School announcements

School district risk level update and upcoming events

School District Risk Levels

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has mitigation plans in place for what will happen with in-person education when different regions of the peninsula are in low, medium and high-risk levels.

Regions of the peninsula are put into low, medium or high-risk categories based on the number of new cases of COVID-19 identified over a 14-day period. This model is based on rates of cases per 100,000 of population.

All students are currently able to attend onsite education in district schools. Elementary students can attend five days a week while middle and high school students are attending two days a week on an A/B schedule.

As of Wednesday, the southern peninsula (from Ninilchik south) remained in the high risk category with 25 new cases in the last 14 days. The southern peninsula is in low risk if it has had zero to nine new cases in the last 14 days, is in medium risk if there have been 10 to 19 new cases in the last 14 days, and is in high risk if there were 20 or more new cases in the last 14 days.

The central peninsula, including Kenai, Nikiski, Soldotna, Sterling and Kasilof, was also at high risk as of Wednesday, with 123 new cases over the last 14 days.

The eastern peninsula (Seward and Moose Pass) was also at high risk Wednesday with seven new cases of COVID-19 within the last 14 days.

Four of the rural communities within the school district remain at low risk. The schools in those communities are Nanwalek School, Port Graham School and Susan B. English School in Seldovia across Kachemak Bay, and Tebughna School in Tyonek.

Hope School and Cooper Landing School are both in the medium-risk category.

The district is still offering free Get-It and Go meals for remote learning students, which can be picked up daily between noon and 1 p.m. Families need to place meal orders by noon on Fridays.

Homer High School

Thursday — Basketball at Nikiski Middle/High School. JV girls play at 3 p.m., JV boys play at 4:30 p.m., varsity girls play at 6 p.m. and varsity boys play at 7:30 p.m.

Friday — Varsity Hockey against Kenai, at 7 p.m. at Kevin Bell Arena.

Saturday — JV basketball against Ninilchik. Girls play at 1 p.m. and boys play at 2:30 p.m. Varsity hockey against Soldotna High School, at 5 p.m. at Kevin Bell Arena.

Monday, Jan. 25 — C Team basketball against SoHi. Girls play at 3:30 p.m. and boys play at 5 p.m.

All spectators must be on the player guest list. Two spectators per participant per game. Gym will be cleared after each contest. All spectators will wear a face covering and have a signed KPBSD COVID Waiver.

All Homer events will be streamed on the Homer Mariners You Tube Channel, www.youtube.com/channel/UCzswQoG0p9DfZHgPKjoc5mg>.

Homer Middle School

Volleyball Intramurals began on Jan. 11. Competitive play begins on Jan. 25. Volleyball ends on Feb. 27.

Nordic Skiing stated Jan. 11 and will end Feb. 27.

Friday — Nordic Skiing, Kenai Invitational at 3 p.m. in Kenai.

Jan. 29 — Nordic Skiing, Skyview Invitational at 3 p.m. in Soldotna

Fireweed Academy

Both Big and Little Fireweed

Feb. 17 — Early Release Day. Little Fireweed released at 1:20 p.m. and Big Fireweed at 1:45 p.m.

Feb. 18-19 — Parent/Teacher Conferences and in-service

March 5 — No School: End of quarter and in-service day.

March 8-12 — Spring Break

March 15 —Fourth quarter begins

McNeil Canyon Elementary

Thursday — Learning Lab begins

Friday — Community Council Facebook Auction ends at 10 a.m.

Feb. 15 — At the beginning of February, kindergarten through sixth grade students dive into a two-week immersion in the art of acrylics with Homer-based artist Sharlene Cline. Students will be painting scenes, creatures, and objects from our own Kachemak Bay. Please join in celebrating the learning and creativity of our students by attending a virtual gallery walk available through the school’s website (https://kpbsd.org/schools/mcneil-canyon/) starting Feb. 15.

Kachemak Bay Campus

Homer Adult Education is offering free computer skills classes throughout the semester. Call (907) 235-1606 for more information.

It’s not too late to register for classes at Kachemak Bay Campus. Looking for something you can accomplish in one year? KPC is now offering UAA’s fast-track certificate in Business Leadership that students can achieve in one or two semesters. If you are looking for a quick way to boost your resume or to make a career shift, this Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC) is for you. Perfect for individuals in entry-level leadership roles and people wanting to build skills and stand out in a crowd, and for the Spring 2021 term, applicants may be eligible for financial awards up to $1,000. Interested parties can call KBC at 907-235-7743 to be connected to an advisor.