Rapids Report for 2-20-23

 The Rapids Report

February 20th, 2023

Dear STrEaM Families,

There is NO SCHOOL Monday, February 20th. 

This week we have our first full day Wednesday. We will have a regular school day, 8 AM to 3 PM, periods 1 through 7. 

Thursday Wayland is hosting another retirement seminar. Expect added traffic and congestion. Please be patient and understanding with this. 

Lottery & Recruitment 

It’s the time of year where we begin recruiting students for the next school year.  We will be hosting school tours on Tuesdays at 10 am throughout the month of February and our student ambassador leaders will be traveling to our feeder elementary schools to present to 5th graders.  If you know someone who is interested in sending their kids to STrEaM next year, please pass on the school tour invite or have them contact us directly for more information. 

Please help us recruit: word of mouth is the most powerful referral. Refer us to your friends and family, review us on Facebook and Google, share our posts and information. Posters are available for anyone with a public bulletin board! See Mrs. Biondich.

Weekly Schedule

2/20  Monday: NO SCHOOL! PRESIDENTS DAY

2/21 Tuesday: A day Advisory, P. 1-4 Skiing at STrEaM

• Tour 10:00 am start in lobby

• 8th Graders to Planetarium

• ACCESS Testing for ELL Students 

• Boxing 3:00 pm Auditorium

2/22 Wednesday: FULL DAY WEDNESDAY 8-3PM, PERIODS 1-7

Ski Race at Service

2/23 Thursday: B day Advisory, P. 5-8 Skiing at Russian Jack

2/24 Friday: Full day P. 1-7 Skiing at Russian Jack

ASTE 2023 TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Anchorage STrEaM Academy is excited to announce Emily Smith has been named the ASTE 2023 Teacher of the Year! Emily was nominated for her outstanding work and leadership in Educational Technology. Emily models the use of Ed. Tech to engage students in her classroom, pioneering tools and programs like Nearpod, Quizz, Kahoot, Google Classroom, Canvas and many more. 

Mrs. Smith is the “Canvas Champion” for STrEaM, leading professional development and providing support with the Learning Management System. She supports colleagues and provides training on integrating technology tools, systems and platforms. This year, she is a presenter at the annual State ASTE conference, led a session at ASD cross-district in-service and will be teaching at the ASD EdTech Camp. 

Emily will receive the Teacher of the Year award during the ASTE conference, at Captain Cook’s main ballroom, Sunday February 19th at 4:30 PM. Staff and APC board members are invited to attend and celebrate our outstanding teacher!  

ASTE is the Alaska Society for Technology in Education 

Ski Team

Ski practice every day this week. (See schedule above). Check out Ski Season Calendar for practice and Race information. (Hard copies available.)  Please pick up your child promptly at 4:30. Coaches must stay with skiers until they have been picked up by parents. 

Transportation: WE NEED VOLUNTEER DRIVERS!  Questions/ concerns?  Contact Coach Mozen via e-mail @ mozen_howard@asdk12.org, or text @ 907-302-0475

Health Spotlight: Nurse Bethany

Hearts can be seen everywhere this month. But it isn’t the sweet candies that make our heart healthy – explore how you can keep your kids and family heart-healthy this February. 

While we focus on heart health during February, keeping your heart healthy is really an everyday job. Having a healthy heart means blood is moving to all our organs and that we are doing our best to prevent heart disease and strokes. The important task of heart health ensures that both our own bodies and those of our children, are able to enjoy life to the fullest at every age. 

The American Heart Association has developed a list to help parents and youth understand what it means to keep your heart healthy. 

1. Avoid smoking and using tobacco products. Using any type of tobacco products affect all organs and can lead to heart disease and cancer. 

2. Be physically active every day. Get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity every day. This might include bike riding, running, playing sports, dancing or other activities you enjoy.

3. Eat a heart-healthy diet. Eating fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products, whole grain foods and lean proteins. Avoid drinks with added sugar and saturated fat.

From my heart to yours - wishing you well

Social-Emotional Learning in Advisory this week: No SEL due to full schedule this Wednesday 2/22

APC (Academic Policy Committee)

Next APC Meeting Wednesday, March 8th at 5:30 PM. 

Parents and community members welcome. Please contact us prior to the meeting and sign up if you wish to speak or provide comment. 

Agendas and minutes posted on https://www.asdk12.org/stream 

Wednesday Break Snacks

Please be sure your child packs their snack of choice. Friends of STrEaM and our donors for the Pantry Program have been seeing a huge increase in the number of students requesting snacks during Wednesday morning breaks. 

Lunch at STrEaM supported by our Pantry Program & Friends of Stream

Please be sure your child packs a cold lunch. This week we need SHELF STABLE FRUIT. 45% of our students (76 students) come from economically disadvantaged homes and we hope to help them with free lunches when necessary. We served an average of 20 lunches each day last week. To put that in perspective, that is 8 loaves of bread, 48 oz of peanut butter and 4 pounds of lunch meat every week. Donations of Bread, Peanut Butter, Cheese & Turkey lunch meat are always welcome. 

Snow day make-up & Emergency Closures

“Emergency” Project Packets went home to ALL students! Please ensure you have this manilla envelope. Thes packets contain grade-level projects designed specifically for snow days and emergency closures.  

In case of an emergency school closure, students will open these packets and do the Projects enclosed. These projects do not require technology. However, instructions will also be posted in Canvas, and teachers will host zoom sessions to offer support. 

STrEaM is making up missed days due to emergency closure by extending three Wednesdays (on short weeks) to full days in addition to other district calendar adjustments (2/24 is now a school day). 

The following Wednesdays will be full school days (no early release):

Wednesday 2/22 (No school Monday 2/20 Presidents’ Day)

Wednesday 3/8 (No school Friday 3/10 End Q3/Spring Break)

Wednesday 4/19 (No school Friday 4/21 WBU Spring Graduation) 

Online Gear Store

Our online store is open! Visit Anchorage STrEaM Academy Sideline Store. We still have baseball caps and winter knit pullover hats for sale in the front office. 

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