RETURN TO BLACK/GOLD SCHEDULE!
ASTEC Middle School and High School scholars will return to the A-B, Black and Gold, in-person learning, on Tuesday March 30. 

Ninety percent of ASTEC employees have received COVID-19 vaccinations and others are being scheduled. Infection levels in Oklahoma County have reached a point where in-person learning can return with some precautions. 

All scholars will continue to learn from home on Mondays. Attendance is mandatory. Tuesdays and Thursdays will be Team Gold days, and Wednesdays and Fridays will be Team Black Days. 

If COVID-19 cases continue to decline and our employees receive all their doses of the vaccine, ASTEC plans on a full reopening on May 3rd.

Scholars who have checked out a Chromebook will bring their Chromebook to school each day to use. Please make sure the Chromebook is fully charged each evening before school the next day. Scholars who have been issued Chromebooks without a carrying bag will be issued a bag to carry their device to and from school. The Chromebook and the charger are the only two items that will be carried in the bag.  

All safety protocols in place at the beginning of the year will continue to apply. Scholars must wear masks and socially distance while in school.  

After-school meal pickups in the middle school driveline will NOT continue after March 22. On days they are on campus, scholars will be given take-home meals for the days they are learning off campus.  

The driveline procedure will remain the same as the beginning of the year. For safety, expediency and fairness to all, these driveline procedures must be followed. 

Please place your driveline number in your windshield, and place it where it can easily be seen. If you have forgotten your driveline number it is located on your scholar’s I.D. badge. You may also ask your teacher for your driveline number. 

Tuesday through Friday, scholars who are off campus will log into their classes during their scheduled class periods. They will receive the same instruction as the scholars attending in person that day. Each Monday scholars will continue to follow the same schedule we have utilized during distance learning.  

The class schedule we have followed all year remains the same. For your reference we have included it below.
Attendance in person is mandatory on days scholars are scheduled to be on campus. If you have forgotten whether you are on Team Gold or Team Black your teacher can give you that information. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!
WE WORK HARD TO ENSURE SCHOLAR SAFETY
As we begin the process of bringing scholars back to school we want you to be confident that we take scholar safety seriously.

Our schools have been disinfected and the air conditioners bring in 10% outside air.

Scholars are required to wear a cloth mask that covers the nose and mouth. No surgical type masks allowed as they can easily break. Masks with valves are ineffective, and thus not allowed. The mask may not be a bandana or have writing on it. All visitors must wear a cloth mask as well.  

Faculty and staff are required to wear face masks, face shields and to social distance. Teachers/administrators are allowed to remove their mask if they are at the front of the classroom or speaking in an auditorium far from scholars, but they must replace their mask and shield before approaching others.

Employees have their temperatures checked and logged daily. Visitors to the school must wear masks and have their temperatures taken before allowed inside. Students will not have their temperatures taken as young people typically do not exhibit a fever as a symptom of COVID. Their symptoms include abdominal pain and severe headache. If your child complains of either of these two symptoms, you must keep them home and have them tested. The rapid COVID test is not reliable or recognized by the Oklahoma Health Department. Therefore, the standard COVID-19 test must be administered.

Students who display symptoms while at school will be isolated and a parent will be asked to pick them up immediately and have them tested. The student must have a negative result before they may return to school.

All indoor traffic will go in one direction in the hallways. Arrows are on the floor to direct students. Additionally, colored dots are on the floor for social distancing. Desk shields are supplied to all scholars while seated at a desk or table and the scholars will be spaced apart by at least 3 feet in accordance with the new CDC guidelines. Scholars will be assigned a personal Chromebook or device. There will be no sharing of devices to mitigate the possibility of germ transmission. 

Additional janitorial staff will be on site during the day. Teachers are equipped with disinfectant spray and cloths. ASTEC has purchased a commercial-grade disinfectant mister that will be used regularly throughout the facility and the buses.

It is important to note that not one known case of COVID-19 transmission has occurred between teacher to scholars, scholar to teacher or scholar to scholar at ASTEC to date.
HAPPY SPRING!
HEALTHCORPS PROGRAM
ASTEC was selected as 2 of only 100 schools in the US to be selected by HealthCorps to participate in a program called Teens Make Health Happen (TMHH). The program is a 12-session series aimed at providing teens the skills and knowledge to make health a priority in their lives as well as the lives of those in their community.   
 
TMHH is hosted online by HealthCorps Program Coordinators, in an after-school club setting, TMHH is a weekly series of health and wellness lessons taught alongside an integrated student-led health innovation project. 
 
Teens Make Health Happen participants will:

Learn the foundations of health and wellness in a teen-relevant and engaging way,
Develop their own solutions to a real health problem in their community while learning IDEO’s human-centered design thinking framework of problem solving, and
Have the opportunity to be heard and showcase their creative solutions at our inaugural health innovation fair this May. Qualified entries will win a minimum of $100 and up to $5000 for winning projects, to help promote a culture of health on campus.
 
The ASTEC teacher-coordinator is health teacher, Ms. Kristin Harris with assistance from Ms. Kelsey Deal, ASTEC High School biology teacher and Student Council sponsor.
 
ASTEC High School student TMHH leaders are Amy Lopez-Gramajo, Nicholas Mackey, Taylor Hall, Adrian Cardenas-Martinez and Yasmin Becerra-Tijerina
and the middle school student leaders are Ashhley Lopez-Ortiz, Estefany Coti, Josue Caxaj-Cotom, Maribel Martinez-Garcia and Melanie Hernandez-Torres.

ASTEC has partnered with HealthCorps, a program founded by Dr. Mehmet OZ and his wife Lisa, since 2012 when ASTEC High School was selected to be the first HealthCorps school in the central US. The program was funded by Continental Resources and its president and founder, Harold Hamm.
 
Dr. Oz and Mr. Hamm kicked the program off with an all-day visit to ASTEC.

HealthCorps’ mission is to improve the health, wellness and mental resilience (coping skills) of America's teens. 
VIRTUAL TALENT SHOW!
ENROLLMENT REFERRAL PRIZE T-SHIRT
Scholars, if you invite a friend to attend ASTEC, and they enroll and mention your name on their enrollment form, you will win an ASTEC spirit t-shirt this fall! You will be allowed to wear this t-shirt (instead of your polo) on special Fridays to show your school spirit
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Recomiende a un amigo a ASTEC y gane una camiseta para usar los viernes

Estudiantes, si invitan a un amigo a asistir a ASTEC, y este se inscribe y menciona su nombre en su formulario de inscripción, ¡ganarán una camiseta con el espíritu de ASTEC este otoño! Se le permitirá usar esta camiseta (en lugar de su polo) los viernes especiales para mostrar su espíritu escolar.
A DONATION THAT COSTS YOU NOTHING!
AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support ASTEC Charter Schools every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones.

When you shop on Amazon, use smile.amazon.com to generate donations to support ASTEC Charter Schools and it doesn't cost you a dime! Amazon Smile is the same thing as Amazon, however, it’s created to help support your favorite charity!

Amazon Smile has the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. We hope you will select ASTEC Charter Schools as your charity. It's simple and can be done in just a few steps.​
BREAKFAST & LUNCH MENU
SPRING FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
The following is an excerpt from MetroFamily Magazine.

Here are a few ideas for spring-time fun in Oklahoma City with your family.
  • Feed the wildlife at the Oklahoma City Zoo! Families can hang out with flamingos, giraffes or the zoo’s newest feeding opportunity, Indian rhinos, and help out with snack time. Reserve your animal feeding experience when you reserve your advanced admission tickets online. You can purchase your feeding experience at the zoo but capacity is limited.
  • Spend a day exploring the change of seasons at Martin Park Nature Center. The nature center offers cleverly hidden geocaching treasures, an ADA accessible hiking trail and a bird wall that is a great place to get bird-watching tips. Did you know Oklahoma is home to 450 species of birds, some of which only visit for a few weeks each spring? You can also feed carp and turtles from the park’s two bridges. They like to eat dry dog food and fresh veggies or fruits like apples but please do not feed other animals or give any animal bread, caution park staff. (Free Admission)
  • See the groundbreaking Spiro and the Art of the Mississippian World exhibition then get hands-on with kid-focused crafts and activities that explore Native art and craftsmanship at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. From clay figurines to twining and more, each day features a different drop-in activity, free with admission while supplies last.
  • Travel to far away worlds with a visit to Oklahoma History Center’s Launch to Landing: Oklahomans and Space exhibit that focuses on the Oklahomans who played a part in early aviation and the U.S. air and space program. See lunar rock samples, an Apollo Command Module and clothing worn by crew members on International Space Station missions.
  • Putt a round of mini golf! 
  • Set up camp in your own backyard or at a close-to-home destination.
  • Catch a flick at a drive-in. There are three drive-ins still in operation in OKC.
  • Spend the afternoon exploring Downtown. Urban hangouts like Midtown’s Bocce ball courts, Kerr Park and Wheeler Ferris Wheel and Riverfront Plaza incorporate art and fun.
  • Spend some time on the water. RIVERSPORT Adventures - Day passes are $39.99 and single experiences start at $19.99.
  • Futsal is a fast-paced, freestyle version of soccer played with teams of five, making it a perfect family activity or pickup game with friends. The OKC metro has several futsal courts open to the public including at Together Square.
  • Have you tried pickleball? If you haven’t, OKC has a brand new attraction to get you started. Chicken N Pickle is an indoor/outdoor entertainment complex mixing pickleball with casual dining. They also have Bocce ball, shuffleboard and ping-pong, and the spacious complex and court reservations encourage safe social distancing.
  • Immerse yourself in the world of Mix-Tape at Factory Obscura, a unique handcrafted art experience where art is all around you. Advanced reservations are required and tickets are limited.
  • Tiptoe through thousands of tulips and other spring flowers in bloom at Myriad Gardens! (42,000, in fact!) Get your wiggles out with a spin on Mo’s Carousel and some fun in the Children’s Garden, which will offer hands-on activities Wednesday through Friday. Carousel rides are $3 per person or free with a Family Plus Membership; activities are $3 per child.
  • Play a round of disc golf at Will Rogers Gardens. The 18-hole course winds through waterways offering a peaceful setting for friendly competition.
  • Picnic at the park. Then kick back and cloud watch.
  • Hike a nature trail to see what’s blooming.
  • Plant an herb garden. Easy-to-maintain container gardens are great for beginners kids. Get tips from resident master gardener Debbi Marshall.
  • Go on a bike ride. Popular spots for families include Arcadia Lake, Lake Hefner, Oklahoma River trails, Mitch Park and Tinker-Draper Trail.
  • Create a sidewalk chalk masterpiece. Experiment with different techniques like adding water to increase saturation or swapping your chalk for soft pastels to elevate your colors.
  • Shake up your story time and read a book outside.
  • Go fishing. The metro offers plenty of close-to-home options to drop a line.
  • Explore two habitats of the Cretaceous Period and examine how large dinosaurs lived in a variety of distinct environments in Sam Noble’s temporary exhibit Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice. Advanced registration is required.
  • Make s’mores and start planning for warmer days ahead.
ASTEC COVID-19 NUMBERS
ASTEC's COVID-19 statistics chart can be found on our website. The numbers will be updated each week that school is in session.
IMPORTANT DATES
Spring Break
March 15-19
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1st Day of Spring
March 20
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Scholars Return to School
March 30
(Team Black/Gold Schedule)
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Easter Break
April 2
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Possible Return to All Scholars Back to School
May 3
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Senior Graduation
May 23

CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Did you know you can get daily updates about our programs and our scholars on our Facebook and Instagram page? Just click here for Facebook and click here for Instagram hit the "like" / "follow" button!
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¿Sabía que puede recibir actualizaciones diarias sobre nuestros programas y nuestros académicos en nuestra página de Facebook e Instagram? ¡Simplemente haga clic aquí para Facebook y haga clic aquí para Instagram presione el botón "me gusta" / "seguir"!
HELPFUL LINKS
NEED HELP?
Families facing a difficult financial time may contact their school headmaster for a waiver for activity fees or or school supplies.
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Las familias que enfrentan un momento financiero difícil pueden comunicarse con el director de la escuela para obtener una exención de las tarifas de las actividades o los útiles escolares.
CONTACT US
(405) 947-6272