Case Statement 2016

Nurturing Alaska’s Independent
Spirit, One
Bloom
at a Time.
The Annual Fund at Pacific Northern Academy 2016

The PNA Experience
In a 21st Century School it is of utmost importance that children are
engaged in the learning process. PNA students literally leap out of their cars
to come to school in the morning. With a vision of academic excellence,
cultural wealth in the arts, and scientific achievement, PNA offers a rich
program that encourages exceptional learning and independent thinking. In
creating the school’s long range plans, the Board of Trustees, administration,
and faculty are committed to the following three principles:
• We will always be committed to Academic Excellence.
• We will prepare students by providing them with the tools they need
to be lifelong learners of vision, courage and integrity.
• We will instill compassion, respect, and an understanding of civic
responsibility and community service.

Our Goal: $200,000
and 100% participation from the Board, faculty and
families of Pacific Northern Academy.
Annual gifts are the difference between a good education and a great one,
and are an investment in the education of every student at PNA. Your
financial contribution supports the people and enriches the programs that
make PNA the great school that it is: talented teachers, small classes,
differentiated instruction, comprehensive arts programs, library and
instructional resources, technology, and much more.
Your child’s education is financed by both your tuition and your Annual
Fund gift. Tuition covers approximately 75% of our operating budget, and
so charitable gifts are a necessary part of PNA’s financial profile.
In the past, individual gifts have ranged from $5 to $50,000. While
leadership gifts are crucial to the financial stability of the school, gifts of all
sizes make a difference. A very high participation rate sends a message to
our community of corporate and outside funding sources that those who
benefit most from PNA, support it.
We hope each family can find a way to participate, consistent with their
means. Unlike tuition, contributions to Annual Fund are fully tax-deductible
and allow each family to give at a meaningful level.
Thank you for your
meaningful contribution!

Recent Support-Driven Accomplishments
Today’s children are growing up in an age with digital influences that
continually change, and where the world is just an Internet click away.
PNA recognizes we must provide a state-of-the-art learning environment
for our students. Societal, technological, and educational developments have
changed the way our instructors teach, and have provided new appreciation
for the way students learn. Our classrooms, labs, teaching spaces, and
co-curricular facilities must reflect that reality in order to provide a sound
education. With this in mind, the following improvements have been recently
introduced to PNA through the ongoing support to our Annual Fund:
• Mike Gwaltney, a Project-based
learning (PBL) consultant came to
Anchorage, and spent two days
working with our faculty. PBL is a
student-centered pedagogy that
involves a dynamic classroom
approach in which students acquire
a deeper knowledge through active
exploration of real-world challenges
and problems. Mike was able to guide
the staff through the stages of planning
and instruction in preparation of
formalizing PBL in our science and
social studies classes across the grades.

• Chris Mikels, a faculty coach from
College Preparatory Math, visited
twice to provide support and continued
education on math instruction in
our Middle School classrooms.
• We collaborated with area
public schools and a private math
consultant who teaches the implementation
of Bridges to Mathematics,
our Lower School math program.
Our math teachers were able to
observe instruction techniques and
ask questions to improve their
teaching methods.
• We expanded our summer camp
offerings. In addition to Pint-Sized
Panthers, we introduced Create
Academy, a STEM-based day camp
for students in 1st through 8th grade.
Thanks to a dedicated donation, we
were able to offer over $16,000 in
scholarships, allowing children to
attend from all around Alaska whose
families might otherwise have found it
unaffordable. Our doors were open
for seven weeks during the summer,
and it was a tremendous success.
• We purchased powered computer
carts for our Chrome Books,
upgraded PE equipment, and bought
the beginning equipment and
supplies for our MakerSpace.
• We strengthened our Beginners
and Early Kindergarten classrooms by
adopting the Creative Curriculum, a
preschool curriculum that features
exploration and discovery as a way of
learning, and helping children develop
confidence, creativity, and critical
thinking skills.

Portrait of a Graduate
Watch a group of PNA graduates, and
a compelling composite emerges. It’s
the picture of a whole human being;
one prepared to function productively
on all levels: intellectual, emotional, social,
physical. They are people ready to
participate fully in the world; a willing
and able contributor; a self-motivated
lifelong learner.
How can you recognize a PNA
student? They are comfortable in their
own skin. PNA’s nurturing culture
encourages self- motivation,
independent thinking, and the
experience of taking on big challenges
— all great preparation for whatever
life has in store for them.
They are lifelong learners. Taught
to learn, they love (and never stop)
learning. The result is unusually strong
academic performance long after they
leave PNA. Gaining knowledge does
not feel like a chore; rather, it is the
natural, rewarding result of their own
curiosity.
They are fun to be around. Their
enthusiasm, civility, and respect for
others are contagious. Much of their
education is built on social skills such
as getting along with and learning from
all kinds of people; collaborating to
resolve conflicts; and approaching life
with open minds and open hearts.
They have good character. What is
valued most in a PNA classroom?
Responsibility. Cooperation.
Compassion. Ethical behavior.
Stewardship of their community, the
environment, the world.
They are PNA kids for life.
Most PNA graduates stay in touch
with their “family” here. They understand
and are happy to talk about the
gifts their education has given them —
self-confidence and resourcefulness;
enduring relationships; constructive
work habits — lessons that never stop
shaping who they are and who they
hope to be.

GIFTS OF CASH: Personal checks
and/or credit card payments are the
most popular ways to make a gift to
The PNA Fund. Simply include your
check or credit card information
with PNA remittance envelope and
return it the school.
ONLINE GIVING: Gifts by credit
card can be made on our website:
www.pacificnorthern.org
MATCHING GIFTS: There are
many companies that match their
employees’ gifts. Contact your HR
office to find out the necessary
steps to submit a match request;
then forward the appropriate
forms or log-in information with
your gift to PNA for completion.
Please note: most matching gift
requests require 2-3 months
to process. PNA must receive
your matching gift by June
1, 2017 in order to count it
toward your total gift for this
school year.
GIFTS OF SECURITIES:
You transfer securities to
PNA, we sell them and credit
the value to the Annual Fund.
The charitable deduction
is determined by the fair
market value on the date of
the transfer of the asset to
PNA. An acknowledgement
will be sent to you describing
your gift as well as
the receipt date and value
for your tax records.
The school’s policy is to
sell all securities upon
receipt. Instructions for
transferring stock to the
school may be obtained
from the Business Office
at (907) 333-1080.
Leadership Giving
Visionary - $20,000 and up
Champion - $15,000 to $19,999
Hero - $10,000 to $14,999
Benefactor - $6,000 to $9,999
Guardian - $3,000 to $5,999
Panther - $1,250 to $2,999
Leadership donors are
invited to attend a reception
celebrating their support on
Thursday, September 29th.

We educate students to be exceptional learners and
independent thinkers of vision, courage and integrity.
Pacific Northern Academy’s Mission Statement
9251 Lake Otis Parkway • Anchorage, Alaska 99507 • (907) 333-1080 • www.pacificnorthern.org
Pacific Northern Academy is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Our tax ID number is 92-0145501