Lower Kuskokwim School District

As the new superintendent of LKSD, I, along with the Regional School Board, send our greetings and excitement for the school year. With the school year now well underway, it is a good time to remind ourselves of the foundational importance of education and to renew and sharpen our focus on supporting students' educational success.

Alumni spotlight: Jessica Klejka graduated valedictorian from Bethel Regional High School in 2008. She is a veterinarian and owns two vet clinics: one in Bethel and one in Wasilla. She also has a dog team and races the Kuskokwim 300 and the Iditarod. One of the most valuable lessons she learned while in school was about time management. "I learned how to effectively manage my studying time around sports and speech meets," she recently told us. She said her science and music teachers had made a big difference in her life. "I had awesome science teachers that made me love science and I enjoyed band/pep band led by Mr. Carlson," Ms. Klejka said. Her biggest advice to LKSD students: "Keep up the great work and if you’re interested in college UAF is a wonderful choice with lots of scholarships available for Alaska students!"

We are now in the final weeks of the school year for all LKSD schools. Superintendent Hankins gives us a district update on summer programs, construction projects, and the transition to the new superintendent.

There will be a public hearing on the FY25 Operating Budget, the Indian Education Application, and the ESSER Funds review on Thursday, May 9.

Michael Charlie graduated from Paul T. Albert Memorial School in Tununak, Alaska in 1995. As part of reconnecting with LKSD alums, Mr. Charlie has shared a little about himself and what attending an LKSD school meant to him and his career.

Happy teacher and staff appreciation week! Please join us in expressing gratitude for all that our staff does each day in support of the students, families, and the communities of LKSD. Thank you!

Several migrant ed summer camps will be held during June. See below for more information.

Attached are the LKSD Board Actions from the April 25, 2024 Regular Board Meeting.

Congratulations to the LKSD NYO All Star Team for placing first with overall team points! Thank you to all the NYO coaches in our district for a great way to end the season!

This is a reminder that the Meals To You online application will be closing at 11:59PM on Tuesday April 30th, 2024. This program is for All LKSD students and their siblings (including children not enrolled in school) under the age of 18.

This year’s high school offerings include Healthcare, Drones, Culinary, Film. Summer academies will be held May 27-June 7. Applications are due April 19.

Please take time to provide the district input on our Every Student Succeed Act (ESSA) Title Programs, Impact Aid, Key Measures, general education programs, and activities by completing the survey below.

Visit the Suurvik Cinema in Bethel to view a gallery of student artwork from across the district. An open house will be held April 27.

Bethel Regional High School principal, Alicia Miner, has been named the AASSP Region VII Principal of the Year. This recognition honors her pivotal role in student success. Congratulations, Mrs. Miner!

The Lower Kuskokwim Administrator’s Association (LKAA) is granting up to four $1,000 scholarships for past graduates of LKSD high schools and graduating high-school seniors pursuing a degree in the field of education. Deadline is April 15.

This year LKSD students were responsible for producing the main live stream for the Cama-i Dance Festival as part of the annual LKSD Media Camp.

The Lower Kuskokwim School Board met in a special meeting February 13, 2024.

RAHI is a college preparation program at UAF open to Alaska Native and rural Alaska students with at least a 3.0 GPA following the completion of their junior or senior year of high school.

The LKSD Board of Education is pleased to announce their choice of Andrew Anderson as Superintendent beginning July 1, 2024

Superintendent Hankin's latest letter includes updates on LKSD's legislative priorities and information on the superintendent hiring process.

LKSD students are participating in cutting edge programs to harness technology for problem solving in our community, our nation, and our world. A new government video highlights students’ involvement in projects related to national defense and health care.

Bethel's Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat school mascot is the musher, and the K-2 students have always celebrated the K300 dog sled race with a special song, and a reading challenge. This year they also brought back an old tradition of baking cookies for the K300 mushers.

The schedule for the superintendent candidate interviews includes focus groups, staff and community forums, and meetings with the school board, Feb. 12-13. Please see below for the full schedule.

The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) has released the 2022-2023 Report Cards to the Public for each school district and school in Alaska.

Students interested in healthcare had the opportunity this past week to participate in a basic life support (BLS) training session. Staff member Jennifer Bacus led the training and earned her BLS trainer certificate.

LKSD Board Actions from the January 17-18, 2024 Regular Board Meeting

The Lower Kuskokwim School District Board of Education is pleased to announce that they have selected three individuals as finalists in the search for a new superintendent. See below for press release.

A thank you for from Superintendent Hankins for all your support this semester! Read an end-of-semester district update below. Have a happy holiday season!

Kindergarten teacher Nicole Smith has also served as a robotics coach for 11 years. This year her hard work won her the Coach of the Year award at the FLL robotics tournament.

Kongiganak students, community, and elders came together at the end of November to celebrate their culture and give thanks for their blessings.

The LKSD Board of Education Superintendent's Search Committee will meet in a work session open to the public on November 27, 5:30 pm.

On this Veteran's Day we're honored to recognize the members of our communities who have served. To all of the Veterans in our schools, among our staff, and in our community: Thank you for your service.

See board actions for November 7 Special Board Meeting below.

Every year LKSD honors a Teacher of the Year and a Community Advocate of the year. Congratulations to Leah Sahr and to Sassa Brink for their dedication to our students, our schools and their communities.

The LKSD Board of Education met October 26. See below for the board actions from that meeting.

Superintendent Hankins updates the district on the Alaska Reads Act, AK STAR Assessment Data, school construction, student activities, and the Sources of Strength program.

Mark your calendars for October 3's REAA and ASB elections. Your vote matters, so let your voice be heard!

ANSEP Career Explorations is a free program sponsored by LKSD and AVCP for past and currently involved ANSEP participants who have yet to enter high school. The application is due October 11.

The Lower Kuskokwim School Board met September 18. See below for the Board Actions from the meeting.

Elders Oscar and Margaret Active visited Ayagina'ar Elitnaurvik School to share their wisdom and stories with students, and to remind them that they are valued and loved by their community.

LKSD is a partner in a program to monitor and collect data on air quality across the state. The data is collected for trend analysis and to get a pulse on local air quality conditions, along with providing outreach, education, and assistance to the community.

Water is back on in the Bethel campus area. School will resume as normal for all Bethel schools, Thursday, Sept. 14.

As teachers across the district convene for this year's Fall Conference, 3 days of learning and collaboration, we are reminded that in all learning there are different kinds of uluaqs.

The Lower Kuskokwim School District Board of Education met on August 24, 2023. Click below to read the board actions for this meeting.

Our science curriculum provides a localized perspective. Take a look online and you'll see our region’s way of life represented. You might even recognize some faces you know!

Staff, parents and community members who are interested in participating in a Food Service/Wellness Advisory Committee for LKSD are welcome to fill out the form below.

Staff, parents and community members who are interested in participating in a Safety Advisory Committee for LKSD are welcome to fill out the form below.

Superintendent Hankins' Welcome Back Update includes information on LKSD's implementation of the Alaska Reads Act with a district reading intervention program.

In May, 19 LKSD educators attended the Alaska School Leadership Institute conference in Anchorage. Educators learned about the science of reading in order to best implement new Alaska programs designed to bring all students to reading proficiency by 3rd grade.

The Lower Kuskokwim School District Board of Education met on June 8, 2023. Click below to read the board actions for this meeting.

Enrollment is open for APU's college readiness program for Indigenous high school students in Grades 10 and 11.

This spring, select teachers attended the Science of Reading Symposium to learn skills that will help students improve their literacy.

Dr. Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States, visits Bethel to celebrate infrastructure investments in Bethel and the region, with an event at BRHS, May 17, 4:30 pm.

Yugtun Kits are headed out to many homes across the district to support Yugtun language practice throughout the summer. The kits provide practical tools to practice Yugtun while berry picking, making assaliaqs, communicating with elders, and more.

It's Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week! We are so grateful for all of our school staff and all that they do in support of our students, families, and the community.

It's a busy time of year as we plan for all of the end of the year activities, honor our retiring staff, and prepare to celebrate our graduates. Superintendent Hankins gives us an update on student activities, state testing, construction projects, and summer programs.

Ayaprun Elitnaurvik principal Josh Gill has been named 2023 National Distinguished Principal by the Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals.

What food do dogs like best? Students Cora Butte, Maya Iverson and Stevie Greason are able to answer that question, thanks to their science fair project research which brought them to the Alaska Science & Engineering Fair in Anchorage this month.

The LKSD college & career fair will be held April 14 via Zoom. Students will have the opportunity to talk to dozens of vendors about employment, training, college, and scholarships. Details below.

Student artwork from around the district will be on display at the Suurvik Cinema April 10-30, with an open house on April 29.

Students involved in speech actively hone an important life skill in a supportive environment. As speech contestants head to Anchorage for the state competition, we've asked our coaches and contestants to share their experiences.

The Lower Kuskokwim Administrator’s Association is granting up to four $1,000 scholarships for any past graduate of an LKSD high school pursuing a degree in the field of education. Graduating high-school seniors may also apply. The deadline is March 17.

The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development recently released the 2021-2022 Report Cards to the Public for each school district and school in Alaska. See below for more information.

Congratulations to all of our students on their hard work and commitment to conducting a science fair project!

We are a few weeks into the new semester and Superintendent Hankins has an update on upcoming activities and events, as well as the current LKSD Board of Education priorities.

This is Deniece Carson's first year teaching for LKSD in Nightmute. She shares her family's experience in words and photos: a story of a welcoming community and the rewards of taking a risk!

The LKSD District JR high speech contest was held in Bethel December 12-13, 2022. See below for results and more information. Great job, contestants!

A peer leader training brought students from around the district to Bethel last week; the program helps students identify their strengths and learn to share with classmates through messages of hope and help.

LKSD held a First Lego League qualifier this past weekend at Gladys Jung Elementary. Congratulations to all the teams who participated, learned, and grew through the experience this season. (Results below.)

This year on Veterans Day, Chefornak held a special celebration. Hosted by Faye Hobson and the Chefornak Reading & Writing Club, the ceremony was dedicated to the Veterans in Chefornak and beyond.

Because we know many students and families will be traveling over the holidays, here's a reminder summary of our COVID 19 Protocols for sites that currently have COVID Community Spread (high) and for other communities in our region (medium). Have a safe and happy holiday!

Click below to read an update from LKSD Superintendent Hankins on assessment data, student activities, and district communications.

Schools thrive when parents and teachers work together to maximize student learning in and out of school. That is the model that brought APTT (Academic Parent-Teacher Teams) facilitators to LKSD villages to support Yugtun language acquisition.

Progress on the new Mertarvik Pioneer School, which will be called the Newtok Ayaprun School, has begun. The district is moving forward with project planning in order to begin construction on the building this school year.

Public Notice: Request for Applications for LKSD Board Section IV, Seat F

The LKSD Board of Education and Administration has decided to shift Chief Paul Memorial School in Kipnuk to remote learning beginning Wednesday, November 2, 2022.

The Advisory School Board Conference was held this past week in Bethel. It was great to be back in person! Thank you to all participating advisory school board members and site administrators for a great two days of professional development and learning.

The Lower Kuskokwim School District Board of Education met on October 10, 2022. See below for the resulting board actions.

LKSD continues planning and construction work in Napakiak and Newtok, communities impacted by the recent typhoon and ongoing erosion.

The Lower Kuskokwim School District Board of Education will meet in a SPECIAL BOARD MEETING on Monday, October 10, 2022 at 3:30 PM via Zoom and in the LKSD Board Room, 1004 Ron Edwards Way in Bethel, Alaska.

Today is Indigenous Peoples Day, a special day to celebrate the traditions and cultures of Indigenous communities. Across the district, schools are celebrating by inviting everyone to wear qaspaqs, story-telling, Yuraq (dance), and more.

LKSD's 2022 Summer Work Program gave 35 students a chance to gain valuable work experience and training during the summer.

See below for the Board Actions from the September 22, 2022 meeting.

Evan Mcguckin, an elementary teacher at William Miller Memorial School, Napakiak, is LKSD's Teacher of the Year. Thank you, Evan, for your contributions to your school and community!

Superintendent Hankins' update on the on-going storm impact & recovery

The Annual Fall Conference brought educators across the district together, forming a community as they honed their skills under this year's theme: Ca Tamarmi Elicugngauq or "Every Living Thing Can Learn".

We're already in our 5th week of school; sports and in-person learning are underway, and the district successfully hosted its Annual Fall Conference in person. Superintendent Hankins reflects on the first few weeks of Fall 2022 in her Fall Semester Update.

A wellness-focused peer leader program that seeks to empower youth around topics of suicide prevention, substance abuse, violence, and more, is having a positive impact in LKSD schools.

Part of the welcome for incoming Lower Kuskokwim School District teachers, principals and assistant principals includes cultural training. The day-long event is held in Bethel before the group of educators later traveled to their villages for the start of the school year. The cultural day event has been going on for more than two decades.

The Lower Kuskokwim School District Board of Education met on August 18, 2022. See the Board Actions below.

LKSD educators have stayed busy this summer with professional development opportunities taking place across the country.

Take Wing “Tengluni" is a free program for high school seniors that will provide information and support throughout the academic year to help students pursue college, vocational training, or any training program after high school.

Welcome back to the 2022-2023 school year! Please see Superintendent Hankin's letter below, for more information on back to school, including updated Covid protocols.

New Covid Protocols are available on our Covid Hub. Note that the board has voted to make masking optional at all levels.

LKSD staff, in partnership with universities in the Lower 48, have worked to create a Yup’ik proficiency test. The test is currently being developed for grades K-6 with plans to expand testing for all grade levels.

As another school year comes to a close, LKSD would like to honor the staff who are retiring in 2022. Eleven educators say farewell to LKSD this year, including two powerhouse educators who have worked for the district more than 40 years each, Loddie Jones and Bill Wilkinson.

LKSD has amazing individuals helping enrich the lives of youth around the YK Delta. Today's featured employee is Julie McWilliams, head of Arts Integration and district-wide distance delivery for the arts.