Around the District

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:

■ May 2 (Seward High School);

■ June 6;

■ June 7 (Planning Session);

Connections Home School Program

Dates To Remember:

If you haven’t reenrolled your student for next year please call your Connections office for an appointment:

– Homer: 226-1880

– Seward: 224-9080

– Soldotna: 714-8880

■ April 19 – Kenai Rec Center Gym Time

■ April 20 – Homer Rock Climbing at the Bay Club at 1:30 p.m. contact Jake Parrett at jparrett@kpbsd.org for more information

■ April 22 – Homer Rock Climbing at the Bay Club at 3:30-5 p.m. contact Jake Parrett at jparrett@kpbsd.org for more information

■ April 25-26 – Safe Sitter Course (more info below)

■ April 29 – Summer Activities Fair from 5-7 p.m. at Paul Banks Elementary. Information and Registration for summer activities such as Little League Baseball, Music camp, soccer and much more

■ April 29 – Last day to submit reimbursements

■ May 3 – Kenai Fjords Trip in Seward, AK

■ May 4 – Soldotna office Kindergarten Orientation and End of Year BBQ at 2:30-4 p.m.

■ May 5 – Middle School Math Meet at Homer Middle School: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (more info below)

■ May 11 – Salmon Celebration – save the date

Also check out the Connections website: connections.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/wpmu/info-for-families-2/activities-contests-and-more/ for numerous student activities, contests and more!

– Safe Sitter Class:

This nationally recognized class is a great way to prepare children to care for each other as well as become certified to babysit other children. This class will be on April 25-26 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Safe Sitter can teach the babysitting skills to do it well! Becoming a Safe Sitter means trainees will gain confidence and learn how to handle situations that may happen on the job or at home. Children need to be between the ages of 11 and 13 to attend. Each class has room for 13 students. The cost is $50 and fully reimbursable by Connections. For more information please contact Marcia Knowlton 598-0950 (parent contact) or Nicole Price 714-4775 (Hospital contact).

– Soldotna office eighth grade orientation:

Eighth Grade Students and parents are invited to the “Class of 2020” Orientation will take place April 14 from 10 a.m. to noon or April 14 from 1-3 p.m. Families are about to embark on a journey into the wonderful world of high school. Believe it or not, the next four years will fly by. Please use the Doodle link (yes, that’s a real thing) to let Connections know if families are interested and what time works best (or families can choose both if either works); doodle.com/poll/23c2daiz97r58rxq. Topics will include: High school requirements/4 year planner, Interest Inventory- Connections will try to shed some light on where a student may be heading after high school and Setting up a Personal Learning and Career Plan. Whether or not a family is planning on homeschooling next year Connections encourage families to join them! If families have any questions, please contact Wendi Dutcher wdutcher@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or 907-714-8880.

Interior Distance Education of Alaska

IDEA Homeschool is now enrolling for the 2016-2017 school year! Check out the website atideafamilies.org. Click enroll now. Families are always welcome to come visit the staff at the office in the Red Diamond Center. Come check out the library, Resource Room, used curriculum, and speak with a certified teacher. IDEA staff is here to serve families in their homeschooling journey.

IDEA’s 18th Annual Curriculum Fair is on May 4 at Kalifonsky Christian Center.

Important dates:

■ April 21 – Hands on Equations Workshop from 2-3:30 p.m. at the IDEA office. Learn a unique way to do Algebra with hands on tools that make sense and are fun! This workshop is for those who are being introduced to Algebra for the first time or those who find Algebra a struggle to understand.

This Whole-Brain Instructional Approach will turn on the light bulb for many math learners. This supplementary Algebra curriculum and method has been a great resource for many families.

■ April 25 – Free Jumpin’ Junction Day for families who have re-enrolled. All re-enrolled families are invited to participate from 2-4 p.m. Bring a snack to share

■ May 11 – IDEA is heading out to Johnson Lake for the Salmon Celebration at noon. Please sign up online.

■ May 13 – IDEA will be having a Graduation Celebration. This is time for families to celebrate graduates locally. This celebration will be held at the IDEA Office from 6-8 p.m. Join families of graduates for pizza and cake

■ May 16 – IDEA is having an end of the year celebration. It will be an all day trip to Anchorage. From 10 a.m. to noon, families will be touring the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Then, families will head over to H2Oasis to take advantage of the last homeschool day. Please sign up online.

■ May 17 – IDEA will be having their annual track meet. Families will meet at the Skyview Track at 4 p.m. There is no need to sign up – just come!

■ May 23 – IDEA will be having their End of the Year Picnic at Soldotna Creek Park. Families will gather at noon. IDEA director, Daryl Bowers, will be there to visit with families. This will also be a time to say goodbye to assistant director, Janice Habermann. She will be relocating to IDEA’s Anchorage Office. IDEA will provide hot dogs and drinks. Please bring a side dish to share.

Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science

■ April 18 – Registration Week for incoming students

– 5th grade will walk to the creek at 9:45 a.m.

– Kindergarten visitation for new, incoming kindergarteners at 10:45 a.m.

– Kindergarten visitation for new, incoming kindergarteners at 2 p.m.

– APC Meeting at 4:15 p.m.

■ April 19 – Registration week for incoming students

– Kindergarten visitation for new incoming kindergarteners

■ April 20 – Registration week for incoming students

– Kindergarten Visitation for new incoming kindergarteners 2 p.m.

■ April 21 – Registration week for incoming students

– Fifth Grade will be participating in D.A.R.E.

– Kindergarten music concert at 6 p.m.

■ April 22 – Registration Week for incoming students

– Fifth Grade will be participating in D.A.R.E.

– Spring Fun Night from 5:30-10 p.m. for third through fifth graders. Volunteers are needed! If a parent is an approved volunteer (completed backgrouind check and volunteer training) and would like to help with this event, please email Chantel at taylorchan@gci.net. This is a fundraiser for a local family or organization. A donation of $25 is suggested per student but all donations will be accepted and no student will be turned away.

Upcoming Events:

■ April 26 – Fifth grade Kenai Fjords trip

■ April 28 – Mark calendars to attend the Volunteer Appreciation Celebration at 8:30 p.m.

– PTA meeting at 9:15 a.m.

■ April 29 – Backwards, Inside Out Clothes Day

■ May 2 – APC meeting at 4:15 p.m.

■ May 3 – First and second graders will go to Captain Cook State Park

– 9:30 a.m. Fifth grade Music Concert Rehearsal at KCHS

– 7:00 p.m. Fifth grade Music Concert at KCHS

■ May 4 – 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.

Reminders: The Life Skill staff and students are focusing on this week is Trustworthiness – To act in a manner that makes one worthy of trust and confidence.

Kalifornsky Beach Elementary

Families are invited to come listen to the last band concert of the year. It has been great working with these fine students and Mrs. Duhan is excited for them to show off what they have learned this year! The K-Beach band concert will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 2, 2016. Students should meet in the library no later than 6:15 p.m.

All fifth graders completed the 10 week long D.A.R.E. program presented by the Soldotna police department.

Fifth grade completed collecting data at Slicok creek with Stream Dan on April 14.

The school will celebrate a successful year as stream keepers with a stream and area clean up in May.

Fourth, fifth and sixth grade students are polishing up their film festival projects under the guidance of Mrs. Smith and Mr. Gordon. These projects are a compilation of writing, planning, teamwork and the artistry of film making. The festival will be held May 4.

The National Wildlife refuge came to K-Beach to help third and fifth graders have a better understanding of how to be safe when living in a community with bears.

Second graders in Mrs. McCoy’s class are preparing for their end of the year zoo exhibit by researching their favorite animal. This week’s project will involve learning as much as they can about an animal’s habitat, and working with their parents next week to create a diorama about that animal.

Classes from grades K-3 will have an opportunity to visit the zoo and learn from school experts all about the animals that live at the K-Beach Zoo.

Mr. Daniels’s class is gearing up for a study of exercise! What does exercise do to the heart, lungs, and brain?

They are going to find out this week using their Great Body Shop magazines and a little curiosity.

Of course, the study wouldn’t be complete without a little hands on investigation of exercise. The class may have to go outside for further investigation.

■ April 29 – Volunteer Appreciation Assembly 8 a.m.

■ May 2 – K-Beach Band Concert at 6:30 p.m. in the gym

■ May 4 – Early Release Day; K-Beach will dismiss at 12:55 p.m.

■ May 5 – JA in a day

■ May 18 – Last day of school.

Kenai Central

The junior class would like to thank all of the parents and businesses that donated items and time to help make this year’s prom and after prom event a huge success.

National Honor Society Inductees: Mara Youngren-Brown, Kathryn Darch, Shannon Esteban, Whitney Esteban, Devynn Heath, Caleigh Jensen, Eric Kempf, Kyrsten Maxson, Mikaela Pitsch, Mayzie Potton, Kiera Stroh.

■ April 18 – Eligibility Check

– Freshman Parent Orientation Night

– Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer (Home) versus Seward at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

■ April 19 – Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer (Home) vs Nikiski at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

■ April 21 – Student of the Month Luncheon in the library

– Caring for the Kenai at 6 p.m. in the little theater

■ April 22 – Boys and Girls Soccer at Colony at 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m.

– Baseball at Kodiak High School

– Track (Home) Kenai Invite at 3 p.m.

– Softball at Kodiak High School

■ April 23 – Baseball at Kodiak High School

– Track (Home) Kenai Invite at 10 a.m.

– Softball at Kodiak High School

– Boys and Girls Soccer at Palmer at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Kenai Middle

Congratulations to our Character Counts winners: Jacob Begich and Samuel Baisden.

Mass Choir will be in Homer this year on April 19. The bus leaves at 7 a.m. The concert will be at 6 p.m.

■ April 20 – Secretary’s Day.

Students will sign up for Mini Courses on April 20.

The Spring Band Concert will be held at KCHS on April 21 at 7 p.m.

■ April 22 – Track athletes will head to Homer for the Homer Invitational that begins at 3 p.m.

Nikiski Middle-High

■ April 19 – Boys JV Soccer at 4 p.m. in Kenai

– Girls Varsity Soccer at 4 p.m. in Kenai

– Girls JV Soccer at 6 p.m. in Kenai

– Boys Varsity Soccer at 6 p.m. in Kenai

– Middle School Mass Choir in Homer

■ April 21

– PTSA meeting – 6:30 p.m.

■ April 22 – Girls Varsity Soccer at 4 p.m. at Redington

– Boys Varsity Soccer at 6 p.m. at Redington

– Middle School Track at 3:30 p.m. in Homer

– High School Track at Kenai Invite

■ April 23 – Girls Varsity Soccer at 10 a.m. at Houston

– Boys Varsity Soccer at noon at Houston

– High School Track at Kenai Invite

Coming up:

The Nikiski Musical Theater and Drama department present The Wizard of Oz Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7. All showings are at 7 p.m, and cost $10 for adults and $5 for students.

■ April 12 – Senior Awards Night at 7 p.m.

■ May 16 – Graduation at 7 p.m.

Nikiski North Star Elementary

Kindergarten registration and orientation will be held on Wednesday, April 20, at 9:30 a.m. in the school library. If a child will be five-years-old by Sept. 1, 2016, bring them along to have some fun while families enroll them at Nikiski North Star. Please remember to bring immunization records, birth certificates and any legal custody papers. Please call the school office at 776-2600 with any questions.

Applications are now available at NNS and the school homepage to become a member of the NNS Site Council for the 2016-17 school year. The purpose of the council is to give input and guidance to the school and serves as a resource, sounding board, and core for communication between the many stakeholders in the school. As representatives, the members are responsible for bringing the information to the council.

Mrs. Heath is selling a workbook of mind exercising activities to help students practice basic skills over the summer and retain all that great stuff they learned over the school year! The cost is $12.99 and any profits will go towards her class field trips. Orders can be placed online through the month of April at evan-moor.com/dailysummer and enter coupon code DSA6004.

Redoubt Elementary

Box Top winners last week were Emmett Roetman, Lane Hanke and Grayce Hanke. Keep those Box Tops for education and Labels for education coming, weekly drawings are held so don’t forget to have a child put their name on the back of each Box Top and turn them in at school. Help earn money for Redoubt.

Support Redoubt Elementary while families shop at Fred Meyer. Every time families shop with their linked Rewards Card at Fred Meyer, they are helping Redoubt Elementary earn a donation. And the more families who link their Rewards Cards to Redoubt Elementary the more Redoubt can earn. To link your Rewards account go to: https://www.fredmeyer.com/

Families can support Redoubt Elementary while shopping at Fred Meyer. Every time families shop with their linked Rewards Card at Fred Meyer, they are helping Redoubt Elementary earn a donation. And the more families who link their Rewards Cards to Redoubt Elementary the more Redoubt can earn. To link a Rewards account go to fredmeyer.com/

Enroll now for the 2016-2017 school year. Registration is now open for all grades. Please call the school office for more information on the enrollment process.

Spring Concert Schedule

■ April 26 – Kindergarten Concert at 2:15 p.m. in the Redoubt gymnasium

■ May 3 – First through third grade Concert at 6 p.m. at Soldotna High School

■ May 5 – Band Concert at 6 p.m. in the Redoubt gymnasium

– The following sixth grade students were nominated by their teachers for the Masonic Outstanding Student Award. Tigerlily Evins, Kaidan Spies, Dylan Dahlgren, Airah Cude, Emma Brantley, Dylan Davidhizar and Quinton Cox. Congratulations to Quinton Cox for being chosen as this year’s winner! Congratulations to Darilynn Caston (kindergarten teacher at Redoubt) who was nominated for the BP Teachers of Excellence program this year. A celebration will be held on May 4, and the Kenai BP Teacher of the Year will be announced that evening.

Congratulations goes out to Emma Hunter a fourth grade student in Mrs. Joachim’s class. Emma competed with other Geography Bee winners and represented Redoubt well in the Alaska State Geography Bee. Emma made it to the tiebreaker round for the finals and missed the finals by just one point. Emma placed third overall in her group and was the high point scorer for the girls.

Volunteer appreciation week from April 11-15. Redoubt staff would like to honor volunteers who give their time throughout the year. There will be a reception table in the staff lounge for our volunteers to enjoy during the week.

■ April 22 – Trip to the Wax Museum from 1:30-2:30 p.m., parents are welcome to attend.

■ April 20-22 – Peterson Bay – Mrs. Arthur

■ April 25-27 – Peterson Bay – Mr. Eveland

■ April 27-29 – Peterson Bay – Mrs. Wardas.

■ April 28 – Kenai Fjords tour for fourth graders

■ May 4 – Early Release Day for students at 1:45 p.m.

■ May 5-6 – Kenai River Cleanup for fourth, fifth and sixth graders.

Enroll now for the 2016-2017 SY. Registration is now open for all grades. Please call the school office for more information on the enrollment process.

Spring Concert Schedule

■ April 26 – Kindergarten Concert at 2:15 p.m. in the Redoubt Gym

■ May 3 – First through third grade concert at 6 p.m. at Soldotna High School

■ May 5 – Band Concert at 6 p.m. in the Redoubt Gym

Redoubt’s fourth grade students will be selling ice cream each Friday to raise money for their upcoming field trip this spring to the Kenai Fjords. Ice cream prices range from

$0.75 cents to $2. Sales will take place after school in the hallway.

Skyview Middle

Track meet this week at 3 p.m., Friday, April 22, for the Homer Invitational at Homer High School.

Congratulation to the award winners at the 27th Annual Borough Art Show at the Kenai Fine Arts Guild in old town Kenai.

Sculpture – Best in Show Chance Reynolds, 1st place Vydell Baker, Honorable Mention Casey Earll, Teacher Choice Ilysse Cable, Teacher Choice Chloe Driskell; Drawing – 2nd place Katherine Stoll, Honorable Mention Maia Whitney; Painting – 1st place Roman Maal, 3rd place Taylor Morse ; Functional Ceramics – 1st place Ilysse Cable, 2nd place Grace Wahl, 3rd place Blake Smith, Honorable Mention Hailey Blischke. Please stop by before April 30 to see their work.

Student Fees: All outstanding fees need to be paid as soon as possible. Any outstanding fee at the end of the school year will follow the student into the next school year. These fees will be required to be paid at fall registration. Students will not receive their schedule or locker information with fees owed. Any questions, please contact Mrs. Kircher at 260-2500.

Congratulations to the March Students of the Month!

Austin Adlam, Kya Ahlers, Dominic Alexan, Ashlyn Asp, Hayleigh Barnett, Grace Bass, Mackinley Baxter, David Belger, Whitney Benson, Stevie Berninger, Hailey Blischke, Galen Brantley, Ilysse Cable, Demion Calderon, Ryann Cannava, Gracie Carpenter, Morgan Chace, Sierra Chapman, Ross Christian, Ray Chumley, Trystin Clucas, Catherine Connor, Molly Cook, Kathryn Creglow, Aidan Culver, River Dawson, Wyatt Dement, Payton Diehl, Seraiah Dorman, Jack Doucet, Chloe Driskell, Christopher Edelman, Etta Ekolook, Timothy Elder, Kilei England, Kaylee Fann, Adin Fielden, Abbie Fullenwider, McCullen Gaul, Jonathan Giang, Faith Glassmaker, Jordan Goldthwaite, Levi Hart, Avery Hart, Sierra Hatfield, Spencer Hinnegan, Sara Hinz, Thomas Hudson, Christian Jaime, Holland Jaime, Cameron Johnson, Jaedon Jones, Spencer Kapp, Faith Katzenberger, Cassidy King, Lucas Kline, Mikayla Leadens, Bailey Leach , Brittany Lewis, Ree’Lynn Lisenby, Ryan Long, Felix Lybarger, Trayce Lyon, Roman Maal, Claudia Martinez, Grace McElroy, Judd Miller, Robert Mize, Elias Moonin, Draven Olson, Trenton O’Reagan, Nadia Padilla-Reaume, Emma Papp, Jadyn Penninger, Janessa Pontious, Kyler Pritchett, Abby Radeck, Zachary Renner, Pavel Reutov, Hannah Rhodes, Giovanni Rigutto , Joseph Russo, Sergio Saavedra, JD Schmelzenbach, Olivia Schwenk, Elizabeth Siemion, Bailey Smith, Cameron Sorenson, Colton Sorhus, Monique Spiers, Logan Steiner, Jordan Tackett, Crystle Tapia, Tanner Ussing, Hosanna VanHout, Mollee Verba, Deja Walker, Brad Walters, Nelson Watt, Aiden Willets, Taylor Wilson, Amanda Wylie, Cobe Young.

Soldotna Elementary

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

■ April 22 – Kindergarten Round-up from 2:30-3:25 p.m.

■ April 28 – Band and Choir Concert at 6 p.m.

■ May 5 – Talent Show at 6 p.m. in the gym

School News:

The Reading Counts winners this week are: Alexis Simmons, Tristan Yoncher, Izaiah Gilbert, Ryan Buchanan, Jeren Nash, Tanner Clyde, Trystan Axtmann, Ashley Kingrey and Nate Mowery. Congratulations and keep on reading!

Kendyl Cannava was the 1st place winner for the HEA 2016 Electrical Safety Poster Contest for “Best Safety Message”! Congrats Kendyl!

Order a Soldotna Elementary yearbook for $20 in the front office.

Soldotna High

SoHi Prom tickets will go on sale until Friday, April 15. Tickets are $30 each and available for sale through the front office during the regular school day. Students should buy your tickets during lunch or break.

No tickets will be sold at the door. This year’s theme is A Night in the Orient.

Parents of Seniors, Fundraising help is needed! Please email Sheilah-Margaret Pothast at agr8fulmom@hotmail.com for more information with “After Grad” in the subject line.

Parent volunteers planning to help chaperone at the event must be PTSA members for insurance purposes. Membership forms can be picked up at the school office and PTSA dues are $10 annually.

Soldotna High School PTSA’s primary fundraiser is the Fred Meyer Rewards Program. It’s easy to sign up and makes a big difference for the PTSA and school. Visit fredmeyer.com with your Rewards Program number and select Soldotna High School PTSA. It’s quick and simple and anyone can make a positive impact just by doing everyday shopping. Thank you!

Soldotna Prep

Rene Gervais, SoPrep Art Teacher, announces Louis Chicas-Sorto placed 3rd with his graphite still life and Alyson Driskell placed 2nd in colored drawing in the KPBSD art show.

Check SOPREP school blog for important information and updates soldotnaprep.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/wpmu.

The Study

The Study is already looking forward to a bright, busy summer. If families are worried about a student losing skills and knowledge over the break, bring them to The Study!

Summer Offerings:

■ June-July summer school sessions for kindergarten through eighth graders are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon

■ June-July Mini Kinder Prep sessions for 3-6-year-olds are Monday through Thursday from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

■ June-July Jr. High Math sessions for sixth through ninth graders are Tuesday through Thursday from 1-3 p.m.

■ July Mastery of Multiplication session for third through sixth graders is Monday and Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.

■ July Excellence in Writing session for fourth through seventh graders is Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon

■ July Study Skills session for sixth through 12th graders is Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

■ Piano for 5 year olds and older is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday

Tustumena Elementary

■ April 19 – PTO Meeting at 4 p.m.

■ April 25 – Site Council Meeting at 4 p.m.

– April 25 to May 6 – Kasilof Public Library Book Fair