IDEA Homeschool

Our wonderful IDEA families and staff in Palmer rallied to collect 346 pounds of food for the Palmer Food Bank just before Thanksgiving.

It's inspiring what we can do when we unite for a good cause!

IDEA Homeschool we are so thankful for all your beautiful cards and donations of 346 pounds of food!

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us to each of you!

Read a Thanksgiving letter from our superintendent at this link:
🔗 https://mailchi.mp/ideafamilies/ideathanksgiving2025

We are beyond grateful for our veterans—today and every day. 🇺🇸

Who's ready to read?! 📚

Registration for Battle of the Books 2026 is now open to IDEA students in grades 3–12!

With a district competition in January and the state competition in February, Battle of the Books is one of IDEA's funnest and most popular activities.

Learn more and register today: https://www.ideafamilies.org/families/battle-of-the-books-3-12/

On this solemn day of remembrance, we invite you to read a few words from GCSD Superintendent Jason Johnson. 🇺🇸

View the full text of Dr. Johnson's letter here: https://mailchi.mp/galenanet/9112025

Have you seen this?! A former IDEA student is going viral for getting a standing ovation on America's Got Talent!

19-year-old Silas Luke Jones from Homer had the entire AGT audience and judges on their feet with his rockstar-level guitar performance!

Don't let anyone tell you that kids from small towns can't do big things! (Or that homeschooled children can't excel!) 😎

19-Year-Old Guitarist Silas Luke Jones Receives A Standing Ovation For "Misirlou" | AGT 2025 Silas Luke Jones may be from a small town, but his talent is massive! The 19-year-old guitarist from Homer, Alaska lights up the stage with "Misirlou," leavi...

Congrats to two Kenai Peninsula IDEA students—Lily (16) and Ruth Ann (12)—for their winning designs in Soldotna's "I Voted" sticker contest!

We love seeing IDEA students being publicly recognized for their stellar work!

Winners announced for Soldotna voting sticker design contest | Peninsula Clarion The voting stickers will be available at Soldotna polling locations during the Oct. 1 municipal election.

Another IDEA graduate is in the news!

IDEA graduate Erin Ggaadimits Ivalu Gingrich was recently selected for the prestigious 2025 Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship!

Erin finished a master's degree last year at the Institute of American Indian Arts, and her work is currently on display in the British Museum and the Anchorage Museum, among other places.

Fun fact: Erin is the daughter of Scott Gingrich, a longtime IDEA contact teacher.

Congratulations, Erin!

Using ‘subsistence research’ to develop her works, Alaska carver receives prestigious fellowship Erin Ggaadimits Ivalu Gingrich will earn a cash award and have works on display in the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis from November 2025 to February 2026.

This IDEA float created by our wonderful families and staff brought home the prize for Best in Theme at the North Pole 4th of July parade last Friday! (Did you hear we're opening an office in North Pole this fall?!)

We, like all of you, are grateful for the many freedoms we enjoy—especially the freedom to choose how to educate our children.

Hope everyone had a great Independence Day!
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If IDEA has made a difference for your family, we invite you to cast your vote in the final round of this year's Best of Alaska competition!

💙 Your vote shows other Alaskans what makes our IDEA family so special.
🗳️ Vote here: https://www.adnbestofalaska.com/vote #/gallery/?group=505322
📅 Voting ends June 29!

Thanks for all your nominations to get IDEA this far in the competition! More importantly, thank you all for being the everyday heartbeat of IDEA Homeschool.

NORTH POLE 🤝 IDEA Homeschool Office

📍It's official! The newest IDEA office will open early this fall, serving hundreds of homeschool families in North Pole, Eielson, and beyond.

🎉 We're excited to bring our clubs, activities, resources, and support a little closer to home for so many families.

✏️ If you've been on the fence about joining IDEA, it's not to late to enroll for Fall 2025!

IDEA Homeschool One of the most popular reasons why Alaska families choose IDEA is for the simple fact that we honor parents to make the decisions that matter when it comes to the academic success of each student. Of course, we are always there when help or guidance is needed, like a safety net, but parents tell us...

We're proud to share that IDEA has once again earned full Cognia Accreditation for the next six years, following a rigorous year-long external review process.

This continued accreditation is a direct benefit to children and families enrolled in the IDEA program—learn why in this letter from Superintendent Jason Johnson:

📩 https://mailchi.mp/galenanet/cognia-accreditation