Guidance and Counseling
Alak School has a full-time school counselor that provides guidance and counseling for students. In addition to advising students, the counselor is the test coordinator for the school and also handles student scheduling. The counselor also coordinates with outside agencies when appropriate.

"S" Term
The North Slope Borough School District devised a program called "S" term last year that adds a third term to the school year for secondary students. This term is shortened to three weeks in length; however, students attend only one self-contained class during this time and accumulate the equivalent hours of a semester class. Thus, students earn ½ elective credit for the course they choose to take during "S" term.
Teachers develop classes and writing objectives and lesson plans in accordance with State and District standards. Some of the courses tie in with the Inupiaq cultural programs, such as the Whaling Subsistence class. These courses allow students to participate in important cultural activities while also meeting objectives in language arts, social studies, math, and science.

Supplemental Grants
Alak School operates under a number of grant programs, the most important of which are Title I and the Instructional Application Network (IAN) programs. These programs provide needed instruction and interventions for students in the areas of reading, writing, and math.

Title I is a federally supported program that provides funding for services to economically disadvantaged students. Alak School is a Title I school with a full-time Title I reading specialist. Services are provided to all students in grades K through 12. Services are done through pullout programs as well as assistance provided in the classroom.
The IAN program provides interventions for students at-risk of failing the State Benchmark or High School Graduation Qualifying Exams in reading, writing, and math. Much of the instruction is computer based, but it is also individualized. A lot of one-on-one instruction takes place through the IAN program. Students are identified for these interventions through an analysis of test data.

Technology

Technology is an ever more important facet of education. Alak School attempts to maintain the latest in technological equipment and to incorporate that technology into everything that we do. Our Technology Site Plan addresses the equipment needs, knowledge and skills needed, the incorporation of technology into the classroom, and the need to stay current with trends in technology.

Currently, each student in grades five - twelve, received Apple Laptops to be used for classroom instruction. A mobile cart containing 16 laptops is also available for teacher use. Multiple workstations are in some classrooms. In addition, videoconferencing equipment is available through a video network comprising all schools in the North Slope Borough School District. Projection equipment, scanners, CD and DVD burners, digital video production equipment, and digital cameras are all available for classroom use.

All students and staff are given a network account with the North Slope Borough School District. This account provides access to the Internet and email services, as well as, access to numerous district software programs. File space is allotted to students and staff for storage of school-related files. All services are satellite-based including high-speed Internet access.

Library
The school/community library is operated jointly by the school and the North Slope Borough through the Tuzzy Library at Ilisagvik College in Barrow. The library has approximately 4,000 volumes. A full-time aide serves as the librarian at Alak School, and the Tuzzy Library funds a program that keeps the library for 10 hours a week during non-school hours including Saturday.

Food Service
Alak School employs 3 full-time cooks that prepare breakfast and lunch meals for all students on a daily basis. This service is provided at no charge to the students. A full-service facility with storage is maintained by the cooking staff. Food is mostly delivered by air freight, and a large inventory is kept at the school. District food service staff order food service items and develop nutritionally sound menus. This program also serves the elderly community in Wainwright. Meals are delivered daily to elders in the community and a separate table is set each day for those able to come to school for lunch.

Inupiat
The Inupiaq language and cultural program is a vital part of the instruction provided at Alak School. Students are taught rudimentary use of the Inupiaq language and also participate in a variety of cultural activities in the classroom. Inupiat instruction is provided daily to all students K3/K4 through 8th grade. A full-time type "M" certified instructor provides the instruction. This program is very important to the community and is strongly supported by parents and community members.

Community Recreation
The North Slope Borough School District operates a community schools program through its funding of community recreation. The program's main function is to maintain an after-school program of evening recreation for students and adult members of the community. A full-time staff member supervises the night recreation program Monday through Friday of each week in the school's gymnasium and weight room.