The APHS Look AHEAD - January 2020
News and Notes from the High School Leadership Team- V.13
The APHS Look AHEAD
Happy New Year from everyone at the high school! I hope that you were able to enjoy a peaceful holiday season with your family, friends and other loved ones.
As we move into the month of January, we are continuing to take stock in how we are doing this year, but also planning for what might be in store for the 2020-2021 school year. Our Guidance Office will be reaching out this month to begin the course selection process for next year. We will continue to offer a wide variety of new pathways courses so that students can explore their interests and passions in most any of our content area. We will also be offering more opportunities for students to receive college credit while still in high school. Be sure to ask your School Counselor about these courses! Finally, we are working to refine the scheduling systems and processes so that we can deliver an earlier and structured schedule for students and their families as we enter the summer months.
There is no question that Winter can also be a difficult time to stay motivated, but it's important that we do! Continuing with the theme calendar I shared last month, please find here a calendar of daily actions you can take each day this month to make it a Happy January. https://www.actionforhappiness.org/happy-january
As always, I am looking forward to everyone being back in the building, and please never hesitate to reach out with anything that you might need.
Serving every student every day,
The APHS Building Leadership Team
-Mr. Heath Quiles
-Mrs. Christina Mein
-Mrs. Rebecca Leach
#AP_EveryStudentEveryDay
"Creating passionate learners who contribute positively to their community and the world."
Michelina Lombardi was Principal for the Day at APHS!
Information Related to January Regents Week
Please remember that there is no instruction at the high school from January 20th through January 24th. During that week, only those students who need to take a Regents exam are required to attend school!
The schedule of Regents Exams for January 2020 is as follows:
https://averillpark.k12.ny.us/news-archive-2019-2020/3845-aphs-regents-exams-take-place-jan-20-24
If you have any questions, please contact your child's School Counselor directly at 674-7025.
APHS Course Catalogue for 2020-21 in now available
The APHS Course Catalogue for 19-20 is now complete, and ready to be viewed. The high school Counseling Office will soon be communicating timelines for student course selection, beginning with current 9th graders.
Here is a link to the Guide to Program Planning 2020-21:
https://averillpark.k12.ny.us/course-catalog-b
As you take a look at the courses we propose to offer, please remember that student enrollment and interest in our non-core courses will determine which courses, in the end, we are actually able to run. We encourage students and their parents to take the time to deeply discuss and explore courses which will make your time at the high school engaging and interesting in ways which ignite your passions. Please reach out to our school counselors for assistance as needed.
Senior Information
Senior Meeting - Monday, January 6 during Advisory
Josten's will be here to distribute cap/gown order forms for graduation. They will return on January 15 and 16 to collect the orders during lunches.
Senior Blocks – Leave your mark on AP! Block designs and money, $10, are due Friday 1/10 to Ms. Freeman in room 601. Block forms were handed out during advisory but can also be found in the main office, library, and room 601. When designing your block, try to focus on your time here at APHS. Fine details are hard to paint on the uneven blocks, so pick what means the most to you for your block!
APHS Students Tour the UN and 911 Memorial Museum in NYC
APHS Current Events Students Tour the United Nations and the 911 Memorial Museum in NYC
On Wednesday, December 16th. We had 42 students, along with Mr. Smith, Mr. Colbert, Mr. Goodnow, Mrs. Apelanz & Mrs. Yost, tour the United Nations in New York. Students were fortunate to see diplomats in session, actually voting on human rights issues. The afternoon was spent at the 911 Memorial Museum where students learned about one of the most tragic events in US history. It was a very moving experience.
Student Reading App - SORA
- FREE, FREE, FREE!
- Download or Stream EBooks & Audiobooks from our APHS Library for FREE!
- Students can access the Sora App in their Google suite!
- Download Sora (by OverDrive) on your own device.
- All students have an account, and you just log in with your school Google log-in credentials.
- Choose from a multitude of audiobooks and ebooks. You can have 3 at a time.
Active Parenting Workshop
Parents,
Are you interested in gaining information on the latest trends affecting your children such as:
-Technology/social media
-Substance use and other high risk behaviors
-School and social stress
If so, then please join us for Active Parenting of Teens.
This is a workshop for parents of students in Grades 6-9, which provides useful tools to navigate through adolescent years and help ensure their child's future well-being and success in school and at home.
Program runs Tuesdays: January 28 - February 25
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Location: Algonquin Middle School
Active Parenting of Teens supports parents by offering skills to:
-Redirect misbehavior and sidestep power struggles
-Discipline while teaching responsibility
-Prevent young people from experimenting with alcohol and other drugs
-Communicate effectively with children
-Explore and encourage nonviolent conflict resolution inside the home and out
This program is sponsored by the Rensselaer County Department of Mental Health: Student Assistance Program,
Registration is required - Contact Samantha Keenan at 518-674-7120 or keenans@apcsd.org. Or, contact Kim Favro at 518-674-7028 or favrok@apcsd.org
What's happening in the Entrepreneur Class?
What’s happened in the Entrepreneur Class?
This first semester has flown by with talk of owning a business. Students had to decide what type of business they wanted to own and how would they set it up. They worked on self assessments analyzing interests, abilities and aptitudes. Once a business was decided on they had to research competitors on a local and global level. We toured HVCC and UAlbany Massry Business School to get ideas of course work. In class advertising brochures and Linkedin profiles were created and we worked on marketing plans. In-between, UAlbany graduate students came to explain and teach about business accounting practices and what financial records are used in a successful corporation. The class is looking at business policies and human resources and will be wrapping up the semester preparing for the Precision Certification Exam in January.
APHS Yearbooks still for Sale
The 2020 Yearbooks are still for sale! The cost is $75. You may order online at jostens.com or pay through the school.
Yearbook order forms are available in the Main Office and in Room 205.
If you have yearbook-related questions, contact: baileya@apcsd.org / blosteinm@apcsd.or
News from the Counseling Center
Freshman scheduling appointments:
Counselors will be meeting with freshmen students throughout January to discuss their course selections for the 2020-2021 academic year, along with the transition to the high school. While parents do not need to attend these meetings, you are invited to join your child and their counselor. Please call Mrs. Heilmann at 518-674-7025 or email at Heilmannj@apcsd.org to let us know if you would like to attend the scheduling meeting.
PSAT Scores:
Students who took the PSAT in October were notified their scores were available on the collegeboard website. The Counseling Center has received the student paper score reports and students are encouraged to stop in and ask for theirs if they want theirs.
Naviance:
Naviance is a college and career software program which APHS utilizes to support students in making their college and career choices. Students may also take assessments to find their strengths as well as prepare a resume. Each year, counselors will be asking students to complete tasks on Naviance to help them prepare for their post high school plans. For most students, the username is their school email and the password is their school pin times two. Students can log in at https://student.naviance.com/averillphs
If you should have any questions, feel free to reach out to your student's counselor.
Please view this video for more information on Naviance: https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/news-archive-2019-2020/3848-counseling-center-integrates-naviance
Naviance update:
As of December 16th, Naviance changed their policy on passwords and student logins. All students must reset their password by January 27th. If they don't, they will be prompted to reset the next time they log on to Naviance. If your student cannot log on to Naviance, please have them see their School Counselor.
Naviance Task:
The Counseling Center has assigned the Strengths Explorer Task in Naviance to all 9th graders. We are asking students to complete the task by February 15th. This task will allow students to find out about their core strengths, which will then help them to determine different career pathways. The counselors are encouraging all students to utilize Naviance to help them become more college and career ready. If your student forgot their password, please have them see their School Counselor.
Quarter 2
Correction from last month's newsletter...
The Quarter 2 marking period ends January 30, 2020. Grades for Quarter 2 will be posted to School Tool February 4, 2020.
COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS:
SAT I & II
March 14, 2020 -SAT I Test only -Registration Deadline is February 14, 2020
May 2, 2020 Test - Registration Deadline is April 3, 2020
June 6, 2020 Test - Registration Deadline is May 8, 2020
ACT
February 8, 2020 Test - Registration Deadline is January 10, 2020
April 4, 2020 Test - Registration Deadline is February 28, 2020
June 13, 2020 Test - Registration Deadline is May 8, 2020
Students with disabilities who wish to apply for accommodations on college placement testing should pick up an information sheet in the counseling center or refer to the website for the test they wish to take. Decisions regarding accommodations for College Board and ACT testing rest with the testing company.
News from the Health Office
All incoming 11th graders that are going to be a senior next school year are required by New York State to have a second Meningococcal vaccine. Please see attached link for the flyer for information. https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2169.pdf.
Spring sports sign-ups will be starting soon, Family ID will open up Feb. 10th- 24th for you to sign your child up for a sport. Please check with your school nurse to see if your child needs an updated physical via email- millerv@apcsd.org. Check your spam folder for emails from your school nurse and Family ID as majority of communication is done via email.
All physicals are due Monday, March 2nd.
If your child has an injury/illness and they are unable to participate in P.E./sports a doctor's note is required- this is mandated by New York State.
*If they are on crutches and need the use of the elevator during the school day that needs to be indicated on the doctor's note as well.
*Once your child is cleared from their injury/illness a doctors note is required to allow the student to return to P.E without restrictions this is also mandated by New York State.
As you schedule physicals for your child remember if they are in need of any medication during the school day an order for medication needs to be filled out by their doctor and returned to the nurse's office to keep on file. This is including any over the counter medication like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, TUMS.
*School policy states that students are not allowed to carry any medication unless there is a doctor's order on file with the nurse.
Field trips- If your child will be attending a field trip and they take ANY type of medication during the time they are on the field trip please contact your school nurse. Accommodations may need to be made for your child to go on the trip.
Flu and cold season is officially here. Please review guidelines for keeping your child home sick. Yes, even in high school we need to follow these guidelines as well.
https://averillpark.k12.ny.us/images/Services/health/ParentGuidelinesforStudentIllness.pdf
Kindergarten Registration 2020-2021
The Averill Park School District has begun the process of registering boys and girls for the 2020-2021 Kindergarten Classes. If you, or someone you know, has a child who will be five years of age on or before December 1, 2020 please contact the district registrar at 674-7050 extension 7201 to make sure that the child is listed on our school census. This will guarantee that you will receive all upcoming kindergarten information by mail. Registration paperwork should be hand delivered by the parent or guardian to the district registrar at the district office at the Averill Park High School during the month of February. Registration hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. Registration forms are accepted by appointment. All paperwork must be completed by 02-28-2020.
New York State Public Health Law, Section 2164, requires certain immunizations (shots) to enter kindergarten and attend school. Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child has all the needed immunizations. They are listed below.
Required Immunizations for Kindergarten:
Immunizations and Number of Doses:
Polio - 3-4 doses
Hepatitis B - 3 doses
Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis -4-5 doses
Measles/Mumps/Rubella - 2 doses
Varicella (Chicken Pox) - 2 doses
Help "Spread Will Power"
Join APHS Student Government and the APHS Boys Basketball teams in “Spreading Will Power” Friday, January 31st during the school day and at the games!
The simplest way to state what our efforts accomplish is to say that we provide hope. When you think of children who are battling life threatening illnesses. Regardless of the diagnosis and outcome, hope can always be the one constant that can drive a family to steer onward and ensure that life is lived with no regrets.
The mission of the Brave Will Foundation is to provide services and support for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families until a cure can be found.
Please visit our online store to orderWebsite: https://spreadingwillpower.itemorder.com/
Save the Date - Graduation 2020
Upcoming Events
December 23-January 3 - Winter Recesss - No School
January 6 - Classes resume
January 6 - Senior Class meeting during Advisory (Graduation order forms distributed)
January 10 - Winter One Acts, 7pm, Auditorium
January 11- Winter One Acts, 7pm, Auditorium
January 14 - 8th Grade Parent Information Night for High School
January 15-16 - Josten's here during lunches to collect Graduation orders
January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
January 21-24 Regents Examinations
January 31 - Semester 2 Begins
January 31 - OBP Caberet, 4:30pm and 7pm, Auditorium
Averill Park High School
Email: quilesh@apcsd.org
Website: https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/
Location: 146 Gettle Road, Averill Park, NY, USA
Phone: 518-674-7000
Twitter: @APHS_Leaders