Saturday, October 28, 2017

10-27-17 Rapids Report

The RAPIDS Report
News from Anchorage STrEaM Academy
October 27th, 2017
Dear STrEaM friends and families,


We’ve started the second quarter and nearly reached the end of October. In partnership with Randy Dowd and “Onward and Upward” we completed our second TREK of the year, to Eklutna Lake. Students got place-based lessons on our ecosystem, watershed, and protecting public lands, while spending a great day outdoors. As we move quickly through fall and winter looms closer, we will still seek opportunities to get outside, so being dressed and prepared for inclement weather is important.


Our program is driven by key three components of our charter: STEM, project-based learning and experiential education. All we do this year is aligned to our three school-wide goals: positive school culture, communication, and planning and preparation.


School Culture: Our students completed their “Sock-tober” drive to gather socks for the homeless, and led and assembly with activities and games designed to enhance school culture and combat bullying. I am personally excited about and proud of the leadership role our student government is taking to strengthen our school culture. Next week is “Spirit Week,” which they requested and planned. We continue building a strong, safe climate where everyone is safe, respected and able to engage in learning.


Communication: This week we completed parent-teacher conferences, implementing student portfolios and engaging students more in the process. It was a success we will build on, working towards student-led conferences. This was a great opportunity for staff and families to communicate face to face. Online platforms are an important way for us to communicate, and recently we’ve focused on improving our ASD website. Check out http://stream.asdk12.org/ and give us feedback..

Planning: Our staff planned overviews for the entire second quarter, taking us up to the last day on December 21st.  On that Thursday  we will hold our annual Winter Solstice TREK at Cheney Lake, launching into winter break. Friday staff worked in teams planning cross-curricular second quarter projects. I had the opportunity to hear them present project plans, and I am very excited for the cool things students will be doing! Second quarter will go quickly, with just 36 instructional days left, and 3 short weeks on the schedule.


We’re looking forward to a great second quarter. November promises to be fast, busy and fun: Full STrEaM Ahead!


~Mr. Mokelke
(907) 742-9000 school  (907) 360-1059 cell     


INFORMATION/ DATES/ REMINDERS
  • 10/30-11/3 SPIRIT WEEK
  • Tuesday 10/31: PICTURE RE-TAKE DAY
  • 11/3 Friday: Dia De Los Muertes Dance
  • 11/10 Friday:  No School- Veterans day observed
  • 11/13 Monday: Monthly APC meeting 6:15 PM room 205
  • 11/22 Wednesday: Pancake breakfast and movie: “Hidden Figures”
  • 11/23-24:  No School- Thanksgiving

BLOCK SCHEDULE
Regular block schedule this week: “A” day Monday and Thursday, “B” day Tuesday and Friday, projects and early release Wednesday. Click here for more details on the week at "This Week @ STrEaM"
SPIRIT WEEK SCHEDULE:
MONDAY: PAJAMAS AND PRAISE
TUESDAY: NATURE AND NURTURE
WEDNESDAY: SPIRIT DAY (STREAM GEAR)
THURSDAY: TWINS AND THANK-YOUS
FRIDAY: COSTUMES AND COMPLEMENTS


Academic Policy Committee (APC)
The APC (STrEaM’s board) meets the second Monday of each month. The next meeting is November 13th, at 6:15 PM in room 205 at Wayland Baptist. Parents and community are always welcome!
Our Chair Whitney D’Atri can be reached via email at datri_whitney@asdk12.org
Caroline Storm is a parent and APC member who coordinates volunteers and transportation including carpooling. You can contact Caroline at caroline.f.storm@gmail.com


COMMUNICATION
Sign up for text updates through remind.com https://www.remind.com/join/streamac or  text @streamac to the number 81010
Visit our web page at http://stream.asdk12.org/
Twitter @AKSTrEaMAcademy  
Instagram @Anchorage_Stream_Academy




Find any staff member and their email address here: http://stream.asdk12.org/ourstaff/

Staff Contact Information:
Adam Mokelke, Principal mokelke_adam@asdk12.org 742-9001
Sandy Thompson, Admin. Asst. thompson_sandra@asdk12.org 742-9000
Megan Gatlin, Project Coordinator gatlin_megan@asdk12.org 742-9004
Kristin Bozarth, Social Studies/lead teacher bozarth_kristin@asdk12.org
Scott Perkins, Social Studies perkins_scott@asdk12.org
Richard Bierer, Math/Science bierer_richard@asdk12.org
Nicole Staker, Math staker_nicole@asdk12.org
Patrick McCormick, Science mccormick_patrick@asdk12.org
Terri Draeger, Science draeger_terri@asdk12.org
Laura-Ashlee Twiford, Language Arts twiford_laura-ashlee@asdk12.org
Chris Krejca, Special Education krejca_christine@asdk12.org
Emily Weigel, SPED aide weigel_emily@asdk12.org


Thursday, October 12, 2017

10-12-17 Rapids Report

The RAPIDS Report
News from Anchorage STrEaM Academy
October 12th, 2017


Dear STrEaM friends and families,

There is just one week left in the first quarter, and parent/teacher conferences are less than two weeks away. Friday we are on our second school-wide TREK, to Eklutna Lake for the day. We won’t have a regular school day on a Friday again until November 3rd! Once again, the month of October seems to fly the fastest of all months in the school year.

School Culture: October is National Bullying Prevention Month. An article from the American Psychological Association states, Studies based on playground observations found that in 75 percent of bullying incidents, at least four other peers were present as witnesses, bystanders, assistants to bullies, reinforcers, or defenders of victims (O'Connel, Pepler, & Craig, 1999). Assistants to bullies take part in ridiculing or intimidating a schoolmate. Reinforcers, in turn, encourage the bully by showing signs of approval (e.g., smiling when someone is bullied). In contrast to the pro-bully participants, those who defend victims are rare.”
http://www.apa.org/education/k12/bullying.aspx?item=4  At STrEaM we empower students to say “we don’t do that here” when they witness bullying. Let’s make it the norm, not the rarity, to positively and appropriately stand up to bullying.  

Communication: One great tool for communication is to “go to the source.” Often when we have an issue, instead of speaking to the person we talk to others, avoid them or go around them. As a principal, when parents or students come with a concern, the first question I ask is “have you talked to the teacher?” I am always happy to facilitate or mediate. However, the most effective way to communicate is to first “go to the source” with patience, respect and empathy, and seek a resolution.  
Safety: By now you’ve heard of the ALICE protocol for school safety. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. ALICE protocols provide options and responses in the event of a violent or dangerous intruder. Remember that the “Counter” part of ALICE is a last resort: if students are unable to evacuate or successfully barricade a door, and a violent intruder is seeking to do harm, they are empowered to take action. If you ever have any questions please call or stop by and see me. Nothing is more important than the safety of our students.

Finally, thank you so much to the volunteers, parents, community members and students who participated in our first “Women in STEM” event! We had approximately 50 students engage, learn about STEM careers, participate in an engineering challenge, and enter to win awesome door prizes. This was positive and successful, and we look forward to doing this annually.

~Mr. Mokelke



INFORMATION/DATES/REMINDERS:
  • 10/13 Friday:  ALL DAY TREK-Eklutna (8:30-3:00). Pickup at Totem Theatre after school.
  • 10/20 Friday: No School, end of the First Quarter
  • 10/25-26 Early release days for Parent/Teacher Conferences (full schedule attached)
  • 10/27 Friday: No School


BLOCK SCHEDULE
MONDAY 10/16       “B” DAY:  Periods 5-8
TUESDAY 10/17      “A” DAY:  Periods 1-4
WEDNESDAY 10/18 EARLY RELEASE
THURSDAY 10/19    “B” DAY: Periods 5-8
FRIDAY 10/20 NO SCHOOL


Academic Policy Committee (APC)
The APC (STrEaM’s board) meets the second Monday of each month. The next meeting is November 13th, at 6:15 PM in room 205 at Wayland Baptist. Parents and community are always welcome!
Our Chair Whitney D’Atri can be reached via email at datri_whitney@asdk12.org
Caroline Storm is a parent and APC member who coordinates volunteers and transportation including carpooling. You can contact Caroline at caroline.f.storm@gmail.com


COMMUNICATION:
Watch for the Rapids Report on Friday 2 times per month
Sign up for text updates through remind.com https://www.remind.com/join/streamac or  text @streamac to the number 81010

Visit our web page at http://stream.asdk12.org/
Twitter @AKSTrEaMAcademy  
Instagram @Anchorage_Stream_Academy

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
10/25 Wednesday Early Release
Lunch at 11:30, students released at 12:00
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES 12:30 PM to 6:00 PM
  • Conferences in the auditorium
  • Teacher break 2:30 to 3:00 PM
  • Conferences not scheduled- open format
  • Students encouraged to attend and participate!
  • NO AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS TODAY!

10/26 Thursday Early Release
Lunch at 11:30, students released at 12:00
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES  12:30 to 3:00 PM
  • In classrooms- open format
  • Students encouraged to attend and participate!


Monday, October 9, 2017

9-29-17 Rapids Report

The RAPIDS Report
News from Anchorage STrEaM Academy
September 29, 2017
Dear STrEaM friends and families,

This coming week we are already into October! October is a busy month in education, and it tends to fly by. There are just THREE weeks left in the first quarter. The first quarter ends on Friday, October 20th. We have special events or no school every Friday this month: see below for specifics and dates.  

We will host our “Women in STEM” event on Friday,October 6th, 5 to 7 PM. We will have presenters from the community, refreshments, an engineering challenge and STEM door prizes. STrEaM students who bring a (student) guest will receive a ticket for a chance to win a STrEaM hoodie. This is a great way for prospective students and families to learn about our school as well. Please join us!

Our school culture motto is, “everyone who walks through our doors will be treated with dignity and respect”. Staff are striving to communicate positively and frequently, in a variety of ways. Our collaborative planning time is spent designing engaging projects, units, TREKs and engineering challenges, bringing STEM, experiential outdoor experiences, and project-based learning to our students. Please give us feedback so we can continue to meet our goals, grow and improve.

~Mr. Mokelke
(907) 742-9000 school  (907) 360-1059 cell  


INFORMATION/DATES/REMINDERS:
  • This is the last week to buy STrEaM T-shirts/hoodies on Custom Ink! See links below.
  • 10/4 Wednesday:  12:00-12:30 informational meeting on Jiu-Jitsu club in room 6 for students and parents. Come to learn more and sign up!
  • 10/6 Friday 5:00-7:00 PM: “Women in STEM” night at STrEaM! Meet women in STEM fields, participate in an engineering challenge, door prizes, food and refreshments
  • 10/9 Monday: STrEaM APC (board) meeting at 6:15 PM, room 205
  • 10/11 Wednesday:  Eklutna Lake TREK permission forms due!
  • 10/13 Friday:  ALL DAY TREK to Eklutna (8:30-3:00).  Pickup at Totem Theatre that day.
  • 10/20 Friday: No School, end of the First Quarter
  • 10/25-26 early release days for Parent/Teacher Conferences
  • 10/27 Friday: No School


BUY YOUR STREAM HOODIE OR T-SHIRT ONLINE: Deadline Friday 10/6


Academic Policy Committee (APC) Elections
We have open seats on the Academic Policy Committee (STrEaM’s Board).
Seat C (Parent & PTO Liaison), Seat G (non-parent community member), Seat I (parent OR community member). All seats are two-year terms. Monthly meetings on the second Monday of every month, from 6:15-8:30 pm.
Contact APC Chair, Whitney D’Atri, at datri_whitney@asdk12.org by October 6th if interested! Next APC meeting Monday 10/9 6:15 PM Room 205


BLOCK SCHEDULE:
Monday/Thursday “A” days: Periods 1 through 4, two before lunch and two after.
Tuesday/Friday “B” days: periods 5-8. After lunch: Project Electives and Advisory.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information and support!
Wednesday is Early Release day: Lunch 11:30, Release at 12:00. Food truck is here!


COMMUNICATION:
Still accepting new students- schedule an interview and school tour! Call 742-9000

Transportation: APC member Ms. Storm is actively working to connecting parents that live in similar areas of town to facilitate carpool options. If you are interested carpooling, please contact her at caroline.f.storm@gmail.com

Sign up for text updates through remind.com https://www.remind.com/join/streamac or  text @streamac to the number 81010

Visit our web page at http://stream.asdk12.org/
Twitter @AKSTrEaMAcademy  Instagram @Anchorage_Stream_Academy

ANCHORAGE STrEaM ACADEMY
INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR AN EVENING CELEBRATING
WomenInStem-final.jpg
FRIDAY OCTOBER 6TH 5:00 TO 7:00 PM WAYLAND BAPTIST AUDITORIUM

  • STrEaM students: bring a friend, earn a ticket for a STrEaM hoodie!
  • Visit real women working in STEM fields!2O2MklS4.jpg
  • Participate in an ENGINEERING DESIGN CHALLENGE!
  • Refreshments!
  • Drawing for STEM door prizes!
  • Post and share with #streamgirlsrock