Category Archives: Parent Group

2021-2022 Steller Parent Group Budget Passed

October 25, 2021

Dear Steller Community,

At the start of the 2021 school year SPG established a Finance Committee that includes:

  • SPG Chair, SPG Treasurer, SPG Treasurer Elect, Member at Large, and a Teacher. 

The Committee presented the budget at the Steller Parent Group meeting on October 14, and shared it to the wider community by email October 18 (Vote for Steller Parent Group Budget 2021-2022).  All members of the community were invited to vote on the Draft Budget, which contained the provision that we will revisit the Budget in January or February in light of new budget needs (particularly Travel Intensives) and fundraising plans. 

A total of 44 people voted, with 38 votes for and 6 against thereby passing the budget as presented. We would like to thank everyone who participated in the process, and for the feedback we have received. 

Since the SPG Meeting a group of students as well as one parent have stepped forward to help plan fundraising activities, and we have received a few suggestions from the community as well. 

We are working hard to figure out how to meet our fundraising needs and especially support Travel Intensives, which we believe are at the heart of Steller values, while respecting the fact that many in our community feel overextended and time constrained in their own personal lives. It is our hope to plan a few smaller, easier events so that time commitments might be more reasonable for volunteers, and so that the financial ask of our community is not burdensome as well. 

We hope to share our plans with you shortly and welcome anyone who would like to join us. Particularly if you have experience with running auctions, which we would still like to consider as a possibility. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out at chairstellerparentgroup@gmail.com 

Warm regards,

Kirsten

Vote for Steller Parent Group Budget Now!

Budget

In 2021 the Steller Finance Committee (Chair, Treasurer, Member at large) created a DRAFT BUDGET.

In a typical year most money raised through Parent Group goes to four areas:

  • SPG Operational expenses
  • Steller Parent Group expenses (Welcome BBQ, Staff Appreciation etc)
  • School expenses ( Souper Steller, Ice Cream Social, Steller Olympics etc.)
  • Grants:
    • Steller Travel Intensives 
    • Intensives 
    • Program Support (Band trips, art supplies etc)
    • Passages & Special Projects

The DRAFT budget for 2021-2022 was presented at the SPG meeting on October 14.  You can read the Meeting Minutes Here.

The letter accompanying the DRAFT budget for 2021-2022 explains more about the circumstances for the budget. Please read it carefully. 

All members of the community are invited to review the attached Budget, and then vote “Yay” to
accept the budget as presented *with the provision we will revisit it in January or February* in
light of new budget needs and fundraising plans. Or “nay”. If you vote nay you will be provided
an opportunity to make suggestions – given the funds we currently have on hand. The vote
closes at 10 pm on Wednesday, October 20. The budget will be passed with a simple majority of
total votes.

Steller Parent Group is a charitable 501(c)3 organization to which contributions are tax-deductible. To learn more about how to support SPG please see here. 

Warm regards, 

Kirsten Tschofen

Join the Quiz Night Planning Team!

Steller Parent Group hasn’t been able to fundraise since January 2020, and our funds are running low.

We want to be able to continue to support all the great programs and opportunities we have in the past, so are planning our first fundraiser/community building event some sometime before the winter holidays.

All grade 7 to 12 students are invited to lead the planning for this awesome night. We need students with a variety of talents:

  • Organizational
  • Talking to adults
  • Decorating/set up
  • Artistic
  • Trivia
  • Quiz Master(s)
  • And so much more! 

Meet in Leigh Ann’s class 12:00 pm Wednesday, October 13.

(Parents are invited to come along and support as well! Please let Kirsten know if you will attend at chairstellerparentgroup@gmail.com)

Join an SPG Committee!

 

Thank you to everyone – students & adults –  who have used the Sign Up Genius to indicate their interest in volunteering this year. We are excited at how many people have already stepped up!

We are still looking to fill a few committees. Indicating interest in these three groups doesn’t mean you are committing to a leadership position, and you can chose to only help out for one event or activity. 

We especially need a few people – students and adults – with ideas for the Fundraising Committee so that we can create our budget this year.  If we don’t raise any funds we will be limited in how much support we can offer for things like intensives and events and activities. If you are interested please email chairstellerparentgroup@gmail.com. 

Regards,

Kirsten

Student Volunteers Needed

Steller Parent Group is committed to providing opportunities for Steller Students to have a voice in SPG, and to develop new skills and new experiences. In particular we are looking for students to join the Finance Committee, and help write content for the SPG website.  We are also looking for students who can help on an ad hoc basis (for example at events). Time commitment varies and can be flexible.  All students from grade 7 to 12 are invited to participate. 

If you are interested in either of these positions, or would just like to be added to the list when we are looking for general volunteers, please sign up using Sign Up Genius. 

Warm regards,

Kirsten

Chair, Steller Parent Group

 

How to Get Involved in the Steller Community

 

Monday, September 6, 2021

Steller Volunteer Opportunities 

The Steller Philosophy is built on the idea of having input from the Three Pillars: Students, Staff, and Parents& Guardians.  There are many opportunities for community members – including students – to get involved in Steller Parent Group. 

Parent Group       

The mission of the Steller Parent Group is to promote involvement in school activities, to solicit address, and make recommendations regarding issues and polies facing the Steller Community, and to support fundraising activities and facilitate the disbursement of those funds. 

Steller Parent Group meet the second Tuesday of each month from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.  Watch for the announcements on the Steller Flash (email announcements).  You can find meeting agendas and minutes on this website.  There are a number of open positions including the leadership team and committees.

Adults and students are encouraged to check out the volunteer form below for specific roles, but also to just put your name down to be notified when we have specific one time needs.

2021-2022 Volunteer Form

In addition to joining the leadership team, we need members-at-large  to join:

  • Steller Finance Committee – one student, one member at large, meets the week before SPG meeting via Zoom, to review requests for funding. About an hour a month
  • SPG Website Content Writers – one adult and few students to write a few posts a month about what is happening around Steller.  Topics include – introducing staff and students, “the Steller Way” and discussing the Steller Philosophy. Details to be worked out by volunteers. 

 

School Hosted Events and Activities

Occasionally SPG will help recruit volunteers for school lead activities like the following:

  • Intensives       
  • Talent Show and Dessert Potluck and Winter Prom  TBA
  • Open House and Ice Cream Social  TBA
  • Steller Olympics TBA
  • Spring Prom TBA
  • Zoom Dances   TBA

AD HOC

Souper Steller, Field trips, Steller Directory, Website updating, admin and phone support for the office or parent group, library, yearbook proofreading and of course helping the teachers when requested!

Save the Date:

  • First SPG meeting – Tuesday, September 14, 6:00 to 7:30 VIA ZOOM
  • Back to School Night – TBA
  • Grade level Social Nights for parents & guardians – TBA

Updated September 4, 2021

Back to School and All Community Meeting Thursday, September 9

UPDATE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 201

Hello Steller Families!

Time sure flies when you’re having fun! We have already finished up our third week of school! Thank you for your continued support of our school and compliance with the COVID-19 Mitigation plan.

However, due to the rise of COVID-19 cases within our community and the rising concern associated with that, we will be canceling the Back to School and All Community Meeting on September 9th and moving to a new Zoom format for the foreseeable future. This will ensure that we will be doing our part to limit the number of in-person meetings, as well as providing you with pertinent information for the school year. You will be able to find more information on our website.

Thank you for your continued patience and support during these times.

Have a great Labor Day and enjoy the long weekend!

Steller Office

 

During the first part of the night students and parents & guardians will have the chance to meet each of their teachers and advisor to learn about the classes they are taking and ask questions. 

The second half of the evening will be a renewal of the All Community Meeting Tradition and will be jointly hosted by the Steller Parent Group and Steller.

The three pillars of our community –

Student, Staff, Parents & Guardians 

– are all invited to join.

Here is a brief outline of the agenda:

  • Icebreaker Game and Snacks in the Lobby
  • Staff Introductions
  • Welcome from Steller Parent Group & How You Can Get Involved in the School
  • OpGroup Introductions
  • Draw for Steller Spirit Wear T-Shirt and Clean-Up

We look forward to reconnecting and making new friends and hope to see you there!

Kirsten Tschofen

Chair, Steller Parent Group

How Steller Parent Group Communicates with You

How Steller Parent Group Communicates 

Monday, August 30, 2021

Dear Steller Community, 

SPG wants to make sure that we are reaching as many members of our community with up to date and relevant information as possible.  We have four ways we communicate with you:

  1. Website/Steller Flash updates appear on the SPG website or parents, students and staff can SUBSCRIBE to receive updates directly in your inbox.  Please refer to the Steller Parent Group Website for anything pertaining for SPG – including Meeting Dates, Agendas, and Notes, ByLaws, Volunteer Opportunities, and the Student Showcase.
  2. Steller Secondary Parent Group is a closed Facebook Group created to promote communication between current parents, teachers and staff for organizing school activities, announcements, questions, and keeping up with everything that is going on. Feel free to jump in with questions or posts.
  3. Steller Secondary Page is an open page visible to the public. If you are a Steller Alumni and want to stay informed about special activities, fundraisers and student highlights we encourage you to follow our page.  
  4. Student Directory is a new online directory for parents, students and staff to be able to contact each other directly. You must create an account and add your information using the access code APCRKG when prompted. Add the information for each student (including advisory and grade) and then download the app to be able to access contact information from anywhere. 

**Please refer to the district website at https://www.asdk12.org/steller for announcements coming from the school, calendar, scheduling and course descriptions, and staff list.  Please make sure you have updated your contact information in Q in order to receive email, robo call and text notifications from the school and district, and to ensure the school has proper emergency contact information. **

Warm regards,

Kirsten Tschofen

Chair, Steller Parent Group

UPDATE ON DATES

  • First SPG meeting – Tuesday, September 14, 6:00 to 7:30
  • Back to School Night – Thursday, September 9
    • Meet the teachers 5:00 to 6:30
    • All Community Meeting 6:30 to 7:30pm – learn about the school philosophy and how you can get involved in the school via Steller Parent Group
  • Grade level Social Nights for parents & guardians – TBA

A Welcome Message from Steller Parent Group

August 23, 2021

Dear Steller Families,

On behalf of the Steller Parent Group I want to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning Steller families. My name is Kirsten Tschofen and I am the Chair of Steller Parent Group. 

The Steller Parent Group is an integral part of the Steller Community.  We meet on the second Tuesday of every month from 6:00pm to 7:30pm in person and on Zoom.  Every member of the Steller Community – Staff, Students and Parents/Guardians are automatically part of SPG and welcome to attend, ask questions and share their ideas.  We would love to see you at our first meeting on Tuesday, September 14 at 6:00pm. We hope to have both an in person option and Zoom.

Steller Parent Group is one of the three Pillars of our school: Staff – Students –  Parents/Guardians. The purpose of the SPG is to enrich the lives of Steller students through the financial support and leadership of active parents and guardians. We strive to promote parent and guardian involvement in school activities. Traditionally we host events during the school year, raise funds to support school initiatives through the Steller Auction, and coordinate volunteers. Through all the uncertainty of the last year the central mission of SPG has remained the same, and I believe it must take on even more importance in the effort to create a strong learning community in light of this last year.

All of this takes the hard work and dedication of our community members and we want to invite you to get involved by taking on a formal position in the board, or simply actively attending our meetings. We are currently recruiting for a Co-Chair, and Treasurer and have a variety of other positions. 

Participating in the SPG has many benefits, including the opportunity to make connections with other parents and staff, and the opportunity to effectively make positive change. We all want the very best education and experiences for our children, and when we work together we can make it happen. 

If you are interested in learning more about SPG positions please let me know, and as always, we welcome your thoughts and ideas about how Steller Parent Group can serve you. 

Warm regards,

Kirsten Tschofen

Chair, Steller Parent Group

chairstellerparentgroup@gmail.com 

Save the Date:

  • First SPG meeting – Tuesday, September 14, 6:00 to 7:30
  • Back to School Night – Thursday, September 9
    • Meet the teachers 5:00 to 6:30
    • All Community Meeting 6:30 to 7:30pm – learn about the school philosophy and how you can get involved in the school via Steller Parent Group
  • Grade level Social Nights for parents & guardians – TBA