August Newsletter

Dear Families,

Welcome to a truly special school year—one that marks the opening of our brand new school building and a new chapter in our learning community.

This year, we are especially proud to deepen our focus on culture, community, and connection to the land, honoring the rich traditions of the Kenaitze people on whose ancestral lands our school stands. Our new space is more than just a building—it’s a place where all students will feel a strong sense of belonging, identity, and pride in who they are and where they come from.

We invite you to join us for Meet the Teacher Night on Monday, August 18th from 5:00–6:00 PM. Come explore the new school, meet teachers and staff, and learn more about the cultural values and traditions that will guide and enrich our learning this year.

The first day of school is Wednesday, August 20th, and we can’t wait to welcome students into their new classrooms and community.

Thank you for walking with us on this journey. We’re honored to grow, learn, and celebrate together in this new space.

In partnership,

Mrs. Daniels

The new school year is right around the corner! We will be kicking off the year with New Student and Kindergarten Registration on August 18th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. And August 19th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The process for registration will go quickly if you complete the online portion. We'll see you soon!

Register your child online here: https://kpbsd.org/students-parents/student-registration/

In order to register in the KPBSD, new students are required to have the following when they register

• Physical Examination (These forms are in most of the local doctor’s offices.)
• Original birth certificate. A birth certificate is required for verification.
• Meet immunization requirements.

If you cannot make any of those hours contact the office at 907-335-2829, our secretary Krissy Mahan will be available starting August 18th.

Kindergarten students will be attending a full day of school starting on August 20th.

We want to welcome our teachers to this monumental school year!

• Kindergarten- We are incredibly fortunate to welcome two highly experienced educators to our team. Mrs. Blossom, our new kindergarten teacher, brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for early childhood education. We're especially excited about her expertise with the Kenaitze program, which will be a wonderful asset to our community. Although Mrs. Blossom will be joining us after the subsistence break, we are in excellent hands with Ms. Cox. With an impressive 47 years of teaching experience, much of it in kindergarten, Ms. Cox will ensure our students have a smooth and enriching start to the school year.
• Kindergarten/First- Having started her 40-year teaching career on the remote Aleutian island of St. Paul, Mrs. Atchley brings a wealth of experience and adaptability to our school. Over her seven years on the island, she developed a deep understanding of multiage classrooms and creative teaching methods. Since then, she's continued to broaden her expertise, working with a diverse range of curriculums including Montessori, multiage, arts and science integration, and STEAM, as well as specializing in reading intervention. We are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Atchley, whose passion for education and commitment to unlocking every student's potential will undoubtedly enrich our community.
• Second/Third- After a remarkable 47-year career in education, we're thrilled to introduce Mr. Floyd, who brings a wealth of diverse experience to our school. Having taught everything from Spanish kindergarten to high school shop, Mr. Floyd has a unique ability to connect with students of all ages and backgrounds. A proud Kenai resident for the past 35 years, he feels blessed to be part of this groundbreaking endeavor. We are incredibly fortunate to have a veteran educator with such a wide range of skills and a deep commitment to our community.

Please be aware of student pick up and drop off areas, these times and spaces are important for ensuring students are safe!

School buses will be using the front main drop off area during these times:

• 8:45-9:20 am
• 2:40-4:00 pm

During these times we are asking parents to drop off students along the west side of the building and to avoid the bus lane.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Parents please take a moment to fill out the following document by clicking on the highlighted link below to help us with your students end of the day plans. We want to make sure every student gets home safely!

We will be offering a before school program for students. Parents are allowed to drop their students off from 7:45 am until 8:50 am. Our fabulous tutor liaisons, Kirstin and Faith will be providing coverage for our students during that time!

The following is our school calendar which will differ slightly from the school districts calendar. Please note that our first big break will be September 1st through September 5th. This was created for families to participate in subsistence activities, we look forward to hearing about our students' experiences.

August 20th: First day of school!!

September 1st-5th: Subsistence break and teacher cultural in-service, no school

September 12th: Early Release School is out at 2:15 pm

September 26th: School Vacation Day, no school

October 17th: Early Release School is out at 2:15 pm

October 24th: No School Parent Teacher Conferences