Dear KCSD Families,
Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season was filled with joy and time with loved ones. I’m so excited to welcome our students back to school this week—it’s always a treat to see their energy and excitement as we kick off a new semester.
My family and I had a great break, spending Christmas in Juneau with Mason, Max, and some family friends. We also took a trip to Portland to visit my mom and aunts, which was a wonderful chance to reconnect. Of course, traveling home was an adventure in itself, thanks to some ferry delays caused by the Hubbard’s mechanical issues. I know many of you faced similar challenges, and I want you to know that I’ve been advocating fiercely for better ferry service to Kake. I’ve been reaching out to our state representatives, Senator Murkowski’s office, and the Department of Transportation Commissioner—and I’ll keep pushing for solutions that better serve our community.
Updates and Announcements
Exciting Grant News!
I’m thrilled to share that KCSD has been awarded the Arts, Health, and Well-Being in Alaska grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts, funded by the Rasmuson Foundation. This grant will allow us to extend our work with Sarah Campen and Ryan Conarro, who will work with our students on arts-integrated projects that foster creativity and cultural pride. They’ll be on-site starting January 12th, and we’re planning a special Family Night on January 20th to celebrate their work. Stay tuned for more details!
Kids Don’t Float Assembly
Great news! The U.S. Coast Guard will be visiting KCSD next Wednesday, January 10th, to present their “Kids Don’t Float” program. This assembly will include hands-on activities for students to learn about water safety and survival skills. Here’s the schedule:
1:00 - 1:45: PreK - 3rd Grade
2:00 - 2:45: 4th - 7th Grade
We’re so grateful to the Coast Guard for bringing this important program to our school.
Illness Alert: Keep KCSD Healthy
We are already seeing a variety of illnesses going around, including Norovirus, RSV, and pink eye. Let’s work together to keep our students and staff healthy! Please do not send your child to school if they are sick or showing symptoms. We will be monitoring students closely, and children who are ill will be sent home. Hand sanitizer stations will be available at all entrances, and we’ll continue encouraging handwashing throughout the day. Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy environment for everyone!
Thunderbirds in Action
I had the chance to watch our Thunderbirds play in Juneau over the break, and it was incredible to see their teamwork and dedication on the court. Sadly, we had an injury during the girls’ scrimmage game, and we’re wishing her a speedy recovery.
Coffee Chats with Dr. Anji
I've been thinking about how we can create more opportunities to connect, share ideas, and hear from you about our district. I know everyone's schedule looks different, so I want to make sure these conversations work for you.
To start, I'm planning some casual coffee chats in my office - just a relaxed space where we can talk about what matters to you, your kids, and our community. I'm setting aside this Wednesday morning from 8:15 - 9:15 for our first meet-up, but I absolutely understand this time might not work for everyone. Please let me know what times would be better for you - whether that's afternoons, evenings, or even weekends. We can rotate these meetings to different days and times to make sure everyone who wants to join in has a chance to do so.
The goal is simple: to listen, learn, and work together to make our district even better. Your perspective matters, and I want to make sure you have a voice in shaping our school community.
Looking forward to connecting with you!
Thank you all for your continued support of our school community. We’re so excited to kick off 2025 together and look forward to a fantastic semester ahead!