Parent Orientation Handbook

Steller Secondary School

New Parent Orientation

 Class Schedule: On the Website in Student Section, with Course Descriptions

A Few Differences from the ASD Schedule

  • Steller follows a Quarter schedule rather than Semesters;
  • Spring Conferences are during the last week of school.
  • Winter Intensives 12/10-12/20; this means that last day of regular 2nd quarter classes will be 12/7.
  • Look along the right column for NO SCHOOL

A Day At Steller

Classes begin at 8:30 AM

Classes dismissed at 2:05 PM

Drop off between:  7:30 AM – 8:30 AM

Pick up between:  2:05-3:45 PM

All students MUST be out of the building at 3:45 pm

Traffic Flow – please note safety guidelines

  • Drop off in front of the building or at the south (parking lot) entrance.
  • Drop off and pick up from the right lane only.
  • No parking or waiting in the left lane
  • Do not PARK in front on the building or on any red curb.
  • DO NOT BLOCK THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC!

Lockers

  • Each student will be able to choose their locker and location.
  • There are no locks on our lockers.
  • Electronics/Phones : Student should keep electronic items with them at all times.

Lunch

  • All students allowed to leave campus
  • Most students bring their lunch
  • Where do they eat?
  • What do they do?

Advisory Group

  • Meet in the advisor’s classroom.
  • Do various team building activities and projects.
  • Have snacks together.
  • School information and announcements are shared.
  • Give input to student government.

Advisors

  • Give academic guidance.
  • Can act as liasons with other teachers/staff.
  •  Help students form community.
  • Meet with advisors for parent/teacher conferences.

All Community Meetings

  • Meet 3 times per year.
  • Organized by either Parent Group, Staff, or Operational Group (students)
  • Purpose is to come together as a learning community to address issues and happenings at Steller.
  • Everyone invited to attend.

Passages

  • Courses offered for elective credit that  allows students to pursue a passion
  • Skills shown in each passage will include:
  1. The different categories are Setting Goals and a timeline for completion
  2. Identifying and gathering resources
  3. Time management
  4. Organization
  5. Self assessment and reflection
  6. Stand and deliver via presentation

A middle school Passage class will be offered as an elective option within the schedule.

  • Passage requirements may be met by the following
    • Individually Student Designed Courses
    • Classes at King Career Center
    • Gifted Mentorships
    • Seminar Coaching
    • Peer Teaching
    • Steller graduation requirement. All incoming Freshman must have 3 semesters of Passages to graduate with one being community service.
    • Does not apply to 10th-12th grade yet.

Independent Study

  • A course that a student may take to earn core credit.
  • This class is teacher designed.

Special Topics

  • A course that may be offered within the schedule that a student may take for core
  • credit.
  • This class is student designed and requires approval of a teacher.

 After School Activities

 At Steller

  • There are often ‘ 7 hour’ classes and clubs, with focus in fine arts, sports, or other.  Check the schedule for offerings.  These will make pick-up at 3pm instead of 2:05pm, depending on the class.

Sports elsewhere

  • Middle school and high school students may participate in sporting activities in neighborhood schools.
  • Visit or call your school of choice to determine the offerings and the schedule.
  • There is no ASD transportation for middle schoolers.  There limited transportation for some high school sports, inquire with each school.
  • Closest middle school is Central and closest high school is West.  You may go to others if it fits your schedule.  Work with each school individually.

 Issues

1)   Encourage your student to work things out with his/her teacher/advisor/Principal/students.

2)   Contact teacher (for classroom issue) or advisor either by email or after school.  Advisor can act as liaison with other teachers.

3)   Principal by phone or email.

4)   Talk to other parents.  May contact via the website.