KPBSD Migrant Ed Newsletter

It's the time of the year to re-qualify students for Migrant Ed! Every year we are required to contact current Migrant Education families in order to collect the most recent information on qualifying activities. Please remember: to qualify a family must stay seven nights away from home (nights do not need to be consecutive), over 20 miles one way, while participating in commercial fishing, subsistence fishing, berry picking, or logging. If this summer did not accommodate your regular Migrant adventures, you may qualify based on activities from a previous year. Please be ready with your family's info either way for when we contact you. Our fall recruitment season runs from now until October 31. We look forward to talking with you!

We are pleased to offer 10th-12th grade Migrant Ed Students the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. with Migrant Ed staff to participate in Close Up.

Close Up is an organization that offers students opportunities to experience hands on learning in US History and Government. Please check out their website for more detailed information. https://www.closeup.org/

Here is a link to an application to participate: CLOSE UP APPLICATION LINK

This application is DUE by Friday, September 6. The deadlines for paperwork and trip organization will be tight, as we’re only 2.5 months out from travel.

We expect to travel from Friday, November 15 – Saturday, November 23. Students will miss 5 days of school; we do our best to work with teachers to reduce coursework workload during this period of time, but there is no guarantee of reduced course work for this week that students will be gone.

Migrant Ed covers all the costs for this trip, including travel, meals, and programming.

Here are a few additional things to consider:

• Space is limited.

• Completion of this application does not guarantee participation in Close Up.

• 10th Grade Students may fill out this form but will most likely be placed on a wait list for a potential 2026 Close Up Trip.

• ONLY students currently enrolled in KPBSD schools may apply. (District policy)

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact:

Betsy Vanek – bvanek@kpbsd.k12.ak.us – (907) 714-0340

Joey Kraszeski – jkraszeski@kpbsd.k12.ak.us – (907) 235-4630

Our school supply events across the district were a tremendous success. We were able to distribute over 300 kits to Migrant students during five separate events. In addition to these resources, we supplied literacy materials to all who attended. Thank you to those of you who made it to our events! It is so rewarding when we are able to engage with our families. If your student is still missing some of the materials required by their school, please let your regional specialist know.

Homer

Joanna Fonkert 907-235-4640 jfonkert@KPBSD.k12.ak.us

McNeil Canyon | Razdolna

Cody Wicken cwicken@KPBSD.k12.ak.us

Head of the Bay

Joey Kraszeski 907.235.4630 jkraszeski@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

Ninilchik | Tustumena | Niko |

Chapman | Seward

Betsy Vanek 907.714.0343 bvanek@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

Soldotna | Sterling

Maureen Todd 907.260.2536 mtodd2@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

Kenai | Nikiski

Jackie Tomrdle 907.283.8621 jtomrdle@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

We need your photos to illustrate how outstanding our families and students are! Click HERE

Joanna Fonkert has worked for KPBSD for over 15 years in a variety of roles and is excited to settle into this new role with Migrant Education. Before moving to the peninsula in 2008 she lived in Juneau for three years working as a glacier guide while finishing college. She grew up in New Hampshire, where she realized her love of nature. Outside of work she enjoys cross-county skiing, traveling, kayaking, camping and the great outdoors. During the summer months she also works as a bear guide for an eco-tourism company.