Steller's 50th Anniversary

50 years ago some parents in Anchorage, Alaska realised their dream of creating an Alternative school for their kids (grades 7 to 12). Four years later, I walked in the door the first time, and knew I was home. I spent six glorious years as part of the Steller family, and it seriously influenced who I am, and underscored my love of learning, my need to choose my own direction in everything, and my motivation to help make any community I am part of what I would want it to be. I am thankful to everyone who made Steller what it was for me. I hope that it is still a wonderful, safe, nest for the current students. As part of the official 50th anniversary celebration, they have opened a wall for people to write what Steller means to them. My summary is there, and copied here, because I can.

( This is what I posted there: )

Because I couldn't get to Alaska for the celebration, I volunteered to host the Zoom option. The decision was made to have a live stream of the opening cermony talks at Steller, and the zoom room remains open all weekend, if anyone feels inclined to make use of it.

 I really enjoyed zooming into the brief talks at Steller today. Some highlights:

( my notes from the speaches )

Bob, who hadn't been warned in advance that he would be called up to speak, spoke passionately about Steller's early years, when 150 students and 7 teachers arrived to an empty building, with no books, no equipment, no supplies, no furniture, but with a shared dream of students who receive their education, not within the walls of an enclosed fortress, but out there, in the world, and then bring back to the school what they have learned and done, and share it with the others, and it worked.

Then everyone at Steller was sent out to the hall to enjoy cake, and we in zoom took a little time to catch up a bit and remark about how grateful we are to have had Steller in our lives.

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But now it is 01:30 in my time zone, so I am going to go get some sleep...