Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Dec. 23-Jan. 8: No school. Winter vacation.

Jan. 9: First day back to school.

Jan. 16: No school. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Feb. 9-10: Parent-teacher conferences, no school for students.

March 10: End of third quarter, no school for students.

March 13-17: Spring Break.

May 24: Last day of school.

The Kenai Peninsula School Board will meet:

Jan. 16

Feb. 6

March 6

April 3

May 1 (Seward High School)

June 5

June 6 (Planning Session)

For more information about school board meetings, call 907-714-8888 or visit kpbsd.k12.ak.us. The agenda and packet items are posted on Wednesday afternoon prior to the date of the board meeting. Persons with disabilities who need accommodations to participate at the school board meetings should contact Debbie Tressler at 907-714-8836 or email dtressleratkpbsd.k12.ak.us no later than three business days before the meeting date.

McNeil Canyon Elementary School

Jan. 9: School resumes.

Jan. 9: After-school skiing program begins. Students must have turned in a signed permission slip to participate. The maximum number of skiers, based on the number of parent volunteers, have been reached but there is a waiting list of kids who want to ski. If a signed-up child changes their mind, please let Laura, in the office, know so the school can place another child in that slot. Donations of snacks and hot chocolate to serve to skiers are welcome.

Jan. 1: After-school skating program begins. Students must have turned in a signed permission slip to participate. Donations of snacks and hot chocolate to serve to skaters are welcome.

Jan. 13: Geography bee. Students in fourth-sixth grades are invited to participate. Visit nationalgeographic.com/geobee and nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine for information to help with studying. National Geographic’s app can also be downloaded at nationalgeographic.com/geobee/apps.

Jan. 27: New spelling bee date. Students in fourth-sixth grades are invited to participate. Visit spellingbee.com/parents-and-students for study tips or myspellit.com for free online access to 2017 Spell It!

Talent show: plan a family act

The McNeil Family Talent Show is in February. Some of the most memorable skits in the past were family productions. The Christmas holiday may be a good time for the family to work on a skit.

West Homer Elementary School

Jan. 10: PTO meeting in WHE library, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 30: Spelling bee in WHE library, 9:30 a.m.

Feb. 27: Site council meeting in WHE library, 6 p.m.

Reapplying for meal benefits

KPBSD Student Nutrition Services encourages families that may have applied and were denied for free lunches or qualified for reduced lunches, but think they may qualify for free lunches due to the reduced 2016 PFD, to reapply after Jan. 1, 2017. Families who have not applied for free or reduced meal benefits for this school year and would like to know if they qualify can fill out the application and submit it.

Meal benefits applications may be applied for online at bit.ly/mealbenefitsapp or applications can be picked up at any KPBSD school or the Student Nutrition office at 139 E. Park Ave., Soldotna.

Nominate an outstanding teacher or educational ally

BP is accepting nominations for the BP Teachers of Excellence program, which recognizes K-12 Alaska teachers’ exceptional work. The program is also accepting nominations for unsung heroes in Alaska schools, including principals, counselors, and teacher assistants.

Each BP Teacher of Excellence will receive $500 and a $500 matching grant to their school, according to a press release. One Teacher of the Year will receive a $1,500 scholarship for continuing education. Educational Allies will receive a cash award and recognition at the annual awards ceremonies in the spring.