Spring Newsletter - Chatham School District

Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members,
Important
Dates:
April 24th
In-Service No
School
April 29th SAT
Make-up Day
May 15th
Klukwan
Graduation
May 16th Angoon
& Tenakee
Graduation
May 17th
Gustavus
Graduation
May 22nd Last
Day of School!
Our thoughts are turning to spring inside the Chatham School
District! State testing has started, which is one sure sign that spring is
rapidly approaching. Temperatures are warming up, and sites will
start graduation preparations. Since arriving in Chatham to serve as
your School Superintendent, one of my goals was to increase and
improve communication between the School District and the Chatham
Communities as well as staff. I believe that there has been increased
communication through my site visits, but there is still more that needs
to be done in this area so that we are all communicating our thoughts
and concerns.
During that time, a number of steps have been taken to work toward
this goal: District newsletters, Communication through the District
website, establishment of an “open door” policy, and attendance at
community events. I hope you have noted these attempts to keep the
Chatham community better informed of all that is happening in our
schools.
My plan for next year is to continue my quarterly site visits as I have
done this year. Please stop by the District Office when you have a
moment so that we can chat, no matter what the issue or concern may
be. I welcome and encourage other ideas, which you might have, to
keep you well informed of all that is happening in your public
schools.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me at: [email protected], with
additional communication methods you would like me to consider.
~ Bernie Grieve, Superintendent
1
A recent study by the National Education
Association, as reported by the Juneau
Empire, confirmed that the level parent
involvement in the child’s education has a
direct effect on academic success. The
Chatham School District and 2/3 grade
teacher, Mel Koontz, will be conducting a
community wide survey in Angoon the
end of March. The purpose of this survey
is to determine parent awareness and
interest in becoming more involved in
their child’s education.
This survey will inquire into parent and community opinions regarding their
role within the school environment. The survey will also gather information
regarding skills and talents that
community members believe would
benefit the school, ways in which
members would be most comfortable
supporting the school environment and
suggestions for changes in parentschool communications. Hopefully, the
results will begin community wide
conversations on involvement and
volunteering in the schools.
2
Recent Events
Last Snow Days!
We Hope!
3
Regional School Board member
Elizabeth Hooge and Park Ranger
Emma Johnson help the
Gustavus 4/5 class dissect
salmon with the National Park
Service. The younger grades were
invited to be spectators.
4
Coast Guard Cutter
Liberty visited Tenakee
Springs. Tours were
given and the crew
played the Tenakee
Dodgeball team, the
Tenakee Ninja’s at the
school gym.
5
The K/1 Class in Gustavus and Angoon celebrate the 100th day of school!
6
Learning in Klukwan!
Learning in Klukwan!
7
Learning in Angoon!
8
Gustavus 4/5 Grade Presents James and the Giant Peach!
9
Angoon hosts a Science
Fair! Students and
teachers from Tenakee
Springs travel to Angoon
to compete.
Jaxon Chase-Collins presents
his exhibit to judges Bernie
Grieve and Amanda Williams.
Cameron, Chyanne, and Matthew
Turner qualify to compete at the
regional level in Juneau. The event
was hosted at UAS. Great Job!
10
Celebrating Dr. Seuss’s
Birthday!
A person’s a person no matter how
small!
11
Principal Jim Parkin meets
the infamous Brown family
from the show “Alaska Bush
People”.
Auto shop students Duncan O’Brien, Clinton Howard, and Jerry Sibley
check out the new tire machine in Angoon.
Principal Nancy Moon with Geography
Bee third runner up Daniel Bohlke,
winner Torin Hooge, and second
runner up Dominick Johnson. Torin
went on to compete in Anchorage and
had a great experience. Great job
everyone!
12
The K/1 class in
Gustavus refinished
a wooden boat for a
reading nook in the
classroom. It turned
out wonderful!
Gustavus middle school students
celebrate India Fest in with yummy
food and fun costumes.
Gustavus Spelling Bee runner up
Serena Hotch-Mattson and winner
Penelope Jarvis. Penelope
qualified to compete in Anchorage
and had a great experience. Great
job!
13
Tenakee Springs
students visit
local gardens for
science class.
Let it grow!
14
Lego Day in Angoon!
Gustavus also hosted a
Lego Day/St. Patrick’s
Day during Spring
Break. Thank you
Miss Annie for sharing
your Lego collection!
15
Basketball!
Angoon Girls back row left to
right: Talan Jack, Patricia O’Brien,
Elizabeth O’Brien, Tiadola Silva,
Natasha Kookesh, and Dixie
George.
Front row: Desiree Jamestown,
Kylie Kookesh, Cora Sibley, and
Kendra Starr-George. A very
special thanks to Whaler’s Cove
Lodge and the Angoon Booster
Club for new uniforms!
Angoon Boys back row
left to right: Jaxon
Chase-Collins, Isaac
Bobby Paul, Forrest
Braley, Duncan
O’Brien, Nathaniel
Hunter-Skeek, and
Coach James Wilson. Front row: Jacob Pohawpatchoko, Jacob
McCluskey, Jerry Sibley, and Clinton Howard.
16
Gustavus
Boys host a
fine dining
night as a
fundraiser.
Left to right:
Coach Ben
Stroecker,
Noah Ewing,
Jordan
Wagner,
Clayton
Hammonds,
Jonah
Patrick,
Matthew
Tuaau, Nick
Kunat, and
Cody
Christoffersen.
17
Angoon had a very
successful season! They
hosted a large tournament
(and won!) and the boys
placed second in the
Regional tournament
which allowed them to
compete at the State level
in Anchorage. It was a
fantastic experience! Great
job everyone!
18
STATE!
A very special Thank You to Ms. Laura
Parkin for taking the time to do
countless loads of team laundry!
19