Time is running out!  We have six people registered and paid for the APU American Short Stories class to receive both high school and college credit.  Two more have promised to register.  Friday is the deadline.  We must have ten students in order for the class to be held.  Please see Harlod and register for the class!

Click here for more information.

I hope that each of you had wonderful moments filled with sharing love, compassion and hope with family and friends during the recent holiday season.  We are once again in the process of beginning our Second Semester.  And, what a Second Semester it promises to be!

I am sure by now you all have read the RECESS proposal, if not you can view it here or pick up a copy in the office, and I am sure that you all have thousands of questions.  But, for now I’d like to focus on a couple components of RECESS. First is the APU College English course, “ The American Short Story”.  This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to have a college course delivered on our campus for both College and High School credit.  The course is an eleven-week offering and should prove to be very exciting.

Another aspect of RECESS is the offerings by VSA Out North Arts.  They will have someone in our school to actually work with students on writing and performing performance poetry.  This person, Faye Sikora, is also the proprietor of “Speak Easy” which is a venue for artists from around the United States and abroad to showcase their talents.  As part of Speak Easy being in the school Faye will bring these renowned performers to our school for our enjoyment pleasure.  In addition to Faye we will also have, at different times and dates, Allison Warden who is an Alaskan Native Story Teller, and Betsy Douds and actress of Film and Theatre who will share her talents with us.  In addition to being an actress Betsy is an English teacher and a certified yoga instructor.

I am very excited about this upcoming semester, it promises to be very exciting and challenging.

–Harlod

Jen, Natalie, and the 9th grade class are organizing the Steller Auction this year held on March 27th.  We could really use everyone’s support.  If you are able to secure a donation from a local business, or are able to donate an item or service, please contact Natalie or Jen.  If every parent were able to secure one donation, large or small, we would be in business.

Thank you for all of your support,
-The 9th Grade Class

As part of R.E.C.E.S.S.  ADT Dance Co.  is offering a Latin dance class.  The total cost is $100 which will be split between the participants.  If we have  20 people sign up the cost per person is $5.  The classes are flexible, meaning that they can teach any dance style.  If we have a large number of interested students we can offer a second class.  The Latin one is an hour long  and we could have another class right after.  The minimum number of people per class is 10. ADT is also willing to design a class for parents and teachers if there is interest.  Please see Harlod for more information

“The family that kicks together, sticks together” ~Master Yu~

As  part of RECESS Champ Tae kwon do Academy has agreed to teach a beginning class.  This class will run for a six-week period.  If at that time we have more interest Master Yu will offer a second section.  The cost of this six-week class is  $30 per student which is an amazing offer for this type of class.  The minimum number of participants needed to make this class work is 10.

Master Yu is also wants to hold a class for parents and staff as well.  The cost is the same $30 for a six-week class.  In the spirit of making Steller a true Family/Community school this seems like a perfect way for all of us to utilize Steller for our benefit.  It is our hope that everyone will value the uniqueness and importance of what we have.  What better way to show our children how important Steller is to the community than for our parents to also “GO TO SCHOOL”.

Master Yu sends this work of assurance, “Our team of trained, enthusiastic and caring certified instructors are dedicated to giving your children the most professional, well-supervised, and highest-quality classes available! Welcome to Champ Tae kwon do Academy at Steller”!

Every student should attend every class every day.  Regular attendance and promptness are expected in all classes and are essential for success in school. Learning to participate in group discussions, developing an appreciation for the views and abilities of other students, and forming the habit of regular attendance are legitimate objectives of any course.  “Learning” which is lost due to absence can never be adequately replaced.  Since regular attendance is one of the greatest single factors contributing to successful schoolwork, the first obligation of a student is to attend school regularly.

We know that good attendance is important for success at middle level and high school.  We have also seen a correlation between attendance and performance on standardized tests and assessments.  Additionally, good attendance is one of the life skills that will help students be successful in future education endeavors and in the job market. Let us instill in our children that good attendance is important.  Show them that you are interested in their school activities and want them to do well in school.  Support your child’s education. Steller offers exceptional learning opportunities every day we are in session. Help your child be at school, in classes working hard all day, every day!

Make sure they get enough sleep so that they are well rested in the morning. Talk with your child about his or her assignments. Establish a specific time and place for homework to be completed. Check homework for accuracy. Help your child create a special folder for finished assignments this will help them overcome some of the obstacles to regular attendance such as embarrassment for not having completed assignments.

Parents have the right to make the decision concerning school attendance for their children. As parents, you also have the most influence on your child’s behavior. However, when parents and the school work together, we can have the maximum influence on student attendance.

Sodexo Foundation is currently accepting applications for its STOP Hunger Scholarship program – giving $5,000 scholarships to students in K – grad school who are fighting hunger in their community. If you know of someone doing great things to fight hunger, encourage them to apply between Jan. 1 and Feb. 27. In addition, the Sodexo Foundation is providing a matching $5,000 grant to the winners’ designated charity. Visit www.SodexoFoundation.org to learn more. Access key: SDXF is needed to submit an application.

We have been awarded the Bronze Medal from USA News’ Best High Schools in American second annual list of America’s best High Schools.

Please read the letter.  Click here.

Harlod

Twice a year Steller holds an All Community Meeting. These meetings are to conduct important business relating to the education of students at our school. They are also often a time to get to know one another. All Community Meetings are just that – meetings for the entire school community. Attendance of students, parents and staff are what make these meetings worth our participation.

On January 12th the 2nd All Community Meeting of the year was held. There was very light attendance of students. Parents made up the bulk of the group. I am wondering what happened to the All Community Meetings of 5 years ago when my daughter was a 7th grader? Teachers gave students a night off of homework to encourage their participation. Most all of the staff would attend and they would take up 2 complete rows in the room. To kick off the meeting, staff would introduce themselves and parents who hadn’t been in yet to meet their student’s teachers could put a face with a name.

I’m wondering what it would take to get all of Steller’s staff, at least one adult from each student’s family and most all of the students to these 2 meetings a year? Is it really asking too much to request we all participate in 2 meetings a year?

I’m hoping that by raising awareness, we can increase participation. Perhaps there was a communication breakdown for this meeting. In any case, I urge each member of the Steller community to examine his/her reasons for not attending and consider making this event a priority for your family. More voices, representative of the school community, can only serve to make us richer in our dialogue and decision making.

Submitted by Cheryl Childers, Steller parent