The Rapids Report
JULY 28th, 2024
Dear STrEaM Families, parents and guardians,
August is almost here.. The fall lottery ran, and our waitlist is growing! Enrollment is in the best place it has ever been going into year 9.
This past week, Assistant Principal Smith joined Mrs. Biondich and I back at work. She’s been working diligently on student scheduling and planning our 6th grade Adventure Week activities while settling into her new role. This coming week, we welcome our new secretary Mrs. McCalvy!
This issue has a TON of back to school information for parents!! Enjoy and call with questions.
Principal Mokelke
Key information in this Rapids Report:
Start time at STrEaM is now 8:30 AM to accommodate our parents with elementary students.
STrEaM is PHONE FREE this school year! Read further for more information
We begin the year with our traditional Welcome Week on August 15th and 16th- with ALL our students. We are not staggering the start of grade levels like regular ASD schools
6th grade Adventure Week starts Mon, 8/19! Please complete permission forms.
Jump Start!
We invite you to attend the 24-25 school year JUMP START on Friday, August 9 at 2:00-4:00! We will orient new and returning students/families to our school, grading practices, materials to bring the first week, phone-free policy, Q and Canvas, and strategies for success! Students and families will also have the opportunity to meet staff and teachers as well as walk through classrooms.
START TIMES
For the 24-25 school year, we will be moving our start and end times up by 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.
We are NOT doing a staggered start to the year: All our grade levels (6, 7 and 8) will start together on August 15th.
24-25 START/END TIMES:
M/T/TH/F: 8:30 AM TO 3:30 PM
WEDNESDAYS: 8:30 AM TO 12:30 PM
Annual STrEaM Specific Permission Forms
Anchorage STrEaM Academy requires 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 Arctic Valley TREK
Our Optional Carpool Connection Sign-up
::6th Grade Adventure Week::
We are excited to announce that we are preparing an ADVENTURE WEEK for 6th grade students on August 19-23 to jump-start connections with peers and teachers, bolster collaboration skills in preparation for project-based learning, and to engage with outdoor experiential education through TREKS (field trips). Transportation and supervision will be provided by Anchorage STrEaM Academy staff.
As soon as possible, please complete the following two forms for the National Guard LOW ROPES COURSE on Base Aug. 20 or Aug. 22. We will inform you which day your student will attend.
Print, sign, and mail or drop off this paper waiver for the National Guard. If you cannot print from home, no worries. We will have printed copies at Orientation/Open House on Fri, Aug. 9 at 2-4.
Complete this electronic permission form for STrEaM.
Tentatively, we will be attending an overnight, outdoor/experiential program with Denali Science School. Save the date: Aug. 19-21 or Aug. 21-23! We are still working on the logistics. Click here to preview DSS. If we are unable to do this, we will replace it with our annual TREK to Arctic Valley.
School Supplies
Bring these supplies to school on the first friday. We are teaching expectations and setting up binders.
1 ea 2” 3 ring binder
1 ea 5 part three-ring binder dividers
1 two pocket folder (with holes)
Binder pouch with two pens and two pencils and a spare eraser.
Health Updates
If you will be seeing your pediatrician over the summer and would like to complete paperwork, see links below:
Parents you can complete your own over-the-counter form here and send it to be by email:
https://eform.pandadoc.com/?eform=3092f50b-98c5-4e93-a7f3-1dbf0b69319f
Please feel free to email or call me with any questions. zimpelman_bethany@asdk12.org
Wishing you well
~Nurse Bethany
Wednesday’s After School Math Club
It is time to sign up for Wednesday’s quarter 1 after school math club. Wednesday’s math club is hosted by math teacher Mrs. Olendorff and will be held from 12:30-1:30 starting on August 28th. During this time students can work on practice assignments and mastery assignments with support from Mrs. Olendorff. Students can also spend time in Aleks or iReady to further develop their math skills and address gaps in knowledge. There is a limit of 20 seats and students will be selected based on academic need. To be considered for Wednesday’s math club please fill out the permission slip in the link below. You will be informed of your child’s acceptance prior to the first meeting. Thank you!
https://forms.gle/oYXDjvQpkm58JKhG7
Battle of the Books
Calling all readers! We invite you to join the STrEaM Battle of the Books (BOB) team this year. We will have two groups, a 6th grade group and a 7th/8th grade (Middle School) group. Click this link to view the book lists for each group. Practice will be held during lunch beginning in October, but you can get ahead start by reading some of the books now. The STrEaM library has one copy of each title for both lists, you can also use the public library system, check them out electronically, or even audio book!
Sincerely, your BOB coaches, Mr. Bahner and Mrs. Lojewski
STrEaM goes Phone-Free for 2024-25!
The STrEaM APC voted to approve a new personal device policy for the 24-25 school year.
We will require personal devices (phones), if brought to school, to be secured in backpacks, and not on a students’ person during the school day. After the year starts, we will roll out Yondr phone pouches for students who wish to bring devices. Learn more at https://www.overyondr.com/phone-locking-pouch
Students may access their devices before and after school.. Check out this video on schools going phone-free and using Yondr pouches:
Growing number of schools across U.S. require students to lock away phones
Visit our Phone-Free FAQ and resources page for more: Phone Free FAQ.pdf
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
Emily Smith, Assistant Principal smith_emily@asdk12.org
Sylvia Biondich, Administrative Asst. biondich_sylvia@asdk12.org
Jessica McCalvy, Secretary mccalvy_jessica@asdk12.org
Bethany Zimpelman, Itinerant Nurse zimpleman_bethany@asdk12.org
Chris Krejca, Special Education krejca_christine@asdk12.org
