Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Quake update letter 12-4-18




December 4th, 2018                    

Dear STrEaM parents, families and community,

Thank you for your patience and support as we all navigate recovery from Friday’s earthquake. So many of you have reached out to us already in many ways, expressing gratitude and offering to help. Our school community is amazing.

Our facility has been inspected and cleared as safe. Staff will return to work tomorrow (Wednesday) to meet, debrief, plan and prepare for students to return next week. The facility at Wayland is closed today. Parents and students will have access to the building tomorrow afternoon, from 1 to 3 PM. If you need to pick up personal items or touch base with teachers, that is the time. 

School will resume as normal on Monday, December 10th. When staff come together tomorrow, we will plan for debriefing with students and helping them to process and feel safe and comfortable again at school. This week all school activities, including the dance scheduled for Friday, are cancelled. Stay informed on the district's earthquake information page: https://www.asdk12.org/2018earthquake

This time off from school is of course prioritized for families to regroup, clean up, repair and recover. Here is a resource for navigating trauma with children after an earthquake: https://www.nctsn.org/resources/parent-guidelines-helping-children-after-earthquake

Once life is secure and children feel safe, this week is an opportunity for students to get outside and enjoy winter. For time indoors, we hope students are always reading a good book. Most STrEaM students have online math classes with ALEKS or Math Whiz: a little math each day goes a long way! All assignments are available on Google Classroom, so this is a great opportunity to catch up on any missing work. Teachers will be checking email regularly if you need more information.

We look forward to returning to school on Monday, December 10th. I hope all is well with our families. #STrEaMstrong

Thank you,

Adam Mokelke
Principal

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

STrEaM Robotics competition

STrEaM Robotics Club to compete December 1st

STrEaM's Robotics Club is getting ready for their competition at Central Middle School on Saturday December 1st.  Ms. Draeger, STrEaM's Science, Robotics and STEM teacher, also leads the after school club.


STrEaM has three teams entering the competition, with a total of 15 students. It is the third year in a row ASA has entered Robotics competitions, building a strong STEM tradition.

STrEaM Robotics is a part of First Robotics in the First Lego League division. The competition theme this year is "Into Orbit!"



Competition at Central Middle School is from 8 AM until 4 PM on Saturday. Parents, community members and fans are invited to join and watch the teams compete. Come support the Rapids Robotics squads!

Agenda:
8:15 – 9:00 Teams arrive and set up pit area
8:30 – 9:00 Team registration desk open
8:45 – 9:00 Coaches Meeting (gym)
9:15 – 11:15 3 Judging sessions
10:20 – 11:30 Practice rounds (gym)
11:30 – 12:15 Lunch (Bring your own)
12:00 – 12:20 Opening Ceremony (gym)
12:30 - 3:15 Official Robot Rounds (gym)
3:30 – 4:00 Closing Ceremony and Awards (gym)


All STrEaM students have the opportunity to take robotics as part of our STEM curriculum. Robotics club meets on Tuesdays after school.  Check out more about FIRST Robotics here: https://www.firstinspires.org/




Tuesday, November 20, 2018

STrEaM is for the Birds!

Project-based outdoor STEM education in action:

STrEaM Academy is going to the birds.  Or, the birds are coming for us?!  Rapids students have teamed up with Youth Birding Alaska (https://www.youthbirdingalaska.com/stream)  and UAA to get involved with birding, birding habitats, migration patterns and exploring the parkland community around our school.  We currently have three feeding stations on the Wayland Baptist University campus equipped with game cameras.  Pictures and data from the cameras are being uploaded to our website and our Birding Facebook page.  Students are researching birds, building bird houses and bringing their findings to community members.  

Seventh grade students and Mr. Kluever are spearheading the birding project.  Students are being trained on how to scientifically draw birds and animals of our parklands with efforts leading to both field guides and interpretive signs for our own Muldoon Park just north of campus.  

Look for additional information coming soon through our STrEaM Facebook page and webpage. We are now officially associated with Youth Birding Alaska!





Wednesday, November 14, 2018

STrEaM Girls attend Engineering Event

11/14/18
STEM at STrEaM!


















On November 13th, ten STrEaM students attended the "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" at the Egan Center.

Students participated in hands-on events and challenges designed and led by real engineers in our community. ASA's STEM, Robotics and Science teacher Ms. Draeger attended with students, along with Project Coordinator Megan Gatlin.

















7th grader Abby Ahlfield wants to be a Mechanical Engineer. She learned that engineering is a broad field with many different specialties. Her favorite activity was the balloon tower, as she was challenged by communicating with her group to create the tallest possible tower.

The event, a partnership between ASD, Girl Scouts of America and Exxon-Mobile, was covered by local media: https://www.ktva.com/story/39476448/young-girls-explore-career-options-in-engineering



Thursday, September 20, 2018

"I Am" projects

September 20th, 2018


Dear parents, 

Our first school-wide project this year is the "I Am" project. Students explore the family, heritage, culture, experiences and background that forms their identities.  We have worked each Wednesday on this project, as well as asking students to research and work on it at home. Each student will produce a book showcasing who they are. These will be on display for you on October 17th. 

Mandatory parts of this project include: 
Personal crest and motto
"I Am" poem and essay
Map or flag

Optional parts include:
Music or song
Dance
Story/myth
Timeline
Interview
Collage
Food

Culmination of this project is a showcase on October 17th at 5:00 PM in the Wayland Baptist auditorium. Please plan on joining us!

Please check with your child and find out what optional parts of the project they signed up for. We are looking for more performances for the showcase: singers, musicians, dancers, etc. We encourage bringing a family or cultural food dish to the showcase to contribute potluck style. 

Please contact your child's advisor with any questions. 

Thank you,

Adam Mokelke 



Friday, August 31, 2018

Rapids Report for September 3rd



RAPIDS REPORT

This week at STrEaM Academy
For the Week of September 3rd, 2018



Monday:                NO SCHOOL: LABOR DAY


Tuesday:               “A” DAY SCHEDULE.  P. 1-3 and Elective (7)
Lunch 11:15-11:45
Dismissal 3:00


Wednesday:      Projects Day. “I AM” PROJECTS
Lunch  11:30, Dismissal  12:00  EARLY RELEASE WEDNESDAY

After School Clubs:
Theatre:   Room 10  12:00-1:30
Jiu-Jitsu:  Room 6   12:00- 1:30
Choir:       Room 1    12:00-1:30


Thursday:             “B” DAY SCHEDULE. P. 4-6 and Advisory (8)
Lunch 11:15-11:45
Dismissal 3:00


Friday:                    ARCTIC VALLEY TREK!!
School starts 8:00 AM- Advisory
BUSSES LEAVE 9:00 AM
BUSSES RETURN 1:30 PM
Dismissal 3:00 PM
DRESS FOR HIKING AND COLD OR WET WEATHER: HIKING BOOTS/SHOES, RAIN COATS, WARM CLOTHING, BACKPACK.
SACK LUNCH AND FULL WATER BOTTLE.


NEXT WEEK: MAP TESTING TUESDAY AND THURSDAY FOR English-Language Arts




AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS

Theater Club with Brian Hutton:
Wednesdays 12:00 - 1:30, begins 9/5
Minimum 10 students, $100 per quarter

Battle of the Books/Library Club with Ms. Twiford:
Thursdays  3:15 - 4:15, begins 9/13

Robotics Club with Ms. Draeger:
Tuesdays 3:00 - 4:30, begins 9/11

Table Top Game Club with Mr. Bierer: 
Fridays 3:15 - 4:15 begins 9/14

Choir Club with Mrs. Snider:
Wednesdays  12:00 - 1:30, begins 9/5

Jiu-jitsu Club with Dan Strickland:
 Wednesdays 12:00 - 1:00, begins 9/5
            Minimum 10 students, $10 per session





Interested in project-based, experiential and STEM education in small classes with a dynamic and caring teaching staff?

#EXPLORERSWANTED

STrEaM Academy is currently accepting up to 10 new students grades 6, 7 & 8.


Curriculum includes: outdoor and adventure PE, monthly field trips; robotics, coding and rocketry; arts, dance, music and Spanish; math through Algebra 2; integration of core subjects through real-world projects.

Call 742-9000 for an appointment and tour with Principal Mokelke. Join the greatest school on earth today!

“Anchorage STrEaM Academy empowers middle school students to be involved learners, critical thinkers, and engaged citizens inspired by the natural world”