The December Parent Group Meeting has been canceled.  We will be meeting
again in January.  If you have any questions about ongoing Parent Group
business, please email Barbara Wohlforth:  wohlforth_barbara@asdk12.org

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq.
You can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!  This is a great site.  Please send a card.   It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Please share this opportunity with your family & friends [if you would like to do so].

I have attached the RECESS proposal (Click here) that I would like to get started for 2nd semester.  All of the key components of RECESS are included in this proposal.  I would like for all of my parents and other interested parties to have a look-see.  The Steller Staff is on board with this offering as well as the majority of the students.  Please give me your feed back.

As with any “new thing”  there will be bumps in the road.  However, I hope they will be only a minimum distraction and can be worked out fairly quickly.  It will take some time for everyone [parents, teachers and students] to get in “a groove” and things begin to flow smoothly.  But I am confident that RECESS will have a positive affect on all of the students and their ability to exercise their freedom of choice in terms of their education.  RECESS will also give staff members that much need time to plan.  Planning in a school like Steller is all too important if the school  is to thrive.  Ideas have to be talked about, existing practices need to be fine tuned and a program such as ours needs to have room to expand.  I think that RECESS will meet the needs for working on all of these critical issues.

Harlod

The class schedule and course descriptions are now available for 2nd quarter.

Click here for class schedule color coded by grade level.

Click here for printer friendly black and white version.

Click here for course descriptions.

As always, course offerings are subject to change.

The following information was included in a recent newsletter from Senator Lisa Murkowski:

Sen. Murkowski opens application period for 2009 summer intern program
I have begun accepting applications for my high school summer internship program. Each year, a total of 20 graduating high school seniors from all areas of Alaska travel to Washington to participate in one of two, month-long internship sessions. Each day, two of the interns “shadow” me through my Senate meetings and functions. Interns also assist me and my staff in a variety of constituent services and legislative duties. By the end of the session, interns will have gained an insight into the workings of a U.S. Senate office and how the legislative process works. The first session for the summer of 2009 will run from June 1 to June 26, and the second session will run from July 6 to July 31. Transportation and housing will be coordinated by my office, but interns will be responsible for the cost. My office will provide a stipend to help defray the costs.

High school students are encouraged to apply online in the Student Connection section at www.murkowski.senate.gov. Applications and internship information will also be made available to all Alaskan high school counseling offices.  Applications are due March 13, 2009.

I also have a number of opportunities for college students to work full or part-time in my Washington, D.C., office.  To apply for these opportunities students should fax a resume, cover letter and letter of recommendation to my office at 202.224.5301.

You may also know someone who might be interested in the following opportunity as well:

White House Fellowship applications now being accepted
The White House has announced that The President’s Commission on White House Fellowships is now accepting applications for the 2009 – 2010 Class of Fellows. Applications are available at http://whitehouse.gov/fellows/about/apply.html and must be submitted electronically by February 1, 2009.

The White House Fellows Program is America’s most prestigious program for leadership and public service. Founded in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the program offers exceptional young men and women first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the Federal government.

Fellows typically spend one year working as full-time, paid special assistants to senior White House Staff, the Vice President, Cabinet Secretaries, and other top-ranking government officials. Fellows also participate in an Education Program consisting of roundtable discussions with renowned leaders from the private and public sectors, and trips to study U.S. policy in action both domestically and internationally. More information about the program is available at www.whitehouse.gov/fellows.

If you are interested in receiving Senator Murkowski’s e-newsletter, you can do so by filling out the web form at http://murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Newsletter.Signup.

I am happy to offer a college course through APU at Steller. This class is “The American Short Story” taught by Mrs. Gina Miller. The class will be offered to 10, 11 and 12th graders for both University credit and High School credit in English. Because it is APU the cost of the class is about 20% more than UAA. Normally this class would cost $1,800.00 for a 3 credit course. However, we will be able to get this course delivered at our school for 1/3 the cost [$600.00].

The class will only be able to happen if we get at least ten students signed up to take the course. There are no scholarships through Steller if anyone wants to take the class they will need to pay the tuition. The class will be conducted as a college course and subject to the same conditions as any university class, that is to say I will not be able to alter in anyway what the requirements are for the class. Parents will have to deal directly with the professor of the class.

The course will be offered on Wednesdays beginning the week of Feb. 2nd, 2009 [provided we get enough students enrolled]

The course description and the readings are attached for your viewing. Please contact me if interested as soon as possible.

Text: The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction, (8th edition). You will have enough time to go online and order the text used or she can place an order to have the books delivered to the campus bookstore. Keep in mind the books she orders will cost considerably more than a used one. At this time I have no idea how much the book will cost. Below is the website for online ordering. It is the green book and it looks like they have some used one for $23.00. However, I would wait to order until we know we have at least 10 people who are planning to sign up.

Harlod

Click here to order text.

Click here for class info.

Principal’s Report
November 19, 2008

Announcements:

Parent Meeting is Wednesday 11/19/08 .

Book Fair: Students, parents, teachers and families – If you should happen to shop at Title Wave during the in-store Book Fair.  At the end of the Fair, Title Wave will donate 25% of the proceeds from all of your purchases to Steller’s.  Just let them know you are a Steller Parent/Friend.

Alternative Fund. The Fund will help pay for next year’s Coalition of Essential School’s conference (to be held in the Fall).  Teachers, a parent, and a student will be attending the conference.  Vouchers were passed out during advisory group.  Did parents receive them?

November Dance: is 11/21/08 in the School’s MPR from 7:00 – 11:00

R.E.C.E.S.S.
[REACHING EXCELLENCE CREATIVELY AND EXPANDING
STUDENT SUCCESS]
A concept for alternative learning on Wednesday has been presented to the Staff and Student Body.  Once the time element is worked out it will be presented to the Parent and Advisory.

Winter Intensives course selections full underway.  All but six students have signed up for Intensives.  Most of these are out of town.  The offerings are:
Alyeska, 2.  Empty Bowl & Mosaics, 3. Winter Urban Survival
4.  Alternative Canvas.  5. Murder Mystery  6. Internships  7. Digital Photography  8.  Quilting/Knitting  9. International Cooking  10. Pyrography  11. Ballroom Dance 12. Fencing  Return of the Rock

Class offerings: I have added another 7-8 Language Arts and another PE period. We will have a pre-registration on Monday the 24 to ascertain the number of students that sign up for classes.  The intent is that for some of the classes that has 6-9 students and another class has 50 [except PE] we will split it down the middle and offer two sections of that class.

There have only been two seniors to turn in grades[?] for the
Continental Auto Group Car Give-Away: “Keys to Success”  which is a new car give-away program for good grades available to all High School Seniors.  I have posted the information on the School website and the parent website.  This is an amazing opportunity for one lucky Senior.
No purchase necessary for entry or to collect the Prize.
Prize may not be redeemed for cash.
Student must be a graduating senior on date(s) of entry, on Senior Fun Day (or like event).
Student must have valid Alaska driver license on date(s) of entry and collection of Prize.
Student must have had no suspensions during senior year until collection of Prize and sign affidavit to that effect.
Student must have no D’s or F’s on any of their first, second, third or fourth quarter report cards during the school year and must be able to demonstrate this on date(s) of entry.

For a list of the complete rules and regs go to the School or Parent website.

Call to order: 5:42
I.   New Items to add to agenda: Parent IT group
II.  Principal Report: (Next Post)
III. Op Group Report: Hand Out
IV. Ad Board Report: Hand Out
V. Staff Report: Talent show will be moved from December to January.  The staff is discussing what group should run the Talent show.  The Staff is discussing a new registration process that includes pre-registration.  This would allow the staff to know ahead of time what classes are in high demand and to plan ahead.  Students are allowed to walk into a classroom to access their lockers while the class is being conducted.  This sometimes disrupts the ongoing class.  Students will be asked to be quieter while using their lockers.  Students are sending text messages and receiving text messages during the class period.  This is against the ASD policy.  The first time the student is caught the teacher will take the phone away for the class period.  The second time the student is
caught, the phone will go to the office and the parent will have to pick it up.
VI. Treasurers Report: Mary Tanner is still looking for a parent to Co-Chair the Treasurers position.  She will not be the Treasurer next year and would like to have some one work with her so they are up to speed next year.
The Steller Parent Group has $8763.69 in the checking account.   $2,864.83 was carried over from last year.  A total of 88 families have donated  $6,460.00.  E-Script has brought in $739.86 so far this year.
Raffle stubs and money and the unsold tickets must be turned in by December 15th.  Please keep selling the tickets until then.
Old and Ongoing Business:
Café Vending machines:  The new vending machine has microwavable food and yogurt.  The snacks must meet the nutritional guidelines set by the ASD.
The school receives approximately 15% of the proceeds.
The vending machine proceeds are divided as follows:  5% goes to the Alt Ed fund, 10% to the yearbook, 35% to the General Fund and 50% to Student Activities.  For the next 3 months the machine must bring in $250 per month for the vender to keep the machine at the school.  The vender will keep track of what is selling and what is not selling and adjust the food items to best suit the students’ needs.  The demand for cup of soup and snacks from the nurse’s office has gone down since the new vending machine was placed in the lounge. There is currently one microwave in the lobby. One more microwave will be placed in the lounge soon.
There was a discussion about what will happen to the vending machine when the Café is up and running. The vending machine would compete for the profits with the Café. It was suggested that the vending machine could be taken out of the school or perhaps the Café and the vending machine could operate on alternate days.
B. By-Law changes: Changes to the Steller By-Laws are being prepared for a vote at the next Ad Board meeting.  Under the Steller Advisory Board section of the by-laws page 2 section B the proposed changes are as follows:
B. Membership
Membership of the Advisory Board shall consist of one (1) student representative from each advisory group of ten (10) or more students.  There shall be one (1) parent representative for each two (2) student representatives.  There shall be one (1) staff representative per one hundred (100) students of major portion thereof.  The Principal shall be a member of the Advisory Board.
There shall be one (1) official alternate for each advisory group representative.  The staff will elect a single alternate.  The parents will elect four (4) alternates.  The alternate will vote in the event of the regular representative’s absence.  It will be the responsibility of the representative to provide timely notice to inform the alternate that an absence is forthcoming.
In the event the elected representative or alternate is unable to attend an Advisory Board meeting, any member of their group in attendance may vote in their stead.  The total number of votes cast shall not exceed: one (1) student vote per advisory group; one (1) parent vote per two (2) advisory groups; and one (1) staff vote per 100 students.  The principal may vote in the event of a tie.
On page 6 under G. the following change will also be voted on at the next Ad Board meeting.
G. Meetings
Meeting times and dates shall be set by the Advisory Board.

C.    Teachers Lunch: Danielle and Gerald’s counseling groups are preparing November teacher lunches.  In December, Jennifer and Jean’s counseling groups will be responsible for the Teacher Lunch.  Please remember that the teachers should not be involved in organizing the lunches.  The parents and students in the counseling groups should handle every thing themselves.
New Business:
A. Action: The Auction will be March 27th.  Jen and Natalie’s counseling groups will be the sponsors of the Auction this year.  There is a great need for a parent Chair and Co-Chair for the auction.  Ingrid Parish will be available to explain the responsibilities of the Chair and Co-chair if any one is willing volunteer.   Ingrid stated that it would be too much for the teachers and students to organize.   There is also a need for a parent liaison to organize the donations.  The auction needs 10 large donations of a minimum of $300 each.  Items include jewelry, weekend packages and artwork.    The auction proceeds are divided for the yearbook at 10%, technology 45%, and travel 45%.  It was suggested that the Parent Group should pay for the pizza that is served at the Auction Meetings.
Course Wish List:  Harlod encouraged the parents and staff to apply for Legislative Grants that are available.  The deadline to have the grant presented to Harlod is December 1.   Harlod will present a grant request to help fund a Wednesday Schedule curriculum.  Shannon will present a grant request for 2 new mobile computer stations with 10 computers on each station.
Harlod discussed RECESS (Reaching Excellence Creativity and Expanding Student Success).  He presented a Draft that he will be working on with the staff. It will be a Wednesday schedule program.
Early Registration:  Harlod discussed the benefits of pre-registration. The staff will be able to know what are the most popular classes.  It will help to manage class sizes and there will be less confusion.  The registration will be for the full year including intensives.
December Meeting is tentatively scheduled for December 17th 5:30-7:00pm
Adjourn: 7:25

The Anchorage School District plows snow from parking and driveway areas based on the following priority level.

1.  Faculty and public parking, including fire hydrants at schools without internal sprinkler systems and primary fire lanes
2.  bus lanes
3.  handicap parking
4.  student parking
5.  secondary fire lanes
6.  snow removal and hauling to dump sites
7.  skating rinks and cross country ski trail assembly areas

Following a snowfall, student parking areas might not be plowed by the start of the school day. Following a snowstorm, students who normally drive themselves to school should consider taking the bus or carpooling until the student parking areas are cleared.