Important Message from Spectrum Charter School

Spring 2020

Spectrum Charter School

Quarterly Newsletter

Educating Students for Success

in a Changing World

Core Values

S elf-Advocating : Speak up for yourself and make good decisions about your life

P otential Reaching : Believe in your capabilities and give only your best

E nvironmentally Responsible : B e good stewards of the earth and its resources

C ommunity Focused : Support those around you by being a committed worker and volunteer

T rustworthy : Show your integrity by being dependable, honest, reliable

R espectful : Treat yourself and others with kindness

U nique : Love your own irreplaceable self and see the beauty in others

M indful : Practice compassion, gratitude, and awareness of each moment without judgment

A Message from Michelle Johnson

As part of Spectrum Charter School’s Continuity of Education Plan, our Distant Learning Program begins March 30,2020 and school will be officially back in session.

Students will be busy working on courses like math, science, transition, and reading. Thank you to students and families for your ongoing understanding, support, and flexibility.

Take care and be safe.

Michelle Johnson, CEO

CLASSROOM UPDATES:

Staying Connected During

COVID-19

The pandemic currently being faced has brought something we would not have imagined possible - the absence of our students from our school! We know this is a necessary measure at this time, but we miss them terribly!

Teachers at Spectrum Charter School are trying to find ways to stay connected to students and families. Suddenly having students at home all day can be a difficult adjustment. Social distancing and lack of activities available can quickly result in boredom. Establishing a routine can be helpful. Each teacher sent home a sample schedule that could be followed by their students. These schedules suggest times for academic activities such as reading a book, writing in a journal, or watching a science video. They also suggest times for outdoor exercise, playing games, creating a project, mindfulness, or helping with chores.

Teachers have also provided ideas for learning activities. One teacher created a Home Activity BINGO with optional activities that students can complete. Students can earn a small prize for completed BINGO rows (or the whole card!) upon returning to school.

Communication with our Spectrum families is especially important during this time. Teachers are staying connected through the REMIND app and Google classroom.

We want to continue to let our families know that we care about them, miss them, and can’t wait to convene together again in our classrooms with our students!

Dr. Yamnitzky

Joins Spectrum Staff

Spectrum Charter School welcomed Dr. Yamnitzky to their staff as their new principal in February.

Dr. "Y" has a wealth of experience and a strong background in public education. She has taught in the classroom and has served as a principal and assistant superintendent at Franklin Regional School District. Dr. Y has also worked with the Plum School District serving as a principal, an assistant superintendent, and up until October 2019, as their acting superintendent.

She is excited to be working with both the students and staff and is looking forward to helping everyone to achieve their goals and best potential.

Home-Based Activities and Learning

Suggested websites:

Math activities: https://www.coolmathgames.com https://www.khanacademy.org/

Free Science Lessons: mysteryscience.com/school-closure-planning

Virtual Museum Tours:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours .

Spectrum Celebrates Their

20th Anniversary

On Friday, March 13th, Spectrum Charter School celebrated its 20th birthday. The students, staff, stakeholders, and community all gathered together to celebrate the school’s 20 ^th Anniversary.

Ms. Michelle Johnson, CEO of Spectrum Charter School, opened the celebration, followed by a speech from a spectrum teacher, Ms. Lori, and several parents. Students who wrote poems about why they chose Spectrum Charter School also had the opportunity to read their poems.

Pennsylvania State Representative Brandon Markosek presented the school with a special Citation acknowledging the school’s history and numerous accomplishments. The event wrapped up with everyone singing "Happy Birthday," followed by light refreshments including birthday cake.

Let the Good Times Roll!

On Friday, February 28 ^th, Spectrum Charter School held a special day-time dance. The dance theme was Mardi Gras and students designed their own masks prior to the day of the dance. Everyone had the opportunity to socialize with friends, dance to music provided by a DJ, and participate in activities. The activities included: Limbo, Hula-hooping, and the best designed mask. The winners of activities won a prize!

Students also enjoyed Mardi Gras snacks such as: purple chocolate covered popcorn, a Mardi Gras cake, and chips and pretzels.

“The dance was fun!” said a student who attended the dance.

"Laissez les bon temps rouler" -

Let the good times roll

Happy 20th Anniversary Spectrum

STEM Learning

Spectrum Charter School engages students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Throughout the curriculum, during STEM Club, and especially on STEM Day, students are immersed in STEM.

For STEM Club, Spectrum Charter School has a partnership with the Monroeville Public Library. Ms. Hope and Ms. Val bring activities to share from programming robots to creating electric circuits. Spectrum students look forward to this club each month!

On STEM Day, students attended classes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. They presented their classroom science projects using a tri-fold board for a visual. And, Carnegie Mellon University came to Spectrum Charter School to talk about robots in our lives and to work with EV3 technology. The students had the opportunity to show up the staff with their technological talents!

Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Academy spent time with our students and talked about "What is a robot?"