Author Archives: Steller Parent Group

Nurse’s Notes

Health Screening
Just a reminder, all 7th, 10th, and new-to-district students are completing health screening this month. Health screening includes vision, hearing, height, and weight. If your student fails any portion of the screening, a referral for follow up will be mailed home. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me @ 742-4963.

Cold Weather
The days are starting to get longer as the minutes of daylight add up; however, this being Alaska, it is bound to get colder before spring arrives and the snow melts. Freezing temperatures put at us risk for cold weather injuries and related woes. Education regarding prevention, identification, and treatment of frostbite and hypothermia are important for all of us trying to stay warm while living in Alaska. Continue reading →

Reading Aloud to Teens Gains Favor Among Teachers

Mary Ann Zehr:   EDUCATION WEEK

Mention teachers’ practice of reading aloud to their students and a typical image comes to mind: In a cozy corner of an elementary classroom, youngsters are gathered on a rug, listening intently to Charlotte’s Web.

But, in fact, many teachers across the country are reading to students in middle and high schools, too, and some education researchers say more teachers of adolescents ought to be using the same strategy.

English teachers are reading aloud to teenagers classics ranging from the Odyssey to Of Mice and Men. History and social studies teachers are voicing the words of the Declaration of Independence and letters home from U.S. soldiers in the Vietnam War. Even some math and science teachers are reading to adolescents in class.

The technique is getting attention amid a bigger push for improvement in adolescent literacy, as educators emphasize that literacy is not just a concern for the elementary grades. Continue reading →

Christa Brelsford Update

Yesterday, Christa kept a very busy schedule!  We arrived during her physical therapy in the morning.  She is already up and using the walker to get around her room and the hallway nearby.  She is also instructed to eat, eat, eat to help her body heal – “a cheeseburger, but not from McDonalds”
was her first request.  We then helped her wash her hair, which was still full of concrete dust.  She had been looking forward to that for days!  In the afternoon, Christa had a string of visitors, starting with Alex Sink, who is currently the chief financial officer of Florida and will be running for governor.  She was in Miami to look at what else the state could do to help with the situation in Haiti.  With her were two Haitian American state representatives, i.e. elected to office in Florida. They were particularly interested in trying to get aid to the more outlying areas, so Julian and Christa were able to give them more information about Dabonn and Leogane.  In particular, Christa said that members of the Sri Lankan peacekeeping battalion who helped her have advanced medical training, but no supplies to speak of.  Getting supplies to that area would really help many of the wounded people who arrived and spent the night with her at the Sri Lankan outpost.

As soon as the politicians left, a young man whose leg was amputated below the knee arrived.  He had seen Christa on the news, and wanted to offer her some advice that he wished someone had offered him when he was in the same situation.  He was a very active kite boarder, and he gave her some advice about prosthetics, but he also said that she shouldn’t have to slow down much.  She remains really optimistic and resilient.  Julian is starting to walk on his wounded foot, and also seems to be doing well.

We remain profoundly grateful for the calls and notes expressing support. We are not as quick in replying to all, but please understand.  Jess is helping us to try to get update notes out more regularly.

Taylor, Alan, and Jess

Mark Your Calendar

Tue Feb 9 – 7pm – 8pm Open House
Thu Feb 11 – 7pm – 8:30pm Parent Group Meeting
Mon Feb 15 – No School – President’s Day Holiday
Thu Feb 18 – 7pm – 8:30pm All Community Meeting

Fri Mar 5 – No School-  Inservice
Mon Mar 8-Fri Mar 12 – No School – Spring Break
Thu Mar 18 – 7pm – 8:30pm Parent Group Meeting
Thu Mar 25 – 6pm – 7:30pm Ad Board Meeting
Fri Mar 26 – No School – Inservice

Haiti Update

Our first week of fundraising is over and we are doing a great job.  Lunch time popcorn and paper red crosses have sold about $250 so far this week.  Friday at lunch, teachers and student’s paid for strips of duct tape to tape Philip, one of our science teachers to the wall and raised nearly $120 in less than 30 minutes!  Next week we will be selling candy valentines at lunch and advisory groups will get to vote on which teacher they would like to tape to the wall on Friday 2/12/10.

Steller’s coin drive will run from 2/1/10 through 2/12/10.

The advisory group who raises the most money will be treated to a pizza party!

So far, it looks like Natalie’s advisory group is in the lead with Nina’s advisory group in hot pursuit.  Advisory group’s collection jars will be counted by Monday, so stay tuned as this may change who is in the lead.

Donations can be spare change, cash, check, or made online @ via the American Red Cross website. https://alaska.secureweb1.org//index.php#donate_form (Secure page link)  Please be sure to write Steller and your student’ name in the “remember someone special” box.  This will be the only way we will know it is from Steller and for which Advisory Group.  Checks should be made out to the American Red Cross of Alaska.

I can’t thank all of you enough for the donations we have collected already.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 742-4963 or Williams_wendy@asdk12.org.

Nurse Wendy

Service Area Band Festival

Steller’s [Mr. Toba] band class has been invited to join the Hanshew MS Band to participate for the Service Area Band Festival, on Thursday, April 15th.
The time and location:  Service HS gym.  The concert will start at 7:30 p.m.
Parents, staff and students are encouraged to attend the festival and support our band program.

Military Families Fair

The Annual Military Families Fair is Saturday, February 13 at Begich Middle School on DeBarr at Muldoon.  They have asked for teen volunteers to help staff a booth where kids will be producing a scrapbook page “Day in My Life” to send to their parent serving overseas.  The idea was from Steller and the YMCA sponsor adopted it!  Now they need help from us.

If your child can volunteer (you are welcome too!) please contact Nina asap. Duty hours are from 12noon to 4:00pm or any portion thereof.

Sports Medicine

  • Access a wide range of career opportunities
  • Learn about common athletic injuries
  • Learn taping techniques to prevent sports related injuries
  • Develop skills to assess, evaluate and rehab injuries
  • Discuss the latest topics in sports medicine
  • No previous experience required

    • This program is geared for high school students interested in the field of athletic training, sports medicine and physical therapy.

    Courses will be held at Advanced Physical Therapy of Alaska.
    This beautiful, newly built facility includes an 8,000 square foot rehab center.  The medical staff is highly motivated and eager to share and pass on their knowledge.

    Lectures will begin Monday, February 08, 2010.  The time will be from 5:45pm to 7:00pm. For more information contact Barbara Taylor, Certified Athletic Trainer via email (atc_aptak@hotmail.com).