Spotlight
Video: Interior Alaska Science Fair
More than 550 students took part in this year's Interior Alaska Science Fair, which was held March 24-27 at Pioneer Park.
At the April 20 school board meeting, a number of students from across the district were presented special awards for their science fair projects.
Joy Students Feed Hungry with Empty Bowls
Students at Joy Elementary School created more than 460 bowls to raise money for the Fairbanks Food Bank through the Empty Bowls project.
By selling these handcrafted pottery bowls, the students were able to raise over $2,600 to help combat hunger in our community.
Video: DoDEA Grant
The school district recieved a three-year, $1.3 million Department of Defense Education Activity grant.
The money will allow the district to focus on the unique needs of schools with a high population of military families.
Video: Language Declamation
High school students from across the district recently took part in the World Language Declamation.
This state-wide competition gives students a chance to hone and celebrate their language arts skills. Students recite poetry, hold dialogues and give impromptu speeches in a number of foreign languages. They also have an opportunity to show off their knowledge of the culture of foreign countries.
At a recent school board meeting, a number of declamation participants gave presentations. You can watch the video below.
Video: National Board Certified Teachers
The National Board for Professional Teaching certifies teachers who meet rigorous standards. This prestigious certification marks a relatively small number of teachers each year as among the best in the nation.
At a recent school board meeting, two Fairbanks teachers were honored for receiving National Board Certification in 2009: Hannibal Grubis and Toni Hawkins, both teachers at West Valley High School.
Related Links
Video: Graduation Success Report
Three years ago, the district initiated the Graduation Success Program to address the needs of students at risk of dropping out of school.
Every school has a Graduation Success Coach, a staff member whose mission is to encourage, motivate, and help keep students on track to graduate.
Video: Middle School Concept
The middle school years are important in the development of young adolescents. The district is working hard to make sure our middle schools are effective bridges between elementary and high school.
This school year, the district is implementing the Middle School Concept at all of the community's middle schools. The Middle School Concept is a philosophy that creates an environment at school aimed at helping middle school students make the often difficult transition from elementary to high school.
This video highlights how the Middle School Concept is being implemented at Ryan Middle School.
Video: 2010 Construction Academy
High school students from across the district are taking part this spring in a Construction Academy.
The class, held after school hours, is teaching students basic carpentry and construction skills – the skills they are going to need to fill competitive jobs in the construction trades.
Gresham named Music Educator of the Year
Richard Gresham, band director at North Pole High and North Pole Middle, has been named the 2009 Alaska Music Educator of the Year by the Alaska Music Educators Association’s.
Gresham said he was shocked and humbled to learn of the honor.
“I just do my job, what are you talking about,” he said. “I just do it and I have a lot of fun with it.”
Spotlight: Technology Blueprint
Three years ago, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District put together a detailed technology plan. This technology blueprint, with its 14 specific goals, has helped guide the district as it works to integrate appropriate technology into the classroom.
“I just want to commend the district on the blueprint,” Sue Hull, school board clerk, said. “It’s taken a lot of work and it’s taken some dollars, but it’s the right thing to do.”
Spotlight: Fairbanks B.E.S.T.
You may not know this, but the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District has an innovative home school and correspondence program, Fairbanks B.E.S.T. (Building Educational Success Together).
With offices located in the district’s downtown administrative center, Fairbanks B.E.S.T. strives to offer an alternative to the traditional school environment.
Badger Road Works to Make Hunger Extinct
The Fairbanks Community Food bank distributes more than 2 million pounds of food to needy people around the borough.
The student council at Badger Road Elementary School has made it a goal this year to help the Food Bank in that mission.
"We’re just so blessed that we are fortunate and other people aren’t as fortunate as us so we should help them out."
— Olivia Grill
Fifth Grader, Badger Road Elementary
Gerke Honored as School Counselor Advocate
Wayne Gerke, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, has been named the 2009 Advocate of the Year by the Alaska School Counselors Association.
The award, given to only one person in the state each year, recognizes an educator who isn’t a counselor but who has demonstrated outstanding support for school counselors.
Video: Special Education
The Alaska Constitution states that the public education system shall be available to “all children of the state,” and the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District strives to provide a world-class education to all students, even those who may have learning or other severe disabilities.
The special education department is dedicated to serving students with special needs providing tutoring enhanced instruction, therapy and other individualized services.
New Central Kitchen
Did you know the school district bakes its own whole wheat bread?
Did you know that a handful of district employees cook and prepare more than 3,000 meals for students each day?
Did you know the district's new central kitchen facility is fitted with state-of-the-art energy saving equipment?
Teacher to Share Expertise in Azerbaijan
A West Valley High School teacher has been selected to take part in a two-way exchange program that provides professional development opportunities to secondary school teachers from around the world.
Jean Weingartner, a world history and Alaska studies teacher at West Valley, will be traveling to Azerbaijan for two weeks in April, 2010.
Video: Class Size Report - Fall 2009
The school district has released figures on average class size for the 2009-2010 school year.
“Class size information is important for making staffing adjustments within schools and across the district,” Kathy Hughes, Executive Director of Alternate Instruction and Accountability, said. “The district makes every attempt to make class sizes as low as funding will allow.”
