Petersburg Schools Newsletter

Welcome back to a new school year, which is quickly approaching. The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 2nd.

Kindergarten 1st day- September 3rd

This year elementary, middle, and high school students will be working off of the same bell schedule:

Monday- Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Fridays. 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (to allow for teacher professional development)

We have several new staff to welcome to our school and community at large. Please join me in welcoming:

Teachers:

Sharon Balcos- Sped Elementary

Trinity Edwards- Math MS/HS

David Fonken- Counseling Elementary

Kacey Hammer- Kinder Elementary

Alenna Nilsen- Credit Recovery/Intervention MS/HS

Jocelyn Parker- Sped MS/HS

Trevor Wilson- 4th Grade Elementary

Support Staff:

Mary Dunker- Special Education Paraprofessional

Mackenzie Larson- Special Education Paraprofessional

Ruth Litsheim- Special Education Paraprofessional

Kylie Mattingly- Special Education Paraprofessional

Christine Slaught- Special Education Paraprofessional

Rossy Wise- Special Education Paraprofessional

Ronald Dela Cruz- Food Service

Amie Grim- Food Service

David Hoover- Food Service

** We are still hiring for special education paraprofessional positions and for a part-time custodian. If you are interested in joining an AMAZING team please contact Mara at exec@pcsd.us.

** Communication sent to families August 26th, 2025**

Dear Petersburg School District families and staff,

Earlier today, law enforcement responded to a reported threat at Petersburg High School. ​The building was immediately evacuated and thoroughly searched. I want to thank our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their ​swift and professional response, and I also extend my appreciation to our ​s​taff and families present for following directions quickly and calmly.

Below is the official press release from the Petersburg Police Department with further details.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Petersburg Police Department
Date: August 26, 2025

Active Threat Report at Petersburg High School

The Petersburg Police Department received a report today regarding a male subject allegedly armed with an AR-15 at Petersburg High School.

Officers from the Petersburg Police Department, with assistance from the Alaska State Wildlife Troopers and the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement, immediately responded to the school. Out of an abundance of caution, the school was evacuated, and law enforcement conducted a thorough search of the premises.

No suspect was located, and there is no current indication of an ongoing threat. At this time, the incident appears to have been a false report; however, the investigation remains active as officers work to identify the source of the call.

The Petersburg Police Department wishes to thank the Petersburg School District staff and students who were present for their quick and orderly response in evacuating the building.

Public safety remains our top priority, and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Chief James Kerr
Petersburg Police Department
PO Box 329
Petersburg Alaska, 99833
Office: 907-772-3830
Cell: 907-518-0482
FAX: 907-772-3504

As a reminder, official communications regarding school situations will come directly from the Petersburg School District. We ask parents and community members to please avoid speculation or relying on social media sources for information. Registration and activities will resume as normal tomorrow, Wednesday, August 27, 2025. For the safety of our students and staff, entry to school buildings during the school day ​w​ill continue to occur at the main ​school doors​ with the buzzer system.

Sincerely,
​R​obyn Taylor
Superintendent,

I remain incredibly proud of the dedication our students and staff show in pursuit of educational excellence. Recent data highlights that Petersburg students continue to outperform their peers at both the state and national levels—a true testament to the value our community places on education.

Stedman Elementary School has been recognized as a standout case study by our partners at Amplify. Petersburg students exceeded state and national averages, with particularly remarkable growth in Kindergarten and 1st grade—surpassing national averages by more than 35%. You can read the full article at the link below.

Looking ahead, AK STAR Spring testing results will be released on September 5th. We are confident these results will once again reflect the exceptional achievements of our students.

Thank you to every member of our school community for the unwavering support you give our students—the leaders of tomorrow.

The entry and security renovation project at PHS/MMS is nearly finished. When you enter the high school, you’ll now be welcomed into a newly updated office area.

Please note: the roof replacement project will continue into the fall. Most of the work will take place at the back of the building. We ask that you continue to drive cautiously around the construction zone for everyone’s safety.

All schools will be on the same bell schedule beginning the 2025-2026 school year

Monday-Thursday

8:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m.

Friday Early Release

8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Stedman Elementary Webpage-Click Here

Wondering what your child may need for school supplies? Look at the Frequently Requested Information section for the grade level(s) that pertain to your family: https://www.pcsd.us/page/stedman-elementary-school

Backpack and Chromebook Update

Announcement for Grades 6–8 Families

Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, backpacks for students in grades 6 through 8 will be issued upon request.

Please note that Chromebooks will no longer be sent home with students in these grade levels. Students will still have full access to devices during the school day.

If your student is experiencing challenges completing assignments outside of school hours, we encourage families to reach out to the school for support options.

Jon Kludt-Painter

Technology Coordinator | Petersburg School District

Address: 201 Charles W. St., Petersburg, Alaska 99833

Phone: 1-877-526-7656 ext. 226 | Office: ext. 226 | Mobile: 907-302-2376

Email: jpainter@pcsd.us

Website: www.pcsd.us

Mitkof Middle School Gear Store-

We have a FACEBOOK page!

High School Laptop Rollout – Fall 2025
As part of the Petersburg School District’s 1:1 technology initiative, high school students will receive their MacBooks and backpacks during our annual rollout week. We’re proud to partner with families to help students maximize the benefits of these powerful tools in a safe, responsible, and supportive learning environment.

What to Expect:
Returning Students (Grades 10–12)
Returning students will sign their laptop agreements electronically when they collect their devices. These students previously completed both the in-person rollout orientation and the required 8th-grade Digital Literacy course, which qualifies them for 24/7 take-home access to their MacBooks.

Event times can and do change. Please see your school's website for the most up to date information on upcoming events.

AUGUST

25th- Teacher Work Day

26th- Teacher In-Service

27th- Teacher In-Service

28th- District Wide In-Service

XC @ Hoonah

PHS Basketball Camp
29th- Teacher Work Day

XC @ Hoonah

PHS Basketball Camp

30th- PHS Basketball Camp

SEPTEMBER

1ST- LABOR DAY HOLIDAY- No School

2nd- 1st day of School 1st-12th grade

PIE Stedman Elementary 4:00

3rd- 1st day of School Kindergarten

MMS Activities Meeting 6:00

4th- MMS/PHS Open House 5:30

Policy Committee Meeting- 4:00 (District Office)

5th- Early Release 1:30

Public release of AK Star Results

Swim/Dive @ Craig

XC @ Metlakatla

PHS Volleyball Camp

6th- Swim/Dive @ Craig

XC @ Metlakatla

PHS Volleyball Camp

8th- ASVAB testing (PHS)

10th- 1st day for PHS Volleyball

12th- Early Release 1:30

XC @ Ketchikan

13th- MMS Cross Country Invitational Meet

XC @ Ketchikan

16th- School Board Meeting 6:00 (PHS Library)

17th- Cyber Safety National Presenter- Katie Greer

19th- Early Release 1;30

PHS Swim/Dive Home Meet

XC @ JDHS

20th- PHS Swim/Dive Home Meet

XC @ JDHS

22nd- School Photos (MMS/PHS)

23rd- School Photos (MMS/PHS)

24th-School Photos (Elementary)

25th- School Photos (Elementary)

VB @ JDHS

XC @ Sitka for Regional Championships

26th- Early Release 1:30

VB @ JDHS

XC @ Sitka for Regional Championships

27th- VB @ JDHS

XC @ Sitka for Regional Championships

29th- District Vision Screening

30th- District Vision Screening

OCTOBER

1st- PHS Wrestling Season Opens

District Vision Screening

2nd- Parent Teacher Conference Days- No School For Students

XC State @ Palmer

MS BBall and Cheer Opens

Policy Committee 4:00 (District Office)

3rd- Parent Teacher Conference Days- No School For Students

Stedman Implementation Worksession 10:00 (Stedman Library)

AK Star and Science Individual Results Released to Families

XC State @ Palmer

4th- XC State @ Palmer

7th- PIE Stedman Meeting 4:00

9th- VB @ Lumen

10th- Early Release 1:30

VB @ Lumen

11th- VB @ Lumen

13th- Indigenous Peoples Day

16th- Wrestling @ Metlakatla

VB @ Haines

Great Alaska Shakeout @ 10:16 a.m.

17th- Early Release 1:30

Wrestling @ Metlakatla

VB @ Haines

Swim/Dive @ Juneau

18th- Alaska Day

21st- School Board Meeting 6:00 (PHs Library)

22nd- PHS Jazz and Concert Band

23rd- Wrestling @ Skagway

VB- Viking Clash Tournament (Host)

24th- Early Release 1:30

Wrestling @ Skagway

VB- Viking Clash Tournament (Host)

25th- Wrestling @ Skagway

VB- Viking Clash Tournament (Host)

26th- Southeast Honors Music Festival

27th- Southeast Honors Music Festival

Red Ribbon Week

28th- Southeast Honors Music Festival

Red Ribbon Week

29th- VB @Ketchikan

Red Ribbon Week

30th- VB @ Ketchikan

Wrestling @ MCCS

Potential MMS/PHS Assembly

Red Ribbon Week

31st- Quarter 1 ends

Early Release 1:30

Swim/Dive Regionals @ Ketchikan

Red Ribbon Week

NOVEMBER

1st- Swim/Dive Regionals @ Ketchikan

4th- PIE Stedman Meeting 4:00

6th- Policy Committee 4:00 (District Office)

PHS Fall Play (TBD)

VB @ Craig (South Seeding Tournament)

7th- Early Release 1:30

PHS Fall Play (TBD)

VB @ Craig (South Seeding Tournament)

Swim/Dive @ State Bartlett High School

Wrestling @ Juneau

8th- PHS Fall Play (TBD)

VB @ Craig (South Seeding Tournament)

Swim/Dive @ State Bartlett High School

Wrestling @ Juneau

11th- Veterans Day- Special Celebration

14th- Early Release 1:30

MMS Activity Night

15th- Volleyball Senior NIght

18th- School Board Meeting 6:00 (PHS Library)

Veterans Day

20th- All State Music @ Anchorage

VB Regionals @ Skagway

21st- Early Release 1:30

All State Music @ Anchorage

VB Regionals @ Skagway

22nd-All State Music @ Anchorage

VB Regionals @ Skagway

25th- Early Release (1:30)

26th- No School for Students

27th- THANKSGIVING- No School for Students

28th- No School for Students

DECEMBER

2nd- 3rd-5th Grade Music Concert 6:30 (PHS Gym)

PIE Meeting Stedman Elementary

3rd- VB @ State Tournament

K-2nd Grade Music Concert (PHS Gym) 2:15

PHS Basketball and Cheer Start

4th- Policy Committee 4:00 (District Office)

5th- Early Release 1:30

Wrestling @ Wrangell

6th- SAT Test

Wrestling @ Wrangell

11th- Wrestling Regionals @ Edgecumbe

12th- Early Release 1:30

Wrestling Regionals @ Edgecumbe

15th- PHS Concert 7:00

16th- School Board Meeting 6:00 (PHS Library)

17th- MMS Concert 7:00

Winter Break 12/20-1/6

JANUARY-School Board Appreciation Month

2nd- PHS BB @ Metlakatla

3rd- PHS BB @ Metlakatla

5th- Teacher In-Service

6th- Teacher In-Service

7th- Students Return to School

8th- PHS JV BB Tournament

Policy Committee 4:00 (District Office)

9th- Early Release 1:30

PHS JV BB Tournament

10th- PHS JV BB Tournament

15th- MMS/PHS Assembly

16th- Early Release 1:30

PHS BB @ Wrangell

MMS Activity Night

17th- PHS BB @ Wrangell

20th- School Board Meeting 6:00 (District Office)

22nd- Semester 1 Ends

23rd- NO SCHOOL MMS/PHS ONLY

Early Release 1:30 for Elementary ONLY

Boys BB vs. Craig

Girls BB @ Craig

24th- Boys BB vs. Craig

Girls BB @ Craig

30th- Early Release 1:30

PHS BB vs. Haines

31st- PHS BB vs. Haines

FEBRUARY

3rd- PIE Stedman Meeting 4:00

5th- PHS BB Tournament

6th- Early Release 1:30

PHS BB Tournament

7th- PHS BB Tournament

13th- Early Release 1:30

PHS BB vs. Metlakatla

14th- PHS BB vs. Metlakatla

16th- No School for Students- Parent Teacher Conferences

17th- No School for Students- Parent Teacher Conferences

School Board Meeting 6:00 (District Office)

19th-PHS Play (TBD)

20th- Early Release 1:30

PHS Play (TBD)

PHS BB @ Haines

21st- PHS BB @ Haines

25th- MMS Spring Concert (TBD)

27th- Early Release 1:30

PHS BB vs. Wrangell

28th- PHS BB vs. Wrangell Senior NIght

MARCH

3rd- PIE Stedman Meeting 4:00

4th- Basketball Regional Tournament

5th- Policy Committee 4:00 (District Office)

Basketball Regional Tournament

6th- Early Release 1:30

Basketball Regional Tournament

7th- Basketball Regional Tournament

9th- PHS Baseball Season Begins

PHS Track Season Begins

10th- State Basketball

11th- State Basketball

12th- State Basketball

13th- Early Release

State Basketball

14th- State Basketball

17th- School Board Meeting 6:00 (District Office)

19th- Early Release 1:30

20th- Spring Break Begins

20th-30th-NO SCHOOL- SPRING BREAK

31st- Students back to school from Spring Break

APRIL

2nd- Policy Committee 4:00 (District Office)

MMS/PHS Assembly

3rd- Early Release-Quarter 3 ends

MMS Native Youth Olympics

4th- MMS Native Youth Olympics

PHS Music- Afternoon Tea

7th- PIE Stedman Meeting 4:00

8th- Region 5 Music Festival - Ketchikan

9th- Region 5 Music Festival- Ketchikan

MMS Stikine VB Tournament

10th- Early Release 1:30

Region 5 Music Festival- Ketchikan

MMS Stikine VB Tournament

11th- Region 5 Music Festival- Ketchikan

MMS Stikine VB Tournament

15th- PHS Native Youth Olympics @ UAA

16th- PHS Native Youth Olympics @ UAA

17th- NO SCHOOL ELEMENTARY ONLY

EARLY RELEASE MMS/HHS 1:30

PHS Native Youth Olympics @ UAA

18th- PHS Native Youth Olympics @ UAA

21st- School Board Meeting 6:00 (PHS Library)

23rd- PHS Region 5 Art Festival @ Haines

24th- Early Release 1:30

PHS Region 5 Art Festival @ Haines

MMS Activity Night

25th- PHS Region 5 Art Festival @ Haines

26th- PHS Region 5 Art Festival @ Haines

27th- PHS Region 5 Art Festival @ Haines

MAY

1st- Early Release 1:30

5th- PIE Stedman Meeting 4:00

7th- Policy Committee 4:00 (District Office)

3rd-5th Grade Music Concert 6:30 (PHS Gym)

8th- Early Release 1:30

Kindergarten- 2nd Grade Music Concert 12:45 (PHS Gym)

15th- Early Release 1:30

18th- MMS Music Concert 7:00

19th- School Concert during instructional day

School Board 6:00 (District Office)

20th- PHS Music Concert 7:00

21st- Track/Field Regional Championships @ Ketchikan

22nd- Early Release 1:30

Track/Field Regional Championships @ Ketchikan

23rd- Track/Field Regional Championships @ Ketchikan

25th- No School- Memorial Day

28th- Track/Field State Championships

Last Day of School for Seniors

29th- Early Release 1:30

Track/Field State Championships

30th- Track/Field State Championships

JUNE

1st- GRADUATION

3rd- Baseball State @ Palmer

4th- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS! 12:30 Release

Field Day K-2 8:00-10:00

Field Trip 3rd-5th 10:00-12:00

MMS/PHS Awards Assembly

Baseball State @ Palmer

5th- Teacher Work Day

Baseball State @ Palmer

6th- Baseball State @ Palmer

16th- School Board 6:00 (PHS Library)

Robyn Taylor, Superintendent

supt@pcsd.us

Petersburg School District

PO Box 289

Petersburg, Alaska 99833

877-526-7656

Vision: Inspiring all to become responsible and healthy citizens, positively contributing to our global community.

Mission: Petersburg Schools will advocate for continuous growth, promote a healthy environment, and provide diverse educational opportunities where all students achieve.