HERE - Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

SUMMER 2016 EDITION
Vol. 5 Issue 10
Alaska Native Education
Connecting the Past with the Future
Student Spotlight: School-to-Apprenticeship
On#May#5,#2016,#the#Career#Technical#Education#department#proudly#recognized#several#outstanding#seniors#in#the#district#for#
the#acceptance#into#a#variety#of#apprenticeship#programs#in#the#community.#Below#are#three#young#Alaska#Native#men#who#
have#gained#direct#entry#into#their#respective#programs#and#learning#a#skilled#trade!#Join#us#as#we#celebrate#the#beginning#of#
many#accomplishments!#
Left: Jacob Adams,
Hutchison High School
graduate, signed an
apprenticeship agreement
with the Ironworkers Local
751.
Right: Brandon StevensRustad, Hutchison High
School graduate, signed an
apprenticeship agreement
with the International
Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers Local 1547.
Below: Elijah McMorrow,
West Valley High School
graduate, signed an
apprenticeship agreement
with the Plumbers and
Pipefitters Local 375.
Above: Jacob Adams,
Hutch grad poses with
current ironworker, Eric
McNeil.
Below: Brandon Stevens-Rustad signes into the IBEW
Below: Elijah McMorrow
after signing.
SUMMER 2016 NEWSLETTER | Issue 10
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ANE Class of 2016
Way to go graduates! What a way to begin a new journey in your life! There have
been many people standing behind, cheering for, and supporting you as you have
endured these past years of schooling. Know that as you move forward those
shining lights will continue to be there for you.
The red cords signify the sacrifice, determination, will-power, and resiliency of
Alaska Native and Native American Students.
Kaden Girard, North
Pole High graduate,
wearing his red cord.
Jacob Adams
Joshua Albert
DeShawn Alt
Erik Andersen
Abigail Angaiak
Tristan Bandy
Micah Banks
Pauline Barr
Demitrius Beazer
Jonathon Bishop
Elijah Blackweasel
Justin Boynton
Amber Bronson
William Burgess
Eathan Campbell
Harlen Captain
Melvin Captain
Jada Carroll
Caleb Chamberlain
Miyah Chingliak
Trent Chiu
Sara Cogley
Bevyn Cover
Brenna Cruger
Brandon Custer
Hunter Drew
Davida Drvenkar
Matthew Encelewski
Nikeeta Frank-Gene
Anthony Garnett
Marrissa Gifford
Joshua Gilbert
Kaden Girard
Dazy Groskreutz
Jason Hall
Margaret Harrison
Hope Hedrick
Gannon Higgins
Ashley Holtry
Natilly Hovda
Casey Hudson
Vanessa Jimerson
Morgan John
Avner Kameroff
Samuel Ketzler
Marcelo KetzlerLopez
Darien Kiser
Jack Koontz
Edward Kootuk
Nicholas Kowalski
Alyssa
Lauffenberger
Henry LopezKokrine
Noah Lovell
Jeromy Lucas
Peter Macchione
Lindsey Maillard
Kelsey McFarland
Elijah McMorrow
Arianna Morgan
Sarah Mueller
Kenneth Newman
Ethan Nickoli
Robin O'Donoghue
Kelly O'Leary
Brian Olin-Duncan
Jasmine Olson
Ryan Ostlund
Joseph Palmer
Gabriel Parker
Quinton Parker
Shenella Radonich
Isaiah RerichaNicholson
Lenorah Richards
Ryan Rocheleau
Conrad Rojas
Davila Sage
Trevor Sandbo
Natalie Savage
Bruce Scott
Serina Shoemaker
Levi Silas
David Simmons
Margaret Simmons
Garret Snyder
Jasmine St Pierre
Brandon StevensRustad
Traven Sweetsir
Amber Szmyd
Alexander Taylor
Jamison Titus
Kobe Titus-Milk
Shirley Twogood
Cory Vaska
KD Weaver
Emma Wiegand
Kiana Wood
Tanisha Yarde
Emma Zayon
Above: Shirley Twogood, Hutchison
High School graduate, shows her
well-earned diploma and sports a
red cord.
Below: Abigail Angaiak, West Valley
High graduate, posing for the
hallmark pre-graduation picture.
SUMMER 2016 NEWSLETTER | Issue 10
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Parent Advisory Committee News
The#Alaska#Native#Education#program#is#proud#to#announce#a#successful#End#of#Year#picnic#celebration#at#Anne#Wien#
Elementary#school.#The#evening’s#festivities#started#off#with#principal#Michael#Angaiak#saying#a#few#words#in#
commemoration#of#Leslie#Campbell,#long#time#principal#at#Anne#Wien#and#respected#Fairbanks#community#member.##
Yatibaey#Evans,#ANE#Coordinator,#then#welcomed#the#audience#for#a#delicious#meal#of#hamburgers#and#hotdogs#grilled#by#
ANE#parents#Robert#Schonberger#and#Kevin#Walker.#Donna#Cole,#Alaska#Room#coordinator#and#Mrs.#Evans#recognized#Elder#
Ida#Ross#for#over#25#years#working#in#the#school#district#and#gifted#her#a#wonderful#coffee#themed#basket.#Native#Youth#
Olympics#teams#were#recognized#for#their#amazing#season#and#state#competition.#
The#ANE#Parent#Committee#received#two#new#members#after#a#few#moments#of#nominations,#speeches,#and#voting.#ANE#
would#like#to#especially#welcome#Amy#Topkok#and#Belinda#Banks.#
#Uvaŋa#atiġa#Ahnaughuq.#My#Iñupiaq#Eskimo#name#is#Ahnaughuq.#My#Whitefox/#
English#name#is#Amelia#Katherine#(Barr)#Topkok,#but#everyone#calls#me#Amy.#I#grew#
up#in#Kotzebue#and#Nome,#Alaska.#My#parents#are#Delano#Naunauq#and#Minnie#
Esther#Saumik#(Onalik)#Barr#of#Shishmaref,#Alaska.#My#paternal#grandparents#are#the#
late#Katherine#(mentioned),#and#the#late#Gideon#Barr#Sr.#of#Shishmaref,#and#my#
maternal#grandparents#are#the#late#Victoria#(Wesley)#and#the#late#Herbert#Onalik#Sr.#
of#Noatak,#Alaska.#I#am#fullUblooded#Iñupiaq.#I#speak#fluent#Norwegian,#little#Iñupiaq,#
and#grew#up#with#English.#
My#husband,#Sean#Topkok,#and#I#founded#the#Pavva#Iñupiaq#Dancers#in#1999#in#
Fairbanks.#We#have#three#handsome#sons,#Christopher#(graduated#from#Effie#Kokrine#
Cultural#Charter#School),#Aaron#(entering#senior#year#at#Effie),#and#Joseph#(entering#
6th#grade#at#Woodriver#Elementary#School),#as#well#as#a#busy#threeUyearUold#
grandson,#Terry.#My#previous#volunteer#work#with#the#Alaska#Native#Education#Title#
VII#grant#Parent#Advisory#Committee#lasted#from#2005#U#2013.##
Ahnaughuq “Amy” Topkok, newly
elected ANE PAC member.
I#firmly#believe#in#providing#positive#and#enlightening#opportunities#for#our#Native#
Youth#of#today.#My#other#passions#include#sewing#atikłuks,#quilting,#drawing,#being#
active#in#Native#events#in#Fairbanks,#and#hopefully#serving#as#a#positive#role#model#
for#other#Native#women#in#today’s#demanding#and#fast#paced#world.#I#am#currently#
accepted#into#the#Masters#program#with#CrossUCultural#Studies#since#Fall#2013,#and#I#
am#hoping#to#graduate#by#Fall#2017.#I#look#forward#to#being#involved#again#at#ANE#
and#hope#that#I#can#contribute#to#the#events#and#work#for#the#student's#success!#
My#name#is#Belinda#Banks#and#I#am#a#Structured#Resource#Aide#at#Woodriver#Elementary#
School.#I#was#born#in#Kotzebue,#Alaska,#and#raised#in#Kiana,#Alaska.#My#family#and#I#
moved#to#Fairbanks#in#2012.#In#2012#I#was#hired#as#a#partUtime#Behavior#Aide#at#Joy#
Elementary.##Later#I#transferred#into#a#fullUtime#position#at#Randy#Smith#as#a#Special#
Resource#Aide.#Woodriver#has#become#"home"#to#me#for#the#last#two#years.#It#has#been#
rewarding#to#watch#the#students#gain#confidence#and#become#acclimated#to#
independence#from#Fall#to#Spring.#
#
I#am#named#"Aviluqtaq"#which#means#"ring#the#bells."#I#was#born#close#to#Christmas#and#
my#mother#chose#a#loud#name.#I#have#five#children#ages#22,#19,#15,11#and#8.#My#husband#
is#Walter#Banks#and#he#works#for#the#State#of#Alaska.#I#like#to#run,#go#to#church#and#spend#
time#with#my#family.#I#am#looking#forward#to#a#positive#year#and#am#determined#to#make#
a#difference#for#our#Alaska#Native#Students#by#collaboratively#bringing#to#light#the#
awareness#of#students#needs.#
#
Thank#you#and#have#a#wonderful#summer.#
Belinda Banks, newly elected
ANE PAC member.
SUMMER 2016 NEWSLETTER | Issue 10
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Piuraa! “Until we meet again”
It#has#been#an#honor#to#serve#as#a#member#and#Chair#of#the#Alaska#Native#Education#
program’s#Parent#Advisory#Committee#(ANE#PAC)#these#past#two#years.##It#has#been#a#privilege#
to#gain#deeper#understandings#of#our#school#district#and#the#education#our#young#people#are#
emerced#in;#I#have#learned#about#many#challenges#and#many#opportunities.##While#there#are#
many#challenges#still#to#be#addressed#by#our#school#district#and#our#community#collectively,#I#
am#proud#to#say#that#during#my#time#on#the#ANE#PAC#I#have#had#the#exciting#opportunity#to#
help#make#real#and#significant#growth#for#the#betterment#of#all#students#and#their#
families.##While#I#will#not#be#an#elected#PAC#member,#I#look#forward#to#attending#future#ANE#
PAC#meetings#&#I#encourage#all#parents#to#join#me#in#getting#involved.##I#am#so#thankful#for#
the#work#of#ANE,#of#our#coordinator,#all#the#tutors,#support#staff,#and#all#the#parents#who#have#
given#their#time,#whether#to#guide#resolution#language#or#grill#hamburgers#—#a#continuous#
Thank#You! #
There#are#a#few#highlights#from#my#time#with#the#PAC.#One#of#my#favorites#is#when#the#
PAC#initiated#the#process#for#having#the#school#district#recognize#Indigenous#Peoples#
Day.##Though#we#may#not#see#the#tangible#effects#of#this,#I#believe#it#instills#pride#and#a#
feeling#of#worthiness#in#our#Native#students.##Not#only#do#I#believe#this#can#have#an#
impact#on#how#these#students#perform#academically,#it#also#enriches#the#experience#of#
the#entire#student#population.#
#
I#will#miss#the#company#of#the#other#PAC#members#and#the#ANE#staff.#We#shared#a#lot#
of#laughs#and#had#fun#working#together#for#the#betterment#of#our#ANE#students.#In#the#
last#year#I#was#promoted#to#a#new#position#at#work,#so#for#the#time#being,#I#will#
continue#to#focus#on#family,#work,#and#my#health.##However,#I#am#considering#
becoming#a#Big#Sister#to#a#student#in#the#next#school#year.##
#
#
#
#
#
#
Thank#you#all#so#much#for#such#an#amazing#year#and#opportunity#to#work#in#the#Alaska#
Native#Education#Program!#I#will#miss#the#schools,#children,#and#coUworkers#dearly.#There#
have#been#so#many#good#memories#made#here#at#Denali#that#will#last#me#a#life#time#and#
constantly#remind#me#to#take#all#cultures#into#consideration.#It#means#so#much#to#have#a#
strong#sense#of#community#and#support#that#is#provided#to#tutors#and#students.#Thank#
you#to#all#of#them!##As#for#this#summer#my#fiancé#and#I#will#be#getting#married#this#
summer#and#shortly#after#will#move#to#Missoula#where#she#will#pursue#a#graduate#degree#
in#School#Psychology.#I#will#hopefully#be#applying#for#teaching#positions#and#working#
within#the#schools#down#there.#To#all#of#the#staff#and#coUworkers#within#the#school#and#
ANE#program,#Thank#You#and#have#an#amazing#summer!#
SUMMER 2016 NEWSLETTER | Issue 10
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#
2016 Community Needs Assessment
The ANE Program sent out a survey this Spring to all families. The survey asked a variety
of questions about the different aspects of the program and which families liked best.
Below is a snap shot of your answers. The bigger the font, the more people provided the
same anser.
Question: Which services do you
feel are most beneficial?
Question: What additional services
would you like to see ANE provide?
Helping Hands for Households
There are an incredible number of great activities to embark upon in summer. If you’re like my family, you are trying to
squeeze in a ton of sunshine. Please remember the following ways to stay safe:
◊
Wear a helmet when riding a bike,
scooter, skateboard, rollerblades and
more!
◊
◊
Use the buddy system. Take a
friend on your outdoor
adventures.
Wear life jackets when boating,
floating down river, and swimming in
lakes and ponds.
◊
Wear appropriate clothing like
rain gear, sweaters, boots…etc
◊
Parents and adults should supervise
kids around water 100% of the time.
◊
◊
Stay hydrated! Rule of thumb: drink
half your weight in ounces of water
or more.
Be sure to keep the list of
emergency numbers in a visible
location: emergency medical
services (911), doctor’s,
dentists, mom and dad’s,
neighbor, and any others that
may be important
◊
Teach kids about stay back from
grills
◊
Whistle while hiking and walking the
woods; wild animals will likely stay
away from you if you are loud.
◊
◊
Keep first aid kit on hand
Watch out for the ‘flying’ fishing
hoods, keep a safe distance.
For more information on safety,
visit the following websites:
http://www.alaskacenters.gov/safe
ty-topics.cfm
http://www.pbs.org/parents/summ
er/summer-safety-tips-for-kids/
SUMMER 2016 NEWSLETTER | Issue 10
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As#you#gear#up#for#this#
beautiful#Alaskan#summer,#
consider#the#following#activities#
for#summer#fun!#
Popular Activities
Popular Places
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
Camping
Hiking
Fishing
Swimming
Biking
Gardening
Traveling
Pioneer Park
Chena Lakes
Tanana Lakes
Chena River
Angel Rocks
Murphy Dome
UAF Nature Trails
Botanical Gardens
See the link below for summer camp opportunities.
https://issuu.com/newsminer/docs/2016_summerfun#
»
»
Calypso Farms
Harding Lake
SUMMER 2016 NEWSLETTER | Issue 10
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