A.J. Wilson, 17, DeAndre Pittman, 16, and Elora Johnson, 16, eat lunch Thursday in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cafeteria. They, like many students, agree the free meals available during the pandemic are worth continuing if funding can be found after it ends June 30, but they are likely to look off-campus for food if they are required to pay for school lunches again. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

With federal funding ending, full-priced school lunches could be on the menu for many students next year

District hopes to continue offering free breakfast, ‘reasonably priced’ lunches

A.J. Wilson, 17, DeAndre Pittman, 16, and Elora Johnson, 16, eat lunch Thursday in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cafeteria. They, like many students, agree the free meals available during the pandemic are worth continuing if funding can be found after it ends June 30, but they are likely to look off-campus for food if they are required to pay for school lunches again. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nikolaevsk School teacher Billeen Carlson, center, shows her Alaska Society for Technology in Education Teacher of the Year award. (Photo provided)

Carlson wins ASTE Teacher of the Year

Nikolaevsk School teacher honored for her work in using technology in education

Nikolaevsk School teacher Billeen Carlson, center, shows her Alaska Society for Technology in Education Teacher of the Year award. (Photo provided)
Spencer Kuan Co. (Photo by Kammi Matson)

Homer High student gets perfect score on AP Computer Science test

Spencer C0’s score puts him in top .29% of test takers worldwide

Spencer Kuan Co. (Photo by Kammi Matson)
Fireweed Academy kindergarteners drum along with Sankofa Dance Theatre during their residency on Thursday, Dec. 9. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Sankofa Dance Theater teaches Fireweeders traditional African culture

Sankofa Dance Theater Alaska, established in 2017, is an Anchorage-based African dance and drum group.

Fireweed Academy kindergarteners drum along with Sankofa Dance Theatre during their residency on Thursday, Dec. 9. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
A school closure announcement from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District was issued Monday, Dec. 6, 2021.
A school closure announcement from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District was issued Monday, Dec. 6, 2021.
Dominique Smith, principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego, conducts a training session on building relationships, equity and school-based restorative practices for Juneau’s teachers, principals, and other certified staff members on Aug. 12. (Courtesy Photo/Kristin Bartlett, Juneau School District)

Teachers take a turn as students

Training class focuses on equity, restorative practices

Dominique Smith, principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego, conducts a training session on building relationships, equity and school-based restorative practices for Juneau’s teachers, principals, and other certified staff members on Aug. 12. (Courtesy Photo/Kristin Bartlett, Juneau School District)
Photo by Katelyn Engebretsen / Homer High Yearbook
Zoe Adkins and Emmet Wilkinson prepare pretzels in a high school food and nutrition class at Homer High School.

Homer High teacher resurrects nutrition program

The high school hasn’t had a foods and nutrition teacher for a number of years.

Photo by Katelyn Engebretsen / Homer High Yearbook
Zoe Adkins and Emmet Wilkinson prepare pretzels in a high school food and nutrition class at Homer High School.
Eric Pederson, principal of Paul Banks Elementary School, stands with his family outside the school in this undated photo in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Eric Pederson)
Eric Pederson, principal of Paul Banks Elementary School, stands with his family outside the school in this undated photo in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Eric Pederson)
A large tarp hangs in the Homer High School gymnasium to catch water leaking through the roof at the school in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Doug Waclawski)
A large tarp hangs in the Homer High School gymnasium to catch water leaking through the roof at the school in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Doug Waclawski)
Homer High School. (Homer News file photo)

Homer High has 1st COVID-19 case since reopening

Close contacts have been quarantined; school schedule not interrupted

Homer High School. (Homer News file photo)
The Juneau School District prepares hundreds of meals each weekday to feed children in Juneau as seen here at Thunder Mountain High School on Dec. 21.

Juneau union pays off school district meal balances

The union donated more than $7,000 to clear the ledgers.

The Juneau School District prepares hundreds of meals each weekday to feed children in Juneau as seen here at Thunder Mountain High School on Dec. 21.
Ben Blue, a graduate of Homer High School and a doctoral student at University of Washington, shows Homer High biology students the results of a research project they helped him with during their second quarter. (Image courtesy Vicki Lowe)

Homer High students help alum with research remotely

Biology students at Homer High School recently proved meaningful research can be completed whether the participants are gathered in one room or not.

Ben Blue, a graduate of Homer High School and a doctoral student at University of Washington, shows Homer High biology students the results of a research project they helped him with during their second quarter. (Image courtesy Vicki Lowe)
A screenshot from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s COVID-19 dashboard shows current case trends and threat levels as of Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (Screenshot courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough School District)
A screenshot from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s COVID-19 dashboard shows current case trends and threat levels as of Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (Screenshot courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough School District)
A row of footballs at the Homer-Seward game at Homer, Alaska, on Aug. 29, 2020. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A row of footballs at the Homer-Seward game at Homer, Alaska, on Aug. 29, 2020. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Fireweed Academy Kindergarten teacher Erin Pollock holds class outside on the first day of school Monday, Aug. 24, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Janet Bowen, Fireweed Academy)

Lower peninsula schools open for in-person and remote education

Schools in the areas with low and medium risk can progress with in-person learning

Fireweed Academy Kindergarten teacher Erin Pollock holds class outside on the first day of school Monday, Aug. 24, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Janet Bowen, Fireweed Academy)
Homer High School. (Homer News file photo)

Back to school

Principals discuss what reopening will look like at local schools

Homer High School. (Homer News file photo)
A screengrab of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintedent John O’Brien announcing in a Thursday, July 30, 2020 video that masks will be required in school buildings this fall, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Schools to require masks, face coverings

Masks are now mandatory for all staff and students in third grade and higher.

A screengrab of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintedent John O’Brien announcing in a Thursday, July 30, 2020 video that masks will be required in school buildings this fall, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Daily school district COVID-19 risk levels

Risk levels are based on COVID cases reported in a community and determine how schools will operate.

Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign announcing the closure of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools at K-Beach Elementary can be seen on March 26, 2020, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

School board to vote on 1st day for students

Smart Start plan for KPBSD will be sent to Department of Education by the end of this month

A sign announcing the closure of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools at K-Beach Elementary can be seen on March 26, 2020, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Plans for fall school session still in works

District admin is still contemplating if and when school facilities will be open to the public.

Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)