Anchorage schools in the news

Students travel into space

Two space educational programs, Moonlink and Nearlink, will blast off in local schools this year.

Sponsored by Space Explorers Inc. and the Alaska Aerospace States Association, these space mission experiences will be conducted via the Internet. Mission goals include increasing students’ interest in math, science, space and technology.

Moonlink reenacts NASA’s Lunar Prospector Discovery Mission which mapped the surface of the moon, studied its surface composition, magnetic and gravity fields. Students will participate in a simulated launch and flight of the Lunar Prospector spacecraft. They’ll also analyze and interpret real NASA data from a section of the lunar surface.

Nearlink, which stands for Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous, was conducted by Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Lab in February 2000. Students will study this mission, which successfully reached the asteroid Eros, and learn about the nature and origin of near-Earth objects and solar system formation. A simulated launch is part of the project along with access to NEAR mission data.

Teamwork is a big part of these projects. Both aim to inspire students' interest and curiosity about space exploration and utilize methods of discovery and problem solving.

The schools in the Anchorage area that will be running Space Explorers programs this year include: Central School of Science, Fairview Elementary, Goldenview Middle School, Kasuun Elementary, McLaughlin Schools, Orion Middle School, Walden Pond Charter School and West Anchorage High School.

For more information about Space Explorers Inc., go to their Web site at www.space-explorers.com.

Anchorage wins grants for learning centers

This past year, the Anchorage School District was awarded two three-year federal grants amounting to over $2 million to fund after-school programming at 13 elementary and five middle schools.

Last May, President Clinton asked Congress to increase next year’s funding for the Community Learning Center Program to $1 billion.

"The demand and critical need for quality after-school programs is overwhelming," U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley said. This year’s program received 2,252 applications.

The Anchorage locations will serve 1,200 youngsters and 700 community members in a web of support that includes social services, drug prevention and development strategies.

Ellen Montague, ASD’s director of community education, said funds could help maintain homework hotlines, tutoring and team building activities. "At each school, the teachers and assistants will develop the way the curriculum works," she said. That could include creating enhanced reading and comprehension skills through drama or building math skills with cooking, sewing or shop classes. Things that are fun and practical.

The added funding comes on the heels of a district budget shortfall that closed eight community schools.

Montague said the learning centers curriculum are not as broad as what community schools offer. "This effort is focused more on academics," she noted. Schools are all based on the East side of town while most of the closed community schools are on the West and South regions.

Other Alaska locations that won federal grants were the North Slope Borough School District, Craig City School District and the Yukon-Koyukuk School District.

For more information about Anchorage schools offering this program, call Ellen Montague at the Anchorage School District office, 742-4141.

School fund-raising moves to the Web

The majority of Anchorage schools have discovered a new way to add money to their coffers. Schoolpop.com, a web-based fund-raising company, offers shopping rebates to schools via over 250 online retailers. Buy school supplies from OfficeMax, clothes from JC Penney or the Gap, books from Barnes & Noble or a new computer from Apple, and an average of six percent of the sale gets deposited in the school of your choice’s account. To see if your school has an account set up or to find out more, log on to their web site at www.schoolpop.com.

Language clinic has openings for students

The Emerald Speech and Learning Clinic still has room in its language fundamentals class for speech and language delayed preschoolers ages 3 to 5. Group activities include play themes and peer interaction. Class size is limited to six students with 2.5 -hour sessions held four days a week. Contact Cheryl Campbell for more information, 349-6151.

School supplies needed

Two Catholic Social Services programs are gathering school supplies for needy children, some of whom have experienced homelessness. The Helping Us Give School Supplies (HUGS) is asking the public for donations including pencils, notebooks, crayons, lunch boxes, backpacks and clothing. Last year’s effort helped over 250 children. Gift certificates, financial contributions or supplies may be dropped off at Beyond Shelter Program, Catholic Social Services, 3710 E. 20th Avenue or call 276-3046.

School news on the Web

Teachers can set up their own web site with homework and classroom information using School News Online. This free Anchorage Daily News service already has 147 schools and teachers participating. Just visit the http//:schoolnews.adn.com site, hit the "register your school" button, then the registration button, fill in the required fields and click on continue.

Paula Buczak at ADN will activate your site and send instructions on how to log on to your page. For more information, call her at 257-4474 or send an e-mail:pbuczak@adn.com.

©2000 Anchorage Daily News