Archive for May, 2013
#yoloswaG to Perform on the Last Day of School
by Ruth Sensenig
The community is invited to come to the school to hear this year’s band class, performing as #yoloswaG, play on the last day of school, Wednesday, May 22.
For the most part, #yoloswaG performs covers of popular songs. Last semester they got the idea to play Bon Jovi’s “Wanted: Dead or Alive.” When they approached me with the idea in class, I enthusiastically broke into a bit of the chorus. They said, “You know this song, Ms. Sensenig?!” I responded with, “Sure, I’ve known this song since before you were born! Where did YOU learn it?” The answer was, of course, Guitar Hero.
When they’re learning a new song, the band typically spends some time listening to the song on Youtube and looking up tabs or chord sheets. The kids get out their phones and put on headphones to listen to tutorials of their part of the song. As they work, little by little the strains of the melody or the rhythm start echoing around the room. Eventually they get to the point where they are ready to start playing the song together; the first few times through, they play along with the original version. The first time through on their own is usually pretty rough, but a few more times through and the song starts to sound like the real thing! Continue Reading
Congratulations Devon Renee Hilts – Class of 2013
by Jenny Chissus
It is a tradition to introduce our Seniors in the Gazette each year. Though there aren’t any high school graduates from Susan B. English in 2013, Devon Hilts, who resides in Seldovia, has received her diploma through Connections, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s distance learning program. She is one of our own, and we celebrate this accomplishment with her this year! Congratulations Devon!
Join Devon and her family in celebrating this accomplishment at a baccalaureate service, this Sunday, 3:00pm at the Seldovia Bible Chapel. Everyone is welcome and there will be a dessert potluck to follow!
Gazette: What is your “Seldovia” story?
Devon: I moved here with my mom in 2005. I came here from Yakutat, and before that Seattle. We moved here to be close to family. It’s nice being near my Ahna and Papa (Sunni and Rod Hilts).
Gazette: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Now, as a Senior – what do you want to be when you grow up? How has that changed?
Devon: As a child, I wanted to be a singer when I grew up. My grandma Charlotte said when I was little I would sing a lot. Now as a senior, I want to work with foster Continue Reading
Naomi Gallien – Recent UAA Graduate
by Jenny Chissus
Our very own, Naomi Gallien of Seldovia, Alaska, is among the 2,315 graduates of the University of Alaska Anchorage Class of 2013.
Naomi is a 2007 graduate of Susan B. English school, and on Sunday, May 5, she received her college degree with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and business management at a celebratory ceremony at the George M. Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.
Naomi is pictured here, surrounded by her younger sister, Kristy (who lives in Wasilla) and her older sister, Laurie who resides in Seldovia, along with her parents, Matt and Trinket Gallien, who are also long time Seldovia residents.
It is so great to see our youth graduate from Susan B English school and go on to accomplish further studies at the university level! Congratulations Naomi!
Dr. Atwater Returns for 2nd Round of Principal Interviews
Gazette: How do you avoid the situation we just had – where 2 of the 4 candidates pulled out before they even had the chance to be offered the position?
Dr. Atwater: We can’t fully – it’s a matter of folks disclosing that they are pursuing other options.
Gazette: Isn’t it essential to be in a position to offer the “right” candidate the job as soon as possible, so they don’t get snatched up for another position? Can that time frame (from interview to job offer) be minimized to secure the right applicant?
Dr. Atwater: Perhaps, we could tighten the audience input to the same day. It is difficult for me do all the interviews- limitations of my schedule prevents faster pace of hiring- this is difficult, because I like and want to be at the interviews. We have decided that all audience input will be due on Monday the 20th, to facilitate the process.
Dr. Atwater: A school of 40 students can present serious challenges- there is a certain level of expertise/experience needed. It would be wrong however, to compare it to Homer High School. Thus, it is a lot easier to not have pervious administrative experience and do well at SBE than it is at HHS.
Gazette: Will any of the previous (2) candidates be in the top 4 this time around?
Dr. Atwater: No