The Rapids Report
April 22nd, 2024
Dear STrEaM Families,
We’re entering the last full week of April. There is so much happening at STrEaM! You may have noticed a LOT of students outside on Thursday afternoon when you come for pick up. We have 5 teachers teaching outdoor specials on Thursday at the end of the day! Please use extra caution driving onto campus. As always, we’re outside every day!
This Week at STrEaM:
Monday 4/22: Full Day P. 1-7
Tuesday 4/23: Block Day A Advisory & P. 1-4
3:00 pm Volunteer Appreciation Party in the Auditorium
Wednesday 4/24: Early Release 12:00
Thursday 4/25: Block Day B Advisory & P. 5-8
ONLINE REGISTRATION for FY25 opens today!
Friday 4/26: Full Day P. 1-7
Coming Up at STrEaM:
Wednesday 5/08: Girl Scout Troop 540 will be in the lobby selling cookies! $6/box
Smartphones, Social Media and Mental Health
A message from Principal Mokelke
One major concern I’ve heard about going phone-free is that parents want their children to have cell phones in an emergency or crisis situation at school. As a father, I completely understand this sentiment. I’ve read numerous articles and resources on this topic, and the consensus is that students on cell phones are much more likely to impede or exacerbate a school emergency than do good. As a father, I know if I got a text or call from my child, I’d rush to the school. Imagine every parent rushing to school, impeding law enforcement and emergency response. Imagine students texting or posting instead of following staff directions or responding to emergency personnel. We have phone lines that work even in emergency situations with power outages. We have direct lines to law enforcement and ASD security. We train and prepare to handle emergencies. This is not at all a clear or easy discussion, and I respect parent concerns regarding emergencies.
Here’s a resource for further reading: https://schoolsecurity.org/trends/cell-phones-and-text-messaging-in-schools/
Summer Art Camp
Join new STrEaM teacher Michael Dickerson for art camp this summer!
Does your kid love to draw? Paint? Make music? Create graphic novels? Place.ment youth art camp is a summer program open to middle school artists of any medium or discipline. From June 17-28, our teaching artists will give workshops and lead creative sessions that weave together all our campers‘ interests into a final project to share with friends, family, and our community. Together will explore a single important theme: people’s relationship with place. Sign up at https://www.placementcreative.com/ to reserve your spot!
Health Updates:
Free health clinic (dental/vision/medical) at Begich Middle School on April 20-21st.
iknowmine.org
Alaska has a unique website to distribute educational materials and resources to teens and families. Free resources for condoms, naloxone kits, infection testing, drug tests and safe medication disposal supplies to be sent directly to you, confidentially. The goal is to disseminate materials, programs and other resources, promoting health and wellness. It’s a great time to discuss with your pre-teen if there are products they or their social group need and how to procure them or just have them on hand in your home, if the topic comes up. Discrete availability can eliminate many health disparities. We believe community involvement is integral to achieving wellness.
www.iknowmine.org
Please feel free to email or call me with any questions. zimpelman_bethany@asdk12.org
Wishing you well
~Nurse Bethany
From the desk of Ms. Hayden
Hello, all! It is finally feeling like Spring! The end of the school year is full of planning, deadlines, lack of motivation, and anxious excitement. In the middle of all of that, all of us - kids too - grapple with the various ways we are showing up in the world. It is not always perfect, for sure :) I wanted to share a TEDtalk I watched recently about embracing all the conflicting parts of ourselves, especially the parts we struggle with. I hope you all have a wonderful week.
School Governance
APC (Academic Policy Committee)
The Academic Policy Committee (APC) meets Wednesday May 8th at 5:30 PM. Community and parents are always welcome to attend. Please notify us prior to the meeting if you wish to provide public comment.
Friends of STrEaM
The School Lunch Program: We have 18 lunch days left this year which translates to about 420 lunches. We are thankful for the amazing support of our school community and our FY24 business partner, Clarion Suites Anchorage Downtown.
(LINK) Spring Auction 2024 opens April 29th! Between now and then we are building the online auction website and preparing for the event. Advisory classes will be competing to see which basket gets the most bids. The grade with the most bids wins a pizza party!
After School Activities
Wednesday MATH CLUB
It is time to sign up for Wednesday’s Math Club for quarter 1 of the ‘24-’25 school year!
Math Club is hosted by math teacher Stephanie Olendorff. Math Club is open to any STrEaM student who has a permission form submitted. However, there is cap of 20 seats available and academic need will be considered when accepting students. It will take place on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. Students must be picked up or have permission to walk off campus by 1:30 pm. Please complete the permission slip in the following link: https://forms.gle/4TAHChYhGtzUY5rU9
For more information reach out to Mrs. Olendorff at olendorff_stephanie@asdk12.org
Advisory & Lunch MATH CLUB
Students have the option to spend Tuesday and Thursday advisory period in Mrs. Olendorff’s room for math support. Students are to check in with their advisory teacher for attendance, then go to room 4. Students can also spend lunch in Mrs. Olendorff’s room Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and/or Friday for math support. The expectation is that students are silently working on any PA’s and MA’s while Mrs. Olendorff is there to offer support and instruction. This is a great opportunity to incorporate more math into the students’ schedules. Please reach out to Mrs. Olendorff at olendorff_stephanie@asdk12.org with any questions.
24-25 School Year
START TIME CHANGES
For the 24-25 school year, we will be moving our start and end time up 30 minutes so that we do not start at the same time as elementary. This would be an undue hardship on our families with elementary students.
24-25 START/END TIMES:
M/T/TH/F: 8:30 AM TO 3:30 PM
WEDNESDAY: 8:30 AM TO 12:30 PM
RETURNING STUDENTS
If your 6th or 7th grader will not be returning to STrEaM for the 24-25 school year, PLEASE let us know. We track this closely for enrollment, seats, gender balance, scheduling, staffing, the lottery and waitlist.
To make it easy for you, you may also complete this short survey: https://forms.gle/zmrTUSawRZaVAhiQ9
We invite you to SAVE THE DATE to attend OPEN HOUSE the afternoon of Friday, August 9! We will orient new and returning students/families to grading practices, Q and Canvas, and strategies for success to prepare for the new school year a week before it officially begins! Students and families will also have the opportunity to meet teachers and walk through classrooms.
Online Registration Opens 4/25/24
Registration for next school year opens on April 25th! ASD requires all returning students (from any ASD school) to complete online registration every year. On April 25th log into ParentConnection and follow the link on the top left corner.
Anchorage STrEaM Academy requires four school-specific permission forms to be completed annually: FY25 Walking Permission, FY25 Personal Device, FY25 Science Lab Safety, for 7th & 8th only- FY25 FABLAB Safety and the Optional Carpool Connection Sign-up
Quyana!
Thank you for your continued support.
Call, email or stop by if you have any questions or needs!
Adam Mokelke, Principal mokelke_adam@asdk12.org
Rebekah Hayden, Assistant Principal hayden_rebekah@asdk12.org
Amy Bonertz, Counselor bonertz_amy@asdk12.org
Sylvia Biondich, Administrative Asst. biondich_sylvia@asdk12.org
Jessi Blackson, Secretary blackson_jessica@asdk12.org
Bethany Zimpelman, Itinerant Nurse zimpleman_bethany@asdk12.org
Chris Krejca, Special Education krejca_christine@asdk12.org
