Parent Letter March 3rd, 2020

March 3rd, 2020

Dear STrEaM Families,

Although it is March and the sun has returned, it is still cold outside. This is a friendly reminder that we go outside every day! Please ensure students come dressed for the weather each day. Staying inside is not an option unless it is 10 below or colder, and our PE classes are all outdoor based.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 3/4 we will start the day with a pancake breakfast put on by Ms. Draeger’s elective class. 6th graders will go to Cheney Lake for the morning. They should bring cold weather gear and ice skates if they have them.

There is no school this Friday, 3/6, which is the end of the third quarter. We return from Spring Break on Monday 3/16 to start quarter 4. Students will collect 4th quarter schedules when they return. March 31st through April 10th we will be doing State PEAKS testing: attendance is important for this.

The lottery for the 20-21 School Year is open now, and closes on Thursday March 19th at 5 PM. Encourage those you know to sign up now! Please notify us if you know your child will not be returning next year, as this impacts lottery seats available and space will be limited.

Please purchase a STrEaM Yearbook! Go to https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/ using code: 13049420

Have a great Spring Break!

Sincerely,


Adam Mokelke, Principal
(907) 742-9000
mokelke_adam@asdk12.org

STrEaM program overview

Considering Anchorage STrEaM Academy charter for middle school (grades 6, 7 and 8)?

Here is a brief overview of our program to help families make an informed decision:

At STrEaM, we focus on Project-Based Learning: hands-on, collaborative research and cross-curricular education. Students have grade-level classes in core subjects, with support and enrichment options in math and language arts. Electives change each quarter, with options such as art, outdoor survival, dance, archery, and music.  Each student has an Advisory groups for academic support and social-emotional learning.

We emphasize STEM across the curriculum, including robotics, coding, and rocketry. Most students have a STEM class in addition to their grade level science class. Math includes Algebra, Geometry, even Algebra II.  Students have access to Chromebooks, and assignments are on Google Classroom.

An example of Project-Based & STEM learning can be read here: https://rapidsreport.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-mayor-comes-to-stream.html

We go outside every day! This experiential approach includes outdoor-based PE, frequent field trips, accessing local parks, and full day TREKs to places like Arctic Valley, Eklutna Lake, Cheney Lake and more. Classes utilize local parks and engage in the community frequently for research and projects.

We lease space at Wayland Baptist University on Muldoon. School is in session 8 AM until 3 PM, except on Wednesdays when we early release at 12:00 for collaborative teacher planning. Students bring their lunches and eat in classrooms, or sign up for lunch delivery with https://woodenspoonsalaska.schoollunchchoice.com/.

We offer a variety of after school programs, and have our own ASD sports teams for Cross-Country Running and Cross-Country Skiing. Students may participate in after school activities and sports at their neighborhood school as well.

Learning at STrEaM Academy is hands-on, engaging and fun! Our school culture is positive, warm and welcoming. We do middle school right!
#ExplorersWanted

Lottery application link: https://lotapp.asdk12.org/apply/

For more information:

Call (907) 742-9000

Stop by between 8 AM and 3:30 PM @ Wayland Baptist University on Muldoon.

Email the principal: mokelke_adam@asdk12.org

Email Admin. Assistant:

biondich_sylvia@asdk12.org
Visit our web page: http://stream.asdk12.org/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AnchorageSTrEaMAcademy/

Twitter @Anc_STrEaM_AK
Instagram @Anchorage_Stream_Academy https://www.instagram.com/anchorage_stream_academy/

Lunches at STrEaM

Dear parents and families, 

At STrEaM Academy, students bring their own lunches to school. As a charter school in a leased facility, we do not have kitchen facilities or access to the district school lunch program. Lunch is held in our classrooms, supervised by teachers. We provide hot water for soups, and microwaves in most rooms. 

We also provide emergency lunches for students who forgot lunch or do not have a lunch. We ask $2 for each of these lunches, but we will never deny a hungry child. If your child forgets lunch and we provide it, please send $2 to Mrs. Biondich.

We would greatly appreciate donations in order to provide lunches to students in need. Please contact Mrs. Biondich to donate or become a "lunch angel." Call 742-9000 or email biondich_sylvia@asdk12.org 

Lunches can also be ordered online from Wooden Spoons. Just go to their website to sign up and have lunches delivered: https://woodenspoonsalaska.com/ 

Thank you!

Mr. Mokelke

February Student-Led Conferences

February 7th, 2020

Dear STrEaM Families, 

We are already halfway through quarter 3! Every day we are gaining more daylight, and spring is around the corner.  

Next week we host Student-Led Conferences:

Student conferences are not by appointment: come with your student at your convenience between 12:30 and 4:10. Teachers are released at 4:30 pm: please arrive with sufficient time to complete your conference.  Students lead the conference, showing their portfolios and describing projects, work and progress. 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.

We will be hosting a Bake Sale to raise funds for the 8th grade capstone. We need donated items by noon Wednesday. Baked goods will be available for purchase during conferences. 

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK:

Monday 2/10: Full, regular schedule day periods 1-7

Tuesday 2/11: Full schedule day, P. 1-6 and 8 (Advisory)

Wednesday 2/12: 

P. 1 . 8:05-9:10 

P. 2 . 9:15-10:20 

P. 3 . 10:25-11:30 

Lunch 11:30-12 

Teacher Lunch 12:00-12:30

Conferences 12:30-4:30

Thursday 2/13:

P. 4: 8:05-9:10 

P. 5: 9:15-10:20 

P. 6: 10:25-11:30 

Lunch 11:30-12 

Teacher Lunch 12:00-12:30 

Conferences 12:30-4:30

Friday 2/14:  NO SCHOOL. Teachers half day

Monday 2/17:  NO SCHOOL

Feel free to contact us with any questions! 

Adam Mokelke, Principal

STAFF SPOTLIGHT ON JESSICA ATKINS

Jessica Atkins, Teacher Assistant
January 2020:  Welcome our newest staff member, Jessica Atkins!

Mrs. Atkins joins our staff as a teaching assistant, which is a vital job supporting staff and students at STrEaM. During the first semester, Jessica volunteered at STrEaM, running a botany booth for Girls in Science night, and as an assistant coach with Mr. Mokelke in the after school boxing club. We are fortunate to have her on our team.

Raised in a military family, Jessica has lived all over the world. After living in Anchorage from age 9 to 14, her family moved and she graduated from high school in Arizona. Next, Jessica enlisted in the United States Navy.  While in the Navy, she earned an Associate of Arts in Chinese Mandarin from the Defense Language Institute and worked as a Chinese language translator stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

After her service, Mrs. Atkins attended the University of Maryland where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Plant Sciences. Following college, she worked as a botanist in Alaska focused on protecting natural environments from invasive species. Her dream is to apply her plant science knowledge to develop urban rooftop farms, addressing food inequalities and building sustainable self-sufficiency.

Jessica loves to travel and study world languages, and she is fluent in both Spanish and Mandarin. She enjoys working out, including her favorite sport, boxing. Jessica considers herself a foodie, and loves exploring restaurants and food scenes with her husband Quin.

After getting to know the program through volunteer work, Mrs. Atkins chose to work at STrEaM because she likes the focus on ecological stewardship, which aligns with her education and core values. Her favorite thing about STrEaM is the diversity of students and educational methods.

Welcome to the STrEaM Dream Team Jessica Atkins!

Family school climate survey

Dear STrEaM Families,

Thursday our students will took the School Climate and Connectedness Survey in Advisory. This survey provides very useful data on how our students feel about school, peers, and staff. Each year we include this data in goal setting to improve our program. For example, our goals of enhancing our school culture and positive climate this year led to adding a counselor, more frequent assemblies, STAR badges, focus on Social-Emotional Learning and changes in Advisory structure.

This year we would love for FAMILIES to take the survey as well! Please give us your feedback on our program. Go to the following link, https://surveys.panoramaed.com/aasb/login, and use the code: streamfamily

Improvement cannot happen without feedback. At STrEaM we cultivate a culture of coaching, collaboration and feedback.  Please help us out by taking this survey. We appreciate your time and involvement!

Sincerely,

Adam Mokelke, Principal

mokelke_adam@asdk12.org

Staff Spotlight on Megan Gatlin

Megan Gatlin, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Gatlin is moving into an Assistant Principal role in 2022-23!

One of the original founding staff members at STrEaM Academy, Megan Gatlin has done much of the work “behind the scenes” to make our program special. Coordinating Project-Based Learning, outdoor and experiential education, community engagement, and professional development, Megan wears many hats and has a plethora of responsibilities, all tied to the mission and vision of STrEaM Academy.  

Working closely with and coaching our staff, Mrs. Gatlin facilitates professional development and supports Project-Based Learning, helping teachers to plan and implement projects and providing them with resources and collaborative learning. With her strong science background, she is excellent at organizing STEM events, challenges, guest speakers and presentations. These areas she supports constitute the three domains of the STrEaM mission: STEM, Project-Based Learning and Outdoor/experiential Education.

Megan added “coach” to her role at STrEaM after completing Cognitive Coaching training, and has worked to develop a "culture of coaching" at our school. She works closely with teachers to provide them feedback, support, coaching and mentorship. Working closely with STrEaM’s principal and leadership team, Megan helps to organize and provide professional development for staff aligned with the mission of the school.

Born and raised in Sitka, Alaska, Mrs. Gatlin graduated from Sitka High School before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Western Washington University. She went on to earn a Masters in teaching from the University of Alaska Anchorage. In 2022 Mrs. Gatlin completed her Educational Leadership degree, continuing her growth as a school leader. 

Megan’s spouse Ben also teaches in the Anchorage School District. Their daughter Olive is a spunky fashionista who likes to ride her bike and catch bugs in cowboy boots. Megan, Ben and Olive love camping and exploring Alaska in their RV, being outdoors hiking and biking, gardening and spending time with their fuzzy black dog Louis.

Mrs. Gatin enjoys working at STrEaM because she loves getting students outside, spending time in wild places they haven’t been before, and exploring nature. She loves supporting the dedicated and passionate educators at ASA as they work to make learning fun and meaningful.

Among her many accomplishments, Mrs. Gatlin has been nominated for ASD’s prestigious Denali Award, completed Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools training, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Megan also developed a school-wide recycling program at STrEaM. She has been vital to the development of STrEaM Academy since its inception, and is invaluable to staff and students. Mostly working quietly behind the scenes, she is the glue that holds our program together.

Contact Mrs. Gatlin at gatlin_megan@asdk12.org or (907) 742-9000
Visit us on the web at https://www.asdk12.org/stream