Blatchley Appreciation
Dear Editor: Teachers, staff and administrators at all of the schools in the Sitka School District work tirelessly for the benefit of our students, and we welcome families and our community partners in the learning and teaching process.
With deep respect to all of the learning that takes place in our schools, I want to take a moment to highlight the accomplishments of one of our schools, Blatchley Middle School. The teachers, staff and administrators at Blatchley have consistently provided a positive school environment that is focused on student learning.
The results of these efforts are showing in student academic test scores, as well as in the positive learning climate at Blatchley that welcomes students to be the best individuals within them. Learning like this can only happen when the teachers, staff, and administrators truly partner with families, set high yet realistic academic goals, and provide instruction in a way that engages students in the academic content.
I commend the teachers, staff, and administrators at Blatchley for their efforts, and appreciate their consistent focus on what is best for our students. Please join me in thanking the Sitka School Board for their leadership, Blatchley teachers, staff, and administrators for their professionalism, and all of the individuals associated with the Sitka School District who contribute significantly to the value of our community and our students’ success!
Mary Wegner, Superintendent,
Sitka School District
Gil Truitt
Dear Editor: On Monday evening I had the pleasure and honor to sit at a Young Life table hosted by Gil and Shirley Truitt. What a treasure Gil is to our community, educator, historian, leader and a kind and gentle man.
Hopefully young Sitkans enjoy Gilnettings as much as we who grew up with the people and times he writes about. Gil is a wise and generous man who was also a talented athlete who loved sports and believed athletics properly played was a venue for a better life. With respect and admiration,
Gary Paxton, Sitka
Arts Economic Report
Dear Editor: The City and Borough of Sitka Assembly recently supported the arts in our community through a generous grant to the Greater Sitka Arts Council. Anyone who has read the recently released economic report on the arts complied by Rain Coast Data for the Southeast Conference will note that the arts are not only necessary for a flourishing society but are actually an economic driver as well.
The Assembly’s support of small non-profits like Greater Sitka Arts Council is vital, and helps leverage additional funding from outside Sitka.
The Greater Sitka Arts Council exists to serve the community of Sitka and to provide a platform for participation and engagement in the arts for all members of the community. To that end we endeavor to keep our events free or reasonably priced.
We believe that art is vital to a healthy, vibrant community. We are also an advocacy organization and work to support both emerging and established artists, other arts organizations and the community.
Thank you to the Assembly for acknowledging the importance of the arts, and please contact me with your ideas, suggestions, and questions! justsosarah@gmail.com or 738-5234.
Sarah Lawrie, Executive Director
Greater Sitka Arts Council
SSSC Ribbon Cutting
Dear Editor: The Sitka Sound Science Center had its ribbon cutting to mark the end of Phase 1 renovations on the Sage Building and we would like to thank the almost 250 people who came to the event and made it very special community occasion.
The renovation project replaced the roof, all the windows and repaired the deteriorating concrete. The work was done to repair the exterior of building to her 1929 glory with the original color, and window design to reflect the historical era. The work was done by F. D. Thomas Contractors and CBC Construction. Northwind Architects and Wes Jenney Elsner Architects did the design. Orion Pacific was the project manager. Many individuals made contributions in a variety of ways from financial support and volunteer help to small acts of kindness and morale boosters. The major donors are: The Rasmuson Foundation, the M.J Murdock Trust, DIPAC, Ahlgren family, McIntosh Foundation, the state Legislature and the State of Alaska Revolving Loan Fund for Fisheries Enhancement.
Thank you to our neighbors on the SJ Campus who put up with our noise and dust and cheered the project on every step of the way. Thank you to Diane Kaplan, the executive director of Rasmuson, for her kind words during Saturday’s ceremony and to state Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Mayor Mim McConnell for recognizing SSSC as a community and statewide asset for scientific research and science education. Thank you to the Karsh Foundation for sponsoring the reception prepared with style by Ludvig’s Bistro. Thank you to Reber Stein and Jeanne Stolberg for setting up the sound system and taking a chance on the rain not falling until after the event. Thank you to Mike Kernin and his jazz combo for providing upbeat music. Thanks to KCAW, the Sitka Sentinel and Dan Etulain for covering the event and our building’s progress.
Nancy Yaw Davis and Nancy Ricketts provided important historical information about the Sage Building and Sheldon Jackson. Thank you to Gil Truitt and the troop of youngsters for cutting the ribbon and reminding us that the Sage Building has a long history and a bright future.
I would also like to say thank you to the SSSC board and staff for their hard work to bring this project to fruition. Many late nights, early morning and weekends were required to make these renovations and Saturday’s event happen. What a team!
To me, the Sage exterior renovation project represents our community’s commitment to science and better understanding the world around us. It makes me proud to be a Sitkan. In gratitude,
Lisa Busch,
Sitka Sound Science Center
Culturally Responsible Teaching
Dear Editor: During the last few years, Sitka School District has recognized and has begun to address the learning deficit for some under-performing cultural/ethnic and economic groups. More outreach has taken place to organizations that represent some of these groups. However, the state Report Card for Sitka School Districts shows that little progress has made.
Current efforts by the district include a program to improve the home environment for students in the affected groups. This is a laudable effort. However, such an emphasis suggests that the schools do not accept responsibility for making needed improvements under their own roof. The schools blame certain groups of parents and certain general features of the economy. In short, the schools wash their hands of doing the many things that they could be doing, to teach the students as they are, rather than as they should be, according to the existing view of teaching.
Research shows that a Culturally Responsive Curriculum and Teaching Methodology produces improvements for students in the categories that are not doing as well as they could be doing, in Sitka schools. I don’t intend to lecture on Culturally Responsive Teaching in this note. However, I should point out that teaching success begins by studying students. Studying them begins by listening to them. Listening to them produces recognition of how they learn. Knowing how students learn leads to programmatic changes that well might produce improvements. We are not getting improvements for these students with what we currently are doing. We need to add something to our efforts.
My question for Commissioner Hanley is: What is the state doing to help Sitka School District make changes that will benefit culturally/ethnically diverse students and students from a culture of poverty?
Why is the performance of these students essentially unchanged over the last few years? Is EED sitting on its hands about this, or getting involved in the hard, challenging and rewarding work of actually doing something about it? Do we need a shake up in EED? What will it take to get you to get the job done?
John Welsh, Sitka
