‘Young Scientists in BSSD Gain Lifelong Skills Through Virtual Science Fairs’ by Noelle Dersé at ASDN

In a school year when many districts are struggling to cover the basics, Bering Strait School District has been busy building young scientists. For more than 20 years, BSSD has held a districtwide science fair, come snow or sleet or global pandemic. This year, amid closures all over the state, BSSD decided the show must go on – on line – with a virtual district fair that allowed student-scientists to present to judges remotely from their own schools.

Mharianne Xhylhreine Sapigao from Wales, using her engineered bubble maker

Continue reading ‘Young Scientists in BSSD Gain Lifelong Skills Through Virtual Science Fairs’ by Noelle Dersé at ASDN

‘YKSD Celebrates #CSEdWeek 2020!’ by Chelsea Hurst

Computer Science Education Week (#CSEdWeek) “is an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity in computer science education, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field” (https://www.csedweek.org/). This year’s #CSEdWeek is focused on the intersection of computer science and social justice, and raising up diverse voices in technology.

Over the past two years, the Yukon Koyukuk School District (YKSD) has partnered with the Alaska Staff Development Network to introduce, develop and implement Computer Science Education to all students across the district through an Alaska Native Education Program grant called the Math and Computer Science Advancement (MaCSA) Project. Continue reading ‘YKSD Celebrates #CSEdWeek 2020!’ by Chelsea Hurst

‘Keeping the Focus on Secondary Transition’ by Jim Kreatschman

During these crazy times it’s hard to get what needs doing done! Even more difficult is focusing on planning for the future. Help is here.

The Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) have partnered with the Southeast Regional Resource Center (SERRC) to build Transition Alaska.org as a virtual classroom for teachers and students to keep the focus on transition. Continue reading ‘Keeping the Focus on Secondary Transition’ by Jim Kreatschman

DVR’s ‘Health Career Connections’ for Students with Disabilities by Jim Kreatschman

This past December, high school students from Petersburg, the MatSu valley, Shaktoolik and Kotzebue attended ‘Health Career Connections’ in Juneau. Health Career Connections is designed to give students who experience disabilities an opportunity to explore all facets of the healthcare industry to determine if a career in healthcare is in line with their personal interests, skills and abilities. This program is part of the Alaska State Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s (DOLWD) investment in supporting school age students through its Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) Transition Program.

Students learned health care skills at the Health Career Connections program in Juneau.

Continue reading DVR’s ‘Health Career Connections’ for Students with Disabilities by Jim Kreatschman

‘Alaskan Schools Prepare for Next Week’s Hour of Code’ by Sam Jordan at ASDN

 

Each December schools around Alaska and around the world set aside time for an activity called the ‘Hour of Code‘ that helps to demystify what it means to write computer code and to show that anybody can learn the basics of computer science. The 2019 Hour of Code runs December 9th – 15th. The theme for this year’s Hour of Code is #CSforGood, recognizing that computer coding can help solve many critical problems in the world. Continue reading ‘Alaskan Schools Prepare for Next Week’s Hour of Code’ by Sam Jordan at ASDN

‘Hutchison High School Encourages Life Long Learning Through CTE’ by Principal Robyn Taylor

James T. Hutchison High School or ‘Hutch’ as we affectionately call it, is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) school of choice within the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. We enroll approximately 100 students per grade, 9th-12th grade. In addition to our core 400 students, there are 164 students from across the district that attend classes at Hutch on a part-time basis.
Hutch provides an integrated learning environment within a culturally diverse community, where academic and career-technical experiences encourage a life-long love of learning, personal integrity, civic mindedness and preparation for successful post-school employment.

Continue reading ‘Hutchison High School Encourages Life Long Learning Through CTE’ by Principal Robyn Taylor

‘The Hooper Bay School Culinary Arts Class Serves Up Nourishment and Healing’ by Teacher Eric Gold

The culinary arts class has prepared holiday cookies for elders, community members and school staff each year.

The Hooper Bay School Culinary Arts Class has taken on a life of its own since it began in the fall of 2014. Originally created as a 1-semester elective, it has become one of the more demanded classes in the high school. In addition, it has a following in the school and community, and students either from the class or those unable to take it, are often found in the cooking room after school visiting, cooking and cleaning or otherwise engaged in projects that support the school and community.

Continue reading ‘The Hooper Bay School Culinary Arts Class Serves Up Nourishment and Healing’ by Teacher Eric Gold

‘How Alaska Is Learning to Teach Computer Science with Code.org’ by Sam Jordan and Cheryl Bobo at ASDN

For the past 9 months, over 300 teachers from across Alaska have been attending Code.org curriculum workshops to learn how to implement computer science in their classrooms. Alaska has recently joined 33 other states in adopting its own K-12 computer science standards with the goal of preparing students for careers and college programs in fields as diverse as data science, computer programming, video game design, cybersecurity and film animation Continue reading ‘How Alaska Is Learning to Teach Computer Science with Code.org’ by Sam Jordan and Cheryl Bobo at ASDN

‘In Valdez, Career Pathways Can Begin at the Swimming Pool’ by Superintendent Shawn Arnold

Students at VHS are studying for their lifeguard exam to help build career skills and prepare for post school life.

Valdez City Schools aquatics instructor Carl Young worked with Wendy Clubb from the Valdez Parks and Recreation Department to offer lifeguard training and certification for seven VHS students this past spring. Continue reading ‘In Valdez, Career Pathways Can Begin at the Swimming Pool’ by Superintendent Shawn Arnold

“Success Looks Like Me!” AKSDHH Releases Video Highlighting Successes by Ann Curry

 

This past week, the Alaska School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AKSDHH) released a new video called ‘Success Looks Like Me!’ to celebrate the journey and achievements of our students. The AKSDHH provides pre-k through 12th grade educational options for deaf and hard of hearing students in Alaska.  Continue reading “Success Looks Like Me!” AKSDHH Releases Video Highlighting Successes by Ann Curry