SayTik: Gastineau Community School

**Sayéik: Gastineau Community School**, located in the heart of Juneau, Alaska, serves as a cornerstone of the local community, blending a commitment to academic rigor with a deep respect for the region's cultural heritage. The school’s name, "Sayéik," is derived from the Tlingit language, reflecting the school’s dedication to honoring the Indigenous history and values of the Aak’w Kwáan territory. As part of the Juneau School District, it provides a comprehensive elementary education that emphasizes not only core subjects like literacy and mathematics but also social-emotional growth and character development.

The school is well-regarded for its welcoming atmosphere and its emphasis on fostering a strong sense of community among students, parents, and staff. Beyond the classroom, Sayéik: Gastineau places a high priority on place-based learning, utilizing Juneau’s unique natural environment as an outdoor laboratory to enrich the curriculum. By encouraging active parent participation and maintaining strong connections to the surrounding neighborhood, the school creates a supportive learning environment that aims to prepare students to be thoughtful, engaged, and culturally aware citizens.