AVHS Newsletter
September 20, 2020
Apple Valley High School
Website: avhs.district196.org
Location: 14450 Hayes Road, Apple Valley, MN, USA
Phone: 952-431-8200
Smore Newsletters
Text "Y" to 675-87 to opt-in to our Apple Valley High School Text Messages
Welcome to the Smore update for AVHS for the week of September 20, 2020. As we continue into this school year, we will communicate important information each week via Smore newsletters. Links to these newsletters will be e-mailed and texted home when new information is available. You can also find links to past newsletters on the AVHS website.
Important Dates
- Digital Academy Student Picture Day: Wednesday, September 30, times TBD
- Cohort A Picture Day: Thursday, October 1
- Cohort B Picture Day: Friday, October 2
- ACT for all students in Grade 12: Tuesday, October 6
- PreACT for all students in Grade 11: Wednesday, October 7
Message from the Principal
Last week we welcomed our students back to the building for the first time since March of last school year. Though many of us have never slept great before "the big first day", this year obviously felt different. And then it happened... The first buses pulled in, kids waved goodbye to anxious parents at the drop-off loop, and dutifully "masked up" as they returned to AVHS. Yes, it's been A LOT of work on everyone's behalf AND it was worth it!
My morning routine has always been to greet our students at the front doors and give fist bumps. Well, in accordance with health guidelines, fist bumps have given way to a rare "elbow bump", but seeing our students arrive continues to be the highlight of my day. While I appreciate connecting with colleagues, you can ask any administrator, paraprofessional, cook, custodian, secretary, or teacher at AVHS and they'll tell you the same thing- it's all about, and always has been, the kids. So thanks. Thanks for sharing your most wonderful human beings with us every day. I couldn't be more thankful for who they are and what they bring to our lives. And I am so proud of them for wearing their masks without protest.
When things got hard for me this week with lots of details to manage and worries about "getting it right", it helped to take a pause and remember how grateful I am for our dedicated staff who are working long days and nights to show up courageously for kids. I'm also finding that I feel better about life when I remember what makes me grateful: our seniors who welcomed students back with donuts and drink boxes, for my wife and kids who held down the fort while I've been away so much, and for my parents' health. So here's my challenge to all of us in the AVHS community- let's take some time to identify what we are grateful for and share that gratitude with others. I'll be posting tweets of appreciation this week with the hashtag #AVHSGratitude and encourage you to do the same as we recognize the people who make AVHS an amazing school community.
Take care. Be well. Go Eagles!
Drew Mons, Principal
AVHS Tech Help
Students Must Check In For Attendance On All At-Home Learning Days!
- On days when your student attends class at AVHS, teachers will take their attendance during each period.
- On all other school days students, including Digital Academy students, will check in on their student Campus app to check-in for their attendance for the day. Navigate to Attendance->Check-Ins and then click "Yes, I'm here to check in for the day". Students in Cohorts A and B will use this process on school days when they are not scheduled to be at Apple Valley. Students in Digital Academy will do this every school day.
Hybrid and Distance Frequently Asked Questions
Yearbook
Order a yearbook during the back to school special for only $75 before 9/25. That’s the lowest price of the year! Yearbooks are ordered directly through Jostens.com. Enter Apple Valley High School, MN as the school info.
Schedule Information
Orientation Videos
Hybrid Schedule at Apple Valley
School Hours
Doors Open: 7:30 a.m.
Arrival of Buses: 7:35 a.m. (approx.)
Start of School (1st or 5th hour): 8:00 a.m.
End of School (4th or 7th hour): 1:40 p.m.
196 Digital Academy Synchronous Zoom Sessions: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Doors Close: 1:50 p.m. (exception allowed for students involved in co-curricular activities)
Before and After School
- The building will be open at 7:30am. The school day ends at 1:40 and students must leave the building at that time (unless they are rostered in a cocurricular activity scheduled for that day). Please plan your transportation to and from Apple Valley to allow for these times.
- When students enter the building they will have two options; either to eat breakfast or go directly to their first classroom scheduled for the day.
- Students participating in cocurricular athletic and other activities and are on the program’s roster, will be allowed to remain in the building on in-person learning days, if needed, between 1:40pm (end of school day) and 3:30pm (start of practice).
- For students in our District 196 Academy or for cohort A or B students at home during their distance learning days, the building will open at 3:00pm to arrive for cocurricular activities.
Health and Safety at Apple Valley
Food Service and Free & Reduced Price Meals
Please note: Families must apply for Free & Reduced Price Lunch qualification every year.
Parking Permits
Infinite Campus/Schoology/MyPaymentsPlus/PayPAMS
Students and families new to District 196:
- Login Information will be sent via email from Apple Valley High School in mid-August.
- For MyPaymentsPlus and PayPAMS registration, please select "Minnesota" for the state and "Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan-ISD196" for the School District name.
Students and families continuing in District 196:
- Continue using existing login credentials for Campus and Schoology
- Families will need to create new login credentials for MyPaymentsPlus and PayPAMS. Please select "Minnesota" for the state and "Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan-ISD196" for the School District name.
- Student, family and emergency contact information
- Student schedules and attendance
- End-term grades and transcripts
- Course information, resources and announcements
- In-progress grading details
- Communication tool
- Register and pay for field trips, activities & athletics
- Purchase parking permits and other options
2020-21 Plan Regarding Damage to District-Issued iPads
What happens if the iPad issued by the school district gets damaged?
In previous years, the district offered an Optional Protection Plan for $20/device to assist families with accidental damage costs. However, due to the economic effect the pandemic has had on families as well as the conversion this summer from FeePay to MyPaymentsPlus as our online payment system, the decision was made to automatically enroll ALL iPads with this coverage at no cost to families for the 2020-21 school year.
What this means is the first incident (non-intentional damage) on each iPad that results in the district being charged will be covered by the district. Beyond that, the following will apply:
There is a $40 deductible for the 2nd incident
If there is a 3rd incident, the school and family will work out a plan that makes sense for each situation
Intentional damage to an iPad is not covered (including 1st incident)
Lost iPads are not covered and must be fully replaced by the family (estimated at $344) unless a police report is provided indicating the iPad was stolen in which case, it will be replaced at no cost to the family
Power cords/bricks are not covered under this plan as any replacements for those will be the responsibility of the family (unless covered under warranty)