Overall the Kenai Peninsula scored higher than other areas of the state in the new Alaska Measures of Progress testing and District Superintendent Sean Dusek says he is proud of local students for that and another reason.
Dusek: “We have a number of projects, in particular right now that students see that there’s an issue in the community and they step up with some of the staff in the schools to come up with action steps and a plan to try to address those problems.”
He applauded the recent Kenai Central High School spaghetti feed that raised somewhere around $5,000 for local homeless students.
Nikiski High and Middle School also has an ongoing program to help students connect with seniors in the community.
Dusek: “Nikiski has a quilt project with the senior center out there and apparently over 30 quilts have already been made. So it’s really great to see our students and our schools engaged with our community to make a positive difference.”
Nikiski Senior Center Director Jill Smith says those quilts will be donated to the senior center tomorrow, after which center staff will give them to local seniors in needs.
She added that the seniors appreciate the baked goods that the Nikiski students drop by the center once a month.
Various other local schools have community outreach projects created by students as well and Dusek says their caring attitudes are inspiring.