Category Archives: Parent Group

The Future of Steller is in Your Hands

 

Hopefully by now you are aware that BIG changes will be happening at Steller next year.

  • We will become a grade 6 to 12 school OR we will become a 9 to 12 school.
  • We will adopt the Academy Model being implemented in all high schools in ASD in 2024 OR we will not. (If we decide to join the Academy Model discussions around what that looks like will take place second semester). 

Because Steller is an Alternative school we have the unique opportunity to make recommendations to ASD on what we would like to happen, and help steer Steller’s future.

We realize there is both an overwhelming amount of information, and not enough information.

We urge you to take the time to become as informed as you can, so that you can make your recommendation for what you think Steller should do.

LEARN:

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SHARE:

Steller Parent Group is facilitating two opportunities for parents & guardians to get together and talk about the options open to us so that we can hear different perspectives and grow our understanding of the issues at hand.

Monday, October 16 7:00pm to 8:30pm via Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82486338327?pwd=OFc2NWpkTkp1Mk9BNWZRR3BZcWZSZz09

Thursday, October 19 in person at school 6:00pm to 7:30pm

* These meetings will be most effective if you have previewed the information on the sites above. The Future of Steller site is a great place to start. 

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Maria will share an online survey where we will be asked:

With the move of all grade 6 students to Middle School should Steller:

  • Become a 6 to 12 school
  • Become a 9 to 12 school

With ASD high schools adopting an Academy Model as part of the Career, College and Life ready Strategy should Steller:

  • Become an Academy
  • Not become an Academy
  • Adopt an Academy model  (with the details of what that looks like to be ironed out later).

Maria will take the feedback from the three pillars – Students, Staff and Parents/Guardians – and craft a recommendation for what we would like to happen at Steller, to bring to ASD.

DECIDE:

  • We will hold an All Community Meeting on November 2nd where we will vote to approve the recommendation to bring to ASD.
  • ASD will make their decision and inform us.
  • What ever path we choose, we will have a lot of work to do in the second term, thinking about how we can best implement the changes and remain true to the Steller philosophy of responsible freedom and independent learners. 

Thank you to all our community members who are doing the work of learning more about what is happening and sharing their voices so that we can make the best decision for Steller’s future. 

 

Read the Answers to the Steller Future Q & A now!

The questions we are facing as a community are:

With the move of all grade 6 students to Middle School, should Steller:

  • Become a 6 to 12 school
  • Become a 9 to 12 school

With ASD high schools adopting an Academy Model as part of the Career, College and Life ready Strategy should Steller:

  • Adopt an Academy Model
  • Not adopt an Academy Model
  • Adopt an Academy model – with proposed modifications,  the details of which will be discussed next semester

There are three parts to this decision making process:

FIRST: Learn

ASD website information  Middle School    Academy Model

 Fact Sharing Parent Forum (video recording from September 21)

Steller Principal’s response to Google Form for Questions, Concerns & Suggestions specific to Steller (September 21 to 29 and at October 10 at  SPG meeting. 

The meetings on October 16 and 19th are part of the DISCUSSION phase of the process. The purpose is to facilitate parent discussion of the pros and cons of options at hand to help make informed decisions. Please make sure you have read the information from the ASD website and The Future of Steller BEFORE the meeting. We will not be answering questions or presenting new information at these meetings. 

SECOND: Share

Steller Parent Group sessions for discussion. October 16 (by Zoom) OR October 19 (in person).

Community SURVEY with questions as above,.October 11 to 29

THIRD: Decide

All Community Meeting where, per our bylaws, the community VOTES on our final PROPOSAL to ASD. Need quorum of 75 SPG members, including 15 students for the vote to be valid (November 2). Maria to present our proposal to ASD. 

ASD will make the final decision. 

Follow up discussions regarding implementation of any decision we/ASD makes will take place in the second semester.

Well Done Steller Community!

So far, Cups for Kids has raised $8389! Thank you for your generosity. 

We are at 56% of our annual goal of $15000!

If you haven’t had a chance to donate, there’s still time!

  • Click DONATE NOW.
  • Drop cheque (made out to Steller Parent Group) off at the Office.
  • Many workplaces offer donation matches, so please check yours and make the most of it! 
  • Help raise money for SPG while you shop – Link your Fred Myers Reward Card here. 

Want to know more about where your money goes? See what we were able to fund in the 2022-2023 school year. With your help we can fund even more things! 

Thanks for helping

On behalf of Steller Parent Group we would like to thank all our volunteers for helping with our fundraiser Cups for Kids! 

  • Our lead Monica started working on this event in August and has spent hours planning the logistics. 
  • 16+ adult volunteers put in 40 hours over the last three days.
  • Over a dozen students helped out each day! 

This is the beauty of the Steller Spirit! 

We are almost half way to our fundraising goal!

Thank you Steller community, for making Cups for Kids a huge success! 

With $5154 in donations from day 1 and 2, we have now raised 34% of our $15,000 goal for Cups for Kids! 

If we are able to average $120 per student in donations, we can meet our goal!

We are grateful for any amount you can give, and accept donations any time throughout the year. 

We will have a number of amazing things to fund in November including:

  • Aurora Music Festival
  • Intensives
  • Leadership projects
  • Staff appreciation 

And your donations make this possible!

  • Donate Now with a credit card
  • Make check  payable to Steller Parent Group and drop off at office.
  • We are a 501(c)3 non-profit and can issue donation receipts

Warm regards,

Steller Parent Group

P.S. Please make sure you are extra careful as you drive through the drop off/pick up line and help keep our students safe. 

Questions? Please contact Monica at fundraisingspg2@gmail.com

Day 1 of Cups for Kids Fundraiser!

Cups for Kids Fundraiser – Day 1 Donation Totals and More!

Thank you, Steller community, for making the first day of Cups for Kids a huge success! With $3064  in donations from day 1, we have now raised 20% of our $15,000 goal for Cups for Kids! 

Remember, the coffee and cocoa is on us. If we are able to average $120 per student in donations, we can meet our goal!

On October 3 and 4th during drop off and pick up, you are invited to either join us in the lobby for coffee or cocoa, or students will bring coffee or cocoa to your car. Students will be ready to take your donation via cash or cheque, via QR code, or click here:

DONATE

More Volunteers are needed to make this event happen. Thank you to all those who have already signed up! Sign up and ask your student to help and volunteer together! 

Read on for more details!



Steller’s very own teacher, Leigh Anne Bonney has donated  beautiful handmade mugs. 3 will go to the highest donors of the fundraiser and 2 will be selected at random among all donors. 

Steller Students in Action at Cups4Kids

Thank you to our wonderful students and parents for helping with our annual fundraiser Cups4Kids today! 

If you didn’t get a chance to speak with them today, make sure you take a moment Tuesday and Wednesday at drop off or pick up, marvel at how articulate our students are, and learn about how the money you donate to Steller Parent Group makes a difference for the children at Steller.

Cups for Kids Starts Monday!

We are so excited for next week!

Cups for Kids, the annual fundraiser organized by Steller Parent Group begins next week. 

October 2, 3, & 4, during drop off and pick up, join Steller Parent Group and other parents & guardians in the lobby for coffee or cocoa or have it delivered to your car by Steller students, who will be ready to take your donation. 

How to Donate: 

  • Cash or checks (made out to Steller Parent Group) are accepted.
  • With a credit card via QR code we will hand out at drop off and pick up, or directly on the SPG website 

Volunteer to help:

Volunteers are still needed. Thank you to those who have signed up!  You must already be approved as a volunteer with ASD. 

Warm regards,

Steller Parent Group

P.S. Please make sure you are extra careful as you drive through the drop off/pick up line and help keep our students safe. 

Questions? Please contact Monica at fundraisingspg2@gmail.com 

Big changes are coming to Steller!

Big changes are coming to ASD and the STELLER.

This is the Steller Philosophy in action! We have an opportunity to share our voice. We have a responsibility to become educated about the issues at hand. If we don’t participate, then we have to live with the consequences. Don’t miss your chance! 

Learn about the issues at hand.

SHARE your ideas at one of the Parent Forums hosted by SPG:

  • Monday, October 16, 7:00 to 8:30 Via Zoom
  • Thursday, October 19, 6:00 to 7:30 in person at school

Decide what you think is the best for Steller’s future so we can advocate effectively.

  • November 2, 2023

Questions? contact Maria

Future of Steller (Meeting 1 Video)

Major changes are coming to ASD and Steller in the 2024 school year:

  • All ASD high schools are going to become Academies starting with the 2024 Freshman year. 
  • All grade 6 students will be moved to middle school.
  • New schedule changes will be implemented.

These changes have a direct impact on Steller’s future, and our community is being given an opportunity to make a recommendation to the board about what Steller wants to do.

In November we will be asked if we want to:

  • Become a 6 to 12 school.
  • Become a 9 to 12 school.
  • Stay 7 to 12 school.
  • Join the ASD Academy or if we want to do something different. 

It is important to be informed about these issues in order to make the best recommendations we can, in the interest of our current and future students.

  1. Listen to the presentation from September 21st (see above). View the accompanying slide show.
  2. Visit the ASD website:
  3. Ask your questions to Maria using this form.
  4. Follow the Steller Website for updates.

How you can have your voice heard:

  1. Listen to the answers to community questions 
    • Steller Parent Group Meeting on Tuesday, October 10.
  2. Share questions, comments, concerns at the SPG parent forum:
    • Monday October 16, 7:00 to 8:30 pm via Zoom OR
    • Thursday October 19, 6:00 to 7:30 pm at school.
  3. Make our final recommendation 
    • All Community Forum on November 2nd (we need a quorum of 75 people)