Principal Laquesha Wilkins
Dr. Laquesha Wilkins Headshot

Dear Kali School Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! It is both an honor and a privilege to join the Kali School community as your new principal. I am excited to partner with our students, families, staff, and the Point Lay community as we begin a year filled with learning, growth, and opportunity.

At Kali School, we are committed to providing every student with a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment where they are challenged to reach their fullest potential. We believe that strong relationships, high expectations, and meaningful collaboration create the foundation for student success. Together, we will foster academic excellence while honoring the rich culture, traditions, and values of our Inupiaq community.

This year, our focus will be on strengthening literacy and mathematics achievement, supporting students' social-emotional well-being, celebrating regular attendance, and creating opportunities for leadership both inside and outside the classroom. We are excited to offer extracurricular activities that encourage teamwork, school pride, and personal growth, and we encourage every student to get involved.

Families are our most important partners in education. Your involvement, encouragement, and communication make a lasting difference in your child's success. I look forward to building strong relationships with each of you and working together to ensure every student thrives.

Thank you for entrusting us with your children. I am excited for all we will accomplish together during the 2026–2027 school year.

Go Qavviks!

With appreciation,

Dr. Laquesha B. Wilkins Principal Kali School

Welcome to Kali School

Point Lay is a relatively new community located on the Western Arctic Coast of Alaska, approximately 300 miles southwest of Barrow, Alaska. Point Lay began as a small community of 2 or 3 families. Later in 1929 – 1930 several additional families moved to Point Lay from their southern neighboring community of Point Hope. Today Point Lay is comprised of community members from several different Arctic Alaska communities. Point Lay has been moved twice throughout the years, with the second move being a result of seasonal flooding at the mouth of the Kokolik River. In 1974 Point Lay was moved to its current location near the Air Force Distance Early Warning Station. Today the old village site of Point Lay is utilized as a summer camp. While Point Lay is active in the hunting of Bowhead whales, the community also depends heavily on harvesting the Beluga Whale and various other subsistence activities.

The student population of Kali School, which houses K3 through 12th grade, is indicative of the demographics of the village of Point Lay as a whole. The school maintains a student population between 90 and 100 students of largely Iñupiaq Eskimo heritage. The student teacher ratio at Kali School runs approximately 9:1 and the minor ratio of the entire village as compared to adults over 18 years of age is approximately 2:1. As represented by the schools mascot, the Wolverine (Qavvik), Kali School students have a fighting spirit and are active in numerous academic and athletic events.