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Monday, March 15
Interim Assessments
English/SS
Wednesday, March 17
Interim Assessments
Math/Science
Thursday, March 18
Parent-Teacher Conferences
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Friday, March 19
Marking Period 1 Ends
Parent-Teacher Conferences
12:30 PM - 3:00 PM
NYU PARTNERSHIP
 Spring Sophomore Seminars Begin Friday, March 5, 2010
This year, the NYU Philosophy Department is offering a year-long philosophy program for the tenth graders at the Science, Technology, and Research (STAR) Academy.
Specifically, in the fall, we're splitting the sophomores into three 25-student units, and we're teaching each unit an introduction to philosophy class that covers three main topics:
Ethics
Ethics is the study of how to live. In this part of the class we focus on two questions. The first is: is it ever okay to kill someone in order to save someone else? For example, if a runaway train is going to kill five people, is it okay to redirect the train onto a track where it will only kill one person instead? Or if a surgeon can save five patients by killing one healthy patient and distributing his organs to them, should he do it? Why or why not?
The second question is: who has moral value? Who has rights that we need to respect? A lot of people think that only humans have value, but other people think that animals and even plants have it too. Which of these views is right? Another issue is: is moral value "all or nothing", or does it come in degrees? For example, some people think that humans are more valuable than animals because humans are smarter. But does that mean that a "normal" human is more valuable than a mentally challenged human? And does it mean that a chimpanzee is more valuable than a severely mentally challenged human?
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is the study of reality. In this part of the class we focus on two questions. The first is: do we have free will? Can we make our own decisions, or did the laws of nature determine our decisions before we were even born? And if we have no free will, can we still be morally responsible for our actions?
The second is personal identity. Who are you? And what makes you the same person as your future self? For example, imagine that you were a character in Star Trek, and you decided to use a teleporter to beam you from one planet to another. And imagine that the teleporter worked by destroying your body, sending information about it to the other planet, and then rebuilding a perfect replica of your body on that new planet (complete with all your beliefs, desires, memories, and so on). Should we say that the teleporter moved you from one planet to the other? Or should we say that it killed you and replaced you with someone new, who looks and acts just like you?
Epistemology
Epistemology is the study of knowledge. We start this part of the class by working on basic critical reasoning. Which ways of arguing are valid, and which ways are invalid? For example, why is it okay to say "All men are mortal, and Socrates is a man. Therefore Socrates is mortal," but not okay to say "Socrates is a man, and Socrates is mortal. Therefore all men are mortal?" And what if I said: "I know that everything Socrates says is true, because Socrates says so." Is that a good argument or not?
The second topic is skepticism: How do we know that our beliefs about the world are true? Could this all be a dream? Could we all be in the Matrix? Is there any way to tell? If not, is it possible for us to have any knowledge about the world at all?
The main purpose of these classes is to train the students to develop basic critical reasoning skills, and to begin to apply these skills to questions that have puzzled philosophers for thousands of years. Then, at the end of the fall semester, each student will tell us which topic s/he liked best, and then take a full six-week class on that topic in the spring.
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 Parent-Teacher Conferences
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Thursday, March 18th - 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Friday, March 19th - 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm |
Please come out and speak to your child's teacher about his/her academic progress. We hope to see you there!
 SENIOR SCHOOL SPIRIT WEEK CALENDAR OPEN TO 12TH GRADE SENIORS ONLY!
February 12th - Wacky Tacky Day
March 12th - Celebrity Look Alike Day
March 19th - Retro Day
March 26th - Ninja vs. Pirate Day
April 2nd - Nerd Day
April 9th - Twin Day
April 16th - Backwards Day
 CONGRATULATIONS TO STAR SENIORS
OLUDARE BERNARD and ABENEZER SOLOMON!! RECIPIENTS OF 2009 POSSE SCHOLARSHIPS
ATTENTION ALL SENIORS
Senior Dues...$175.00
Please note: Dues are $129.00 if your child does not want a class ring.
$175.00 includes:
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Yearbook
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Cap and gown
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T Shirt
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Backpack
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Water Bottle
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Diploma Case
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Class Ring.
Payment Alert - SENIOR DUES MUST BE PAID IN FULL NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2010
 Parents/ Guardians,
You may register for Email Class Alerts by using the Parent Registration link at the top of our homepage. This will increase your link with our school.
Resources for Parents SchoolSourceNYC: Answers for New York City Families is an exciting multimedia project launched in spring 2009 by RMC Corporation in collaboration with THIRTEEN.
- This website provides the latest information on topics important to families such as how to register for kindergarten, what to look for when choosing a high school, and why families need to stay involved and connected to schools. The website also suggests ways for families to connect in a meaningful context with schools around the key area of student achievement. Print and multimedia materials showcased on the website may be downloaded and used in training workshops as well as for distribution by community partners. The SchoolSource NYC products will include information sheets, narrated PowerPoints, video clips, podcasts, and training guides.
Topics for the school year include: - Transitions to Kindergarten, Middle School and High School;
- Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Regents Examinations
- Strong Foundations
- High School Admissions Process
 STUDENT WEBSITE LOGIN PROCEDURES
1. Student usernames consist of their complete first name and last name with a period (dot) between the names without any spaces or uppercase letters. (example: dorine.cooper)
2. The first time a student logs in their password will consist of their last 6 digits (numbers) of their osis/id number.
For example, a student with the name Dorine Cooper with an osis/id number of 241356897 would login in the following manner;
Username = dorine.cooper
Password = 6897
3. Once the student logs on they will be instructed to create a new password. They should then use their last 5 digits of their osis/id number. For example, the above named student would change her password from 6897 to 56897.
IF A STUDENT FORGETS THEIR PASSWORD, I WILL RESET IT TO THE LAST FIVE DIGITS OF THEIR ID NUMBER. IT WILL ALWAYS BE THE LAST 5 NUMBERS. DO NOT CHANGE IT!
Thank you,
Mr. D. Camastro, Site Manager
All STAR students are expected to be in full
school uniform beginning with the first day of school. The uniform
policy is as follows:
Middle School students:
Light blue polo
shirts with STAR logo Navy blue pants (or skirts) - no jeans Black
shoes (no sneakers)
High School students:
White polo shirts with
STAR logo Black pants (or skirts) - no jeans Black shoes (no
sneakers)
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Today, 3/13/2010
High: 47
Low: 41
Rain
100% chance of precipitation.
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Tomorrow, 3/14/2010
High: 48
Low: 36
Rain
77% chance of precipitation.
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 Prom 2010 ~ Graduating Class 2010 will be here before you know it! May 24, 2010 Russo's on the Bay
Total Prom Cost: $125.00 per person
Payment schedule: Payment #1: Due Wednesday, March 31 ($62.50) Payment #2: Due Friday, May 7 ($62.50)
Important Middle School Senior Information. Senior Dues. $125.00 $125 includes: Yearbook, Cap and Gown, T shirt, Backpack, Water Bottle, Diploma Case Last week, included in the Parent Weekly mailing, was information about ARIS Parent Link. ARIS is an important resource where parents can access their children's academic achievements, attendance and more. Additional ARIS parent link information and passwords will be sent home shortly. 8th Grade Senior Committee meets on Fridays from 3:15 - 4:00 PM. Committee meetings have already begun and plans for upcoming senior events are underway.
Club Information
 The following clubs are available at STAR Young Entrepreneurs Club Meets on Wednesdays in Mr. Wallerson's room, 2n34, during lunch. Anime Club Meets on Fridays, 3:30 to 5 pm, in Mr. Domench's room 3n16 Music Club Auditions are taking place with Mr. Gramling in room 3n18 Journalism & Creative Writing Club
Wednesdays 3:15 to 4:15 in Ms. Plotnick's room, 2N18
School Meals Online
 School Meals Online
Visit www.nyc.gov/accessnyc to apply for School Meals online. Families only need to submit one application online for all their children, even if their children attend different types of schools (public, private or charter).
Complete the application online in any of the seven languages on ACCESS NYC - English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Haitian Creole or Arabic.
The paper application is still available and families who prefer that method, or would like to apply in a language not available on ACCESS NYC (for example Bengali, French, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Hindi, Polish or Urdu) can obtain the application from their child's school.
If families have any questions about the application, they can send an email to OSCompliance@schools.nyc.gov or call the Office of SchoolFood Help Desk at (718) 707-4400.
From the Principal
Message From
The Principal
Dear Parents:
Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year!
We are looking forward to a year filled with wonderful
opportunities for our entire school community to come together in
support of our students. We must continue to help each of them
building successfully for the future through fostering individual
determination and striving for educational excellence at STAR Early
College School.
Each year we learn more as a school community about what
we have to do to support all of our students in creating an
educational pathway that will prepare them to be ready for college.
Our mission is to educate and prepare all of our students to be
successful and productive citizens in the 21st century global
society. In todays world, all of our students will need a
postsecondary education in order to work in a career that will earn
a living wage.
Our educational challenge is to be able to foster your
child's ability to think critically, problem solve, work in teams,
use technology, be self-directed and to demonstrate good
citizenship and community service.
We are committed to a "college-going culture" which will
support each students dreams and future goals. We hope that you
will help support our goal to make STAR Early College the best
educational experience for your child.
Dr. Eric L. Blake
Principal
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