Spectrum Gazette
Spring 2023

A Message From Our CEO/Principal, Dr. Matthew Erickson

Happy Spring Spectrum Family, 
 
I hope you are doing well. As we move into some warmer weather, we have many upcoming events that are exciting. We are planning an Open House event for Tuesday, April 25th from 5 to 7 at the school and welcome you to stop by and see the renovated house that will become our transition workshop and office spaces for our Business Office and Transition Department. Mrs. Kotts has also worked very hard to develop the garden behind the house for students to learn from and actively participate in the gardening process. 
 
Our Prom is scheduled for May 20th and tickets are on sale for a magical steampunk evening. (When I was informed of the theme, I had no idea what that meant either!)
 
Graduation is right around the corner as well and we are looking forward to seeing our proud graduates celebrate their hard work with their family and friends. 
 
Thank you! 
Matt 
 
Just a few notes: 
  • Students have been participating in Physical Education classes each Wednesday for the last few weeks through a partnership we have formed with Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School. Ms. Taylor has had them busy! 
  • Our STEAM event on Friday, March 31st went great! A huge thank you to the team from the Monroeville Library for helping out! 
  • Ms. Ewing is no longer with Spectrum Charter School and Mrs. Snyder and Mrs. Picone are working together to provide instruction. 
Matthew J. Erickson
Chief Executive Officer/Principal, Spectrum Charter School

STEAM Day

by Mrs. Rosendale

STEAM Day fun at Spectrum Charter School

STEAM Day at Spectrum Charter School was on Friday, March 31st. During the morning session, students rotated through five STEAM activities and viewed a video about careers in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Students designed Mars rovers, assembled miniature foosball

tables, generated AI story prompts, made a mixture of slime, and created bath bombs. 
 
In the afternoon session, students rotated through five additional STEAM activities including programming Bee-Bots with staff from the Monroeville Library. When asked what their favorite activities were, students said they enjoyed making slime, programming the Bee-Bots, and playing Jenga!

New Staff at Spectrum

by The Student Newspaper

New Staff at Spectrum Charter School in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Spectrum Charter School recently welcomed new staff members Mrs. Bender, Mr. Uhall, Mr. Hoffman, and Mrs. Mills (missing from picture). Mrs. Bender is a new paraprofessional. Mrs. Bender is excited to join the Spectrum team stating, “I like to help and teach students.” She has previous experience as a lifeguard. Now we just need the pool! Mr. Uhall, likewise, is happy to be a part of the spectrum team commenting, “so much better” than his previous job. He has been a welcome help to the transition department assisting at Forbes in the morning and jumping in where needed in the afternoons. Staff and students were very happy to welcome Mr. Hoffman. Food is tasting so much better! (Sorry Mrs. Kotts) Mr. Hoffman said he is glad to be a part of the Spectrum staff in part as “to how quickly he was accepted by students and staff.” Mrs. Mills is a retired P.T. who decided, after retirement, that she needed to keep busy. She explored volunteer opportunities working with children and ultimately ended up here at Spectrum. Mrs. Mills said, “I really do like it here. Everyone is very nice.”

To all of our new staff, Welcome to the Spectrum Family! We are so happy you are here.

April 2023 Open House at spectrum charter school in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

Spectrum Charter School Yearbook

To Purchase & Customize Your Yearbook
2 Enter your school’s passcode: 1015172545914000
 
Need help? Contact www.treering.com/help
 
Regular price: $13.91
Create Custom Pages by: April 6
Yearbook Graphic

Purchase your yearbook before May 5th to receive by the end of the school year!

Steampunk Prom

steam punk prom
Spectrum’s 3rd Annual Prom will be held Saturday, May 20th from 6-9pm at #4 Gateway Firehall (across the street from Spectrum Charter School).
Prom tickets are $10 each or $15 per couple. Dinner and dessert will be provided. We will be having our first ever Grand March starting at 5:30 – 6:00 where parents are encouraged to attend. Students are permitted to bring a guest outside of Spectrum, but they must be of school age (9th-12th grade). Students should purchase their tickets by April 14th.

If you have any questions please email npicone@spectrumcsi.org or asimcic@spectrumcsi.org.

Carnival Day at Spectrum!

Fun festivities are planned for Friday, May 12th at the Spectrum Carnival. Games galore, junkie food, and some exciting activities are in the works! Thank you to the student council for sponsoring our ice cream sundae bar. Students will have a chance to socialize with friends and celebrate the approach of summer vacation.

Note: This event will occur during the school day, and is open to students and staff only this year.

carnival border

St. Patrick’s Day Dance

A great time was had by students and staff at the St. Patrick’s Day Dance! Students enjoyed some Irish-themed treats and decorations. The music, which was provided by DJ Mr. Stedina, was a mix of Irish traditional and modern grooves. Students also had the a chance to win prizes for the best dressed. Our blow-up leprechaun took the top prize.
 
Way to go, Emmy!

Girls Exploring Engineering Day

by Mrs. Venturini

Girls Exploring Engineering Day provides information about careers in Engineering and Manufacturing, and hands-on experience solving problems and working with tools. The program was held on February 22, and sponsored by BotsIQ and the Society of Women Engineers.
 
“BotsIQ loves providing opportunities for students to explore a future in manufacturing and was thrilled that Emily and Ms. Venturini were able to join our 2nd annual Girls Exploring Engineering Day this year.” said Michele Conklin, Executive Director of BotsIQ.
 
Participants created a boat that floats out of household materials, welded together a device which lights up, utilized robotics, and discussed community planning with local engineers.
 
Emmy said, “I loved it! It gave me insight on some of the important things they do. I learn better hands-on.”

Student Spotlight

by Ms. Ruggiero

Rayyaan states that he likes the Spectrum school. “I know a lot of people here.” Rayyan has been a student at Spectrum since 2017. He is a very good student who excels in his classes. He has a very good grasp of Spanish, the language that he is currently learning in World Languages. His favorite subject? “Daily Living Skills” with Mr. Stedina. He likes the “financial aspects” of the course. Faculty and staff know Ryan well and some of the words used to describe him are “good natured, mellow, intelligent, and good-hearted…always respectful and supportive of his friends and the staff.”
 
I have three classes with Rayyan, and I am also responsible for helping him achieve his IEP goals in Transitions. He hopes to have a career in computers such as Networking, or Web Design. Rayyan has consistently demonstrated a positive attitude towards working on his goals. Rayyan is not only very polite, but he is also a talented young man who loves to draw. I came to really enjoy his drawings in art class and would tell him so. Instead of just simply taking the compliment, he would want me to ponder further and ask me why I liked it. Characteristic of Rayyan, I would come to soon discover he has a very inquisitive mind. Spectrum is lucky to have him and even better, we get to have him in attendance for one more year!
Student spotlight at Spectrum Charter School

Chemistry Class

by Mrs. Rosendale

Chemistry Table

In Mrs. Rosendale’s Chemistry class, students modeled the shapes of molecules. During this lab experiment, students created a Lewis Dot Structure for six molecules and then researched the valence-shell electron-pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory to determine the geometric design of the molecules (linear, pyramid, or tetrahedral). Finally, students created two models of the molecules they researched.

Joke: Why did the white bear dissolve in water? Because it was polar!

What are you reading???

by Ms. Ruggiero

ELA 1 and 2 are reading The Lightning Thief.
An adventure quest packed with humorous
allusions to Greek mythology.
 
Student quote-
“I really like the book The Lightning Thief. I like
the characters Percy Jackson, Grover and Annabeth.”
Joel Torres
To Kill a Mockingbird Book Cover
ELA 3 is reading Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel,
 To Kill A Mockingbird. A gripping, heart-wrenching coming-of-age tale in a south poisoned by prejudice.
 
Student quote –
“I’m not a fan of the book, it’s not my style. It is a good example of life in the 1930’s”
James Shannon-Tarkett
ELA 4 is reading The Great Gatsby, a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. The novel is set in the Jazz Age on Long Island. Fitzgerald was inspired to write this novel due to a youthful romance he had with socialite Ginevra King and the riotous parties he attended in Long Island’s North Shore during 1922.
 
Student quote –
“The Great Gatsby is a great depiction of human circumstance”
Larson Blum
The Great Gatsby Book Cover

Hola, Cómo Estás?

by Mrs. Picone

Spaish Hola Text
Spectrum students have been learning basic Spanish during the second semester. They have been learning colors, numbers, days of the week and the months of the year. We have also been learning types of food, clothing and animals. 
 
Quiz your student and see how they do.
  • lunes – 
  • abril –
  • la manzana-
  • el zapato-
  • el gato

New Sensory Space at Spectrum

New Sensory Space at Spectrum Charter School

We have recently opened up a new sensory space in the principal’s former office (Don’t worry, Dr. Erickson only relocated to the upper floor!). The room is designed as a space where students can find a little calm, get reenergized, or just take a break from sensory stimulation. Using techniques and equipment designed to help regulate the sensory systems, it is a quiet space where students can refocus and recharge (staff too!). We hope the it is a welcomed and utilized addition to the school.

Spectrum Charter School 2023-2024 School-Year Calendar

School Calendar Photo

Upcoming Notable Dates & Events

April 6-10

Spring Break
(Return to school on Tuesday 4/11)

April 14

Movie Night
(6:30-8pm)

April 21

Earth Day

April 25

Open House
(5:00-7:00pm)

May 5

School Talent Show

May 12

Carnival Fun Day

May 20

Prom

May 26

Graduation Day &
Last Day for Students

May 30

Teacher In-Service/Clerical Day

Happy Spring!