifornsky Beach Elementary first-graders Maddi Redder (left) and Brayden Gregory prepare to rig a beam to a shop crane during their class’ field trip to Alaska Crane Consultants on Monday, May 7, 2018 on Kalifornsky Beach road. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Legislature approves flat schools budget, but no increases may force cuts

The Alaska Legislature on Wednesday approved a $1.2 billion budget for public schools in the next fiscal year. With a 31-9 vote, the Alaska House… Continue reading

School board changes K-Selo school site selection

Spurred by a fear of landslides, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education has officially revised their site selection for a new school… Continue reading

School district, unions exchange initial contract offers

A little more than a year after they concluded collective bargaining, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and its teacher and staff unions are back… Continue reading

Borough to propose bonds for new K-Selo school

Kenai Peninsula Borough voters may be asked to take on revenue bonds to fund a new school for the remote Old Believer community of Kachemak… Continue reading

The Soldotna Montessori Charter School food pantry is located on the corner of North Binkley Street and East Park Avenue, right across the street from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Hall building. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Students hope to keep food pantry full

Sixth graders at Soldotna Montessori Charter School have something they want everyone to know. It’s not that they spend their lunch time planning out community… Continue reading

The Soldotna Montessori Charter School food pantry is located on the corner of North Binkley Street and East Park Avenue, right across the street from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Hall building. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Since the start of the school year, the Kenai Central High School choir has been singing. From the chambers during Borough Assembly meeting, to Soldotna… Continue reading

Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir
Gabriel Dravis sticks a gumdrop on to the gingerbread house he built from graham crackers, frosting, and candy in Stacy Tronnier’s first and second grade class at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science on Friday, Dec. 15 in Kenai, Alaska. Three first and second grade classes at Kaleido- scope made gingerbread houses on Friday to take home for display and/or eating. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Graham cracker architects

Three first and second grade classes at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Sciences made gingerbread houses on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 to take home for display… Continue reading

Gabriel Dravis sticks a gumdrop on to the gingerbread house he built from graham crackers, frosting, and candy in Stacy Tronnier’s first and second grade class at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science on Friday, Dec. 15 in Kenai, Alaska. Three first and second grade classes at Kaleido- scope made gingerbread houses on Friday to take home for display and/or eating. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

School board to add video component to live stream in February

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will be adding a video component to its meeting’s live stream with the Feb. 5 meeting as a tentative… Continue reading

Two charter schools propose changes

Two charter schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District are looking to the school board to amend their charter school contracts. Aurora Borealis Charter… Continue reading

KPBSD maintains class sizes

Compared to the other major school districts in Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has a low pupil/teacher ratio (PTR), according to the 2017-2018… Continue reading

Zac Buckbee works on the ‘canstruction’ of Puncity while classmates visit the small city, made of donated food in the hallways of Redoubt Elementary School in Soldotna on Thursday. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Canstruction’ continues at Redoubt Elementary

Puncity seems like a nice place, it really has it all. Just past a corn field of canned corn is the ranch, marked by a… Continue reading

Zac Buckbee works on the ‘canstruction’ of Puncity while classmates visit the small city, made of donated food in the hallways of Redoubt Elementary School in Soldotna on Thursday. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School 2nd grade teacher Kelly Brewer helps student Levi Kirby into his judge’s robes before the class begins its mock trial of “Arthur T. Grinch” based on the Dr. Seuss classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The class has been studying civics and learning about the court process and put on a mock sentencing hearing, complete with witnesses and a jury composed of students’ parents and K-Beach Elementary Principal Nate Crabtree. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo: The youth court of Whoville

Right: Kelly Brewer’s second grade class at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School took over the courtroom for the morning to put on a mock sentencing hearing… Continue reading

Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School 2nd grade teacher Kelly Brewer helps student Levi Kirby into his judge’s robes before the class begins its mock trial of “Arthur T. Grinch” based on the Dr. Seuss classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The class has been studying civics and learning about the court process and put on a mock sentencing hearing, complete with witnesses and a jury composed of students’ parents and K-Beach Elementary Principal Nate Crabtree. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Anya Hondel rehearses a scene for the upcoming Soldotna High School musical Cinderella, which starts its run at the school’s auditorium tonight through Saturday with performances starting at 6:30 p.m. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Cinderella goes steampunk

On the surface, Soldotna High School’s rendition of Cinderella may seem a little off. Instead of a fireplace, there is a boiler room and instead… Continue reading

Anya Hondel rehearses a scene for the upcoming Soldotna High School musical Cinderella, which starts its run at the school’s auditorium tonight through Saturday with performances starting at 6:30 p.m. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
River City Academy teachers Annaleah Karron, Chris Kolishchak and Thomas Degray defend their goal in a Monday morning game of goalball at River City Academy in Soldotna, Alaska. Since the game is meant to be played by those with visual impairments, each team member had to wear blindfolds and listen for the ball, which is equipped with a jingling bell. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

A quiet crowd — district embracing goalball

There is one objective in goalball: get the ball across the goal line. Each team has three players and one teammate propels the ball towards… Continue reading

River City Academy teachers Annaleah Karron, Chris Kolishchak and Thomas Degray defend their goal in a Monday morning game of goalball at River City Academy in Soldotna, Alaska. Since the game is meant to be played by those with visual impairments, each team member had to wear blindfolds and listen for the ball, which is equipped with a jingling bell. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Board of Education member Debbie Cary was elected in October for a three year term representing District 7. (Photo Courtesy of Board of Education)

Board welcomes new faces

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education said goodbye to familiar faces and welcomed new ones at its first meeting following the October… Continue reading

Board of Education member Debbie Cary was elected in October for a three year term representing District 7. (Photo Courtesy of Board of Education)
Intruder pulls fire alarm, arrested at Sterling Elementary

Intruder pulls fire alarm, arrested at Sterling Elementary

A man who activated a fire alarm at Sterling Elementary School on Friday was arrested, according to Alaska State Troopers. The school was evacuated in… Continue reading

Intruder pulls fire alarm, arrested at Sterling Elementary
Students from across the district participate in games during a Sources of Strength training program at Soldotna Prep School in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. Games, lessons and discussions are combined by Sources of Strength, a Colorado-based youth suicide prevention project, to harness the power of peer social networks. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Program aims to help students prevent suicide

In the center of the Soldotna Prep School’s library, two students battled it out in a game of rock-paper-scissors while their peers chanted their names… Continue reading

Students from across the district participate in games during a Sources of Strength training program at Soldotna Prep School in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. Games, lessons and discussions are combined by Sources of Strength, a Colorado-based youth suicide prevention project, to harness the power of peer social networks. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Tauriainen beats Arness for Nikiski school board seat

A new face will be representing Nikiski and Tyonek on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education. Jason Tauriainen has beat long-time board… Continue reading