The Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education (GCDSE) is accepting nominations through January 19, 2018 for those who have demonstrated outstanding effort in their work to ensure students with disabilities have an opportunity for inclusive education. Please visit the GCDSE page for additional information!

 Pre-K lessons on physical fitness are available from Shape America. Curriculum includes Strong Bones, Twisting Body Parts, Community Helpers, and Farm themes. Visit Shape America's Online Institute for more information. 

ARISE Partnership reminds us that preparing for Kindergarten is an evolving process. Following the Alaska Developmental Profile, one theme per month will be shared. January's theme is "shows curiosity and interest in learning new things and having new experiences".

January is National Soup Month! Help warm up after a busy day in the classroom with one of these delicious recipes from the United States Department of Agriculture. Recipes have small batch conversions to use at home, or large batch to share with your class. Recipes are printable, shareable and include the Daily Nutritional Values.

• New Head Start director takes the early learning helm for Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
• Good neighbors, a preschool in Sitka nestled directly behind a pioneers home makes twice weekly visits.
• With a goal of increasing literacy, Read On the Fly makes a home in a corner of the Juneau International Airport.
• Once a student, now a teacher at a Fairbanks elementary school.
• A retired public defender in Juneau sites income inequality, and the need for preschool education as a factor in repeat offenders.
• An op-ed in the New York Times cites a study that followed Pre-K students through 8th grade and the inarguable results that a Pre-K education does have a positive, and lasting impact on those who participate.