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Spectrum Charter School
Quarterly Newsletter
June 2020
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A Message from Michelle Jo
hnson
I hope this message finds you and your family well and, most importantly, in good health.
As we ALL come together to face the COVID-19 health crisis and these new challenging times, we wanted to share with you how we have been serving our students in new ways:
- Our teachers and staff quickly and successfully transitioned to distance learning – making sure that our students and families had all of the support and learning resources to finish the school year
- Chromebooks were purchased and will be made available to all students to ensure that their daily education is not interrupted
Like you,
Spectrum Charter School
faces many new challenges.
Recently we have been advised to prepare for the possibility of a reduction in state funding due to the strains on the PA budget. This will require strategies and new plans to best serve our students so that they will continue to receive the best in educational and special support.
As you can imagine, this crisis will have a financial impact on our school and the education of our students for some time. We have an important goal of raising $20,000 to help us achieve the first phase of our new education reality.
Now, more than ever, our students need us. And we need you!
Can You Help Us?
Every gift large or small will make a difference. Does your employer participate in a matching gift program? Don’t forget to ask!
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Donate Today
Your gift is greatly appreciated and is fully deductible as a charitable contribution.
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A Message From Our Principal
Dr. Yamnitzky
As this unique and historic school year comes to an end, we want to extend a sincere congratulations to all of our seniors! They have worked very hard under some unpredictable circumstances, and emerged successful and ready to begin the next chapter of their lives. We wish great success to all!
When we set out on the 2019-2020 school year, we expected to learn about reading, math, history and science. Instead, our students have learned so much more. They have learned about perseverance, hard work, problem-solving and creativity as they traversed this new world of virtual learning, Zoom meetings and Google classroom. We hope that they have also learned how hard their families work to support them, and how hard their teachers work for them. While our students have worked hard to learn the traditional subjects, we know that there are so many invaluable lessons they have learned this year that just can't be measured. We hope that these lessons stay with them forever. Here's to a safe, healthy and restful summer!
As always, we greatly appreciate your help and support. Here's some information ab
out a movement that is fighting proposed funding cuts and changes to your school
. 143K Rising
represents the 143,000 charter school students statewide, and the website offers a way to share your story, contact your elected officials and protect your school and our students.
Please visit
www.143KRising.com
to learn more.
Please help us to share this important message ~ Thank You!
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Learning About
Distance Learning
Distance learning not only means that teachers and students are separated physically; it’s also the use of technology to facilitate learning. Spectrum Charter School took the initiative to begin planning and implementing distance learning as soon as the school building was closed due to COVID-19. The students were able to learn and use new technology, hardware and software, through this online learning experience.
Students, staff, and families learned to use Zoom for video conferencing. Teachers used Zoom as a meeting space for class gatherings, academic courses, individual and group tutoring sessions, and meetings with families. Spectrum Charter School held virtual school-wide assemblies. The ability to hear and see each other allowed for the staff, students, and families to stay connected throughout the distance learning experience.
Some classes used Google Classroom to organize and share coursework. Students were required to have an email account as well as the ability to use their own Google Drive. Students not only learned how to use the Google Classroom digital tool, they also developed new personal organization systems and time-management skills.
Teachers were the true facilitators of the online learning process. Students were exposed to numerous learning platforms including, but not limited to, Discovery Education, Mystery Science, Edgenuity, Nearpod, Next Gen Personal Finance, ReadWorks, Khan Academy, Math is Fun, and Math Games. In addition, students learned to take screen shots of their work or to take a picture of their work and then submit it electronically.
Distance learning has proven to be an invaluable experience. Next year we are looking at new technology for all students in the classroom and assigning each student with their own personal school email account. We are preparing our students for the global -- and digital -- world!
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Check Out Our
Updated Website
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www.spectrumcsi.org
After many weeks of hard work, we are happy to officially announce that
our
updated
new website
will launch and be live in mid-June.
The website has been redesigned to provide our visitors with an easier way to find information and learn more about our school.
We hope that you like the changes and will find the content helpful. Check back often for updated content.
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This Is How We Learn
Teachers at Spectrum Charter School have strived to keep their classes engaging while meeting virtually. Ms. Lori turned into a mad scientist! Her class has enjoyed science experiments such as finding out what happens when you mix baking powder and Mountain Dew, or exploring what rubber, fireworks, and silly putty have in common! They even did a virtual egg drop challenge to learn about inertia!
Students in
Ms. Marie’s room gathered data and created their own dot graphs, bar graphs, and line graphs using MathisFun.com. They took screen shots and presented their data to the classroom on Zoom. Her class will also be doing a virtual Jumanji Escape Room as a fun end of the year activity and an experiment on light refraction to complete their sight and sound physics chapter.
In Ms. Wendy’s class, students explored a food chain occurring in their backyard and then presented their findings to the class. Students also created a Mold Terrarium! Students created an experiment to determine factors that may hinder or help mold growth on food.
Ms. Lisa’s class conducted a science experiment that created their own lava lamps! And, students in Ms. Wendy’s and Ms. Marie’s class wrote Mother’s Day Poems as a special gift to their moms.
On the last day of school all students will have the opportunity to attend virtual clubs. DiscoveryEducation.com will be used to teach Python coding to students in the STEM Club. Other club activities will include baking, games, and a virtual escape room.
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The Show Went On!
On Friday, May 8
th
, Spectrum Charter School held their first ever Virtual Talent Show. Ten students participated in the event and showed off their amazing talents. The acts consisted of singing, playing the piano, joke telling, movie reciting, and drum playing.
The teachers then surprised the students with a video message expressing how proud they are of each of student as they continue to learn from a different learning environment during this time.
About 61 guests tuned in from their home computers to watch the Talent Show. “It was really fun!” said one of the participants. “That was a great performance!” mentioned a Spectrum Charter School Parent. A virus wasn’t going to stop the students at Spectrum Charter School from showing off their talent; they knew that the show must go on!
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Congratulations to Jerome D., one of this year's 2020 graduates. He was the recipient of a Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship.
To be considered for this award a student must be active in their school and community, demonstrate a strong work ethic, leadership abilities and maintain a minimum of a 2.5 and above GPA.
Jerome is a student in Ms.Lisa's class and was recommended for this Award by his team Chick-fil-A manager. His scholarship will help to pay for his next phase of continuing education.
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Congratulations To Our 2020 Graduates!
T
he staff and students at Spectrum Charter School would like to congratulate this year's six graduates:
John, Alex, Eddie, Jerome, Ryan, and Mya.
It's been a long journey and you have all learned a lot along the way. This isn't how you expected the year to end, but you all persevered and had a wonderful fourth marking period.
The graduation ceremony, that will take place on Tuesday June 30th, may not be the one you were expecting, but it will be special nonetheless. As Dr. Seuss said, "You're off to great places, today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so...get on your way!"
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A Surprise Visit
!
Ms Lori, Ms. Becky, and Ms. Natalie held a surprise parade to each of their student's homes on Tuesday May 26th.
"It was so nice to see them and the smiles on their faces were priceless!"
It was a school year filled with great learning and a new ways to learn. We are all looking forward to be back together in the classroom soon.
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Summer-Time Activities & Resources
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Outdoor Public Pools & (Some) Summer Kids Programming:
Based on a May 22 news release from the Wolf administration, counties that are in the "yellow" and "green" phase can reopen. CDC guidance to use of face masks and social distancing remains in place.
Music Therapy Summer Camps:
3 Rivers Music Therapy -
www.3riversmusictherapy.com
Carnegie Science Center:
Drive-Ins:
State Parks & Trails:
State parks not too far from the Pittsburgh area; Moraine, Point Park, Keystone, McConnells Mills, Raccoon Creek, Powdermill Nature Reserve, Bushy Run Battle Field, and Ohiopyle Park
Campgrounds
Local Parks
Although pools & spray parks will be closed, local and city parks will be open for tennis, frisbee golf, general sports fields and picnics.
For more information on what is open during the summer, check the city park announcement page:
Cultural Trust
Explore public art:
Liberty Magic @ Home is streamed every Friday at 7:30 pm:
Farmer’s Markets
All
markets are subject to Federal and State guidelines:
Enter To Win
Join the #SnapologyChallenge - Snapology is celebrating their 10 year anniversary and sponsoring a contest to build an amusement park. Children 14 and under are invited to get creative. Lots of prizes!
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