Field Trip

Parents and students,

Half of our group will be attending the high ropes course on Tuesday and the other half will attend on Wednesday. A few reminders of what students need to bring and wear for the field trip.

* Sack lunch
* Water
* Closed toe sneakers
* Sunscreen
* Hat
* Towel (optional) the last event, will involve water!

If your child will be absent please remember to call the attendance line at 783-2468.

STAR Students

We asked four STAR students what they like best about the program, here is what they had to say. Thank you students for sharing with us!

Touching Spirit Bear

We have continued reading the book, Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. Cole is an angry teen who has agreed to live on a remote island in Alaska instead of serving time in jail for his crime. Cole thinks he’s taking the easy way out. Little does he know what awaits him on the island.

After an unsuccessful attempt at swimming away from the island, Cole confronts the Spirit Bear, and is badly mauled. As he lies near death, Cole begins to see the beauty in the world for the first time in his life, and chooses to do anything he can in order to survive.

Garvey and Edwin return to the island a couple of days later to find Cole in bad shape, and half dead. They take Cole to the nearby village to get him patched up. No one believes that Cole saw a Spirit Bear. Cole finally realizes that it’s time he stops lying, and promises himself to tell the truth from now on.
After six months of surgeries, and rehab, Cole finally leaves the hospital to return to the detention center. While he’s there, the Justice Circle meets, and is persuaded by Edwin and Garvey to let Cole return to the island under certain conditions. Cole must sell all his belonging to finance his stay on the island.

Cole returns to the island with Edwin and Garvey. Cole learns many lessons from these men as he begins to build his shelter, and prepare for a year- long banishment. Cole no longer has the use of his right arm due to the mauling, and struggles to complete the shelter. His biggest challenge is to overcome the fear of being alone. Edwin teaches Cole that happiness and anger are habits. Cole must learn to “roll away” his anger, which he begins to do as he starts each day soaking in a freezing pond, then climbing a mountain with a huge rock. Edwin teaches Cole how to dance at night by the fire. They dance the whale dance, and later Cole dances the wolf dance.

Each time, Cole reflects on the lessons he has learned.
Cole finds a log, and first begins to make a canoe, then realizes his error, and begins to carve a totem. When we left off on our reading today, Cole has established a daily routine on the island. Cole know that he needs to dance the dance of anger, but he isn’t ready. His biggest challenge is yet to come! Check back next week to find out how Cole finds out what it means to be “invisible.” You won’t believe who comes to stay on the island with Cole!

Math Week 3

Today's post by Susie Sosa, STAR Math Teacher:

It was another exciting week at STAR in the math department! We can’t believe that we are in our third week already. The students have been busy little “adults” in the world of life. After successfully purchasing homes, or renting apartments, purchasing cars and the dreadful insurance that goes with that car, the students are figuring just how far their paychecks will go. We have moved from the computer lab back into the classroom to punch the numbers on their calculators.

First, the students had to figure out how much they would be paying in utilities. This was done by drawing three dollar amounts for each utility they needed. The utilities included electricity, phone, cable TV, and the internet. Sorry, we didn’t figure out the cost of a cell phone and text messaging, maybe that will come next year. After drawing their dollar amounts, the students figured out the mean of the three numbers for each utility, and that was their final cost.

Each student received their own checkbooks followed by a lesson on how to fill out a deposit slip, the proper way to write a check, and how to fill out a check register. After recording their starting monthly income, each student needed to write a check for each utility, then keep a running total of their monthly expenses in their check registers. The students were AMAZED at how fast their money was spent, and how little was left after paying all their bills. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD!!!!!

The end of this week the students will be reviewing rates and ratios, then take what they have learned back into the computer lab to start shopping again. They will log onto different grocery story websites and begin purchasing food for their families. After filling their cabinets with food, they will move onto the other necessities of life, shoes and clothing.

The students seem to be enjoying finding out just what it takes to run a household, and they are commenting on how expensive life really is. They have all been working so hard and are proud of the purchases they have made so far. Please take the time to ask your children about their purchases and what they have learned. They have come so far in just three short weeks. As always, thank you for sharing your students with us, it has been a pleasure teaching them about Math in the Real World!

STAR Leadership, Week Two

Robert Harding, STAR Leadership Teacher summerizes the conclusion of week two of the STAR Summer Program:

Our second week together, Star Leadership classes continues to go and your student’s continue to grow. This week, Star Leadership classes shared examples of things we like, and learned how much we have in common, as well as how to accept each of our differences. We examined things in life we can control, and things we can’t control. By the way Mom, some of our students believe they can control the dinner you make. That might make a good topic for discussion?

We are looking further into choice making. We have learned that the Event + Response = Outcome (ERO), and regardless of the event, we have the freedom to choose our response however we see fit. Our response can influence the outcome. Another influence we examined, when it comes to choice making, is peer pressure. Students took a survey about their friends and we examined their friends influence on them. For some, I feel, this was a real eye opener. This week’s lessons all continued to reinforce leadership and an overall theme, personal responsibility,

We can’t control what other people say or do, but we can control how we respond to what people say and do to us. Each day, through the daily challenges of being adolescents, your students are applying what they are learning in Star, and in Star Leadership, and my hope is your seeing some of this application at home too.

The following post is by Nancy Zimmerman, STAR Math Teacher and today's guest blogger.

Continuing with “The Game of Life” in STAR math this week, students have established a budget for themselves based on a chosen career and whether they are married with children or single, are now looking for housing. We challenged our students to find both an apartment and a house based on their monthly budget. They had the opportunity to live anywhere they wanted....the Phoenix area and California were the areas selected most often! Some students chose to share an apartment or house in order to stretch their budget dollars

Another area that students are exploring is to purchase a car. Three scenarios were presented and students were to find financing based on 12, 36 and 60 month loans. Our students also have to figure in insurance, maintenance and fuel costs and of course, all of this has to fit within their budget. One student mentioned that he didn’t realize buying a car was this much work!

Ask your son or daughter about their housing and car choice. We believe they will have fun describing what they have found and all the work that they had to do!

Garvey's Cake Recipe

This week in Language Arts we reviewed a passage in the book from Chapter 3. In this chapter, Garvey visited Cole in the detention center and let him taste all the ingredients to a cake and then taste the cake baked. Can you remember the significance of the cake and the individual ingredients? Why did Garvey have Cole taste each ingredient separately before he let Cole eat the baked cake?

Several students requested Garvey's cake recipe from the book. The recipe is below.

Garvey’s Cake Recipe:
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups molasses
8 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons water
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
*Mix ingredients together and bake.

Caution! Do not eat these ingredients individually—YUCK!!

MOV013.MOD

This video highlights why 3 STAR teachers work for the program. Do you have questions you would like to ask the STAR staff? Let us know! Leave a comment or email Amanda at ahamm@kyrene.org

Students, what do you think?

STAR Students,

We want to hear from YOU! What did you think of the first week? What do you like about the STAR program?

If you would like to be a guest blogger, you can email me your blog write up and I'll post it to the blog with your picture. ahamm@kyrene.org

See you Monday,
Amanda

STAR Leadership

The following post is by Carl Nasuta, STAR teacher and guest blogger:

What a great first week!!

The STAR program got off to a rousing start on Monday, June 7th. The students spirits and energy were contagious. In our leadership program this week, our focus was giving students the tools and strategies to help them become better problem solvers.

We started the week with introductions and getting to know you activities. As the week progressed, the students started to examine ways to solve problems. To get things started, the students were given different scenarios and were asked to recognize and solve the problems of these scenarios. Class discussions included how to recognize specific issues within a problem and how to find solutions or problem solving techniques.

The leadership program classes spent valuable time on recognizing things that cause stress in your students lives. Once these stress indicators were identified, the students then discussed ways to help cope with stress. The students created list of healthy ways to cope with stress as opposed to unhealthy ways or habits to deal with stress.

At the end of the first week, students were introduced to anger management strategies. Some of these strategies included; T.I.M.E. , Smell the Cake, Blow out the Candles! and The Sound of one hand Clapping. All these anger management techniques will hopefully get your child of thinking of ways to control their emotions. Please ask your child to describe each strategy and explain how the strategies work.

Your children are amazing! Collectively we are growing each and every day.

The STAR Leadership Team

The Game of Life

The Game of Life has begun in STAR this summer! Each STAR student picked their future life from a bag this week during their math class. The card students picked determined their future job, salary, education level, marital status, and number of children.

Some students cheered when they read their future and found out they were video game designers, actors, or fashion designers. The cheering came to a quick halt when they saw their salaries. The students who are lawyers, doctors, or cardiologists were pleased with both their professions and their salaries.

As we figured how much money each student had to pay to the government the students with high paying jobs were surprised how much money they spent on taxes. The students whose card indicated they would be single wanted to know how they could get married and have kids to pay less money in taxes. One student wondered if the family from the show "Eighteen and Counting" even had to pay taxes. As the Game of Life continues in math this summer the students will start to understand life is an expensive journey.

~STAR teacher and guest blogger, Olivia Parry

Parents, as students are beginning to understand the concept of money, taxes, and responsibility this summer through our Math curriculum "The Game of Life." Some opportunities may arise where you might consider sharing your family budget with your child. Do you think kids today understand the concept of money? How can we help prepare students for this important life skill both at home and at STAR? Do you share your family budget with your child? Please share your comments with us, we would love to hear from you.

STAR, Day 1

We had a GREAT first day at the STAR program! All of our teachers were so pleased at the energy and excitement the students brought with them today! At our closing meeting with STAR teachers we heard many times, "what a great group of kids." We are really looking forward to the next 15 days.

The message below is from guest blogger Pat Woulf, STAR Language teacher:

We spent the first day learning names and getting to know one another. We have a very energetic group of students and teachers that are all looking forward to a fantastic summer of learning and growing.

In Language Arts we’re reading the book Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. The story takes place on a remote island in Alaska. Cole Mathews has been banished to the island to make amends for a crime that he has committed. Cole agrees to participate in a program called “Circle Justice” to avoid going to jail. When we left Cole in Chapter 1, he had just arrived at the island along with Garvey his parole officer, and Edwin, an elder of the Tlingit tribe. The adventure is just beginning. Follow along with us as we relive Cole’s experience on the island. How will he handle “Circle Justice?”

Parents, if you would like to read along with us please let us know! We have about 10 additional copies of the book that we would be happy to loan out. Contact Amanda at ahamm@kyrene.org if you would like to borrow a copy.

Introducing the STAR Program Teachers!

We are happy to announce our STAR Teaching Staff! I hope you enjoy reading their personal bios and learning a little about the Kyrene teachers who will be working with our STAR students this summer. If you have any questions for our teachers, please leave a comment. We would love to hear from you.

My name is Carl Nasuta and I teach 7th grade social studies at Aprende Middle School.
I hold a B.A. in History and Secondary Education from Northeastern Illinois University. I earned my Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University in 2005. Next school year, I will be the 7th grade Student Advisor at Aprende Middle School. I have been in public education for over 15 years and I’m excited to be part of the STAR Summer Program. In my free time I enjoy family time and raising my sons Matthew (6th grade) and Nick (sophomore at Desert Vista). My hobbies include football, golf, and swimming in the backyard.

My name is Susan Sosa and I teach eighth grade science at Pueblo Middle School. I grew up in Brecksville, Ohio and graduated from Walsh University with a BS in Education. I have a master's degree in curriculum, instruction, and assessment from the University of Phoenix. I moved to Arizona after growing tired of the long, cold Ohio winters and I absolutely love it here. This will be my fifth year teaching at Pueblo and my fourth year teaching STAR. I love this program! I have a daughter who will be a senior at Mt. Pointe High School and the two of us enjoy anything that has to do with the outdoors. My first love is teaching! I am fortunate enough to be able to teach and share new ideas with you during our time together at STAR and I am looking forward to an awesome summer together!

Hi – my name is Nancy Zimmerman and I am originally from Chicago, Illinois. I graduated from Western Illinois University with a B.S. in Education. I moved to Arizona in 1985 while working for a computer firm – Sun Microsystems. I began working in the Kyrene School District as a substitute teacher in 1998 and this will be my 9th year teaching at Pueblo Middle School. I have one son who is currently a freshman at ASU in the mechanical engineering program. We both love sports – skiing, hiking and snowboarding to name a few. Traveling is my passion and I have had the opportunity to experience hiking in the Grand Canyon, kayaking in the Caribbean and swimming with manta rays in Tahiti!

Olivia Seawell - I have been a teacher in the Kyrene School District since 2002. I have taught at Kyrene Middle School and presently I teach Physical Education at Milenio Elementary School. I have been a part of the STAR Summer Program for three years. In addition to STAR, I have worked with the ACE Program at Kyrene Middle School for six years. This year at Milenio, I brought the ACE Junior program to our school for both fourth and fifth grade students.

Pat Woulf – I have over 20 years experience teaching adults and students and have been a teacher in the Kyrene District for 9 years. During this time I has taught elementary and middle school students. Currently, I am a 6th Grade Science Teacher at Aprende Middle School. I am also one of the ACE Club Coordinators at Aprende and really enjoy working with the program. At Aprende, I am also a Site Council member, a team leader, and a coach for the Track Team. This is my fourth year working with the STAR program and I am happy to be back this Summer.

Olivia M. Parry – I am the fifth child of seven in my family and I truly love being from a large family. I have lived in Arizona most of my life and hope to remain here in the warm Arizona sun. Currently, I work as a Behavior Intervention Teacher for the Kyrene School District. I work closely with staff around the district on implementing proactive behavior strategies. I enjoy working with staff but love seeing the impact positive behavior support has on children. I love spending time with others, especially my large family. I have twenty-two nieces and nephews with more expected to arrive soon. I also enjoy traveling in Latin America and wish I could take a year off to travel the world. My motto in life is it is perspective changes everything.

My name is Robert Harding. I have worked with the STAR Summer Program since it first began, more than 10 years ago and am proud to have been part of the original program design. I have a passion for this program and look forward to it each Summer. During the school year I teach Character Education in the Kyrene Alternative to Suspension Program (KASP).

Jennifer Dennis - I am the Social Worker at Lomas Elementary School. I love my job and working with students in small group settings to help them become successful at school. I have been a part of the STAR program for six years and look forward to it every year. I have seen first hand the positive effect this program has on students and the transformation students make in 16 days is what keeps me coming back. I am excited to be part of STAR again this year.

My name is Patty Benster. I work at Centennial Middle School as the ISI Coordinator. I have also worked at Ninos Elementary School in the Kyrene School District as an Instructional Assistant. This summer will be my fifth year with the STAR Summer Program. I enjoy working closely with and helping students and am excited to once again be part of this wonderful program. I look forward to meeting you all soon.