North Star College

Parents and Guardians,

It's a big week here for students as they are taking end-of-course assessments and finalizing projects. This is the week we've all been waiting for! It is my hope that both parents and students are feeling a successful sigh of relief and able to reflect on how incredibly well your student has handled this opportunity to experience the UAF campus and its access to rigorous content. Overall, our students have certainly matured and grown in taking initiative to access academic support services on campus, managing their course syllabi with their unique schedules, and maintaining quality study habits. It's been remarkable to watch these transformations through individual students.

As we look ahead to second semester, for those few students that may not have fared so well in a class by earning a D or F, there will be a NSC Academic Probation status assigned. Students and parents will initially receive an emailed letter as notification. There will be a meeting schedule in-person with the student and parents (via phone) to talk through what interventions will be required for second semester. One requirement for all students assigned this probationary status will be a required NSC Advisory Seminar .25 credit class (1 hour per week) for completion of their required interventions (i.e. grade checks, scheduled academic support services, etc.) The details and plan will be created with each individual student as the second semester gets started. Our goal with these intervention plans is, ultimately, to maintain each student's "on track for graduation" status.

(NOTE: UAF posts grades on Dec. 20, 2023)

REMINDER for second semester start dates: FNSBSD classes start Tuesday, Jan. 9 (IF your student is taking a class at their attendance area school). UAF courses start Tuesday, Jan. 16th.

(All calendars are at the bottom of this newsletter for easy access.)

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need support. Our offices are open from 7:30-3:30pm and all email/phone contacts of staff are always available at the bottom of this newsletter.

Sincerely,

Stacey Kennedy

It is required that all books are returned by students each semester. For now, the process will be for students to drop all books off here in our office space, Bunnell 402. We are working to formalize the process for returns to be made through the UAF Bookstore, but that process isn't in place yet for NSC students. So, please just bring your books to our offices until you hear differently. Books can be dropped off now until Dec. 22 or as you return for second semester classes.

For those students taking APEX courses, these courses are required to be completed by the end of the FNSBSD semester on Dec. 22. Your student should be in communication with their APEX teacher just as they would for any typical course instructor.

Here are some guidelines for Apex to run smoothly at NSC as it is pretty different than what students may be used to:

• Our office is open from 7:30am-3:30pm. Kristan, Natalie, and I can help you with unlocking tests and resetting quizzes.
• If you need a quiz reset, we will only be doing this during office hours, so please plan accordingly if you need a quiz reset.
• You do not need to send notes to have a quiz reset. Simply request to have the quiz reset via email with Kristan or Natalie. (Emails located at the bottom of this newsletter.)
• If you are ready to come in for a test to be monitored, plan to be here by 1:30pm to start in order to give yourself plenty of time to finish prior to the end of office hours.

If you know any current 10th or 11th grade students who may be interested in joining North Star College for the 24-25 school year, our lottery is now open! Here is the link to the requirements and how to apply to the lottery: https://www.k12northstar.org/domain/5712

Note: Current NSC students do not need to reapply.

Know anyone who wants to learn about North Star College? Please join us for any informational night you prefer:

• Thursday, February 1, 5:30-6:30 pm @ UAF Schaible Auditorium
• Tuesday, February 6, 5:30-6:30 pm @ North Pole Public Library
• Wednesday, February 7, 5:30-6:30 pm @ North Pole Public Library
• Tuesday, February 20, 5:30-6:30 pm @ Nordale Education Center

After February 1st, a recorded session will be available on our website.

During the Spring 2024 semester, we will be opening the application process for inducting new members. Look for the new member NHS application link in coming newsletters and on the NSC website's home page during the first week of February. The basic NHS application requirements for new membership are as follows:

• A cumulative GPA of at least a 3.6 (including students’ Fall 2023 semester grades!).

• Student should be enrolled in challenging coursework (as an NSC student being challenged in university level classes, students won’t need to be worried about this requirement).

• Student should be involved in at least one substantial school sponsored extracurricular activity.

Currently, we will plan on meeting approximately once a month (likely on a Wednesday afternoon at 12 PM) as we look forward to serving our community through our individual and collaborative service projects.

We look forward to working with both our current NHS members and future inductees as our NHS chapter gets up and running here at NSC. If you are already an NHS member, please email Mr. Stoddard at: greg.stoddard@k12northstar.org, so he can place you in the email group for NHS related information.

SENIORS: Here is the information for our first North Star College yearbook! Natalie, our program secretary, has been busy researching and developing step by step directions (see below) for you all to be able to create your own page to be included in the yearbook and then purchase, if you'd like. Contact Natalie Tanner at natalie.tanner@k12northstar.com if you have any questions.

1. Go to: https://legacy.treering.com/validate2/

2. Type in the following code: 1016990433784359 (Treering will ask for the code twice)

3. Create account (Select- I am a student)

4. Click Next
5. Select Let’s Go

6. Select Natalie’s Yearbook (this will be your name) in the top left corner

7. Scroll down & find the option—share school photos

8. Click UPLOAD SCHOOL PHOTOS

9. Find your folder and add your photos
Please add 3-4 photos. Preferably a baby photo, 1-2 photos as a child, and a senior photo.

Below is a video link providing directions for uploading photos:

https://watch.screencastify.com/v/69mD7EJFxYHxX4GNzPQx

In time, we will also be requesting parents/guardians to write special thoughts on the page to their graduate, as well. More information to come.

All North Star College students will participate in our graduation ceremony on May 20, 2024, at 7:00pm, here at UAF's Davis Concert Hall. We are currently working with the Herff Jones company setting up our website link for purchasing NSC graduation packages (caps, gowns, tassels, etc.) where parents/students will be able to order directly in preparation for our ceremony starting in January.

The school code for North Star College is 012350. Because we are a new school, the name of the school likely will not populate and students will have the option of selecting wording similar to “my school is not listed.” For counselor name, students should list Kristan Kelly at kristan.kelly@k12northstar.org. (Please note the nonstandard spelling of Kristan’s name.) Students needing help with applications can schedule an appointment or drop by Kristan’s office in Bunnell between 7:00am-3:00pm weekdays.

Is your student needing to take the SAT or ACT this year? The SAT and ACT are qualifiers for the Alaska Performance Scholarship and many colleges/universities require one or both of these test scores for their admission applications.

UAF Exam Services administers the SAT and ACT tests several times during the academic year. Space is limited so be sure your student registers early. Registrations for these exams typically close 30 days prior to the exam date. Students can find registration deadlines and test information HERE.

North Star College received SAT fee waiver codes. If you are eligible to receive the SAT fee waiver code, please reach out to me at least 30 days prior to your test date, and I will provide you with the six character electronic fee waiver code. Below you will find eligibility information and instructions from the College Board.

Who is eligible to receive the SAT fee waiver benefits

- Enrolled in or eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). If your school is community eligible, meaning all students receive free or reduced lunch automatically without being individually verified as eligible, an alternate qualifier must be used to individually confirm a student's eligibility for SAT fee waiver benefits.

TO USE SAT FEE WAIVER CODE

- Do enter all 12 characters, and put the 6 digit (CEEB) school code (012350) before the 6 character electronic fee waiver code.

- Do not have any spaces present before, within, or after the code when submitting the code.

- Do not enter the letter O or the letter I. Instead, these would be zeros or ones.

If your students are seeing the "Pay for the SAT With a Voucher" option during SAT registration, this space is not intended for SAT fee waiver codes and if an SAT fee waiver code is entered it will not be accepted. Additionally, students will see a total due during the registration process as available SAT registration benefits do not get applied until the step where a student would otherwise enter their payment information.

Students having difficulty with redeeming their SAT fee waiver code may call the SAT Student support line at (866) 756 - 7346 for assistance.

Does your student experience a disability and related barriers in academics or accessing campus? Your student may register with Disability Services (DS) and request accommodations to address those barriers.

Documentation

1.) Fill out and submit the Registration Form. The Registration form covers a broad range of information. Some things may apply to you, the student, and some things may not, don't get hung up on any one question. You may skip any of the questions you feel do not apply to you. There are no right or wrong answers.

2.) Provide documentation from a medical provider stating your disability, diagnosis, and/or symptoms you experience. Alternatively, your provider may complete the Disability Verification Form. If you have any questions about medical documentation and how to access it, please let them know.

Accommodation Letter

At the conclusion of the initial appointment a letter will be drafted and emailed to your student for your student to share with their instructors as needed. Please note that your student is responsible for contacting Disability Services to renew your letter every semester.

Disability Services Team

Gruening Building 211

907-474-5655

Natalie Tanner, Program Secretary 907-452-2000 ext. 52101 natalie.tanner@k12northstar.org

Stacey Kennedy, Director 907-452-2000 ext. 52102 stacey.kennedy@k12northstar.org

Kristan Kelly, Counselor 907-452-2000 ext. 52103 kristan.kelly@k12northstar.org

Greg Stoddard, Teacher 907-452-2000 ext. 52104 greg.stoddard@k12northstar.org

Lexi Amstutz, UAF Advisor 907-474-7159 adamstutz@alaska.edu

Email: stacey.kennedy@k12northstar.org
Website: https://www.k12northstar.org/Domain/4979
Location: UAF Bunnell Building, 1790 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK, USA
Phone: (907) 456-1477
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthStarMiddleCollege/