Welcome to McQueen School

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Ambler School Grizzlies
Ambler, Alaska
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Table of Contents

• Where is Ambler? How do I get there?
• Where will I live?
• What Services are in the Community?
• What is the Community Like?
• What is Ambler School Like?
• Welcome to Ambler School and Ambler Village!

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Where is Ambler?

• Ambler is located in the Northwest Arctic
  Borough at the confluence of the Ambler and Kobuk
  Rivers. It is approximately 135 miles Northeast
  of Kotzebue, accessible only by air.

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How do I get There?

• The most common mode of travel to Ambler is by
  small aircraft. There are several local carriers
  (including Bering Air, Cape Smythe Air,
  Warbelows Air, and Hageland Air).

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Travel Around the Village and to Nearby Villages

• Some individuals use four-wheelers (also known
  as Hondas), snow machines (also known as
  sno-gos), and boats to travel to neighboring
  villages. There are no roads connecting Ambler to
  other communities.

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Moving to Ambler

• When mailing your items to Ambler for the first
  time, it is a good idea to send them priority
  mail and barcode every box. It will take 2 or 3
  weeks to be delivered.
• Be sure to write New Teacher on all of your
  boxes. The school mailing address is PO Box 109
  Ambler, Alaska / 99786
• Be sure to insure all packages.
• Alcohol is prohibited.
• Be sure to label packages that have special
  requirements, such as fragile and freeze.
• Be sure to check size limits for mailing with the
  US Post Office in Ambler. Remember that all items
  coming into and out of the village come by small
  plane (with the exception of large equipment
  which is barged in during summer).

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Household Necessities (to get started)

• Kitchen Cookware (including frying pan, baking
  pan, and cooking pot), utensils, cups, glasses,
  plates, dish soap
• Bathroom Washcloths, Towels, Toilet Paper, Soap,
  and Shampoo
• Bedroom Sheets, Blankets, Pillows

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Helpful Contact Information

• Banking?
• Telephone?
• Groceries?
• DMV?
• Travel?
• Veternarian?

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Banking

• Banking-There is no bank in Ambler. The nearest
  bank is Wells Fargo in Kotzebue. While it is
  possible to set up banking services online at
  www.wellsfargo.com, it is suggested that persons
  wait until they arrive in Kotzebue to set up
  their accounts.

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Telephone
To set up telephone service at your new home,
contact OTZ Telephone in Kotzebue. You may have
to wait a few days for a technician to come to
your house. Please be patient.
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Food Shopping

• Groceries-The Ambler Native Store has many staple
  items. Boxed milk is about 4.00 a carton. Potato
  Chips run about 7.00 for a large bag. Shopping
  needs can also be done while in Kotzebue at
  either AC Store, Hansons Store, or Rotmans
  Store. Most teachers have their foods shipped in
  bulk quantities to the village from distributors
  in Anchorage and Seattle. Such distributors
  include SPAN Alaska (Seattle), Walmart Bush
  (Anchorage), and Fred Meyer (Anchorage) See
  letter from individual mentors
• SPAN Alaska 1.800.367.9833 or online at
  www.spanalaskasales.com/ruralaska.html
• Walmart Bush in Anchorage or online at
  www.walmart.com

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Drivers License

• DMV-There is no Department of Motor Vehicles in
  Ambler. To obtain an Alaskan Drivers License it
  is recommended that you do so upon arrival in
  Fairbanks or Anchorage. DMVs in these cities are
  open for extended hours. The Kotzebue DMV is open
  on half days. If you choose to wait until your
  arrival in Kotzebue to obtain a AKDL, the new
  hire inservice is an excellent opportunity.

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Travel
Travel-Several small carriers fly from Ambler to
Kotzebue, via Shungnak and Kobuk Villages or
Fairbanks. These carriers include Hageland, Cape
Smythe, Warbelows Air, and Bering Air. The main
offices for each of these air carriers are in
Kotzebue. In order to travel from Kotzebue to
Anchorage or Fairbanks, you must contact Alaska
Air at www.alaskaair.com or call their toll free
number.
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Pet(s)

• Vet-Since pets are allowed in teacher housing,
  veterinarian needs are often a concern. There is
  no vet in the village. The nearest vet is in Nome
  at Nome Veterinary Hospital. Many pet medications
  may be ordered online.

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Typical Arctic Gear

• Be sure to bring clothes suitable for the
  weather. Remember that temperatures can dip to
  50 below zero. There are several outfitters who
  have knowledge of this environment and the proper
  gear required. These outfitters include Army and
  Navy (Anchorage), Sixth Avenue Outfitters
  (Anchorage), Northern Outfitters (Anchorage) and
  Big Rays (Fairbanks). We also recommend
  Cabelas.

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Map of Ambler
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Teacher Housing

• Village housing is rented by the District. In
  2004, new housing units will be available for
  teachers.

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Ambler Teacher Housing
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Ambler Teacher Housing
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Community Services

• Several Stores (3)
• Kobuk River Lodge (Restaurant and Lodge)
• US Post Office
• Village Clinic operated by Maniilaq Association
• City Office mayor/council form of government
• A volunteer fire department
• School
• Baptist and Friends Churches
• Water Facility More than ¾ of the village has
  running water.

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Ambler Native Store

• You can find milk, eggs, bread, and most of your
  daily staples here at ABL Native Store. The store
  is located in the center of the village.

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Kobuk River Lodge and Restaurant

• Ambler is the only village in the NW Arctic
  Borough (outside of Kotzebue) to have a fully
  operational, year-round lodge and restaurant. The
  restaurant specializes in gourmet meals.

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US Post Office

• Teachers must go to the post office to pick up
  their mail.

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Clinic

• The Ambler Clinic staff works in conjunction
  with Manilliaq Hospital in Kotzebue to bring
  health care services to the village. The new
  clinic was completed in 2003.

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City Office
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Churches

• Ambler has two denominations. Each group holds
  regular services weekly.
• Friends Church (Quaker)
• Baptist

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Culture

• Ambler is a traditional Iñupiat Eskimo village.
• Most villagers participate in subsistence
  activities, including
• Caribou and other large game hunting, fishing and
  icefishing, dogmushing, and berry picking.

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What is the Community Like?

• The population is currently about 300.
• Amblers economy is based primarily on
  subsistence activities. The school district,
  city, village council, airlines, local stores,
  Red Dog Mine, and Maniilaq Association provide
  year-round jobs. The Native craft industry has
  recently expanded local carvings and jewelry
  have become a great boon to the community's
  economy.

Maniilaq Association Website
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Photos of the Villages
Planes at Ambler Airport
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Welcome to Ambler School
Ambler School is warm and friendly, Penny
Ramos, Primary Teacher
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Outside of the School

• Ambler School offers Early Childhood through 12
  grade. There are 9 certified staff members and 12
  classified staff members. There is one special
  education room, a teachers resource room, a
  kitchen, a library / gymnasium, an upstairs
  school storage room, an outside playground area,
  and a school maintenance building.

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Inside the School

• Six classrooms comprise the Elementary Wing at
  Ambler School.
• Middle School and High School students share four
  classrooms.

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School Activities

• Century 21 Tutoring
• Gear Up
• Seasonal Programs

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School Sports

• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Wrestling
• Native Youth Olympics

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Ambler Volleyball Team
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