Kids These Days • Spring 2009 • Page 1

School Climate by Gary Baldwin, Supt. LKSD

Page 2

Vol. 2 No. 2June 2007

Masks mirror ‘Faces of our Future’by Katie Emerick, for the Homer Tribune (originally published April 8, 2009)

Summer ReadingPage 4

AASB supports Spirit of Youth Page 5

AASB Scholarship Winners Page 3

ATMI wins Press Club AwardsPage 7

On display throughout the month of April at Homer Council on the Arts was a unique exhibit that brings together masks made by student artists from around the Kenai Peninsula. Brought from Ninilchik, Port Graham, Tyonek and Nanwalek schools, the show entitled, “Faces of the Future,” is a project initiated by the Kenai chapter of Project GRAD. The project is a nationwide, nonprofit program with a mission to ensure quality public education for all at-risk children in economically d i s a d v a n t a g e d communities.

Funded through a Native education grant and the Association of Alaska School Boards, Project GRAD’s initiative called Campus Family Support worked with students to help strengthen the bridge between family, community and school in an effort to support academic success for all students. After seeing the success of Project GRAD in the Lower 48, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District invited the organization to work with seven area schools. In addition to the mask project, student art from Nikolaevesk and Voznesenka that represent Alaska cultures through such pieces as Tlingit war rattles and an Aleut visor are also on exhibit.

The purpose of the exhibition is more than simply making masks. By giving students an opportunity to participate in the process of an art show from

start to finish, participating youth not only learned about the medium of mask making, they are also asked to critically think about their own life goals and apply them to the project. The masks were all molded to the individual artist’s faces, and each student completed a bio, connecting their piece to future career choices. Once the molds of the masks were completed, they were painted and

decorated in a variety of ways. Each uniquely represents the histories, passions and pursuits of the individual creators.

Kobe Norman, a fourth-grader at Port Graham, said he wants be a basketball player. That doesn’t mean, however, that he doesn’t hold close

cultural traditions common to Alaska. His mask, which includes an arm mold as well, is titled “The

Hunter.”

“It’s the guy who always goes hunting for food,” he explained. “He made his own spear. It makes me feel really happy about my mask, so it could have fur and feathers.”

Casey Buckwalter, a seventh-grader, described

her piece, “The Dreamer.”

“The stars in the eyes mean the stars I see,” she said. “The black is because I wish to be an astronaut. Gold because it’s my favorite color. Red for the flag. When I look at it, I see all my dreams.” Continued on Page 6

Linking Academics with the Whole Child

Page 6

photos by Katie Emerick

Inside

Kids These Days • Spring 2009 • Page 2

Improving School Climate and Connectednessby Gary Baldwin, Superintendent, Lower Kuskokwim School District

What do you think most LKSD students would say if you asked them if there was at least one caring adult in their life, who they feel comfortable talking with about anything?

Would most LKSD students say there is a teacher or other adult at school who will miss them when they are absent?

These questions along with many others are part of a survey that was conducted in our schools on School Climate and Connected-ness, by the Association of Alaska School Boards. We are conducting this survey be-cause what students feel about their school makes a big difference.

We know from experience that if students feel good about their school, they will be more successful. If they feel like they are valued members of the school, they will do better. If parents and community mem-bers feel positive about the school, they will help support the education of our students. There is a lot of research to show that posi-tive school climate and strong connections between the school, students and commu-nity helps make schools successful. By conducting a survey that measures school climate and connectedness, we can take a close look and make improvements.

The survey is designed to measure the things that contribute to school climate and connectedness like caring adults, parent and community involvement, high expectations, school safety, respectful climate and peer climate. There are eleven of these broad categories, each measured by responses to several questions related to the category. The results of the survey are totaled for the district and for each school. We can also compare our results with those from schools across the state. Although LKSD rates very highly in most categories, there is always room for improvement._______________________________

“Because students learn best when they are physically and emotionally safe, school climate is an essential compo-nent of school success. When it comes to data, educators need to think about a broader spectrum of evidence than test scores. They also need data that enable them to see deep in to the heart and soul of their schools and the lives of their stu-dents.”

- Preble and Taylor, 2008_______________________________

During February, meetings were held with school staff, Advisory School Boards and

community members to review survey re-sults. Action plans will then be developed to strengthen areas of weakness, and improve the overall climate and connectedness of the school. We will survey the staff and stu-dents each year so we can monitor progress and see if the action plans are working.

Improving school climate and connected-ness in LKSD is one more way that we are fulfilling our commitment to provide excel-lent schools for our students.

How School Climate Can Influence School, Family, and Community Partnerships

Produced by:The Association of Alaska School Boards’Alaska Initiative for Community Engagement1111 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99801(907) 586-1083 Fax: (907) 586-2995E-mail: aasb@aasb.orgWeb: www.kidsthesedays.org

Editors: Ryan Aguilar, John Greely© 2009 - All rights reserved. e-Kids These Days is produced by the Association of Alaska School Boards. Funding for this publication was provided in whole or in part through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Evidence shows a strong connection between parent and family involvement in schools and children’s academic achievement, attendance, attitude, and continued education (Henderson & Berla, 1994). When schools create a positive school climate by reaching out to families and providing structures for them to become involved, the result is effec-tive school-family partnerships. Such partnerships connect families and schools to help children succeed in school and in their future.

-- from NCREL’s Pathways to School Improvement

Kids These Days • Spring 2009 • Page 3

AASB awards 10 scholarships to graduating seniors by AASB Staff

From a field of over 100 applicants, 10 students were chosen to receive the Association of Alaska School Boards 18th Annual June Nelson Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 each to apply toward tuition at a university or training institution of their choice. The official announcement was made on March 31, 2009.

A committee of four AASB Board of Directors, two board members, and an AASB Community Engagement Educator reviewed all applications, carefully evaluating several criteria including student leadership, cultural activities, community involvement, and essay response. The topic of this year’s essay question: “What can communities, parents, and students do to decrease Alaska’s dropout rate?” produced a host of thoughtful and persuasive entries.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2009 June Nelson Memorial Scholarship and thank you to all of the high school seniors who applied.

And the winners of AASB’s 18th Annual June Nelson Memorial Scholarship are...

Student High School District

Dana Betts Kenny Lake HS Copper River

Jeff Bue IDEA Galena

Marissa Chingliak Akiachak School Yupiit

Kelsey Clark Unalaska City School Unalaska

David Herbert* Seward HS Kenai

Christina Knapp* East ANC HS Anchorage

Elizabeth Phillips West ANC HS Anchorage

Theresa Ramponi Soldotna HS Kenai

Audrey West Su Valley HS Mat Su Mingiun Zhu West Valley HS Fairbanks

The June Nelson Memorial Scholarship is funded by individual contributions of school board members and administrators from across the state.

“Thank you for your schol-arship. I appreciate the help you are giving my family and me in these times of economic uncertainty. In the upcoming college year I will work hard to fulfill your expectations in addition to those of my family, teachers and friends.”

* - David Herbert

… Your scholarship brings me closer to my perfect college, thank you. I would also like to thank you for the outstanding work you do on behalf of Alaskan students. * - Christina Knapp

Kids These Days • Spring 2009 • Page 4

Summer Reading for Young Kids and TeensAs recommended by The American Library Association

Picture Books for Young Kids

1) The Eye of the Needle - In this Yup’ik tale, little Amik is sent by his grandmother to hunt for food. He is so hungry that he swallows everything he finds, from tiny fish to a huge whale. An Alaskan picturebook that highlights the importance of sharing.

2) The Girl Who Swam With the Fish: An Athabascan Legend - In this retelling of an Athabascan legend, a young girl embarks on a startling odyssey. She wonders “What it would be like to be a fish, to glide through cool waves hearing only the silence of the water?”

3) My Friend Rabbit - A simple story about Rabbit and Mouse, who, despite Rabbit’s penchant for trouble, are friends.

4) The Snowy Day - a 1963 Caldecott Medal winner, is the simple tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. The story pays homage to the wonder and pure pleasure a child experiences when the world is blanketed in snow.

Books for Teens and Pre-teens

1) Blonde Indian: An Alaska Native Memoir - The author’s personal journey, the symbolic stories of contemporary Natives, and the tales and legends that have circulated among the Tlingit people for centuries are all woven together, making Blonde Indian much more than the story of one woman’s life. A document of cultural heritage and a tribute to the Alaskan landscape. (for older teens, Grades 11-12)

2) Strong Man - Strong Man promotes traditional cultural values as a foundation for youth achievement and resiliency. A contemporary plotline is interwoven with the ancient narrative, chronicling a young man’s high school struggles and triumphs in comic book form.

3) Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People - Hensley brings to life this little-known part of America through myriad tales of toil, triumph and the Inupiat Ilitqusiat—the Inupiat spirit. There are rich details of hunting adventures and typical childhood struggles, but the deep-rooted values and strength of the Inupiat people are what make this work truly sing. (for older teens, Grades 11-12)

4) Alaska Native Ways: What the Elders Have Taught Us - As Alaska’s Native peoples confront contemporary challenges, they increasingly find purpose in traditional values and practices that have sustained their cultures for millennia. In stirring words and spectacular photos, Alaska Native Ways pays tribute to the first Alaskans and the ancient values they consider paramount to their survival.

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Kids These Days • Spring 2009 • Page 5

AASB, Alaska ICE support 2009 Spirit of Youth Award Winners

New Adolescent Health and Youth Development List-Serve from Alaska DHSS

AASB/Alaska ICE was one of the many sponsors of the 11th annual Spirit of Youth Awards Banquet held in Anchorage on March 21, 2009. Teens from 15 Alaska communities were recognized and celebrated for their contributions to their communities. While their projects ranged in scale from large to small, the impacts of their service and leadership efforts on classmates, faith groups, and in some cases the entire community, are profound and lasting.

A brief summary of winners from five of the 11 SOY Award categories is below. For a complete listing of all winners, visit the Alaska ICE website Partners section to view SOY’s page.

Service to Peers

The Youth Action Committee in Juneau is a youth-run organization that obtains local grants and distributes the funds to non-profits or individuals that help solve problems Juneau youth are facing.

Daniel Fink is an active member of The

Partner’s Club at East High School in Anchorage, a group of students that help disabled students get more involved with student life.

Faith-based Service

Victoria Bledsoe of Eagle River organized a city-wide benefit through her church to raise money for the city library. In all, she collected over $4,800 for the library through her leadership and initiative.

Julie Beehler of Kodiak addresses a need for more youth-oriented worship opportunities in her community by participating in Oasis, a youth worship service at her church, and also runs a girls’ Bible study group every Thursday

night at her home.

Cultural Pursuits

To honor his community of Kasaan, Eric Hamaar helped carve a large portion of the new Unity Totem Pole, made in the traditional Haida style, which was erected in front of Barry Craig Stewart Kasaan School.

Bruce J. Gore created a monumental moment in history and in the community ofCantwell when he resurrected an art form of his Native people that had not been seen for sixty years. He and two Native elders created a moose skin boat.

Nikolai elders Verdrisia and Nick Dennis helped Cantwell student BJ Gore build the traditional moosehide skin boat.

Service to Community

Palmer’s Cody Vetter gathered 500 signatures, met with the mayor, spoke to local businesses, foundations and labor unions which agreed to donate $400,000 in labor and funding, and created the Palmer Skateboard Association.

Alexis Cobb has spent more than 661.5 hours volunteering at her church’s nursery and in the neo-natal intensive care unit in Anchorage.

Fine Arts

Stephanie Alley of Ketchikan shares her brilliant creativity in visual arts, dance and music. She founded the Visual Performing Arts Club—an after-school youth group that gets together and creates visual art and music.

Eleven youth took the initiative to restart The Band Program at Thorne Bay School. They tracked down lost instruments belonging to the school, recruited an advisor for a new music class, and raised money to buy new instruments and support the band program.

A new list-serv on Adolescent Health and Youth Development was launched by the State of Alaska Divisions of Public Health and Behavioral Health. It will serve as a way to share ideas, resources, best practices, information, funding and educational opportunities regarding AH/YD in Alaska.

Who is it for?

Anyone working with adolescents in the private or public sectors. This includes: schools, non-profits, youth groups, native organizations, faith-based groups, state agencies (Dept. of Public Health, Dept. of Behavioral Health, Division of Juvenile Justice, and the Dept. of Education and Early Development) etc.

It will be a way for people working with and for youth throughout the state of Alaska to stay connected on issues regarding adolescent health and youth development. We are excited

by AASB Staff

about the chance to learn more from each other and share ideas regarding youth in Alaska.

To subscribe to the list-serv, please visit:

http://jnumail17.state.ak.us/guest/RemoteListSummary/HSS_DPH_

AKAdolescentHealth

If you have any questions, please contact Sophie Wenzel at the Section of Women’s, Children and Family Health at sophie.wenzel@alaska.gov.

2009 SOY Award Winners

Photo: Kris C

apps, New

s-Miner

Kids These Days • Spring 2009 • Page 6

Linking Academics with the Whole Child: National Website Rich with Information and Resources

The Whole Childhttp://www.wholechildeducation.org

The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) proposes a broad definition of achievement and accountability that promotes the development of children who are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

The ASCD believes that parents, educators, policy makers, and communities should join forces to ensure that children become productive, engaged citizens.

It is more than just a sports competition. The Native Alaska Youth Organization Games teach Alaskans about native traditions from long ago.

Take the seal hop. Before there were guns, natives would mimic a seal going across the ice in order to get closer to them. After they caught the seal they would have to pull the seal from the water onto the ice. Hence the sport of Eskimo stick pull.

In addition to hunting skills the NYO also emphasizes the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and attaining leadership skills.

Out of the 500 athletes, 57 Tribes attended. However, not all the athletes are native as the competition allows everyone to learn about the ancient native-ways. Brian Walker, Event Coordinator says, “it’s keeping our traditions alive. It’s not only keeping them alive but also teaching them to non-natives. This is a cross cultural event so you don’t have to be native to compete.”

Sharlene King, who took first place in the kneel jump event, says, “learning about the Alaskan native games gave me more knowledge and made me want to learn more about my own ancestry.” Andrew White, after taking first place in Alaskan high kick says the secret is, “having patience and strength and a lot of focus.”

to symbolize a collective community effort to ensure the best possible opportunity for future generations.

“No one wants a handout, but rather a hand of support to help each individual reach their goals,” Pierce said. “All youth are capable of wearing a mortarboard. With community support, tolerance and appreciation, they will. These are the Faces of our Future.”

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Other students expressed desire to become anything ranging from fishermen, lawyers and fashion designers, to welders and dentists, demonstrating the purpose of Project GRAD’s mission for their youth – the sky’s the limit.

The project follows the Council’s continued outreach efforts to students who may not regularly have the opportunity to be involved in larger community events, as many villages are only accessible by air. The event also gives assurance to Native Alaska family members unable to leave their villages that their students are gaining a stronger understanding of careers and educational opportunities not limited to the village alone.

According to Project GRAD representative and exhibit curator Bonnie Pierce, “Each plaster mold created from the artist’s own face and hand exhibited is a ‘one-of-a-kind’ piece of art,” she said. “They share in common a black mat of a GRAD mortarboard, signifying each youth’s potential. At graduation ceremonies this spring, you will see mortarboard in all sizes and colors, reminding us that knowledge, education and leadership are as diverse as the graduates wearing them.”

The exhibition will run through April 24 and features the work of more than 100 students ranging from preschool through 12th grade. They represent visions of today’s youth from around the Kenai Peninsula, but stand further

... “Faces of our Future” continued from Page 1

ASCD Overview on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTRKHR-6i3k

Native Youth Olympics from ABC Alaska Superstation, April 27, 2009

Findings and critical questions that ASCD uses and addresses to improve education for all chlidren:

• Healthy kids make better students.

• Students who are scared have trouble concentrating. What can we do to ensure students feel safe and secure, both physically and emotionally, in their schools?

• Academic engagement is critical for success. How can schools and communities engage students in ways that are relevant and tied to the broader community beyond the classroom?

•Students who are supported by caring adults are most likely to excel.

Traditional Values of AlaskaAn educational poster of Alaska Native Cultural Beliefs

The cultural belief and traditional value systems that helped educate and mold generations

of Alaska Natives years ago are just as valid and relevant today. The values listed - simple,

genuine and insightful - illustrate the core beliefs of the diverse cultural groups that make

up our great state.

Get your FREE poster at www.alaskaice.org.

Kids These Days • Spring 2009 • Page 7

ATMI wins 5 Alaska Press Club Awards by AASB Staff

The 2008 Alaska Press Club Awards were announced the last weekend of March and the Alaska Teen Media Institute (ATMI) picked up an incredible five awards includ-ing, for the first time ever, first place in the category of best ongoing public affairs pro-gram. Congratulations to the entire ATMI team! The award categories and recipients, as well as judges’ comments follow:

Best Ongoing Public Affairs ProgramFirst Place: “In Other News”

“Very clever take on underage drinking and law enforcement, with a kind of amaz-ing scene of the bust. A highly enlightening piece with some amazing documentary tape. Well done …lively profile of Magic Ed-die, with good writing, good scoring. … What is Love piece is clever, revealing, couldn’t have been produced by anyone but a tal-ented teen reporter. Overall, ATMI delivers a unique and engaging program that couldn’t come from anywhere else.”

Best Reporting on Crime and CourtsFirst Place: Noah Megan, “Teens and Alco-hol”

“This is an excellent piece. Megan wove a good story with loads of good sound. I liked the way he brought information to the report and let his actualities, for the most part, brought the emotion. Excellent piece that ought to have both adults and teens think-ing!”

Best Sports ReportingThird place: Tiana Johnson, “AFC Fighters”(mp3)

“This was a really interesting, fresh piece. From the start, I knew I was hearing some-thing different. Completely non-traditional. (We like that!!!). It engaged me as a listener. I liked the essay quality to Tiana’s script.”

Best Reporting on Health or Science Second Place: Katie Zager, “Power Teen Clinic”(mp3)

“Beautiful exposition of an original approach towards a universal problem: teens, sexual-ity, parenthood, adulthood. The reporter cre-ates a powerful presentation of the thoughts, motivations, dedication and methods of the Teen Clinic. This piece could have had more lasting impact if it included interviews with clients as well as providers. Field/Environ-mental sound would push this piece into major national programs. That said, it is an important and emotionally resonant exam-ple of excellent health reporting.”

Best Media WebsiteThird place: www.alaskateenmedia.org

“A site that chases the mythical young news consumer without any of the pandering or condescension that’s doomed so many ef-forts to failure. Bonus points for giving the kids a double-dose of context: A clear-eyed look at what it’s like not just to be a teen-ager, but to be a teenager in Alaska.”

Visit the Alaska ICE Media Vault to listen to other ATMI radio stories.

ATMI was created by Spirit of Youth (SOY) with support from AASB’s Alaska ICE.

Visit the KTD archive online at:

www.kidsthesedays.org

and

www.alaskaice.org

Did You Know... The AASB Consortium for Digital Learning was created in 2006 to help initiate a 1 to 1 laptop computer program in school districts. Today, 28 districts are taking part in CDL and 5,000 laptops are in use by students in93 schools around the state. AASB has se-cured $7.5 million from the Legislature for the program, and districts have matched that funding with about $2.5 million.