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Just under a dozen students at the local middle and high schools took part in a two-week hunter education course, earning their certifications in the process. The course was led by Winston Davies, who teaches the district's Alaska skills course. "It's the first time to my knowledge that hunter safety has been taught here in years," he explained. The state-approved curriculum provides a well-rounded course, covering firearms safety training, wildlife conservation, and respect for natural resource...
A statewide assessment of grade schoolers taken this spring has suggested education has some room for improvement. The Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s Schools (PEAKS) exam was administered for the first time to students between third and 10th grade, testing for proficiency in mathematics, English language arts and science. Mirroring standards used in the widely-used National Assessment of Educational Progress, PEAKS provides a snapshot of student performance in relation to grade-level standards. Overall, schools across the state did not a...
Wrangell Public School District has been trying something new for lunch this year, enlisting local kitchens to keep students at the middle and high schools fed. Five private food services have staked out days of the week to provide meals: J&W's Fast Foods, the delis at Bobs' IGA and City Market, Notsofamous Pizza, and the Stikine Restaurant. Secondary schools principal Bill Schwan explained the arrangement had developed in response to an in-house menu attempted last year. At the end of the...
At the second school board meeting of the new year on Monday, staff and returning members welcomed newly elected fellows Dave Wilson and Jessica Rooney. Officers were selected for the reshuffled board, with Georgianna Buhler retaining her position as president, Tammi Groshong being elected to vice-president in a 3-2 vote, and Aleisha Mollen named board secretary. Perhaps the biggest news of the evening though had been an announcement from secondary schools principal Bill Schwan and Secondary...
Summer may be at its peak, but for students it’s quickly beginning to wind down. The new year begins for them on August 28, and several new things are in store. At Evergreen Elementary School, Gail Taylor will be settling in as its new principal. Offered the job in June and starting later this month, she was previously the elementary principal at Haworth School District in Haworth, Oklahoma. For students at Stikine Middle and Wrangell High schools, secondary principal Bill Schwan explained a new guidance counselor will be starting soon. The r...
Senior students at Wrangell High School presented their end-of-year projects for parents, faculty and other passersby last week at the school gym. Twenty-four members of this year's graduating class worked on a variety of assignments to meet their core requirements. School activities director Bill Bradley explained the projects are self-driven, and encourage students to give back to the community as best they can. Projects are at least 25 hours each, which can be difficult to arrange when...
Wrapping up the spring Chautauqua season at the Nolan Center this year, a Wrangell school senior presented the findings by her classmates and herself mapping the movements of Shakes Glacier. Located about 30 miles northeast of Wrangell up the Stikine River, the glacier is an oft-visited site by residents and visitors touring the river system. Its meltoff feeding into Shakes Lake, the glacier is part of the wider Stikine Ice Field, of which LeConte Glacier is included. Reyn Hutten this year was...
May 3, 1917: Civic Improvement Club believes that a creditable display of flowers and vegetables could be shown in early fall. It has been suggested that a small fair be held in Wrangell at the close of the contest which the Civic Club announced last week, or later. Two public spirited citizens with cameras offered to take a few of the pictures required, in the Yard contest announced in the Sentinel last week, free of charge. Contestants will do well to give their names to the committee, Miss Woods and Mrs. Johnson, as early as possible in...
Wrangell students got hands-on with robotics and circuitry for most of last week, taking part in a technological workshop put on by the AKTeach program. The program – an acronym for Alaskans Transforming Educational Access in Communities and Homes – is part of the Kodiak Island Borough School District, and facilitates education services for school systems across the state. Instructors from the program were brought to Wrangell for three days to focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and...
Stikine Middle School’s wrestlers brought back a bit of glory last weekend, besting Petersburg and most other schools at the 2017 Stikine Invitational in Petersburg. Fielding 13 wrestlers, Wrangell had nine scorers competing in the two-day tournament. Of them, three took first placements, five seconds, and two thirds. James Shilts (160 weight bracket), Jake Eastaugh (148), and Leif Larsson (140) all brought back gold medals in the tourney. Rowen Wiederspohn (148), Randy Churchill (110), Jamie Early (105) Ethan Blatchley (95) and Ryan Rooney (...
Wrangell High School: Principals Honor Roll: Alex Angerman, Abigail Armstrong, Helen Decker, Sig Decker, Kellan Eagle, Kaylyn Easterly, Abigail Gerald, Makena Hammer, Kayla Hay, Laura Helgeson, Joe Hommel, Reyn Hutten, Luke Kowalske, Adriana Larrabee, Josephine Lewis, Tasha Massin, Scythia McQueen, Kiara Meissner, Hannah Miethe, Dawson Miller, Jing O’Brien, Sam Prysunka, Zach Seddon, Trent Stokes, Dora Voltz. Honor Roll: Anna Allen, Sam Armstrong, Madison Blackburn, Hannah Brown, Karri Buness, Kaylauna Churchill, Ian Jenson, Skylar Larrabee, T...
For Wrangell, the past year was one mixed with successes and setbacks, shared tragedies and uplifting moments. Sales taxes collected over the spring and summer tour seasons neared all-time highs, with the visitor industry experiencing a good season overall. On the other end, fishermen experienced one of their worst harvests of the summer, which after a disappointing 2015 season has put the fiscal pinch on a number of local families, boat builders, and associated sectors. As 2017 dawns, concerns...
Thanksgiving leftovers about behind it now, Wrangell will be kicking off for the rest of the season's holidays tomorrow evening. The Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual Midnight Madness on Front Street, with the big tree lighting to start at 6 p.m. Wrangell Municipal Light and Power continued its tradition of bringing in the biggest tree it can find for Friday's lighting, provided this year by Donna Wellons. As with other years, decorations for the tree will have been hand-crafted by...
Wrangell high school finished off its regular volleyball season exchanging venues with Petersburg over the weekend. On Friday the girls headed to Petersburg for three best-of-five games, the first two played by both schools' junior varsity squads. Wrangell's JV won both best-of matches, bringing their last weekend of the season to a good end. "They were able to improve throughout the season," commented coach Jessica Whitaker. In particular, she noted the team's improvements in serving and...
Stikine Middle School: Principals Honor Roll: Jade Balansag, Emma Martinsen, Samantha Acuna, Elizabeth McIntyre, Jimmy Baggen, Tyson Messmer, Liana Carney, Sophie O’Brien, Honor Roll: Paige Baggen, Aaliyah Messmer, Devlyn Campbell, Mercedes Morgan, Jacob Dow, Ryan Rooney, Jamie Early, Nikolai Siekawitch-Bardin, Jacen Hay, Bruce Smith, Daniel McIntyre, Leroy Wynne, Kendra Meissner, Honorable Mention: Brett Abrahamson, Brodie Garner, William Ashton, Ethan Blatchley, Terra Hoyt, Jayden Buhler, Alex Rooney, Randy Churchill, Logan Ritchie, C...
Art students at the middle and high schools are throwing pottery with style, now that a new kiln was purchased. Stikine Middle School and Wrangell High School art teacher Anne Luetkemeyer explained the new addition to her classroom was financed thanks to proceeds from annual art auctions. Held in early December each year, students from her class pool together pieces and various works to sell during the annual Christmas concert. Saving for the past three years, the class raised the $3,800 needed...
Volleyball season is under way, with the Lady Wolves resuming practices last week in preparation for the season. Their first home game is set for September 30, with a weekend tournament trading venues between Wrangell and Petersburg. Coach Jessica Whitaker explained there will be two sets of home games against the Lady Vikings this season, and in both instances games will be played at both schools. It is a convenient trip for players, and also allows parents to see how their students are improving. Just because the team was on its summer...
With school set to start on August 25 staff at Wrangell Public Schools have returned from their summer hiatus and are preparing for registration of students. Incoming elementary school students can be registered anytime between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. next Tuesday through Thursday. Those enrolling kindergarteners are advised to bring along copies of birth certificates a nd immunization records. High schoolers likewise can register for classes on Tuesday, with middle schoolers doing so on Wednesday....
Principals Honor Roll: Laura Helgeson, Jing O’Brien, Jade Balansag, Liana Carney, Sophie O’Brien. Honor Roll: Madison Blackburn, Hannah Brown, Karri Buness, John Buness, Kaylyn Easterly, Tasha Massin, Trevor Miller, Hunter Wiederspohn, Jacob Dow, Aaliyah Messmer, Bruce Smith, Samantha Acuna, Jimmy Baggen, Jamie Early, Daniel McIntyre, Elizabeth McIntyre, Tyson Messmer, Mercedes Morgan, Ryan Rooney. Honorable Mention: Caitlin Cooper, Adriana Larrabee, Skylar Larrabee, Tate Miller, Sean Rooney, Hank Voltz, Terra Hoyt, Logan Ritchie, Alex Roo...
In the Sentinel 75, 50 and 25 years ago. May 9, 1941: The C.P.R. Freighter Nootka arrived here this week on her annual spring trip, bringing approximately 175 tons of supplies for Watson Lake in Canada and general merchandise for up the Stikine. About 125 tons, lumber and other supplies and some equipment was for Watson Lake. This morning the Barrington Transportation boats, the Hazel B No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 and the new barge, were loaded and prepared to start up the river with a big consignment of goods and 37 workmen for the General...
Students at Stikine Middle School will be hosting a group from Colony Middle School in Palmer next week as part of a cultural exchange program. Humanities teacher Jim Brooks has organized the exchange on Wrangell's end, which is supported by the Alaska Humanities Forum. Its Sister School Exchange is an experiential program which promotes understanding between urban and rural communities through cross-cultural exchanges for middle and high school students. A teacher and five students from an...