Sturgis Charter Public School
An International Baccalaureate Diploma School
Executive Director’s Newsletter
March 5, 2010
Dear Parents,
We provide parents with this Newsletter as a means of helping you become better informed about events and activities at Sturgis. We hope that this type of communication is helpful. Communication, of course, is a two-way street. Please do not hesitate in calling us if you have a question or concern.
Second Campus at Sturgis: Due to the delays in getting approval from the MA Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and to challenging real estate negotiations, the Sturgis Board of Trustees has decided to postpone the start of a second campus. Further information will be forthcoming when the location is secured.
More Schools To Visit: Sturgis has hosted more than 60 visits from faculty, school leaders, and board members over the past three years as they explore the idea of “IB for All” for their schools. The following schools will be spending a day with us during the next couple of months: Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School, Decatur High School (GA), Stoneleigh-Burnham School, and Snowden International School.
Sturgis Leads IB Workshops in New York: Paul Marble and Eric Hieser each presented 3-day IB workshops in New York recently. The workshops centered on increasing student access to the IB for non-traditional students and were attended by IB teachers and school leaders from across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. Paul Marble’s workshop focused on supporting diverse learners in IB English A1, and Eric Hieser’s workshop addressed creating a school culture and supports for diverse learners in the IB Diploma Programme.
IB News: This week, all IB English students have handed in their World Literature essays. This is an assignment that asks them to critically analyze and compare texts originally written in a language other than English. The student, in 1550 words, must focus on how the work is structured and expand on themes found in the text. Higher Level students are required to submit two essays, whereas Standard Level students must complete one paper.
If you were walking down Main Street on Wednesday of the past week, you might have seen our students brave the snow as they headed to the First Baptist Church to complete their Oral examinations in French and Spanish. The student must prepare a topic of their choice and answer teacher generated questions. Then, they must then engage in general conversation in French or Spanish for approximately 10-12 minutes. These presentations were taped and will be sent to the IB in April.
Seniors in Theory of Knowledge will send off their final papers to be graded in South Africa. The paper had to be between 1,200-1,600 words and had to address a specific ToK question. Some of the questions include:
“We see and understand things not as they are but as we are.” Discuss in relation to language, perception, emotion or reason.
To what extent is truth different in Mathematics, the arts and ethics?
How can language, reason, emotion and perception help us distinguish between something that is true and something that is believed to be true?
Finally, the students in the full diploma program all submitted their Extended Essays. This 4,000 word essay is the result of six months of research and hours of writing. The topic has to be a question designed by the student and the papers are sent all over the world to be assessed. Math students will have their essays sent to India, History to South Africa, and Psychology to the UK. Here are some of the titles:
Psychology: Why does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy appear to be more effective than antidepressant medications in treating depression for adolescents?
History: To what extent did modern dance revolutionize and break down political and social barriers for women, African Americans, homosexuals and minorities in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s?
Biology: To what extent does Alzheimer's disease affect women versus men of the same age group in four different locations around the world (India, China, Spain, and the United States)?
Athletic Department: The Athletic Department will be holding its winter sports banquet on Friday, March 12th at the Federated Church on Main Street in Hyannis at 6 p.m. It will be a Pot Luck Dinner followed by awards and recognition of all seniors. Let's get together, share in some good food and good times, and recognize our outstanding athletes from the basketball, cheerleading and dance teams! All students, faculty and family members are welcome to attend. We'll ask for a $5 donation per person or $10 per family to pay for the hall.
Spring sports practices will start on Monday, March 15th at the following locations:
Baseball - Marstons Mills Elementary School, (760 West Barnstable Road, Marstons Mills)
Lacrosse - Pope John Paul II High School Soccer Field (High School Rd., Hyannis)
Softball - Lopes Field (Old Colony Dr., Hyannis)
Tennis (Boys and Girls) - Cape Cod Community College (Route 132, W. Barnstable)
Congratulations to our boys varsity basketball team, which recently became the first Sturgis team to qualify for the state tournament two seasons in a row! We'd like to thank seniors Ben Porter, Zac Arndt, Dan Beckner and Kyle Healy for their leadership! The winter season marked the sixth consecutive season in which a Sturgis team has qualified for the state tournament! Let's make it seven this spring!
On Saturday, March 14th, Vani Patel, Max Young and Kyle Healy will represent Sturgis at the Cape and Islands High School All Star Basketball Games at Barnstable High School. The girls game is at 3 PM, followed by the boys at 5 PM.
IB Creativity, Action, and Service News: Recently the White House announced an annual contest for all public high schools to submit a student-produced entry for a chance for President Obama to speak at the school's commencement exercise. Several seniors are currently compiling school statistics, writing an essay, and creating a video to demonstrate why Sturgis represents the best high school in America.
One junior and one sophomore were selected this week in a competitive selection process to represent Sturgis this summer in New Orleans as part of an ongoing service-learning program that is focusing on wetlands cleanup due to Hurricane Katrina. They will be joined by ten other students from around the country for an exciting week-long project. When they return, they will organize a program demonstrating whey they learned to interested community groups.
All sophomores will be given the opportunity to spend two weeks in Morocco in the summer of 2011 as part of a service-learning/adventure-based expedition. For students involved in the full I.B. Diploma program, the planning and taking the trip will be a major component of their C.A.S. requirement. There is a parent meeting on March 10 here at Sturgis. The students begin working on the trip March 18. The cost of the trip is $3,495 per student. Students are expected to do fundraising for about 60% of this cost.
Blood: Water Mission Campaign: Thank you to all who have donated cases of water towards our Blood: Water Mission campaign. We have raised $235 so far. All proceeds will go towards creating clean water sources and also setting up AIDS/HIV clinics in crisis areas of Africa. The campaign continues through April 3rd. We are still gladly accepting cases of water, plain or flavored. Bring donations to the main office. Thank you for your support.
From the Health Office: The freshman will be participating in the Postural Screening Program during the month of April. This is a state-mandated program for public schools. The purpose of the screening is to find early signs of possible spinal problems. The students are seen individually to provide privacy. If any parent/guardian does not want their student to participate, a form is available on our website that will need to be completed (look under Health Services). Please call the Health Office if you have any questions.
From the Art Department: Two Juniors are doing art internships through the Cape Cod Museum of Art. Gabe Roderick is working with Micheal Giaquinteo and Angela Billski as an exhibition assistant. Rachel Krafton is being mentored with Hillary Osborn (an oil painter in Falmouth).
Also Marissa Collins will have her interview in Boston on March 12th for the Art All-State in Worcester. She is allowed to take only one piece of art with her and has chosen a very well done, collage landscape.
Junior and Senior Parents: Tickets for the 2010 Sturgis Prom will go on sale Monday, March 8th. This year students will be able to reserve the table where they wish to be seated on a first come, first served basis when they purchase their ticket. The deadline for reserved seating is April 12th. The general seating deadline is April 30th. After this date, tickets cannot be guaranteed.
Senior parents: Reservations and deposits for the senior class trip to New York City on Thursday, June 3rd are being taken now. In order to secure adequate transportation a deposit of $25 is due by March 15th with final payment due by May 15th.
All information including prices, ticket reservation and permission forms are available to download and print at jhyer.com. Click on "2010 Prom" link.
Though it may seem that these events are far in the future, they require advance planning. Therefore, we strongly encourage early reservations with payment in full to ensure availability.
Grade 10 Parents: Please be aware that Grade 10 English Language Arts MCAS testing will take place March 23-25.
Surf Club: The Sturgis Surf Club is participating in the" Care Sampson Fund, Polar Plunge" on Sunday, March 7 at noon at West Dennis Beach. This is nonprofit, emergency animal hospital that uses these funds to help families afford veterinary medical care. The Surf Club has recruited 13 teachers, 25 students, and 1 Sturgis alum (Chelsea Downing) and pledged nearly $300.00. Participants are required to wear a costume of their choice and lunch (burgers & dogs) will be served beach side.
If you would like further information about any of the events or activities described above, please call the Sturgis school office.
Eric Hieser
Executive Director