Rapids Report 10-31-22

 The Rapids Report

October 31st, 2022

Dear STrEaM Families,

First quarter has ended and we’ve completed Student-Led Conferences. Thank you to all our families who came in and participated! 2nd quarter is now underway, and we finally have a full week of school this week. There are some disruptions to the regular schedule next week, with the asynchronous learning day Tuesday 11/8 and no school for Veterans Day Friday 11/11. Watch for directions coming from teachers for students on 11/8. 

Weekly Schedule

Monday 10/31: Full day, periods 1 through 7. 

Tuesday 11/1: Block day “A” Advisory and periods 1-4

Wednesday 11/2: Early Release Projects Day. Advisory and PBL, release at 12:00

Thursday 11/3: Block day “B” Advisory and periods 5-8 (P. 8: Specials)

Friday 11/4: Full day, periods 1-7

Social-Emotional Learning

Topic this week- Dealing with Negative Emotions

OUTDOOR SCHOOL, OUTDOOR GEAR

The weather has turned cold and snow is here. It is a great time to remind families that at STrEaM, we GO OUTSIDE EVERY DAY! This includes when the weather is cold and there is snow on the ground. We're an outdoor school, and we live in Alaska. PLEASE ENSURE STUDENTS BRING APPROPRIATE OUTDOOR CLOTHING/GEAR EVERY DAY. This includes boots, hat and gloves, and a warm coat. If you have need for support with any of these items, email Mrs. Biondich and Mr. Mokelke and we will provide support.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Anchorage STrEaM Academy is helping the Food Bank of Alaska’s Thanksgiving Blessing Project. The Food Bank’s east side location for Thanksgiving served 1400 families last year and they anticipate serving even more families this year. STrEaM has been asked to collect Canned Vegetables and Canned Fruit, however all shelf stable food is welcome. For more information see our website.

Academic Policy Committee (APC)

Congratulation and welcome to our newest APC members! New members are parents Mac McAllister and Martha Lojewski, along with community members Grace Coles and Erin Kirkland. Re-elected members continuing on the board include Jeff Earle, Sharon Wilson, Jen Mickelson and Angel Rabon. Our next APC Meeting is next Wednesday, November 9th. Agendas and minutes posted on https://www.asdk12.org/stream

Lunch at STrEaM

Please be sure your child packs a lunch. We do not have a lunch program or lunchroom: students must bring a sack lunch. Lunch is generally outdoors unless the weather is prohibitive. We keep emergency lunches on hand, and ask for support providing these. 

General School Policy reminders 

• ASA is an Outdoor School. Dress for the weather: We go outside every day!

• Everyone who walks through our doors will treat others with dignity and respect

• All ASD policies as outlined in the student handbook apply to our school

• Students may bring personal electronic devices: our policy is “off and away during the day.” Phones and earphones/earbuds/airpods must be put away

• Students may wear hats. Hoods must be down in the building for safety reasons. 

• Appropriate and safe conduct is especially important outdoors and off-campus: infractions will result in loss of these privileges

Quyana!

Adam Mokelke, Principal  mokelke_adam@asdk12.org 

Megan Gatlin, Assistant Principal gatlin_megan@asdk12.org

Amy Bonertz, Counselor bonertz_amy@asdk12.org

Syliva Biondich, Administrative Asst.  biondich_sylvia@asdk12.org

Chris Krejca, Special Education krejca_christine@asdk12.org

Rapids Report 10-24

 The Rapids Report

October 24th, 2022

Dear STrEaM Families,

Monday marks the beginning of the second quarter. 

This is Student-Led Conference Week. Please note the modified schedule below. 

If you are coming in on Wednesday or Thursday, bring your child with you as they are the primary presenter for your conference. Remember there is no school Friday.

Weekly Schedule

10/24 Monday: Full day, periods 1-7  

10/25 Tuesday: Full day, periods 1-7  

10/26 Wednesday: EARLY RELEASE 12:00 PM

• Student-Led Conferences 12:30 to 5:00 PM

10/27 Thursday: EARLY RELEASE 12:00 PM

• Student-Led Conferences 12:30 to 5:00 PM

10/28 Friday: NO SCHOOL

Student-Led Conferences this week

Student-led conferences are this week, Wednesday 10/26 and Thursday 10/27, until 5 PM. 

School is released at 12:00 both days. Conferences are open until 5:00 PM. Please arrive no later than 4:35pm. Student-Led Conferences take about 15 - 20 minutes.

Students build and present portfolios to parents, leading conferences by sharing their progress and learning. Your child will lead your conference. Teachers will be organized by grade-level teams in designated rooms, and available for general questions and support. These are not designed to be individual, in-depth conferences, as our staff communicate regularly on student progress throughout the quarter. However, if you need a meeting you may reach out to staff to schedule one. 

Academic Policy Committee (APC)

This week during conferences we are hold the yearly APC elections. Each candidate on the ballot is running unopposed, so it will be a very simple voting process. You will be asked to fill out a ballot when you come into the building. 

STrEaM’s APC meets the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 PM. The Next APC Meeting Wednesday, November 9th. Agendas and minutes posted on https://www.asdk12.org/stream 

Lunch at STrEaM

Please be sure your child packs a lunch. We do not have a lunch program or lunchroom: students must bring a sack lunch. Lunch is generally outdoors unless the weather is prohibitive. We keep emergency lunches on hand, and ask for support with providing these: LUNCH DONATIONS

School Policies 

• ASA is an Outdoor School. Dress for the weather: We go outside every day! 

• Everyone who walks through our doors will treat others with dignity and respect

• All ASD policies as outlined in the student handbook apply to our school

• Students may bring personal electronic devices: our policy is “off and away during the day.” Phones and earphones/earbuds/airpods must be put away

• Students may wear hats. Hoods must be down in the building for safety reasons. 

• Appropriate and safe conduct is especially important outdoors and off-campus: infractions will result in loss of these privileges. 

Quyana!

Adam Mokelke, Principal  mokelke_adam@asdk12.org 

Megan Gatlin, Assistant Principal gatlin_megan@asdk12.org

Amy Bonertz, Counselor bonertz_amy@asdk12.org

Syliva Biondich, Administrative Assistant  biondich_sylvia@asdk12.org

Chris Krejca, Special Education krejca_christine@asdk12.org

Rapids Report 10-17-22

 The Rapids Report

October 17th, 2022

Dear STrEaM Families,

This is the last week of the first quarter: let’s FINISH STRONG! 2nd quarter officially begins Monday, October 24th. 

The weather got cold and we got snow! This is a reminder that we go outside every day at STrEaM. Students are required to wear appropriate outdoor clothing. We will help them to call home if they come without appropriate gear. 

STrEaM presents at State Conference!

Ms. Goodman, STrEaM’s 8th grade Science and STEM teacher, and Assistant Principal Gatlin presented at the State STEAM conference in Juneau this weekend! 

Their presentation description:

At Anchorage STrEaM Academy our students engage in in-depth projects to guide their inquiry and problem-solving skills.  We will share some of the Alaska-based projects we have developed to engage students in practical applications of standard middle school content, including  particularly math and science  but also engineering design, social studies, language arts, culturally relevant content, outdoor learning, and the use of GIS technology.   You will walk away from our session with the ideas and  tools you need  to try some inspiring cross-curricular projects of your own. 

Participants will learn the how we design and facilitate projects to match the standards we are teaching; and will gain ideas and tools for doing these or other projects in their own classrooms. 

STrEaM is proud to be presenting and sharing our model and practices at the State level!

Weekly Schedule

10/17 Monday:  Full day, periods 1 through 7. 

10/18 Tuesday: Block day “A” Advisory and periods 1-4

10/19 Wednesday: Early Release Projects Day. Advisory and PBL, release at 12:00

10/20 Thursday: Block day “B” Advisory and periods 5-8 (P. 8: Specials)

10/21 Friday: NO SCHOOL: END Q1

Important dates coming up:

No school Friday, October 21st:  End of Quarter 1

Picture Re-Take Day October 24th: see website for more details

Student-Led Conferences 10/26-10/27 (early release @ 12 PM both days, conferences from 12:30 - 5 PM)

No school Friday, October 28th

2022-23 Yearbook Sales are open!

(link) Order a Yearbook Now If you order before 10/28/2022 you qualify for free icons if you personalize the book with a name.

Student-Led Conferences week of 10/24

Student-led conferences will be held Wednesday 10/26 and Thursday 10/27, until 5 PM. 

School is released at 12:00 both days. Conferences are open until 5:00 PM. Please arrive no later than 4:35pm. Student-Led Conferences take about 15 - 20 minutes.

Students build and present portfolios to parents, leading conferences by sharing their progress and learning. Your child will lead your conference. Teachers will be organized by grade-level teams in designated rooms, and available for general questions and support. These are not designed to be individual, in-depth conferences, as our staff communicate regularly on student progress throughout the quarter. However, if you need a meeting you may reach out to staff to schedule one. 

Conferences end at 5 PM because we cannot stay in the building later for conferences because we lease at a university which holds night classes.

There is no school on Friday, 10/28. 

Lunch at STrEaM

Last Thursday STrEaM gave out 17 lunches to students in need. The need ranged from economic to forgetful and deliberate choice to not pack. These lunches are hand-made and donated by a core team of families. If your child is choosing to not pack a lunch, please help them understand this is not the intent of emergency lunch. 

We do not have a lunch program or lunchroom: students must bring a sack lunch. Lunch is generally outdoors unless the weather is prohibitive. We keep emergency lunches and snacks on hand, and ask for support with providing these: Lunch Donations

Social-Emotional Learning

Topic this week- NO SEL this week. Students will be practicing their SLC presentation for parents. They will be practicing presenting as well as making final edits for SLC prep.  

What Parents Need to Know About FAKE Pills

With the Halloween season upon us, please access the QR code for more information coming from the state of Alaska about the dangers of FAKE pills.

Call or email with any questions. Quyana!

Adam Mokelke, Principal  mokelke_adam@asdk12.org 

Megan Gatlin, Assistant Principal gatlin_megan@asdk12.org

Amy Bonertz, Counselor bonertz_amy@asdk12.org

Syliva Biondich, Administrative Assistant  biondich_sylvia@asdk12.org

Chris Krejca, Special Education krejca_christine@asdk12.org

Rapids Report for 10-10-22

 The Rapids Report

October 10th, 2022

Dear STrEaM Families,

We’re down to the final two weeks for the first quarter. It will be a fast and busy finish as students wrap up projects and final assessments. 

Our X-C running team finished up the season with a great showing at the championships last week. All runners put in great individual efforts, and Katahdin Staples took 4th place! Congratulations to Coach Perkins and our running Rapids. 

Our SchoolsNEXT architect and school design club just received the National SchoolsNEXT award at the A4LE conference in San Antonio. See more here: https://learningscapes.a4le.org/SchoolsNEXT.html

BIG THANK YOU to our sponsor BDS Architects! BDS provided a mentor architect, Jennifer Midthun, for our team, and covered the costs for the team to attend the conference. It was a great experience and honor for our school to receive the award. 

Important dates coming up:

No school Friday, October 21st:  End of Quarter 1

Student-Led Conferences 10/26-10/27 (early release both days, conferences until 5 PM)

No school Friday, October 28th

Spirit Week

• Monday, 10/10 (today): Pajamas 
• Tuesday, 10/11 (tomorrow): Glam. Wear your finest.
• Wednesday, 10/12: STrEaM colors: 6th grade = yellow; 7th grade = blue; 8th grade = green
• Thursday, 10/13: Throwback Thursday to any decade before 2010
• Friday, 10/14: Twin Day.  Match a teacher or a friend. 

Weekly Schedule

10/10 Monday:  Full day, periods 1 through 7. 

10/11 Tuesday: Block day “A” Advisory and periods 1-4

10/12 Wednesday: Early Release Projects Day. Advisory and PBL, release at 12:00

• APC MEETING 5:30 PM 

10/13 Thursday: Block day “B” Advisory and periods 5-8 (P. 8: Specials)

10/14 Friday: Full day, periods 1-7

APC (Academic Policy Committee)

STrEaM’s APC meets THIS Wednesday, October 12th at 5:30 PM. Agendas and minutes posted on https://www.asdk12.org/stream 

Student-Led Conferences week of 10/24

Student-led conferences will be held Wednesday 10/26 and Thursday 10/27, until 5 PM. 

School is released at 12:00 both days. Conferences are open until 5:00 PM. 

Our design is for students to build and present portfolios to parents, leading the way in sharing their progress and learning. Your child will lead your conference. Teachers will be organized together by grade-level teams in designated rooms, and available for general questions and support. These are not designed to be individual, in-depth conferences, as our staff communicate regularly on student progress throughout the quarter. However, if you need a meeting you may reach out to staff to schedule one.

Conference end at 5 PM: we cannot stay in the building later because we lease at a university which holds night classes. 

There is no school on Friday, 10/28. 

Social-Emotional Learning Topic: Quarter 1 Reflection

Forms and Links

Every person who VOLUNTEERS for ASD must sign up EVERY YEAR. Please do this now so you are already approved when we need you! COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (link)

Lunch at STrEaM

We do not have a lunch program or lunchroom: students must bring a sack lunch. Lunch is generally outdoors unless the weather is prohibitive. We keep emergency lunches on hand, and ask for support with providing these: LUNCH DONATIONS

School Policies 

• Dress appropriately and for the weather: We go outside every day! 

• Our electronic devices policy is “off and away during the day.” 

• Students may wear hats. Hoods must be down in the building for safety reasons. 

• Appropriate and safe conduct is especially important outdoors and off-campus: infractions will result in loss of these privileges

• All ASD policies as outlined in the student handbook apply to our school

Quyana!

Adam Mokelke, Principal  mokelke_adam@asdk12.org 

Megan Gatlin, Assistant Principal gatlin_megan@asdk12.org

Amy Bonertz, Counselor bonertz_amy@asdk12.org

Syliva Biondich, Administrative Assistant  biondich_sylvia@asdk12.org

Chris Krejca, Special Education krejca_christine@asdk12.org