Sunshine STEM Academy Newsletter
December 14, 2015
Message from Principal
I would like to congratulate our Robotics team GreenBots for their achievement. Our FLL robotics team has received Presentation Award last weekend at Walton FLL Regional Robotics competition. Congratulations!
MAP Testing Winter Term is now completed and reports are shared with parents. MAP Assessment is posted online to our Portal. We have added a new data to Student Dashboard which is Growth Percentile. Please see details below about the Growth Percentile.
I would like to remind Donut with Dads and Muffin with Moms events which we will have this week on December 15th and December 16th. I look forward to seeing you!
Please mark your calendar for 1st Semester Award Ceremony! All students in grades 3-5 will attend an awards ceremony on Friday, January 18th in the cafeteria.
I wish you a wonderful winter break and happy holidays!
Sincerely,
Murat Cetin, Head of School
Enrollment for 2016-17 Begins
- December 1: Begins accepting applications for the 2016-2017 school-year.
- January 30: 2pm – 4pm: Open House
- March 15: Application Deadline
- April 30: Enrollment Deadline
School Tour Schedule: Tuesdays;
1:00 PM: School Tour
1:30 PM: School Presentation by the Administration
Please visit our Application Process page to learn more about Admission.
Robotics Team GreenBots receives Presentation Award at the Regional FLL Robotics Competition
Sunshine STEM Academy Robotics Team GreenBots receives Presentation Award at the Regional FLL Robotics Competition in Marietta on December 12, 2015!
Congratulations to our FLL Robotics Team!
Sunshine STEM Academy Participated in Hour of Code
Sunshine STEM Academy students in grades 3-5 participated in this one hour fun and informative event during Computer Class on Thursday, December 10th.
MAP 2016 Winter Results & Growth Percentile Data
We have completed MAP Winter Term testing on Monday. You should have received individual student progress reports by now. We would like to inform you that MAP scores have been uploaded to our portal. You can now access your child’s MAP assessment data thru our Portal anytime, anywhere.
Beginning Winter 2016 term, we have added Growth Percentile data for each subject. This percentile helps monitoring and understanding students’ academic growth from previous term to current term. This percentile is located next to student’s ranking percentile on Student Dashboard page on portal. (Please see screenshot below)
How to use Growth Percentile data?
MAP testing system calculates each student’s growth from previous term to current testing term. After calculation, system compares all students’ growth against each other. After comparison, system gives a Growth Percentile which shows each specific student’s growth. In example, if student receives 38% growth in Science subject, student has performed growth as much as 38% of students who have taken the MAP test in Fall 2015 term and Winter 2016 term. This means 62% of the students made higher growth than this specific student.
Using growth percentile data, we can identify how students’ academic level grows from term to term. You will see 4 different color codes in the background of this percentile cell on student dashboard page. Colors represent student’s growth level:
· Red - Growth Percentile 1%-25%
· Yellow - Growth Percentile 26%-50%
· Green - Growth Percentile 51%-75%
· Blue - Growth Percentile 76%-99%
We will be using this data to modify instruction and individualized learning plan of each student at Sunshine STEM Academy.
Please contact Mr. Duzyol at tduzyol@sunshineSTEMacademy.org if you have any questions regarding Growth Percentile data listed on Student Dashboard page on your child’s Portal account.
Donut with Dads and Muffin with Moms
We would like to host our parents at our annual Donut with Dads and Muffin with Moms event. Please see schedule below. We would like to see at this special event. Please RSVP if you would like to attend.
- Donut with Dads December 15 - 7:00 AM to 7:45 AM
- Muffin with Moms December 16 - 7:00 AM to 7:45 AM
Measurement Lesson with Kindergarten Students
Kindergarten students have been studying measurement for math the past two weeks. All last week, to apply what we have been learning about measurement, students were placed with a partner.
They were given different classroom objects, for example a pointer, cup, book, etc., to measure with cubes. Students have been working on the vocabulary word of measurement and prediction. This activity required them to predict, using prior knowledge by comparing sizes of other measured objects, then measure their
given objects. Here are a few pictures of them successfully working as a team and measuring!
Schoolwide Spelling Bee Competition - January 15th
Schoolwide National Geography Bee Competition - January 22
Sunshine STEM Academy is exciting to host the 2016 National Geographic GeoBee preliminary competition on January 22. The National Geographic GeoBee is a school, state, and nation-wide competition created by the National Geographic Society. Each year, thousands of students throughout the United States participate in this exciting contest, which is designed to motivate students to learn about the world and how it works.
Students in grades four through eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging competition. With a top prize of a $50,000 college scholarship—plus other prizes—the contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography.
Sunshine STEM Academy students in fourth and fifth grade will participate in the preliminary competition on January 22. Students will be presented with a variety of geography related trivia questions. The top-performing student from the preliminary competition will be presented with a medal and certificate. As the school-wide champion, this student will represent Sunshine STEM Academy in the state-level competition, April 1.
For more information on the 2016 National Geographic GeoBee, including practice questions, please visit www.NatGeoBee.com or check out the app at www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/apps
If you have any concerns regarding participation in the 2016 National Geographic GeoBee, please contact our GeoBee coordinator, Ms. Hewett at ahewett@sunshinestemacademy.org
Award Ceremony - Friday, December 18 | 8am - 9am
Please mark your calendar for 1st Semester Award Ceremony! All students in grades 3-5 will attend awards ceremony in the cafeteria on Friday, December 18th from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM.
Award certificates will be issued for Principal's Honor Roll (all A's), Honor Roll (A's & B's) and Perfect Attendance. Parents are invited to attend.
2nd Round MOEMS Math Competition in December
No Clubs-Tutoring-Academic Team Meetings on the Last Week of 1st Semester
Holiday Class Parties
Sunshine Offers College Mentorship Program for 5th Grade Students
Sunshine STEM Academy offers College Mentorship Program for our 5th grade students.
Administration invites all 5th grade parents to the parent meeting. We will provide information about the College Mentorship Program, structure, and expectations.
5th grade parents, please join us on December 15th to discuss about our College Mentorship Program.
Middle School Presentation
Sunshine STEM Academy will offer middle school grade starting 2016-17 school year. We would like to invite our 5th grade parents to Middle School Presentation which will be held on January 14th, 2016.
State Tax Credit Scholarship Program
APOOGEE is now accepting tax credit applications for 2016. Please take a moment to re-direct your tax dollars in order to provide much-needed scholarship funds to help academically qualified, mission-compatible students afford a Sunshine STEM Academy education.
Please watch the video below to get a quick overview of the Apogee Tax Credit Program.
You are already paying income taxes – why not direct those funds to Sunshine STEM Academy. By contributing to APOGEE for a tax credit, you will provide opportunities for Georgia families desiring to attend Sunshine STEM Academy. Our school is then able to:
- increase the amount of tuition assistance that can be offered to new students
- preserve more of our existing tuition assistance to help families already enrolled
- increase enrollment
- increase tuition income
- increase the funds available to improve educational offerings
- enable the school to further its mission by reaching more families desiring a STEM education
What is the Maximum Amount I Can Contribute?
- Single individual or head of household – up to $1,000
- Married couple filing joint return – up to $2,500
- Married couple filing separate return – up to $1,250
- C Corporation – 75% of Georgia income tax liability
- S Corporation shareholder, LLC member, or partnership partner – up to $10,000
We all have an opportunity to redirect a portion of our Georgia State Tax dollars, (money we are already paying), to Sunshine STEM Academy.
How Do I Participate?
- Go to apogeebase.com/donate
- Please select new donor and provide the information requested after selecting “filing type”
- Hit submit and you will receive an email confirmation Apogee that your request has been received and will be submitted to the DOR on Jan 1, 2016 for approval.
- Click here to complete APOGEE’S Online Paperless Process, or
- Click here for the APOGEE Contribution Form; print the form and mail or bring to Sunshine STEM Academy.
Once you receive notification of your approval, please make a check payable to “Apogee Scholarship Fund” in the amount of your contribution and mail to Apogee Scholarship Fund, 3330 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 400 Atlanta, GA 30339, or simply Click here to pay online.
APOGEE will send you the required paperwork to claim the credit on your tax return.
Inclement Winter Weather Conditions
Important Dates
- December 15: Apogee Tax Credit Application Deadline
- December 15: MOEMS Math Competition - 2nd Round
- December 15: College Mentorship Program Introduction - Presentation for 5th Grade Parents
- December 18: Last Day of First Semester
- January 5: First Day of Second Semester
- January 14: Middle School Presentation
- January 15: Schoolwide Spelling Bee Competition
- January 22: Schoolwide National Geography Bee Competition
Video of the Week: Sunshine STEM Academy Participated in Hour of Code 2015
Photo of the Week: After School Program Students Make Sock Snowman
Follow Sunshine STEM Academy on Social Media
Sunshine STEM Academy
Email: info@sunshinestemacademy.org
Website: http://sunshinestemacademy.org/
Location: 1675 Hembree Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30009
Phone: 770-674-0010
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sunshine-STEM-Academy/683495445106457
Twitter: @SunshineSTEM