Nenana City School District - Home of the Lynx

NCS Friday Update 4-29-22 Dear Parents, Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Spring Music Concert scheduled for May 11, 2022 has been canceled. We encourage parents to attend the Ice Cream House Performances this Saturday where numerous students have signed up to perform their special talents. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 6-8 PM in the "Pit". A copy of the Ice Cream House Performances is attached to posting. Please check the school website or mobile app events calendar for activities/events coming up within the last two weeks of school.

NCS Friday Update 4-22-22 Greetings Lynx Families, I am writing to pass along information related to end of year programming. The next few weeks will be busy to say the least. Any updates to times, dates, etc. can be viewed in the Events section of the school website at https://www.nenanalynx.org/events Saturday, 4/23 - Nenana City School Prom. Open to students in grades 9-12. Grand March (Gymnasium, open to community please use gym entrance on 2nd street), 7pm-8pm. Student formal dinner, 8pm-9pm. Dance 9pm-midnight. After Prom all-nighter at Nenana City School, midnight - 6am. Breakfast, 6am. Big thank you to our organizer, Jimmie Putman, along with all of the student and staff volunteers. Thank you also to those of you who made donations! We very much appreciate your support. Friday, 4/29 - High School Movie Night, Open to all Nenana City School Students and Families. Movie: Alaskan Nets. Alaskan Nets is an award-winning film that tells the story of a small Alaskan village, and their 2018 boys basketball team. Admission is FREE, canned food donations are encouraged. All donations will go to local food bank. Light concessions will be provided, proceeds will go to the Student Council. View movie trailer HERE. Saturday, 4/30 - Student Coffee House (open mic night). 6pm-8pm at the Nenana City School "Pit". Wednesday, 5/11 - Kindergarten Graduation. 1pm. Nenana City School "Pit/Library" Wednesday, 5/11 - Nenana K-12 Music Concert, 6:30pm Friday, 5/13 - Awards Ceremony, 6pm Friday, 5/13 - Community Cleanup Day, Here Comes the Sun Fun Run, Hotdog Lunch for Nenana City School students and families, Early Release 12:00pm Saturday, 5/14 - Graduation ceremony. Time 1pm. David R. Huntington Principal, Nenana City School dhuntington@nenanalynx.org 907-832-5464 (NCS office) District Website: www.nenanalynx.org

Watch LIVE Feed of Music Festival in Cordova! ALL solo and ensemble rooms will be live-streamed. ALL concerts will also be live-streamed. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeBuGEZS6eb8pT_j_WXDaKg/videos?view=2&live_view=502 If they can't watch it live, it will turn into a youtube video once closed out and they can go back and watch. The schedule for today and Friday is attached to this posting.

Principal Update 4-1-22 Greetings Lynx Families, Happy first day of April. I hope this message finds everyone enjoying our longer days, higher sun, and prospects of spring weather. It was great to see many families in attendance at the March Literacy Cafe just last evening at the school. Thank you to all who played a role in making the event a success! This week and last, students at Nenana City School participated in Spring summative assessments, known as MAP Growth tests, in mathematics, science, reading and language usage. These tests serve as a measuring stick for student growth from fall to spring, enabling NCS staff to reflect on the impact of our work. Student reports provide insights regarding how our students are growing in comparison to their peers throughout the nation. In the coming weeks, a data review team will be analyzing the results. Beginning the week of 4/4, teachers will begin to administer the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) state assessment in mathematics and English language arts (ELA) to students in grades 3-9. Students in grades 5, 8 and 10 will be assessed in Science as well. Our testing window for these tests will extend throughout the month of April. You may find more information about AK STAR at the link HERE as well as in the links below. Student Tutorial (Science-Grades 5/8/10): https://assets.drcedirect.com/States/AK/Tutorials/Student/current/index.html AK STAR Student Tutorial (Grades 3-9): https://vimeo.com/672021973/4d3ec642c2 AK STAR Practice Tests (Grades 3-9): https://nwea-ak-assessment.caltesting.org/inbrowser/index.html **select "Practice tests" and the system will prompt for grade and subjects; they should not select any accommodations **this address LOOKS to be applicable for students to launch their summative assessment when you have their testing ticket (in case there are problems with downloading the app AK STAR Other Student Readiness Resources (Grades 3-9): https://education.alaska.gov/assessments/akstar/student-readiness Looking ahead, Prom is scheduled for April 23rd and Graduation is scheduled for May 14th. Please stay tuned for more information related to these events in the coming weeks. Thank you for your continued support and trust in the educational program being provided to your student(s). Kind regards, David R. Huntington Principal, Nenana City School dhuntington@nenanalynx.org 907-832-5464 (NCS office) District Website: www.nenanalynx.org

ACE Grant Survey for Parents/Students is Coming up on April 15, 2022. Hello parents, On April 15th NCSD, along with the Nenana Native Association, would like to have students as well as parents and community members take part in the revised survey for the Athabascan Native Connections grant. The purpose of the survey is to obtain information from students, parents and community members on what they would like to see offered at the school and in the after school program as well as telling us how we have done so far. Additionally, there are questions about your willingness to participate in a focus group that would consistently review and advise the grantees regarding the choices made and be a part of potential implementation or solutions to problems that might arise. We have expanded the demographics section to find out how many different tribes are represented here at NCSD and how we can work to incorporate all Alaska Native cultures while highlighting our local Athabascan culture. As well as expanding our career and technical education offerings and providing transition services from high school into the next steps beyond. All students will take part in this survey unless you the parent notify us in writing that you do NOT want your student to participate. A link for the survey will also be sent out to parents, and be posted on the LIVE FEED section of the school website on April 15th. Please direct all questions to Teena Calkin at tcalkin@nenanalynx.org. We thank you for your time and attention in this matter.

The science curriculum review team held its most recent meeting on March 16, in-person in the library. The committee took time to review the summative data we have been collecting over the last few meetings, review the priorities mentioned below, as well as re-review and have a discussion of the various curricula samples that were spread out in the library. The team did decide that the Science Dimensions curriculum from the publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt was the best solution to meet the science needs of the students. As a next step, the curriculum will be showcased for public review starting at the next Literacy Cafe and then available for public review for two weeks following to gather any additional feedback. The curriculum will be available in the library. Overarching priorities for K-8 Science Programming: Should increase student wonder and curiosity. Align with literacy initiatives. User friendly and accessible for students, teachers, and families. If you would like to provide feedback on the curriculum, please email Principal, Dave Huntington (dhuntington@nenanalynx.org) and/or Curriculum Director, Jens Jacobsen (jjacobsen@nenanalynx.org)

Nenana Lynx Girls High School School 2A State Basketball Games can be viewed through the NFHS Network. You can purchase access on the NFHS Network for $10.99 for all the games throughout the tournament. https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/ Attached is a copy of the game bracket.

Upcoming - TCC YRBS Survey on March 29, 2022 for High School Students. Tanana Chiefs will be offering an opportunity for local youth ages 14-25 to take part in Tanana Chiefs Conference Youth Risk Behavior Survey (TCC YRBS) at Nenana City School on March 29, 2022. This survey is sponsored by TCCs Division of Wellness and Prevention. The survey will ask about the health perceptions, attitudes and behaviors of community youth. The survey will ask about physical activity, education and school performance, tobacco and other substance use, mental health, as well as interests and protective factors. Youth will be asked to fill out a survey that takes about 25 minutes to complete. Doing this paper and pencil survey will cause little or no risk to your youth. The only potential risk is that some might find certain questions to be sensitive. The survey has been designed to protect your child’s privacy. Youth will not put their names on the survey. Also, no school or youth will ever be mentioned by name in a report of the results. Other than being put into a drawing for a gift card, your youth will get no benefit right away from taking part in the survey. However, the results of this survey will help your child and other children in the future by allowing TCC to continue to offer and modify services to better meet their needs. We would like all youth in the community to take part in the survey, but the survey is voluntary. No action will be taken against the school, you, or your child if your child does not take the survey. Youth may skip any questions they do not wish to answer. In addition, youth may stop taking the survey at any point without penalty. If you would like to see the survey, a copy is available by contacting Autumn Cantu, SPF Manager, (907)452-8251 ext. 3056. Complete the attached form and return it to the school within 14 days if you DO NOT want your child to take part in the survey. If you have additional questions about the survey, you can call Autumn Cantu, SPF Manger, (907) 452-8251 ext. 3056. Thank you.

Read Across America Day takes place on Wednesday, March 2nd! K-6 will be doing the following events to celebrate: Week Long Reading Contest: Starting Tuesday, March 1st, all K-6 students will participate in a book-reading contest! When they complete an age-appropriate book, they will fill out a slip (see attached, copies will also be provided) and drop it off in a bucket (provided by me) in their classroom. On Friday, the student in each grade who has read the most books will receive a prize (prize is likely to be a gift card, but TBA). Read-Across America Big-Little Event: On Wednesday, March 2nd at 2:00pm, all K-6 classes will report to the library for a "Big-Little Reading Event." Older students will be partnered up with younger students to read books with them. Books will be taken from classroom libraries. After reading each book, the pair will make a "bookmark" craft with markers and colored pencils that will be hung up on the bulletin board outside Ms. Emily Snyder's classroom.

Alaska's new Statewide Assessment - AKStarr Below are links to the most current information. Please take a moment to watch the short video (linked below). https://education.alaska.gov/assessments/akstar https://education.alaska.gov/assessments/akstar/families-and-community https://youtu.be/4bSKBeQlrkA

Pre-Apprenticeship Program The Pre-Apprenticeship Program is designed to teach the fundamentals of farming while offering hands-on experience working alongside some of Fairbank’s most successful farmers. Check out this link for information and application: https://www.affectfarm.com/pre-apprentice (Apprentices must reside in the Fairbanks North Star Borough)

Dear Parent/Guardian, The Nenana After School Program and Program Coordinator, Jusette Hill, are pleased to invite students in grades K-8 on a field trip to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum of the North. K-6 students will visit the museum on Friday 2/25, while students in grades 7-8 will travel to Fairbanks on Tuesday, 2/22. Students will have the opportunity to experience cultural and natural history from multiple regions throughout Alaska. They will learn about the people, wildlife, geography and history of each region including the Athabascan people of the interior. They will also witness 2,000 years of Alaskan art, from ancient ivory carvings to paintings, photographs and sculptures. Cultural objects used for both ceremony and everyday life, along with artwork representing indigenous traditions of Alaska are a highlight. Departure time will be 8:30am. Students will be transported by First Student bus service. The students will have three hours to explore all exhibits with a 1 hour lunch in between at the UAF Wood Center cafeteria. Students will be back in Nenana before the end of the school day. Teachers have distributed permission slips to students. In the event you do not wish for your student to participate in this field trip, we will have teaching staff on site to provide educational opportunities here at the school. Please indicate your intentions either way on the field trip permission slip and return them to teachers asap. Thank you.

David Tomeo, Kennels Manager at Denali National Park and Preserve will be visiting the school with his team of dog mushers on Monday, 2/21. Mr. Tomeo will provide a short presentation followed by a Q&A to the elementary students. Mr. Tomeo's team is embarking on a special re-enactment patrol of traveling up the Tanana River to the site (Hadley Island) where the first dogs were purchased for the National Park Service in 1922. The visitors will provide an opportunity to meet-some-park-ranger-dogs as well as learn about the prospective trip and the special connection with the town of Nenana.

Nenana Lynx High Basketball games in Healy tonight, February 8th. If you cannot attend in person, they do have LIVESTREAM available. 3:30 pm Girls JV 5 pm Boys JV 6:30 pm Girls Varsity Here is the livestream link: https://youtu.be/SHTlMXPe_zk

Updated NIT Brackets as of Saturday morning (pics attached)

2022 Nenana Invitational Tournament Date: February 3rd, 4th, and 5th Time: Thursday 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM Friday 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM Saturday 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM Please see the attached brackets for the tournament schedule. Livestream Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCThMkmFrWFWZ2en4CGAhGeQ/featured?view_as=subscriber

NCS Update 1-31-22 Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences coming February 10th & 11th Dear Parents/Guardians, Below is the agenda for conferences coming up February 10th & 11th. Thurs, 2/10 2pm-4:30pm Friday, 2/11 2pm-3:30pm Mrs. Andy Corbin has pre-scheduled conferences for students in grades K-8, schedules are being mailed to K-8 parents today. These can be phone conversations, Zoom meetings or in-person, please let your student’s teacher know what you choose to do. If you have conflicts with the schedule, please contact the teacher directly, or call Andy Corbin. Meeting lengths will be predetermined to ensure equity in length for each family that confirms their intentions to attend. Similarly, if local parents of students in grades 9-12 wish to schedule meetings in-person, please contact Andy Corbin and/or teachers of your student. The default will be teachers reaching out to parents/guardians of students in their Xblock classes to discuss student progress, goals and to address any questions. Teachers will either reach out via phone during the window for conferences, or be in contact with parents to schedule Zoom meetings in advance. Again, if you wish to meet either in person or virtually with a teacher, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Corbin or teachers directly. We strongly encourage students to participate in these conferences, regardless of format.

LIVE Streaming is available to watch high school basketball games in Tok today and tomorrow. Here is the link: Tok Wolverines Link https://tinyurl.com/tokwolverines

NCS Principal Update 1-27-22 Greetings Families and Friends, I am writing to communicate that it is our intention to re-open school on Monday, January 31st. This brief shutdown has served its purpose in curbing the recent outbreak to the degree possible. Upon re-opening, families are asked to monitor students closely for any COVID-19 symptoms. Common symptoms that may justify removal from school and/or COVID screening include a combination of any of the following: fever/cough/shortness of breath, sore throat/sinus drainage. We ask that you do NOT send your student to school if they are exhibiting any combination of these symptoms. We have at home test kits available at the main office. Please do not hesitate to stop by and pick up a few if you wish or contact the main office to discuss alternative means of distribution. I am including information below related to a number of our protocols and chains of communication. I am hopeful this information will help to ensure we are all operating under the same understanding. If students are symptomatic: Teacher refers student to Nurse Lauren for screening. Student should be asked to wear a mask prior to being sent to nurse. If Nurse Lauren is not available, Andy will screen and contact parents for pickup if necessary. In most cases, parent/guardian of symptomatic students will be contacted and asked to remove student from school until symptoms do not persist. If parent is unavailable, student may be placed in quarantine room until further notice. If screening does not indicate a need for removal from school, students will be returned to class. If they are returned to class, Nurse Lauren will direct students to wear a mask upon return to class. Students should be encouraged to wash hands routinely, wipe down work spaces, and keep their distance from other students when possible. Common symptoms of COVID that may justify removal from school and/or COVID screening include a combination of any of the following: fever/cough/shortness of breath, sore throat/sinus drainage. Sneezing does not justify referral to school nurse. Communication: Nurse Lauren will share out the daily updated list of new cases (both local K-12 and LC), including the date for return to in-person. Nurse Lauren will inform close contacts (students and families) of potential exposure and will ALSO inform teachers of close contacts along with whether the student will need to quarantine out of school. There are times where this information may be delayed. If a student tests positive: COVID-positive individuals will isolate out of school for five days and mask for five days upon return Asymptomatic individuals who are NOT close contacts will mask only at their (or their parents) discretion. In most cases, siblings of a student who tests positive, or children of a parent who tests positive, will likely be identified as a close contact and follow protocols for close contacts (see below). There may be instances where all students in a given class are determined to be close contacts, but it should not be automatically assumed. Nurse Lauren will communicate directly with teachers to gather information related to close contacts. Current info and recommendations on close contacts from CDC; For COVID-19, a close contact is anyone who was less than 6 feet away from you for a combined total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. If they are infected, close contacts could spread COVID-19 starting 2 days before they have any symptoms or test positive. Recommendations for close contacts vary depending on whether they are up to date with their COVID vaccinations or had confirmed COVID-19 within the 90 days prior to close contact. Nenana City School will treat all individuals identified as close contacts uniformly. If asymptomatic, they will remain in school, masked, while monitoring symptoms. They will be screened for COVID19 each day for a five day period. If symptomatic, they will be required to quarantine outside of school while monitoring symptoms and performing at-home screening. They may return to school following five days. Individuals should monitor for symptoms for ten days following last exposure to someone with COVID19. Someone is still considered a close contact even if they were wearing a mask while they were around a COVID-positive individual. Respectfully, David R. Huntington Principal, Nenana City School dhuntington@nenanalynx.org 907-832-5464 (NCS office) District Website: www.nenanalynx.org

1-21-22 NCS Update: Greetings Lynx Parent/Guardian, Thank you for your flexibility this week following the decision on Tuesday to transition to remote learning. Since then, there have been a number of additional positive COVID cases amongst our staff and student body. As such, remote learning will continue for the duration of next week. The hope is for a return to in-person learning on Monday, January 31st. Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 25, Aurora Transportation will be available to facilitate meal delivery to Nenana City School students. All interested families should contact the main office to indicate the number of meals desired and drop-off locations. If no one is available to take your call, please leave a voicemail. Again, thank you for your flexibility and support as we push on with our efforts against this current outbreak. Warm Regards, David R. Huntington Principal, Nenana City School dhuntington@nenanalynx.org 907-832-5464 (NCS office) District Website: www.nenanalynx.org