Sturgis Charter Public School An International Baccalaureate Diploma School Executive Director’s Newsletter November 7, 2007 Dear Parents, We provide parents with this Newsletter as a means of helping you become better informed about events and activities at Sturgis. We hope that this type of communication is helpful. Communication, of course, is a two way street. Please do not hesitate in calling us if you have a question or concern. Sturgis Charter Renewed!!! Last week the MA Board of Education renewed the Sturgis charter for the next five years through July 30, 2013. Jeffrey Nellhaus, Acting Commissioner of Education, commended Sturgis for having a program characterized by rigor and high expectations that is available to all students. Among other positive comments, the Acting Commissioner also commended Sturgis for the following: a well-documented curriculum, attaining Adequate Yearly Progress at levels higher than state averages, being financially sound and stable, highly inclusive special education practices, and actively disseminating best practices across the state. Members of the Board of Education did not voice any concerns regarding Sturgis and then voted unanimously to renew our charter. Congratulations to the Sturgis Board of Trustees, students, parents, and faculty for ensuring that Sturgis is an academic success, a viable organization, and faithful to our charter! Sturgis Presents the IB to College Admissions Counselors: This week Peter Steedman and Chris Andre gave an IB presentation to the New England Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers at their Reverse College Day in Waterbury, CT. The Sturgis presentation, which was very well received by the participants, focused on an orientation to the IB Diploma Programme and the Sturgis IB for All. A similar presentation is being planned for the organization’s annual conference in the spring. Sturgis Continues to be a Model: With our “IB for All” program, Sturgis continues to be a model of great interest to other schools. Brockton High School sent ten teachers and four students to visit Sturgis on two days in the past couple of weeks. The British School of Boston, Marblehead High School, and Bow (NH) High School will be sending groups of faculty, administrators, and board members to Sturgis during November to view how Sturgis implements the IB. Enrollment Period for 2008-09: Our first enrollment period for students applying for admission to grade 9 or 10 for the 2008-09 school year will be from December 3-January 11. As we expect to have more applicants than places in the grade 9 class, it will be important for applicants to apply during the first enrollment period. For admission to the current school year, we had 119 applicants for 100 places in the grade 9 class during the first enrollment period. Please spread the word that filing the application by January 11 gives the applicant the best possibility for immediate acceptance. Health Office Update: Vision and Hearing Screenings: Vision and hearing screenings will be completed within the next few weeks. Only the junior class will be participating. Screening tests are not diagnostic in nature, and the purpose of the exam is to identify only any deviation from the norm. A notice will be mailed home to the parent/guardian if a student fails the screening. **JUST A FEW REMINDERS: New students to Sturgis should be providing evidence of a recent physical exam. The state requires that an exam be completed within six months before entering the school or some time within that first year. If you have not submitted documentation of an exam, please make arrangements soon. If you have any questions, please call the health office. Please remember that students should not be carrying medication of any kind unless special arrangements have been made with the health office. The only medication that can be carried by a student is an inhaler. If a student has an inhaler the parent/guardian should be completing the necessary permission forms that everyone received at the beginning of the student’s entrance to our school. By this time everyone should have received the mailing from the school regarding the MRSA . I support the message that has been sent out to all of you. Please review it with your student if you have not already done so. Grade 9 History: Students in Mr. Barrasso's Freshmen US History Class recently produced a sock puppet show depicting scenes from the American Revolution. Matt French, Kiana Marko, Devan Vacarelli, Miranda Alves and Sebastian Francis-Burnell all contributed to an entertaining, historically-accurate show! The students produced full color sets, a stage, and several sock characters, including George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Adams and the Maquis de Lafayette. The students also collaborated on a six-page script. The show was one of many alternative assessment projects completed by freshmen to demonstrate learning of the American Revolution. Other projects included artwork and poetry. "We can't wait for the Sock Puppet show on the Constitutional Convention!" said Mr. Barrasso. "The creativity of Sturgis Students never ceases to amaze me!" Also deserving mention is that the students also wrote some outstanding five-paragraph essays--which we in the history department find just as exciting!" Sturgis Cheerleaders: Support the Sturgis cheerleaders and get your Sturgis student a fun, practical, and fashionable holiday gift! The cheerleaders are selling large polycarbonate (Nalgene-style) water bottles with a Sturgis logo for just $12 each. The 32 ounce bottles are available in green, blue, and grey. Stop by the school to see Ms. Robinson or email her at grobinson@sturgischarterschool.com to buy one or for more information. Yearbooks on Sale Now! This year, due to students’ request, the Sturgis yearbook will be in FULL COLOR! The cost will be $40.00 if purchased before winter break, and $45 if purchased after. We will accept cash or checks (made out to Sturgis Charter Public School), and will provide a receipt. Order your yearbook today! Senior Portraits: Parents of seniors are asked to please remember that Senior Portraits are due by November 20th along with a baby picture that will not be returned. If you plan on ordering a yearbook ad for your senior, your order must be placed by December 21st. Please contact Rachel Todoroff in the main office with any yearbook related questions. Advisory: Advisory groups at Sturgis serve a variety of purposes. They consist of a small group of students (approximately 10) that meets with a teacher twice a week during the 20 minute break. These groups are a conduit for important Sturgis information which is disseminated through the advisory teachers to the students. In addition, students can bring questions and problems to the advisory teacher (and to their peers) to either get answers or find out where to go for them. Advisory activities may consist of "get acquainted" games or other games which provide a short break from schoolwork. Many advisories also choose to spend time on projects to serve the community, either at Sturgis, on the Cape, for our country or even on an international scale. The Robin Singer Advisory raised funds for a sick girl from Carver, whose family needed help to stay near her hospital during life-saving lung transplant surgeries. The girl was a friend of one of the advisory group members. The group made pies and applesauce from donated organic apples and sold them during break and lunch. The funds were send to the "Acacia Fund", set up to support the girl and her family during her illness. These students are now launching a new project, providing packages to soldiers in Iraq. They have interviewed faculty member Travis Andrade (who served in Iraq) about what items to collect and send. He advised them that more personal items are particularly welcome, along with the practical items. The group decided to add posters, group photos, jokes, and magazines, to a collection of non-perishable, non-crushable food items, frisbees, balls, paperback books, and new and used video games, that they will solicit from the Sturgis community. They will place boxes in "the pit" and "the fishbowl" and hang posters around the school to ask for the donations. Mr. Andrade can help get the shipment to the troops. Parent Volunteers Needed for “It’s a Wonderful Life”: Parents, we need some assistance in the following areas for our upcoming play, “It’s a Wonderful Life”: help for the front of the house, box office, and concessions; stage crew; set carpenter/painters. We are also looking for the following donations: wood for “trucking” set pieces, wood for desk, wood for door frame, wood for changeable signs plus wheels and hardware for the previous items, Christmas tree with lights, 1940’s style ornaments, Christmas tablecloth, and front porch/park bench, 1940’s dresses, winter coats, and accessories (hats, gloves, shoes, purses), Christmas paper products, cookies and candy (of quality to sell for $1 per item), hot chocolate, marshmallows, printing donations of playbill and tickets, plus any financial donations in support of this Sturgis/Pope John Paul joint endeavor. Please call Rachel in the main office if you can help with any of these items. Thanks so much! If you would like further information about any of the events or activities described above, please call the Sturgis school office. Eric Hieser Executive Director