Author Archives: Sarah Burke

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

 

 

 

Fundraising at Steller Secondary

Financial Support:

Steller Parent Group is a charitable organization to which contributions are tax-deductible (501(c)3. In a typical year most money raised through Parent Group goes to four areas:

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

The budget for the 2021-2022 School Year will be presented at the October 12 meeting and online voting will take place between October 13 and 15. Please see Steller Parent Group Meetings for more information about the Budget.

We appreciate that many families and businesses are facing significant stress this year and will not be holding our annual Steller Auction this year.  We have limited our fundraising goals, and will be focusing on using the funds we have on hand, creating community, and supporting staff and families.

There are still ways you can support the work Steller Parent Group does:

Individual Donations

Use the Donate button located on the HOME PAGE, this is a secure and easy way to donate using a credit card.   If you don’t see the Donate button, it may have been pushed down to the bottom of the page, so be sure to scroll all the way down in your browser.

Support Fundraising Events

At this time we are planning a Student Led Quiz Night sometime in November. Please join us in both the planning committee and at the event.

We are looking for other ideas for both community fundraising and passive opportunities, so please share your ideas!

Support Steller While You Shop

Steller Parent Group has teamed up with Fred Meyer,  Amazon, and OfficeDepot/OfficeMax for corporate rewards, and your purchases generate corporate donations from these companies to our school.  Here is how you connect your shopping to the rewards:

Amazon Smile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Steller Secondary Parent Group every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization when you go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device to do your shopping.

3 Easy Steps

1.  Bookmark and Shop using this link – https://smile.amazon.com/
2.  Sign in to your Amazon account
3.  Select a charity by searching for ‘steller parent group’

Learn more about how your shopping at Amazon.com supports our school.  

Support Steller Secondary Parent Group (80690) just by linking your rewards card to our group and do your shopping at Fred Meyer with your Rewards Card. The more supporters who link their card to Steller Secondary Parent Group, the more we earn.   Sign up now!  The process is very simple.

3 Easy Steps

1.  Click to sign in or sign up with a Fred Meyer’s account first
2.  Associate your Rewards Card with your account
3.  Click here to enroll in Community Rewards and search for ‘Steller’.

Does this program affect my personal rebates or fuel points?  No, this is a corporate donation and does not affect your personal rewards.
Issues? contact the FredMeyer community reward team at fmcommunityrewards@fredmeyer.com

More info about Fred Meyer Community Rewards

Simply make a purchase at Office Depot or Office Max online or in-store using our school ID at checkout and Steller will receive 5% back in credits

Steller School ID:   70000032

3 Easy Steps

1.  Shop Online – http://www.officedepot.com/
2.  At the last checkout page, enter “BTS 70000032” in the Additional Order Information section.  Just type it in the comments box.
3.  For a more permanent association with Office Depot, create an account, and have customer service associate Steller School with your account.  They will ask for State, Zip and School Name. This way you can set it and forget it.

Need help with the process?  Let us know how we can help.   Email Steller Parent Group Officers 

Fundraising Goals for 2020-2021 School Year

We know many of our families are facing significant challenges this year, and we are here to help.  If you feel you have the resources we thank you for your generosity towards our goal of  $2500 this year, and then have specific events to support Travel Intensives.

(updated October 2021 by Kirsten)