Allergy/Anaphylaxis

Steller Secondary is a LATEX-REDUCED environment. Do not bring latex gloves, balloons, or other items made of latex into the building.

Parents of children with a known anaphylactic reaction especially to food, animals, or bee/wasp sting must provide the school with an Allergy/Anaphylaxis Plan completed by a physician.  The nurse reviews the plan and gives a copy to the student’s teachers.  Teachers are trained to administer the epinephrine auto-injector and it will go with the child on field trips.  If you need a copy of the Allergy/Anaphylaxis Plan to take to your doctor please contact the school nurse.

Asthma

If your child has an inhaler at school, we must have an Asthma Action Plan on file. If you need a copy of the Asthma Action Plan to take to your doctor, I’ll be happy to make you a copy.  Request your copy by email, Williams_wendy@asdk12.org, or call me, 742-4963.  

PE Excuses

If a student will need to be out of PE for more than three days, a written request from a physician is necessary.  The excuse must specify the length of the absence (including the return date,) and the reason for it.

Medication

If your child requires medication during the school day, please contact me for the required paperwork.  All medication must be provided in the original container. The nurse cannot give out any loose medication that is sent to school in a baggie.  Students are prohibited by ASD policy from carrying controlled substance medications, such as those prescribed for ADD/ADHD, to school to give to the nurse. An adult must bring in this medication. All controlled medication must be counted by the nurse in view of the parent/guardian. For questions regarding medication administration at school, please call me.

Thank You

Thank you to all the families who donated lunch/snack items in August!  

Nurse Wendy

Overwhelmed by classwork? Scared because your parents are splitting up? Worried about a friend? Feel like you don’t fit in?  Sometimes it’s just not possible to sort through tough times alone. Problems can build up and you may lose sleep, find you can’t concentrate on homework, or even become depressed. When you need to talk to someone, your school counselor can be a great place to start!

Your Counselor Can Help You Cope

A school counselor knows how to listen and help.  A counselor takes your problem seriously and works with you to find a good solution. School counselors are trained to help with everything — and it doesn’t have to be just school stuff. A counselor can help you deal with grief, advise you on disagreements with your best friend, or brainstorm future career goals. Your school counselor can give you tips on managing stress, talking to your parents, and dealing with anger and other difficult moods. She can also advise you on problems you may have with a teacher, such as communication difficulties or questions over grades. You can also meet with your counselor to get career counseling or advice on which classes to take for college.  It takes a lot of training to be a school counselor; not only a college degree but also a master’s degree and certification in counseling. Your school counselor can give you all sorts of tips and support on solving problems and making good decisions. 

Meeting with the Counselor

You don’t need to know exactly what’s bothering you when you talk with the school counselor. It’s perfectly OK just to make an appointment because you’re not sure how you’re feeling, or not doing as well in school as you’d like. It’s the school counselor’s job to help people figure out what’s going on.   Your counselor may sometimes come into the classroom, too, to teach a class on a subject that affects everyone, such as stress or good study skills.

Your school counselor is someone who is separate from your life — a neutral adult who isn’t a parent, relative, or teacher. However, your school counselor isn’t a therapist, but if you need help in some way that the school counselor can’t provide, she can give you information about other community resources.

Your Counselor is Here to be Your Advocate!

For those new to the Steller community, my role as counselor here at Steller is to provide support and guidance for students on their academic journey, and to advocate on their behalf.  Mondays through Wednesdays I am here at Steller and available anytime to help with issues albeit dilemmas, decisions, or just to talk. No matter what your problem, try to think of me as someone who’s on your side. I am here to help make your school experience the best it can be. Instead of just focusing on schoolwork and careers, today’s counselors are there for students in a broader way. Your counselor wants to help with any problem that might get in the way of learning, and try to create a positive environment for everyone at school. So if you need a counselor’s advice, just ask!

Linda

The Gifted Mentorship program is for the exceptional 11th and 12th grade high school student who has the self-discipline and interest to pursue independent study under the direction of a professional/expert in a field of great interest to the student.

Mentorship study programs are for high-ability, high-achieving students who often have completed all advanced coursework available at the high school level or who are currently enrolled in coursework that applies to their area of interest. The program gives motivated, mature high school students an idea of what it is like to work in a field of their interest by being teamed with a professional who acts as their mentor during a 45 to 60 hour program.

The mentor, the student, and the coordinator design a curriculum of activities and projects that expose the student to real-life work situations as well as the latest information and technology in the field. The mentorship is usually completed in ninety days. Meeting times are arranged when it works best for the mentor and the student: usually after school and on in-service days. Students receive an elective credit for the mentorship when they successfully complete a range of requirements.

The deadline for fall semester applications is September 15th.  For second semester, it’s November 15th.  The application can by downloaded from our website at: www.asdk12.org/projects/gifted/

I’ll be visiting Steller in the office area on Fridays and I am available after school and other times by appointment.  Let me know if you need anything.

Lisa Wiley
Gifted Mentorship Coordinator
742-3798
wiley_lisa@asdk12.org

PSAT TESTING, SAT. OCT. 18, 2008…
Cost is $13. Sign up with Karen in the library.
PSAT Location is Steller
Testing begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. until approximately 11:30 a.m.

SAT Tests – sign up online – www.collegeboard.com
Test Location: EAST HIGH.
Students should arrive between 7:30 & 7:45 am. PICTURE ID REQUIRED!  Test begins promptly at 8:00 am.

2008-09 Fees: SAT Reasoning Test* $45  Late registration fee $23 + $45 ($68)  Re-registration by telephone $12.50 + $43 ($55.50)  Standby testing $38 + 43 ($80)

Troy’s Advisory Group has volunteered to organize the sale of “STELLER STUFF” beginning Fall 2008.  They are currently considering offering long & short sleeve T-shirts, pullover sweatshirts & hoodies, microfleece zip-up hoodies, water bottles, book-bags, and duffle bags.   If you would like to see the Steller logo on a particular type of garment or other product, mention it to a member of Troy’s Group.  Op Group requested last May that they entertain the possibility of a new design.  They are open to adopting a new design or recycling one of the old ones from previous years. (see neighboring graphics) Put your graphic arts talent to work and create a new look for Steller.  Submit your design to Troy Fast by October 1.  Op Group will have the chance to review designs and send them to Advisory Groups for a vote.  They hope to take the winning design to press by the end of October.  Proceeds from sales will help to fund Steller’s participation in Coalition of Essential Schools.

College prep workshops will be given on Thursdays at Lunch and After school in the Library.  Karen and Paula will be on hand to talk to Students and /or Parents at those times.  Bring in your questions, or just come and we’ll get you started on a Student Portfolio.  These are very useful when  applying to colleges or for scholarship applications.

College Fair is October 6-7  Steller will go on Tuesday Morning.  Sign up in the Library - Juniors and Seniors only.  Monday night session for parents includes financial aid seminars.

Tuesday Sept. 9 7:00-8:30 Steller MPR

Steller parent Paula DeLaiarro ( DE-LAR-RIO) is doing a college counseling internship with Karen Emmel at Steller this fall. Paula has a BA in math from Boston College, teaching and business experience, and is currently working on her Certificate in College Counseling through UCLA extension.

Paula and Karen will introduce topics such as choosing a college, finding scholarships, and WUE. These and other topics will be further addressed in a series of college workshops on Thursdays at lunch and after school. If you have a sophomore, junior or senior interested in college we urge you and/or your student to attend.

In Addition to college night, Many colleges are coming to town in the next few months. A few will visit Steller, but more are coming to West. Following is their schedule in case you know of anyone interested. This list is also posted at the library door.

The West Career Resource Advisor, Gail Rutz, says

“Seems to be the year of the elite colleges visiting. I don’t know when again it might occur — hope students take advantage of it.”

Following is a list of dates and times when colleges will be at West High School. Steller junior and senior students are welcome to attend. They should go to the front office [let them know you are from Steller] and get a visitor’s pass and they can then proceed to the Career Resource Center which is right across from the library, next to the counseling office.

Parents Welcome

SEPTEMBER
09/07/08 Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn, Stanford
RSVP @ ExploringCollegeOptions.org (Hilton Anchorage @ 7:30 p.m. Sunday)
09/08/08 Harvard (Boston) @ 1:10 p.m. Monday
09/15/08 Seattle University @ 1:10 p.m. Monday
09/16/08 University of Alaska Anchorage @ lunch & 11:10 a.m. Tuesday
(special info for those graduating H.S. in December)
09/18/08 Whitman College (WA) @ 7:45 a.m. Thursday
09/23/08 Colby, Middlebury, Tufts University, Wesleyan University
@ Loussac Library, Public Conference Room @ 7 p.m. Monday
09/25/08 Yale (CT) @ 11:10 a.m. Thursday
Dartmouth (NH) @ 2:15 p.m. Thursday
09/30/08 University of Puget Sound (Tacoma) @ 8:15 a.m. Tuesday
Montana State University (Bozeman) @ 9:01 a.m. Tuesday

OCTOBER
10/01/08 Barnard/Columbia University (NY) @ 9:45 a.m. Wednesday
10/02/08 University of Rochester (NY) @ 7:45 a.m. Thursday
University of British Columbia (Canada) @ 9 a.m. Thursday
University of Oregon (Eugene) @ 11:08 a.m. Thursday
10/03/08 Corban College (Salem, OR) @ 11:10 a.m. (Friday)
10/06/08 College & Career Fair @ Egan Center a.m. (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Parent Night, College & Career Fair @ Egan Center @ 6:30-8 p.m.
10/07/08 College & Career Fair @ Egan Center a.m. (Tuesday)
West bus departs @ 9:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (signup required – See Karen in Library)
10/08/08 Washington State University (Pullman) @ 9:01 a.m. Wednesday
10/09/08 Colorado State University (Ft. Collins) @ 12:40 p.m. Thursday
10/10/08 California Baptist University (Riverside) @ 7:45 a.m. Friday
Ft. Lewis College (Durango, CO) @ 8:35 a.m.
Southern Oregon University (Ashland) @ 11:15 a.m. Friday
College of St. Benedict and St. John’s (MN) @ 1:10 p.m. Friday

NOVEMBER
11/11/08 Oregon State University (Corvallis) @ 12:40 p.m. Tuesday

Attached you will find notice of an upcoming survey  grades 8-12 will be asked to take.
This is an annual survey provided by the Anchorage School District.  The survey will be administered in the schools on a date that falls between Oct. 6 and Oct.30.  Please read the assessment & Evaluation MEMO for full details.

Click here to download.