Twindley Bridge jump-starts school year

WASILLA — Twindley Bridge Charter School was buzzing with activity Thursday afternoon at its fourth annual Jump Start Program.

Jump Start is a chance for parents and students of the charter school to foster a sense of community among the homeschool pupils of Twindley Bridge who aren’t in the classroom every day. Unlike a typical brick and mortar school — as traditional schools are often called — Twindley Bridge employs two certified teachers who act as advisors to about 290 students who are homeschooled by their parents.

The ensuing activity can make for some very full days at Twindley Bridge’s location at Seldon Corner, said Carol Austin, one of the certified teachers at the school. Thursday’s event was almost like an open house that many traditional schools host.

“It gets us started again,” she said.

Twindley Bridge is unique in the Mat-Su since its charter school status allows parents to choose the curriculum they want for their kids instead of conforming to state standards. The choice gives parents flexibility to manage their children’s academic curriculum.

Austin said the two advisors on hand at Twindley Bridge are there to provide guidance and assistance to students and their parents.

“It’s a lot of work,” she said.

Twindley Bridge will welcome 39 kindergarten students this year, Austin said, which is a large number for the school.

And while Austin said she knows homeschooling sometimes can be thought of as a lower quality education, she said the parents at Twindley Bridge could change many people’s minds.

“Our parents are really instrumental in helping each other,” Austin said.

One of those parents, Ilene Paulsen, who painted a large mural depicting an Alaska landscape on the gym’s wall, said the Jump Start Program at the school gets her sixth-, fifth- and third-grade kids ready for the school year.

“It’s one of the big ways to get kids excited,” Paulsen said.

In the main room of the school, vendors from various stores in the Mat-Su valley that offer supplies for homeschool students showed off their products. While parents did not buy anything Thursday, Jump Start gives them an idea of what’s available for the coming school year.

At Twindley Bridge, school starts just after Labor Day because many families are busy working the Alaska State Fair, Austin said.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.