Spectrum Charter School
Celebrating Education & Community Service Since 1999
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MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to provide a life changing environment where students and
their families feel safe, comfortable, and achieve their highest potential. We envision every child being educated, with skills identified,
to live successful and fulfilling lives.
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Autism Awareness Month
Carnival Walk
Come One, Come All to The Spectrum Charter School Carnival Walk!
In celebration of Autism Awareness Month, Spectrum Charter School will be hosting a Carnival Walk. We will be raising money for future Spectrum Charter School endeavors. The event includes:
Walking Course
Games
Prizes
Music
Kona Italian Ice Truck
Fresh Popcorn
Date: Friday, April 30th Time: 12:30-2:30 Location: Spectrum Charter School
This event is open to Spectrum staff, students and friends & families of Spectrum Charter. It is not open to the public. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by April 23rd to Amanda at 412-374-8130 or adkotts@spectrumcsi.org.
Click the link below if you would like to donate to
Spectrum Charter School's Carnival Walk
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Public Hearing on Pennsylvania Safely Reopening Schools Due to COVID-19
Dr. Gail Yamnitzky, CEO and Principal of Spectrum Charter School, presented February 23, 2021 before the Pennsylvania House Education Committee at a Public Hearing on Pennsylvania Safely Reopening Schools Due to COVID-19. Her testimony describes all the measures and hard work which Spectrum’s Administration and Staff took to respond to COVID while continuing the mission of providing our students with a robust educational program suitable for their specific needs. Dr. Yamnitzky was one of three Charter school CEOs invited to testify.
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The Transition Department will sponsor an Employment Prep Clinic this summer for students aged 18 to 21, including 2021 graduates. The clinic will focus on resume-building and job interview preparation. Transportation will be provided to and from Spectrum Charter School, where the clinic will be held.
Students will work one-on-one with staff to develop a resume, cover letter and hone their interviewing skills. Individual sessions will be scheduled between June 1 and June 10, and last about 2 hours.
Participants will receive:
5 copies of resume/cover letter on formal paper
Electronic copy of resume and cover letter
Polo shirt, appropriate for entry-level positions
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Celebrating Black History Month
During the month of February the students at Spectrum Charter School celebrated Black History month by learning about the important people who were strong, brave, and determined to make a change for our world. Mrs. Yurkovich’s ELA class participated in NEARPOD lessons of the African American who worked tirelessly to end segregation and for all citizens to be treated equally. Some of the people that were discussed were: George Washington Carver, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King Jr, W.E.B Dubois, Katherine Jones, and many more. The students read interesting stories of their background, completed activities, and took virtual field trips to museums.
“I enjoyed learning about people in our history who fought to end segregation”-a student.
To wrap up Black History Month, each student wrote a paper comparing and contrasting two African Americans and their work throughout their lives. Although their facts were somewhat different, the students determined that each of these people studied were important people who have influenced the lives of Americans who game after them.
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Learning and Movement in Mrs. Coates' Class |
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Ancient China
In Mrs. Coates’ and Mrs. Yurkovich’s classes, we continued our journey back in time as we study ancient civilizations. Currently, we are in Ancient China. The start of our unit happily coincided with Chinese New Year, so we learned about several traditions such as Dragon Dances, Lion Dances, and the giving of money in red envelopes. Students practiced Chinese writing, which dates back to the Shang Dynasty, and created an art piece with the Chinese characters. As part of our study of the Zou Dynasty, students learned several quotes from the Chinese philosopher Confucius, and created their own quotes of wisdom.
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Physical Fitness
Our return to In-person learning has allowed for new activities in our physical fitness classes. Students are enjoying the opportunity to play a variety of games focusing on particular skills. Virtual learners are able to practice similar skills at home while watching the action in the gym. We were also very pleased to have one of our staff, Ashleigh, teach the students various stretches to improve flexibility for a Yoga Monday!
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Spectrum’s Sock Collection
The Plum Rotary is collecting socks for an organization named SWAM, Socks with a Mission. SWAM collects socks for adults to distribute to the homeless population in Pittsburgh at shelters and soup kitchens.
The Plum Rotary’s collection takes place from March 1st through April 5th. The staff and students at Spectrum Charter School are excited to collect donations to add to the Plum Rotary’s sock collection from now until Wednesday, March 31, 2021. The students are holding a competition for which classroom will collect the most socks!
If you are unable to bring your new adult sock donation to Spectrum Charter School, additional sites to donate socks include:
- Plum municipal building, 4575 New Texas Road
- Holiday Park Shop ‘n Save along Route 286
- Penn Hills Shop ‘n Save, 2820 Universal Road
- Sampson Family YMCA, 2200 Golden Mile Hwy
- S&T Bank, 4251 Old William Penn Hwy. in Murrysville
- Plum’s drive-thru Eggstravaganza on April 3 at the public works building, 2001 Old Mine Road
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Click the Amazon link if you would like to help support Spectrum Charter School collect socks for SWAM.
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Cameron has donated over 200 pairs of socks! Way to go, Cam!
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Student Spotlight:
"My Journey Through High School"
by Danny Abel
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During my senior year at Spectrum Charter I had the opportunity to split my day. In the morning I attended Forbes Road Career and Technology School and for the remainder of my day I returned to Spectrum Charter School in Monroeville to complete my high school required classes. The process of attending Forbes Road Career and Technology School didn’t just come about in my senior year. It took team planning and effort, especially since in the midst of things the world wide COVID Pandemic hit and the world shut down.
Before I came to Spectrum Charter I had many educational experiences that helped me prepare myself for my High School classes and eventually for Trade school. When the opportunity of a career trade school was presented to me I had to decide on which career path was best. After reviewing the schools’ website and reading the course descriptions, I took a good look at myself and my strengths and weaknesses to narrow my choices. Then my mom, TVI and I went to see the shops and instructors and get a better understanding of the course requirements. I also wanted to meet with the instructor to see if we clicked.
I went in with my heart set on the Electrical Course. After the tour I saw myself being happier in Logistics and Warehouse Management. I like working with my hands but electrical also required a lot of math. Math is not one of my strong subjects. Especially since I have a vision impairment and have a very hard time seeing smaller measurements. Many of the computer programs presented in the Logistics and warehousing were similar to those I have focused on in my vision sessions. So, I had a good understanding of how the basic program works. This gave me a bit of comfort. Before I made my final decision on this course I did some research on job security and wages. I was surprised to learn how warehousing is one of the most secure jobs and in very high demand. The wage wasn’t so bad either and there is ample room for growth.
Five years ago I never saw myself in this position. Yet today with the Support of Spectrum Charter and Forbes Career school I will be returning for an additional year being the first student at Spectrum Charter to complete a work study program.
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Science Equipment Grant
The Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh (SSP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering science education in the Western Pennsylvania region. Spectrum Charter School has been chosen to receive an SSP High School Equipment Grant for the 2020-2021 School Year! The equipment grant is provided to teachers of biology, chemistry, physics and general science, who directly or indirectly employ spectroscopy in their science curriculum. The grant will assist in promoting and engaging students in science education.
Spectrum Charter School will use the grant funds to receive equipment including two new microscopes. The microscopes selected have the ability to share images on computer screens and the classroom projector. This feature will allow staff and students to share their microscopic images with others or to capture pictures of their images.
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Parent Trainings & Resources
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School Picture Day
School pictures have been rescheduled for
Wednesday, April 7th in the afternoon. Photos will be done by Inter-State Photography. In-person students, please be ready with your nicest smiles for that afternoon. Remote students are welcome to get their photos taken after dismissal between 3:30-4:30. Please contact Amanda at 412-374-8130 or adkotts@spectrumcsi.org to schedule.
To order photos online, please see the Inter-State Photography link:
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Enrolling for the 2021-2022 School Year
Spectrum Charter School is currently accepting registrations for the 2021-2022 school year. Please contact us at 412-374-8130 for more information.
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Interesting Spring Fact
The first day of spring is called the vernal equinox. The term vernal is Latin for “spring” and equinox is Latin for “equal night.
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Happy First Day of Spring! |
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Spectrum Charter School, Inc.
4369 Northern Pike
Monroeville, PA 15146
Phone: 412-374-8130
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