Schools

This July 30 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Aaron Spratt. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

First-time candidate seeks school board seat

Spratt criticizes current board’s COVID policy

This July 30 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Aaron Spratt. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s mask ahead of the first day of school. Kanani Dickinson is a student at Auke Bay Elementary School. Vanessa Dickinson said she’s excited the 7-year-old is back in school. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Full-time, in-person learning returns for Juneau’s students

School is in session.

Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s mask ahead of the first day of school. Kanani Dickinson is a student at Auke Bay Elementary School. Vanessa Dickinson said she’s excited the 7-year-old is back in school. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes Monday, students will attend each weekday, and COVID mitigations will be in place. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Hello, school: Juneau’s students make full-time return to classroom

What a difference a year makes.

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes Monday, students will attend each weekday, and COVID mitigations will be in place. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. At Tuesday night's Juneau School District Board of Education meeting, the school board unanimously approved a policy that requires masks inside school buildings and makes them optional outdoors. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

School board OKs mask plan for fall

Students to mask inside, optional outside

Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. At Tuesday night's Juneau School District Board of Education meeting, the school board unanimously approved a policy that requires masks inside school buildings and makes them optional outdoors. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The second of two summer school terms offered by the Juneau School District started on July 6. Harborview School, shown here in May 2020, is one of the locations offering the program. Summer sessions offer an opportunity for students to brush up on content they may have missed over three semesters marked by COVID-19-related schedule disruptions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Hitting the books this summer

In-person summer programs offer catch-up opportunity

The second of two summer school terms offered by the Juneau School District started on July 6. Harborview School, shown here in May 2020, is one of the locations offering the program. Summer sessions offer an opportunity for students to brush up on content they may have missed over three semesters marked by COVID-19-related schedule disruptions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in August, Juneau teacher Kelly Stewart will be the interim assistant principal, district officials announced on Friday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Local teacher named assistant principal at TMHS

Kelly Stewart accepts interim role

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in August, Juneau teacher Kelly Stewart will be the interim assistant principal, district officials announced on Friday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in the fall, John Luhrs will serve as the interim principal. The search for a new assistant principal continues. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Interim principal named at TMHS

Veteran educator John Luhrs will step into the post

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in the fall, John Luhrs will serve as the interim principal. The search for a new assistant principal continues. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. Juneau School District Officials are working to find two new principals for the school. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

Principal seats are open at TMHS

Search begins for new leaders

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. Juneau School District Officials are working to find two new principals for the school. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
The New Squids on the Dock, the National Ocean Sciences Bowl team from Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé is celebrating a top 10 finish at the national competition. Here, team members show off the hardware they brought home in the regional competition called the Tsunami Bowl. Team members include Elin Antaya, Jack Marx, team captain Tias Carney, Adrian Whitney and Addy Mallot. (Courtesy photo/Shannon Easterly)

JDHS students secure a top 10 spot in national ocean science competition

New Squids on the Dock hung tough through an unusual season

The New Squids on the Dock, the National Ocean Sciences Bowl team from Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé is celebrating a top 10 finish at the national competition. Here, team members show off the hardware they brought home in the regional competition called the Tsunami Bowl. Team members include Elin Antaya, Jack Marx, team captain Tias Carney, Adrian Whitney and Addy Mallot. (Courtesy photo/Shannon Easterly)
JDHS graduates make their way from a graduation ceremony held Sunday, May 23. All three Juneau public high school held ceremonies on Sunday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

PHOTOS: 1 day, 3 graduation ceremonies

See photos of the big day.

JDHS graduates make their way from a graduation ceremony held Sunday, May 23. All three Juneau public high school held ceremonies on Sunday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Garrett Klein, a junior at TMHS, recalls his reaction to finding out his painting will hang in Washington D.C. "I was just blown away," Klein said. "I was in absolute shock." Klein thanked Angela Imboden, Nancy Lehnhart and MK MacNaughton for making the success possible. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

From Juneau with love

Local artist’s work to hang in Washington, D.C.

Garrett Klein, a junior at TMHS, recalls his reaction to finding out his painting will hang in Washington D.C. "I was just blown away," Klein said. "I was in absolute shock." Klein thanked Angela Imboden, Nancy Lehnhart and MK MacNaughton for making the success possible. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy photo/University of Alaska Fairbanks Pat Pitney, president of the University of Alaska system, will give the keynote address Sunday at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé commencement. She said her remarks will focus on the future ahead of the graduates as well as the skills they learned during COVID.

‘You can do hard things’: Commencement address comes together

UA President Pat Pitney said she was humbled to be selected.

Courtesy photo/University of Alaska Fairbanks Pat Pitney, president of the University of Alaska system, will give the keynote address Sunday at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé commencement. She said her remarks will focus on the future ahead of the graduates as well as the skills they learned during COVID.
Adindean Franklin displays her diploma for her family after walking off the stage during the Thunder Mountain High School graduation on Sunday, May 26, 2019. The Juneau School District board is considering temporarily reducing the number of credits needed to graduate from 23 to 22.5, which is still 1.5 credits more than the state requires for high school graduation. The change will help students who are lagging in credits due to pandemic-related school closures and distance learning graduate on time. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

School board considers temporary graduation requirement change

Moving the finish line closer.

Adindean Franklin displays her diploma for her family after walking off the stage during the Thunder Mountain High School graduation on Sunday, May 26, 2019. The Juneau School District board is considering temporarily reducing the number of credits needed to graduate from 23 to 22.5, which is still 1.5 credits more than the state requires for high school graduation. The change will help students who are lagging in credits due to pandemic-related school closures and distance learning graduate on time. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
Gloria Bixby, a student-athlete at Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, slides safely into second base and avoids the tag from Thunder Mountain’s Jenna Dobson during the first inning of a drizzly Friday night game. With about three weeks left in the school year, the Juneau School District announced new COVID-19 protocols that let student-athletes compete without masks. The changes begin this week and were shared with families in an email Monday evening. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau schools update COVID policies

Mask and travel guidelines changed in light of evolving factors.

Gloria Bixby, a student-athlete at Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, slides safely into second base and avoids the tag from Thunder Mountain’s Jenna Dobson during the first inning of a drizzly Friday night game. With about three weeks left in the school year, the Juneau School District announced new COVID-19 protocols that let student-athletes compete without masks. The changes begin this week and were shared with families in an email Monday evening. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File Claire Scott, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, has been named a 2021 National Merit Scholarship winner. She is the only student in Alaska to receive the honor this year. In addition to a perfect grade point average, she has published two graphic novels. Here, she shows off her second published comic book, A Most Peculiar Alarm Clock, at Alaska Robotics Gallery on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.

JDHS senior named National Merit Scholar

She is Alaska’s only 2021 recipient

Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File Claire Scott, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, has been named a 2021 National Merit Scholarship winner. She is the only student in Alaska to receive the honor this year. In addition to a perfect grade point average, she has published two graphic novels. Here, she shows off her second published comic book, A Most Peculiar Alarm Clock, at Alaska Robotics Gallery on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.
Thunder Mountain High School seniors celebrate their graduation on Sunday, May 26, 2019. The class of 2020 was forced to skip graduation ceremonies due to COVID-19 restrictions. Discussions are underway to allow the class of 2021 an opportunity to participate in commencement in accordance with CBJ’s mitigation strategies. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Plans coming together for COVID-conscious graduation, prom

Plans coming together for COVID-style graduation, prom

Thunder Mountain High School seniors celebrate their graduation on Sunday, May 26, 2019. The class of 2020 was forced to skip graduation ceremonies due to COVID-19 restrictions. Discussions are underway to allow the class of 2021 an opportunity to participate in commencement in accordance with CBJ’s mitigation strategies. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School will be closed to in-person attendance until Monday, April 26, Juneau School District announced Tuesday afternoon. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

New COVID cases reported at Thunder Mountain High School

There are five active cases associated with the school

Thunder Mountain High School will be closed to in-person attendance until Monday, April 26, Juneau School District announced Tuesday afternoon. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Distance learning will continue Tuesday at Thunder Mountain High School. The school initially shifted to distance delivery for Monday, April 19, following three confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the high school. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

In-person classes to resume Thursday at Thunder Mountain following COVID cases

Boys soccer and wrestling teams to skip practice for quarantine and testing

Distance learning will continue Tuesday at Thunder Mountain High School. The school initially shifted to distance delivery for Monday, April 19, following three confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the high school. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy photo / Imagine Learning Educators at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School hold a giant check for the food donated to the Southeast Alaska Food Bank through a drive that math students at the school participated in.

Middle school students raise money for food bank with math skills

The donation drive was spread across schools in four states.

Courtesy photo / Imagine Learning Educators at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School hold a giant check for the food donated to the Southeast Alaska Food Bank through a drive that math students at the school participated in.
Teachers greeted students as they reentered school on Jan. 11 with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place at Floyd Dryden Middle School. After several months of partial week attendance to accommodate student cohorts, the school district is expanding in-person learning opportunities. Next week, middle and high school students will return to in-person school four days each week. Many elementary school students returned to four days this week. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

School district announces expansion of in-person learning

Middle and high school students to attend four days a week

Teachers greeted students as they reentered school on Jan. 11 with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place at Floyd Dryden Middle School. After several months of partial week attendance to accommodate student cohorts, the school district is expanding in-person learning opportunities. Next week, middle and high school students will return to in-person school four days each week. Many elementary school students returned to four days this week. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)