back to school - 2014-15

BACK TO SCHOOL

SCHOOLB AC K TOB AC K TO S C H O O L Y E A R 2 0 1 4 - 1 5

FA I R B A N K S , A L A S K A S AT U R D AY, A U G . 2 , 2 0 1 4

BACK TO SCHOOL 2 Saturday, August 2, 2014Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Sports Physicals

Midnight Sun Family Medicine, P.C. (907) 455-7123 • Dr. S. Gayle Kahoi

475 Riverstone Way, #5, Fairbanks

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$ 60 Cash or Credit Cards Only

Available for ALL school age children.

Must present coupon at time of appointment

Valid thru September 1, 2014.

Your choice for full service

family medical car e

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Family Care Travel

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For ages pre-school to age 20!

Registration Saturday, Aug. 23 From Noon to 5 p.m. Registration Fee $40 + Weekly Fee Each Saturday

On-Lane Coaching! All skill levels welcome! Join as an individual or a team. Earn patches, pins, awards.

Call Doreen at 456-7719 Corner of 10th & Cowles

Bowl on Saturdays at 10 a.m., 3 game set Leagues for

high school/college • middle school pre-school/grade school

Arctic Bowl Youth Bowling Leagues Leagues begin Sept. 6! Full Service Bowling Center

Monday Night Youth/ Adult League

Come in & sign up or call for more details

Earn Scholarships thru League Tournaments

BUYBUYUYANYANYNY

T O S C H O O L

17506495-8-2-14BTS

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTION

W E L C O M E B A C K

First Day of School Wednesday, August 20, 2014 • 9:30 a.m.

R a n d y S m i t h M i d d l e S c h o o l

Jump Start for New Students Friday, August 8, 2014

9:30 a.m. Drop off • 1:00 p.m. Pick up

New Student Registration Monday, August 11 • 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 12 • 9–12:00 & 1:00–4:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 13 • 9–12:00 & 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Parent Night Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Starts at 6 –7:30 p.m.

School Pictures Friday, September 5, 2014

Our Students Reach for the Stars!

BACK TO SCHOOL

WHAT’S INSIDE3/Letter from the superintendent

4/Construction at borough schools

8/New math curriculum

10/No more exit exam

12/Expect healthier school snacks

13/New statewide assessment test standards

14-15/Map with borough

schools, contact information and registration schedules

16/Time to get organized

18/Personalize your notebooks

19/Technology keeps students in touch while studying abroad

24/Is there a desk under that mess?

26/Moving? Choosing a school from afar ERIC ENGMAN/NEWS-MINER FILE PHOTO

BACK TO SCHOOL 3Saturday, August 2, 2014 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Congratulations to Our 2014 Graduates: Barnard, Mary • Brose, Nathaniel • Burcell, Robby • Burke, Ryan • Bynum, Roderick “Scooter” • Callah an, Alex • Ellanna, Jacob • Ellis, Alyssa Fleming, Nick • Gavora, Dylan • Griffin, Sebastian • Hajdukovich, Sarah • Hoppner, Garrett • Lemons, Jackie • Logan, Jamie • Martinez, Jerrill

Neville, Michael • Nickerson, Chrsitian • Ostanik, Win • Sexton, Emily • Stepovich, David • Therriau lt, Jordyn • Tompkins, Miaya • Wells, Tyler

Here are the schools they are attending (alphabetically): Arizona Western • California State University San Marcos • Cornell • Dakota College Bottineau • Flor ida College

Gonzaga • Marquette • Montana State Univ Bozeman • Northern Arizona Flagstaff • Northwest Indian Col lege Northwestern Prep • School of the Institute of the Arts [Chicago] • UAA • UAF • Univ of Alabama

Univ of Idaho • Univ of Mary ND • Univ of Nebraska Lincoln • Univ of Portland • USAFA Villanova Univ • Virginia Tech Blacksburg • Western Wyoming Community College

Catholic Schools of Fairbanks Catholic Schools of Fairbanks Catholic Schools of Fairbanks Pre-K through 12 th Grade Pre-K through 12 th Grade Pre-K through 12 th Grade

Immaculate Conception Grade School Monroe Catholic Jr/Sr High School

615 Monroe Street • 907-456-4574 • www.catholic-schools.org

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Classes Begin August 18

Register Now!

Registration Open (All Grades)

SPACE LIMITED

BACK TO SCHOOL

LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Welcome to another school year in the InteriorWelcome to the 2014-

2015 school year!For many of our stu-

dents and their families summer is a break from school, however, numerous district staff spend the summer months updating curricula, attending professional development courses, and imple-menting new measures to ensure that every one of our students is safe, every day.

Throughout the summer, the curriculum department coordi-nated cutting-edge professional development for our staff on a wide variety of topics including new standards, Google Apps in classroom instruction, scientific

inquiry in the boreal forest and more.

These efforts and others are just a few of the ways that our district provides

an excellent and equitable educa-

tion, and this commitment to excellence is apparent in the many achievements of our stu-dents.

Last year alone, a record number of high school students signed apprenticeship con-tracts with local trade unions and set themselves on paths to

high-income, sustainable careers through the School to Appren-ticeship program. Students also placed top in the state in art and history, and even won a Grammy for a musical performance.

Student success, however, is not possible without a safe and secure learning environment. To that end, I am pleased to announce the district has started the process to equip schools with real-time video surveillance and new key-less entry systems.

These advancements will provide centralized control and monitoring of our facilities and allow our educators to focus on the most important work – edu-

cating our students.The future is bright for the

Fairbanks School District. As we start the new school year, take a moment to get connected with the district and your school. Update your contact informa-tion in PowerSchool. Enroll in Late Bus Notifications. Like us on Facebook (at facebook.com/fsdk12), and follow us on Twitter (@fsdk12). If you have questions, school secretaries are happy to assist with PowerSchool access.

Parents and community mem-bers also have fingertip access to announcements and information about the district and specific

schools through the mobile app, which was made possible with generous support from Sumito-mo Pogo Mine.

The app features school news, student performance alerts, push notifications and more. To down-load, search for Fairbanks School District in the App Store or on Google Play.

On behalf of the Board of Education and all of our staff, I extend my best wishes for a productive and successful new school year.This letter was written and provided to the News-Miner by Interim Superintendent Dr. Karen Gaborik.

Gaborik

4 Saturday, August 2, 2014Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

BACK TO SCHOOL

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School Year 201 4 –2015 Public Release for Free and Reduced Price Meals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Fairbanks North Star Borough School District is pleased to announce our participation in the National School Lunch Program. Meals will be available to enrolled students at the following schools: Anderson Elementary, Anne Wien Elementary, Arctic Light Elementary, Badger Road Elementary, Barnette Magnet, Ben Eielson Jr/Sr High, BRIDGE (lunch only), Crawford Elementary, Denali Elementary, Effie Kokrine Charter, Hunter Elementary, Hutchison High, Joy Elementary, Ladd Elementary, Lathrop High, Nordale Elementary, North Pole Academy (lunch only), North Pole Elementary, North Pole High, North Pole Middle, Pearl Creek Elementary, Randy Smith Middle, Ryan Middle, Salcha Elementary, SMART, Tanana Middle, Ticasuk Brown Elementary, Two Rivers School, University Park Elementary, Weller Elementary, West Valley High, Woodriver Elementary. Meals meet nutritional standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Our schools will participate in the National School Lunch Program, After School Snack, and the School Breakfast Program.

If your income is less than or equal to the following guidelines you are eligible for free or reduce d- price meals. These guidelines are effective July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 . If you have children who are approved for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly known as Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Native Family Assistance Program (NFAP), they are automatically able to receive free meals by filing an application that includes their assistance number from one of those programs. Students who are identified as migrant, homeless, or runaway are automatically eligible and do not need to fill out an application but do need to contact the district’s homeless liaison or migrant coordinator to ensure benefits. Foster children receive free meals regardless of the income of the household with which they reside. Note: Medicaid and Denali Kid Care case numbers do not qualify for eligibility.

For more information, or to get an application for free or reduced-price school meals, contact Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, Nutrition Services, 1305 Charles Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701; (907) 451-1004 ext.16601 or visit http://www.k12northstar.org .

We cannot approve your application unless it contains complete information. The information you prov ide on an application may be verified at any time. Households may apply for school meal benefits at any time during the school year if circumstances change. Children whose parents or guardians become unemployed may be eligible for school meal benefi ts based on their

household income during the period of unemployment. A household whose application for school meal benefits is denied will be provided an opportunity to appeal the decision.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability . To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Free Meals – 130 % of Federal Poverty Guidelines

Household Twice per Every Size Annual Monthly Month Two Weekly

Weeks 1 18,954 1,580 790 729 365 2 25,558 2,130 1,064 983 492 3 32,162 2,681 1,341 1,237 619 4 38,766 3,231 1,616 1,491 746 5 45,370 3,781 1,891 1,745 873 6 51,974 4,332 2,166 1,999 1,000 7 58,578 4,882 2,441 2,253 1,127 8 65,182 5,432 2,716 2,507 1,254

For each additional family member add: 6,604 551 276 254 127

Reduced Price Meals – 185% of Federal Poverty Guidelines

Household Twice per Every Size Annual Monthly Month Two Weekly

Weeks 1 26,973 2,248 1,124 1,038 519 2 36,371 3,031 1,516 1,399 700 3 45,769 3,815 1,908 1,761 881 4 55,167 4,598 2,299 2,122 1,061 5 64,565 5,381 2,691 2,484 1,242 6 73,963 6,164 3,082 2,845 1,423 7 83,361 6,947 3,474 3,207 1,604 8 92,759 7,730 3,865 3,568 1,784

For each additional family member add: 9,398 784 392 362 181

Construction improving schools for new yearBy Amanda BohmanFOR THE NEWS-MINER

About $20 million worth of construc-tion projects are underway at various schools, including municipal bond funded renovations at Ryan Middle School and North Pole High School.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District is also revamping a park-ing lot at Weller Elementary School, adding classrooms at Badger Elementary School and converting up to eight more schools to natural gas.

Many of the projects will be complet-ed by the first day of school on Aug. 20, according to Larry Morris, projects and grounds manager for the school district.

A few projects are on-going, including

a major remodel of the career techni-cal education wing at North Pole High School.

“We are trying to maintain areas for school as well as areas to get construction done,” Morris said.

Some schools are also receiving tech-nology and security upgrades, including better Wi-Fi access and wiring for security cameras.

Ryan Middle School gym wing renovation

The $10 million revamp at Ryan Middle School involves locker rooms, bathrooms, a

PROJECTS » 5

5Saturday, August 2, 2014 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

BACK TO SCHOOL

Fairbanks Taekwon-Do In the Fairbanks C om m u nity since 1985

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D iscipline (finish what you start), Stop being BU L L IE D D evelop L eadership Abilities, Im prove L earning Skills, D evelop the “Yes I Can Attitu de!”

IMPORTANT BACK TO

SCHOOL DATES!

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Together, let's make this the best school year ever!

L L H H S S • Registration: Aug. 7, 8, 11, 12, 13 & 19 • 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

• August 20 First day of school for all Freshmen & New to Lathrop Students Freshman Ignition & New Student Orientation: 7:45 a.m.–2:15 p.m. PTSA Back to School Barbecue: 11:30 a.m .

• August 21 First day of school for returning students • August 27 New Parent Info Session: 6:00–6:30 p.m.

Open House: 6:30–8:00 p.m.

Dance Theatre Fairbanks

FALL SEMESTER 2014

August 21 thru December 20

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656 Seventh Ave 907-452-1113

email: [email protected]

www.dancetheatrefairbanks.com

Open House August 16, 2014

11:00-3:00 Come meet our teachers and staff!

Take a tour of the studio! Ask questions! Have a cookie!

Classes Start August 21, 2014 Aurora Dance Ensemble Auditions

August 29, 2014 Levels will be placed

by teachers only.

Dance Theatre Fairbanks Fall Semester 2014 • August 21–December 20

Saturday

Ballet Open

9:00-10:30

Rehearsal Level I

9:00-10:00

Ballet Primary

10:00-11:00

Partnering Level III

10:30-11:30

Rehearsal Primary

11:00-12:00

Rehearsal Level II

11:00-12:00

Creative Move. Littles

11:00-12:00

Rehearsal Littles

12:00-12:30

Rehearsal Level III

12:00-2:00

Rehearsal A D Ensemble

2:00-4:00

Hip Hop Level I

4:30-5:30

Lyrical Level II

4:30-5:30

Ballet Level III

4:30-6:00

Tap Level I

5:30-6:30

Ballet Level II

5:30-7:00

Pointe Level III

6:00-7:00

Pointe Preparatory 7:00-7:30

Lyrical Level III

7:00-8:30

Monday

Hip Hop Level III

5:00-6:00

Hip Hop Level II

6:00-7:00

Contemporary Level III

6:00-7:30

Tuesday

Jazz Primary 4:00-5:00

Tap Primary

5:00-6:00

Jazz Young Adult 5:00-6:00

Hip Hop Primary

6:00-7:00

Modern Contemp

Young Adult 6:00-7:00

Dance Adult

6:00-7:00

Hip Hop Young Adult 7:00-8:00

Wednesday

Ballet Level I

4:30-5:30

Jazz Level

5:30-6:30

Jazz Level II

5:30-6:30

Jazz Level III

5:30-7:00

Tap Level II

6:30-7:30

Tap Level III

7:00-8:00

Thursday

Warm-Up A D Ensemble

4:00-5:00

Rehearsal A D Ensemble

5:00-8:00

Friday TEACHERS The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner’s Newspaper in Education Program presents the following opportunities for the '14–'15 school year:

FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER, SATURDAY, AUG. 2, 2014

N.I.E. Services

• Print and E-edition for use in

classroom

• Curriculum materials - Lesson

plans, activities, and ideas on

how to use the News-Miner

in your classroom.

Brian Naplachowski

459-7528

[email protected]

For additional information,

contact:

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Spelling Bee The Daily News-Miner and the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District are pleased to sponsor the Alaska State Spelling Bee. Letters will be sent to school spelling bee coordinators in October.

This exciting

program

features

curriculum

tailored to

grades

kindergarten

through 12

and culminates with

students accompanying their

parents to the polls o

n election day

and voting alongside them.

Kids Voting is helping families l

earn

about how our democratic process

works and instilling lifel

ong voting

habits in school-age ch

ildren.

Alaska/North

concession stand, classrooms and the gym.

Workers have spent the sum-mer remodeling about 32,000 square feet. Morris said the proj-

ect should be completed before school starts.

The wing was built in 1969 and improvements have already been made to the roof and exterior walls.

“It had a lot of structural issues,” Morris said. “It can with-stand seismic activity better.”

The classrooms will be high tech with faster Wi-Fi and Smart Boards, which are like dry erase boards but they interact with computers.

While the gym is new, the school district kept the same floor, Morris said. The wood floor was installed in 2008.

North Pole High School vocational wing remodel

The $4 million renovation at North Pole High School involves the automotive, welding and

metals shops as well as the culi-nary arts area.

About 25,000 square feet is being remodeled, according to Morris. The project completion date is in November.

Daniel Domke, career and

PROJECTSContinued from 4

PROJECTS » 6


BACK TO SCHOOL 11509102-8-2-14B

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technical education direc-tor for the school district, said the renovation enables the school to improve the program by offering classes dealing with digital manufacturing and 3-D printing.

“North Pole is being looked at as a new career technical education hub,” Domke said.

The new vocational education wing will have a cybercafe, a souped up computer lab with high speed Internet and coffee.

The culinary arts pro-gram is getting new equip-ment, more space and the program will focus more on job skills, Domke add-ed.

Other notable projects

Several smaller projects are underway, including parking lot paving, natural gas conversions, new class-rooms and upgrades to technology and security.

The school district is re-doing the parking lot at Weller Elementary School, adding a lot and separating the pickup areas for bus riders and those who use other transportation.

Parents sought state funding for the $1.5 mil-lion project, which involves a new access road.

Up to eight schools are expected to convert to natural gas under a half-a-million-dollar state grant.

The schools are Ladd, Joy, Anne Wien, Univer-

sity Park, and Woodriver elementary schools plus Randy Smith and Tanana middle schools.

Morris said the How-ard Luke Academy also

will convert to gas should funding allow.

Four other schools, Denali, Nordale and Hunt-er elementary schools along with West Valley

High School, plus the cen-tral kitchen already burn gas for heat.

“I have been working with Fairbanks Natural Gas for a few years making

arrangements to get lines run to these schools so that we can save some money,”


SAM HARREL/NEWS-MINER FILE PHOTO

PROJECTS » 7


BACK TO SCHOOL

907-456-7760 116 Minnie Street

Fairbanks, AK 99701

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Did you know your child may now have vision

benefits because of Healthcare Reform?

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Open Open Open Mon-Thurs: 11am - 9pm Mon-Thurs: 11am - 9pm Mon-Thurs: 11am - 9pm Fri-Sat: 11am - 10pm Fri-Sat: 11am - 10pm Fri-Sat: 11am - 10pm Sun 12pm- 9pm Sun 12pm- 9pm Sun 12pm- 9pm

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kids meals $9 99

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All classes are held at Artisan’s Courtyard 1755 Westwood Way • Fairbanks, AK

Phone number for studio is 457-3262 www.danceworksak.com

Schedule of Classes:

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Sept. 6, 2014 thru May 11, 2015

Mondays: Teen/Adult Jazz-HipHop III* • 6:00-7:00pm Teen/Adult Jazz-HipHop I/II • 6:00-7:00pm Teen/Adult Tap • 7:00-8:00pm Saturdays: Ages 3-5 Creative Movement • 10:00-10:45am Ages 6-8 Jazz/Hip Hop, Tap & Tumbling • 10:45-11:45am Ages 6-12 Musical Theatre • 12:00-1:00pm Ages 9-12 Jazz/Hip Hop & Tap • 1:00-2:00pm

*Level 3 placement will be at instructor’s discretion

Morris said.Badger Elementary

School will have two new classrooms ready in November.

The school has used portable classrooms in the past to deal with an influx of students.

“The North Pole atten-dance area has grown, and we’ve had space issues there for a number of years,” Morris said.

Technology and security upgrades are underway at several schools.

Janet Cobb, the school district’s technology direc-tor, said a project to equip every school with security cameras, starting last year with North Pole High

School, continues.Lathrop High School

had cameras installed this summer. West Valley High School is about to be wired.

Officials are also plan-ning to install keyless entry at more schools.

Additionally, Wi-Fi is slowly getting better at area schools.

Cobb said the school dis-trict is going from school-to-school improving the Wi-Fi access, making it faster and better able to handle heavy traffic, start-

ing with the high schools.The school district

also purchased 350 Dell Chromebooks, which are being distributed to multi-ple schools.Contact freelance writer Amanda Bohman at [email protected].



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Ben Eielson High School FALL SPORTS INFORMATION Listed below are the starting dates, coaches' names and phone numbers, practice times and locations for the fall sports at Ben

Eielson High School.

August 7 & 8 Thur. & Fri. New Student Registration* All Grades 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

August 18 Monday Open House and Freshman/New Student Orientation 6:00–8:00 p.m.

August 20 Wednesday Freshman Ignite! AND JumpStart Day First day for 7th, 8th & 9th graders (Mandatory) and New to the school 10th–12th graders (Optional) Returning 10th–12th grade students do not attend.

August 21 Thursday All Students 7:45 a.m.–2:15 p.m. August 26 Tuesday School Pictures, All Grades

*New Student Registration: Bring Shot Records, Birth Certificate & Transcripts

WELCOME BACK INFORMATION BEN EIELSON JUNIOR–SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

August Events 2014–2015

Before a student can participate, the STUDENT MUST HAVE:

• A current physical on record with the school • Activity Consent/Release Form (Parent/Guardian must sign) • Passed 5 classes with a 2.0 GPA the Previous Semester. • All Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors must be enrolled in 5 semester units of credit or equivalent t o

be eligible. • Seniors who have passed all parts of the HSGQE must take at least 4 semester units of credit to be

eligible. All other seniors must be enrolled in minimum of 5 semester units to be eligible

HS Football Coach David DeVaughn, 907-347-5942 First Practice…8/4/2014 • 12:00 p.m. Practice Location…Ben Eielson High School

HS Cross Country Running Coach Angela Grorud, 701-330-0645 David Brannan, 907-460-9349 First Practice…8/4/2014 • 9:00 a.m. Practice Location…Ben Eielson High School

HS Football Cheerleading Coach Carolyn Velez, 907-888-8352 Try-outs…8/4/2014 • 3:45–5:45 p.m. Practice Location…Ben Eielson High School

HS Girls Volleyball Coach Dana Baugh, 388-2215 First Practice…8/11/2014 • 3:30–5:30 p.m. Practice Location…Ben Eielson High School

School year starts with new math curriculumBy Weston [email protected]

Students in elementary and mid-dle school may notice changes to the way they learn math when they get to school this year. With the start of the 2014-15 school year, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District will implement new math curricula materials for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The district selected “enVision Math” for kindergarten through sixth grade and “Go Math!” for seventh and eighth grade. District Curriculum Director Peggy Carlson described enVision as a visual approach to learning math.

High schools math curriculum mate-rials will receive a review during the upcoming school year. Some high school teachers will pilot new materials in their math classes to determine what options work best.

The new materials will replace McGraw Hill’s Everyday Math in kindergarten through sixth grade and Glencoe Math for seventh and eighth grade. The district had been using Everyday Math and Glencoe Math for 8 years.

Curriculum coordinator Michelle Daml said the former elementary materials worked fine for students that stayed in the district’s system throughout elemen-tary school, but was difficult for students coming into the system partway through to pick up because it intertwined different concepts and built on them slowly from year to year.

“That works really well if you have kids here for kindergarten through sixth grade,” Daml said. “If students hadn’t had those foundations built earlier, they strug-gled.”

Daml said the new elementary material — in contrast to the former one — takes a few specific concepts at each grade level and goes in-depth with each of them. It combines visual conceptual development, problem-solving skills, visual animation and technology to help students under-stand the math.

Both of the new curriculum materials are aligned with the Alaska State Stan-dards and the Common Core State Stan-dards.

Carlson and Daml said the new ele-mentary curriculum has been praised by educators for its innovative approach to teaching math and for utilizing research in that approach.

For seventh and eighth grade, the new materials utilizes both print and adaptive technologies. Both the new materials have online options for parents and stu-dents, which Carlson and Daml said is an important factor they take into consider-ation when choosing what to use in the end.

The Go Math curriculum has pro-grams for kindergarten through eighth grade, but the district opted only to use it for middle school students. Daml said, though the material is advertised as kindergarten through eighth grade, it is actually two separately designed materials combined into one.

“The K-6 Go Math program was a com-pletely different program than the 7-8,” Daml said. “The 7-8 teachers loved how that two year program was set up. We’re taking the best of each.”

Carlson said Go Math and enVision shouldn’t create any transitional prob-lems for students making the jump from sixth to seventh grade. While piloting the program over the last school year, the curriculum department had elementary teachers look at the middle school mate-rial and vice versa to ensure the two pro-grams could be vertically aligned without trouble.

“That was a major component,” she said.During the 2013-14 school year, the

district piloted the two new materials, along with Math Expressions for elemen-tary and Glencoe and Connected Math for middle-school level. For six weeks, 46 teachers in 16 schools piloted the pro-posed materials.

In addition to teacher input, the cur-riculum department sought the feedback of parents and students in the pilot class-rooms. The materials were showcased at community events, school math nights and Parent Teacher Association meetings.

MATH » 9


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Rehearsals will be Monday’s, 6:30-8 p.m.

Located on Skyline Drive.

At this time we are planning one performance on December 15th and two spring concerts. Tuition is $300/semester.

Space is limited, so please contact Miss Janice to become a member of Northern Lights Children’s Ensemble.

STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO COME BE CHARTER MEMBERS

OF THIS NEW GROUP

Come Join the Fun!

Janice Trumbull [email protected] • [email protected] • www.northernlightsacademy.org 214-354-4587 • 907-322-2325

Northern Lights Academy

Fairbanks’ own one room schoolhouse

Grades K-8 Northern Lights Academy is a

private school offering a rigorous academic program for students

in grades K-8. We will be utilizing a one room

schoolhouse/multiage philosophy to cover the required curriculum.

Now accepting applications for 2014-15

SPACE IS LIMITED

The district also brought in peo-ple from the University of Alaska Fairbanks to look over the options.

In all, the department received more than 200 comments,

according to Carlson.The high school curriculum will

undergo a similar process during its review this coming year.

The district chose to review the math curriculum last year in part because the state requires districts to review their curriculum every six years at minimum. The timing

lined up wonderfully with the implementation of the new state standards and assessments for math, Carlson said. The new stan-dards have been touted as more rigorous than the prior ones.Contact staff writer Weston Morrow at 459-7520. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMschools.

MATHContinued from 8

That works really well if you have kids here for kindergarten through sixth grade. If students hadn’t had those foundations built earlier, they struggled.”Michelle Daml, curriculum coordinator

“


BACK TO SCHOOL

Back- T o- S chool

Dates And

Reminders

B r i g h t F

u t u r e s !

G r o

w i n g

600 Trainor Gate Road 452-8145

Schedule Pick Up & Locker Assignment 7th & 8th Graders Friday, August 15, 5-7 p.m. or Monday, August 18, 5-7 p.m.

TANANA MIDDLE SCHOOL TANANA MIDDLE SCHOOL Jump Start Mini Camp All new students are invited to attend Friday, August 8 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

School Pictures Monday, September 22

Open House Friday, August 15 5-7 p.m.

New Student Registration 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Closed for lunch 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.) Thursday, August 7 Friday, August 8 Monday, August 11

School Starts

Wednesday,

August 20

17506444 8-2-14BT

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‘Exit exam’ no longer required for high schoolersBy Weston [email protected]

After years of serving as one of the final hurdles to a high school diploma, the High School Graduation Qualifying Examination — often referred to as the HSGQE or the high school exit exam — is no more.

This year’s high school students will be the first to enter the school year know-ing they will not be required to tackle the test.

In years past, every student in the state of Alaska was required

to not only take the test, but also to pass the test to receive a diploma. Students who didn’t pass were given “certificates of achievement” but were not issued diplomas.

This year, students preparing to graduate from high school will have several options to ensure they get that eminently import-ant piece of paper. Schools will no longer offer a single state-wide exit exam but will give students the option of taking one of three “college and career read-iness assessment(s).”

Students can take the SAT, the ACT or the WorkKeys assess-ment. All three of the assess-ments are offered nationally. The SAT and ACT are meant to assess a student’s readiness for

college. The WorkKeys test is meant to assess a student’s career readiness that attempts to mea-sure real world skills like locat-ing information and teamwork as well as foundational skills like reading and math.

The Alaska State Legislature passed the changes to the exit exam during the 2014 legislative session as part of Gov. Sean Par-nell’s omnibus education bill. The exam’s repeal was overshadowed somewhat by debate over the level of funding the legislature should

provide to schools, which was also included in the omnibus bill.

The relative lack of discus-sion surrounding the exit exam changes appeared to come from a lack of opposition more than any other factor. When the leg-islature held a hearing on the exit exam’s repeal, people from around the state testified on the need to get rid of the old exam.

Parnell called the exam obso-lete. Les Morse, deputy commis-sioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Develop-ment told legislators at the hear-ing that, although the exam once served an important purpose, it may not be needed any longer.

The exit exam’s repeal will ben-efit more than just current stu-dents. The omnibus education

bill called on the department and individual school districts to administer retroactive diplomas to students who completed all their graduation requirements except passing the exit exam.

The bill directed districts to send letters to the last known address of these students, alert-ing them of the opportunity. Former students interested in finding out if they qualify for a retroactive diploma should con-tact the school district in which they attended high school. Con-tact information for individual districts can be found online at www.education.alaska.gov/Alaskan_Schools/Public.Contact staff writer Weston Morrow at 459-7520. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMschools.

FIND CONTACT INFORMATION www.education.alaska.gov/Alaskan_Schools/Public

Does your child qualify for Migrant Ed?

Migrant Eligible Activities: • Commercial Fishing • Subsistence Fishing • Agricultural Work/Logging • Subsistence Berry Picking

For more information please contact the Migrant Office 452-2000 x 11482

FNSBSD - Fall Recruitment

17507617 8-2-14BTS

12508197 8-2-14BTS



TS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTION.

CHILD

FIND

SCRE

EN

ING

AU

GU

ST 20 & 21, 2014


BACK TO SCHOOL

FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY

Free Courses For High School Students:

• LEARN NEW SKILLS • GAIN VALUABLE CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE • LEARN THE PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION • POTENTIAL NCCER CERTIFICATION AND TECH PREP CREDIT

FALL ACADEMIES: BUILDING TRADES 1A Begins August 25, (M, T, W), 3:15 - 6:15 • Lathrop and Ben Eielson (co-ed) Begins August 26, (T, W, Th), 3:15 - 6:15 • Ben Eielson (girls only)

k12northstar.org/departments/curriculum/cte/alaska-construction-academy

FALL WORKSHOP: POWER TOOLS USE & CERTIFICATION (CO-ED) October 27-28, 8-4 P.M., ALASKA WORKS PARTNERSHIP

Applications are available from counselors or online.

*Open to all students currently enrolled in FNSBSD high schools.

FRAME YOUR FUTURE. E N R O L L N O W !

452-2000 EXT. 11538

The Fairbanks Alaska Construction Academy Program is funded by a grant from the Construction Educati on Foundation that is funded by grants from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Denali Commission. Notice of Nondiscrimination: The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District is an equal employment and education opportunity institution. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request.

17507368 8-2-14BTS

Expect new snack food offerings to be healthierBy Amanda BohmanFOR THE NEWS-MINER

No more sugary-sweet Pop-Tarts. No more Rice Krispie Treats. No more Grandma’s cookies.

“It’s all sugar and high calories. We can’t do that,” said Noah Morningstar, the Odom Corp. employ-ee charged with stocking vending machines for the Fairbanks North Star Bor-ough School District. “A lot of the baked snacks we used to have last year, they won’t be in the machines.”

New federal guidelines require school districts to remove junk food from vending machines and offer something healthy, such as Clif Bars and whole grain pop tarts.

Granola bars, Nutri-Grain bars, raisins and nuts are also allowed under the new rules, known as Smart Snacks in School.

Morningstar provided a list of what Odom might offer, includ-ing fruit bars, apple chips, Chex Mix, trail mix, PopCorners pop-corn chips and Dole Fruit Bowls.

Honey Maid Teddy Grahams, reduced fat Doritos, Kashi Hum-mus Crisps and Special K crack-ers also could show up in school vending machines this fall.

“The list is what we have to choose from,” Morningstar said.

“Not everything will be in the schools.”

Almost all of the public schools in Fairbanks have vending machines.

The Smart Snacks program by the U.S. Department of Agricul-ture sets limits on the calories, fats, sugar and salt allowed in snack food while emphasizing dairy, whole grains, protein, fruits and vegetables.

The rules effect upwards of 100,000 schools that accept funding from the National School Lunch Program.

Snack food sold in a la carte lunch lines, fundraisers and in student stores must also com-ply with the guidelines per the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

The rules reportedly do not apply to food brought to school from home, classroom parties or food sold after regular school hours at special events, such as athletic games.

The guidelines no longer apply 30 minutes after the school day ends.

All of the public high schools and middle schools in the Fairbanks area offer vending machines along with most of the elementary schools, according to school district purchasing direc-tor Bart Grahek.

Salcha Elementary School doesn’t have vending machines, Grahek said. Neither do Chinook or Watershed charter schools.

Vending machines in teachers’ lounges are not subject to the

guidelines, Grahek said.Drink offerings must also

comply with the new guidelines, but that shouldn’t be a problem, according to Chris Gindlesperg-er, spokesman for the American Beverage Association, a Wash-ington DC-based trade group.

Gindlesperger said drink suppliers removed sugary sodas from schools years ago though some schools still offered diet soda, tea and Gatorade.

Under the new guidelines, drinks sold in school are limited to water, milk and 100 percent juice. Juice diluted with water or carbonated are also accept-able. Caffeinated drinks are only allowed in high schools.

SNACKS » 13


BACK TO SCHOOL

If you are not an Alaska resident, you should compare this plan with any college savings plan offered by your home state or your beneficiary’s home state and consider, before investing, any state or other tax benefits that are only available for investments in the home state’s plan. Go online or call the number listed above to request a Plan Disclosure Document, which includes investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses, and other information. You should read the Plan Disclosure Document carefully before investing. Offered by the Education Trust of Alaska. T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., Distributor/Underwriter.

If kids could see into the future, they’d put a college savings plan at the top of their wish list. It’s easy to see why:

Kids who continue their education after high school are likely to earn more over their lifetime than those who don’t.

You can use any savings at vocationaland technical schools.

$50/month is all it takes to get started.

You can automatically invest up to 50% of your PFD.

Get your kid’s future off to a good start today. Because there’s a proven link between higher learning and higher earning.

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F A L A S K A

COLLEGE SAVINGS PLANUACollegeSavings.com

1-888-4-ALASKA

When I graduate from diapers, can we put money into a college savings plan?

“”

“We did it voluntarily. We led the way,” the bev-erage trade group spokes-man said.

A list of approved pack-aged foods on the Smart Snacks Web site includes snacks made by Funky Monkey and Larabar,

which makes energy bars.Popchips, Monkey

Brains and Kind also make snacks that comply with the new guidelines along with Annie’s Bunny Graha-ms, the Web site stated.

The government announced the new stan-dards over a year ago, and manufacturers touted their wares at the School Nutri-tion Association confer-

ence in July in Boston.Amy Rouse, director of

Nutrition Services for the Fairbanks school district, attended the conference and said dried fruit, jerky and pudding were also offered as healthy snack options.Contact freelance writer Amanda Bohman at [email protected].

SNACKSContinued from 12

Students to get first look at new state testsBy Weston MorrowWMORROW@NEWSMINER.

COM

Spring testing is an annual ritual for most students in Alaska. This coming spring, students once will again take a break from lessons to under-go statewide assess-ments, but this coming spring the test they’re taking will be a bit dif-ferent.

The Alaska Depart-ment of Education and Early Development announced it would ditch its previous test, the Stan-dards Based Assessment, and hire an Outside group to create a new test in 2012. The Achievement and Assessment Institute at the University of Kansas was eventually chosen to create the test, which they

have named the Alaska Measures of Progress.

The measures of progress will be administered for the first time in Alaska in the spring of 2015. Students in grades three through 10 will take the test.

The measures of prog-ress includes two catego-ries for testing — a section on English language arts and a section on math. The tests are not timed, but the department estimates each section will take the aver-age student between 90 minutes and two hours.

Students taking the test will be receive a score between one and four, with one being the lowest score possible and four being the highest. A score of three is meant to indicate the stu-dent is meeting standards.

Most students will take the test online, though stu-dents in some schools may end up taking a paper and pencil version of the test for its first year.

Districts will administer the tests during several windows in April. The earliest testing can begin is March 30 and the latest available testing day is May 1.

Students can prepare and parents can get a glimpse of what the tests themselves will look like by taking one of three practice tests that the department will make available. Anyone will be able to access the tests, which should become available sometime in the fall. The practice tests will be divided for grades three through five, grades six through eight and grades nine and 10.

For the 2014-15 school year, the science assess-ment administered to stu-dents in grades four, eight and 10 will not change.Contact staff writer Weston Morrow at 459-7520. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMschools.

A United Way Member Agency

Providing training and supervision of volunteer tutors for adults in basic reading, writing, math, computers and English as a second language.517 Gaffney Road • 456-6212


BACK TO SCHOOL

Student RegistrationsFollowing is a list of back-to-school student registration dates and times planned at district schools. Contact your school for more information or to confirm dates/times.

SCHOOL DATE TIME

FNSBSD Key contacts:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Anderson Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Anne Wien Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Arctic Light Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Badger Road Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Barnette Magnet Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Crawford Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Denali Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Hunter Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Joy Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Ladd Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Nordale Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.North Pole Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Pearl Creek Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Salcha Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Ticasuk Brown Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Two Rivers Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.University Park Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Weller Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Woodriver Aug. 11-12 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

(Tentative times, some schools may open/close earlier or at lunch time)

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLSBen Eielson........................................................ Aug. 7-8 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Hutchison ........................................................ ClosedLathrop High ..................................................... Aug. 7, 8, 11, 13, 19 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

North Pole High ................................................ Aug. 7, 8, 11 8 a.m.-noon, 1-3 p.m.

North Pole Middle ............................................ Aug. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Randy Smith Middle........................................... Aug. 11 1-4 p.m. Aug. 12 9 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m. Aug. 13 9 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m.Ryan Middle ...................................................... Aug. 8, 11 9 a.m.-noon, 1-3 p.m. Tanana Middle.................................................. Aug. 7,8, 11, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

West Valley High ............................................... Aug. 11, 12, 13 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

By appointment, call 479-4221, ext. 9111 to schedule

High Schools:1H Ben Eielson Jr/Sr High2H Lathrop High3H North Pole High4H West Valley High5H Hutchison High

✁ Phone numbers to clip and save ✁

The FNSBSD administrative offices are located at 520 Fifth Ave., wwwk12northstar.org, 452-2000

Superintendent 11401School board 11400Asst. superintendents 11411Student records 11212Transportation 11351

Special education 11489Curriculum 11421B.E.S.T. 11201Community relations 11403After-school prog. 11271

Food service 451-1004

Extensions:

Elementary Schools: 1. Anderson 2. Ann Wien 3. Arctic Light 4. Badger Road 5. Crawford 6. Denali 7. Hunter 8. Joy 9. Ladd 10. Nordale 11. North Pole Elementary 12. Pearl Creek 13. Salcha 14. Ticasuk Brown 15. Two Rivers 16. University Park 17. Weller 18. Woodriver

Middle Schools:1M North Pole Middle2M Randy Smith3M Ryan4M Tanana

Charter/Magnet Schools:C/M1 BarnetteC/M2 Chinook CharterC/M3 Effie KokrineC/M4 WatershedC/M5 Star of the North (NPA)C/M5 Star of the North (CEC)

Anderson ElementaryShari Merrick, principal [email protected] Anne Wien ElementaryMichael Angaiak, [email protected] Arctic Light ElementaryMary Carlson, [email protected] Badger Road ElementaryDan File, [email protected] Barnette Magnet SchoolDana Evans, [email protected] Ben Eielson Jr./Sr HighMario Gatto, [email protected]

Career Education CenterCraig Kind, head [email protected] 479-4061

Chinook Charter SchoolWendy Demers, head [email protected] Crawford ElementaryBarbara Sperl, [email protected] Denali ElementaryDeborah Hall, [email protected]

Effie Kokrine Charter SchoolJosh Snow, head [email protected] Hunter ElementaryRobyn Ward, [email protected]

Hutchison High SchoolTyrone Oates, [email protected] ElementaryLori Swanson, [email protected] ElementaryCori Anthony, [email protected]

Lathrop HighBob Meade, [email protected]

Nordale ElementaryBrian Powell, [email protected]

North Pole AcademyBao Do, head [email protected]

North Pole ElementarMark Winford, principalmark.winford@k12north488-2286 North Pole MiddleRich Smith, principalrichard.smith@k12north488-2271North Pole HighAnnie Keep-Barnes, prinannie.keep-barnes@k12488-3761

Pearl Creek ElementarKate LaPlaunt, principalkatherine.laplaunt@k12479-4234Randy Smith MiddleDave Dershin, principaldave.dershin@k12north458-7600Ryan MiddleHeather Stewart, principheather.stewart@k12no452-4751

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Administrative Center Dr. Karen Gaborik, Superintendent • Sandra Kowalski, Asst. Supt.-Elementary

Shaun Kraska, Asst. Supt.-Secondary


BACK TO SCHOOL

ry

hstar.org

hstar.org

ncipal2northstar.org

ry

northstar.org

hstar.org

palorthstar.org

Salcha ElementaryTBD, principal [email protected] Star of the North Secondary

See Career Education Center and North Pole Academy Tanana MiddleGreg Platt, [email protected]

Ticasuk Brown ElementaryShawna Henderson, [email protected]

Two Rivers SchoolKristie Calvin, [email protected]

University Park ElementaryKyra Aizstrauts, [email protected]

Watershed Charter School K-8Jarrod Decker, head [email protected] Weller ElementaryLynn Weckesser, [email protected]

West Valley HighJames D. Foshee, [email protected] Woodriver ElementaryGrant Guy, [email protected]

Two Rivers

PleasantValley

Parks H

wy

Chena

Pum

p

Airport Way

Johansen Geist Rd

College Rd

Chena Hot Springs Rd

Richardson Hwy

Richardson Hwy

Ballaine

Elliott

University

Nordale R

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Farm

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Goldstr

eam

Rd

Chena

Ridg

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UAF

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Steele Creek

Badger Rd

Stee

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Mitchell Exp 14

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Mitchell Exp

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Airport Way

Johansen Exp

Parks Hwy910

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College Rd

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2M

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C/M 1

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4H5H

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Other schools:Fairbanks B.E.S.T.452-2000, ext. 11201Fairbanks Youth Facility456-1536BRIDGE Program474-2144

DeeDee Hammond/News-Miner


BACK TO SCHOOL

The Career Education Center is now scheduling interviews for the

2014-2015 school year. CEC allows students flexible

schedules to finish high school with a Fairbanks North Star Borough

School District diploma.

Entry requirements include: • Have at least 14 High School Credits • Be 17 to 19 years old • Be committed to finishing high school

Call Stephani at 479-4061 to schedule an appointment

son.k12northstar.org/cec

Career Education Center 724 27th Ave., Suite 1 Fairbanks, Alaska 99701

Earn your high school diploma at the Career Education Center!

Star of the North does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, gender, national origin, religion or ancestry. Star of the North Secondary School

is nonsectarian and not affiliated with any religious organization.

E n r o l l N o w a n d

H a v e A P l a n F o r F a l l !

17506443 8-2-14BTS

Back-to-school help from professional organizers By Katherine RothASSOCIATED PRESS

Success in school often depends on how well a student manages to organize everything from demanding schoolwork to a dizzying array of after-school activities to technological dis-tractions.

That’s a lot to ask of a child, or even of busy parents.

For those with disposable income, a new breed of experts is stepping in to help: professional organizers for kids.

“Nine years ago, when I start-ed Order Out of Chaos, I had to explain to people what a pro-fessional organizer was. Now, it’s not what’s an organizer, but who’s your organizer?” said Les-lie Josel, of Mamaroneck, New

York, who offers to help kids manage everything from elemen-tary school to dorm life.

“As parents, we walk into the house and say, ‘Go get your soc-cer cleats,’ ‘Go get your dance things,’ ‘Do your homework,’” Josel said. But organization is like a muscle, she says, “and if you’re the one spewing all those instructions out, the only one working out that brain muscle is you. You’re ending up nagging instead of training.”

Ask children before they head out the door what they think they will need for the day. “After a while, it becomes as much of a habit as brushing teeth or put-ting on a seat belt,” Josel said.

And come up with systems for paper and time management at home and at school. “If it takes

your child more than two steps to do something, they’re not going to do it,” she said.

Many of the hundreds of pro-fessional organizers nationwide are mothers or former teachers who have helped children deal with “executive dysfunction,” the technical term for the problem. Some earn certification from groups such as the New Jer-sey-based National Association of Professional Organizers or the St. Louis-based Institute for Challenging Disorganization.

Often, professional organiz-ers are hired to help kids with special needs. But they are increasingly invited to speak at parent-teacher associations and community groups to offer gen-eral tips.

“Academic tutors help with

science or math ... but the study skills part of the picture has been a no man’s land,” said Kathy Jen-kins, who runs the Richmond, Virginia-based company The Organizing Tutor.

Some tips from her and other experts:

Managing their stuff

At home, each student in the household should have a “launching pad” and portable storage system. A launching pad can be a bench or box by the front door or bedroom door that holds everything that goes in and out of the house: library books, backpacks, cell phone, soccer cleats.

“For this population, the more time they spend looking for something, the less remaining stamina they have to do what they need to be doing,” Josel said.

The portable storage station should be a clear box with every-thing needed to get homework done.

“It’s essential to have one box per student, not one per house-hold,” Josel said. “An elementary student might have glue and colored pencils, while a middle schooler might need a Spanish dictionary and a calculator.”

Boxes should be labeled — but not by parents — with the child’s name and a list of contents. “Have your child fill the box and label it. It’s part of the ownership

ORGANIZE » 17


BACK TO SCHOOL

For more information, call 452-2000 ext. 2 • http://best.k12northstar.org

17507358-8-2-14BT

S

Homeschool Program

Online Learning Program

K-12 Home School Families receive an allotment, choose their own curriculum, and can take advantage of the resources of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.

Students in grades 6-12 enroll in a minimum of four courses through a fully accredited, online learning program with highly qualified and certified teachers and 24/7 technical support.

Are eligible to participate in athletics, music programs, and other extra-curricular activities at their attendance area schools according to district/state guidelines. May enroll in up to two classes at local district schools, at no cost. Are assigned a certified educational specialist who is knowledgeable of various curricula, courses, resources, and learning styles as well as B.E.S.T. policies and FNSBSD requirements.

��

��

��

Students in both programs: District Tested, Mom Approved!

Enrolling NOW – Fairbanks BEST

process,” Josel said.Boxes should be portable

because although some stu-dents work happily at the same desk each evening, for others, “it really helps if you change workplaces not only every day, but for every study subject,” Josel said.

Study toolsAlthough organizing

systems vary with the indi-vidual’s learning style, some frequent recommendations for students are:

• Use a planner that includes after-school activ-ities as well as homework assignments.

• Use reinforced binder paper, Jenkins says, so

papers don’t fall out or get crumpled because one hole is ripped.

• Vertical, clear-plastic student envelopes can hold a textbook, notebook and papers so that nothing is forgotten. They’re easily pulled out of backpacks or lockers, can be color-cod-ed, and are easy to carry between classes.

• A binder with attached accordion file can be used for all subjects or for each subject. They come in var-ious colors and have room to file papers in a hurry, so they don’t get lost.

• For time management, organizers often recom-mend a timer and a vibrat-ing watch.Online:www.napo.netwww.orderoochaos.comwww.theorganizingtutor.com

This photo provided by Order Out of Chaos shows the launching pad area. Everyone should have a designated “launching pad,” professional organizers say, where everything that goes in and out of the house is kept. Students who spend 20 minutes searching for something don’t have much energy left for getting things done, says Leslie Josel, an organizer and coach from New York who specializes in helping disorganized students, many of whom also have attention challenges. ASSOCIATED PRESS

ORGANIZEContinued from 16


BACK TO SCHOOL

History: Effie Kokrine Early College Charter School opened its doors in 2006. Effie Kokrine is proud of its culturally diverse student population.

Nonprofit—Charitable donations can be accepted at school or through Pick, Click. Give.

Early College Program: Encourage. Engage. Empower.

•Classes start Wed., 8/13 • Grades 7-12 • Self-contained middle

school classes • Small class sizes

• Robotics • FFA • High School Sports • ANE and JOM Tutoring and Support • Early College classes

• One-on-one support from teachers and tutors

• After-school study hall • A chance to learn about your cultural

heritage

• Team sports and extracurricular activities • Native language classes • Learning styles emphasis • Community-based lessons • Hands-on projects

17507400 8-2-14BTS

LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF SCHOOL? Check out Effie Kokrine Early College Charter!

The small school where big things happen! See us at the Fair!

Take advantage of core college

classes

Add zing to notebooks, store-bought or DIY By Kim CookASSOCIATED PRESS

When it’s time to start stocking the school backpack, it’s easy to just grab a stack of plain, boring note-books.

But since kids have to tote these things to and fro every day, why not trade the standard-issue ones for something snazzy and personalized?

There are plenty of eye-catching options to buy or to make yourself.

At Zazzle and Cafepress, you can upload favorite images and decorate custom journals and notebooks with different fonts and colors. There are also fun backgrounds like chevrons, animal prints, sports themes and nature motifs that can be jazzed up with monograms or catchphrases.

www.zazzle.com ; www.cafepress.com

Frecklebox offers cute, 50-page, wide-ruled spirals printed with owls, hearts, flames, robots, camou-flage, flowers and other kid-centric patterns for grades 2-8. They can be personalized with names or initials in a variety of styles. www.frecklebox.com

My Paper Monkey’s got some fun designs, including sporty cartoon dinosaurs for the younger set, and star, splatter and checkerboard designs for older kids. Names can be ordered in cool fonts that resem-ble graffiti, industrial stamps or pretty, Parisienne-style script. www.mypapermonkey.com

This photo provided by Frecklebox.com shows personalized notebooks. Frecklebox’s personalized notebooks for school children include fun dinosaur and animal print patterns. ASSOCIATED PRESS

NOTEBOOKS » 19


BACK TO SCHOOL

All Divisions: You must bring a copy of your tryout/registration form AND a copy of your 2014–2015 USA Hockey registration. To register with USA Hockey, go to http:www.usahockeyregistration.com/ using your legal name (as on your birth certificate). For questions, please send an email to [email protected]

17507393-8-2-14BTS

Arctic Lions & Alaska Grizzlies announces 2014/2015

Hockey Tryout Schedule

TRYOUTS MIDGET 18

REGISTER ONLINE: www.arcticlions.com or www.akgrizzlies.com

$75.00 non-refundable tryout fee per division (regardless of the number of tryouts you attend or the position you play. Cuts will be made at the coaches’ discretion. $25.00 fee for Mite Fun Skate. Cash or checks only will be accepted. Please make checks payable to ARCTIC LIONS. Fees must be paid prior to getting on the ice. Full gear required! NO exceptions!

Fri, Aug 22, 2014 6:45 PM UAF Sat, Aug 23, 2014 3:45 PM UAF

TRYOUTS MIDGET 16

TRYOUTS BANTAMS

TRYOUTS PEE WEES

TRYOUTS SQUIRTS

NAHA MITE FUN SKATE & SIGN UP

Arctic Lions Midget U16 Rob Proffitt, Head Coach

␣ Mon, Aug 4, 2014 6:45 PM UAF Tues, Aug 5, 2014 6:45 PM UAF Wed, Aug 6, 2014 6:45 PM UAF

Arctic Lions Midget U18 Adam Powell, Head Coach

␣␣ Mon, Aug 4, 2014 8:00 PM UAF Tues, Aug 5, 2014 8:00 PM UAF Wed, Aug 6, 2014 8:00 PM UAF

Arctic Lions Bantam U14 Chris French, Head Coach

Mon, Aug 4, 2014 5:30 PM UAF Tues, Aug 5, 2014 5:30 PM UAF Wed, Aug 6, 2014 5:30 PM UAF

A rctic Lions Pee Wee Minor Greg Milles, Head Coach

NAHA Pee Wee Major Dima Kulmanovsky, Head Coach

NAHA Pee Wee Minor Fred Morrison, Head Coach

Joe Waggoner, Asst Head Coach

Mon, Aug 18, 2014 6:45 PM UAF Tues, Aug 19, 2014 6:45 PM UAF Wed, Aug 20, 2014 6:45 PM UAF NAHA Squirt Major

Jeff Brooks, Head Coach NAHA Squirt Minor

Adam Powell, Head Coach

Mon, Aug 18, 2014 5:30 PM UAF Tues, Aug 19, 2014 5:30 PM UAF Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:30 PM UAF

Add your name to a chalkboard image of inspiring words on a notebook at Tinyprints, or choose from designs like patchwork, meadow or feathers. www.tinyprints.com

If your kids are crafty, consider making a note-book or journal from scratch using recycled paper. Magazines, scrap-book paper and maps make good cover art, and can be cut into geometric shapes or left intact; apply to chipboard or cardboard, add blank or lined paper, and secure. Online tutori-als suggest binding them with staples, duct tape,

brads, book rings, wire, elastic or stitchery. www.babbledabbledo.com

Yarn and ribbon make pretty patterns on a plain book. Create stripes of color, or make a bunch of little bows or loops as embellishment. You can affix bandanas or cloth napkins in zingy designs. Glue on buttons, sequins or shells.

Or give a composition book about three coats of chalkboard paint and add a bulldog clip to hold some chalk so you can carry an always-ready art space.

Find some craft pipe cleaners and create a col-orful, textured notebook cover. Or add a rainbow of rubber bands to a note-book cover to hold clips

and pencils.Is there some mate-

rial or felt lying around the house? Cover a book with soft velvet and add a stamped design of leaves for a luxe little book you’ll love to get to work in. Or if you like to sew, cut out a felt cover and embroider it closed around the edges; add a pocket for an eraser or pen. www.spoonful.com

Got a favorite cereal, cookie or other food that comes in a box? Cut it up and grab the Mod Podge adhesive to make fun notebook covers that will remind kids that home, and snack time, await at the end of the school day. www.mypaperpony.blogspot.com

NOTEBOOKSContinued from 18



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Boys and Girls Home of Alaska Treatment Center School 3101 Lathrop St. Fairbanks, AK 99701 (907) 459-4703

We appreciate your generosity!

Midnight Sun Academy Midnight Sun Academy Thanks the following supporters for their

donations to our school...

Alyeska Pipeline Service Company The “Doll Ladies”

Pavva Inupiaq Dancers Fairbanks Arts Association

Alexis Miller – Poetry Nomadic Stars Screen Printing – Tee Shirts

Laura Nutter – Dreaming Raven Mural Adult Learning Programs of Alaska

Randy Cheap, Pipeline Training Center Fairbanks School District – Library Media

Fairbanks School District – Art Center Fairbanks School District – Stephanie Littlewolf

…and anyone else we may have forgotten to mention.

These services are made available through the State of Alaska Department of Health & Social Services , Division of Public Assistance.

Looking and paying for child care doesn't have to be scary!

We're here to help!

Child Care Assistance & Child Care Referrals

17507375 8-2-14BTS

Looking for help paying for child care? Call 479-2212 Looking for help finding child care? Call 479-2204

Email: [email protected] Online: www.threadalaska.com

Kids studying abroad are now never out of touch By Beth J. HarpazAP TRAVEL EDITOR

NEW YORK — A gen-eration ago, students on semester abroad were practically incom-municado, aside from airmailed letters and one or two calls home. These days, from the minute the plane lands, kids studying overseas are connected with home via Skype, Face-book, and messaging apps like Viber and WhatsApp.

Has technology altered semester abroad by making it impossible to immerse yourself in another culture? Or does staying in touch simply increase comfort lev-els, easing both homesick-ness and parental worries?

Jane Tabachnick of Montclair, New Jersey, remembers airmailing let-ters to her parents when she studied in Paris for nine months at age 21, long before the cellphone era. “I knew they were worried and that they’d be waiting by the mailbox,” she said. “It seemed like an eternity between letters.”

It was different when

Tabachnick’s 21-year-old daughter lived in Russia and Paris as part of her studies at Rutgers Universi-ty. They often conversed by Skype or GoogleChat. “My daughter is very mature and level-headed and I’m not a big worrier, but I’m a parent, and she’s across the world, and it was just so easy to be in touch,” Tabach-nick said.

On the other hand, she said, the less she heard from her daughter the better, and not because she didn’t miss her: “When I hear from her a little less, I know she’s out having fun.”

This image provided by Jane Tabachnick shows her daughter Mel Bandler on the steps of Sacre Couer, the famous church in Paris. Bandler studied in Paris as part of her work for a degree from Rutgers University, and stayed in touch with her mom using Skype and GoogleChat. Free and low-cost apps and websites have made it easy for students to remain in contact with families abroad, unlike a generation ago, when Tabachnick studied in Paris and relied on airmailed letters as the main way to stay in touch with her parents. ASSOCIATED PRESSABROAD » 21


BACK TO SCHOOL

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (FNSBSD) offers Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, sex ual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. CTE opportunities are available at the following hig h schools: Lathrop, Hutchison, North Pole, West Valley and Ben Eielson. *~

Program offerings may include: • Architecture and Construction (Building Trades, Drafting, Welding) • Arts, A/V Technology and Communications (Video Production, Broadcast Journalism, Digital Photography, Graphic Design & Publishing, Graphic Design & Multimedia, Yearbook) • Business Management and Administration (Computer Applications) • Finance (Accounting) • Health Science (Medical Terminology, Nutrition, Certified Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, Introduction to Healthcare Occupations, Math in Healthcare) • Hospitality and Tourism (Culinary Arts, ProStart) • Human Services (Self-reliant Living) • Information Technology (Computer Networking, Introduction to Information & Technology, IT Essentials, Mobile Apps) • Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Digital Electronics, Principles of Engineering, Introduction to Engineering and Design) • Transportation, Distribution and Logistics (Small Engines, Automotive Technology, Collision Repair)

Individuals requiring further information should contact the designated compliance director: Ms. Elizabeth (Bett) Schaffhauser, Employment & Educational Opportunity Director

520 Fifth Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 (907) 452-2000 ext. 11466 • Fax (907) 452-3172 • [email protected]

* Not all offerings are available at all schools. Check with the counseling department for an accura te and current list of available courses and opportunities. ~The lack of English fluency will not bar students from participation in Occupational Education oppo rtunities.

Admission Criteria: • Open to all FNSBSD

students • Enrollment in the school

offering the opportunity • Registering and/or

applying for the desired class or workshop

• Some programs, such as the Alaska Construction Academy or School to Apprenticeship, have additional requirements. Contact your school counselor for more information.

ANNUAL PUBLIC NOTIFICATION CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE)

OPPORTUNITIES

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TRYOUTS/PRACTICE TIMES FOR FALL ACTIVITIES:

West Valley High School

Announces . . .

Before a student can participate, the STUDENT MUST HAVE:

• Current physical on record with the school • Activity Consent/Release Form signed and dated with the year. • 2.00 GPA, no more than 1 F & passed 5 classes from previous semester • Students cannot participate until they are cleared from the book-fines list

Pick up activity packets from WV Activities coordinator beginning July 28th

Counselors will be available the following dates by appointment

Please call 479-4221 ext. 9111 August 11, 12, & 13 • 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

ACTIVITY DATE LOCATION TIME Football Mon, Aug. 4 West Valley 5:00-8:00 p.m. Football Cheer Mon, Aug. 4 West Valley 3:00-5:00 p.m. Tennis Mon, Aug. 4 Alaska Club 3:00-5:00 p.m. XC Running Mon, Aug. 4 West Valley 10:00 a.m. (Pre-season meeting for X-Country Running - Aug. 1 at WV Library) Volleyball Mon, Aug. 11 West Valley 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (www.westvalleyvolleyball.com) Swimming Mon, Aug. 11 UAF 3:30-5:30 p.m. Girls Flag Football Mon, Aug. 11 West Valley TBD

NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION: 17506565 8-2-14BTS

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The FNSB School District has arranged for a commercial carrier to make low cost accident insurance coverage, including accidental dental coverage, available to all public school students. This parent-paid insurance policy includes options for school-time, 24 hour protection, football medical benefits and dental coverage.

Each district school will distribute to every student at the start of school, an application and a brochure describing benefits and premium costs. If you wish to purchase this insurance policy, mail the completed application form to the commercial carrier. This insurance may be purchased at any time during the school year. Coverage is effective the date the commercial carrier receives the application. If you do not receive an application, or have questions on this matter, contact Risk Management at 459-1392.

Contact Risk Management 459-1392

If your child is not protected by a parent or guardian’s health insurance policy, the commercial policy outlined herein is a reasonable and economical option.

An equal employment & educational opportunity institution.

Be Aware That The FNSB School District DOES NOT PROVIDE AUTOMATIC MEDICAL COVERAGE

If Your Child Is Injured At School. Attention: Parents

STUDENT STUDENT ACCIDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE INSURANCE

A Preschool & Kindergarten for ages 3–6

• Licensed • Creative Curriculum • Low Student/Teacher Ratio • Daily Movement Exploration

at Gymnastics Inc. • Certified Teacher

• Computers • Arts and Crafts • After-School Kindergarten Program

For more information, call

Gymnastics Inc. 456-2263 456-2263

3411 Lathrop St., Suite A near Van Horn Road

18510026-8-2-14BTS

Robbin Watson was forced to give up screen time with the home crowd when her laptop was dam-aged during a semester in

Italy six years ago, when she was 19.

“I was devastated at first, wondering to myself, ‘How will I know what’s going on at home? How will I Skype my friends?’” she recalled.

But as time went on, her experience in Rome “dras-

tically changed. I began to go out more, no longer running home from class to hop online. I no longer thought about what was going on at college and soon, I began to not even care.”

Looking back, she’s

grateful that her laptop was damaged. Her advice for semester abroad: “Get rid of your smartphone. The whole point of study-ing abroad is to immerse yourself in the culture, the people, the language. Once you have Skype, Facebook

and constant calls from parents, I think it really takes away from the expe-rience and becomes a huge distraction.”

Staying in touch is important to Daniele Weiss, 19, a New York University student who

spent spring semester in Florence and is now in Israel for the summer. “My mom needs to hear from me every night before I go to sleep,” she said.

From Italy, six hours

ABROAD » 22

ABROADContinued from 20


BACK TO SCHOOL

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Eye Exams available now, most insurance is accepted. Same day service!

better vision equals better grades!

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Enroll now ... kids say “We love Golden Heart Christian School”

Grades 1–8 Diana Knapp, Principal & Head Teacher

Excellence in education Christian environment National curriculum Standards based plus . . . Accredited school with certified teachers Small class and individualized instruction

457-2555 [email protected]

1811 Farmers Loop Road, Fairbanks

ahead of her parents, she’d call in the morning before her dad went to work, and then text throughout the day. She said most of her

fellow American students also “stayed in contact with everybody from home. It was very comfortable and so easy. It’s not like I felt like I was missing out on the immersion. But I want-ed to share things with my mom.”

She did get one snail-mailed letter in Italy from a friend back home. “That was really exciting,” she said. “Nobody does that any more. So that was a really cool moment. I Face-book-messaged her as soon as I got it.”

Jason Fischbach, 24, studied in Sydney, Austra-lia, during his senior year at Babson College in 2010-2011, and stayed in touch with family through Face-book and Skype, though he tried to limit it: “I was able to keep myself from

getting homesick, without really watering down the experience.”

But he added that others did fall into the “traps” of too much screen time: “People would get back from class and hop on Skype/Facebook with

family and significant others. People would skip social outings or classes to reach back out to people at home. Evenings would be spent on social media.”

Technology helped,


ABROAD » 23


BACK TO SCHOOL

Classes start September 2 & end December 6. Register soon to ensure class placement

12508159-8-2-14BTS

FALL 2014 SCHEDULE TUESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 11:00-11:45

Ages 3-5 Preschool

9:00-9:45 Ages 3-5 Preschool

9:45-10:45 Ages 5-8

Ballet/Tap 1&2

4:00-5:00 Ages 5-8

Ballet/Tap 1&2

3:30-4:30 Ages 5-8

Ballet/Tap 1&2

4:00-5:00 Ages 9-12

Jazz/Tap 1&2

10:45-11:45 Ages 6-8 Intro Jazz

4:30-5:30 Ages 6-8 Intro Jazz

4:30-5:30 Teen Jazz A


5:30-6:30 Adult Jazz 3A

5:00-6:00 Contemporary

5:30-6:30 Teen and Adult

Tap 2

5:00-6:00 Beginning Hip Hop

6:30-7:30 Adult Tap 3A

7:30-8:30 Adult Tap 4

7:30-8:30 Adult Tap 3B

8:30-9:30 Adult Jazz 4

6:00-7:00 Teen & Adult

Ballet


WEDNESDAY

1:30-2:30 Ages 9 & Up Jazz/Tap 3&4

12:30-1:30 Ages 9 & Up

Ballet

We also sell Dancewear/shoes and excercise wear

We accept VISA and MasterCard

For information/ registration, call or pick

up form at studio

JAZZ • TAP BALLET

PRESCHOOL HIP HOP

914 College Rd 452-5678

www.mohollanddance.com

6:00-7:00 Advanced Hip Hop

6:30-7:30 Adult Jazz 3B

7:00-8:00 Adult

Ballet 3&4

11507905 8-2-14BTS

Haircuts • Perms • Highlights • Colors • Relaxers • Braids Extensions • Facial Wax • Updos • Special Occasions

WALK IN ’ S WELCOME! WALK IN ’ S WELCOME!

3590 Airport Way • Fairbanks, Alaska 99709

474-8054

New Student Registration: Friday, August 8 and Monday, August 11 9:00 a.m.–Noon and 1:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

Bring birth certificate & current shot record

Popsicles with Parents: Monday, August 15 • 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

Open House: Thursday, September 4 • 5:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

452-4751 • 951 Airport Way 452-4751 • 951 Airport Way 452-4751 • 951 Airport Way

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It’s a It’s a It’s a

BRILLIANT YEAR BRILLIANT YEAR BRILLIANT YEAR at Ryan Middle School! at Ryan Middle School! at Ryan Middle School!

though, when his grand-father died during his months away. He took part in the funeral via Skype and emailed a eulogy

home, which was read out loud by his brother.

“I probably would have had a different, and pos-sibly better, experience if I’d completely discon-nected for the whole time,” he said, but his family’s mourning “was not an

event that I would have been comfortable missing out on.”

Annmarie Whelan, a spokeswoman for Forum Education Abroad, which develops standards for education abroad pro-grams, doesn’t advise

parents on how often to communicate with kids overseas.

Some kids are more independent than others, she said. But she acknowl-edges that students miss out if they spend too much time online with folks back

home.On the positive side, she

added, some students gain confidence dealing with unfamiliar situations if they can process the expe-rience with someone they know.

Another plus: It’s now

easier to maintain rela-tionships with host-coun-try families, friends and professors when semester abroad is over. The tech-nology, Whelan said, “has dissolved the distinctions between before, during and after studying abroad.”




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WELCOME BACK, STUDENTS North Pole Middle School

17506525-8-2-14BTS

The staff of NPMS welcomes new and returning students to a new school year. Please keep in mind these important dates:

306 E. 8th Avenue • North Pole • 488-2271 An equal employment & educational opportunity institution.

Check our Web site: http://npm.k12northstar.org/ To receive our daily bulletin, please send your e-mail address to:

[email protected]

• Open Registration for New Students to the School Distric t August 11–15 • 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

• Schedule and locker pick up for students 6th Grade: Monday, August 18 • 11:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 7th & 8th Grade: Tuesday, August 19 • 11:0 0 a.m. –3:00 p.m.

• Students First Day of School Wednesday, August 20 See you bright & early; classes begin at 8:00 a.m.

• Open House Thursday, September 4 • 6:3 0 – 8:30 p.m.

Call 378-1021 or Email: [email protected]

for more information

MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS

6th-8th Grade

17507606-6-2-14BTS

HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS

ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME!

FTA thanks our sponsors:

August 4 – September 19 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

(Monday, Wednesday, Friday)

Register August 4: Ben Eielson: Eielson AFB courts

4:45–6:00 p.m. Hutchison: The Alaska Club outdoor courts

6:15–8:00 p.m. Lathrop: DRCTC*

2:30–4:15 p.m. West Valley: DRCTC*

4:30–6:15 p.m. North Pole: NPHS courts

3:30–5:30 p.m. Monroe: The Alaska Club outdoor courts

4:30–6:15 p.m.

REGISTRATION: Monday, August 4 • 6:00 p.m. at the DRCTC

FEE: $100 (Scholarships Available)

Dan Ramras Community Tennis Courts

Varsity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aug. 4 – Oct. 11

Junior Varsity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aug. 4 – Sept. 20

Fee: $200 and $20 FTA membership fee for 2014 (Scholarships Available)

*Dan Ramras Community Tennis Courts (by Lathrop High School)

First Day of School for Freshman and new students: Wednesday, August 20 • 7:45 a.m.–2:15 p.m.

First Day of School for Returning Students: Thursday, August 21 • 7:45 a.m.–2:15 p.m.

Open House and Family Picnic: Thursday, August 28 • 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 7; Friday, August 8;

Monday, August 11 8:00–11:00 a.m. and

1:00–3:00 p.m.

NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION:

Announces North Pole High School

For additional information, call NPHS 488-3761, ext. 19307

TRYOUTS/PRACTICE TIMES FOR FALL ACTIVITIES:

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Before a student can participate, the STUDENT MUST HAVE : • Current physical on

record with the school • Activity Consent/Release

Form with parent/ guardian signature

• 2.00 GPA & passed five classes from previous semester

ACTIVITY DATE/TIME COACH LOCATION Football Friday, July 25 Equipment NPHS

6–8 p.m. Check-out Monday, Aug. 4 Rich Henert NPHS 6 p.m. 488-0636

Football Monday, Aug. 4 Leilani Frazier NPHS Cheerleading 5:30–7:30 p.m. 347-5750

Tennis Monday, Aug. 4 Carol Smith NPHS Tennis Ct. 3:30 p.m.–5:15 p.m. 378-0930

X-Country Monday, Aug. 4 Charles Patten NPHS 3:00–4:30 p.m. 799-9645

Volleyball Monday, Aug. 11 Tina Ferringer NPHS Gym 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. 388-9169

Flag Football (girls) Monday, Aug. 11 Nick Rogers NPHS TBA 388-6098

Swimming/Diving Monday, Aug. 11 Meghan O’Leary NPHS 4:30 p.m. (907) 362-1520

Bedroom desk? It’s somewhere under all that junk By Diana MarszalekASSOCIATED PRESS

Alyssa Kimble, a soon-to-be fourth-grader in White Plains,

New York, says she uses the desk in her bedroom for “everything” — creating lesson plans for her make-believe school, writing sto-ries and storing stuff.

Everything, that is, except home-work.

“Usually, my desk is covered with things, a computer isn’t nearby and my mom isn’t there to help me,”

Alyssa says.So she prefers doing homework

at the kitchen table.Although bedroom desks remain

common, many kids don’t use

them for their intended purpose. Thanks to laptop computers and more casual living spaces, they

DESK » 25


BACK TO SCHOOL

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Girl Scouts Invites YOU to our booth Girl Scouts Invites YOU to our booth at the Back-to-School Socials at the Back-to-School Socials

Member Agency

*After volunteer screening process is complete **Dependent upon troop placement

Visit www.fairbanksgirlscouts.org or call 456-4782

Sign up to become a Girl Scout Leader and receive FREE MEMBERSHIP !* ($15.00 value) You can make a difference in a girl's life! Troop Leadership is designed for people

with jobs, families, school commitments ... PEOPLE LIKE YOU! Plus, the FIRST 10 girls new to Girl Scouting will receive FREE MEMBERSHIP !**

($20.00 value)

COME JOIN THE FUN... JOIN GIRL SCOUTS!

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School supply lists are available ahead of time at our school web site http://plc.k12northstar.org

We look forward to seeing everyone on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 20. Students in 1 st through 6 th grade attend school from 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Please check the schedule for your Kindergarten or Pre-K students.

700 Auburn Drive • 479-4234 • Office Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Pearl Creek Elementary Welcomes all new and returning students to the

PTA Back-to-School Ice Cream Social Monday, Aug. 18, 5–7 p.m.

New student enrollment accepted during office hours M–F.

Compassionate • Inspired • Involved

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The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 in the educational programs or activities which it operates. The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District does not discriminate on the basis of disability in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This includes admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs, services, and activities. Individuals requiring further information should contact the designated compliance director:

Ms. Elizabeth (Bett) Schaffhauser • Employment and Educational Opportunity Director 520 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor, Suite A, Room 410, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701

(907) 452-2000 ext. 11466 • Fax (907) 452-3172 • [email protected]

� PUBLIC NOTICE

often opt to do homework in kitchens and family rooms, on couches or on beds, turning their desks into depositories for books, toys and crafts.

What that means for study habits depends on who’s doing the work, educators and parents say.

“I could always get my homework done wherever I was. But some kids, espe-cially if they have ADHD or another disability, can benefit from doing home-work at a specified location like a desk because it tells them, ‘This is the spot where I focus,’” says Ellen Pape, a La Grange, Illinois, school reading specialist.

“Separating it from other

locations gives kids more of a straightforward definition of expectations,” she says.

Melissa Kaufman of San-ta Clara, California, says that where her daughters — Rebekah, 14, and Sarah, 11 — do their homework reflects their different needs and study habits.

Kaufman bought Rebekah a desk several years ago because letting her work at the kitchen table in their small house became too hard on the rest of the fam-ily. “It meant nobody could do anything in the kitchen or living room until home-work was done because it would be distracting,” she says.

But having “a nice big desk surface” did little to change that. “I don’t think she did her homework at her desk more than once,”

Kaufman says. Initially, Rebekah resisted being isolated from the rest of the

family. And although today Rebekah does do homework in her room, it is usually on

her bed. The desk is where she puts “the four outfits she tried on earlier that day and rejected.”

But Kaufman says she doesn’t fight it. “She has still managed to get excellent grades, despite what I would consider less than stellar study habits and environ-ment, so we have to let her go with what she is comfort-able with,” she says.

Sarah, on the other hand, “needs much more help and encouragement to get her homework done, so doing it in isolation in her room is not really an option” — meaning she’s back at the kitchen table, Kaufman said. Sarah’s desk has suffered a fate similar to her sister’s; it’s covered with piles of books, art supplies and knick-knacks.

Tami Mount, a New

York-area educational con-sultant, says it’s important for children to have a quiet, dedicated workspace, but it doesn’t matter where that is.

“All the tools they need to do their homework, like scissors, rulers, erasers and pencils, should be organized in a place they can be easily retrieved. You don’t want to spend 15 minutes looking for tape,” she says.

But some kids work better in an environment where there is, say, music playing or a parent nearby, than iso-lated at a desk, Mount says.

“A quiet desk, a busy kitchen, Starbucks or the living room floor. Like adults, kids find a place that is comfortable and productive,” she says. “And if the living room floor is not proving productive, try something else.”

DESKContinued from 24

This June 2014 photo courtesy of Michael and Melissa Kaufman shows the cluttered desk belonging to their ninth-grade daughter, Rebekah. Although the Kaufmans bought Rebekah the desk so she would have a place to study, she instead uses it as “a repository for the four outfits she tried on earlier that day and rejected,” Melissa said. ASSOCIATED PRESS


BACK TO SCHOOL

Moving? How to choose the right school from afar By Melissa RayworthASSOCIATED PRESS

Janine Boldrin Gwinn has become an experienced house-hunter and an expert packer of boxes. Seven times, this Army wife has managed to move her fami-ly from one place in the U.S. to another, improving the process a little more each time. But the search for schools for her children is never easy.

How can a parent choose the right school when it’s not possi-ble to visit the potential choices?

As we’ve become a more mobile and global society, many fam-ilies now face this challenge as they move cross-country or even internationally.

The decision is ultimately a personal one, but several strat-egies can make the process go more smoothly:

Online detective work

Boldrin Gwinn’s search usually starts online at GreatSchools.com, where she compares rankings for schools in her destination city. She has noticed that the rankings can fluctuate frequently, however, so she doesn’t eliminate schools sole-ly on the basis of that assessment.

Her next step is to explore the schools’ websites. A school with a well-organized, informative website will likely be a place that communicates effectively with parents. Is the site kept up-to-date? Do teachers have pages or sections that might give you a sense of their methodology or approach to students?

Just keep in mind that a school’s website may have been designed with marketing in mind. Some of the positive buzz-words you see may be the work of a good publicist more than an accurate reflection of the school’s approach to teaching.

Word of mouthBabette Maxwell, who has

moved her family frequently during her husband’s Navy career, also does extensive online research about new schools. And she asks people living in the community where she’s heading.

If you are moving for a job, ask your employer to connect you with families who have children in the same age group as yours. Use Facebook to explore commu-nity groups or other family orga-nizations in your new area; you can post a query on that page about schools.

The Facebook pages of schools can also be a great resource for learning about the community of parents there, the issues par-ents are discussing and how the school’s administration interacts with them.

School before homeMaxwell finds it practical to

choose schools for her sons before selecting the location of her new home. Finding the right school, she says, can much be tougher than finding a suitable home.

Terri Bridgwater agrees: When she moved cross-country with her children, she selected a school that was a fairly long commute from her new home. The school turned out to be a great choice, but the commute was difficult.

If you don’t find a good school in your initial search, Bridgwater suggests widening the search area. You may find something perfect just a bit further away.

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Take your game to the next level!

For the Eclipse Soccer Club 2015 Competitive Season Tuesday, August 26 & Wednesday, August 27

at the FYSA SOCCER COMPLEX on Wilbur Street

Announcing Announcing Competitive SOCCER

All Players must bring shin guards, water bottle, and if possible, a ball. Check-in starts 30 minute s prior to Tryout time. Players are expected to attend both days, or if unable to attend both, speak with the coaches in advance. Th ere is a $10 tryout fee.

5:30 pm 2005 Boys – Coach Kenny Hoop 2005 Girls – Coach Logan Lyle 5:30 pm 2004 Boys – Coach Robert Martinez 2004 Girls – Coach John Mayer 5:30 pm 2003 Boys – Coach Fabio Mariutto 2003 Girls – Coach Dimi Chagnon

7:30 pm 2002 Boys – Coach Damon Crutcher 2002 Girls – Coach Charlie Parr 7:30 pm 2001 Boys – Coach Fabio Mariutto 2001 Girls – Coach Greg Gibson 7:30 pm 2000 Boys – Coach Tyler Olsen 2000 Girls – Coach Howard Maxwell 7:30 pm 1998-99 Boys – Coach John Cadigan 1998-99 Girls – Coach Howard Maxwell

Director of Coaching: Howard Maxwell • Technical Director: Charlie Parr Senior Technical Advisor: Pablo Webster

Contact Deb Triplehorn, 907-460-4498 or Howard Maxwell, 907-388-4073 with questions you may have.

Pre-register online beginning NOW www.eclipsesoccer.net

The Eclipse Soccer Club was founded in 1995 and prides itself in developing excellent soccer players ! The Club emphasizes fair and competitive play for all youth who make our teams.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To ensure that teams are staffed appropriately, Eclipse Soccer Club may modify the a bove Coach and Team assignments based on gender and age demographics at tryouts. Questions regarding coaching assignments should be directed to the Director of Coaching, Howard Maxwell.

The largest, best organized, & most competitive soccer club in the Interior.

Top Row: Robert Martinez, Howard Maxwell, Damon Crutcher, John Mayer, Greg Gibson, Charlie Parr, Bru ce Gard, John Cadigan, Dimi Chagnon, Kenny Hoop, Fabio Mariutto, Brian Luoma. Second Row: Cate Gruenburg, Patrick Lassel, Tyler Olson, Shannon Staiger, Heidi Bryan, Peter Shurr, Cory Nydam, James Moore, Brian McKenna, Jon Bray.


BACK TO SCHOOL

This 2013 photo provided by Janine Gwinn shows her three children, from left, Ike, Sam, and Jane Gwinn, on field day for their school in Clarksville, Tennessee. Gwinn has become an experienced house-hunter and an expert packer of boxes. Seven times, this Army wife has managed to move her family from one place in the U.S. to another, improving the process a little more each time. But the search for schools for her children is never easy. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pick up the phone“There is so much you can tell about a

school by talking to the front desk,” Bol-drin Gwinn says. She calls with a list of questions, noting not only how they are answered but how the school staff inter-acts with her.

The most academically impressive school may not be the best school for your child.

“You’re seeking a school where your kids will be accepted and embraced,” Boldrin Gwinn says, so consider your chil-dren’s personalities and interests as you research schools. If music is important, for example, you may want to reach out to the music teacher or band director to ask about the program. If it’s athletics or art class, pay extra attention to that.

How long will you be at your new loca-tion? If it’s just a year or two and your chil-dren are young, then the school district’s SAT scores may matter less than the per-sonal impression you get of the teachers.

Go, if you canIf it’s hard to get a clear picture of

a school from phone calls and online research, consider visiting in person, even if it involves an expensive trip or inconve-nient scheduling.

Bridgwater did that when she moved cross-country with her family, and was glad she did. It can be difficult to get a feel about some schools, she says, until you walk around in the building and meet the teachers.

Changes can be madeYou may find the perfect school but

discover that enrollment is full. If so, no need to settle permanently for second best. Consider picking a temporary option and then moving the kids to your desired school the next year. It does involve a sec-ond adjustment, but if you’ll be in the area for several years or indefinitely, Maxwell says, “it’s worth the effort.”

And if your chosen school disappoints you, she says, “keep hunting once you’re there.”

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back to school - 2014-15

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