Nenana City School District - Home of the Lynx

Dear Parent/Guardian, Hello Lynx & Cyberlynx Parents - There are some important changes for parents to know. ALL students, new to the program or not, need to have a new application on file as we revamped that to make it better related to our combined program offerings. This hopefully is a one and done application that serves as permission for our Lynx Leaders field trips, walking field trips around the school for GEARS ASP and the like. For extended trips - parents will receive advance notice. Additionally - ALL parents/guardians will need to sign out their students every day unless students are walking or being transported by designated staff or parents have made other arrangements for communicating with staff that they are present outside and waiting for their student. Those permissions need to be on file please for grant compliance. Parents - please feel free to come watch or be an active participant in the afterschool program. We appreciate prior knowledge, but it is not required or necessary. We always welcome our parents. There are some noticeable differences this year in that we have hired a number of our high school students as helpers. They have received training, but as always are consistently being coached. The rules for our student employees are the same as our adults and the expectation is that they continue to grow in the role of an afterschool professional, just like our adults. If you ever have a concern about an employee, you are encouraged to reach out to Program Director Teena Calkin at 907-830-8202. We have a student/parent/employee handbook that is available and follows our school handbook closely. If you would like a copy, please ask for one as we would like to save as many of our trees as possible. A copy will be available through our school website and the GEARS ASP tab. GEARS ASP will be open this week and next ONLY ON MONDAY & TUESDAY. We will be closed Wednesday through Friday of this week to allow our staff to attend the Alaska Afterschool Network Conference in Fairbanks where two of our students will be featured on a student panel and staff will receive some incredible training. And next week is Thanksgiving and we want to give our staff the opportunity to be home on Wednesday in preparation for Thanksgiving day. Thank you as always for your understanding and support. Regular programming will return the Week of December 2nd through the 6th and continue to the early release on December 20th. We will NOT operate during the winter break. Please feel free to call or text the afterschool phone at 907-687-8466 with questions or concerns, this is a shared GEARS ASP phone and someone will answer you M-F usually between the hours of 10AM and 7PM. You may also come in person or email directly to tcalkin@nenanalynx.org GEARS ASP Director. All the best and many thanks for your support - Teena Calkin, 21st CCLC Program & Site Director Nenana City School 907-687-8466

Dear NCS Parents, we are in the process of pulling student data for the Fall Oasis Report required by the State of Alaska Department of Education. One section of the data, regarding student computer devices and access to internet services at home, requires parent input. Please take a few moments to complete this online survey. There are three questions for parents to answer. All responses will be sent automatically to the school for data collection. Here is the link for the parent survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqf9G7gsYb92w0XEMY9_Ok0UGKcUOGOdhuaSCAo0uJRRj0KA/viewform If you have questions, please call Andy Corbin in the main office. Thank you for your support in this process.

Dig Pink Lady Lynx Volleyball Tournament is this weekend. Games start this Friday morning at 9:00am, and continue into Saturday. Come out an support our Lady Lynx! Copies of game times, and brackets are attached to this posting.

Dear NCS Parents, In partnership with the Nenana Native Association and the City of Nenana, the Nenana City School District is working toward the construction of a new playground to replace the current playground on 2nd and B streets, also known as the "school playground" or "Nenana Community Playground." NCSD and its partners would like to hear from the community on playground features and design. Please note that the City also plans to renovate the ball courts adjacent to the playground on the same block.The District has included a question regarding the ball court project as well in an attempt to avoid death by survey. This is an initial public input step. We anticipate seeking additional public input as the project progresses. You can find the survey here: https://forms.gle/qL18qdSCLnNDx6kC6 You can learn more about the types of playground equipment here: https://www.playandpark.com/play-and-save You can learn more about playground safety and design here. Ana Basi -- Stephen Calkin Grants and Curriculum Director Nenana City Public School (907) 832-5464 https://www.nenanalynx.org/ NCS Staff strive to offer students hope and build equity through experiences, community, and connections that foster independence and positive student outcomes.

Just a parent reminder that school picture day is this Friday, September 27th starting at 8:30am. Attached is a copy of the picture order form. The order form was also mailed to parents last week. You can order online, or send your order form into your student's teacher or the school office.

Dear Nenana Parents, Parent Teachers Conferences are coming up fast! They are scheduled for Tuesday, October 1st and Wednesday, October 2nd. On both days, students will be released early at 2:00pm. Parent Teacher Conferences will be held from 2:00 - 5:00pm. K-8 parents will receive pre- scheduled conference times in the mail by the end of the week. High school parents can call the office to set up conference times with teachers of their choosing. Please remember that there will be THREE STRAIGHT DAYS OF EARLY RELEASE the week of parent teacher conferences: Monday, September 30th, Tuesday, October 1st and Wednesday, October 2nd. A Parent Teacher Flyer is attached to this posting. If you have questions, please call the school office.

Greetings Lynx Families, This message is to inform parents/guardians of a student voice survey that will be administered to students in grades 3-12 sometime between September 30th and October 4th. Per Board policy, the school is required to inform parents at least two weeks prior to administering any survey to students, while also providing the opportunity to opt out. This survey is designed to be administered to all students in grades/years 3-12 in order to measure the 8 Conditions That Make a Difference in their school. The 8 Conditions help educators ensure that the work they are already doing fosters an environment characterized by positive relationships, engaged learning, and a sense of purpose. We intend to use survey results to better understand our progress towards the Board's mission of providing a trauma-engaged learning environment for your children. School administrators intend to include discussion of results at future Board meetings. As always, we'd love to discuss this or any of the school's efforts with you. Please feel free to swing by the school or give us a call. If you would like to request that your student opt out of this survey, please communicate with Mrs. Andy Corbin prior to September 30th. Thank you, John Riddle - Principal NCS Stephen Calkin - Assistant Principal, NCS

Get ready for a fun-filled Karaoke Night! Whether you love to sing or just want to enjoy the music, come out and join us for a night of laughter and entertainment and some refreshments! CALL (585) 808-2834 WITH ANY QUESTIONS!

Hello Parents, This survey is your opportunity to share your opinions and interests regarding the ACE grant and the programs it supports. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us better serve our students, so please take a moment to fill it out. Here is the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LXLS8W7 You can also find the survey link on the school website LIVE Feed section. Thank you for your time and input! Olivia Layfield, Ace Grant Administrator

Dear Parent/Guardian: Alaska recently passed Erin’s Law and Bree’s Law as part of the Alaska Safe Children’s Act. Erin’s Law requires the teaching of sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention for grades K-12 and Bree’s Law requires the teaching of dating violence and abuse awareness and prevention for students in grades 7-12. This letter is to let you know that your child’s class will be receiving age-appropriate lessons on child sexual abuse and assault prevention education as required under the state’s Alaska Safe Children’s Act. You can find more information about the Alaska Safe Children’s Act here (https://education.alaska.gov/schoolhealth/safechildact). In addition, if your child is in grades 7-12 they will also be receiving age-appropriate information on dating violence and abuse prevention. These are the only topics covered. Other topics, specifically around human reproduction, are not covered or discussed. The curriculum and materials used have been approved by the State of Alaska, with input from the Safety and Wellness Committee comprised of parents, community, school board members, and school staff members and meets the requirements of the Alaska Safe Children’s Act. They will be taught by healthcare professionals from Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions. If you do NOT want your child to receive the instruction under the Alaska Safe Children’s Act, please submit in writing your request to the school principal requesting that your child be excused from these lessons. If you have any questions, please call 907-832-5464 and ask for John Riddle. Sincerely, John Riddle Nenana City School Principal jriddle@nenanalynx.org 907-832-5464

Attention all future service-members! The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test date is fast approaching on September 9th at 9:30 . This comprehensive assessment is a crucial step for individuals considering a career in the armed forces. Whether you're aiming for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, the ASVAB test will help determine your aptitudes and strengths, guiding you towards the best-fit military roles. Sharpen your pencils and bring your determination, as this test will gauge your skills in various areas such as math, science, and mechanical comprehension. Join us on September 9th take the first step towards your rewarding journey of service to the nation.

Nenana City School opens our doors for students next Tuesday, August 13, 2024! School doors will open at 7:45am, and classes begin at 8:30am. Attached is an updated bell schedule is attached.

Nenana City School will be hosting a Back to School Open House on Monday, August 12, 2024 from 5:00pm until 6:30pm. Student and parents are invited to attend! See attached flyer

Soccer Practice Announcement Attention all students! We are excited to announce that soccer practice will officially begin on July 31st! Practice will start promptly at 10:00 A.M. on the field next to the LC. All students from 6th to 12th grade are welcome to attend. Important Reminders: Water Bottle: Stay hydrated and bring enough water to last the entire practice. Cleats: Ensure you have your cleats for better performance and safety on the field. Appropriate Clothing: Wear comfortable and suitable athletic attire for the weather conditions. What to Expect: Warm-up exercises and stretches to get us ready for the session. Skill drills to improve our technique and coordination. Team-building activities to strengthen our unity and communication. This season is going to be fantastic, and it all starts with our dedication and hard work at practice. Let's come together, give our best effort, and prepare for an exciting and successful season ahead. Let's go, Lynx! See you on the field!

Summer Reading Tutoring for K-3 Students Alyeska Reading Institute will provide free virtual tutoring during the summer. K-3 students who have a reading deficiency and scored well-below on a universal screener, such as m-CLASS DIBELS 8 will be eligible for a four-week summer school session. Each session will meet the required twenty hours of summer school for third grade students with a reading deficiency, progressing to fourth grade. If room allows a student may attend more than one session. The application can be found at this link: https://tinyurl.com/mryxvswa

Greetings Lynx Families, The week of May 6th is Teacher Appreciation Week. I wanted to be sure to inform the community and publicly acknowledge and share my gratitude for our teachers for the work they do on behalf of students and the Nenana community each day. We will celebrate together briefly on Monday, 5/6 during our staff collaboration time from 2pm-3:30pm. I plan to prepare some food and beverage as a token of my appreciation and wanted to invite anyone who would like to contribute anything to please consider doing so at any time next week. This might take the form of a card, contribution of food or beverage, or any other suggestions you may have. Thank you for your support and in considering how to show appreciation for our teaching staff. Warm regards, Dave Huntington David R. Huntington Asst. Superintendent NCSD Principal, Nenana City School Nenana, AK dhuntington@nenanalynx.org 907-832-5464 (NCS office) District Website: www.nenanalynx.org

Dear Parents, Your feedback is invaluable to us! As we continuously strive to enhance the learning experience for our students, we're inviting you to participate in a brief survey. Your insights will help school administrators understand your perspectives and improve various aspects of our educational programs. This survey is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts on your and your child's experience at our school. Your feedback will shape our future initiatives and ensure that we're meeting the needs of our students and their families effectively. Your participation is greatly appreciated and will contribute to making our school community even stronger. Please check your email for the survey link and take a few moments to provide your valuable input. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in education. Survey website: http://surveys.quagliainstitute.org/survey Survey Access Code: 497774 Two-week survey window: Start Date: 04/29/2024 End Date: 05/13/2024 Warm regards, David R. Huntington Asst. Superintendent NCSD Principal, Nenana City School Nenana, AK dhuntington@nenanalynx.org 907-832-5464 (NCS office) District Website: www.nenanalynx.org

Greetings Lynx Families, I am writing with a quick update to keep everyone on the same page. Prom was a success last weekend, with fun had by all! A special thank you to the adults who helped prepare and supervise the event. A number of high school students are in Anchorage competing in the state NYO competition as we speak. Thank you to Olivia Layfield, the NNA and our coach for getting this program off the ground again this year. There is a Taekwondo tournament this weekend here at the school. Best of luck to everyone involved! This week and last, we completed the AK STAR testing for students in grades 3-9, and Spring MAP testing for remaining students. Our leadership team will be analyzing reports as they come out to identify areas of need and to prioritize how best to meet those needs. Next week is the monthly school board meeting on Wednesday, May 1. The 2024-25 academic calendar was finalized and approved at the April meeting and can be found on the school website, both in the LiveFeed and in the Documents folder titled Nenana School - Current Year - Parent Information. The week of May 6th has a few big events. On Monday, May 6, principal John Riddle (my replacement) will be on site shadowing me for a day. If anyone is interested in stopping by to meet John, please do not hesitate. Friday May 10, we will start the day with our traditional community cleanup efforts. This will be followed by the Fun in the Sun Run, which will begin at 10am. There will be a community BBQ from 11am-1pm. Parents may sign their students out following the BBQ if they wish, otherwise students will be dismissed at 2pm. Lastly, students who qualified for State Solo and Ensemble Music will be traveling to Anchorage to compete on May 10-11. Go get 'em! I hope to see many folks from the community in attendance at all of these events! All for now, -- David R. Huntington Asst. Superintendent NCSD Principal, Nenana City School Nenana, AK dhuntington@nenanalynx.org 907-832-5464 (NCS office) District Website: www.nenanalynx.org

2024-25 Academic Calendar

NCS Parents, check out LIVE performances of Nenana City School music students participating in the Regional Music Festival at Tri-Valley School starting this Thursday, April 11, 2024. There will be three LIVE performances available for your enjoyment this week. Here is a list of the Youtube livestream links: April 11, 7:00 p.m. - Opening Concert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJqdnwtV0G4 April 12, 7:00 p.m. - Command Performance Concert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzieg12sM7U April 13, 2:00 p.m. - Final Concert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i599qk8H5U