Community & Public Relations
Fairbanks 2014 Arctic Winter Games
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The school district is pleased to join the community in support of the 2014 Arctic Winter Games.
In March 2014, more than 2,000 athletes, coaches and cultural delegates will arrive in Fairbanks for eight days of athletic competition, cultural exhibition and social connection. This historic occasion will be an opportunity to bring our circumpolar communities closer together and to showcase our youth through international competition. Learn more about the Games and volunteer opportunities at www.awg2014.org. |
Subscribe to School Calendars
Stay informed and connected – subscribe to school calendars.
The district reminds the community that a variety of useful calendars are available for subscription in any preferred calendar program.
The following calendars are available in customized calendar feeds: individual schools, district-wide athletics, individual school athletics, Board of Education meetings, district events and academic year (district-wide holidays, early dismissals, Parent-Teacher Conferences and more).
To subscribe to school calendars:
• Visit the Calendar page on your school website
• Select boxes to customize calendar feed (individual school, individual school Athletics*, Board of Education, FNSBSD and/or School Year Calendar)
• Click iCal to generate customized calendar feed URL
*Visit the district calendar at http://www.k12northstar.org/calendar to subscribe to the district-wide athletics calendar.
Safety Hotline
The Fairbanks School District announces the new Safety Hotline, 457-SAFE (7233).
The community is invited to use the hotline to report any school related safety and security concerns or comments. The hotline will be managed during regular business hours and will accept messages 24 hours a day. All hotline messages will be evaluated and distributed to the appropriate party.
For emergencies, always call 911.
| Documents | Downloads |
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| Safety HOTLINE Flyer | 714 |
Late Bus Notification
The School District and First Student Bus Company have partnered in an effort to enhance the communication about delayed school buses for morning and afternoon routes (does not include SPED routes). While we are pleased to announce this new service, the district and First Student remind parents and students this process is new and may take time to perfect. When a bus driver reports to dispatch he/she is running late, dispatch then enters that information into a secure web interface at which point parents and students are notified via text message, email, and website announcement.
To sign up for late bus notifications:
- Parents: log into your PowerSchool Guardian Account
- Students: log into your PowerSchool Student Account
- Download Step-by-step PDF tutorial
Text Message
- PowerSchool account required
- Available for parents, guardians, and students
- One phone number per PowerSchool account accepted
Email Alert
- PowerSchool account required
- Available for parents, guardians, and students
- Student email must be added through parent portal
- Multiple email addresses accepted per PowerSchool account
New users may easily create a new account here, with information provided by your child's school.
Thank you for your interest and patience as the district implements and expands this innovative new mode of communication.
Late bus information also broadcast on KTVF Ch. 11, TVTV Ch. 13, KIAK 102.5, Magic 101.1, and KWLF 98.1 FM
Briana Randle Named New Principal of Joy Elementary
The district is pleased to announce that Briana Randle will be the new principal of Joy Elementary at the start of the 2013-2014 school year.
Briana has served as the assistant principal of West Valley High for the past three years. Prior to her service at West Valley High, she held the position of assistant principal at Lathrop High from 2008-2010. Briana began her career in Oregon with positions as a secondary teacher at Eagle Point Middle School and as an assistant principal and athletic director at Jefferson County Middle School. She also taught at the elementary level supporting student literacy. Briana holds a bachelor’s degree in geography and a master’s degree in teaching from Southern Oregon University, as well as an administration certificate from Portland State University.
In December, the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals selected Briana as the 2013 Alaska Assistant Principal of the Year. The award recognizes assistant principals who exhibit outstanding leadership in their school communities and who foster high-quality learning opportunities for students.
"I am thrilled and honored to have been selected as the principal of Joy Elementary,” said Briana. “I look forward to building new relationships and to guiding and supporting Joy Elementary students in their continued academic success."
School Board Retirement Recognition
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On Tuesday, May 7, the Board of Education recognized retiring staff from the 2012-2013 school year. Retirees appear in alphabetical order – Louise Anderl, Rosita Bryant-Wilburn, Leslie Campbell, Lori Chase, Margaret Donat, Kathleen Doyel, Nancy Dreydoppel, Denise Edgerton, John Fink, Kathy Helmick, Alison Heyman, Carol Hughes, Michael Jamison, Bobbi Janiro, Dixie Keil, Dorothy Laiti, Beverly Lee, Robert McIntosh, Susan McIntosh, Sue Peterson, Brenda Sadler, Joan Sargent, Katherine Shira, Sherilyn Siegmund-Roach, Patrick Turner, and David Wilcoxson. |
Spotlight: Lathrop Academy Showcase
West Valley High School Band Honored for Carnegie Hall Performance
On Tuesday, April 2, the School Board recognized the West Valley High School band for their award winning performance at the New York Wind Band Festival held February 18-20.
The performance was exceptionally thrilling for West Valley High students as it was held in New York City’s renowned Carnegie Hall. At the festival, the ensemble performed Fanfare of the Common Man by Aaron Copland, Fate of the Gods by Steven Reineke and An American Elegy by Frank Ticheli. The band performed under the direction of Music Teacher Liesl Wietgrefe and received a gold award with a score of 88 out of 100 points for their performance.
“The performance was nothing short of stunning and inspirational, as evidenced by the enthusiastic reception from the audience and the high scores from the adjudicators,” said New York Wind Band Festival Adjudicator, William V. Johnson.
District Names Two New Elementary Principals
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| Barbara Sperl | Mark Winford |
Two new principals will lead elementary schools at the start of the 2013-2014 school year. The district named Barbara Sperl principal of Crawford Elementary and Mark Winford principal of North Pole Elementary.
Barbara is a fourth grade teacher at Ticasuk Brown Elementary and brings 17 years of educational experience to her new role at Crawford Elementary.
“I am honored to have been selected to serve as the principal of Crawford Elementary and am excited to lead the Crawford community in their continuing pursuit of academic excellence,” said Barbara.
Mark began his teaching career in 1998 in Oak Harbor, Washington and serves today as the assistant principal of West Valley High School. He has been with the district since 2008.
“I am excited to join North Pole Elementary and am honored to serve as principal of a school with such a dedicated educational community,” said Mark.
While their positions do not officially begin until August, both Barbara and Mark will work behind the scenes throughout the summer to prepare for the new school year.
The selections were the result of a process that spanned several months and included input from a screening committee, district staff and the communities of Crawford Elementary and North Pole Elementary.
Congratulations to both Barbara and Mark – and welcome to your new schools!
West Valley Students Launch Safe Driving Campaign
As part of a class project, Mrs. Wendi Graham, West Valley High technical writing teacher, partnered with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to research distracted driving among high school students in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Mrs. Graham’s class launched a distracted driving prevention campaign targeting local students who drive on December 4. The campaign included flyers, restaurant placemats, window decals, thumb rings, public service announcements, live radio interviews, and a school assembly in which a student-made public service announcement educated students about the elements of distracted driving and prevention techniques.
Hear the lively radio interviews and view the distracted driving prevention campaign video below.
New School Board Members Sworn into Office
On Monday, October 29, 2012, the Honorable Judge Paul R. Lyle swore newly elected board members Heidi Haas and Lisa Hall into office.
Haas fills Seat B and Hall fills Seat A. The new school board members were elected on October 2, 2012 and will serve three-year terms.
Congratulations and welcome to the school board, Heidi Haas and Lisa Hall!
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Congratulations and welcome to the school board, Heidi Haas and Lisa Hall!
Kinross Fort Knox Donates $37,500 to Support Local Schools
District students will have more opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom thanks to generous support of Kinross Fort Knox. On Tuesday, October 16, 2012, gold mining company Kinross Fort Knox made a gift of $37,500 to the school district. Specifically, the funds are to be allocated to Ben Eielson Junior Senior High School, Hutchison High School, West Valley High School, Lathrop High School, and North Pole High School in the amount of $7,500 to each school.
Although the funds are unrestricted, the substantial gift will ease the burden on families by providing for classroom supplies and field trip activity costs. Examples of these expenses might include lab equipment, and travel costs associated with field trips or competitions.
“We are pleased to have such a committed school business partner that invests in our community by supporting our students and teachers,” said Superintendent Pete Lewis. “Thanks to the outstanding gift from Kinross Fort Knox, more of our students will have opportunities and experiences to help them succeed.”
District Names Principals at Lathrop, Arctic Light and Hutchison
The district named Dave Dershin principal of Lathrop High School and Mary Carlson principal of Arctic Light Elementary and also named Dan Domke principal of Hutchison High School.
Dave has been an educator for 20 years and is already a familiar presence at Lathrop High. In 1996 he moved from Tanana Middle School to Lathrop High to teach science and technology. In 2006 he transitioned into school administration when he was named North Pole High School assistant principal. In 2007 he returned to Lathrop High as assistant principal for curriculum and instruction and was later named interim administrative principal in October 2011.
“I am honored to work with such a dedicated staff who keep students and student learning in the forefront of everything they do,” says Dave.
Mary is currently the principal at Barnette Magnet and starts her new role at Arctic Light in the upcoming school year. At Arctic Light, Carlson will replace Mary Cofer, who retires this year. Carlson is already quite familiar with Fort Wainwright. Prior to her career with the district, she served in the U.S. Army for over four years and was stationed at Fort Wainwright during her service.
“I am delighted to have this opportunity to serve the families of parents that so honorably serve our country,” says Mary.
Dan has been with the district for 12 years and now serves as assistant principal at Hutchison High. He will take over the duties of principal from Jeanette Hayden who retires this year after serving the district for 32 years. Dan will assume the role of principal at the start of the upcoming school year.
"I am honored to have been selected to serve as the principal of Hutchison High School,” says Dan.
Many congratulations to Dave, Mary and Dan – and thank you for your service and dedication to our students!
The Kizuna Project
On Friday, March 22, Lathrop High hosted 28 student visitors from Japan as part of the Kizuna Project (pronounced KEE-ZUH-NUH). The project is a cultural exchange that aims to promote international understanding of the revival efforts in response to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, known as the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The visit to Fairbanks is part of an exchange that began in July 2012 when 23 Lathrop High students led by Japanese Teacher, Kanji Nagaoka, along with others from across the United States, traveled to Japan and toured major cities as well as the region that suffered immense damage from the 2011 earthquake. In total, 12,000 participants from 41 different countries will visit Japan as part of the ongoing exchange.
The term Kizuna translates to “bonds of friendship” or “connections between people” – a sentiment the Japanese student visitors certainly cultivated in their visit to Lathrop High.
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