Special Lynx Families Letter for 9-16-25
Today was an eventful day at NCS. Shortly before 10am this morning a student's phone caught fire during classroom instruction. As soon as the device began smoking, the teacher exited all students from the room. Our Dean of Students reacted swiftly, grabbed the phone, and ran it out of the building. The teacher then brought his students down the hallway, away from the smoke. At this point we pulled the fire alarm. Maintenance was notified.
EMT and Troopers were notified and responded quickly. Students and staff assembled appropriately. After we cleared the building, maintenance and I began to air out the building. We opened up all available classroom windows and doors and used every fan at our disposal to quickly air the building out. At this time EMS arrived and began to assess and treat all students directly impacted by the cell phone fire. Troopers began a short investigation and indicated that there was no foul play to school officials. Maintenance turned off our air circulation systems to minimize the spread of smoke and toxins.
At this point we brought elementary students back to classrooms and secondary students were sent to the gym while the secondary hall continued to air out. Clear firefighters arrived around 10:30am, and used sensors to determine whether toxic chemicals were present in the hallway and classroom. Their sensors indicated all clear. We resumed scheduled classes at 10:45am with secondary students, except for classes hosted in the original room.
The families of all students directly impacted by this event have been notified.
Due to this disruption, we will not be hosting middle school basketball. After school program is still planned. We anticipate business as usual tomorrow. If you have questions or concerns, please direct them my way.
Thank you to all parties involved in keeping our students safe.
Stephen Calkin
Principal
Nenana City Public School
(907) 832-5464
https://www.nenanalynx.org/
- Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -
Today was an eventful day at NCS. Shortly before 10am this morning a student's phone caught fire during classroom instruction. As soon as the device began smoking, the teacher exited all students from the room. Our Dean of Students reacted swiftly, grabbed the phone, and ran it out of the building. The teacher then brought his students down the hallway, away from the smoke. At this point we pulled the fire alarm. Maintenance was notified.
EMT and Troopers were notified and responded quickly. Students and staff assembled appropriately. After we cleared the building, maintenance and I began to air out the building. We opened up all available classroom windows and doors and used every fan at our disposal to quickly air the building out. At this time EMS arrived and began to assess and treat all students directly impacted by the cell phone fire. Troopers began a short investigation and indicated that there was no foul play to school officials. Maintenance turned off our air circulation systems to minimize the spread of smoke and toxins.
At this point we brought elementary students back to classrooms and secondary students were sent to the gym while the secondary hall continued to air out. Clear firefighters arrived around 10:30am, and used sensors to determine whether toxic chemicals were present in the hallway and classroom. Their sensors indicated all clear. We resumed scheduled classes at 10:45am with secondary students, except for classes hosted in the original room.
The families of all students directly impacted by this event have been notified.
Due to this disruption, we will not be hosting middle school basketball. After school program is still planned. We anticipate business as usual tomorrow. If you have questions or concerns, please direct them my way.
Thank you to all parties involved in keeping our students safe.
Stephen Calkin
Principal
Nenana City Public School
(907) 832-5464
https://www.nenanalynx.org/
- Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -
9/12/25
Greetings Lynx Families,
Our Lynx have just finished out week five of our school year. Believe it or not, we are halfway through our first quarter. The school is full of students doing their best to learn and grow. Kindergarten students have been learning how to hold pencils and write their letters. First and second graders are reading texts out loud to one another. Third and fourth graders have been working on their times tables, and fifth and sixth graders have been learning how to find evidence in a text to support a claim. High school students in ETT have all passed their first test towards certification. Welding students have been working on learning how to read tape between welding sessions.
Parent teacher conferences are just around the corner, on September 24th. We will host families from 11am to 6:30pm for conferences, which means there will be no school that day. Soccer players have been taking part in the Tri-Valley tournament this weekend, and will be playing three home games on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We would love to see a great show of support for our Lynx! Cross country has a meet this weekend as well.
Our after school program has begun as well. This includes driver's education courses for secondary students. Reach out to Elizabeth Bernardini for more details.
I would like to take a moment and recognize one of our new paraprofessionals, Jennifer Tester. Jennifer has worked tirelessly to support our students, often learning on-the-job. She has proven to be a quick study, and combined with a good heart has made an excellent addition to the team. Jen continues to learn and grow daily, exemplifying the kind of attitude and grit it requires to serve the students of Nenana with excellence. Welcome, Jen!
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,
Our Lynx have just finished out week five of our school year. Believe it or not, we are halfway through our first quarter. The school is full of students doing their best to learn and grow. Kindergarten students have been learning how to hold pencils and write their letters. First and second graders are reading texts out loud to one another. Third and fourth graders have been working on their times tables, and fifth and sixth graders have been learning how to find evidence in a text to support a claim. High school students in ETT have all passed their first test towards certification. Welding students have been working on learning how to read tape between welding sessions.
Parent teacher conferences are just around the corner, on September 24th. We will host families from 11am to 6:30pm for conferences, which means there will be no school that day. Soccer players have been taking part in the Tri-Valley tournament this weekend, and will be playing three home games on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We would love to see a great show of support for our Lynx! Cross country has a meet this weekend as well.
Our after school program has begun as well. This includes driver's education courses for secondary students. Reach out to Elizabeth Bernardini for more details.
I would like to take a moment and recognize one of our new paraprofessionals, Jennifer Tester. Jennifer has worked tirelessly to support our students, often learning on-the-job. She has proven to be a quick study, and combined with a good heart has made an excellent addition to the team. Jen continues to learn and grow daily, exemplifying the kind of attitude and grit it requires to serve the students of Nenana with excellence. Welcome, Jen!
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 Parents !
No School September 24th due to Parent Teacher Conferences.
Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for:
Wednesday September 24th
11:00am-6:30pm
Elementary parents have been pre-scheduled. Schedules will be mailed to parents.
For 7th through 12th grade students, parents please contact teachers directly or call the school office at 907-832-5464 to set up your PT Conferences.
Remember - No School September 24th!
No School September 24th due to Parent Teacher Conferences.
Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for:
Wednesday September 24th
11:00am-6:30pm
Elementary parents have been pre-scheduled. Schedules will be mailed to parents.
For 7th through 12th grade students, parents please contact teachers directly or call the school office at 907-832-5464 to set up your PT Conferences.
Remember - No School September 24th!
Hello Nenana and CyberLynx Families, welcome back to another school year!
The GEARS Afterschool Program is well underway and will begin on September 8th, 2025. We have a whole new program schedule with lots of new activities planned!
Your student will participate in a fun academic program that won’t feel like school (yay!). Some activities planned for the first week include making ice-cream and a nature journal. Elephant toothpaste is also on the schedule, but I promise that it’s not actually toothpaste! This is a super fun science activity that kids will love doing and learning about chemical reactions.
Driver’s Education is scheduled for October, Seniors and Juniors will have priority. Please make sure your student has all necessary information to participate! Selected students will be given detailed information.
Program schedule for the 2025-2026 academic school year:
Monday-Thursday: 3:30pm-5:30pm
Includes afterschool snack
(No programming on days that are no-school days, unless specified)
Students must have a new application on file to attend, copies available in the Library and will be distributed to your child.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions and we look forward to seeing your student (and you!) this year!
Elizabeth Bernardini
GEARS Afterschool Program Director
Nenana City School District
PO Box 10
Nenana, AK 99760
ebernardini@nenanalynx.org
907-202-0866
The GEARS Afterschool Program is well underway and will begin on September 8th, 2025. We have a whole new program schedule with lots of new activities planned!
Your student will participate in a fun academic program that won’t feel like school (yay!). Some activities planned for the first week include making ice-cream and a nature journal. Elephant toothpaste is also on the schedule, but I promise that it’s not actually toothpaste! This is a super fun science activity that kids will love doing and learning about chemical reactions.
Driver’s Education is scheduled for October, Seniors and Juniors will have priority. Please make sure your student has all necessary information to participate! Selected students will be given detailed information.
Program schedule for the 2025-2026 academic school year:
Monday-Thursday: 3:30pm-5:30pm
Includes afterschool snack
(No programming on days that are no-school days, unless specified)
Students must have a new application on file to attend, copies available in the Library and will be distributed to your child.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions and we look forward to seeing your student (and you!) this year!
Elizabeth Bernardini
GEARS Afterschool Program Director
Nenana City School District
PO Box 10
Nenana, AK 99760
ebernardini@nenanalynx.org
907-202-0866
Greetings Lynx Families,
We can say with confidence now that staff and students at the school are back into the swing of things. Everyone in school is busy learning and growing. Last week our 5th and 6th graders went on a class field trip to Denali National Park. Our Park partners and teachers reported an excellent showing by our Lynx. If you have a 5th or 6th grader who went, please thank them on our behalf. This week between the K-6 elementary students visited the Coffey farm between their benchmark assessments. They learned about farming and the different crops the Coffeys grow. Afternoon preschool started up last week, with preschoolers already starting to learn about the different sound combinations in the English language.
Meanwhile, secondary students have been off to the races. Students elected their Student Council, with Hunter Burmeister serving as President, Cassius Wholecheese as Vice President, Blaze Alexander as Secretary, Aiden Phillips as Treasurer, Sophia Stone as Parliamentarian, and Alisa Tyson as Student Body Representative. They are joined by 11 other students representing their classes. They have already begun planning a Homecoming Dance, pep assemblies, and the Halloween Carnival. We had our first ineligibility run last Friday, and had roughly 33% fewer students ineligible than average. The mighty Lynx played a game of soccer against our Warrior rivals, and while they lost the game they certainly won our hearts by playing with dogged determination and exquisite sportsmanship.
I would like to take a moment and recognize Liliana Titus. Liliana comes to us from Ruby and has schooled with us for four years. Lilana has been an excellent student throughout her time, but has increasingly picked up her welding game recently. She has been working on stitching together plates with excellent vertical welds, showing a great talent for pushing the puddle that would make many backwoodsmen jealous. Way to go Lilana!
I would like to take a moment and recognize our elementary staff, especially Mark Hornberger and Christy McMillan, for supporting two field trips back to back at the beginning of the school year. These trips provide great enrichment opportunities to our youth, and are often work to organize logistics and require extended days. Thank you to the elementary team for all of your work in making this happen for our youth.
Enjoy your long weekend with your Lynx. We look forward to seeing them again on Tuesday, September 2nd before 8:30am. For the hunters in the crowd, safe trails on your walk in the woods.
Thank you.
Stephen Calkin
Principal
Nenana City Public School
(907) 832-5464
https://www.nenanalynx.org/
- Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -
We can say with confidence now that staff and students at the school are back into the swing of things. Everyone in school is busy learning and growing. Last week our 5th and 6th graders went on a class field trip to Denali National Park. Our Park partners and teachers reported an excellent showing by our Lynx. If you have a 5th or 6th grader who went, please thank them on our behalf. This week between the K-6 elementary students visited the Coffey farm between their benchmark assessments. They learned about farming and the different crops the Coffeys grow. Afternoon preschool started up last week, with preschoolers already starting to learn about the different sound combinations in the English language.
Meanwhile, secondary students have been off to the races. Students elected their Student Council, with Hunter Burmeister serving as President, Cassius Wholecheese as Vice President, Blaze Alexander as Secretary, Aiden Phillips as Treasurer, Sophia Stone as Parliamentarian, and Alisa Tyson as Student Body Representative. They are joined by 11 other students representing their classes. They have already begun planning a Homecoming Dance, pep assemblies, and the Halloween Carnival. We had our first ineligibility run last Friday, and had roughly 33% fewer students ineligible than average. The mighty Lynx played a game of soccer against our Warrior rivals, and while they lost the game they certainly won our hearts by playing with dogged determination and exquisite sportsmanship.
I would like to take a moment and recognize Liliana Titus. Liliana comes to us from Ruby and has schooled with us for four years. Lilana has been an excellent student throughout her time, but has increasingly picked up her welding game recently. She has been working on stitching together plates with excellent vertical welds, showing a great talent for pushing the puddle that would make many backwoodsmen jealous. Way to go Lilana!
I would like to take a moment and recognize our elementary staff, especially Mark Hornberger and Christy McMillan, for supporting two field trips back to back at the beginning of the school year. These trips provide great enrichment opportunities to our youth, and are often work to organize logistics and require extended days. Thank you to the elementary team for all of your work in making this happen for our youth.
Enjoy your long weekend with your Lynx. We look forward to seeing them again on Tuesday, September 2nd before 8:30am. For the hunters in the crowd, safe trails on your walk in the woods.
Thank you.
Stephen Calkin
Principal
Nenana City Public School
(907) 832-5464
https://www.nenanalynx.org/
- Do No Harm - Accelerate Learning and Growth -
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,
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 -
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.
