Warmth and Welcome Volunteer Sign Up

Dear Steller Community,

Some parents have expressed concerns that have to drop their children off at school considerably before the doors open, and as it gets colder, this may be more difficult.  

SPG is working with Steller Staff to see if we can find some sort of resolution to this difficulty.

Over the next month we will be offering a sign up sheet for the Warmth & Welcome committee. Parent and guardian volunteers are invited to sign up to be present in the student lounge at the front of the school to supervise students in the time between 7:30 at 8:10.  Staff will always available to help if needed.

Parents are also welcome to sign up to be present during the lunch hour to help promote safe mask wearing and positive social behaviours.

If you are interested in volunteering you must:

1) Sign the ASD Volunteer Form (found in the office)

2) Attend a brief Orientation with Maria

3) Change on the sign up form as soon as you know you won’t be able to attend, or by 6:00 am at latest the day of your shift. 

If you are a parent that needs to drop your child off early, we encourage you to check out the link to see if anyone has signed up so the doors will be open. Unfortunately, if there isn’t a volunteer, or they need to cancel for unforeseen circumstances, we will not be able to open the doors.

Steller Parent Group thanks you on behalf of the lager parent body and Steller Staff. 

For questions please contact Kirsten at chairstellerparentgroup@gmail.com or Maria

2021-2022 Steller Parent Group Budget Passed

October 25, 2021

Dear Steller Community,

At the start of the 2021 school year SPG established a Finance Committee that includes:

  • SPG Chair, SPG Treasurer, SPG Treasurer Elect, Member at Large, and a Teacher. 

The Committee presented the budget at the Steller Parent Group meeting on October 14, and shared it to the wider community by email October 18 (Vote for Steller Parent Group Budget 2021-2022).  All members of the community were invited to vote on the Draft Budget, which contained the provision that we will revisit the Budget in January or February in light of new budget needs (particularly Travel Intensives) and fundraising plans. 

A total of 44 people voted, with 38 votes for and 6 against thereby passing the budget as presented. We would like to thank everyone who participated in the process, and for the feedback we have received. 

Since the SPG Meeting a group of students as well as one parent have stepped forward to help plan fundraising activities, and we have received a few suggestions from the community as well. 

We are working hard to figure out how to meet our fundraising needs and especially support Travel Intensives, which we believe are at the heart of Steller values, while respecting the fact that many in our community feel overextended and time constrained in their own personal lives. It is our hope to plan a few smaller, easier events so that time commitments might be more reasonable for volunteers, and so that the financial ask of our community is not burdensome as well. 

We hope to share our plans with you shortly and welcome anyone who would like to join us. Particularly if you have experience with running auctions, which we would still like to consider as a possibility. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out at chairstellerparentgroup@gmail.com 

Warm regards,

Kirsten

Alaska Youth for Environmental Action Summit Applications due ASAP

2021 AYEA Youth Organizer Summit Application

Each year Alaska Youth for Environmental Action hosts a fall Youth Organizer Summit, bringing together young Alaskans from across the state to gather and discuss issues in their communities and gain skills to address those issues. During the YO Summit, we also decide upon and start planning our statewide campaign for the year. The summit is scheduled for November 11-15th over Zoom and applicants are expected to attend the summit in full. 

Please see our website for more information about the Youth Organizer Summit and our expectations for attendees. Applications are due by October 22nd.

Know a teen excited about climate and racial justice? >>> Nominate by Oct 22

Interested in becoming a YO as a teen yourself? >>> Apply by Oct 22

Thanks for sharing this cool opportunity Chandra (apologies it’s so late being posted).

Kirsten

 

Banned Book Week At Steller

Amelia, 8th grade, Anika, 12th grade

More than 40 students participated in the drawing. To participate, they completed a form reflecting on a banned book they had read and what impact it had on them. We had three drawings a day for the week of Banned Books (Title Wave gift card (donated by Title Wave), Banned Book (donated by Title Wave), TOB gift card (donated by SPG)) for a total of 15 winners. 

We had lots of great questions and discussions in the library about book banning and censorship when students saw the display. Students were most curious to explore why the books had been challenged/banned. Advisors also noted that the optional advisory activities elicited curiosity and discussion. Becky’s Advanced Composition class used the topic of banned books for their persuasive essays. Becky reported that students were very passionate about the topic and gave excellent presentations in class. Some students (5 completed the recommendation and permission slip, 10 completed the recommendation) followed up even more and created “Customer Recommendations” that were displayed at Title Wave Books and in the Steller library.

Thank you to Ashley for organizing this great event, and all the students who participated! 

Steller Parent Group

 

Vote for Steller Parent Group Budget Now!

Budget

In 2021 the Steller Finance Committee (Chair, Treasurer, Member at large) created a DRAFT BUDGET.

In a typical year most money raised through Parent Group goes to four areas:

  • SPG Operational expenses
  • Steller Parent Group expenses (Welcome BBQ, Staff Appreciation etc)
  • School expenses ( Souper Steller, Ice Cream Social, Steller Olympics etc.)
  • Grants:
    • Steller Travel Intensives 
    • Intensives 
    • Program Support (Band trips, art supplies etc)
    • Passages & Special Projects

The DRAFT budget for 2021-2022 was presented at the SPG meeting on October 14.  You can read the Meeting Minutes Here.

The letter accompanying the DRAFT budget for 2021-2022 explains more about the circumstances for the budget. Please read it carefully. 

All members of the community are invited to review the attached Budget, and then vote “Yay” to
accept the budget as presented *with the provision we will revisit it in January or February* in
light of new budget needs and fundraising plans. Or “nay”. If you vote nay you will be provided
an opportunity to make suggestions – given the funds we currently have on hand. The vote
closes at 10 pm on Wednesday, October 20. The budget will be passed with a simple majority of
total votes.

Steller Parent Group is a charitable 501(c)3 organization to which contributions are tax-deductible. To learn more about how to support SPG please see here. 

Warm regards, 

Kirsten Tschofen

Samantha and Alana are chosen to receive “YWCA Alaska Young People of Achievement Award 2021”

Samantha and Alana Pose after being selected for the YWCA Alaska Young People of Achievement Award 2021.

Hello Steller Jays,

Please congratulate both Samantha A and Alana P for being selected for the YWCA Alaska Young People of Achievement Award 2021.  “They are deserving of this award for the leadership and service they provide to our community, which aligns with the mission of YWCA Alaska; to eliminate racism, empower women and girls, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.”  

Samantha and Alana will be participating in a virtual conference the week of November 1-5th.  If you have an opportunity to congratulate them please do.  

Well done to both of you girls! We are proud of you. 

SPG

 

Join the Quiz Night Planning Team!

Steller Parent Group hasn’t been able to fundraise since January 2020, and our funds are running low.

We want to be able to continue to support all the great programs and opportunities we have in the past, so are planning our first fundraiser/community building event some sometime before the winter holidays.

All grade 7 to 12 students are invited to lead the planning for this awesome night. We need students with a variety of talents:

  • Organizational
  • Talking to adults
  • Decorating/set up
  • Artistic
  • Trivia
  • Quiz Master(s)
  • And so much more! 

Meet in Leigh Ann’s class 12:00 pm Wednesday, October 13.

(Parents are invited to come along and support as well! Please let Kirsten know if you will attend at chairstellerparentgroup@gmail.com)

Tuesday, October 12 Steller Parent Group

A reminder that the next SPG meeting will be Tuesday, October 12 via Zoom.

Minutes from the last minutes can be found here. Final agenda will be posted Sunday night.

Come here reports from our principal, staff, and OpGroup, as well as an update from the 7th Hour Committee, Fundraising Committee and requests for funding. Volunteer and fundraising needs will be discussed as well.

The Draft budget will also be presented at this meeting. 

As always we are happy to hear from the community about your needs and suggestions.

If you would like to be added to the agenda please email chairstellerparentgroup@gmail.com

Topic: Steller Parent Group Meeting

https://asdk12.zoom.us/j/95891436576?pwd=ekcwTUxweGRub0YzSDZuaGdLZ3RhQT09 

Kirsten