Thank you for your understanding, and we hope everyone enjoys a safe and restful break.
#TellerPride #GoAklaqs
It’s that time of year again! We’re checking in to see how our school leaders (our Principals) are doing and where we can improve. We really want BSSD to be a place where everyone feels supported, and we can’t do that without hearing from you.
Completing the survey should only take a few minutes. Here is a short guide on how to complete the survey.
📢 Staff: Please take the survey twice. Once from your perspective as a staff member and again as a parent/community member.
📢 Parents: Your insights are highly appreciated! Please take a few moments to share your thoughts through a separate survey focusing on your parental perspective.
📢 Students: Your voice matters! You'll have the opportunity to express your opinions by participating in the survey at school.
This is completely anonymous. We want your honest thoughts, so please feel free to be open with us. Click here to complete the survey. The survey will be open until January 9, 2026.
If you need assistance accessing the survey, don't hesitate to contact a school administrator at your site. Your perspectives play a significant role in our plans for improvement. Thank you for taking the time to provide your valuable insights!
Kestyn has been nominated by the James C. Isabell School staff for this week’s Aklaq Spotlight. Kestyn consistently goes above and beyond in his schoolwork and uses strong academic language during class discussions. He is always willing to help classmates by guiding them through their thinking—without simply giving them the answers. Kestyn is a proud Aklaq, and he has every reason to be. Always smiling and giving his best effort, he makes our school proud.
We are all proud of you, Kestyn!
#TellerPride #AklaqPride
Please see our updated open gym times for this week as we begin varsity basketball season:
🏀 Pre-K–4th Grade (curtain down): 6:30–7:30 PM
🏀 6–7th Grade Boys & Girls + HS Girls & Adult Women: 7:30–8:30 PM
🏀 HS Boys & Adult Men: 8:30–9:30 PM
👉 8th Grade Boys may attend either the 7:30–8:30 PM or 8:30–9:30 PM session.
Thank you for your flexibility as we try this new schedule before break. We appreciate everyone helping keep open gym safe and organized.
Go Aklaqs! 🏀 #TellerPride #AklaqPride
Please note the following schedule changes:
AEC Meeting has been moved to tonight, Monday, December 15th, from 7:00–8:00 PM in the James C. Isabell School Library.
Family Literacy Night has been moved to tomorrow night, Tuesday, December 16th, from 7:00–8:00 PM in the school cafeteria.
Additionally, new open gym times will begin tonight as we kick off our varsity basketball season. We will be trying a new gym schedule this week before break.
Thank you for your flexibility and continued support. We hope to see you at the AEC meeting tonight!
#TellerPride #GoAklaqs #AklaqPride
📣 AEC Meeting & Community Events – Monday, December 15th 📣
The James C. Isabell School AEC meeting will be held Monday, December 15th, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Located in the small room at the end of the elementary wing, in the school.
Topics will include:
• Budget items
• Wrestling season updates
• Christmas program planning
• Fishing derby
• Staff vs. student basketball game
• End-of-quarter goals and awards
• Interventions
• Basketball fundraisers
• Pike fishing
• Planning for Easter
🧊 Norton Sound Behavioral Health Event
Norton Sound Behavioral Health will be at the school December 15th from 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM to help community members make ice fishing poles and discuss healthy habits.
🎣 Free ice fishing pole with hook available if a waiver is signed!
📚 Family Literacy Night
Join us Monday, December 15th, from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM for Family Literacy Night with a Christmas card–making theme.
This week is student council planned holiday spirit week with the schedule on the attached image.
We hope to see you there for a full day of learning, planning, and community connection!
#TellerPride #GoAklaqs #AklaqPride
To catch the live streams, please check the QR codes below. You can also follow the brackets at www.usabracketing.com
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We’re cheering you on all the way—keep pushing, Kymani! You will win!
Go Kymani! 🏆
#TellerPride #AklaqPride #Region1Wrestling
Join us Saturday night at 6:00 PM in the James C. Isabell School Gym for our Holiday Bake Walk!
We invite the community to bring baked goods to donate as we raise funds to support our high school varsity basketball teams. Funds will help with travel to distant tournaments, new warm-ups, and basketball camps.
✨ What to expect:
Holiday Bake Walk
Competitive games afterward
50/50 raffle
Fun with our high school athletes and community
Please come out, support our Aklaqs, and enjoy a fun evening together!
#AklakPride #GoAklaqs #TellerPride
Today, our students and staff gave him the classic Teller send-off—
Imagine, Believe, Achieve… Go Aklaqs!
The school echoed with pride as we cheered him on for his big weekend ahead.
We wish you the best of luck, KyMani!
Wrestle hard, stay strong, and make Teller proud! 💙🐻
#TellerPride #GoAklaqs #AlaskaWrestlingRegionals #Region1Wrestling #JamesCIsabellSchool
Saturday, December 20th at 7:00 PM
📍 James C. Isabell School Gym
Bring the whole family for a cozy holiday evening as we watch Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch on the big screen!
✨ Admission:
Students: FREE (Sponsored by Teller Traditional — Quyanaq!)
Adults: $4
🍿 Snacks:
Popcorn — $1
All proceeds will support our Varsity Basketball Program.
If you have any questions, please contact Jazzlyn.
Let’s kick off the holiday season together — see you there! 💚🎅🎁
#TellerPride #GoAklaqs #HolidayFun
December 10th, 2025
Parent/Guardian and Community Newsletter
Dear Families and Community Members,
The holidays are fast approaching, and we are feeling the excitement throughout the school and community! We have several fundraisers coming up to support our basketball program. Many parents have already stepped up to help by baking goods and assisting with organization. It is wonderful to see such strong community involvement supporting our teams, players, and students.
Next week is our Holiday Program, and by popular request, we will include a short play. We look forward to seeing families there! 6:00pm in the Gym.
As a reminder, Quarter 2 ends on January 9th. We will celebrate academic achievement and attendance with prizes beginning at 3:00 p.m. that afternoon. Parent–Teacher Conferences will be held on January 14th from 3:30–5:30 p.m., and snacks will be provided.
The community is also gearing up for winter traditions. Eskimo Games are scheduled to begin on Christmas Day and will continue until New Year’s. In addition, Coach Fred will be hosting a Holiday Basketball Tournament from December 21st–24th, with all proceeds benefiting our varsity basketball program.
Our next AEC Meeting will be on December 15th from 12:00–1:00 p.m., where important school topics will be discussed. Families and community members are encouraged to attend.
Thank you for your continued support, involvement, and commitment to our students. We wish you all a warm and joyful holiday season!
With love and gratitude,
Mr. Reid Jackowick
Principal
James C. Isabell School — Teller, Alaska
Parent Teacher Conferences (Q2)
January 15th, 3:30-5:30pm
✅ Tutoring & Academic Support
All of our teachers are available after school to support students academically.
Please reach out to them directly to schedule and reserve a time. Our students deserve this opportunity for extra help and enrichment!
Student Council Spirit Week
Our student council members—Agnus, Kymani, Nadine, and Taylor—have created some wonderful ideas for Spirit Week during our last week before Christmas break.
🎄 Monday – Pajama Day:
Come to school cozy in your favorite PJs.
🎄 Tuesday – Ugly Sweater Day:
Wear your best (or worst!) ugly holiday sweater.
🎄 Wednesday – Cultural Day:
Celebrate and represent your culture with pride.
🎄 Thursday – Santa’s Workshop Day:
Dress as Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, reindeer, the Grinch, a tree, a present—anything from Santa’s workshop!
🎄 Friday – School Spirit Wear Day:
Show your Aklaq pride and wear your school spirit gear.
Upcoming Student Events & Attendance Incentives
Staff vs. Student Basketball Game: Students must maintain good attendance to participate.
Fun Fridays: Students with perfect attendance for the week receive free treats from our school store.
End of Quarter – January 9th: There will be some exciting attendance prizes from both Teller Traditional Council and the school.
Upcoming Dates and Events
December 15th: 12:00-1:00pm AEC Meeting
December 15th: 7:00, Family Literacy Night, Decorating Christmas cards
December 15th: 10-3:30pm Ice Fishing Stick Making Day with Norton Sound - Community Welcome
December 17th: Staff vs Student Basketball Game Round two
December 18th: 6pm Holiday Program
December 19th: Fishing Derby: Link
December 15th-19th: Holiday Spirit Week, We need your ideas and input for this spirit week.
December 22nd-January 2nd: No School, Christmas and New Years Break
January 9th: 3:00, end of the quarter celebration, attendance celebration with Teller Traditional (prizes!)
January 12th, 7:00, Family Literacy Night
January 15th: 3:30-5:30, Parent Teacher conferences
February 10: Norton Sound Mitten Making, Community Welcome
February 13th: Valentines Dance
March 13th: 3:00, end of the quarter celebration
March 15th-20th: No School, Spring break
April 6th-10th: Pike Fishing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f4BNheV6spyOmYKa5yO7Bv_TRxoz4txSWqpNpX1O2Ww/edit?usp=sharing
Our hallways are starting to look a lot like Christmas, festive decorations, cheerful classrooms, and students giving their best effort on assessments and classwork.
We’re proud of how hard everyone is working while still keeping the joy of the season alive. Keep it up, Aklaqs! 💙🐻
#TellerPride #AklakPride #HolidaySeason #TestingWeek #JamesCIsabellSchool
👏Huge congratulations to our 2025 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Mix Six/2A Volleyball State winners!
🥈 Golovin Lynx: 2nd Place Overall
🥉 Shaktoolik Wolverines: 3rd Place Overall & Sportsmanship Award Winner!
👏 Well done to both teams!"
Aklaq Spotlight
Nadine Thomas was nominated by James C. Isabell School for this week's Aklaq Spotlight. Nadine is a true leader in the classroom and consistently goes above and beyond in her schoolwork. She is personable, kind, and builds positive relationships with both peers and staff. Even as a 2nd grader, she serves on the student council, showcasing responsibility and school pride well beyond her years. Nadine is always joyful, hardworking, and a delight to be around.
Great job, Nadine! Keep shining!
#aklaqpride #tellerpride #aklaqspotlight
🎄 Monday – Pajama Day:
Come to school cozy in your favorite PJs.
🎄 Tuesday – Ugly Sweater Day:
Wear your best (or worst!) ugly holiday sweater.
🎄 Wednesday – Cultural Day:
Celebrate and represent your culture with pride.
🎄 Thursday – Santa’s Workshop Day:
Dress as Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, reindeer, the Grinch, a tree, a present, gingerbread person, frosty, Migo the Yeti—anything from Santa’s workshop!
🎄 Friday – School Spirit Wear Day:
Show your Aklaq pride and wear your school spirit gear.
Let’s make next week festive and fun!
#aklaqpride #tellerpride
If you are interested in volunteering to become a surrogate parent, please come to the surrogate parent training on December 4th, 2025 @ 3:30pm. If you cannot attend, but still wish to be trained, please call (907) 624-4278 and ask for the Special Education Director.
We are proud to recognize Matt Jr. as our Aklaq of the Week! Matt Jr. has shown outstanding dedication to his education and his school community. His attendance is excellent—he arrives on time every day, prepared and ready to learn. He consistently demonstrates respectful behavior toward students, staff, and visitors, setting a strong example for others.
Academically, Matt Jr. maintains impressive grades and approaches every class with focus and determination. Outside the classroom, he is equally committed, regularly practicing and improving his skills in both volleyball and basketball.
Matt Jr. is truly a one-of-a-kind Aklaq, and we are incredibly proud to have him as a student at James C. Isabell School. Keep up the amazing work!
#Tellerpride #aklaqpride #telleraklaqs #Aklaqspotlight
December 3rd, 2025
Parent/Guardian and Community Newsletter
Dear Families and Community Members,
We are starting off a great December at James C. Isabell School! As we move into the winter season, we are noticing a slight decline in attendance, which is common this time of year. Please help us encourage students to come to school every day so they can participate in all the fun and important activities we have coming up.
Upcoming Student Events & Attendance Incentives
Staff vs. Student Basketball Game: Students must maintain good attendance to participate.
Fun Fridays: Students with perfect attendance for the week receive free treats from our school store.
End of Quarter – January 9th: There will be some exciting attendance prizes from both Teller Traditional Council and the school.
Student Safety Reminder
Parents and guardians, please continue to monitor your child’s online and social media use. There are some concerning trends circulating online, including:
Making paper darts with thumbtacks
Rage-baiting or intentionally provoking peers
General unkind or disrespectful behavior
Your support in guiding online safety and respectful behavior is greatly appreciated.
School & Community Involvement
AEC Meeting: December 15th, 12:00–1:00pm. The community is always welcome and encouraged to attend.
Family Night: December 15th from 7:00–8:00pm. Join us for a fun evening of decorating Christmas cards!
Eskimo Games start on the 25th.
Student Council Spirit Week
Our student council members—Agnus, Kymani, Nadine, and Taylor—have created some wonderful ideas for Spirit Week during our last week before Christmas break. We are excited to share these with students soon!
Appreciations
We truly have an incredible team at James C. Isabell School:
Our teachers continue to provide high-quality instruction and care.
Our paraprofessionals work tirelessly behind the scenes to support all students.
Our chefs prepare the best meals in the district.
Our bilingual and art teacher brings culture and creativity into the building every day.
And of course, Ms. Lucy—our amazing secretary—keeps everything running smoothly and supports both staff and students in countless ways.
Thank you to all families for your continued support. We look forward to a joyful and productive month together!
With love and gratitude,
Mr. Reid Jackowick
Principal
James C. Isabell School — Teller, Alaska
Upcoming Dates and Events
December 15th: 7:00, Family Literacy Night, Decorating Christmas cards
December 15th: 10-3:30pm Ice Fishing Stick Making Day with Norton Sound - Community Welcome
December 17th: Staff vs Student Basketball Game Round two
December 18th: 6pm Holiday Program
December 19th: Fishing Derby: Link
December 15th-19th: Holiday Spirit Week, We need your ideas and input for this spirit week.
December 22nd-January 2nd: No School, Christmas and New Years Break
January 9th: 3:00, end of the quarter celebration, attendance celebration with Teller Traditional (prizes!)
January 12th, 7:00, Family Literacy Night
February 10: Norton Sound Mitten Making, Community Welcome
February 13th: Valentines Dance
March 13th: 3:00, end of the quarter celebration
March 15th-20th: No School, Spring break
April 6th-10th: Pike Fishing
Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KfSeHjezcdtLWYRHnwMAoLk4aiaAF6RMzfwUI_N1Nc8/edit?usp=sharing
James C. Isabell School will be sending students home at 1:30 PM today. Strong winds are blowing snow across the road to New Site, and visibility is very low. For everyone’s safety, we are releasing students early to avoid the risks that come with worsening winds and growing snowdrifts.
We plan to resume school tomorrow at 9:00 AM for a normal school day.
Please stay safe and warm, Teller!