Nenana City School District - Home of the Lynx

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

April 1, 2024 Dear Parent/Guardians: The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) released the 2022-2023 Report Cards to the Public for each school district and school in Alaska. These report cards present information about performance for the 2022-2023 school year. During this first administration of the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK Star) assessment, students in grades 3-9 were assessed in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 10 took the Alaska Science assessment. To view the Report Cards to the Public, please go to: https://education.alaska.gov/compass/report-card Once there you will be able to select which School or District Report Card to the Public you wish to view. You may also select a different school year to review data. This user friendly website aims to provide families with clear, common information about all public schools and districts in our State. These Report Cards to the Public contain data and information about academics, school environment, teacher quality and more. If you are unable to access the Report Card to the Public online, please contact your student’s school. The links are also available and updated every year around this time on the Nenana City School District website. Go to the Home tab and then click on Federal Programs, then look for Report Cards to the Public. Sincerely, Patrick Manning Superintendent

Hello LYNX families! I hope you are all enjoying the start of April, even though winter weather has returned! The school year is nearly over, yet we have a number of big events between now and then. Next weekend our high school music students will compete in the Aurora Music Festival in Healy. Prom is scheduled for the following Saturday, April 20th, the Fun Run and Community BBQ on May 10, and then Graduation on May 18th. We also have state testing during the weeks of April 15th and April 22nd. More details will come soon regarding testing and prom. I am excited to finish the year with our students and staff. I want everyone to have a positive experience each and every day down the home stretch. Lately, it seems I hear more and more about AI. The rate of change in this emerging technology is moving at an unprecedented speed over the last 6-12 months. I've been exploring more about artificial intelligence (AI) and how to use it responsibly in schools. It will become increasingly important for us to think about AI in this context and beyond, as it does not appear to be going anywhere and our graduates will surely need to be literate in this technology as they face it in the world and workforce they are entering. As an example, I used an AI tool called AudioPen to write this April Update. AudioPen allows users to speak their thoughts and it stitches them together into an accurate and incredibly useful narrative. AudioPen saved me a great deal of time, which I suppose is the goal of technology. I hope it reads well on your end. Take care all! Sincerely, David 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

FAMILY STEM NIGHT FRIDAY April 19th 5-7PM It’s all about the BATS! Please join us in the NCSD Library and Pit for Chili Cheese hot dogs for dinner at 5PM. While you are eating, learn about the little brown bat – natures most voracious insect eater and how to live in harmony with, and support these interesting creatures. We will share a story about bats, review bat house best practices and build our own bat house then paint it. Please text the afterschool phone at 907- 687-8466 with your RSVP and # or attendees as well as # or houses. This is a K-8 event but siblings of all ages are welcome – as are high school helpers. Come join us for fun about bats!

Greetings Lynx Parents - The NCSD GEARS Afterschool Program will be conducting their Federally required closing survey the week of April 22 through the 26th, on a day that works best with your students' instructors. This survey is for your students to tell us what they liked and disliked about the afterschool program. Additionally, we will be sending out a parent survey as well as having them available in print on the 19th for Family STEM night. These surveys are an integral part of our program betterment. If you wish to have your student opt out of the survey, please contact Teena Calkin, GEARS ASP Program Director at tcalkin@nenanalynx.org or 907-687-8466. Thank you - Teena Calkin

Nenana Community - The following coach/advisor positions at Nenana City School for Fall sports/activities are available for applications. The application window is open from April 5th through April 19th. Please email cstone@nenanalynx.org to express interest. You may also stop by or call the main office to express your interest in any of these positions. Extra duty stipend information can be found in the NEA Collective Bargaining Agreement, which is available on the school website or upon request. More information regarding activities can be found in the Activities Handbook. Varsity Wrestling Assistant Wrestling Varsity Volleyball Assistant/JV Volleyball Head XC Running Assistant XC Running Cyberlynx XC Running Junior High Basketball Activities Director Music Director Music Festival Host Yearbook NSLC Student Leadership Advisor Student Government Secondary Advisors (1middle school, 3 high school) Varsity Soccer Assistant/JV Soccer 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