Sturgis Charter Public School
An International Baccalaureate Diploma School
Executive Director’s Newsletter
April 9, 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.
MA Education Secretary Reville Visits Sturgis!: Paul Reville, MA Secretary of Education, visited classes, met with students, and spoke with school leaders during his visit to Sturgis on April 7. Secretary Reville was interested in how the Sturgis “IB for All” program works. He was quite impressed with the IB Programme, how engaged students were in class, and the very positive school climate and culture at Sturgis.
Texting While Driving Assemblies: On April 16 representatives from the Cape Leadership Institute in addition to experts from the police, driver education, and the Registry of Motor Vehicles will be presenting assemblies to grade 10 and 11 students on the facts about texting and using a cell phone while driving. We look forward to helping our students understand the dangers caused by these activities.
Sturgis Arts Festival: The Sturgis Arts Festival is quickly approaching with the welcoming signs of spring in the air. Join us on Sunday, May 2nd, from 10:30-3:20 at the Tilden Arts Center at the Cape Cod Community College to celebrate our students’ commitment to the arts. The festival will include a visual art exhibit, theatrical performances, music ensembles and a jazz band performance. An international luncheon buffet will be provided by the SPA for a donation cost of $5.00 per plate. Be sure to contact Ms. Yalden and Mrs. Botsford for tickets for the theatrical performances due to limited seating in the Black Box Theatre.
IB News
Two weekends ago, the Sturgis Art students went through a demanding, yet, remarkable academic experience. Every senior in Visual Arts had to defend their art work for more than a half hour to a visiting examiner from the IB. The students had never met this person, but they had to be confident enough to explain their choices for each piece and to speak knowledgeably and comfortably about major themes and techniques in Art. Sturgis had never required students to complete this task over a weekend, however every student arrived on time and prepared. This could not have been accomplished were it not for the organization and dedication of Art teachers Dawn Cope and Peter Richenburg. After speaking with many of our seniors as they left the studio, they seemed delighted with their conversations with the visiting art examiner and sincerely proud of their efforts.
On Tuesday, all seniors began their mock exams. These take place at the First Baptist Church on Main Street and are designed to prepare students for the real IB exams that start on May 4th. An IB0-styled assessment is given in each subject - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In total, our seniors will complete over 12 hours of testing in three days. Unfortunately for them, the weather outside was beautiful, and there were probably numerous other places they would rather be than in the basement of a church writing down the causes of World War I or plotting graphs. This senior class, however, responded to this challenge with good humor and a seriousness of purpose. They should be commended for their extraordinary effort. The seniors have, undoubtedly, deserved a relaxing Spring Break.
Amazing Professional Development Opportunity for Jeff Hyer: History teacher Jeff Hyer is traveling to Moscow, Russia this summer to participate in a five-week graduate education program where he will learn basic Russian, and take courses in contemporary Russian politics and economics. The courses are held at Moscow State University and taught by its professors. During his stay he will develop lessons plans to implement at Sturgis upon his return. Hyer applied for the program and was awarded a fully-funded scholarship sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.
Information about Cyberbullying: Do you know what your child is doing on the computer and cell phone? Due to several tragic incidents, "cyberbullying" has made the headlines, and legislation about it is pending in Massachusetts. Recently, two guidance counselors and two teachers were trained by the Massachusetts Agression Reduction Center (MARC), and brought the training back to all Sturgis faculty.
Five general principles MARC feels we ALL (students, parents and educators) need to understand:
(1) Electronic information is permanent and public: at best, we can render a web site inactive.
(2) Privacy is important. Do not share passwords!
(3) Acknowledge the need we all have to stay connected: there is a great deal of anxiety around this issue.
(4) When it comes to the internet, all information isn't alike: Who wrote the website and why?
(5) When you're angry, don't go to the computer or phone. Cool off first!
Students and teachers have begun having conversations in advisory regarding safe, responsible, and respectful use of technology. We encourage families to continue these conversations and maintain an open dialogue around this important and evolving topic. For more information, visit MARC's website at http://webhost.bridgew.edu/marc/.
MCAS for Grade 10: Grade 10 Math MCAS will be held on May 17-18.
News from Chris Andre: I am both excited and saddened to tell you I will not be at Sturgis next school year. I'm excited because, as a family, we have decided it is the right time to pursue other opportunities - specifically in the international school world. I have accepted a position to be the Upper School Principal (7-12) of the Istanbul International Community School (IICS) in Istanbul, Turkey. IICS is a K-12 school with students from all over the world and is the only school in Turkey to offer the IB in elementary, middle and high school. I'm saddened because these six years at Sturgis have meant more to me professionally and personally than my time in any other place - either as a student or an educator. It has and continues to be a privilege to work with the wonderful staff, students and parents of Sturgis and I hope to see many of you in the coming months!
Student Government Day: For the first time this year, Sturgis will be sending students to participate in Student Government Day, held at the State House in Boston, April 9. Sophomores Heather Glenny and Carly Morris are excited to get a first-hand perspective of the law-making process, debate the issues, and represent Sturgis!
National Latin Exam: Sturgis students recently took the National Latin Exam and produced remarkable results. Of nearly 300 students taking Latin at Sturgis, 95 attained recognition either through medals (gold and silver) or certificates. These will be distributed in the coming weeks, with gold medals given on Awards Night in late May.
Special note needs to be given to the Latin I and Latin II students: in Latin I, which has approximately 100 students, Sturgis students won ten gold medals and ten silver medals, and 34 more students attaining certificates. Latin II students won three gold medals, eleven silver and seventeen certificates.
Egregium opus omnibus nostris disciplulis! Gaudeamus!
Science Department News: It’s a busy spring for the Science Department as we prepare for our first fieldtrip funded by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant. The entire grade 9 will study the biodiversity and adaptations of organisms at Town Neck Beach in Sandwich in May. The junior class will also be heading there (on a different day) to carry out an IB lab. A goal of the NOAA grant is to provide students with field experience so they can accumulate a wealth of knowledge of the estuary environment that they can apply to their senior year Group 4 project. We are quite fortunate to have an impressive faculty who are willing to undertake this new challenge and work together to create an innovative program to benefit our students. We are very grateful to Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for their help.
Exciting news! Ryan Pasco, a junior, has received the competitive Earthwatch Institute Student Challenge Award and will be fully funded to spend part of his summer working alongside scientists in Virginia as they study the impact of changing sea level. This award is given to a student who is an “avid and enthusiastic learner, creative and critical thinker, effective communicator, and a thoughtful nonconformist who is respected by teachers and peers”. These criteria certainly fit Ryan! I look forward to hearing of his experience and will relay details of it to you all next fall.
Sturgis Academic Team on TV!: The Sturgis Academic Team will appear on Monday, April 26 at 7:30 PM on WGBH TV with our match against Hingham High School on the program High School Quiz Show. The show also runs online at highschoolquizshow.org and will be available from the time it is shown live until the middle of May.
Theater Department News: The after school drama program, S.T.A.G.E. (Sturgis Theatre Arts Guild of Entertainers) is performing the comedy, Fools, by Neil Simon on May 7th and May 8th at 7:00 PM at the Cotuit Center for the Arts. This hilarious comic fable showcases the talents of students from each grade at Sturgis. They have been rehearsing since February and are very excited to finally perform. Tickets will be $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for all students. Proceeds will go to benefit future S.T.A.G.E. productions, as well the IB Theatre class trip to London in February of 2011. We hope to fill the house!
Prom: Ticket reservations for the Prom will be available at the SPA auction on Sunday, April 11th. The final day to purchase preferred table seating at this year's prom is Monday, April 12th. After that date general seating will be available until Friday, April 30th. Go to jhyer.com so that you can download and print reservation and guest forms. Click on "2010 Prom Information".
Senior Class Gift to the School Fundraiser: The senior class tradition is to present an annual gift to the school. To raise the funds to purchase their gift of a professional camera and lenses that will be able to be used from everything from prom portraits to sports photography by every class, the 2010 senior class is holding fundraisers at TGI Friday's in the Cape Cod Mall on Thursday, April 15th and Thursday, April 29th. They will receive 20% of all food purchases accompanied with the Sturgis flier. Support them by making plans to have dinner anytime from 4 - 8:00p.m. on one or both of those dates. You must present the flier. So grab your wife, your husband, your kids, grandma and grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends. neighbors, and co-workers and help the senior class reach their goal. Students--show your Sturgis spirit and fill the tables both nights!
Human Rights Academy: On April 1, members of the Diversity Awareness Advisory teamed up with the Human Rights Advisory to end a week of events raising awareness for Dating and Domestic Violence by holding the colossal 'Tape a Teacher' fundraiser on Main Street. Teachers volunteered their time and bodies so students could donate money to tape them to the columns on the face of the building. The event raised $378 for Independence House, a resource for women and families of domestic violence in Hyannis. Video footage, pictures, and an article appear in the Cape Cod Times (viewable online). A special thanks to True Value of South Dennis and Bradford Hardware stores for donating the tape. The advisories presented the results of the human rights project at the Human Rights Academy at Camp Burgess on Wednesday April 7.
Parents of Seniors: Each senior will be given 6 invitations to graduation. They are to pick them up in the main office.
Hiking & Backpacking Club: On Saturday, March 20, 2010, the Sturgis Hiking and Backpacking Club hiked the Blackstone Gorge and trails in parts of the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, Millville, MA in Central Massachusetts. The area offered an interesting combination of gorge geology and historical canal locks, not your typical Cape scenery. The total hiking distance was less than five miles. It included climbing over, around and between large boulders in the gorge. This was a moderately strenuous hike with lots of varied points of interest.
Sojourners: The Sojourner's Club raised $400 to donate to Blood: Water Mission, a group that provides clean drinking water and HIV clinics in various areas of Africa. Thanks to all parents that donated water for our campaign.
Support the Sturgis Reference Room: Be on the lookout for the library's table at the Sturgis Auction on April 11. We will display books, DVDs and magazines that faculty have suggested adding to the library's collection to help support their classes. Parents will have a chance to purchase items for the library and donate their selection in honor of a student or faculty member. We’ll place a bookplate in your selection with your choice of inscription. Tip for Class of 2010 Parents: You can choose a favorite quotation to honor a graduating senior.
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