Stay in the know: STEM Shark news
Parent Newsletter
Let's get ready for a new week of learning!
This is STEM! This is OUR School!
Thank you for your continued help and support in ensuring your child attends classes regularly, completes assignments on time, and follows the classroom and school's expectations. I appreciate your cooperation and collaboration in making this a positive and productive learning experience for your child.
I also want to remind you of the importance of talking to your child and challenging them to do their best daily. Your child needs your encouragement and guidance to stay motivated and focused on their goals. Please take some time to ask your child about what they are learning, struggling with, and what they are proud of. Praise their efforts, celebrate their achievements, and help them overcome difficulties. Your child values your feedback and support more than you may realize.
This week, we will only have four instructional days since Friday, March 15, was designated as Teacher Optional Workday. Enjoy your 3-day weekend!
We are social beings, and our words and actions can affect others. Let's be mindful of how we interact with one another. Please remind your child to be respectful, polite, and kind to their classmates and teachers. Please also monitor your child's online activity and ensure they use the internet safely and responsibly. We all have a role to play in creating a positive and supportive online community.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message. I hope you and your child have a wonderful day and a successful week. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. I am always here to help you and your child.
Events for the week
After school tutoring continues to happen on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 until 5:00.
- There will be a school assembly on Thursday March 14, from 9:30 until 11:00 am.
There are no classes for students on Friday, March 15.
We are so proud of all the accomplishments oof our scholars!
Yisel, did an outstanding job at the Optimistic Club Oratory Contest.
A group of students represented STEM and VCS in the Annual NCTIES conference
They did a fantastic job!
Students coding at NCTIES conference
Our scholars represented us at the NCTIES conference
Conference guests were so impressed with our students
Our Pop-up Store is back!
Please consider supporting our school by purchasing merchandise that showcases student pride! take a look at our pop-up store
PBIS celebration and Club day postponed until next week
Missing Report Assignments will be sent again this Friday
In order to keep you informed, please ask your child to share with you the missing assignment report on that was sent home Friday. The only reports not sent were 7th ELA. We apologize for the inconvenience.
After school tutoring has started!
After school tutoring is being offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays for ELA and Math from 3:30 until 5:00. We invited selected students, and our tutoring is now open to anyone who wishes to stay. Please reach out to the school if you have questions.
Our yearbook will be awesome!
We have great news! This year we will be having a yearbook after hiatus due to Covid. The yearbook will cost $17 dollars and at this time students are helping design the cover. Yearbooks are a great way to remember what a fantastic experiences scholars had at school. Please encourage your child to vote on the yearbook cover here! Choose the yearbook
The school is working towards becoming COGNIA STEM Certified
Cognia Certification is a globally recognized program that provides educational institutions with a specific framework and improvement process. It culminates in recognition for institutions that demonstrate a strong and effective focus in the following areas:
STEM Education (K–12): This certification emphasizes excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
Early Learning STEM Education: Focused on promoting STEM skills in early childhood education.
Competency-Based Education: Recognizing institutions that prioritize competency-based learning approaches.
Cognia’s accreditation and certification services go beyond evaluating school quality. They provide trusted expertise and actionable ideas to enhance educational outcomes. Accreditation serves as a launchpad for continuous improvement, helping education providers meet their goals and sustain commitments to better learner experiences
As part of our process, we value and welcome your input. Please help us out by filling out this Survey
About Grading
About homework...
We are now at the time where students are taking laptops home. Students are expected to at least pass 2 iReady lessons in Reading and Math weekly. Please make sure our scholars have a chance to do so in their daily routine.
Very important!
Please be reminded that students must put their cell phones in the shoe lockers at the beginning of every class. This is a school wide expectation. We don't want cell phones to be a distraction while instruction is happening!
Reminders
Please join our school's Dojo account to stay up to date with classroom information:
· Instructional day hours are 8:15 am to 3:00 pm
· Student arrival time 7:45 am (This time is flexible for bus riders)
· Tardiness is considered when a student arrives after 8:15. In this case, the student will use the Ident-a-kid system located in the front office to sign themselves in.
· Parents must show ID and use the Ident-a-kid system to sign students out if they are leaving prior to 3:00 pm. We will not allow students to be dismissed after 2:30 since this interferes with our regular dismissal procedures.
· Our dress code adheres to Vance County Schools regulations therefore:
o No Spaghetti straps or tank tops are allowed
o No mid drift shirts
o No spandex shorts
o Shorts or skirts must be fingertip length
o Students can wear hoodies, but the hood part must be removed while in the building
· We understand that cell phones are very important in the 21st century to make sure that you as parents have a way to communicate with your student. However, cell phones can be a distraction in a classroom setting. We have designed a plan called "Cellphone Locker", this plan allows your student to bring their cell phone to class with them. Students must deposit their cell phone in the "locker" (shoe rack) when they walk into the classroom. As they are leaving the classroom, they will be allowed to retrieve their phone and take it with them to the next class. Students must deposit their cell phones in the "locker" at the beginning of each class. Students that fail to comply with the new cellphone policy will receive a verbal warning on the first occurrence. The 2nd occurrence will consist of disciplinary actions due to the student's refusal to comply with a reasonable request. We do hope that this plan allows students the opportunity to have their cell phones on campus and not disturb the learning environment in the classroom. Most of all we appreciate your support.
· Car riders will be provided with a car id tag that should be displayed on the car’s dashboard to pick up the student.
· Every grading period our students will have a minimum of 2 assessments, 3 grades regarding application of learning, 9 class assignments and 9 homework assignments. Grading weight is as follows: 10% homework, 20% application of learning, 40% classwork and 30% assessments.
· In the afternoon, bus riders will take two shuttle buses to Vance County Middle school. These students will leave STEM by 3:05. 1 bus will transport students who will go home on VCMS first load. These scholars will exit the STEM shuttle and immediately board the first load buses already in the parking lot. The students who ride the second STEM shuttle will report to a designated holding classroom where they will wait for their bus numbers to be called. It is important that our students adhere to these guidelines since they are in place to guarantee a smooth transition and student safety.
· At STEM EHS we provide students the opportunity to be part of a rigorous yet fulfilling academic environment. We have a comprehensive selection process that starts while students are still in the 5th grade. Once students are accepted into STEM they must adhere to all rules and procedures contained in this manual and maintain commitment to academic excellence in order to keep their place at the school.
STEM Early High School
Email: stemsm@vcs.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/Page/33
Location: 219 Charles Street, Henderson, NC, USA
Phone: 252-738-2260
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LBYBulldogs
Twitter: @StemEarly