The STEM Weekly Stream

The STEM Family is working hard to raise the bar and expectations to embark on another year of excellence at STEM Academy. We had a very successful Back to School Night on September 19th and we are very grateful for the support of the STEM Families and Community to continue to work hard and meet all expectations. Athletics are now in full swing, so please come and support Girls Volleyball, Boys Soccer, Girls Tennis, Boys and Girls Cross Country and Football. Our Student Athletes need all the support and encouragement we give so the can continue to achieve and excel in both the classroom and playing field/court. We have finished our first week of MAP Diagnostic Testing and continue to work on increasing student achievement through our IXL programs. Keep an eye out for the start of the Afterschool Program, information regarding signup ill be coming soon. We are excited to announce that this week we will be meeting with the University Of Pennsylvania to develop a partnership and opportunities for Our Students, stay tuned for details!

We’re using IXL to support our curriculum this year, and your child has access to this online program at home. IXL is a learning platform that lets students practice skills that they’re learning and guides them to material that will help them grow the most. With thousands of skills that match what we’re covering in class, as well as insights into student progress, IXL is a great resource to help your child excel.

TOP WAYS TO USE IXL AT HOME

Explore personalized skill suggestions Encourage your child to visit their Recommendations wall for helpful review or new challenges—it’s full of skills picked just for them! Stay in the loop Sign in to your child’s account and click on Analytics to see what they’ve been working on and take a peek at their progress. Celebrate your child’s accomplishments Want to receive certificates whenever your child reaches a milestone? Sign in, click on their profile icon, and enter your e-mail address under “Profile & settings”

Sept. 23-26 MAP Assessment Testing (ELA and Math-all grades)

Sept 23-27 Student Government Campaign Week

Sept 25th Staff In-Service No School for Students

Sept30-October 4 Spirit Week and Underclassman Student Government Elections

October 10th 9.10.11 Grades Picture Day

Student attendance will be a major area of focus at STEM and throughout CUSD this year. In order for our students to achieve at the highest level, they need to be on time and in all their classes each day. We need all students and families to be aware of these guidelines and work together to ensure we have a great year.

1st Period begins promptly at 7:30a.m. Students are allowed to begin entering the building at 7:10a.m. and are encouraged to go to the Cafeteria to get breakfast.

All students must enter the school building no later than 7:40 a.m.

Students will be marked tardy if they are not in class by 7:45 a.m.

Students will not be admitted into their classroom after 7:45 without a late note signed by the Front Office.

Students will not be allowed inside the building after 8:00 a.m. without a parent or guardian to sign them in.

Students will be reminded of these rules in all classes. We appreciate the support of families helping to improve student attendance this year!

Cell Phones

According to teachers, parents, and even students themselves, it is clear that the biggest distraction to learning is their phones. We cannot expect teaching and learning to occur when phones are in the hands of students during their classes. Therefore, students will not be permitted to have cell phones in the classroom this year.

· Students will be required to put their phones away during the school day

· Students will be permitted to access their phones at lunch and return the phones to their bag before returning to class

· Headphones/earbuds/Airpods may not be worn in school

Students who choose not to adhere to these rules will be subject to escalating consequences.

This will be an adjustment for our students, but certainly a positive one. We appreciate the support of our Families to make this happen!

STEM Academy at Showalter

Title I, II, III, IV & ESSER

School Parent and Family Engagement Policy

2024-2025

Schools receiving Title I funds shall jointly develop with, and distribute to, Title I parents and family members a written parent and family engagement policy that includes the required components below and a description of how the components are met at the school. Parents shall be notified of the policy in an understandable and uniform format and to the extent practicable in a language the parents can understand. The policy shall be made available to the local community and updated periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and the school. All the following are Required components:

• Convene an annual meeting at a convenient time, to which all Title I parents shall be invited and encouraged to attend, to inform parents of their school's Title I program and to explain the requirements of Title I and the right of parents to be involved.

• Offer a flexible number of meetings, such as meetings in the morning or evening, and may provide, with Title I funds, transportation, childcare, or home visits, as such services relate to parental involvement

• Involve parents, in an organized ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of the Title I program, including the planning, review, and improvement of the school parent and family engagement policy and the joint development of the schoolwide program plan, if applicable, except that is a school has a process in place in process for involving parents in the joint planning and design of the school's programs, the school may use the process, if such process included an adequate representation of Title I.

• Provide Title I parents the following

Timely information about Title I programs.

◦ A description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the achievement levels of the challenging State academic standards.

◦ If requested by parents, opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and respond to any suggestions as soon as practicably possible.

◦ If the schoolwide plan is not satisfactory to Title I parents, submit any parent comments on the plan when the school makes the plan available to the LEA. (Only applies to Schoolwide schools).

◦ Shall educate teachers, specialized instructional support personnel, and other staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents and family members, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents and family members as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and family members and the school.

◦ Describes how the school will aid parents in understanding the State's academic content standards and student achievement standards, local academic assessments and how to monitor a child's progress and work with teachers to improve the achievement of their children.

◦ States that a school-parent compact was jointly developed with parents and the compact outlines how parents, the entire school staff and students will share in the responsibility for improved student achievement.

◦ Describes how the school provides materials and training to help parents to work with their children to improve their children's achievement, such as literacy training and using technology, as appropriate, to foster parent involvement.

◦ States how the school will, to the extent feasible and appropriate, coordinate, and integrate parent involvement programs and activities with other Federal, State, and local programs including public preschool programs and conduct other activities, that encourage and support parents and family members in more fully participating in the education of their children.

◦ States how the school will ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to the parents and family members of participating children in a format and to the extent practicable, in a language the parents and family members can understand.

◦ States how the school, to the extent practicable, will provide opportunities for the informed participation of parents and family members (including parents and family members who have limited English proficiency, parents and family members with disabilities, and parents and family members of migratory children).

Sincerely,

STEM Academy

TITLE I, II, III, IV, & ESSER

SCHOOL – PARENT – STUDENT COMPACT

The School Parent Compact will describe school-parent compact will be jointly developed with parents and family members and the compact outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share in the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and the parents will build and develop partnerships to help children achieve the State’s high standards (ESSA, Section 1116(d)).

School

The school understands the importance of the school experience to every student and their role as educators and models. Therefore, the school agrees to carry out the following responsibilities to the best of their ability:

· Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables the children served under this part to meet the challenging State academic standards (required)

· Address the importance of communication between teachers and parents on an ongoing basis through, at a minimum—

o parent-teacher conferences in elementary schools, at least annually, during which the compact shall be discussed as the compact relates to the individual child’s achievement

o frequent reports to parents on their children’s progress;

o reasonable access to staff, opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class, and observation of classroom activities; and

o Ensuring regular two-way, meaningful communication between family members and school staff and, to the extent practicable, in a language that family members can understand. (required) (ESSA, Section 1116(d)(1-2))

· Treat each child with dignity and respect

· Strive to address the individual needs of the student

· Acknowledge that parents are vital to the success of child and school

· Provide a safe, positive and healthy learning environment

· Assure every student access to quality learning experiences

· Assure that the school staff communicates clear expectations for performance to both students and parents

Parent

The parent understands that participation in his/her student's education will help his/her achievement and attitude. Therefore, the parent will continue to carry out the following responsibilities to the best of his/her ability:

· Volunteering in their child’s classroom (required)

· Supporting their child’s learning (required)

· Participating, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their child and positive use of extracurricular time (required)

· Create a home atmosphere that supports learning

· Send the student to school on time, well-fed, and well-rested on a regular basis

· Attend school functions and conference

· Encourage their child to show respect for all members of the school community and school property

· Review all school communications and respond promptly

Student (all school discretion to include items below)

The student realizes education is important. He/she is the one responsible for his/her own success. Therefore, he/she agrees to carry out the following responsibilities to the best of his/her ability:

· Get to school on time every day

· Develop a positive attitude toward school

· Be responsible for completing homework on time

· Be cooperative by carrying out the teacher’s instructions and ask for help when needed

· Do daily work that is neat and reflects the student’s best effort

· Be respectful to all school members and to school property

Parent Right-to-Know Letter

Parent Right to Know Information as Required by The Elementary and Secondary Education Assistance (ESEA) [Section 1112(e)(1)(A)] and the Every Student Succeeds Act [Section 1112(e)(1)(A)

Dear Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s):

Your child attends STEM Academy at Showalter School, which receives Federal Title I funds to assist students in meeting state achievement standards. Throughout the school year, we will be providing you with important information about this law and your child’s education. This letter lets you know about your right to request information about the qualifications of the classroom staff working with your child.

At STEM Academy, we are very proud of our teachers and feel they are ready for the coming school year and are prepared to give your child a high-quality education. As a Title I school, we must meet federal regulations related to teacher qualifications as defined in ESEA. These regulations allow you to learn more about your child’s teachers’ training and credentials. We are happy to provide this information to you. At any time, you may ask:

• Whether the teacher met state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he/she is teaching,
• Whether the teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived, and
• What undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration.

You may also ask whether your child receives help from a paraprofessional. If your child receives this assistance, we can provide you with information about the paraprofessional’s qualifications.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which was signed into law in December 2015 and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1956 (ESEA) includes additionally right to know requests. At any time, parents and family members can request:

• Information on policies regarding student participation in assessments and procedures for opting out, and
• Information on required assessments that include
• subject matter tested,
• purpose of the test,
• source of the requirement (if applicable),
• amount of time it takes students to complete the test, and
• time and format of disseminating results.

Our staff is committed to helping your child develop the academic knowledge and critical thinking he/she needs to succeed in school and beyond. That commitment includes making sure that all our teachers and paraprofessionals meet applicable Pennsylvania state requirements.

If you have any questions about your child’s assignment to a teacher or paraprofessional, please contact Mr. Bell at STEM Academy at 610-447-3650.

Sincerely,

Ronald Brown

Principal