Education

The first day for all schools in the Bering Strait districts is August 25. White Mountain’s school began, August 23. Due to the rise of the Delta COVID-19 variant in Alaska and nationwide, schools are obliged to continue COVID-19 mitigation measures.

The Nome Public Schools’ Board of Education approved of the COVID Mitigation Update presentation on Aug. 10. Masking based on vaccination statistics stood out as the main adjustment to last year’s plan.

Students who attended the 2021 RAHI program in Fairbanks reported a wonderful experience. RAHI, a six-week academic initiative, partners with UAF to help Native and Rural Alaskans succeed at college.

Pilgrim Hot Springs received the “Gather Grant” from the FNDI this summer. The grant allowed them to plant a produce garden that distributes fresh vegetables throughout the Bering Strait region.

The Nome Board of Education interviewed and swore in its newest member at its special meeting on July 19th. Bob Metcalf filled a vacancy left by Jill Peters, who retired in April.

The Denali Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Kawerak Inc.’s Backhaul Alaska program with a three million dollar grant.

On July 1st, the Kegoayah Kozga Library in Nome will reopen to the public, after a year of providing digital books and other services online.

Children sitting in chairs spaced out wearing masks.

This year’s Yup’ik Statewide Spelling Bee for Beginners included Iñupiat spellers for the first time. Fourth grader Kopeck Kaitlyn Alston from Brevig Mission earned first place.

Improvement projects for the Nome-Beltz gym were some of the main beneficiaries of the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation’s 2020 year-end Community Benefits Share.

Nome Beltz High School "den of the mighty nanooks"

Following the winter holidays, Nome Public Schools and the Bering Strait School District are returning to in-person instruction, while the Lower Yukon School District will proceed with a distance-learning model.