Student-led conference week at STrEaM

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES AT STREAM ACADEMY

WEEK OF OCTOBER 21st

Dear Parents and Families, 

The week of Monday 10/21 we will host Student-Led Conferences, on Wednesday and Thursday. Our APC election is held during conferences. We follow our regular early release schedule for both Wednesday 10/23 and Thursday 10/24. There is no school on Friday 10/25.

Student-led conferences: 

Student conferences are not by appointment: bring your student and come in at your convenience. Students will be prepared to show you their binders and portfolios, describing the projects, work and progress they have made. Teachers are on hand for guidance and general questions, but not in-depth meetings. If you need to meet and have further discussions with a teacher, you may schedule with them.

APC Elections:

During conferences we hold elections for our Academic Policy Committee (APC), the board which oversees our school. Parents, please pick up a ballot when you come in on Wednesday or Thursday and vote. The next APC meeting is November 13th at 5:30 PM in room 6. New members will be sworn in at this meeting. Parents and community members are always welcome and encouraged to attend. Minutes and agendas are posted on our website on the APC link. Thank you!

Monday 10/21: 

Regular Monday schedule, P. 1-7
First day of Quarter 2!

Tuesday 10/22:  

Full day schedule: P. 1-6 and 8 (advisory)

Wednesday 10/23:  

Early Release Schedule
Periods 1-3
Student lunch 11:30-12
Student release at 12:00
Teacher lunch 12:00-12:30
Student-led conferences 12:30-4:30

Thursday 10/24:  

Early Release Schedule
Periods 4-6
Student lunch 11:30-12
Student release at 12:00
Teacher lunch 12:00-12:30
Student-led conferences 12:30-4:30

Friday 10/25: 

NO SCHOOL

Please call, email or come by with questions!

Adam Mokelke, Servant-leader

Parent update 10/15

  10/15/19 Update

 Hello parents and families of STrEaM!

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is a busy day at STrEaM. Students will participate in the Juggle Mag assemblies throughout the morning. Tomorrow night from 5:00 to 7:30 we host the Girls in Science night in the auditorium!

There is no school this Friday 10/18. This is the last week of the first quarter, and quarter 2 begins Monday.

Next week we early release on Wednesday and Thursday for Student-Led Conferences. Full letter here: https://rapidsreport.blogspot.com/2019/10/student-led-conference-week-at-stream.html

No school:
Friday 10/18
Friday 10/25

I Am Project celebration and potluck Wednesday 10/30 at 5 PM. Please plan to bring a cultural or family dish to share!

#GoRapids
Adam Mokelke

STrEaM STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Amy Bonertz

Amy Bonertz, Counselor

STrEaM added a counselor to the staff for the first time in 2019, hiring Amy Bonertz.
While Ms. Bonertz was working in Washington State before joining us, she had experience in the Anchorage School District, working in East Anchorage schools. Ms. Bonertz worked at Bartlett High School for 5 years prior to leaving Alaska. Her familiarity with the East Anchorage community is a big bonus! 

Ms. Bonertz and her husband were excited to return and re-connect with friends and family in Alaska after their long hiatus.   They missed Alaska, and are excited to once again be a part of the Anchorage community and enjoy camping, real winters and the great outdoors.

After leaving Alaska, Ms. Bonertz spent two years at Fawzia Sultan International School in Kuwait.
She then moved to Washington state, working as a middle school teacher, an academic advisor at Edmonds College, and finally as a school counselor.

Ms. Bonertz and her husband Casey enjoy traveling, hiking, and camping. During their time in Kuwait, they traveled throughout much of the Middle East and Europe including: Sri Lanka, Turkey, Oman, Bahrain, UAE, and France.  Since then, they've been able to continue traveling, camping throughout the Pacific Northwest in Washington and Oregon, and they recently took a trip to Prague, Czech Republic and Salzburg, Austria.  


Growing up, Ms. Bonertz always knew she wanted to work in education.  Coming from a small town Nebraska, she is a product of small classes and a close community which has fueled her passion for what STrEaM Academy offers.  She believes being in a close community with small classes gave her the confidence needed to strive in high school and eventually get a master's degree.  It also gave her a sense of belonging, having a voice in classes and great relationships with teachers and classmates. 

Ms. Bonertz thinks it's beautiful to see students excited about science, outdoors, nature, and being together.  Ms. Bonertz shared, "I believe in STrEaM's vision and mission and being a part of this excellent program has rejuvenated my love of education.  In the first week of school, I've witnessed the power that STrEaM Academy has on its students and families and I'm humbled to be given the chance to make it even stronger." 

Ms. Bonertz is the FIRST counselor ever hired at our school, and a perfect fit for the STrEaM Dream Team. She is focused on building positive and supportive relationships with students, helping them to feel safe at school and comfortable in their growth and learning. Ms. Bonertyz has taken a lead role with STrEaM's restorative practices, advisory, social-emotional learning, and assessment. We are so happy to have her in the STrEaM family! 

You can reach our counselor at: bonertz_amy@asdk12.org or (907) 742-9000

Parent letter week of 9/30

September 28th, 2019
Dear parents and families,

October is perhaps the busiest month in schools each year. There is so much happening, and it will go fast. We have a TREK,  3 straight weeks with no school on Friday, X-C championships, Women in Science night, Student-led conferences, the end of the 1st quarter and our "I Am" celebration. WHEW! Please watch the announcements and Rapids Reports for updates.

Parent communication is always an important focus. If you appreciate how staff are sharing information or find anything particularly helpful, please let them know! Teacher often get feedback on what is not working and rarely on what works. As with teaching our students, we know positive reinforcement is far more effective!

This week we have a X-C meet at Kincaid, with busses leaving at 4 PM and races starting at 5:30. On Friday, we have a TREK to Kincaid park for a day of outdoor activity. Please treat these days like regular school days: they are essential to our program, count for attendance, build skills and relationships, and should not be seen as optional.

Homework comes up often. We DO believe in homework (done properly) and we DO assign homework. We strive to keep it minimal, connected directly to learning, and practice of skills (not busy work or new concepts) or extension of projects. Check with individual teachers on homework, extensions and projects students should be doing at home. As always, we believe every day students should read, then go outside and play!

Thank you for choosing STrEaM and supporting our program. As always, I want parents to call, email or come by with questions or concerns.

Click for the link to the Rapids Report for this week

Thank you,
Adam Mokelke, servant leader

"I Am" Project information

2019 "I Am" Project update and information 

September 2019

Dear Parents and Families,

Our second annual school-wide “I Am” project is underway! Students are working in grade-level teams every Wednesday developing their projects.

This project culminates Wednesday October 30th at 5 PM in the auditorium with our “I Am” celebration. “I Am” projects will be on display, and families are invited to join us and bring a cultural or family dish to share potluck-style.

6th Grade “I Am” Projects (Mrs. Staker, Ms. Draeger, Ms. Gabel):

Personal Crest and Motto

Essential Question: Who am I as a person (origin, interests) and where did I come from?

Activities: Name art, name poem, crest and motto, map, I Am Poem, flag, optional activities (recipe, musical or theatrical performance, etc.)

Deadlines:
  9/11 Name Poem and Name Art
9/18 Crest and Motto
9/25 Map
10/2 I Am Poem
10/9 Flag
10/16 Books assembled
10/30 Project complete with optional activities planned and ready to present

Products: Final book with all required activities (excluding optional activities)

7th Grade “I Am” Projects (Ms. Kotelman, Mr. Holsopple, Mr. Bierer):

Essential Question: What are the building blocks of my identity?

Activities: Story of your name writing and interview, “I contain multitudes” article annotation & personal connections, parts of me in percentages, silhouettes and illustrations of what makes me ‘me,’ artist statement, personal memoir, cover art

Deadlines:
  9/18: Parts of Me pie chart completed
9/25: Parts of Me abstract artwork completed
9/25: Artist Statement completed
10/09: Mini-memoirs completed
10/09: Cover art completed
10/30: Entire project completed and ready to share

Products: Pie charts, abstract art, artist statement, personal memoir, cover art

8th Grade “I Am” Projects (Mrs. Smith, Ms. Goodman, Mr. Perkins):

Essential Question: Where am I going in 5 years?

Activities: Haiku, Poem, Mind Mirror, Learning Styles Preference Survey and discussions, discussion/presentation with counselor, categories of a 5 year plan (social/emotional, school/college, career, physical location, other goals), Agamograph for Where I Am Vs. Where I’m Going, multimedia video explaining a 5 year plan.

Deadlines:  
Due 9/18: Haiku, Poem, Mind Mirror, Learning Styles Preference Survey, Agamograph for Where I Am
Due 9/25: Agamograph for Where I Am Vs. Where I’m Going
Due 10/2: Started on video
Due 10/16: At least half of video
Due 10/23: Video due (and everything else should already be completed)

Main “BIG” Products: Final Draft of Where I’m Going Poem, Agamograph for Where I Am Vs. Where I’m Going + multimedia video explaining a 5 year plan.

If you have any questions please contact one of the teachers on your child’s grade-level team. We are striving to have great “I Am” products on display for the final event.

We look forward to seeing parents and families on October 30th!

Thank you,
Adam Mokelke
Principal

Rapids Report and parent letter 9/13

9-13-19

Dear STrEaM Families,

Happy Friday! We just completed week 4 and are halfway through first quarter. So far your child has been engaged in high-quality learning, multiple class projects, started "I Am" projects on Wednesdays, conducted engineering challenges, gone outdoors to several local parks, and TREK'ed to Arctic Valley. WHEW! 

We pack in a LOT of learning at ASA. If you ever want to know more about what is happening please:

• Log into ParentConnect from the ASD website or app
• Visit our website https://www.asdk12.org/STrEaM and Facebook page 
• Email or visit teachers (contact info on our web site)
• Ask your child to log on to their Google Classroom and show you their classes
• Text the message @streamac to the number 81010 to sign up for REMIND

We offer several chances to come together, view student work and visit with us. Please see our calendar on the website for all events!  Highlights include:

• "I Am" Showcase and potluck October 30th, 5 PM in the auditorium. Bring a family or cultural dish!
• Semester 1 Student Showcase December 16th
• Semester 2 Student Showcase in May 2020
• We will host Student-Led Conferences on October 23rd and 24th, and again in February. 

Events coming up soon:

• Picture day September 24th. Forms went home today!
• Kincaid TREK October 4th. Permission slips went home today as well!!
• Cross country meets tonight at Service, then on 9/19, 9/25, 10/2, 10/8, and 10/10. 

Communication and feedback is very important to us. Thank you to everyone who took our recent survey. I presented this data to the APC and will be sharing with staff next week. We love the positive feedback, and appreciate the suggestions on how we can improve! Please know my door is always open, as well as phone an email, to parents. 

Thanks for your support,

Adam Mokelke, Principal

RAPIDS REPORT FOR 9/16-9/20

Monday 9/16:    Full Schedule Day, Periods 1-7

• LUNCH 11:45-12:15, Dismissal 3:00 
• Drop off after 7:30 AM, please pick up by 3:30 PM 
• X-C Running practice 3:00-4:30, meet in room 6

Tuesday 9/17:     “A” Block Schedule Day, Periods 1, 2, 3 and Elective

• LUNCH 11:15-11:45, Dismissal 3:00 
• Drop off after 7:30 AM, please pick up by 3:30 PM 
• X-C Running practice 3:15-4:30, room 6
• Robotics club 3:15-4:30

Wednesday 9/18:         Early Release day @ 12:00

• “I AM” PROJECTS
• X-C Running Practice 7 AM
• MAP TEST MAKE UPS
• Lunch 11:30-12:00 in Advisory
• Dismissal 12:00 pick up by 12:30 please

Thursday 9/19:  “B” Block Day periods 4, 5, 6 and Advisory

• LUNCH 11:15-11:45, Dismissal 3:00 
• Drop off after 7:30 AM, Please pick up by 3:30 PM 
• X-C Running MEET at Kincaid 5:30 PM
• Friday 9/20:    Full Schedule Day, Periods 1-7
• LUNCH 11:45-12:15, Dismissal 3:00. Please pick up by 3:30 PM  
• X-C Running practice 3:15-4:30, room 6

Friday 9/20:    Full Schedule Day, Periods 1-7

• LUNCH 11:45-12:15, Dismissal 3:00 
• Please pick up by 3:30 PM  
• X-C Running practice 3:15-4:30, room 6

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• We have seats open in 7th and 8th grade- call 742-9000 for an appointment
• Only the “Healthy Goodness” vending machine is ok for student use
• APC (board) seats open this fall! Election in October. Call or email
• NO SCHOOL 10/11, 10/18, 10/25 (NOTICE 10/11 is unique to STrEaM)
• 10/30 5 PM “I AM” celebration and showcase: please bring a cultural or family dish to share!

Parent letter update 9/3/19

September 3rd, 2019

Dear Parents and Families, 

We have a short but busy week ahead! As we head into September, here are some important updates for this week and the near future. 

Tomorrow (Wednesday) we have an assembly at 8 AM. We will recognize students who have been outstanding thus far and review our safety protocol ALICE (ALERT, LOCKDOWN, INFORM, COUNTER AND EVACUATE.) We will hold our first evacuation to our "rally point" in Muldoon Park.  Throughout the year we will review and practice aspects of the ALICE protocol in order to be prepared for threats and emergencies.

Our annual Arctic Valley TREK is this Friday, September 6th. Students will choose their level of activity for hiking and berry picking. Students be prepared to be outside for the day and will need a backpack, full water bottle, sack cold lunch (there will not be access to a microwave), hiking shoes, and layers for the weather. Buses will leave at 9 am and return at 1:30 pm. Students will be released at 3:00 as usual. We are still looking for parent chaperones. If you are interested, please contact gatlin_megan@asdk12.org or Mrs. Biondich at 742-9000. 

There are three vending machines in lobby. However, only one of them is approved for student use. It is labeled “Hello Goodness” and has district-approved healthy snacks and drinks. We do not allow soda or energy drinks at ASA, and students may not use the other two vending machines. 

Please plan accordingly: no school Friday October 11th! STrEaM has two additional “no school” days beyond the ASD calendar. These are the dates for the Wayland University fall and spring graduations: October 11th and April 17th. Following the ASD calendar, we also do not have school 10/18 and 10/25. 

Our Academic Policy Committee (APC) or “board” overseeing our charter meets the second Wednesday each month at 5:30 PM, usually in room 6. Our next meeting is Wednesday September 11th, and it is open to the public. We are seeking to fill several seats on the APC in the October election (held during parent teacher conferences). Please contact us if you are interested! 

Please call, email or stop by with questions!

Adam Mokelke, Principal 

(907) 742-9000 mokelke_adam@asdk12.org