Friday Falcon
Avon High School Newsletter - April 2018 - Volume 1:14
Principal's Newsletter
Dear Students, Parents, Guardians, and members of the Avon High School Community,
This is what I have always referred to as the “crazy season.” All spring sports are full on, the school play is just around the corner, (This weekend! Come see it!) , AP exams are just days away, the school wide SAT’s are today, spring concerts are fast approaching, senior year activities/outings/prom will soon start, and graduation is just nine weeks away. I often tell my family this time of year that I will see them in late June.
It’s also a very exciting time of year. I would encourage all of you to come and support our teams, our musicians, our actors and support these vital programs that so enhance our programming at Avon High School. Being able to be a part of all this is one of the best parts of being a principal.
I would also like to compliment all of our athletes, coaches and fans, who continue to represent our school in a very positive way.
Hope to see you on the ball fields soon.
Best Regards,
David Peling Sr.
Principal
Check Out Our Students
Wellness
Here are a few quotes from student’s journals on how their internships are going...
“I also developed interpersonal skills in the ways of building friendliness with those I met when working the function where the event was being held in Hartford. I also stepped out of my comfort zone in ways of where the event was held-a more corporate setting than I was used to.” – Intern at Untapped Potential
“On Saturday, I went to the Norfolk Venue and shadowed the hospitality area. This was extremely interesting because it allowed me to meet many of my learning objectives. I set up the room, I met the artists, and worked around the venue and restaurant to make sure everything was set up. I instructed the artists and was able to talk to them about their tour, and was even able to watch part of the show.” – Intern at Infinity Music Hall
“The nurses took the time to educate me on the works of a cat flow involving a port that has access to the heart. I got to observe the cat flow while one nurse did it and explained along the way.” – Intern at The Cancer Institute.
European Study Tour 2018
UpComing Events
- April 24th - SAT Test - reschedule
- April 26th & 27th - Early Dismissal - Parent/Teacher Conferences
- April 27th & 28th - AHS Spring Musical - Crazy For You - 7:30pm
- April 29th - AHS Spring Musical - Crazy For You - 2pm
- May 3rd - World Language National Honor Society Program - 7pm
- May 4th - Music Service Society's Coffee House - 7pm
- May 9th - AHS Senior Athlete Recognition - 6pm
- May 9th - National Honor Society Induction - 7:30pm
- May 17th - AHS Band Concert - 7:30pm
- May 21st - Dollars for Scholars - 6pm
- May 22nd - Career Expo
- May 23rd - AHS Chorus Concert - 7pm
- May 31st - AHS Orchestra Concert - 7pm
- June 1st - Senior Picnic
- June 2nd - AHS Prom
- June 5th - Awards Night - AHS Auditorium
- June 19th - AHS Graduation - 5:30pm
Congratulations Due
AHS Math Team
Science Olympiad
Thank you for your support of the AHS Science Olympiad team! The team finished 11th overall out of 44 CT teams participating in competition. Congratulations extend to our medalists!
Ayushi Hegde and Kelly Zheng for their 1st place finish in Anatomy & Physiology
Caroline Nisbet and Hannah Boruchov for their 1st place finish in Write It Do It
Ayushi Hegde and Sai Viswanathan for their 4th place finish in Microbe Mission
Haeyoung Yi for her 4th place finish in Mission Possible
Thank you to the parent volunteers for the day: Mrs. Colleen Nisbet and Mrs. Krithiga Hari - this would not have been possible without their support in supervising the team room and tracking student attendance throughout the day as students reported to different events throughout campus.
Reminders
Special Testing Schedule for Tuesday, April 24th, 2018
West Point
Graduation Lawn Signs For Sale
Lost and Found
Obligations
School Counseling News
Greetings Students and Families!
As we near the end of the first week of the fourth, we want to take this opportunity to update you on recent and future happenings from our School Counseling Office. While it may be hard to believe, we are a little less than two months away from the end of the 2017-2018 school year. As of this point:
The senior class submitted over 1,900 college applications to 373 colleges.
Counselors have been meeting with junior students and their families to review the college planning process.
On March 27, AHS hosted its annual College Fair, which featured over 140 colleges and universities.
Counselors continue to meet with students and parents on an individual basis to discuss: transition planning, academic supports, clubs/activities, social issues, academic/school-based accomplishments, schedule/level changes, course selections, life management, resume building, and more.
On April 24, all grade 11 students will participate in a school-day administration of the SAT test. **No prior registration is required. Additional information about the schedule for the day will be sent in the near future.
On April 24, School Counselors will meet with all grade 9 and 10 students in small groups to review the year, discuss next year, and prepare for our Career Day.
On May 22, all grade 11 students will participate in the Next Generation Science Exam.
Save The Date
- CT School Day SAT Test has been rescheduled to April 24th. All juniors will sit for the SAT test during the school day. No preregistration is required.
- On May 22nd, all grade 9 and 10 students will attend a Career Expo hosted in the AHS gymnasium.
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Avon High School Presents Gershwin Musical Crazy for You
AVON, CT, April 18, 2018—Laugh and hum along as Avon High School presents the romantic comedy musical Crazy for You, featuring the music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin and a book by Ken Ludwig. This Tony Award-winning, all-ages show is filled with lively tap dancing and beloved musical numbers like “I Got Rhythm” and “Embraceable You.” Performances, which feature a cast, crew and pit orchestra composed of talented Avon High School students, run April 27-29 at the Avon High School (AHS) Auditorium. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets, which are available at the door starting one hour prior to show time, are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Email avonhstheatre@gmail.com by midnight on April 25 to reserve tickets in advance for the discounted price of $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Priority seating tickets are limited and available for $20.
Crazy for You, an adaptation of the Gershwins’ 1930 musical Girl Crazy, opened on Broadway in 1992. Avon High School's production is directed by Foster Evans Reese. Choreographer Melissa Feder has taught the entire cast to tap dance. AHS band teacher Kyle Culbertson conducts the orchestra; Ishaar Gupta serves as vocal director; Rob MacPherson leads the set, lighting and sound crew; Sarah Devlin provides the 1930s-era costumes. AHS theatre teacher Jill Paterson is producing the show.
Leading man Bobby Child is played by “triple threat” Andrew Lofredo, who can dance as proficiently as he can sing and act. Bela Zangler is played by the dashing AJ Sisson and Irene Roth by the elegant Tessa Panczner. Julia Shufro plays the pure and enchanting Polly Baker. Polly’s father is adeptly portrayed by Matthew Giarratana. Maggie Fowler takes on two contrasting roles as Bobby’s mother and a Nevada cowboy. Varsha Irvathraya also handles two roles: a cowboy and the businesslike Perkins. Nevada hotel proprietor Lank Hawkins is played brilliantly by Marcel Paige.
The tap dancing Follies Girls are HaeYoung Yi, Lara Beckius, Annika Mathias, Catherine Hyers, Caroline Mascoli, Sarah Obie, Lucy Schwartz and Allison Rinehart. In the role of jaunty cowboys, Sisson, Fowler and Irvathraya are joined by Rachel Allen, Asa Jackson, Izzy Vicente, Julianne Good, Mary Ehrbar, Isabella Carvalho, Minhyeok Chang and Christy Park.
Chang plays a second role as Eugene Fodor, across from the spunky and entertaining Christina Murphy as Patricia Fodor. Julianne Good also plays a second role as chauffeur. Tyler Hahn and Noah Hay lend their singing voices from the orchestra pit, which features musicians Sheridan Bernard, Jillian Bump, Morgan Hay, Marissa He, Nicole King, Angie Martinez, Benjamin Reyes, Amparo Saubidet, and Sophie Wei on woodwinds; Daniel Jobe, Jackson Jobe, Parker Jobe, Drew Laird, Zachary Rush, Nicole Sisson, William Valenti and Brandon Young on brass and Elliott Davis, Taemin Kim, Janis Ko, Haeun Lee, Hayoung Lee, Pauline Park, Nicholas Shieh and Sam Taubl on strings. The rhythm section is composed of Levin Cusatis, Hayoon Park, Rosemary Salchert, Daniel Shea and Pranav Tadepalli.
Stage Manager Harrison Smith coordinates details and helps everything run smoothly. Supporting him are Assistant Stage Managers Arianna Kehoe and Alyson Olesak. Assistant Technical Director Kate Bruder oversees set construction and painting. Construction Captain Ryan Virag has assembled the pieces.
During the show, Lighting Designer Jack Carroll and Assistant Lighting Designer Ruel Davis ensure the work on stage is illuminated effectively, along with lighting crew member Anaia Oquendo. Sound Designer Neel Srinath and crew members Spencer Lazarus and Joe Paige are responsible for making sure cast members are heard. Hair and makeup designs will be implemented by A’Shanti Granville, Cameron McCarty, Ksenyia Nosenko, Aarohi Patel and Miranda Sida. Helping with set preparations are Colleen Gaudiana, Emmaline Howe, Maya Krodel, Deven McCarthy, Ethan Na, Annabel Schwartz, Anisha Sharda, Emmy Shi, Grace Raines and Nabeeha Fatima.
Themed concessions will be available during intermission for cash-only donations. A team of dedicated parent volunteers is helping with preparations. For questions about the show, call 860-404-4745.
PROM!
Athlete Commitments
Over the past week, five AHS senior girls cross country and track athletes have committed to run next year at various colleges. The girls have been an integral part of our programs success over the past few years. Their leadership and commitment to academics as well as our athletic programs have been second to none. We wish them all the best as they head off to their respective schools in the fall.
Rachel Martin - Fairfield University
Ashley Martin - Saint Joseph's University
Sara Leavens - Hofstra University
Hayley Dougela - Merrimack College
Haley Gens - Bryant University
Rachel Marting, Ashley Martin and Sara Leavens...Congrats girls!
Hayley Dougela with coach Zlatin and fellow teammate Carly Carpino
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.
F.A.M.E.
F.A.M.E. will meet on Monday, April 23rd at 7 pm in the Orchestra Room. Please note room change for this month. All are welcome. Any questions? Please contact any of our board members:
Robin Lazinsk (rdlazinsk@hotmail.com), President
Gwendolyn Hahn (Gwenhahn64@gmail.com), Vice President
Lynne Zemaitis (lzemaitis1973@gmail.com) and Susan Lybeck (susanlybeck@hotmail.com), Secretaries
Meredith Jobe (the4jobes@gmail.com), Treasurer
Friends of Avon Music Education (F.A.M.E.) is a music and theater booster club at Avon High School which supports each of the music disciplines along with the theater department. Our organization was founded in 1996 by a group of parents who were interested in supporting the AHS music program.
Avon PTO
The AHS PTO introduces Konstella!
Publishing a directory is an extremely labor intensive project and finding volunteers to take it on has been difficult. It is also costly as we have had a decreased numbers of members over the years and our printing costs go up. Other Avon schools have utilized the online directory and have had great success. The concept is growing and we are in the learning stages, so I request your patience in getting this all together. So without further ado...welcome to the world of Konstella...
Konstella is a communication channel for parents of school-aged children. This website/app allows parents to efficiently reach other parents and teachers, and participate in school-wide discussions and activities. Avon High School PTO will have a secure site that can only be accessed by verified members of our school community. We hope to have Konstella used as the vehicle for communication throughout the Avon School District by next year - so sign up today! It will be so efficient to have directory information at your fingertips on your smartphone or tablet as well as on your home computer.
With Konstella, you will be able to:
- Volunteer for PTO committees and events
- Access the online student/family directory (there will be no printed directory this year!)
- Receive communications from the PTO
Steps to sign up for Konstella:
- You will first need to set up your Konstella account via computer, but after you have the account - you can download the Konstella app to your tablet or smartphone
- Type this URL into the address bar https://www.konstella.com/cd/xjg05i
- Enter your email in the provided space.
- You will then be sent an invitation email.
- Follow the directions in the email to complete the registration for Konstella.
Some notes on using Konstella:
- Please add Konstella.com to your email program's safe list..
- Once you are registered, please be sure to customize your privacy settings within Konstella by clicking your NAME, then SETTINGS. You may enter in as much or as little personal information as you prefer. In order to get PTO communications this year, you must include your EMAIL at a minimum.
- Use Konstella online and/or download the app to your tablet or smartphone.
- It is FREE to be listed in the directory, but to access other families' contact information, we request that you please contribute to the AHS PTO membership with a $30 donation by check made payable to AHS PTO.
If you have any questions, please let us know. Thank you!
Heather Maguire