Petersburg Schools Newsletter

Welcome back to a new school year, which is quickly approaching. The first day of school for 1st-12th grade students is Tuesday, August 25th.

Kindergarten 1st day- Wednesday, August 26th

SCHOOL START AND END TIMES

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

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

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

Teachers:

• Matthew Gore – Elementary Special Education
• Seth Johnson- Elementary Special Education
• Shalie Dahl Moore- Secondary Physical Education (beginning in January)
• Rebecca Shatwell- Secondary Math
• Rose Villazor- Elementary 3rd Grade (moving from a Classified to Certified position)
• Dan Warila – Secondary Social Studies
• Eric Wolford- Secondary English Language Arts

Support Staff:

• Adara Curtis – Paraprofessional
• Kresta Desposato – Elementary Administrative Assistant
• Lila Hopper – Paraprofessional
• Stephanie Padilla – Paraprofessional
• Gus Pennington – Paraprofessional
• Marissa Sanchez – Paraprofessional
• Suhail Velasquez - Paraprofessional

Staff Transitions-We have had a few internal transitions since we ended the school year

• Lee Ann Jenkins has moved out of state. We appreciate her contributions to our district and wish her all the best.
• Kerri Curtiss is transitioning into the Literacy Lead role connected to the CLSD (Comprehensive Literacy Statewide Development) grant focusing on our district's efforts around literacy with children from birth to Grade 12.
• Trevor Wilson is moving to the Reading Interventionist position at Stedman Elementary.
• Heidi Cabral is moving into the fourth-grade teaching position.
• Stephanie Pawuk will be splitting her day, supporting reading intervention at the elementary school in the mornings and at the middle school in the afternoons.
• Rose Villazor- is moving into the third-grade teaching position.

Welcome Back!

We are also excited to welcome back three of our retired teachers who have stepped up to support our students and staff this fall covering PE and Heath in the middle and high school until Shalie is able to begin full time in January:

• Ginger Evens
• Rick Brock
• Dino Brock

We greatly appreciate their willingness to return and help provide continuity for our students during this transition.

** We are still hiring. If you are interested in joining an AMAZING team please contact Mara at exec@pcsd.us.

From work to home to school, our phones are a key tool to how we each navigate and communicate throughout the day. The custom-built Petersburg School District app makes it easy to stay up to date with district news and events.

Now, Petersburg School District is making it easier to stay in touch with district communication from that same app. Using the Petersburg School District app, you can easily switch from district and school information to Rooms.

Rooms can be accessed via the web and from our district app, which is available for free and can be used from both Apple and Android phones.

To access Rooms, you will need to create a login and password.

I am incredibly proud of the dedication our students and staff demonstrate each day and of the results that commitment continues to produce. Petersburg students consistently perform at high levels, comparing favorably with their peers across Alaska and the nation. Their success reflects the hard work taking place in our classrooms, the commitment of our staff, and the strong value our families and community place on education.

Looking ahead, AK STAR Spring testing results by grade will be released to the public on September 3rd. Individual results will be released to families on October 3rd. 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.

This year, we will be helping students become more reflective about their own level of engagement in learning. Using our Engagement Continuum, students will learn to recognize where they are in the moment—from disrupting, avoiding, or withdrawing to participating and, ultimately, investing in their learning—and consider what they can do to move toward greater engagement. Our goal is for students to develop the self-awareness to recognize that engagement can change throughout the day and that they have choices in how they respond. We invite families to use this same language at home, asking questions such as, “Where would you place your engagement right now?” or “What would help you move toward investing?” These conversations can extend beyond schoolwork to chores, activities, relationships, and other parts of everyday life.

Please see the engagement continuum sample below.

This summer, contractors completed several important upgrades to our school safety and security systems, including improvements to our intercom, bell, and building entry systems. In the event of an emergency requiring a building to be placed in an emergency status, preprogrammed messages will provide clear and consistent information to those inside the building. In addition, our exterior entry doors and select interior doors are now equipped with electronic badge readers, providing greater control over building access and enhancing overall campus security.

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

High School Laptop Rollout – Fall 2026

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. 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.

Returning Students (Grades 10–12)

Returning students will begin receiving their MacBooks the week of August 17. Students will sign their laptop agreements electronically when they collect their devices.

Students who have previously completed the required Digital Literacy course are eligible for 24/7 take-home access to their district-issued MacBook.

Incoming Freshmen & New Students

Incoming freshmen and new high school students will receive their MacBooks during our New Student Technology Orientation:

Thursday, August 20
6:00–7:00 PM
Wright Auditorium

Attendance by both the student and a parent/guardian is required. The in-person orientation will take approximately 45 minutes and will cover device expectations, care and responsibility, digital citizenship, and important information about the district’s 1:1 technology program.

If a student and parent/guardian are unable to attend the August 20 orientation, a make-up orientation will be held Tuesday, August 25 at 3:15 PM in Room 137 of the high school. This session will also take approximately 45 minutes. Students and their parent/guardian must attend one of these two orientation sessions.

Students who successfully completed Digital Literacy in 8th grade will be able to take their MacBooks home following orientation.

Students who still need to complete the Digital Literacy course will have access to their MacBook during the school day and may remain on campus for up to 45 minutes after school each day to work on and complete the course. Once the course is successfully completed, students will receive 24/7 take-home access.

The Digital Literacy course is self-paced and condensed, with most students reporting that they complete it in less than six hours.

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

August

25th First Day of School Grades 1st-12th

26th First Day of School- KIndergarten

School Pictures- Seniors and Sophomores

MMS Cross Country Season Starts

27th School Pictures- Juniors and Freshman

28th School Pictures- Middle School

Early Release 1:30

PreSchool Family Social Event 5:30-7:00

September

1st Stedman Elementary School Photos

2nd Stedman Elementary School Photos

4th Early Release 1:30

PHS Swim @ Juneau

5th PHS Cross Country @ Klawock

PHS Swim @ Juneau

7th No School- Labor Day Holiday

9th PHS Volleyball Season Starts

11th Early Release 1:30

12th PHS Cross Country @ Ketchikan

15th School Board Meeting- PHS Library 6:00

18th Early Release 1:30

PHS Swim @ Ketchikan

19th PHS Swim @ Ketchikan

PHS Cross Country- Home Meet

21st ASVAB test for Juniors and Seniors

24th Parent Teacher Conferences - No Classes for Students

25th Parent Teacher Conferences- No Classes for Students

26th PHS Cross Country Regionals in Juneau

28th Teacher In-Service- No Classes for Students

29th Teacher In-Service- No Classes for Students

30th PHS Wrestling Season Starts

October

1st MMS Basketball and Cheer Season Starts

2nd Early Release 1:30

PHS Swim/Dive Home Meet

3rd PHS Swim/Dive Home Meet

PHS Cross Country State in Anchorage @ Bartlett High School

6th Stedman Partners in Education (PIE) Meeting 4:00

8th PHS Volleyball @ Craig

9th Early Release 1:30

15th Great Alaska Shakeout Earthquake Drill

PHS Swim/Dive @ Sitka

PHS Wrestling @ Klawock

16th Early Release 1:30

PHS Swim/Dive @ Sitka

PHS Wrestling @ Klawock

17th PHS Swim/Dive @ Sitka

PHS Wrestling @ Klawock

20th School Board Meeting 6:00 PHS Library

PHS Band Concert 7:00 Auditorium

22nd PHS Volleyball @ Hoonah

PHS Wrestling @ Juneau

23rd Early Release 1:30

PHS Volleyball @ Hoonah

PHS Wrestling @ Juneau

24th PHS Volleyball @ Hoonah

PHS Wrestling @ Juneau

25th PHS Southeast Honors Music Festival @ Haines

26th PHS Southeast Honors Music Festival @ Haines

27th PHS Southeast Honors Music Festival @ Haines

28th PHS SAT Test

29th PHS Swim/Dive Regionals @ Juneau

30th Early Release 1:30

MMS Activity Night

PHS Swim/Dive Regionals @ Juneau

31st PHS Swim/Dive Regionals @ Juneau

November

3rd Stedman Partners In Education Meeting 4:00

4th PHS Swim/Dive to State

5th PHS Swim/Dive @ State

PHS Volleyball Home vs. MHS, CHS, WHS

PHS Wrestling @ Ketchikan

6th Early Release 1:30

PHS Swim/Dive @ State

PHS Volleyball Home vs. MHS, CHS, WHS

PHS Wrestling @ Ketchikan

7th PHS Swim/Dive @ State

PHS Volleyball Home vs. MHS, CHS, WHS

PHS Wrestling @ Ketchikan

9th Stedman Trimester 1 Reports Go Home

11th Veterans Day

12th MMS Basketball @ Stikine Tournament @ POW

13th Early Release 1:30

MMS Basketball @ Stikine Tournament @ POW

14th MMS Basketball @ Stikine Tournament @ POW

17th School Board Meeting 7:00 PHS Library

19th PHS Volleyball Regionals @ Metlakatla

PHS All State Music

20th Early Release 1:30

PHS Volleyball Regionals @ Metlakatla

PHS All State Music

PHS Wrestling - Home

21st PHS Volleyball Regionals @ Metlakatla

PHS All State Music

PHS Wrestling - Home

24th Early Release 1:30

25th No School- Thanksgiving Break

26th THANKSGIVING- No School

27th No School- Thanksgiving Break

December

1st State Volleyball Tournament @ Anchorage

Stedman Elementary Partners in Education Meeting 4:00

Kindergarten - 2nd grade Music Concert 6:00 p.m.

2nd PHS Basketball and Cheer Season Starts

State Volleyball Tournament @ Anchorage

3rd State Volleyball Tournament @ Anchorage

4th Early Release 1:30

State Volleyball Tournament @ Anchorage

5th State Volleyball Tournament @ Anchorage

10th PHS Wrestling Regionals @ Wrangell

11th Early Release 1:30

PHS Wrestling Regionals @ Wrangell

12th PHS Wrestling Regionals @ Wrangell

MDT Dance Recital

13th MDT Dance Recital

15th School Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. PHS Library

PHS Concert 7:00 p.m. Auditorium

16th MMS Concern 7:00 p.m. Auditorium

PHS Wrestling State Tournament @ Anchorage

17th PHS Wrestling State Tournament @ Anchorage

PHS Boys Basketball @ Craig

18th Stedman Sing Along 8:30-9:45

Early Release 1:30

PHS Wrestling State Tournament @ Anchorage

PHS Boys Basketball @ Craig

PHS Girls Basketball VS Craig

19th PHS Wrestling State Tournament @ Anchorage

PHS Boys Basketball @ Craig

PHS Girls Basketball VS Craig

21st-4th- Winter Break- No School

29th PHS Basketball vs. Wrangell

30th PHS Basketball vs. Wrangell

HOMECOMING

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.