Yukon-Koyukuk School District Staff Connections

Fall 2007 Special points of interest: • Red Ribbon Instruction & Curriculum by Carol Doyle Week: Octo- Happy fall or winter whatever the toring a new teacher. If others of Some of you have been asking for ber 23-30 case may be. I know some of you you have similar needs for testing a few extra copies of the novels. have already received some snow! or mentoring, please let us know. Most of the novels we ordered (5 • Alaska Federa- This office has been extremely busy of each title) have come in. Let us with all the newly required school Joan has also helped to order some know if you need extra copies of tion of Natives: improvements, data keeping, grants, preview math materials. Right now novels before we make the next Oct. 22-27 curriculum, and testing procedures, this office has Saxon and Everyday order. Your timely response to this to name a few. Math to look at. Carol and Joan will be very much appreciated. would like to have the math curricu- • Thanksgiving Some of you have been asking for lum committee meet sometime in Thank you for being so prompt in Holiday: “Battle of the Books” books. They November to review the curriculum getting your HSGQE exams back Nov. 22-23 arrived in the library a couple of documents and the materials. In- and inputting the information into weeks ago and are being cataloged. terested participants can send the documents provided. It was a Tamara is in the process of boxing Carol an email. big help to me and of course the them up and sending them out. I state and testing company. sent the passwords for the hand- By the time you read this newslet- HSGQE results are posted to DRC’s book and the practice questions via ter, all teachers who were responsi- website by November 30th and we email October 11th. I f you didn’t get ble for AimsWeb reading and math should have paper copies by De- hopefully have completed their it, please email me. cember 7th. testing. Your principal has had Most of the science materials are in AimsWeb notebooks with the test- I will make a trip to Montana with now. We are still missing some ing material in it and an email with Carl’s group to view the training teacher editions for Biology, and a the K-2 materials. The district of- that we will expect in our second few other minor things. Thirty-five fice will insert your scores into the year of the Voluntary Public School high school students books were program as soon as we get final Choice grant. I will be talking to ordered for the major courses: Physi- data (scores). Shawn is in the proc- teachers to see what their chal- Inside this cal Science, Biology, and Earth Sci- ess of setting up your accounts so lenges are and how they best feel issue: ence. Fewer books were ordered for you can review your student scores is the most effective way to meet Physics and Chemistry, taught to just and print out reports for collabora- these challenges. GT Program 2 a few students at the upper levels. tive meetings. Every Science teacher will have a Most principals and a team of dis- manual for each of the different Jimmy Huntington School and trict office certified staff attended Technology 2 courses, but may not have enough Merreline A. Kangas School have the “Response to Instruction” train- student copies and lab manuals for chosen Alternate Learning Styles as ing required by the state in Fair- all of your students. These were their school improvement support banks recently. Ruby, Allakaket, Library News 2 ordered this way because many of services provider. Those schools and Huslia sites will be developing you use AGS materials in Joe Mar- will have Michelle Walker and her their school improvement plan ley’s classes and the materials were colleagues visiting their schools to based on some of the previous Grants 3 very expensive. However, you re- give extra tutoring services to stu- training you all received at the ceived at least one copy or more of dents. Allakaket School has cho- district-wide in-service and on these Glencoe materials. If we need sen Alaska Learning Labs. A some of the RTI model principals Safety 3 more student copies, I believe we teacher from their school will use we learned about. Principals will could order more during the year. this provider’s curriculum to give be talking to their staff about im- Middle School and Elementary mate- students extra tutoring services plementing some of these strate- In-service 4 rials are also on the way. I have not after school. This provider pays the gies. Just a reminder for the 3 Photos received any of the hands-on demon- teacher to complete these activi- schools who need improvement plans—they are due to November stration kits so far. ties. Site News 6 1st and must also be approved by Joan Jones has been working hard Thank you for your kind attention their CSC before hand. on putting the math GLE’s into the during the in-service. We hope you New Staff 7 checklist document as well as the enjoyed the prizes. I have not com- We are beginning the second nine new K-2 GLE’s. The math GLE pleted tabulating the results of the weeks already. Where has the first checklists will be used by the princi- evaluations as yet, but she will let part of the year gone?! We have pals on their observation walk-thru you know the results as soon as I much to do, but you all have our that EED requires as part of the dis- have the information completed. I support here in the district office. I trict improvement plan. Joan also did collect the chart paper from the will travel to Ruby and Allakaket spent a week out in Allakaket help- last day and will summarize your toward the end of the month. En- ing with their Aims testing and men- work. joy the snow! Page 2 Special Education by Cristina Welker Although GIFTED AND TAL- Times Thursday Friday ENTED is not considered connected to Special Educa- 9:30 – 10:30 Jr. Great Books tion anymore, Pat Baser, our Grade 3 Speech/Language Patholo- 9:45 – 10:30 Jr. Great Books gist, is offering a GT program Grade 3 to those sites who are inter- ested. Jr. Great Books and 10:30 –11:15 Sounds Like Fun Sounds Like Fun the National Geographic Bee are two wonderful programs 11:15 – Noon Jr. Great Books to peak student interest and Grade 4 challenge their minds. 1:00 – 2:00 Jr. Great Books Jr. Great Books Please see the video sched- Grades 1 2 Grade 1 2 ule to the right for times and days. (The slots designated 2:45 – 3:30 Geography Bee Geography Bee for “Sounds Like Fun” is for Grade 4-12 Grade 4-12 The GT Program is for Pre-K through grade 2, spe- cifically for Speech/ students who are at *Remember – students must be at or above grade level in reading Language services) to participate. Neither GT program is intended to be for remedial or above grade level services. NO EXCEPTIONS! in reading. Technology News by Patty Hill Just a few updates from the Paskvan will be addressing video- Shawn Coyle—374-9413 Technology Department. We conferencing problems and Patty Susan Paskvan—374-9405 are in the process of hiring a Hill will be helping out with email Patty Hill—374-9416 Technology Assistant here at issues. Please be reminded that In order to get the best service, the District Office to help your first point of contact should please communicate your technol- Shawn out with the huge vol- always be your site tech, but if ogy concerns via email. This way, ume of technology issues your problem cannot be resolved your request is documented with a around the district. at the site level then please feel time and date stamp. Phone calls free to contact the appropriate are easy to forget and are more Also, to alleviate some of the person the District Office: more tedious tasks, Susan likely to get lost in the shuffle. Library News by Tamara Wilkinson Looking for Hello from the Library! Whew, teaching, give me a call and I will spotlight: what a busy year so far. Battle see what is in the library or go supplemental of the Books have been sent online to www.yksd.com, click the JUST IN. . . . . out, so everyone should have library link and look around. A teaching Story Watchers Club Series, Our received their books or will be few resources available are the Planet, World Folktales, Keys to materials? getting them soon. As some of Subject Kits, Art Kits, movies and Imagination, Good Character, you know, and some do not, I different types of books. Christmas, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, am new to the library experi- A variety of Please feel free to send an email and Storytellin’ Fun!. The Call of ence. I was transferred over the Story; An American Renais- from the business office, work- regarding what may be lacking in kits are avail- the library so that we can work to sance, Children Tell Stories; ing in payroll. I am learning Teaching and Using Storytelling in everyday, so please be patient purchase what is needed . I will able at the the Classroom if I am not able to answer your be needing your help in the near Library questions right away, but will future choosing some items, Several new art kits also came in answer them after a little re- such as books, videos, books on from the Fairbanks North Star . . . Check search or a few phone calls. tape and items for subject kits. I Borough School District. They will hope to make many changes and them out! be cataloged soon and ready to I am looking forward to this any suggestions would be appre- be used. You can access the list experience and hope to make ciated. online at yksd.com clicking on the the library a little easier for With every news letter, I hope to library link. Please contact me everyone to access. If you are with any questions at 907-374- looking for anything to supple- spotlight something that may be 9408 or you can email me at: ment the subjects you are of interest and available in the library. Here is this quarter’s [email protected] Staff Connections Fall 2007 Page 3 Grants by Gina Hrinko The newly funded Tobacco grant is tion purposes. Angela tries to visit a Three sites are up for their on-site Four teachers off the ground and making headway. couple of sites each year to meet accreditation evaluation this year Gina Hrinko recently traveled to Al- with staff in person. She also con- (Minto, Nulato, Kaltag). Minto and the CTE lakaket to work with the counselor ducts telephone interviews and School will go through this process Coordinator will and other school staff as they communicates with staff via email. during the first week of December. worked through the School Health Nulato and Kaltag’s evaluation will attend a CTE Index assessment (SHI). The SHI is Robin Davis, our Succeed Together take place in the spring, after test- almost completed for Allakaket. (SIOP) project support teacher, has ing. All sites are working diligently professional visits scheduled to the five remain- Next, she will be working with Nulato as they prepare and update the development staff as they work thorough the ing sites that did not receive a visit necessary documents for this same process. The next step will be last year. The dates for these visits evaluation. conference to participate in professional devel- have been emailed out to site prin- opment on the Life Skills Training cipals. Initial site visits to each site Exciting News! We are working Nov. 14 – 17th in will be completed by December. closely with the Interior Tech Prep curriculum. We are working with a Anchorage. consultant from the Rocky Mountain Robin is here to support you and Specialist to revise our current Center for Health to secure a time your language development efforts articulation agreements and de- Important CTE and dates for the training. The train- in the classroom. Please feel free to velop new ones. This year, we ing will take place in Anchorage and contact her if you have any ques- have students in Minto and Nulato information from tions or if you would like her to enrolled in a Construction Math we will send teachers from the two the training will sites piloting the program this year. model a lesson in your classroom. course at their site. The students Starting in January, Robin will be who successfully complete this be disseminated Angela Larson, our grants evaluator available to visit your site for a sec- course will receive 3 college cred- also traveled to Allakaket to meet ond time and provide follow up its. If you would like to take advan- district-wide, with staff and ask questions regard- support. Let me know if you would tage of this opportunity, please ing the implementation of grants. like to schedule a second visit. contact Gina Hrinko to discuss the upon our return. This is necessary for grant evalua- details further.

Safety Program Update by Andrea Durny

Welcome back for another wonderful In order to improve safety and re- ject Being Lifted/Handled year in safety at the Yukon Koyukuk duce our losses we must first be School District. Last year we created a aware of which losses are occurring • Cut, Puncture, Scrape – by Hand safety team here at the District Office and the causes of those losses, Tool/Utensil: Not Power and this year we will be continuing our below is a list of the top ten claims: From these losses, we can see that efforts to help promote safety district Top Ten Accidents by Frequency of preventing back injuries and slips wide. Claims: and falls is a priority. Proper ma- One of our goals as a safety team is to chine guarding and personal pro- encourage safety awareness for each • Sprain/Strain/Tear – By Lifting/ tective equipment may also prevent employee. This year we will be continu- Throwing injuries from being struck by flying ing to insert a safety brief with the first objects. Protect paycheck of each month. The safety • Fall/Slip/Trip – On/Through Ice/ Safety is a concerned effort by each brief includes one safety topic and the Snow Each individual to lead by example for injury report for the prior month, so Struck/Injured – By Falling or each other and our students. In our please take a minute to review your • other. . . Flying Objects case (YKSD), we believe it is espe- monthly safety brief. cially important to exercise safety Put As apart of the program we have been • Miscellaneous Causes – Foreign precautions because of the remote- Body in Eye/Poke/Scratch ness of our sites, our harsh working with our insurance company Safety to provide a safe and healthy work weather conditions in the interior, place for all employees and to help • Sprain/Strain/Tear – by Pushing and mostly because we need to reduce the frequency of losses. This or Pulling protect each other, our employees, First! our communities, and our stu- program also helps YKSD with the cost • Sprain/Strain/Tear – by Overex- of purchasing safety related products dents. ertion such as ice cleats to reduce slips, If you have any questions or training on proper lifting techniques to • Fall/Slip/Trip – on Same Level concerns about the program reduce back injuries, protective eye- please contact Andrea Durny @ wear, gloves, or ergonomic keyboards. • Auto Rear End Backing - Backing Last spring we sent out a box of per- 907-374-9434. Thanks, from or Rolling Back your Safety Team! And the Dis- sonal protective equipment to each of trict Office. our sites for the Maintenance guys. • Cut, Puncture, Scrape – by Ob- Page 4 September In-service

Allakaket & Hughes Staff

Huslia, Kaltag & Koyukuk Staff

Manley and others helping out at in-service

Staff Connections Fall 2007 Page 5

Caption Minto, Nulato describing picture or & Ruby Staff graphic.

Raven Staff Bob, John & Cristina

Thank you to our World Wide IDEA presenters! Page 6 Manley Culture Camp by Ajay Wright (student) Every year at the Gladys Dart 12 o’clock the two teams School we have a fall Culture met at the Roadhouse for Camp. We focus on learning lunch. On another day, dur- about cultural things, like wild ing cooking class, we made harvesting and other outdoor dilly beans from beans har- activities, and have out of vested by the teacher. We school classes. This year, packed beans into jars and we were taken mushroom- put in some garlic, dill, and ing, cleaned the town, peppers. We closed the jars made pickled dilly beans, and put them into boiling and went to Rampart Site. water. After two weeks, they trailer there. We started a Tanis and Cindy took us would be ready. The last, fire in the parking lot, and out onto the side of the but definitely not least, ac- then we started climbing. road to look for and learn tivity of our culture camp Jacob and I were a team, Examining to classify different types of was the Rampart Site trip. and were first to the two Mushrooms in mushrooms. After introduction We took off in the morning peaks. We climbed the Manley in classifying, we went back to just as school started, and large hill in about ten min- school and set up the mush- drove to the Rampart turn- utes. We buried a time cap- rooms collected to be examined off. Minto met us there af- sule on the top of the hill the next day. When the class ter about ten minutes and this year in an old pretzel started the next day we got out then we drove the rest of jar. When we were ready we the microscopes and examined the way to Rampart Site. rolled down the hill and their spores. When we got there, for the went back to the lot. We Manley students first time in student mem- cooked hot dogs and On another day, we went out at take pride in their ory, we had visitors. Some marshmallows and even 11:00 A.M. for an hour of town people had parked their had some cupcakes. After community and clean up. The school student’s lunch Minto left and we lend a hand to split up and while one group went along the road and went to the dump, the other keep it clean. looked at Bill Strack’s went to the landing. The group crashed truck. We eventu- at the dump cleaned up the ally headed home. Culture surrounding area, and the group camp is always a good at the landing cleaned up the week in this school. Tanana River landing before heading back towards school. At Minto News by Madeline Riley

One of my students, Athabascan and In English, age last year. She also Great Job Kia HoChee, was expressing her love for her sang a song in Denaak'e Kia Ho invited to speak at the family and the importance and came in second. AFN convention on of keeping her culture alive. Chee!!! Last March she was invited October 22 at the She received a standing to speak at the Doyon Carlson Center. Kia is ovation. meeting in Fairbanks. She 10 years old and in This was her 3rd public did well at each event. the 5th grade at Minto speech. Her first speech School. In her competition was in Anchor- GREAT JOB KIA speech she spoke in

Staff Connections Fall 2007 Page 7 New to YKSD Shawn Arnold-Allakaket Dale Hargis-Nulato in the Fulton school system. In Nulato, I teach high school English, P.E., Physical Science, and Earth Science and I am also student government ad- viser. In my spare time, I write A warm and record hard rock music welcome to with my band, King's Row all of our (www.kingsrowmusic.com) and Originally from City, I I was born and raised in cen- I am keeping a journal of my new staff first came to Alaska with the tral and have lived in Alaskan adventures on my military when I was twenty the small town of Fulton with members. own website at years old. Fourteen years later my wife Tracy for the past 12 www.dalehargis.com. I also We are I’m now out of the military and years. We don't have any chil- enjoy reading, listening to pro- following my dream of becom- dren but we have two cats and happy to gressive rock and metal music, ing a teacher. My wife Jodi is a nine nieces and nephews. I have you! watching hockey and foot- teacher as well, down in the have taught language arts the ball, and watching Star Wars, Mat-Su School District; where last seven years at South Cal- Lord of the Rings, and Pixar she also bravely takes care of laway Middle School, along movies. our two mischievous dogs. with teaching summer school

Tony Saner-Huslia Tom & Julie Siebenaler- Flora Johnson-Allakaket Huslia

Flora returned to her home village of Tom & Julie are newlyweds, My name is Anthony Saner and Allakaket this year. She is teaching and moved up from Minnesota I am in my first year teaching elementary grades 3-5. Welcome to start their Alaskan adven- at Jimmy Huntington School. I back Flora! ture. Tom is teaching Lan- come from and am guage Arts and Julie is the wondering what happened to Special Education teacher for fall, it has already snowed in Huslia. Huslia! My daughter and I are enjoying our experience and Matt Campbell-Hughes look forward to the coming Matt is from . He gradu- months. ated from Temple University and holds a Masters in Education. He is teaching Elementary students in Hughes.

Although we are all busy doing our own jobs, it is important that we stay connected as a school dis- trict. The purpose of the YKSD Staff Connections newsletter is to keep the lines of communication open between staff, departments, schools, and villages. You can do your part by sharing things that you are Involved with. More times than not, Yukon-Koyukuk School District we get so caught up in what is going on around us that we forget to share, becoming disconnected 4762 Old Airport Way from the big picture. If you enjoy reading about Fairbanks, AK 99709 what’s going on around the district, we would also like to know what is going on around you. The Phone: 907-374-9400 next newsletter will go out at the end of the 2nd Fax: 907-374-9443 quarter in December, please start thinking about what you can contribute to keep the staff con- nected! Thank you to all who contributed this quarter!

We look forward to hearing from you next quarter!

Birthday Doggy Kisses for Jim Bob! (October 27)