Welcome Back!

8-28-17

Dear Louisa Boren STEM K-8 Families:

Welcome to another exciting year at Louisa Boren STEM K-8! Over the summer we continued our growth, adding new grades, programs and rooms. Our staff have been meeting to plan an amazing school year. A remarkable community of staff, students, and families make STEM K-8 a special place. Our expansion to 8^th grade will continue to produce some growing pains. The additional time involved in adding staff, developing plans, modifying facilities, and obtaining mean I may fall behind on email.

Some ways to keep in the communication loop:

Bookmark the STEM K-8 PTA and Louisa Boren STEM K-8 websites (they overlap and contain a wealth of useful information).
Make sure your email address is accurate and updated in the school information system (check the online the data verification forms you receive at the beginning of the school year). You will receive the PTA/School newsletter (Owl Post) weekly and other updates via School Messenger that use that email address.
Follow me on my school blog at principalostrom.wordpress.com or @PrincipalOstrom on Twitter. Both are linked to the school and PTA website and PTA Facebook page and share important news, ideas, and developments.

Some key information regarding the new year:

Start and End Time: 8:50 am and 3:25 pm. ***These are new***
1. (The posted SPS start time of 8:55 marks the tardy bell)

Pick up/Drop off/Parking:

Supervision and breakfast start at 8:35 am. Please do not bring your child to school before 8:35 am as there is no supervision.

For Morning Drop off and Dismissal: Students may be dropped off or picked up in the designated zone on the west end of the playground. Parents may pull into the drop off/pick up zone and supervisors will direct children accordingly. When in the pick up line please remain in your car. We will bring your child to you. Parents wanting to walk and pick up children may park in the visitor parking section of the parking lot, or the park and walk section designated “School Load and Unload only” along Delridge. Students may not be dropped off on Delridge to walk to the playground. To respect instructional time and traffic flow in a building serving more than 560 students, we ask parents to pick up and drop off outside (or in the office for late arrivals) rather than at classroom doors. If you need to talk with the teacher, you are welcome to come into the building. However, on the first day of school students and parents may go directly to classrooms

A crosswalk and flashing lights make it permissible to park on the west side of Delridge and walk your child to the playground/school. For safety reasons students may not be dropped off on either side of Delridge to walk to the playground. Parents must walk from those parking spots to drop off/pick up their children on the playground. FYI—During school hours/flashing lights driving faster than the posted speed limit will incur a hefty camera-recorded ticket!

For safety reasons we are asking families to walk around the parking lot and use the exit crosswalk rather than cut across the parking lot for pick up.

Classroom Assignments:

Due to changes in FERPA regulations, classroom assignments are no longer posted publicly. Classroom assignments will be shared at the end of the day on Thursday, August 31 via email using School Messenger. On the first day of school there will be staff and volunteers available to share assignments and families may walk students to their new classrooms.

Important Dates:

August 31, 6:00-7:30: Middle School Orientation.

***Since we welcomed Kindergartners with a Jump Start week, we are no longer hosting a Kindergarten and New Student orientation. If you’re a new 1^st-5^th grade family and want to view the school and ask questions before September 6, we will host a brief tour on 8-31 from 5:15-5:30 PM***

September 6: First day of school for students in Seattle Preschool Program and grades 1-8.

First day of school decompression coffee hour!

8:50-9:50 am meet with other parents and me to celebrate/decompress.

September 6, 7, and 8: Family Conferences with Kindergarten families.

September 8, 5:30-8:00 pm: 6^th ANNUAL STEM BACK TO SCHOOL BASH! B2SB6 Lincoln Park NORTH END Shelter & picnic tables 60-84. Stay tuned to school/PTA Facebook page for updates Be there or be c

September 11: The first day of school for kindergarten students.

September 13, 6:30-8:00 pm PTA meeting. Come to the first PTA meeting of the year to discuss plans and what’s happening! There will also be a Uniform Swap – bring uniform items that don’t fit anymore and exchange them for ones that do.

September 28: PreK-5^th Grade Curriculum Night and Open House

October 5: Middle School Curriculum Night and Open House

Uniform Expectations:

STEM K-8 is a uniform school (yes, for middle schoolers too)! Uniforms were adopted to build community, decrease inequalities and distractions, support safety, and many other reasons. Visit the STEM School Website for full details on uniform expectations and guidelines. A uniform closet exists to support families requesting financial assistance to meet uniform guidelines, and also address short term needs.

School Supplies:

We will not be distributing a school supplies list. In lieu of an expensive list of supplies we ask K–5 students bring a backpack and a check made to STEM K-8 for $45 and middle school students a backpack and check for $85. This can be left with teachers the first week of school and payment can be spread out over multiple months if needed. The supply payment is not required and all students will receive the same supplies ordered by their teachers in each classroom. Middle school fees help cover additional technology and science additional supplies used at the middle school level.

Welcome to New and Returning Staff:

STEM K-8 welcomes several new staff members, and some staff changed assignments. K-8 and program expansion means you’ll see new faces. We added 8th Grade, a second PE teacher, a second Access Special Education program, and an inclusion model Seattle Preschool Program. We also said goodbye to some staff members who transitioned to new places and jobs. We were fortunate to find amazing educators committed to STEM learning to teach your children.

Grade/Program	Teacher
Developmental Pre-School	Anya Dale
Seattle Preschool Program	Abby Reid
K	Wendy Morgan
K	Alisha Henderson
1st	Jessica Brodland
1st	Adrienne Ollernshaw (Soheyla Nur moved on to an ELL Position)
2nd	Jodi Williamson
2nd	Krissy Soltman
3rd	Sunny Graves
3rd	Kirsten Colby
4th	Kent Daniels
4th	Daniel Castelli (Ryan Schaedig moved on to a math support position)
4th	Christina Massimino (Joe Roicki moved out of district)
5th	Deborah Giza
5th	Lauren Martin
5th	Matt McGavick
5th	David Goldenkranz (an additional class size reduction position)
6th	Travis DesAutels
6^th	Adrienne Perkins
7th	Heidi Paulson
7^th-8th	Craig Parsley
7^th-8^th	Ethan Bleeker (new middle school math position)
8th	Drew Kincl (new 8^th grade position)
Resource	Nicole Albertson (replaces Katie in her Resource Room position)
Resource	Rebecca Ray (Feige Engelsberg decided to care full time for her children)
Access	Melissa Graham
Access	Katie Griffith (Katie moves to a new Access position from resource)
Distict	Mary McGuire
Distinct	Shamsah Rahim
PFA	Marie Nelson
Computer	Julie Schmick
PE	Neisha Batiste (Ed Adams moved to Vancouver Island to care for parents)
PE	Chad Smith (a new PE position)
Library	Mary Bannister
Band	Casey Cheever
ELL	Lee-Chin Chua
Counselor	Meredith Osborne
Instructional Assistants
Special Education	Craig Rankin
Special Education	Greg Wolfe
Special Education	Michael Brown
Special Education	Ron Adams
Special Education	Hayward Coleman
Special Education	Lynn Ferguson
Special Education	Jennifer Ramierez
Special Education	Anisha Madden
Seattle Preschool Program	Mercedes Diggs
ELL	Tuubo Jamac
LAP	Stephanie Hughes
Custodial
Custodial Engineer	Tom Zech
Office
Administrative Secretary	Cindy Baca
Office Assistant	Christa Howsmon
Nurse	Rena Anderson
Assistant Principal	Kim Noble
Principal	Ben Ostrom

Exciting things are in the air! STEM K-8 staff are working hard to get ready for your children. We will have much to share and celebrate in the weeks to come. Thank you for trusting our staff to partner with you to create a powerful learning community for your children.

Sincerely,

Ben Ostrom

Benjamin Ostrom

Louisa Boren STEM K-8 Principal

Developing Math Vision and Practices at STEM K-8

Thanks to “What Parents Should Know” (www.corestandards.org), “Advice for Parents from Professor Jo Boaler” (www.yocubed.org), and Joe Roicki for significant contributions to this article.

STEM K-8 staff undertook a lengthy evaluation of the way we deliver math instruction to students this year. We were driven by an ongoing struggle to achieve high levels of success with all students in mastering common core standards, and also providing opportunities for challenge and acceleration across a range of skill levels.

The way we were teaching students was not preparing them for the higher demands of college and careers today and in the future. Our staff is committed to improving teaching and learning to ensure that all children will graduate high school with the skills they need to be successful.

In mathematics, this means major changes. Teachers will concentrate on teaching a more focused set of major math ideas and skills. This allows students greater time to master key math concepts and skills in a more organized way throughout the year and from one grade to the next. It will also call for teachers to use rich and challenging math content and to engage students in solving real-world problems in order to inspire greater interest in mathematics.

The major changes – greater focus on fewer major topics, coherence within a school year and across grade levels, and rigor in the form of challenging, complex, and real-world problem solving – align with the philosophy behind Singapore math, which served as a model in the construction of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M). This three-dimensional framework provides the structure for teachers to provide higher-quality math instruction for all students.

In order to meet the goals of the framework, teachers must have access to high quality, standards-aligned instructional materials. The Primary Mathematics series of textbooks we have been utilizing have not met these new requirements, causing teachers to spend too much planning time finding or creating materials. The Primary Mathematics series is based on the California State Standards, predating the CCSS-M. This contributes to a lack of alignment across grade levels, widening learning gaps and decreasing school achievement in mathematics.

As we worked to refine a vision for mathematics at STEM K-8, staff identified a need for supplemental instructional and assessment materials that a) support differentiation and multiple math pathways that build conceptual understanding and elicit student thinking b) support baseline, formative, and summative assessments aligned to standards, and c) support efficient teacher preparation and student learning.

While no single set of instructional materials will address all the challenges inherent in teaching mathematics, we believe that the Eureka Math provides an important supplement and large step towards meeting the expectations set by the CCSS-M. With materials based on the CCSS-M, teachers can spend more time developing best practices in teaching mathematics, including engaging students in rich tasks, conducting class discussions about strategies, and helping students communicate mathematical reasoning.

Our next steps include defining a clear professional development sequence to achieve our goals in mathematics, and identifying multiple measures of success that we can use as checkpoints.

As we continue this work at STEM K-8, do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher if you have concerns or questions. You are a vital part of your child’s education. Ask to see samples of your child’s work, or bring samples with you. One of the most important things parents can do for their children with regards to math learning is to model a growth mindset – that learning math is about making sense and working hard. Making mistakes means that their brains are growing and learning, not that they are not “smart.” Ask questions like:

Is my child making adequate progress at this point of the year?
Where is my child excelling? How can I support this success?
What do you think is giving my child the most trouble? How can I help my child improve in this area?
What can I do to help my child with upcoming work?

Thank you all for your support as we continue to strive to provide the best education possible for your children!

STEM K-8 Math Program Vision and Goals

STEM teachers talk regularly about math instruction. Teachers are grappling with how to challenge and support the wide range of learners in classrooms, best practices in math instruction, and mastering common core standards. On April 26 staff discussed our vision and goals for STEM’s math program. The outcome of that conversation is pasted below. At Wednesday, May 3^rd’s 6:30-8:00 pm PTA meeting parents will have an opportunity to discuss and respond to this draft statement about our vision for math at STEM.

Vision and Goals for STEM K-8’s Math Program

Built on strong depth of knowledge regarding common core standards, both at and across grade levels.
1. Content and Practice standards.
2. Based on grade level progression documents that incorporate developmental and mathematical readiness.
3. Balances needs for acceleration, challenge, and support (how, why, and when).
  1. Middle school students need to meet requirements for Algebra and beyond.

Supports ongoing development of instructional best practices
1. Provides a clear professional development sequence.
2. Emphasizes differentiation and rigor.
  1. Recognizes differences between and provides opportunities for challenge and acceleration.
3. Develops formative assessments to monitor student learning and build further understanding.
4. Addresses the widening range in student skills partly connected to changes in student population.
5. Takes advantage of STEM math opportunities in PBL and other disciplines.

Instructional and assessment materials support efficient teacher preparation and student learning.
1. Includes supports for differentiation and multiple math pathways that build conceptual understanding and elicit student thinking.
2. Supports baseline, formative, and summative assessments aligned to standards.

Clear criteria for student success
1. Historically was mastery of standardized tests, opportunities for acceleration and challenge.
2. SBA performance tasks require deep knowledge and application of skills, and are based on common core standards.
  1. There are debates around whether test format is fair for all students.
3. Includes common assessment practices within and across grade levels.
4. Communicates skill and performance levels as students transition between grade levels.
5. It’s important to our community that Middle school students meet requirements for Algebra and beyond.

Celebrate STEM

Sometimes the clouds break and sun shines in! I want to send some love to all the families and staff whose amazing contributions powered the Steampunk Auction on Saturday night! It was an amazing celebration of STEM community that provides critical support for the programs that empower our vision. Special thanks to Robin Graham for her auction leadership and all the other volunteers who helped secure donations, produce class art projects, and organize an astounding event. Your work makes a difference!

Thanks everyone!

A first glance at STEM K-8’s 2017-18 budget

Spring is sniffing its way past the various freezes and snows. In Seattle Public Schools that means preparations for staffing and budget for next fall are underway. WA State’s failure to address school funding and the school levy cliff (see Seattle Public Schools budget update) is wreaking havoc on school districts throughout the state.

STEM K-8 will not experience losses as large as some other schools. We continue to grow with strong enrollment demand, which helps absorb the effect of funding reductions. At this point I see two clear impacts from 2017-18 STEM budget/staffing projections: 1) larger class sizes (26 students/class K-3^rd grade, 28 students/class 4th-5^th grade, 32 students/class middle school), and 2) the loss of anticipated staffing support previously allocated to K-8’s with 3 grades (another 1.0 fte office assistant, .5 fte additional certificated support). Some major challenges we are trying to address at this juncture include Middle School instrumental music instruction, planning support for Project Based Learning and pre K-8 expansion, and the final round of iPad purchases for the middle school 1:1 program. The 2017-18 staffing package included new allocations for two additional Access programs, two 8^th grade classroom, and additional specialist time to meet PE requirements. As our planning for 2017-18 moves forward, we will partner with families and the STEM K-8 PTA to meet our community’s top priorities.

Be clear for our children and country

Our nation’s future requires tearing down walls, not building them. We must embrace diversity, not hide from it. At STEM K-8 we will stand up to support our students and families in opposing deportations, xenophobia, and racism. We don’t allow excluding on our playground, and oppose it in our country too.

We are living a civil rights lesson. Not in recent memory have citizens stood up so clearly for equity, multiculturalism, and civil rights. Our students can see and join the fight against prejudice and discrimination first hand; the failings of history need not be repeated! The Constitution, the balance of powers between legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government, and civil disobedience are parading past as a living civics curriculum. We will not fail this test!

My Commitment to Democracy

Many of us are struggling with visceral responses to an election that validated bigotry, sexism, xenophobia, and disrespect as American values. Swirling horror, grief, fear, and shame knot our stomachs and chests. As we search for grounding, try to figure out what we need to learn, and plot a course forward, I make these commitments to STEM K-8 students and families:

At STEM K-8 you will be safe. I reaffirm my commitment to searching out bias and fighting bigotry. I will stand by our Muslim families, black families, Mexican families, Native families, Asian families, immigrant families, gay families, white families, female students, students with disabilities, male students, transgender students—all students. No one will hurt, threaten, or deport you without having to deal with me. We will face bigotry and fear by working to create a school where we all belong.
Your voices are important. I will listen. I will work with staff and students to understand one another, solve conflicts, live with diverse and conflicting beliefs, listen, and interact respectfully. Respect means acting in a way that shows care about others’ feelings and well-being. I will work with staff to help students voice their fears, anxieties, and hopes, and build inclusivity.
I am committed to teaching students to become responsible members of a democratic society. We will participate in discussions that build knowledge and understanding. We will learn to think critically about facts and opinions, weigh sources, question assumptions, examine our own biases, receive feedback, and challenge one another respectfully.
I will love and respect each and every one of you. I will stand by you, learn from mistakes, challenge you to learn more and become even better human beings. Together we will have experiences that prove love and understanding overcome fear and hatred.