THE STAR DUST NEWSLETTER
October 16-20, 2023
Shimmering Notes from Dr. Smith-Johnson
Welcome Back to School!
Greetings STAR Family!
Welcome back to school! I hope that you were able to rest and recharge during fall break. Our students have returned with inspiring stories of how they used their time during the break. Our teachers have returned fully charged and have prepared rigorous and engaging lessons that will help our students achieve great success.
As we enter this season of harvest, please know that the seeds being sown into your scholar will allow them to reap great benefits. Q2 is all about giving and accountability. We will give our scholars every opportunity to be creative and courageous in their studies. We will hold each other accountable to ensure that our STAR scholars receive an educational experience like none other. Together in partnership with you, accountability will inspire academic achievement and scholastic success for everyone.
Thank you for being the very best parents, guardians, and learning community stakeholders. Our success depends upon your involvement with our learning community.
All the best for a wonderful week of learning!
Dr. Ramone Smith-Johnson
Chief Academic Officer/ Principal
Character Trait of the Month: PREPARATION
Preparation is the Key!
Prepared STAR Scholars will:
Do what they are suppose to do.
Always do their best.
Use self control and are self-disciplined.
Be held accountable for their choices.
Think before they act and consider the consequence.
RESPECT Week at STAR!
Monday, October 16th: Define Respect
Tuesday October 17th: Respect Yourself and use your imagination to draw a picture or write an essay about having a Respect Hero. What would be your Super Powers of Respect?
Wednesday October 18th: Respect Others and pass it on! Show your kindness by passing a friend a Kindness Card
Thursday October 19th: Respect Everyone: Include all people. Share, celebrate and appreciate our differences.
Friday October 20th: Remember to signify the "Golden Rule"- Treat others as you would like to be treated!
Everybody knows what the 3 R’s of teaching are – reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic, but teaching also, includes respect and responsibility. Teachers will help facilitate skills with students on how to build positive relationships with others. Strong teacher-student relationships naturally foster a positive and safe learning environment where much learning will take place and where all students will become capable, connected, and contributing members of their classrooms and community. (2011, Burns)
We are proud to introduce Parent Square as our official mode of communications. If you have not downloaded the app, please do so and connect with our school community today!
EAGLE'S MASK UP!
MASKS ARE NOW REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS!
Thanks to each of you for your unwavering support as we have had to shift our school campus back into masks. Maintaining a healthy and safe environment for our entire learning community is my priority. As a reminder, please remind your scholar to always wear their masks while in the building. Most importantly, remind them to wash their hands and use the sanitizer stations throughout the building. This will prevent germs and unwanted illnesses from navigating in the school building and back into your homes.
Car Line Arrival Information
The car line will open at 7:20 AM and will continue until 7:55 AM.
- Students are considered late at 8:01 AM.
- All students arriving to campus will report to the gym for Community Circle.
- Students must wear the approved school uniform. Student's failing to wear the approved school uniform will be asked to call home to be picked up.
I've included an illustration of our morning arrival traffic flow below for you.
Car Line Afternoon/ Inclement Weather Pick Up Information
- The afternoon pickup/ dismissal process begins at 3:10 PM. The car line will open at 3:15 PM.
- All students must be picked up by 3:45 PM. Failure to pick up your students up by 3:45 PM will require the school to contact DCS. Please be on time for pick-up.
The Red Line (indicated by the color Red) is for Parents/ Families/ Daycare picking up one student only in grades 1-6!
The Green Line (indicated by the color Green) is for Parents/ Families/ Daycare picking up Kindergarten or multiple students in grade 1-6.
Please communicate this information to anyone who may assist you with picking up your child in the afternoons. Signage will be visible to indicate which line is for Grades 1-6 Only or KK and Siblings.
School Day Pictures are next week! Please click below for the schedule.
Ms. Janis Simpson, Professional School Counselor
Dear Star Academy Families,
Happy October! I’m looking forward to seeing our students after Fall Break and starting this 2nd Quarter strong. With over two months of school under our belts, students seem settled back into the routine and rhythm of school, which has been great to see. Speaking of routines, I want to use this newsletter as an opportunity to share about the importance of routines for children.
When strong routines are in place, they create consistency and predictability, which, in turn, helps children feel safe. Here at school, our students’ days are full of routines—community circle each morning to start the student’s day off right, JUMPSTART for intervention, mindfulness practices and brain breaks—I could go on! Routines are so powerful in keeping us organized and creating a sense of safety and security.
And routines are just as beneficial at home! I encourage you to check out this article from Sound Discipline on the value of routines and suggestions for ways to create them at home. As always, please feel free to contact me at jsimpson@staracademycharter.org. I work with students and families throughout the week and am happy to help you in whatever way I can!
Star Academy is continuing Anti-Bullying activities throughout the month of October. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and Star Academy Charter wants to remind you that preventing bullying and harassment here at the STAR ACADEMY takes all of us—from students and families to educators to school, district, and state educational leaders. Bullying can harm students’ ability to fully participate in school, and it can harm students’ physical and mental health. In some cases, a school’s failure to address bullying or harassment can also violate federal civil rights laws. We will have engaging month-long activities to help students learn great ways to prevent childhood bullying—and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
Ms. Simpson
Counseling Services Available
· Individual Counseling
Teacher, Parent or Self Referred
· Group Counseling
Topics will depend on the needs of students,
· Classroom-Based Counseling
Customizable, but will address the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, & citizenship
Upcoming Activities & Events from the Counseling Dept.
· Monthly Incentive Activities for students with 95% attendance rate and good behavior
· Anti– Bully Month (October)
· Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31)
· Career on Wheels (KK-2nd grade)/Career Day (3rd-6th grade) (November)
· Special Education Day (December 2)
· The Great Kindness Challenge (January)
Counseling Services
Counseling Referral Form
If you believe that your child needs some additional social or emotional support and would like them to be considered for individual or group counseling, please see the referral links below:
Please complete a referral if you have concerns about your child(ren). Please allow 24-48 hours for follow-up to occur.
Student Needs Assessment
The Counseling Department at Star Academy Charter School would appreciate your input in helping me to provide the best services to meet the needs of our students. We are asking you to complete the questionnaire below.
October Counseling Resources
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is hosting a free “Family & Friends” seminar to inform people who have loved ones with a mental health condition. This is a great opportunity to learn more about mental illness and how to support someone you love who is experiencing a mental illness. Learn more and sign up here.
- Fads, stunts, and challenges are nothing new, but some of the viral social media challenges are becoming increasingly risky and dangerous. This is a great article from Common Sense Media on how to help kids navigate viral social media challenges.
- Looking for ways to strengthen your child’s social-emotional development? SEL at Home - Social Emotional Learning (movethisworld.com)
What time is it? It's time for lunch!
No Backpacks Grades 3-6!
In an effort to ensure that all of our children are safe, we are not allowing students in grades 3-6 to have a backpack. Student's who bring backpack's to school will have them confiscated and they will not be returned.
No Cell Phones Allowed!
To ensure that your child receive's a high-quality and engaged learning experience, STAR Academy prohibits students from having a cell phone while on campus. Cell phones are a distraction to the learning environment. Please help us increase your child's success by following this policy.
Students who violate this policy will have their cellular device confiscated and held for 72 business hours. A listed parent/ guardian will need to pick up the device during the afternoon office hours of 3:45 PM-4:30 PM. No exceptions!