SVS Vision:

We aim to provide students with the necessary tools to achieve their full potential.

SVS Mission:

In collaboration with family and community, we will build strong relationships and share challenging, innovative instruction to inspire student passions, potential, and the ability to think critically and creatively

Dear Families,

As we celebrate the successful conclusion of an enriching and eventful first semester, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and partnership in nurturing our students' growth and success. Your continued dedication has made a significant impact on our school community here at Su Valley.

This semester has been particularly special for me as a first-year principal, and your support has been instrumental in making it a memorable and successful journey. Your engagement, encouragement, and commitment to our students' education have played a crucial role in fostering a positive and dynamic learning environment.

I have been inspired by the enthusiasm and dedication of our students, the tireless efforts of our educators, and the unwavering support of our parent community. Together, we have achieved remarkable milestones, celebrated achievements, and laid a strong foundation for the academic growth and personal development of our students.

As we eagerly look forward to the second half of the school year, I am excited about the endless possibilities that await us. Your continued involvement and partnership remain invaluable as we strive to create an environment where every student can thrive and excel.

I encourage you to stay connected with our school community, participate in upcoming events, and continue the open dialogue with our faculty and staff. Your continued involvement and dedication are essential as we continue on this journey together.

Thank you for entrusting me in my first year as a principal and for your unwavering support and dedication to our school community. I am excited about the future and look forward to achieving even greater milestones together in the upcoming semester. Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you have any questions or require assistance.

Partners in Education,

Bryan Kirby, SVS Principal

Bryan.Kirby@matsuk12.us

907-733-9300

January 10

Basketball vs Houston C & Northway 2:30/4/5:30/7

January 15

NO SCHOOL (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

January 16

Basketball vs Ninilchik (JV Boys/Varsity Girls & Boys) 3:30/5/6:30

January 17

Basketball at Redington

January 18

Basketball at Tri-Valley Winter Classic

January 19

Basketball at Tri-Valley Winter Classic

January 20

Basketball at Tri-Valley Winter Classic

X-Country Skiing at Wasilla Bowl and Ski

January 22

Basketball vs Tri-Valley (Boys JV Only) 3:30

January 24

Basketball at Colony C-Team (JV Only)

January 26

Basketball at Cordova

X-Country Skiing at Valdez or Seward

MS Wrestling at Houston

January 27

Basketball at Cordova

X-Country Skiing at Valdez or Seward

MS Wrestling at Houston

January 31

Basketball vs King Cove 5:00

More to come....

Schedules

Students can access their second semester schedules on StudentVue. Schedule change requests can be made with Tamra Harrison the week of January 8th-12th.

Scholarships

New scholarships are being advertised daily at Su Valley. Students can find hard copies on the scholarship bulletin board and from Mrs. Harrison.. There are thousands of scholarships available through sites such as: www.fastweb.com, www.scholarship.com, www.akcis.org, www.wiche.edu, www.cappex.com, www.myscholly.com, www.raiseme.com, www.healthymatsu.org.

Seniors

Seniors intending to apply for loans and scholarships need to file the FAFSA! Federal Student Aid (FSA) is making sweeping changes to the FAFSA for the 2024-2025 school year. These changes include updated application questions, financial need calculations, as well as the FAFSA platform itself. The new FAFSA will not be launched until December 2023, instead of October 1st.

Remember, you should file the FAFSA as early as possible after it is released – some institutions have very early FAFSA deadlines – check with your school's Financial Aid Office to find out. Some programs may have later deadlines. The priority deadline to file the FAFSA for the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) and the Alaska Education Grant (AEG) is June 30. Tamra Harrison will be planning a FAFSA completion night for those families who need assistance with filing.

Juniors/Seniors

Students in 11th & 12th grade will be given the opportunity to take the digital School Day SAT in April, 2024. It is recommended that 11th graders take the SAT in the spring. The test consists of three parts in the areas of reading, language, and math. The test takes approximately 3 hours to complete. Students who would like to take the SAT must sign up at the office by February 8th. Su Valley will be covering the cost of the school day SAT exam in April.

Fast Facts about the SAT

• Most students take the SAT for the first time in spring of their junior year; some take it again in fall of senior year. Learn more about when to take the SAT.
• Students can take the SAT as many times as they like; College Board recommends taking it at least twice..
• Different colleges evaluate SAT scores differently. In general, test scores aren’t the most important part of a student’s application—their high school transcript is, and some colleges have adopted test optional policies.
• The SAT connects your child to scholarship opportunities as well as to colleges that are looking for students like them.

SAT Practice

• Your child can practice for the SAT for free by using Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy, where they can get a personalized study plan by taking short quizzes or providing their scores on the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10.
• They'll also find interactive problems, video lessons, and full-length practice tests. Official SAT Practice shows your child which specific skills they need to work on most and customizes their practice plan to help them turn areas of weakness into areas of strength.
• A recent study showed that 20 hours of practice on Khan Academy is linked to an average 115-point increase from the PSAT/NMSQT to the SAT.
• Other free ways to practice include the Daily Practice for the SAT app, full-length practice tests, and online practice questions.

Tamra Harrison

School Counselor and Test Coordinator

Susitna Valley High School

School Code 0201126

tamra.harrison@matsuk12.us

(907)733-9305

High School Sports:

Wrestling:

Sawyer Love's determination and skill shone brightly as he secured a remarkable achievement, clinching a spot in the top 8 at the highly competitive state wrestling meet. With grit and technique, Sawyer navigated challenging bouts, showcasing his prowess and earning well-deserved recognition on the state level. His dedication and hard work paid off, marking this accomplishment as a testament to his talent and commitment to the sport.

HS Basketball:

Girls' Basketball traveled to the Kenai Peninsula for the 2023 Cook Inlet Coca Cola Classic. The team went 3-0 in the tournament and were crowned champions at the end! Cori Gossett, Lily Esmailka, Poppy Moren, and Sahai Benischek were all named to the All-Tournament Team.

Boys' Basketball team is off to a good start with a 2-1 record, getting runner up in their first tournament. They came up just short in the championship game to a good CIA team. Austin Barnard, Miles Osmond, and Austin Pevan we’re all awarded all-tournament player medals.

The Su-Valley boys basketball team will play the alumni on December 26th at 2pm (no admission cost) and then we will host our first official home games of the season with JV taking on Houston C-team and Varsity taking on Northway on January 10th starting at 2:30pm. Come support your Rams!

The following middle school sports begin when we return from the winter break on January 9th.

MS Volleyball (girls)

MS Wrestling (coed)

In order to be in the gym and/or at practice, the following must be in place for each athlete:

~A current school physical ("current" is a school physical within the last 18 months). A current physical must be in place before students can practice.

~Athletic Registration completed. Please use this link for the process. Forms will be available at SVS.

~Students need to be registered in PlanetHS Link

~Sport fees must be paid by January 19th for athletes to be able to continue participating. See the SchoolPay link below to make a payment, or send in cash or check with your student to give to the front office. Fee waivers are available in the front office for those who do not have an ability to pay. We will not turn anyone away!

Transportation from practice:

Please make sure students are picked up from practice at the conclusion of practice. There will be Sunshine Transit shuttles running IF RESERVED, first come first served. Students MUST signup at the front office they plan to ride a transit before lunchtime each day in order to secure a spot.

We're excited to share that we've started a new podcast focused on all things Su Valley. We're just getting started, and like any new journey, things might seem a bit rough at the beginning. But trust us, we're committed to improving with each episode.

Stick with us as we grow and refine our content. We're dedicated to providing valuable insights and engaging conversations as we are navigating the school year. Thanks for joining us on this journey!

http://sled.alaska.edu/homework

http://www.tutor.com/military

Tutor.com is a private company that provides free online tutoring help to all MSBSD students.

Students who are military dependents have access 24/7 through tutor.com/military. Military dependents need a valid email address to register and will need to select the appropriate military branch and follow the prompts on the screen.

All other students can access the site through sled.alaska.edu/homework. Students will need to click on “LIVE HOMEWORK HELP”, “STUDENT CENTER”, and then select a content area. It is available between the hours of 1:00 PM and 12:00 AM.

Holidays, Winter, and Stress

As our daylight hours become shorter, most of us feel less energetic and a little sleepy. This time of year can be hard, and without support can lead to depression. Depression is hard on not only families but on children, who do not understand what is happening. Here are a few ways to help those you love who may be depressed or stressed, and some simple ways to help yourself stay positive and healthy.

Depression can lead to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts so, first, if you or your friend are having these thoughts, reach out for help. 1(800)273-8255 is a 24-hour national suicide prevention hotline. No one chooses to be depressed and they cannot simply “snap out of it”. A great way to help is just to sit with them and listen. If they’re open to it, offer a hug. Choose words that help build them up, not tear them down. Make plans with them but don’t expect them to take on too much. Above all, remind them that there is always hope.

While it can be easy to blame seasonal affective disorder (sad) for a blue mood in the winter, there is a good chance that it may be something else. In the winter people do not get outside as much and in turn do not get enough exercise. Activity and exercise are linked to an increase in positive feelings.

People tend eat more during the holidays and besides weight gain, this can also affect your mood. Try to eat fruits, vegetables, and lean protein during the day before a holiday party in the evening. Antioxidants, fiber, and protein will help fuel your body and your mood.

It is easy this time of year to become overwhelmed with obligations, feel overscheduled, and worried about money. To fight this stressful situation, tap into your own power! Don’t be afraid to politely decline any stress-inducing invitations and don't be afraid of creating a budget for the holidays. If these two things can save your sanity, then they are worth the trouble.

Depression and stress can be confusing for children because it often becomes something no one talks about. Children will then come up with their own answer and these can be wrong and scary. It is important to keep an open conversation with your child. Here is a website that can help you find answers for the children in your life who have questions about depression: www.camh.ca/en/health-info/guides-and-publications/when-a-parent-is-depressed

Romy Byrd RN - School Nurse

Matanuska Susitna Borough School District

Susitna Valley Junior/Senior High School (907) 733-9304

Talkeetna Elementary (907) 733-9415

Trapper Creek Elementary (907) 733-9460

We highly encourage families to fill out the Free and Reduced Meals application, even if you think you may not qualify. These dollars and this designation, is what gives our school it's Title I status, and helps provide additional dollars to put towards educating your child(ren).

This application does need to be filled out each school year, for all families who qualify, or would like to qualify.

FREE & REDUCED MEAL PROGRAM

Free & Reduced Meals Parents can submit applications to enroll their student(s) in the free and reduced meal program. Applications should be submitted annually and may be completed online through SchoolCafe (LINK here) or via a printable application (LINK here). Paper applications can also be picked up at SVS if you do not have the ability to print at home.

Paper applications cannot be submitted via email or fax, but must be submitted to the student's school or directly to Nutrition Services (690 E Cope Industrial Way, Palmer, AK 99645).

The application process will require the following information be provided:

• Total household size
• Income for all household members
• Student name(s)
• Additional information that is helpful, though not required, includes the student's birth date, enrolled school, and MSBSD ID number

Questions regarding the application process can be directed to (907) 861-5100.

Here at Su Valley we know that hungry, growing teenagers need to eat! Here are option for both in school, and families at home:

• we have free almond butter and jelly sandwiches & free fresh fruit available every day at the Snack Station - students can help themselves
• we provide free shelf-stable portable snacks as available through the Snack Station - students can help themselves
• we have a free School Food Pantry - available every Friday during lunch, or by request. This is food for any family who needs additional food at home. The items in the pantry are shelf-stable and range from snacks to ingredients for full meals. We also have toiletry items (toothpaste, deodorant, etc) available. Students may help themselves. This is provided in partnership with the Upper Susitna Food Pantry.

SVS PTSA has Su Valley spirt gear for sale. Please contact them at svptsa@gmail.com or call the school to leave a message for them. (907)-733-9300

Every Monday we will be starting school at 9:30 am. The rest of the week we will be starting at the normal time of 8:30 am. Another change this year is that we will be in school everyday of the week until 3:00. See Bell Schedule link above.

What are PLC Mondays, click on the link to go to an informative webpage to learn more.

Our behavioral health counselor, Tanya Korta, is available all summer and throughout the school year. During the summer, she can be reached at Sunshine Clinic. During the school year she can be reached at school (907-733-9300), and she will be here Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Please do not hesitate to reach out to her if you need to talk, or if you know someone who may need support. Her email is TKorta@sunshineclinic.org.

The Public Information Office and Office of Instruction encourages schools to share this MSBSD website with their families to share what's happening for kids in the Mat-Su Valley. Schools, parents and other community stakeholders may download, read, or print informational flyers distributed for sharing to all schools each week.

Flyer approval requests may be sent to Laura Richardson, Family & Partnership Coordinator for review and approval for distribution to schools.

"Home of the Rams"

Email: Bryan.Kirby@matsuk12.us
Website: http://www.matsuk12.us/svs
Location: S. Parks Highway, Talkeetna, AK
Phone: 907-733-9300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Susitna-Valley-JrSr-High-School-314999352167336/?ref=settings