February 13, 2025 | Volume 43, Issue 22

NO SCHOOL

MID-WINTER BREAK

Fri-Mon., Feb. 14-17

We will be closed this Friday and next Monday for our mid-winter break and President’s Day.

PLAN FOR IOWA TESTING

Feb. 24-27, M-Th Mornings

NO SCHOOL Fri., Feb. 28

IOWA achievement tests are administered annually to students in grades 3-8. We do not give it to the younger grades because research indicates that the results are not accurate for students below grade 3 and that at younger ages, it creates unnecessary stress which may lead to test anxiety. This test gives us the ability to evaluate our students compared to national norms and confirm the teachers’ assessments of students.

While some low scores may occur in social studies and science because our curriculum does not follow the exact sequence of the public schools, these lower scores usually adjust by 8th grade as the students complete the acquisition of information for the public school K-8 curriculum. Occasionally, a student will have an "off" year due to overconfidence; consequently, students usually take greater care to check their answers the following year, which is a valuable learning experience.

Most students enjoy this week as an opportunity for a change of pace and to prove what they know. We do not study for the test ahead of time, and students should not do any test prep at home so that the experience remains a fun one for them.

Parents, the following are ways you can help your child have a successful test-taking experience:

• Keep a consistent attendance schedule by not missing school the week prior to IOWA testing or any of the days during the test week. Parents, if you didn’t take this into account in your vacation planning, please remember it for the future. If your child is absent from school the week prior to IOWA testing, s/he might not demonstrate his/her skills accurately.
• If your child is sick, please keep him/her home. While there will not be any make-up tests, please remember the scores will not be accurate if your child is not feeling well.
• Get students to bed early the weekend prior to the start of IOWA testing so they are at their best on the first day. Getting to bed early each night during the week will also be helpful.
• Help your child get up early enough to enjoy a leisurely high-protein breakfast — eggs, cheese, milk, and breakfast meats. High-sugar breakfasts and refined carbohydrates will leave students with quick high energy first thing in the morning, but this will be followed by a slump, which will occur around the time they test. Send high-protein snacks for mid-test breaks.
• Reassure students that their best will be good enough for you and assure them that it will be normal to not know the answers to some questions and that they should not worry about it.

HONOR YOUR STUDENT

Buy a Tribute Ad for the

Auction Keepsake Catalogue

Wondering how to honor your student and help Steppingstone with fundraising at the same time? Order a Tribute Ad for your student that will be published in the Auction Keepsake Catalog.

Under his/her photo, you can offer a message of praise / encouragement and an expression of pride.

You can provide a photo or ask that we use their school photo. See the order form for unique framing and your personal message to your student.

Tribute ads are also a great way for Grandparents, Aunts & Uncles, other relatives, and friends to recognize your student and help the school.

If you need an order form go to:

https://steppingstoneschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tribute-Ad-Form-2024-25.pdf

We are also hoping to be able to honor all the Steppingstone students with a Tribute Ad, and we need all the messages and photos to be submitted by March 14. (We will be reminding parents again at Parent-Teacher Conferences!)

APPLY FOR AN MAGC

SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP!

If you are interested in applying for a Summer Camp Scholarship through MAGC, Kiyo Morse is a member and is willing to sponsor you. Just let her know: kiyo@steppingstoneschool.org.

MAGC is offering two $500 summer camp scholarships this year, and if you are interested, you can apply through their online system; applicants do need to be nominated by a current MAGC member (this is where Kiyo comes in).

The application process runs until Saturday, March 1st, 2025, at 11:59 pm. Applications can be made at https://migiftedchild.formstack.com/forms/magc_scholarship_form. Remember to get in touch with Kiyo Morse first, as the form asks about your member sponsor (if you're an MAGC member, you can sponsor applications as well).

BID to SPICE UP YOUR NIGHT:

Hot Sauce Making Kit

Featured in our Silent Auction!

Get ready to turn up the heat at our upcoming Silent Auction! One of the exciting items available for bidding on the night of the event is this DIY Hot Sauce Making Kit — a must-have for any spice lover. Whether you enjoy a mild kick or crave extreme heat, this kit lets you create your own custom hot sauces right at home!

What’s Included?

🔥 A selection of dried peppers for customized spice levels

🌿 Premium spice blends to craft unique flavors

🍶 Bottles & labels to personalize your creations

📖 Easy-to-follow recipe book — perfect for beginners and pros alike

Save the Date!

Bidding isn’t open yet, but you won’t want to miss your chance to take home this fiery kit on auction night! Mark your calendar and join us for an evening of fun, community, and exciting auction items.

For a sneak peek at more featured auction items, visit our Facebook event here.

For more details about the event, check out our website.

🔥 Join us for the auction and get ready to create your signature hot sauce! 🔥

👉 Register Now for an Opportunity to Bid! 👈

LET'S CELEBRATE

January Achievements Next Spirit Day!

Mother Nature has decided that we don't get to have a Spirit Day this month, but we'll celebrate again in March. Come see us then! Meanwhile, here's what we would have liked to present:

HIGH-STEPPER BUTTON DESIGN

We had some really great submissions this month for the January button design. Ultimately, Owen's drawing was chosen as the winner (pictured below). He included elements from the Lunar New Year celebration such as the gift envelope (pretend it's red!) and the snake. We were all impressed with the detail in his drawing.

While we didn't have any High-Steppers for January, Finley was an Honorable Mention, missing the title by just one day.

CELEBRATING BOLIVIA

Our Early Elementary class wrapped up their study of Bolivia last week in Social Studies. As always, we learned about the languages spoken in the country and then - FOOD TIME! We made our own rice pudding (pictured below) from scratch. Give it a try!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 c rice
• 5 c water
• 1/2 c white sugar
• 4 c milk
• 4 oz evaporated milk
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 stick of cinnamon
• Powdered cinnamon

Put the water in a large pot and add cloves and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil. Let it boil for 5 minutes and add the rice. Stir frequently so it doesn't stick to the bottom. Cook for about 10 minutes.

When you see that the rice has absorbed most of the water, add the milk and sugar.  Let it cook for another 15 minutes.  Stir frequently.

Add the evaporated milk and let it boil for 5 minutes.

Serve in cups and sprinkle with ground cinnamon.  You can add grated coconut on top if you wish.  Enjoy!

Newest Donors

Frances Eldis

For a full list of donors, see the Annual Giving page on our website.

Volunteers

Auction Chair

Chris Isberg

Auction Acquisitions

Michelle Belt, Chair

Dena Nehme

Brad Styke

SMART Center Chair

Robert Schiff

SPARC Chair

Michelle Tan

Marketing

Jorge Contreras

Yearbook & Keepsake Editor

Barbara Malnar-Styke