Author Archives: Steller Parent Group

Eugene’s Safety Reminders

Welcome back to another Steller year! Since we, as a community, share the Steller facility, here are some rules and safety tips that we can use to help us live and work together safely and considerately.

 All visitors must check in at the office so the staff knows who is in the building both for security and fire purposes. When you sign in, we know that your car (the one without a permit) is in the parking lot. You alleviate confusion and avoid a parking ticket. Speaking of permits,…

 School Board Policy states that all students who park in school district parking lots must have a parking permit. Permits cost $50 per semester. Students may pick up a Vehicle Registration and Parking form from me or from the office. The permit requires a parent or guardian’s signature. Please pay for the permit in the office and bring the completed form and receipt to me and I will issue you a permit.
Cars will be checked randomly for current car permits. Your car will receive a warning the first time. The second time you’ll receive a fine, and the third time you’ll be towed at your expense. Ooch.
Happily, permits from our school are ok in other school parking lots. So if you were planning on driving your car to another school for classes or activities, you’ll be covered.

 Vehicle safety is important. Please don’t speed in the driveway or parking lot. Don’t overload your car with passengers, that is, each passenger must have a seat belt. This is part of responsible driving. Our school is about responsible freedom, which means just that, freedom to be responsible in all things you do and making proper choices. If proper choices are not made, those freedoms that we al cherish could and can be taken away.

 The front access drive is a Fire Lane. Dropping off and picking up students is fine but no one is allowed to park there. Any car parked in the Fire Lane (without a driver in the auto) can and will be towed at the owner’s expense. There are no warnings given out for this offense.

 If you are parked in the front access drive when we are having a drill, PLEASE move your car to the parking area of the school immediately. Be aware of students streaming out of the doors. If the alarms go off and you are sitting in your car in the access drive, it might not be a drill! It could be an emergency and you could be blocking an emergency vehicle trying to get to the school.
The staff does not have time to locate the owner of a car in an event of an emergency or a drill. Our first concern must be the safety of the students.
Don’t try to pick up your student during an emergency or drill. It causes confusion and increases the risks for our students. Students will be released at the proper time after the event.

 Many Steller students walk to one of the fast-food places during lunch, or walk to a bus stop. If at all possible, stay in a group. Do not walk or wander down back alleys just because it is a shortcut. These areas are danger zones and should be avoided at all costs. If anyone approaches you that you do not know, don’t talk to them! Run to the nearest safe place and report it at once.

 Several students ride bikes to and from school. Remember to wear a helmet at all times when riding your bike – especially on school property. Please do not ride bikes on the school sidewalks or parking lots. WALK THEM. Bikes are often an unexpected obstacle for both cars and pedestrians. Accidents can easily happen.

 Skateboards are not allowed on school property.

 If you notice an adult or a student you don’t think belongs to the school, please tell any staff member right away. Do NOT confront them. Let the staff member ask who they are and their business at Steller.

 Regarding Steller’s “Couch Policy”…
We currently have one opening for a couch in the lounge. Please keep reading if you are interested in donating one. Our policy is below, and please, wait until the second week of the school year to donate a couch.
We can have a maximum of two couches in the front lounge at any one time. When they get to the point of being a safety problem or are just plain worn out, we get rid of it and replace it with a “new” donated couch. At that time, and only at that time, will we accept a couch for the school. Even if you’ve received an OK for donating your couch, DO NOT just drop it off at the front door. I or someone else on staff must check in the couch. We would prefer to preview your donation before you move it to Steller. We cannot accept a donation that isn’t in good condition, and we don’t have room to store a couch.
In the past, couches have been left without notice and the cost of hauling away a couch has soared.
This rule also applies to the classroom couch donations. No approval, no acceptance.

Thanks for paying attention to Safety at Steller. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Calendar Update

August 2008

Tuesday, 5 & Wednesday, 6 – Pre-Registration (see Pre-Registration post for more information)

Wednesday, 20 & Thursday, 21 – Orientation

Friday, 22 – Class Registration (Note change from previous announcement)

Monday, 25 – First day of classes

Pre-Registration

Pre-registration is required for all students, both new and returning. We use the total number of students who confirm their registration at Steller to determine the number of slots still available to offer to new students. Your student need not be present.

When you pre-register, you:
· Activate your student record,
· Update addresses, phone numbers, and other pertinent information.

During Pre-Registration, you may also:
· Turn in additional immunization records (if needed),
· Sign permission slips for Steller activities throughout the year, and
· Release information for inclusion in the Steller Student Directory.

7th graders & New-to-Steller – Tuesday, Aug 5, 8:00 am – 10:00 am

Returning students – Tue, Aug 5, Noon to 2:00 pm

 Wed, Aug 6, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Noon to 2:00pm

If you cannot make one of these dates, please contact the office at 742-4950.

Save yourself time at pre-registration by downloading, printing, and completing these forms in advance:

Adult Transport Insurance – All parents/guardians who could/would drive for field trips, etc.
Annual Survey Permission – All students
Health History – Students in 7th and 10th grades, OR are new to the District
Media Release – All students
Permission Slip – All students
TB Consent – Students in 7th grade or new to the District
Website Registration – All students and parents
Student Directory Information – All students
Parent Group Donation Request – All students

Registration Dates Announced

Pre-registration dates are as follows:

Tuesday, August 5

  • 8:00-10:00 am – Grade 7 and new to Steller
  • 12:00-2:00 pm – Grades 8 thru 12

    • Wednesday, August 6

  • 8:00-10:00 am – Everyone can register
  • 12:00 – 2:00 pm – Everyone can register

    • Class registration is on Friday, August 22nd:

  • 8:00 – 10:00 am – Grades 12 and 8
  • 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Grades 11 and 7
  • 1:00 – 3:00 pm – Grades 9 and 10

    • Proud Steller Parents

    It has taken a while to write this but we had to wait for Tonei to slow down enough to make sure we had it right. Tonei G. recently graduated from Steller. Over six years as a student at Steller, Tonei fully embraced the Steller Philosopy and participated in a wide variety of activities. Besides being a strong student voice in Op Group, Ad Board (as co-chair for two years), and as Steller’s representative on the Anchorage School District’s Student Advisory Board, Tonei was editor of the yearbook for four years and leader of the Gay-Straight Alliance at Steller. Tonei was also very active outside of school volunteering for many organizations: a lawyer, judge, and board of directors member for Anchorage Youth Court, president of the United Youth Courts of Alaska, a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters at North Star Elementary School, and one of twelve Student Coordinators on the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) National Jump-Start Leadership Team. Additionally, Tonei was invited to join the GLSEN National Advisory Council earlier this year.

    Tonei has been a member of the Alaska Teen Media Institute (ATMI) for over two years. A regular soundboard operator and host on their monthly radio show, Tonei was also featured as a commentator on National Public Radio in February 2008 and received an Alaska Press Club Award – competing against adult professionals – for a radio piece regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in Anchorage schools. Tonei has had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the United States to participate in conferences including several GLSEN summits and trainings, statewide and regional youth court summits, the National Association of Student Councils conference, the Third Coast International Audio Festival, and was one of only two seniors in Alaska chosen to participate in the 2008 U.S. Senate Youth Program.

    Tonei is an American Civil Liberties Union Youth Activist Scholar, and will be an honors student at American University in Washington D.C. studying Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies. He received an American University Presidental Merit Scholarship of $27,000 per year in addition to scholarships from the Anchorage Education Association, the TOTEM Association of Educational Support Personnel, Pride Foundation, PFLAG, and many other organizations – in all, over $50,000 in scholarships. We are very proud of Tonei’s accomplishments and grateful to the Steller teachers and staff for all they have done to help create such a wonderful young person.

    Ed and Karen
    Tonei’s Parents

    You can find details of Tonei’s accomplishments in the “press” section of frozenactivist.net.

    Message from father of graduating senior

    Sam H-K is a stellar example of what Steller does best: allowing kids to find their own best interests and then facilitating the kids’ achievement. As his proud dad, I can report that Sam was President of Anchorage Youth Court this year and accumulated more than 1000 volunteer hours with AYC. In his college application process, he was offered a total of about $400,000.00 in scholarships and support, including the highest merit scholarships at several schools (including Whittier College, Millsaps University, Centre College, and DePauw University) and was asked to join the Honors Programs at all the schools who had them. Looking for a small liberal arts college education, he ultimately chose DePauw University (#31 in the 2008 USNews & WR listing), who offered $33,500.00/year of a $40,000.00 sticker price. No doubt, Sam has worked very hard, but I commend the Steller faculty and staff in their work to help a shy “sevy” become a confident, competent, well-balanced young man.

    Daniel K.

    Brag A Little

    As Karin Parker stated at graduation, we have some amazing students that have accomplished some amazing things. If your student has received athletic or academic awards, scholarships, recognition, or other honor, we would like to know. Please click the link under “Contact Us” in the right hand column and tell us about your amazing Steller student (especially the graduating seniors before they are gone). This will allow the Steller community share in their success and let parents of prospective students know just how wonderful our kids are. It is a website policy that for internet privacy we will publish the information you provide using only the first name and first initial of the last name of your student. Please share their accomplishments.