Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Members of the Kenai Central High School cheerleading team (back row, left to right): Kaitlyn Taylor, Sylvia McGraw, Malena Grieme, Maya Montague, Cali Holmes and Genesis Trevino; (front row, left to right): Makenzie Harden, Ella Romero and Brooklyn Reed stand for a photo at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Monday, Jan. 1, 2023, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. (Photo courtesy Brianna Force)

Hard work and good attitudes pay off

Kenai Central Cheerleading performs at Citrus Bowl in Florida

Members of the Kenai Central High School cheerleading team (back row, left to right): Kaitlyn Taylor, Sylvia McGraw, Malena Grieme, Maya Montague, Cali Holmes and Genesis Trevino; (front row, left to right): Makenzie Harden, Ella Romero and Brooklyn Reed stand for a photo at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Monday, Jan. 1, 2023, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. (Photo courtesy Brianna Force)
One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

School board turns its eyes to ‘small’ schools

The board of education is building a committee to address issues for small schools

One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
A City of Kenai grader moves snow from a roadway on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A City of Kenai grader moves snow from a roadway on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The SoHi and Kenai Central hockey teams meet at center ice to pray for the Clyde family after the game on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2022, at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility in Kenai, Alaska. Tanner Clyde, a SoHi goalie, lost his father to a fatal car collision earlier this week. (Photo courtesy Rylie Thompson)

Remembering ‘the most giving person’

Community rallies in support of Clyde family after death

The SoHi and Kenai Central hockey teams meet at center ice to pray for the Clyde family after the game on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2022, at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility in Kenai, Alaska. Tanner Clyde, a SoHi goalie, lost his father to a fatal car collision earlier this week. (Photo courtesy Rylie Thompson)
Swimmers gather at the wall to receive their next workout set from Coach Angie Brennan during a Top of the World Swimming practice on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Back in the water

Top of the World Swimming hosts adult swim team practices, adult swimming lessons

Swimmers gather at the wall to receive their next workout set from Coach Angie Brennan during a Top of the World Swimming practice on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Promotional flyer for the Indigenous Language Film Festival (Image courtesy KPBSD Title VI)

Title VI seeks community submissions for Indigenous Language Film Festival

The purpose of the festival is to promote and increase the visibility of Indigenous languages

Promotional flyer for the Indigenous Language Film Festival (Image courtesy KPBSD Title VI)
Mountain View Elementary School teacher Callie Giordano demonstrates with students “word building” with practices from the University of Florida Literacy Institute during a board of education meeting on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Mountain View students demo literacy curriculum at school board meeting

Principal Karl Kircher said the Alaska Reads Act is “foremost” on the minds of the school community

Mountain View Elementary School teacher Callie Giordano demonstrates with students “word building” with practices from the University of Florida Literacy Institute during a board of education meeting on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Robert Winter loads duffel bags into a car, part of a donation by the Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Students in Transition Program on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, at Kenai Catering in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A gift to look forward to

Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors donates 40 bags to local students

Robert Winter loads duffel bags into a car, part of a donation by the Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Students in Transition Program on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, at Kenai Catering in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central High School Culinary Students roll out dough for Christmas cookies as part of bake sale preparation on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Guest chefs ready to help

High school culinary students will do holiday baking for you

Kenai Central High School Culinary Students roll out dough for Christmas cookies as part of bake sale preparation on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tela O’Donnell-Bacher and Neldon Gardner hold their plaques after being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame following a duel wrestling meet on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A celebration of Kenai Peninsula wrestling

Two storied members of local wrestling community inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame

Tela O’Donnell-Bacher and Neldon Gardner hold their plaques after being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame following a duel wrestling meet on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Montessori Charter School kindergartners parade with balloons around the school playground on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Balloons on parade

Montessori kids put spin on traditional Macy’s parade

Soldotna Montessori Charter School kindergartners parade with balloons around the school playground on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer Forest School logo. (Image from Homer Forest School draft charter)

Homer group envisions school in nature

Homer Forest School would offer KPBSD students a learning model focused on immersion in the outdoors

Homer Forest School logo. (Image from Homer Forest School draft charter)
AK STAR testing results and materials are displayed on a table at the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District office on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Most AK students not proficient in math, reading, new assessment finds

The first set of AK STAR results were published by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development last week

AK STAR testing results and materials are displayed on a table at the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District office on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Principal Denise Kelly helps Grecia Martinez Sandstrom, second grade, dispose of lunch materials at Sterling Elementary School on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘It takes just that one person’

Sterling Elementary principal spearheads zero-waste program in lunchtime cafeteria

Principal Denise Kelly helps Grecia Martinez Sandstrom, second grade, dispose of lunch materials at Sterling Elementary School on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Homer hockey team celebrates the Division II state championship Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at the Curtis Mendard Sports Complex in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)
The Homer hockey team celebrates the Division II state championship Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at the Curtis Mendard Sports Complex in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)
Dr. Beverley Romanin attends her first meeting as the representative for the Board of Education’s Sterling/Funny River district on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dr. Beverley Romanin attends her first meeting as the representative for the Board of Education’s Sterling/Funny River district on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Abriella Werner leaps as she approaches the end of the diving board, Derrick Jones watches during a dive practice on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

From springboard to diving board

SoHi junior takes gymnastic experience to pool and breaks 17-year dive record

Abriella Werner leaps as she approaches the end of the diving board, Derrick Jones watches during a dive practice on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Efrosinia Yakunin, a Nikolaevsk parent, testifies in support of a charter school for the area during a board of education meeting on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

2 groups pursue peninsula charter school options

There are currently four charter schools operating as part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Efrosinia Yakunin, a Nikolaevsk parent, testifies in support of a charter school for the area during a board of education meeting on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Homer Police Station, as seen Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News file)

Homer teen arrested after school shooting threat

Police received a tip from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Anchorage office

The Homer Police Station, as seen Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News file)
Elementary school students line up to touch a salmon during the annual egg take demonstration at the Anchor River on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. Students leave the egg take event with fertilized salmon eggs to raise into fry throughout the year through the Salmon in the Classroom project hosted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Sport Fish Division. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News file)

Kids to get close-up look at fish life cycle

Alaska Department of Fish and Game representatives will conduct presentations at coho salmon egg takes

Elementary school students line up to touch a salmon during the annual egg take demonstration at the Anchor River on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. Students leave the egg take event with fertilized salmon eggs to raise into fry throughout the year through the Salmon in the Classroom project hosted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Sport Fish Division. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News file)