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Those staff advisors are mentors. Each student is paired with a mentor from their first day walking the school’s hallways to the chance to walk across the stage and receive their diploma on graduation day.

It’s a tradition that’s spanned more than two decades, since Thompson’s first, first day of school as a kindergarten student at Pioneer Peak Elementary. Thompson is 29 now, and is in her seventh year of teaching in the Mat-Su Borough School District. But to Beaulieu, Thompson will never be too old for donuts and a picture on the first day of school.

The average Mat-Su Borough School District student now has access to a variety of education options to help meet their academic goals. There are traditional, correspondence, online and hybrid models, and the academic options continue to evolve. But there is a particular program that has stood the test of time. iTech.

Goose Bay Elementary principal Ayla Wade stood in front of her school Thursday morning with two rows of staff members behind her to greet parents and students as they made their way inside the building for the first time officially this year. Thousands of students and staff members across the Mat-Su Borough School District celebrated the first day of the 2026-2027 school year.

After partnering with Thrive Mat-Su, Northgate’s shoe drive is now part of a major event that serves hundreds of families throughout the Mat-Su. 

About 40 FFA members participated in the third annual Palmer FFA Blue Jacket Jackpot, showcasing cows, pigs, sheep and goats.

It’s a tradition that spans nearly two decades, starting as a simple school supplies drive and evolving into a festival-like atmosphere to help celebrate the back to school season. 

Colony students now have three different avenues that can lead them to their academic goals while remaining within the walls of CHS. There is traditional in-person, which includes well-known favorites such as advanced placement, career and technical education, fine arts, world language and JROTC. There is also iTech, and now Accelerate ASU.

But for those who don’t know, what exactly is CTE?  The strategy is simple. Provide opportunity in career-based education. It’s hands-on, detailed and tailored to prepare students for college and the workforce. 

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