by Mary George
During our Wednesday meeting, our principal, Barron Sample, discussed with the staff ways to include the values that have been handed down through the generations.
Our district Mission Statement is “to educate all children to be successful in any environment.”
The vision statement is “all members of the community are proud and committed to our school system. Students need to have a positive learning environment, speak the Yupiaq language, know their culture, attend school regularly and graduate prepared to be successful in any environment. Many of our teachers and school staff are Yup’ik and speak their language, and the curriculum and instruction are based in Yup’ik values and traditions. Our community members, elders, parents, and students feel ownership in our schools.”
The school vision: “Akiachak School is a community hub that empowers students to be successful in their chosen way of life, encourages community ownership, and promotes a healthy life.”
Each week the school focuses on a value. Our principal, Mr. Sample, tells the school via a zoom morning message that the value is being observed. The first week of school we focused on “Love for Children.” The second week, we focused on “spirituality”, and this week we are focusing on “sharing.”
At the zoom meeting, Roxanne Nose gave an example of sharing when she talked about how a hunter shares his first catch with family and community members. It doesn’t matter who you give it to, but it should be shared with the elders first (according to Mason Kasayulie, senior journalism student).
Throughout the year, we will focus on the other values: humility, hard work, respect for others and their property, cooperation, family roles, knowledge of family tree, hunter success, domestic skills, knowledge of language, avoiding conflict, humor, respect for land, respect for nature.
