North Star News - December 2023
FNSBSD Families,
As the first semester comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible work happening throughout our district and to express my sincere gratitude to each and every one of you.
Over the past few months, I've had the pleasure of visiting many of our schools and witnessing firsthand the dedication and enthusiasm of our students, teachers, and staff. I am truly impressed by the positive and supportive environment that has been cultivated in our schools.
I am particularly proud of the district's focus on three key areas: literacy, attendance, and culture. From the administrators and teachers who work tirelessly to create engaging learning environments, to the support staff who ensure the smooth operation of our schools, to the parents and guardians who provide unwavering support and encouragement at home, we are all playing a vital role in the success of our students.
As we enter the second semester, I encourage you to continue to engage with your child's education and stay informed about the exciting initiatives taking place in our schools. Together, we can create an even more positive and rewarding learning experience for all of our students.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our school district community. I look forward to witnessing the continued growth and achievements of our students in the months to come.
Happy Holidays,
Dr. Luke Meinert
FNSBSD Superintendent
Electronic Health Record System | Nursing Services
Nursing Services would like to invite everyone to sign up for the district's Electronic Health Record, SchoolCare®. This digital platform allows our School Health Office employees to chart health events electronically, allows district leaders to pull health compliance reports, and helps parents engage in their student's health. Learn more about SchoolCare here.
Meal Application Verification Process Update | Nutrition Services
If you would like to reapply, please complete a new meal application and submit income documentation, no older than 30 days, to foodservice@k12northstar.org. Please include the new application number and your child(ren)’s name(s) so we can locate the application.
Fairbanks Students Receive UA Scholarships
Congratulations to the FNSBSD students that qualified to receive a $12,000 scholarship from the University of Alaska UA Scholar Program! Of the 923 high school seniors selected from 225 high schools across Alaska, 80 were FNSBSD students. Click here to review the list of scholarship recipients.
Arctic Light Elementary Named National ESEA Distinguished School
Arctic Light Elementary School has been named a National ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) Distinguished School by the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development. “At Arctic Light we serve a unique population of students that come to us from all over the world. Our students are almost all military-connected and they bring diverse experiences that make our school amazing,” said Principal Blackwell. Read the full announcement here.
American Red Cross Seeking Youth Heroes
Do you know someone who has done something extraordinary like save a life or gone above and beyond? American Red Cross of Alaska is seeking nominations for the 2024 Red Cross of Alaska Real Heroes Awards.
Delayed Start of School | Inclement Weather
If the District announces a delayed start, the school day will start two hours later than normal start time. If your student rides the bus, arrive at the bus stop two hours later than your normal scheduled time. Click here for information on a delayed start.
Principal Hiring Process | Career and Job Opportunities
It’s time to start our principal hiring process! A hiring committee for each school seeking a new principal will be facilitated by district administration. The committee will consist of 2 certified staff, 2 classified staff, 2 parents who are neither ESSA or FEA members, and a representative of the Fairbanks Native Association. Military impacted schools will also have a military representative on the committee.
An important step in hiring a building principal is gathering input from staff and parents. If your school is hiring a principal, we encourage you to complete your school’s survey to provide feedback regarding the principal position.
Principal job positions will open starting December 15, 2023.
The following schools will be hiring principals for 2024:
Ladd Elementary School
West Valley High School
Alaska Reads Act Update | Teaching & Learning
All elementary schools have their Walk-to-Intervention programs up and running, and are progress monitoring students in Tier II and Tier III reading interventions. Progress monitoring allows educators to use multiple data points to monitor how students are responding to interventions. Using this data, school teams can identify and investigate what might be contributing to learning delays.
Regular communication home to families is a key component of the Alaska Reads Act and our district's commitment to families. The mClass program provides a resource called Home Connect, which matches students’ needs with activities to do at home. Each Home Connect provides an update specific to the student, with strategies offered to target their area of need.
mClass Progress Monitoring | Teaching & Learning
Over 12,000 separate instances of progress monitoring have been captured across all elementary schools.
Progress monitoring for Tier II students occurs about every 4 weeks. There have been 1010 touchpoints for Tier II students.
Progress monitoring for Tier III students occurs about every 2 weeks. There have been 514 progress monitoring touchpoints for Tier III students.
Early analysis of progress monitoring shows positive movement, especially in schools and classrooms with strong implementation of the core curriculum, interventions, and progress monitoring
Join Our School Community as a Substitute Employee!
Are you a parent looking to make a difference in your child's school community? Here's a fantastic opportunity for you! Become a substitute employee with us, and enjoy a flexible schedule that complements your family's needs. As a substitute, you'll play a vital role in supporting our schools and students, all while benefiting from a schedule that accommodates your life.
If you're interested in contributing to your child's educational journey and becoming an essential part of our team, click here for more information on this rewarding opportunity.
Winter Interim Assessments | Teaching & Learning
The Winter Assessment benchmark window will be opening soon! Please note the following assessment schedule for the schools. Schools will choose a few dates within the window to give the appropriate assessment.
iReady Diagnostic - December 6–January 23
Grades K-8 in Reading and Math
mCLASS - December 11–December 22
Grades K-3 in Literacy
MAP - January 9–19
Grades 3-9 in Reading and Math
NAEP – January 22–March 8
Grades 4, 8, and 12
After School Programs (ASP) | Student Support Services
Winter is here and so is the Winter Activities Guide from the 21st CCLC Afterschool Programs!
21st CCLC Grant Funded Afterschool Program Schedule:
- Last day of Afterschool Programs for Semester 1: Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
- First day of Afterschool Programs for Semester 2: Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
21st CCLC ASP Grant Funded Programs Sites: Anne Wien, Denali, Hunter, Ticasuk Brown, Weller, Ryan, and Lathrop.
Looking for Special Education Teachers and Paraprofessionals! | Human Resources
We are looking for extraordinary people! Our Special Education teachers and paraprofessionals serve with passion and purpose and are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our students and school community. Join an amazing team of special education professionals and make a difference today; we offer Flexible Schedules, Competitive Pay, School Options and Diverse Opportunities.
Learn more and apply online here or call 907-452-2000 extension 11382.
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
Email: publicrelations@k12northstar.org
Website: https://www.k12northstar.org
Location: 520 5th Avenue, Fairbanks, AK, USA
Phone: (907) 452-2000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fsdk12/
Instagram: @fsdk12
Twitter: @fsdk12