Strategically located on the tributary banks of the Colville River, Nuiqsut’s location is very unique. Because of recent and future oil industry development, Nuiqsut has access to the ice road, January through April. The social and economic changes Nuiqsut has encountered have had a profound impact on the traditions of Inupiat culture. Nuiqsut has seen many changes since 1974, when a tent village was created. The journey from Barrow to Nuiqsut was 150 miles and a dozer with large sleds secured a pathway for snow machines that followed. The first group of 14 was followed by others, who occupied 45 tents overlooking the river. Imagine living in tents (including a school tent) during 18 months of Arctic weather! This Nuiqsut historical event is another prime example of the Inupiat's determination and adaptability.
Nuiqsut Trapper School ‘s main goal is to serve the needs of the village children who attend our school. The challenge of living in two worlds— Inupiat culture and western culture forms our educational decision-making and policy. The community is the school and the school is the community. Working with our SAC committee, we continually strive to give our students the academic, social and cultural skills to be successful life long learners in an increasingly competitive world.
Through the Inupiat Language Initiative, Inupiat values and culture are fused into the NSBSD curriculum to produce students who will become productive and positive members of society and who are culturally sensitive. Partnerships with local entities Kuukpik Corporation and the City of Nuiqsut form a very important link to our student’s success. It takes a village to raise a child and healthy family life styles are promoted and needed for our student’s success.
Our teaching staff works very hard to help students attain a love of learning and attain the essential skills of reading, writing, speaking and math. These basic skills are supplemented with Vocational/Technical classes, Home Economics, Music and other enrichment classes motivate and enhance students overall learning experience.
Trapper School also realizes the importance of engaging students and the community in the school—encouraging ownership in their community and their future careers. Parents are encouraged to visit and volunteer at school. Several after school learning activities supplement academics—art, drama, cooking and music. A VOC/TEC curriculum, engages students in a job readiness/career Ed curriculum, giving them skills to confidently enter the NSB and Alaska workforce. Career Quest provides high school students internship opportunities at Conoco Phillip’s Alpine complex. Regional partners ASRC, Conoco Phillips, Shell, BP, Carlile, Eni, Pioneer Natural Resources and Repsol all provide support for enrichment programs at Trapper School and we are very thankful to all the local and regional entities for their support of our students.
State and NSBSD educational standards rigorously monitor the daily academic progress of our students. Teachers and students are challenged yearly to improve our AYP status. Efforts to improve reading, writing and math proficiency levels are top priorities in the daily routine of students and teachers alike. Monitoring systems are designed to identify skills that need improvement and intervention activities are applied to raise proficiency levels. Instruction is being enhanced by the “Understanding By Design “ system of lesson development, which is built on essential questions and understandings derived from student needs. Of utmost importance, the Inupiat Language Initiative, or ILF, will incorporate Inupiat values and local background knowledge to make learning relevant and applicable to the North Slope.
Our collaborative goals are that attendance rates, academic rigor and increasing parental/cultural involvement and support of education will continue to improve as we move forward in giving Nuiqsut’s youth an education that will give them the life long tools to be successful in life. We look forward to working with parents in partnership, so students have a solid academic and vocational foundation for a successful future.
We are masters of our destiny and captains of our fate.
Please feel free to visit us,
Quyanaq!
Al Strack, Principal
