Schedule
The School Year at YSD runs from mid August to mid May. Christmas vacation is a full 2 weeks. The school day is about 6 hours long, and each site has some flexibility to structure the school day to suit them.
Beyond the School Day
Opportunities for activities beyond the classroom abound at YSD. If you want to further your education, you can take classes by distance delivery from any of the University of Alaska campuses, or from any campus worldwide through correspondence, Internet or Distance Delivery.
All three school sites have state of the art interactive video services and internet connectivity. Many courses will qualify for reimbursement by the district.
If you are interested in working with the students beyond the regular school day, there are opportunities for that as well. We offer after school tutoring programs for our students, and we hire our teachers to do the tutoring. Sports are also a big part of school life, and opportunities abound to coach all ages.
Home Life
Teacher housing is provided for all teaching staff at a reasonable cost. The houses are fully furnished and include an electric range, refrigerator, freezer, washer and dryer. Our houses come in all sizes from efficiency to three bedrooms. You can let us know your preference and needs, and we do our best to accommodate our staff. Pets are welcome in your home, but we encourage you to consider the size of your pet and its comfort in your home.
Night Life
So what can you expect for your evenings in YSD? The nearest movie theatre is 500 miles away and the nearest restaurant, a plane ride to Bethel. So how do you ward off cabin fever?
First and foremost, you'll find nature to be a real draw. Go walking along the river or on the tundra. Find a friend and go fishing, hunting or berry picking. Many teachers rent or borrow movies from local stores or fellow teachers.
Akiachak has cable TV, and staff at all three sites often purchase satellite TV. If you enjoy crafts, you can learn the native crafts from local people and bring together other crafters to spend time together.
Community Life
Your experience at YSD will be greatly enhanced as you get involved with your community. Get to know your neighbors by attending community events such as feasts and fiddle dancing. Shop in your local store. Take advantage of opportunities to go with the local people to their fish camps. Attend church. All these things help to bridge the culture gap and to build on the common goal we all have for successful students at YSD.
