Fall 2020
Spectrum Charter School
Quarterly Newsletter
|
|
OUR SCHOOL'S MISSION
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.
|
|
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL |
In August, 2020, we kicked off a unique and one-of-a-kind school year. We were very excited to be able to offer both in-person and remote learning for our students. For our in-person learners, we focused on creating the safest learning spaces possible. For all of our students, we continue to focus on individualized learning that is engaging and challenging. And, each of our students received a Chromebook to support our blended learning approach—some teacher directed instruction and some web-based learning. In addition, we introduced the use of Google classroom so that all of our students have access to the same learning and activities.
This year’s theme is “Look for the Good”, and our students are engaged in several activities revolving around this theme. We continue to learn how to find the good in each other and in all that we do; especially in these challenging times. We’ll continue to focus on this all year. In addition to a new theme, we have introduced several new initiatives. Our teachers have adopted a “team-teaching” approach and work together to plan and teach combined groups of students. Each student takes part in a Transition Class every day, and new electives including STEM, Physical Movement and Health. While we are not able to go out into the community to volunteer, we were able to offer assistance to several organizations by bringing the work into the building.
Lastly, it has been a very exciting October! The Transition Department, under the leadership of Mrs. Simcic, received a $30,000 grant to expand the department and increase what we are able to offer to the students to prepare them for life after high school. We were equally excited that the US Department of Education chose to spotlight Spectrum Charter School and the great things that go on here. We hosted members of the Dept. of Education on Monday, Oct. 19 through a virtual visit. They were excited to see how successfully we were able to create a hybrid model of teaching and learning while maintaining the highest levels of health and safety. In addition, the US Dept. of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education invited us to submit an entry for their blog. Mrs. Yurkovich wrote a blog for Spectrum Charter School and it was selected to be posted to their site. Check out her great blog!
It has been a very exciting start to the school year. Amidst the great challenges posed to all of us today, our teachers and students continue to focus on creating an outstanding learning environment, working hard and “looking for the good”!
Dr. Gail Yamnitzky
Principal, CEO
|
|
WELCOME
Spectrum Charter School is pleased to welcome three new para-professionals to their staff for the 2020-2021 school year:
Ms. Mary Snyder will be assisting Mrs. Lisa Rosendale in her classroom; Ms. Ashleigh Anastas will be working with Mrs. Wendy Coates; and Ms. Edreana Gillison is supporting Mrs. Lisa Garbin's classroom.
We welcome them and wish everyone a good year as we Look for the Good!
|
|
|
TRANSITION DEPARTMENT
RECEIVES GRANT
On October 7th the Transition Department was awarded the CIE Grant (Competitive Integrated Employment) by the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Bureau of Special Education.
Our school was one of just thirteen schools to receive this grant from across the state. The grant is for $30,000 to be used to establish or expand effective, integrated career development programming for students with disabilities transitioning from school to community-based employment.
Our transition team will be working hard with our designated representative from PaTTAN to meet the recommendations outlined in the proposal.
We are excited to use the funds to improve our transition program by increasing our community partnerships, boosting student skill attainment and providing individualized unpaid and paid work experiences for our students. If we meet our expectations, we will be eligible for an extension grant of $15,000 for the 2021-2022 school year.
|
|
Since the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, students have been hard at work in Mrs. Rosendale’s Math, STEM, and Science classes. A few highlights are our Steeler’s Place Value Posters, Decimal Baseball Cards, Seed Germination Experiment, and STEM Cereal Box Challenge.
In math, students were able to use their place value skills to determine the top ten Steeler Player’s net pay (salary plus bonuses). We learned that Ben Roethlisberger was #1! Then, we were able to use our decimal skills to create our own baseball cards using patterns for our AVG (batting average), SLG (slugging percentage), and OBP (on-base percentage) statistics. Students created their baseball players, biographies, and statistics!
In STEM, students used surface area and volume to make a cereal box. Their challenge was to create a cereal box with the greatest amount of volume, or the cereal box that held the most cereal. The winning team won by less than 100 cubic centimeters. Not only did we apply the math skills of surface area and volume, students showed their creativity by designing Donny’s Bran Flakes, a sugar-free cereal, and Zombie-O’s, a limited edition Halloween cereal.
Last but not least, in environmental science, we began an experiment on seed germination. Using daisy seeds, students are keeping all variables the same except the number of drops of water given daily per seed. Keeping our “Coffee Club” team in mind, the “Pumpkin Spice Latte” team is administering 6 drops of water per seed per day; the “Hot Apple Cider” team is administering 7 drops of water per seed per day; and the “Americano” team is administering 8 drops of water per seed per day. We will update you on our seed germination experiment findings in the next newsletter!
|
|
HANDS ON: STEM IN THE CLASSROOM
Mrs. Rosendale and Mrs. Coates have been doing fun, hands-on learning activities with their STEM classes. Students examined use of the engineering process (ask, imagine, plan, create, and improve) in experiments done on the Mythbuster’s show. Students then worked in groups or individually to test their own myths using science experiments. They compiled the steps of the engineering process, the results, photos, and videos into a Google Slide presentation. Presentations included balloon rockets, a volcano, a soap powered boat, an exploding lunch bag, an egg drop test, and a balloon blown up by yeast! Using Google Slides allowed our virtual learners to conduct their experiments at home and share them with the class, as well as let them see the experiments done at school.
Next up in our STEM classrooms are Rube Goldberg machines. Rube Golberg is known for creating humorous cartoons depicting very complex contraptions used to accomplish simple, everyday tasks. These contraptions were made of the 6 simple machines - inclined plane, lever, screw, wheel and axle, wedge, and pulley. The students are exploring the simple machines, and then will begin to combine them to create their own Rube Goldberg machines. Look for photos of their inventions in our next newsletter!
|
|
LET'S GET MOVING
Gym class looks a little different for the students at Spectrum Charter School this year. We are participating in a blend of taking an online class and learning through physical movement. Spectrum is using an online learning platform in order to reach all of the students, both in the classroom and online at home.
On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, all students are taking a class called Lifetime Fitness, where they are learning a variety of topics ranging from how to start an exercise program to learning skills for lifelong fitness.
To get the students up and moving, on Tuesday and Thursday, they are participating in activities designed to get everyone involved, even if you are learning from home. An example of some of the activities students have done so far include: Card Cardio, Ships and Sailors, the Weather Game, Hideout, and Battle Ball.
|
|
MIX-IT UP DAY
On Friday, October 23rd Spectrum Charter School celebrated Mix-it Up Day!
This day was about encouraging students to identify, question, and cross social boundaries. It builds an inclusive and welcoming school community by encouraging students to socialize and make new connections with classmates. Throughout the afternoon, the students broke up into mixed groups to complete activities such as a collaborative mural painting, recognized 5 things they have in common during conversations, and played Compliment Tag.
Students also had the opportunity to have discussions with classmates and move out of their comfort zone to learn about someone new.
|
|
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Spectrum Charter School students, staff and family members will be participating in the Autism Speaks Walk on Friday, October 30th. Along with other teams the goal is to raise funds to have a voice with legislators, to have access to information and important resources, to support research and medical discovery and to help fund services provided by Autism Speaks.
Spectrum Charter School had a goal of raising $3,000. With your support we are pleased to share that our Team raised nearly $4,000! Thank You to our 94+ donors.
|
|
The BIG idea about #GivingTuesday is based on the belief that generosity is at the heart of what keeps us TOGETHER.
This year Spectrum Charter School will be joining other non-profit organizations on December 1 for A Day of Giving. As we move forward and make plans for our new future, Spectrum Charter School faces new challenges. Now, more than ever, our students need us. And we need you! We will be sharing more information with you soon asking for your support. #SpectrumCharterSchoolStrong
|
|
FAMILY FRIENDLY
WINTER EVENTS & RESOURCES
We suggest that you continue to verify dates and times of all
events based on COVID restriction.
Winter Events & Outings:
Carnegie Science Center: The Science Center is open 10am-noon on Sunday for those in the community who are most at risk and with disabilities. Capacity will be limited during this time period. Mummies of the World Exhibition extended plus Miniature Railroad & Village celebrating 100 years https://carnegiesciencecenter.org/visit/visitor-safety-guidelines/
National Aviary: Enhanced safety protocols and capacity limitations allow visitors a safe experience with physical distancing.
Holiday Events & Displays:
Online Learning & Activities:
|
|
Every Gift, Large or Small, Makes a Difference.
Thank You For Your Support!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
