Sunshine STEM Academy Newsletter
November 3, 2015
Message from Principal
I would like to thank our parents for bringing students to Book Fair and purchasing new books for them. We received a great turn out! I also would like to thank our PVO and volunteers for their outstanding efforts to make this Book Fair happen.
Last Friday was Character Day. Our students and teachers had dressed like their favorite book character. I would like to share some photos from this fun day.
Sunshine STEM Academy provides online resources and tools for our students to extend learning beyond school building. You will find some information and reports related to use of those tools below. Please encourage your child to use the tools which are available all the time.
I wish you a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Murat Cetin, Head of School
Field Trip to Yule Forest was Fun!
Our third, fourth, and fifth grade students had a great time at their field trip to the Yule Forest last week. While at the Yule Forest, students learned many interesting facts about the unique Georgia environment. Students first watched a puppet show, which provided information on the farm and crops. The students then moved into the on-site theatre to watch a documentary on pumpkin growth—did you know the largest pumpkin was 2,058 pounds?
In addition to information on the environment at the farm, students learned how to create mini-farm at home by fostering plant growth, as well as using safe methods which keep in mind the health and well-being of wildlife. At the bee house, students learned that bees are essential to healthy crop growth and it is important to help keep our bees alive, even if they appear to be a nuisance.
Students were also able to see and interact with reptiles in the Reptile House and see new baby farm animals during their feeding.
The third, fourth, and fifth grade students concluded their trip by playing in the Inflatable Town and by taking a hay ride through the Cartoon Forest. Students were excited to see all their favorite cartoon characters come to life! We loved our trip to the Yule Forest and hope to return again. Below are some photos of all the fun we had. Thank you to our chaperones for making this trip so memorable!
Study Island Reports
Sunshine STEM Academy provides resources and tools to make student learning possible everywhere, anytime. One of the resources available to our students is Study Island.
We would like parents to help our students logging in our Portal and click Study Island button under External Resources Tab. For your information, we share some reports which include data since beginning of this school-year.
Khan Academy Math Lessons
Another tool available to our students is Khan Academy Math lessons. We have put Math lessons together for each domain in Math, based on our students' most recent (MAP Fall Term) MAP RIT Score in Math. As students' MAP Math RIT score increase throughout school year (in Winter or Spring Terms), video links will be updated and students' individualized Math lessons will be regenerated every after MAP Test administration. We strongly encourage our students to follow up individualized Math lessons on Khan Academy.
Accelerated Reader Quiz Participation
You may see participation reports by percentage of students and by months. We have and inlining trend since beginning of the school.
Let's read more books, take more quizzes and surpass the numbers below in November!
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.
MAP 2016 Winter Term
Media Center Update
With the support of new volunteers, Media Center will be open every day from 10:30 am to 12:30 am. Media Center will be available for students to take AR Quizzes during lunch and recess time.
Accelerated Reader Quizzes
If you are interested in volunteering for AR Quiz Help for students, please send an email to PVO@sunshinestemacademy.org
Volunteers for AR Quizzes
Important Dates
Video of the Week: Sunshine STEM Academy Kindergarten Students' Word Web Project
Photo of the Week: Character Day 2015
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