The 2022 school year ended with a strong focus on the future. With extra funding rolled over to the next school year, the school has means to pursue a wide variety of programs for both educators and students. For the district, the list includes creating a multi-cultural art institute, investing in training for teachers and staff and an emphasis on social and emotional learning.

Reflecting on the school year in a May school board meeting, graduate Guadalupe Callahan shared that one of her highlights was a cultural exchange trip to Hawaii. She said the Nome-Beltz and Waianae High School students saw each other as “the other family from across the ocean.”

“Conversing about how different we are from each other made me realize that we really aren’t that different from each other,” Callahan said. She said the Hawaiian students inspired them to “really get in touch with the land we live in and prosper on it,” Callahan said.

Nome-Beltz plans to make similar trips happen in the future, principal Jay Thomas said.

Image at top: Nome-Beltz High School graduates watch as superintendent Jamie Burgess speaks during the 2022 commencement ceremony. As in the last two years, family and friends followed the proceedings, complete with a car parade, live on KNOM. Image courtesy of Nome-Beltz Student Activities, used with permission (2022).