Friday Falcon
Avon High School Newsletter - December 2017 - Volume 1:6
Principal's Newsletter
December 11th, 2018
Dear students, parents, guardians and members of the Avon High School Community,
It is hard to believe that we are in the first week of December already. This period between Thanksgiving and the December holidays always passes quickly. Many of our students are already hearing back from colleges where they applied for an early decision. This season can also be particularly stressful for a great many students. Nationally, there is a broad conversation taking place around issues of student anxiety, stress, resilience, and school climate. One highly regarded source of information regarding these issues is the Harvard University School of Education. They frequently publish articles, based on research, in a forum call “Usable Knowledge.” This is part of an effort by academia to make its work more accessible to broader audiences.
Here are two links to thought provoking articles on student resilience and student anxiety.
This first one is about how to build resilience in our children.
The second was an article on how school counselors can help student who have anxiety.
Resilience for Anxious Students
These articles raise interesting questions about how a student’s environment, the extent that they are allowed or taught to fail and overcome, and choices about how many honors and AP classes, could all potentially factor into a student becoming a resilient one or one who suffers anxiety.
As always, we are working hard to support all of our students with their mental health. I am excited that a social worker will be joining our team after the holidays.
Related to this is the recent increase in vaping here at the high school. “Vaping” refers to electronic cigarettes in which synthetic chemicals such as nicotine are inhaled through a device like this. We have caught a number of students vaping in the bathrooms this year. There are brand names of “vapes” such as “Bo’s” or “Juul’s.” They can be purchased at any convenience store or gas station.
Below is a picture of a recently confiscated “Bo.” The green cartridge is inserted into the vape. It typically contains synthetic nicotine and some kind of flavor, such as bubblegum. Because of its size, and the fact that there is no distinct smell, it is very difficult to catch students who are using these devices. Students are using them in bathrooms, and in other places as well. Some of the students who we have caught have indicated that they are “addicted” to the nicotine. We have asked all faculty and building security to be more vigilant in checking in on the bathrooms throughout the day.
Here is a recent Boston Globe article about vaping.
Because “Vaping” is relatively new, there is no hard scientific evidence that these vapes are safe. However, there is an entire industry out there claiming that vaping is very safe. If you just do an internet search, you can find the websites very easily. In my mind, I do not believe that inhaling synthetic nicotine deep into one’s lungs is a good idea. While it may not be as bad as a cigarette, I still think that in the long term those who vape will later regret it.
I would ask all parents and guardians to have a conversation with their children about the dangers and risks of vaping. Perhaps if we, the school administration and faculty, work together with our parents, we can counteract the vaping industry that is selling this stuff to our children and convincing them that it is safe. I think that this could really be an important step in improving our overall school climate.
Warmest Regards,
David Peling Sr.
UpComing Events
December 11th - AHS College Knowledge Night at 6:30pm in the auditorium
December 12th - AHS Orchestra Concert at 7pm in the auditorium
December 14th - AHS Orchestra Concert (Snow Date) at 7pm in the auditorium
December 20th - AHS Choral Concert at 7pm in the auditorium
December 25th - 29th - No School - Winter Recess
January 1st - No School - New Year's Day
January 4th - AHS Choral Concert (Snow Date) at 7pm in the auditorium
Congratulations Due
Representative Elizabeth Esty presented the National Congressional App Challenge Award to Dheepa and Jaya Hari for their Forensic App. Congratulations!
Avon High School Updates
Exchange Trip To France - April 4th - 14th, 2018
DIGNE LES BAINS and PARIS
Pending BOE’s approval, The World Language Department is proposing an exchange trip to France from April 4th till April 14th, 2018. The trip is part of an exchange program we have with the southern French high school in Digne Les Bains. Participants will spend one week with a French host family and three days in Paris. If you are taking or took French and/or hosted a French student in October the complete itinerary can be found on Madame Rose’s website.
AHS Reminders
The AHS Theatre department will be holding auditions for the spring musical, Crazy for You, on Monday, December 11th and Tuesday, December 12th from 2:30 - 4:30pm in the auditorium. Students wanting to audition should plan to attend both audition days, and should report to the chorus room on Monday directly after school. There is a sign up sheet posted outside Mr. Brochu's room for Monday's time slots.
Avon MotoPhoto
11East Main Street
Avon, CT 06001
(860)470-7939
Parents: Please send us candid photos for the 2018 yearbook. To upload photos for use in the yearbook, go to yearbookforever.com and click the "Community Upload" link. Access code is avonfalcon
We particularly need:
-Group photos (2 or more seniors) during PGS, RBS, TBS and AMS years
-Group photos (2 or more seniors) during high school years
But we can also use:
-Any photos (any grade) from sports, concerts, or special school events
-Any other particularly great photos of any Avon High school student
Thanks for your help!
Check out our staff on PJ Day!
Another Successful Week At AHS
Check Out Our Students
Field Hockey
Student Government
Continuing a longstanding Falcon tradition, ten members of Student Government prepared and served warm, hearty casseroles for the Immacare shelter. It was a very fulfilling evening and Student Government is looking forward to repeating this wonderful act of kindness in February.
Student Activities and Clubs
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code meets on Monday nights at AHS. Kevin Witkos came to visit and help us celebrate Computer Science Education Week.
In Our Classrooms
English
By Jenna Aylsworth
Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud has been successful at Avon High School for the past 11 years. Last year, we had 256 students competing at the classroom level, and about 20 students competing in the whole school competition. In the past we have utilized English teachers (both from AHS and AMS), school administrators, and school and public librarians as our judges. We have invited all students and parents to join us for this event. It is a way to bring the whole community together to celebrate poetry and student literacy. We expect to have the same format this year.
Students who win the competition are then eligible to train with professionals in the field of drama and poetry, alongside other student winners from other Connecticut schools. They then participate in competition at the state level and have the opportunity to continue on to the national level. This is an opportunity to build community and support literacy beyond our classroom and our schools.
This Year
There are 5 English teachers working on Poetry Out Loud and a total of 10 classes from grade 9-11 with over 200 students. They are studying poetry at the classroom level (both sound and sense) in order to become intimately acquainted with a poem of their choice. They will need to recite their poem to the class such that their understanding of the poem is communicated. Poetry Out Loud is connected to multiple strands of the Common Core in English.
Classroom competitions will be taking place before winter break (for the most part). Our whole school competition is scheduled for January 8th in the Cafeteria from 2:30-4pm.
Advanced Health
By Cheryl Edwards
Wellness
School Counselling News
SENIORS
- As you are submitting your applications, please be sure to let your School Counselor know if a college is requesting first quarter grades. These grades are not automatically sent off to colleges.
- As you hear back from your colleges with admissions decisions, please be sure to share the news with your School Counselor, and update the outcome in your Naviance account.
- Consider completing a scholarship search in Navinace, or using one of the websites found on the School Counseling Department Website.
JUNIORS and SOPHOMORES
PSAT SCORES UPDATE
Beginning the week of Monday, December 11th, CollegeBoard will begin its release of PSAT scores online through their website. CollegeBoard is anticipating a score release date of December 13th for the state of Connecticut. If you click here, you will be redirected to CollegeBoard’s website, which will provide detailed directions on how to access your scores. In addition to being able to review your scores, you will have a detailed report on your performance, and can link your CollegeBoard account to Khan Academy, a site that provides SAT, Advanced Placement, and subject specific prep free of charge. For an informational video on understanding your score report, click here.
In addition to accessing your scores through the CollegeBoard, PSAT scores will be uploaded into Naviance as soon as they are made available to Avon High School.
COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE NIGHT REMINDER
Also, on Monday, December 11th, in the AHS Auditorium, the School Counseling Department will be hosting an informational night geared towards sophomores and juniors. The night will be split into two portions:
- At 6:00 pm, there will be an optional informational session that will focus mainly upon: Standardized Testing and an overview of Naviance.
- At 6:30 pm, there will be a session featuring: the University of Chicago, Sacred Heart University, and the University of New Hampshire. Conversation points will include trends in admissions, making the most of your high school experience, and plenty of opportunities for “Questions and Answers”.
If you are unable to attend, we can email out some helpful handouts that will be distributed on the 11th.
For planning purposes, we kindly ask that you RSVP using the following Google Form: CKN RSVP
FRESHMEN
*As a follow up to our group meetings held back on October 11th, please be sure to stop by the School Counseling Office to check in with your School Counselor. You can also use the Avon Google Calendar to schedule an appointment. In case they are needed, directions on how use this feature can be found here.
Athletics
Avon High School's Athletics Booster Club
Please click here to see the latest Bulletin from the Booster Club and all of the exciting and informative news they have to share.
Project Graduation
For questions please contact Heather Maguire at lilmissham@aol.com or Sara Beaudin at sjbeaudin@comcast.net
PTO Update
Attention all Stop & Shop Shoppers!
Help us raise money for AHS! Register online and designate Avon High School to receive cash points each time you shop at Stop & Shop using your S&S card. These points can be redeemed to meet many of our educational needs.
To register, click here or visit http://www.stopandshop.com and sign into your account.
Click on:
· Savings
· Rewards & Programs
· Under A+, click on Register. AHS code # is 06278.
This simple effort will make a huge difference for our school!
This program runs from October 6 – March 15, 2018 and does not affect your gas points.
If you registered last year, you do not need to re-register, however, we encourage you to log on and verify your AHS designation. Remember, you can support up to two schools and each school will receive 50%.
Any questions, please contact your AHS PTO Co-Ways & Means Chairs:
Sue Chadha (sue@chadhafamily.com)
Susan Lybeck (susanlybeck@hotmail.com)
Thank you!