Shooting Star Scoop: August

With the utmost enthusiasm, I welcome you to the 2024-2025 school year at Nikiski North Star Elementary! Before school begins on Wednesday, August 21, I wanted to share general information that will help ensure that the first week is a smooth transition. The staff at Nikiski North Star look forward to working with your family this year! We truly value your involvement and input regarding your child’s education. If you have questions, comments, or concerns about any aspect of your child’s schooling, please do not hesitate to reach out. We look forward to a positive partnership between school and home! Here's to the best school year, yet!

• Friday, August 9: Popsicles with the Principal, 4:00-4:45 p.m. NNS playground
• Tuesday, August 20: Meet Our Staff Event, 4:45-5:45 p.m., This is the perfect time for your child to find their classroom and meet their teacher. Please feel free to bring supplies during this time as well!
• Wednesday, August 21: First Day of School for students! Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast/AM recess. First bell rings at 8:50 a.m.

* Families of Kindergarten Students: Welcome letters, specifically noting whether your child is assigned the AM or PM session, will be mailed this week to the address listed in Powerschool. If you have any questions, please call our office at 776-2600. AM Kindergarten session (August 21-23): 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. PM Kindergarten session (August 21-23): 1:00-3:00 p.m.

• Monday, August 26: Intramural Cross Country Running begins for 3rd-5th grade students

• Monday, September 2: Labor Day: No School
  

Please visit: https://kpbsd.org/schools/nikiski-north-star/staff/ to see our current staff

This past year and year’s prior, students participated in daily Specials blocks on an A/B rotation. Students participated in P.E. 2 days and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) 3 days/week and vice versa.

Based on our school size, NNS is categorized as a small elementary school and is allotted one Specialist Teacher. In the past, we have placed a classroom position in a Specialist role in order to have two Specials Teachers. This year, we are shifting our current staffing to support smaller class sizes (aiming to have smaller class sizes with a 1:19 ratio within each classroom) and two classroom teachers per grade level by moving back to the one Specialist Teacher and combining subjects. NNS will have one teacher overseeing “Integrated Specials” which will encompass P.E./STEAM instruction, with defined P.E. and STEAM days.

Dr. Gilbert has been hard at work looking at integrating P.E. concepts with science, technology, engineering, art, and math, as well as standalone P.E and STEAM units. By way of STEAM and P.E. classes, along with teachers/grade level coordination, classes will have additional access to the gym throughout the week, learning about sportsmanship, how to play different sports and games, taking turns, coordination, etc. Additionally, teachers build in movement breaks throughout the day within their classrooms.

In our shift to P.E./STEAM, we have revealed more structured opportunities for students to move. We are proud to offer several intramural sports opportunities, such as cross country running/skiing and basketball, for intermediate grade students.

Please visit: https://kpbsd.org/wp-content/uploads/parents-students/calendars/2024-2025/2024-2025-Districtwide-Calendar.pdf to access the Districtwide calendar.

https://kpbsd.org/students-parents/parent-student-handbook/

• Parents and guardians are encouraged to complete their online meal application so children will have access to meal benefits as soon as possible. Please take the time to complete this form even if you think you do not qualify. The streamlined online application for Free and Reduced Meals to determine benefits and qualify communities for federal funds is live.

  • KPBSD Free and Reduced Meal application: http://mealapp.kpbsd.org

• Kenai Peninsula Borough School District 2024-2025 Meal Prices:

  • Breakfast: Students approved for Free and Reduced meals: $.00; Grades K-12: $2.50

  • Lunch: Students approved for reduced meals: $.40; Grades K-6: $3.50

To access our Attendance Guidelines, please visit: https://kpbsd.org/schools/nikiski-north-star/parent-portal/attendance-policy/

We place great importance on effective communication! Bloomz is our primary form of communication between home and school. Please note that Bloomz does not replace a phone call or in-person meetings. For end-of-day plans and time-sensitive information, please continue to call our office at 907-776-2600 before 3:10 p.m. Our office cannot answer the phone after 3:10 p.m. due to school dismissal.

To keep you informed, our office will publish an electronic school newsletter on our website at the beginning of each month. This link will be sent via Bloomz and SchoolMessenger. If needed, we can provide a paper copy upon request.

In addition to Bloomz, Nikiski North Star Elementary utilizes the District's School Messenger notification service. This service enables us to send important information about
school events, delays, or emergencies via telephone, text, or email.

Stay connected with us! We maintain an active presence on Facebook where we keep families informed about activities, events, and happenings.

Your child’s safety is our top priority. All visitors, including parents and guardians, are required to check in at the front office upon arrival. If you need to pick-up your child early, the office will call your child(ren) out of class. Our staff will not release children without permission from the office.

If you are interested in volunteering in our school or attending field trips, please be sure to fill out the Volunteer Application: https://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/departments.aspx?id=19556

School supply lists can be found at: https://kpbsd.org/schools/nikiski-north-star/parent-portal/school-supply-list/

• Arrival: For students in grades Kindergarten (**First week is an exception for Kindergarten**) through Fifth grade, school begins at 8:50 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Our school doors open at 8:30 a.m. in order to accommodate students that are eating breakfast. Breakfast will only be served between 8:30-8:50 a.m. each morning. If your child rides the bus and needs breakfast, rest assured that route times will allow for students to eat breakfast

• Dismissal:
• Primary Students Dismiss: 3:25 p.m.

• Intermediate Student Dismiss: 3:27 p.m.

  • Parent Pick-up: In an effort to lessen the amount of cars that are backed up on Holt Lamplight Road during dismissal, we will continue using a second pick-up lane this year. Students will be escorted to cars by supervising adults. Including a family name on the right-side of your vehicle will help our staff easily identify the student(s) that you are picking up. Lane One: (Crosswalk closest to the school) and Lane Two: (Lower parking lot-near the first set of crosswalk stairs). Please note that cars parked in the front parking lot after 3:00 p.m. will not be able to exit the parking lot until after dismissal is over at 3:35 p.m. If you are new to Parent Pick-up at NNS: Welcome! Please see the dismissal image: Dismissal Image

• Boys and Girls Club is excited to offer an after-school program, which includes transportation! Please contact Ms. Lori at 907-776-2668 to ensure that your child is registered.

NNS receives federal funds through Title I. For the 2024-2025 school year, NNS will operate a schoolwide program model (K through 5th grade) based on our school’s needs

• Address: 45600 Holt Lamplight Rd Kenai, AK 99611

• Phone: (907) 776-2600
• Fax: (907) 776-8423
• Website: https://kpbsd.org/schools/nikiski-north-star/

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/NikiskiNorthStarElementary