Palmer Library Suffers Roof Collapse
Palmer, AK - On Wednesday, February 15, the roof of the Palmer Public Library collapsed due to weight overload from excessive snowfall. A family of four was inside the building at the time of collapse around 5:30 pm. All were self-evacuated and thankfully no one was hurt. Palmer Fire and Rescue Chief Chad Cameron said:
"“A family of four was inside the library and three staff members,” Cameron said.
Cameron told an Alaska’s News Source reporter in Palmer that everyone inside the library self-evacuated. Cameron said that the library’s occupants were examined by Matanuska-Susitna Borough EMS and did not suffer any injuries.
“We were able to start looking at the building, worried about further collapse and we still are worried about further collapse,” Cameron said.
Other Libraries in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley are: The Wasilla Public Library ((907) 376-5913) and the Big Lake Public Library ((907) 861-7635). These are still available and open to the public.
Also remember that as a Denali PEAK student, you have access to the Sora reader app. Sora is an excellent way to gain access to thousands of different reading materials for all grade levels. To gain access to Sora, contact your teacher/advisor and ask to get set up with your free Sora account.
The Iditarod is here!
Every year Alaskans and mushers from all over the world gather together to see who can best endure the challenging Iditarod trail from Anchorage to Nome. This year's trail is 998 miles long, using the "Odd Year" trail that runs to the southwest at Ophir. The race starts March 4th, at 10 am on Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage with a ceremonial start, and then the official start is in Willow the following day in Willow at 10 am. The Willow restart is to ensure that the mushers and dogs do not have to cross the Knik bridges with traffic.
This years Honorary musher is Lance Mackey, who competed in the Iditarod 16 times, claiming victory 4 years in a row from 2007-2010. Lance’s children, Atigun and Lozen, will ride in the first sled to leave the chute driven by the 2023 Iditarod Jr. Champion.
The Iditarod is a race that commemorates 1925 serum run from Nenana that brought a much needed diphtheria anti-toxin to Nome through severely adverse weather by dogsled. The actual distance of the original race was only 625 miles as the serum was first transported by train from Anchorage to Nenana.
You can get more information and follow along with the mushers progress by going to
Along with the Iditarod there is a reading race as well! This is from the Iditarod EDU home page:
"Always a favorite, Idita-read projects motivate students to read more, read more often, and keep reading! Now your students can travel the Iditarod Trail race route as they achieve reading goals just as they watch the mushers move along the race route.
Teachers work with students to set individualized reading goals. As students reach each goal, their avatars move down the trail from checkpoint to checkpoint on the race map just like the GPS Tracker that shows mushers during the race. On reaching Nome, a student will receive an official finisher’s certificate.
Any number of classes or students can be tracked and the goals can be customized. For example, students may read for a set amount of time, a number of pages, or by chapters. Teachers can even have students complete a reading lesson or activity to progress. When a student finishes the assigned task , the teacher reviews and approves it, and automatically, the student’s avatar, GIA, will move down the trail!
Easy to sign up and easy to use:
- Sign Up – Please go to https://iditaread.iditarod.com/ and complete the registration form.
- Review Process – We review all submissions. You will receive a confirmation email within 48 hours after signup.
- Begin the race to Nome with your students!
Jane Holmes, Education Director
When asked, "What advice do you often find yourself repeating to the students that you tutor in math?" our teacher/advisors said:
Mr. Alex - "Write it down!"
Ms. Judy - "Draw a Picture!"
Ms. Kate - "If you are stuck, reach out and get help. Remember, allotment funds can be used for tutoring."
Ms. Christy - "Always try it by hand before utilizing a calculator. Your brain remembers things by doing them and a calculator is not always necessary."
Mr. Terry - "I'm not a mathlete, but it is all about the process, step by step."
Ms. Garin - "Take your time. A decimal in the wrong place, especially when dealing with money, can leave a wealthy person in debt quickly."
Ms. Jeni - "What information is needed and what information is fluff or not needed?
Erasing is part of the fun in math. Get yourself a great eraser and plenty of scratch paper.
Document your steps. Go back and checking what you’ve written down"
Anchorage Concert Chorus and UAA presents Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana"
If you would like to see the power of music, I highly recommend the Anchorage Concert Chorus' performance of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Friday, March 10th at 7:30 PM live on the Atwood stage at Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.
"With its epic and instantaneously recognizable opening movement ("O Fortuna"), Carmina Burana has become a musical touchstone of our times, crossing the cultural border from classical to pop and back again and again."
This piece of music is only offered to us every few years, and is not to be missed. Don't miss this opportunity to experience this musical masterpiece.
This Months Science and Story
Dear PEAK physicists,
March 8th is clay day! After sharing When Clay Sings, ceramic artists will sculpt a masterpiece to bring home.
March 8th, we’ll investigate the physics of balance after reading Balance the Birds.
I hope to see you at Roundabout Books at 10:30 on March 8.
Moving to learn,
Judy
