Nenana City School District - Home of the Lynx

8/15/25
Greetings Lynx Families,

This marks the end of our first week back to school. This week was full of bustle and busy. Secondary students came into school with schedules created and went straight to class. Some even had homework on the first day of school! As the week progressed, students were able to change their courses to suit their academic needs. Starting Monday, most students should be on a stable schedule, with only a few exceptions. Almost all classes host 30 or fewer students. Meanwhile, elementary students have been gathering in the library in the afternoon to build community, play games, and learn about school expectations. Our academic intervention work will begin with K-6 students as soon as next week, depending on our initial assessment schedule.

Next week we will see a full week of regular school days. Preschool will begin on Monday at 12pm. Please reach out to Mr. J Tucker for more details. Remember to come early if you would like your student to receive a school breakfast, we stop serving at 8:15am. If you are running late, please let Ms. Jusette Hill know as she greets you so we can provide your student a snack. If you have a 7-12th grader at home, please send them to school early if they need extra help from teachers. Teachers have office hours from 7:45-8:30 on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday and 8-8:30am on Friday. High school soccer and cross country travel on Friday.

I would like to take a moment and recognize Rhea Kanuk and Kiara Michel for graduating Rural Alaska Honors Institute over the summer. Both young ladies are exemplary Lynx. Way to go girls!

I would like to acknowledge all of the hard work our support staff have done to get school up and running. Chris Robinson, Lavender Tierney, Kaleb and Travis in maintenance, Molly, Keri, and Carolyn in custodial, and Mike Anderson and James Knutsen in the kitchen. A special shoutout to Tristan Gongaware and other summer hires who helped prepare the school for our return.

As always, we welcome your input and partnership. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher, or me directly. You can find us at 907-832-5464 or email me at scalkin@nenanalynx.org

Thank you.

Stephen Calkin
Principal
Nenana City Public School
(907) 832-5464
https://www.nenanalynx.org/

- Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -

Greetings Lynx Families,

The time has come, and we are so glad to welcome you and your students back to school. We are excited to see your students on Monday, August 11th. We will be opening the doors at 7:45am to students. Elementary classes will begin at 8:30am, with secondary students reporting to 1st hour at 8:40. School will be in session until 3:25pm for all students.

Next week we will be moving straight into classrooms to establish our routines early. Students will receive warm welcomes in each classroom, and as the year progresses Student Council will have an opportunity to develop and implement a welcome back assembly for 7th-12th grade students. Elementary students will gather in the afternoons to hear from staff on learner dispositions and more. Preschool families, please coordinate with Jarrett Tucker to schedule your family meeting. We will begin preschool programming the following Monday, August 18th.

This semester we will be joined by three student teachers from New York. Amber Ellis will work with Bernadette Reboton in the 3rd/4th grade classroom. Ciara Murphy and Richard Mangogna will be working with Kale Peacock to run our K-12 PE program. All three will also help supervise elementary lunch and recess. Please join me in a warm welcome of these interns.

We are also very excited to welcome back our partners at Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions and Alaska Behavioral Health. Brianna Ketzler will be joining us as our school social worker for the second year in a row, and Magen Spencer will provide services to students. Katie Kurnick from Alaska Behavioral Health will also return to us as a service provider. This team of dedicated professionals will be supporting staff and students in the Wellness Room and beyond, helping us strive towards the Board's vision of trauma-engaged education. This partnership has been groundbreaking in how we respond to student trauma, and we feel this is just the beginning of something greater.

If you have questions, or if you need support in your student's return to school, please contact us at 907-832-5464 or email me at scalkin@nenanalynx.org

Thank you.

Stephen Calkin
Grants and Curriculum Director
Nenana City Public School
(907) 832-5464
https://www.nenanalynx.org/

- Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -

Attention all future service-members! The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test date is now scheduled for Monday, September 8th, at 9:30 AM. This comprehensive assessment is a crucial step for individuals considering a career in the armed forces. Whether you're aiming for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, the ASVAB test will help determine your aptitudes and strengths, guiding you towards the best-fit military roles. Sharpen your pencils and bring your determination, as this test will gauge your skills in various areas such as math, science, and mechanical comprehension. Join us on September 8th at 9:30 AM to take the first step towards your rewarding journey of service to the nation.

The 2025-2026 School Supply Lists for K-8th grade is now available...... See the attached!

5-9-25 Greetings Lynx Families, The end of the year is upon us. Green up is right around the corner, the tripod is out, and the first of our thirsty mosquito friends have hatched. It seems like every year Nenana City School experiences a series of challenges. It is so easy to focus on the challenges, and miss the success stories. Throughout the year, so many children attending NCS have achieved levels of growth, achievement, and greatness that continue to inspire NCS staff. These wins are often personal, and can feel invisible. Perhaps the best part of being a principal is the ability to share in many of these wins, and feel the pride that comes with seeing young people learn and grow. I know this sentiment is shared by all NCS staff, and we hope families can reflect on these moments over the summer with their children as well. Looking ahead to next year, Nenana City School will open to students on Monday, August 11th. Orientation for new LC students will take place the preceding weekend. We intend to begin school with minimal disruption. Teachers will return to the building on Monday, August 4th. Fall sports like soccer and cross country will begin July 28th. Elementary families, please look for class lists with your child's report card. Secondary families, please look for your child's class schedule. You should also find a copy of the school calendar. If you do not, please reference the school website. Please reach out to the school early and often with questions. NCS leadership have been working on revising handbooks to better align them with policy, law, and reflect the core values set by the School Board. This will mean some change in how NCS conducts business. We will endeavor to create digestible reference materials for families and students. I would like to stress the importance of reviewing these handbooks as they are published so that families know their rights and responsibilities. We will post notices of their publication, along with links, on our school website and social media. I would like to wish all of you a happy, healthy summer break. We look forward to seeing you and your children back Thank you. Stephen Calkin Grants and Curriculum Director Nenana City Public School (907) 832-5464 https://www.nenanalynx.org/ - Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -

Subject: Important Update Regarding PowerSchool Data Security Dear families and educators of the Nenana City School community: We are writing to inform you of a recent development related to the cybersecurity incident PowerSchool experienced in December 2024. PowerSchool is aware that a threat actor has reached out to multiple school district customers in an attempt to extort them using data from the previously reported December 2024 incident. PowerSchool does not believe this is a new incident. Please be assured that both PowerSchool and Nenana City School District are taking this situation very seriously. PowerSchool has informed us they are working with cybersecurity experts to thoroughly assess this development and have reported it to law enforcement in both Canada and the United States. As a reminder, following that incident PowerSchool also offered and made widely available credit monitoring and identity protection services for a period of two years to students and faculty Nenana City School District regardless of whether they were individually involved. We encourage all those who were offered these services to take advantage of them: • For individuals in the U.S.: https://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/notice-of-united-states-data-breach/ As was reported earlier this year, PowerSchool made the decision to pay a ransom because they believed it to be in the best interest of their customers and the students and communities they serve. As is always the case with these situations, there was a risk that the bad actors would not delete the data they stole, despite assurances and evidence that were provided PowerSchool. We wanted to share this update as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency. We remain committed to working closely with PowerSchool and law enforcement to provide support in any way we can. Sincerely, Andy Corbin Nenana City School

5-5-25 Greetings Lynx Families, Last week was a busy lead-up to our final week of school. Elementary students visited the Running Reindeer Ranch, despite a last-minute need to change transportation plans. Students learned all about reindeer, including the biology behind growing and shedding antlers. 6th graders visited the secondary side of the wing for a day, and were able to get an idea of middle school. Secondary students continued to work through major projects and presentations, and have been preparing for their finals. Many helped decorate for prom, which occurred on Saturday night. Students were able to responsibly let loose, many of which tore up the dance floor throughout the night. Evidence of the nerf battles of the after-prom lock-in could still be spotted in the gym this morning. Tuesday, May 6th at 3pm NCS will host a Promotion Ceremony for 8th graders. Government students will run their mock trial at the courthouse. Wednesday the 7th at 1pm Kindergartners will celebrate graduating from their class and entering into 1st grade. Thursday, May 8th NCS State solo and ensemble musicians will be traveling with Mr. Mudge to compete, and will not return until Saturday night. Friday, May 9th all NCS students will participate in Clean Up Day from 8:30-9:45am. Please drive extra careful around town during this timeframe. Our annual Sun Fun Run will begin at 10am. Please consider joining us for some hot dogs at the front entrance between 11am-12pm. We are happy to release students to parents during this time. School release for everyone else will be at 2pm. Please consider joining us for our annual awards ceremony on Friday, May 9th at 6:00pm. Many secondary students will be recognized for their year-long efforts across classes and grade levels. Please also consider joining us at the NCS graduation ceremony, happening on Sunday, May 11th at 1:00pm. This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Being an educator is a labor of love, and the staff at NCS put a lot of heart into their work. I am proud to serve alongside our teachers and paraprofessionals, and do not have the words to adequately express the appreciation and admiration I have for them. If you haven't, please consider reaching out to a teacher and pass along some kind words of appreciation. Thank you. -- Stephen Calkin Grants and Curriculum Director Nenana City Public School (907) 832-5464 https://www.nenanalynx.org/ - Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -

4-25-25 Greetings Lynx Families, We are inching closer and closer to the end of the school year. This week we had a few stragglers complete their state assessments. Many staff began taking advantage of the warmer weather, taking students outside for everything from scientific observations to decorating sidewalks with chalk for alternative PE. This serves as a good reminder to all of us to slow down around the school, whether it be on our 4 wheelers or in our cars. NYO Coach J Tucker took a half dozen students down to Anchorage to compete, and we eagerly look forward to hearing the results. Elementary students learned a new game called damath, and have been practicing their math skills by competing against one another all week. Afterschool students participated in a "trashion fashion" show, and helped clean up around the school during Earth Day. The final Literacy Cafe is this evening. Next week will see a whirlwind of events. Monday assembly will include our "trashion" fashionistas. Wednesday evening NCS will host the Spring Concert. Thursday, May 1st elementary staff and students will travel to the reindeer farm in Fairbanks for their annual field trip. NCS will host Prom on Saturday, May 3rd. Grand March starts at 6:00pm. The dance ends at 12:00am. The lock-in will go to 5am. I'd like to take a moment and recognize our seniors. Many of our seniors are currently working very hard to finish out their high school career on the best note possible. Some have taken on additional independent study courses to graduate with their peers after falling behind in credits. I have been so impressed with their tenacity and determination to get over the line. Some are also giving us heart palpitations. If you have a senior, please check in with them to ensure their progress in these last two weeks. I'd like to take a moment and recognize our After School staff. This week was After School Staff Appreciation Week. Our After School staff have worked very hard to provide consistent opportunities for additional student academic support and all sorts of enrichment. Students in Lynx Leaders, for example, have done everything from cooking up frybread to sewing their own kuspuks. Students have also run miles in the building as part of Running Club, have created their own art pieces in Art Club, and many have earned their driver's permit or license, all thanks to the efforts of our After School program. We hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thank you. -- Stephen Calkin Grants and Curriculum Director Nenana City Public School (907) 832-5464 https://www.nenanalynx.org/ - Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -

4-18-25 Greetings Lynx Families, This week we started our state mandated testing. Most of our high school students completed testing, and elementary students got an early start to ensure we have enough time to meet the deadline. We look forward to collecting the student data and reviewing our practices using this data as one of many pieces of evidence to inform our decisions. We hosted our second weekly community lunch, which saw 10 or so family members join their K-6 students in the cafeteria. Next week, elementary students will continue to test early in the week. We will host a guest speaker on Monday to discuss the Dignity Index and civility. The Native Youth Olympics team will be traveling to compete later in the week, leaving Wednesday the 23rd. We'd also love to get our Indian Education parents together on Thursday the 24th for a quick virtual meeting and vote. The 25th will see Afterschool GEARS host a Lit Cafe, and another community lunch invitation. The following week will see the K-12 Spring Concert on Wednesday the 30th and Prom on Saturday the 3rd. The following week will see the last day of school on May 9th, and Graduation on the 11th. We will host a community lunch on the 9th, along with the student awards ceremony that evening. I'd like to take a moment and recognize Hallie Peacock, secondary math teacher and interventionist, for her efforts in ensuring a successful spring testing session. Hallie led some innovation in how we test this year, and helped to organize our efforts to test 7th-12th grade students. Hallie has also made significant efforts to create a classroom of visible learners, especially in her 2nd hour math class. She has proven to be a quick study, and will no doubt continue to model for students and other staff the characteristics of a life-long learner. Thank you, Hallie! Please ensure you are connecting with your Lynx seniors about their graduation status, and travel plans. If you have a secondary student, please check PowerSchool or connect with them regarding their grades, as the end of quarter is fast approaching. Keep an eye out for your child's draft 25/26 schedule. Elementary parents, please connect with your teacher about our end-of-the-year field trip, kindergarten and preschool celebrations, and next year's class supplies lists. Thank you. -- Stephen Calkin Grants and Curriculum Director Nenana City Public School (907) 832-5464 https://www.nenanalynx.org/ - Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -

Nenana City School - Annual Federal Programs Stakeholder Meetings on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Meeting Schedule – Thursday, April 10 in the Library or Online 5:00 PM – Perkins (CTE) Annual Meeting (In-Person & Online) Immediately Following – Indian Education Committee Meeting (In-Person & Online) Final Meeting – Title I Annual Meeting (In-Person & Online) See attached Annual Meeting Flyer

UPDATE 4-8-25 - This is the only link that will work for viewing the Music Festival in Valdez this Thursday through Saturday. Check out the link to watch our Nenana Lynx musicians! Aurora Music Festival Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@AuroraMusicFestival

Live Stream Links for Upcoming Music Festival in Valdez: Aurora Music Festival Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@AuroraMusicFestival April 10 (Opening Concert). 7:00 P.M. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC5rA_bdfKM April 11 (Solo and Ensemble Command Performance Concert). 7:00 P.M. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JipY8CucQY4 April 12 (Festival Finale Concert, Awards). 11:30 A.M. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D0pxF_12wo

4-4-25 Greetings Lynx Families, Apologies for missing last week. This week in Nenana has been a busy one. 7th-12th grade musicians traveled Monday evening to Tri-Valley school to perform with our Viking Warrior neighbors. Meanwhile, elementary students have been participating in a "March Madness" reading bracket. Older elementary students have been reading to younger elementary students a series of books, who then vote on which books to advance to the next bracket. US History students have been learning about literacy poll tests, while middle school students have been delving into Shakespeare's works. Next week will see NCS musicians leave for the Music Festival in Valdez. If you have an NCS musician, please reach out to Mr. Mudge to ensure you have the details of travel and your child is prepared for the adventure. I will also begin pulling returning students next week to build preliminary class schedules. This process will progress through April. Please keep on the lookout for a text with their proposed schedule. The following week will see us participate in state-mandated testing. 7th-12th grade students will test Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th. Elementary students will test starting Monday the 21st. Preschool graduation will be on April 22nd. We have four students attending the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) conference this week. I'd like to recognize their dedication to learning more about a critical career field. Congrats HOSA team! I'd like to take a moment and recognize Mr. Mudge for his contributions to the learning community. Mudge has spent years building a music program that takes local students from Kindergarten through 12th grade and produces musicians that can compete on national stages. He also welcomes students from across the state into this program, with little or no music experience, and helps them learn and grow into excellent musicians in a short amount of time. Additionally, Mr. Mudge's room is often a safe haven for students going through tough times, or who just need a break from the pencil-and-paper assignments of their other classes. Thank you Mr. Mudge! With the warming weather, please send your elementary students to school with wet-weather gear. It's officially mud-boot season out on that playground. Please also ensure that your student arrives before 8:15am if you'd like them to get breakfast with us. No one likes soggy french toast. If your Lynx is a 12th grader, please connect with them to ensure they are on track to graduate. If you have questions or concerns, call the school as soon as possible. Thank you. -- Stephen Calkin Grants and Curriculum Director Nenana City Public School (907) 832-5464 https://www.nenanalynx.org/ - Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -

Greetings Lynx Families, This week was a busy return to the school after Spring Break. We began the week with a series of surveys for 7th-12th grade students. 3rd-6th grade students will also take these surveys. The surveys asked students to provide feedback about my job performance, and the climate and culture of the school. The results will be included in my report to the School Board, and up for discussion at the next meeting. I intend to integrate these results into our school data presentations, so as to provide additional information regarding our school's progress towards the Board's strategic priorities. A handful of students attended a restorative justice conference this week, while others attended NNA's 2nd annual Beaver Camp. Next week we will welcome our new secondary math teacher, Katie Poclyn, for a short visit. We will also host the Career Fair on Monday. The Fair starts at 9am and ends at 2pm. We will begin preparing for our state mandated testing, which will take place April 14th-18th for 7th-12th graders and April 21st-25th for K-6th graders. Please consider joining our afterschool crew on Friday, March 28th for our STEM night, starting at 5:30pm. I'd like to take a moment and recognize our 49 7th-12th grade students achieving the Quarter 3 Honor Roll. Way to go Lynx! I'd also like to take a moment to recognize Elizabeth Phillips. Elizabeth has done a great job as a first year teacher in our combined 1st and 2nd grade classroom. Elizabeth's kindness and compassionate approach to the classroom creates an environment that students feel safe taking risks in their learning. Her sound understanding of early childhood education, particularly early literacy skills, has led to an impressive acceleration of student learning. She also moonlights as a JV soccer coach, and frequently mentors secondary students assigned to her as teacher's aides. Thank you for all your efforts, Elizabeth! Thank you. -- Stephen Calkin Grants and Curriculum Director Nenana City Public School (907) 832-5464 https://www.nenanalynx.org/ - Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -

3-20-25 Dear Lynx Parents - The GEARS Afterschool program is required to conduct parent and student surveys for grant compliance. In the student survey, children are asked questions about the GEARS Afterschool Program and their time in the program. There is a small sample of the survey attached to this posting. If you would like a copy of the full survey, please stop by the school office, or library. This survey will be conducted April 3rd during school hours to reach as many students as possible. Please advise the front office if you do not wish to have your student participate. Thank you for your support of the Gears Afterschool Program.

3-7-25 Greetings Lynx Families, Apologies for missing last week. We have had an eventful couple of weeks here at NCS. Elementary students had the pleasure of community members reading to them today as part of Read Across America week. A handful of secondary students have been learning how to teach basic literacy skills, and have helped provide early literacy interventions to elementary students. Evidence suggests that this approach is successful in supporting literacy skill growth in both elementary and high school students! Meanwhile, high school basketball teams are traveling to Cordova for their regional division games. Please see the website for live streaming. Next week is spring break. We will return to school on March 17th with an early release day. March 22nd cross country skiers will be competing in Fairbanks. The 22nd is the community health fair at the Civic Center. I'd like to take a moment and recognize our junior high class. We have been tracking tardy rates by class, and the 7th and 8th grade students have had a 100% perfect record for all of their core classes for the entire third quarter. This means that not a single junior high student present showed up late to class once. Way to go middle school Lynx! I'd also like to take a moment to recognize our secondary math teacher, Kaylee Larson. Kaylee has served NCS for 7 years, and over that time has positively impacted student learning beyond our measurement. She has managed to consistently maintain a high standard of learning in her classroom, while also approaching students in a trauma-engaged manner. Kaylee will soon be out on maternity leave, and will be missed. Thank you Kaylee! The staff at NCS wish you all a restful spring break with your students. Enjoy, and we will see you for the final quarter of the school year on the 17th. Thank you. -- Stephen Calkin Grants and Curriculum Director Nenana City Public School (907) 832-5464 https://www.nenanalynx.org/ - Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -

IMPORTANT!! PLEASE READ RIGHT AWAY. Hello Lynx parents! GEARS (Growing, Enriching, Academic, Resilience, Success) ASP program is now running 5 days a week Monday through Friday. SPRING BREAK OPPORTUNITY: MARCH 12TH - The Nenana Public Library is hosting a Spring Break Day Camp from 11:30AM to 1:45PM and children MUST be picked up by 2PM. Donations are welcomed. On Thursday MARCH 13TH there is a Spring Break Paint Day at the Nenana Public Library hosted and paid for by the GEARS Afterschool Program. STUDENTS MUST BE SIGNED UP AHEAD OF TIME. Elementary will be from 2PM to 3:30PM and Jr High/High School will be from 3:30 to 5:30PM. If there is no student application for the GEARS ASP on file - we will provide an application to you. There is no other daily spring break programming. Driver’s Education will also be happening during spring break with the in-person class for those that haven’t yet taken it (ages 14-19) on Saturday March 8th at the School Library. If you aren’t sure your student is signed up, you can contact the afterschool program phone at 907-687-8466 by text to confirm. Five day a week programming will continue through Friday of this week and Friday is an early release day. After spring break we will continue 5 day a week programming. ARCHERY is now happening on Saturdays starting at 2PM for 12-14 year olds and 3-4:30 for high school. QUEST - Did your student LOVE Quest during summer programming? We will begin the NEW SEASON of Quest after spring break so if your student is interested in returning to Quest, it will be on Mondays from 2:30 to 4PM for 2nd Grade through 8th Grade. UFLI Tutoring with trained high school students. Does your student need extra help with reading? After spring break - we will have two high school students, trained by Ms. Emily who will be working with students on UFLI lessons. If you are interested in having your student take part, please contact either Teena or Ms. Emily and let us know how many days a week you would like tutoring. Please feel free to call or text Teena Calkin at 907-830-8202 directly and it is on between 10AM and 7PM Monday through Friday. You may also come in person or email directly to tcalkin@nenanalynx.org (usually answer within the same day). All the best and many thanks for your support - Teena Calkin 21st CCLC Program & Site Director Nenana City School 907-687-8466 or 907-830-8202

2-21-25 Greetings Lynx Families, This week marked our first week back to "normal" since NIT. Students have been working on all sorts of different projects. This week in World History students put their Roman legionary shields to the test in a testudo formation against the 5th/6th grade "Carthagenians." While they gave a good showing against the dodgeballs, their formation did not hold up against the "elephant," our 5' Athabasketball. Meanwhile, 1st and 2nd grade students have been getting used to their new class pet, Shadow. It seems as though Shadow the fish really dislikes when students run around the classroom, which has helped students learn how to transition from one area of the class to the next a little more orderly. This weekend NCS will host home basketball games Friday night and Saturday morning. Games start at 5pm and 10am respectively. Next week will see Tri-Valley elementary students visit NCS and interview some students for a cross-school project. Next Friday after school will host a STEM night, and NCS will host more home games on the 27th. With the Iditarod starting in Fairbanks, NCS staff are planning on some sort of student program related to the Nenana stop. More information will come next week. I'd like to recognize Nenana's Lady Lynx for winning the sportsmanship award at the Minto tournament last week. Stay classy Lady Lynx! I'd also like to recognize teacher Bernadette Reboton for her efforts in partnering with other educators, both in and out of NCS. Bernadette has done a great job in embodying the philosophy of constant growth and improvement in our profession. She has been extremely thoughtful in her application of our professional development opportunities, which has positively impacted the rate of student learning in her classroom. Thank you Bernadette! Alaska State law requires parent notification of any surveys NCS asks students to complete. In partnership with the Tribal Council, NCS will distribute a survey regarding the Recreation Center between March 6th and March 14th. Additionally, we will use the Quaglia Institute's Student Voice Survey to ask students about the school climate and culture. Finally, I will also distribute a student survey asking students to evaluate my efforts as a building principal in order to better determine how to meet their needs. If you would like additional information on any of these surveys, or you would like to opt your student out of taking these surveys, please contact NCS at your earliest convenience and notify us in writing. Thank you. -- Stephen Calkin Grants and Curriculum Director Nenana City Public School (907) 832-5464 https://www.nenanalynx.org/ - Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -

2-14-25 Greetings Lynx Families, This week we had parent-teacher conferences, which meant early release days to try and fit in a student contact day as well as time to connect with parents and guardians about their students. This model, which we have adopted for quite some time, is strenuous on our staff and short-changes parent contact time with teachers. Looking ahead to next year, it is likely that we will adopt a model of using a teacher work day to conduct parent-teacher conferences. If you would like to provide input on the idea, please contact me or the front office sooner rather than later, or provide public input at the March board meeting. After two fairly disruptive weeks, next week will finally see us return to a "normal" schedule. Staff are excited to have students back in the classroom for full days once more. Basketball teams will be playing today and tomorrow in Minto, and next weekend versus Glennallen and Tok. Students will have 3 weeks before spring break, which is the end of the quarter. If you have a secondary student, please contact teachers to ensure they are in a good position to end the quarter strong. I'd like to take a moment and recognize our Lynx basketball teams. Boys and girls both played with a lot of tenacity, with many strong plays through their games. Girls went on through the weekend to win the tournament. Way to go girls! I'd also like to take a moment and recognize our maintenance and especially custodial staff for their efforts in helping us host the tournament. NIT requires a lot from our support staff, and they pulled long hours with a building full of visitors to keep your city school clean and prepared for students on Monday. If you know one of our custodians, please extend a warm thanks to them! Thank you, and happy Valentine's Day! -- Stephen Calkin Grants and Curriculum Director Nenana City Public School (907) 832-5464 https://www.nenanalynx.org/ - Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -

2-5-25 Greetings Lynx Families, This week has been a short one at NCS. Despite this, students have been busy learning. 5th and 6th graders prepared for and presented a debate surrounding the ethical consumption of chocolate. 3rd and 4th graders have been practicing understanding text structure, while kindergarteners have been team reading about the adventures of Kit. Secondary students in Mr. Matus' class have been learning about the role and responsibilities of the President of the United States. This weekend is NIT. Boys and Girls teams play Thursday evening. Please consult the brackets on our social media accounts, or visit our website for more details. The games should be accessible to live stream through these avenues as well. We will be honoring local elder Ernie Evan with a moment of silence before the finals. Please join us in supporting our Lynx student athletes and honoring one of their super fans. Don't forget to sport Lynx spirit gear if you can! Next week NCS will be hosting parent teacher conferences on Thursday and Friday from 2:00-4:30pm. Please consult with Andy at the front office, or your student's teacher to schedule a time. I'd like to take a moment to recognize the crew responsible for putting on NIT. There are a lot of hands that come on deck to make a tournament successful. Everyone from the Activities Director to classroom teachers to coaches all play a big role in putting on a successful tournament. Please join me in thanking our staff this weekend as we celebrate our students. Thank you. -- Stephen Calkin Grants and Curriculum Director Nenana City Public School (907) 832-5464 https://www.nenanalynx.org/ - Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -