AVHS Staff Newsletter: March
March 6, 2023
Important Upcoming Dates at AVHS
March 21 - Eagle Excellence
March 27 - 31 SPRING BREAK
April *4* - ACT/PreACT Testing Day
April 20 - Spring Conferences
April 21 - Data Day
Information Included In This Update:
ACT Materials to Distribute in Advisory STARTING MONDAY
Preparations for Ramadan & Student Accommodations
Nominate an AVHS Building Sub for "Substitute of the Year"
Coffee & Conversation
- Advisory Slides
- T3 Eagle Days
- Upcoming Field Trips
- Building Hours During Spring Break
ACT Materials to Distribute in Advisory STARTING MONDAY
Please distribute Grade 11 ACT materials on Monday during advisory. There are two things each Grade 11 student should receiveL
1. Explain to students that the letter contains instructions that they must follow to receive their ACT score report in an online account. If students do not create a new or link an existing account by April 6, their ACT score report will be severely delayed.
2. We also want to make sure each Grade 11 student takes a copy of the “Taking the ACT” booklet which has tips and more info about the test.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!
Bill Blatzheim
Arts & Activities Director | Testing Coordinator
Preparations for Ramadan & Student Accommodations
It is that time of year again. Ramadan Mubarak! This holy month for our Muslim students is expected to begin on the night of March 22 and the morning of March 23. Eid is expected to fall on the night of April 20. This is the tentative date as the actual date of commencement of Ramadan 2023 is subject to the sighting of the moon.
A space outside of the community rooms by the big windows will be available during lunch for students who are fasting. If students are asking to pray, they will need a prayer accommodation form from the office. Please refer the student to Teresa Stepka. For your information:
- Current prayer passes: (28 daily prayer accommodations; 17 Friday prayer accommodations)
- Location: Community Rooms: (Boys: B side; Girls: A side)
- April 3 and April 4 due to ACT (STEM room: Girls; Hallway: Boys)
- Time: Approximately 1:22 PM
Reminders: Passes, Passing Time, Lunch bunches, Visitors, etc..
Gradebook Setup
- Gradebook setup - Set-up gradebook with correct weights and categories (or copy from another course) and save
- Gradebook setup - In Final Grade Settings, select HS Grade Scale and save
Passing Time
Please be visible and great students at the door
Hall Passes
Passes are required at all times (bathroom lanyard or pink pass)
New Yellow T3 Passes in Mailboxes on Monday
Turn in old passes to Kimberly Kocken
Sign-out is best practice but not required
No passes in the First Five Minutes/Last Five Minutes
Lunch Passes
This a reminder that you are responsible for the students you are taking in your class.
Students will not be let out of the lunch room without their pass
Please fill out THIS FORM for any student in your room during lunch.
We aim to give students passes starting on Wednesday, March 15th.
Visitors
Former students are not permitted to be in the building during the school day, unless specifically invited in by a teacher for an educational purpose.
- Campus Security should be notified in advance of expected visitors whenever possible
Nominate an AVHS Building Sub for "Substitute of the Year"
Please consider nominating a sub (Madison Binsfield, Maddie Ernst, Reonna Huettner, Bob Osmond, and Pete Sikich) and CLICK HERE to see the description and nomination form. AVHS
Coffee and Conversation
When - Cancelled this week due to Eagle Excellence Breakfast and on 4/3/23 due to an expected absence (*regularly TUESDAYS! 7:05 am)
Where - Mentor Classroom (next to STEM room)
What - Come for the coffee - stay for the conversation
See you there or reach out to me directly if you have questions. Thanks!
Advisory Slides: March 20-24
One more week until Spring Break and we hope you have BIG plans that week of putting school aside and enjoying yourselves. Next week we honor Women’s History Month and below you will find an overview of the plan, as well as a link to the slides. Have a great week and then have an even better week off!
Monday: Continue with Door Decorating Challenge
Tuesday: Final Day for Door Decorating Contest; UPLOAD a picture of your door to the slides
Wednesday: Women’s History Month Coloring Pages
Thursday: EaglEye
Friday: Great Debate Conversations revolving around Impactful Women
Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YXJXdVQ9hq7v12WuHzErOvwcE-nhWalnp2EMAl1cCIM/edit?usp=sharing
Your Advisory Team: Zac, Nichole, Michelle, Lisa, Kristin and Brenda
AVHS Building Hours During Spring Break
AVHS will be closed to visitors during spring break. We will be working in the office and answering or returning phone calls, but the main entrance will be locked. Teams practicing during spring break should enter door 32.
T3 Eagle Days
Heard and Seen in the Halls!
Information Included in Previous Updates
1st Day of T3 Reminders: Gradebook Set-Up, Passes, Hallway Expectations
MCA Day on March 15
- Employee Obligations: Inclement Weather Days
- E-Learning Days at AVHS
- REMINDER! Summative & Formative Assessment Expectations
- REMINDER! T2 Grading Memo
- Jackie & Jorja win Outstanding Service Awards!
- Digital Resource Teacher (DRT): Are You Interested in Serving Next Year?
- Q Comp Additional Support Funds are now available
Advisory Slides Advisory March 6-9
One more week until Spring Break and we hope you have BIG plans that week of putting school aside and enjoying yourselves. Next week we honor Women’s History Month and below you will find an overview of the plan, as well as a link to the slides. Have a great week and then have an even better week off!
Monday: Continue with Door Decorating Challenge
Tuesday: Final Day for Door Decorating Contest; UPLOAD a picture of your door to the slides
Wednesday: Women’s History Month Coloring Pages
Thursday: EaglEye
Friday: Great Debate Conversations revolving around Impactful Women
Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YXJXdVQ9hq7v12WuHzErOvwcE-nhWalnp2EMAl1cCIM/edit?usp=sharing
Your Advisory Team:
Brenda, Kristin, Lisa, Michelle, Nichole, and Zac
MCA Testing Day on March 15
Grades 10 & 11
Arrive at the normal time (by 7:35)
Bring your iPad - No Chromebooks
iPadOS 16.3+ in Settings > General
Fully charged to 100%
Cell phones off and in backpacks at the front of the room
Grade 10: MCA Reading on 1st floor
Grade 11: MCA Math on the 2nd floor
Period 1 will begin at 10 am; students still testing will finish in a quiet location
Grades 9 & 12
Period 1 starts at 10:00 am
Quiet study in the cafeteria if you arrive early
MCA Testing Day Schedule
MCA Exam – 7:40-9:55am
P1 – 10:00-10:28 (28)
P2 – 10:32-11:00 (28)
P3 – 11:04-11:31 (27)
P5 – 11:35-12:55
Group A: Lunch 11:35-12:00, Class 12:05-12:55
Group B: Class 11:35-12:01, Lunch 12:01-12:27, Class 12:31-12:55
Group C: Class 11:35-12:28, Lunch 12:28-12:55
P4 – 1:00-1:27 (27)
P6 – 1:31-1:58 (27)
P7 – 2:02-2:30 (28)
Employee Obligations on School Closing/Delayed Start Days
As we enter the time of year when inclement weather may occur, please CLICK HERE to review the Employee Obligations on School Closing/Delayed Start Days for 2022-23.
If you have any questions please contact Tiffany Weiler, HR Coordinator, at 651-423-7737.
E-Learning Days at AVHS
School will be canceled for the first two inclement weather days for District 196. For the third through seventh inclement weather days during a school year, all students scheduled to have school those days will participate in an E-Learning Day from home (CLICK HERE for District 196 Weather-Related Schedule Changes).
On the morning of an E-Learning Day at AVHS, teachers should...
- Post new materials on Schoology by 9:30 AM each day and include directions for how to complete the assignments.
- Plan lessons, activities, and/or assignments to be completed within approximately 25 minutes (with no new additional homework).
- Be available during regular school hours to respond to student/family questions sent by email and phone call messages left on their voicemail. There will be no synchronous (Zoom) instruction or office-hour sessions.
REMINDER! Summative & Formative Assessment Expectations
More information is available on page 9 in the STAFF HANDBOOK
Q Comp Additional Support Funds Available
If you would like to apply for funds for professional development, please fill out the Qualtrics application linked below. We will be accepting applications now through late April. Before you apply, please keep in mind the acceptable and unacceptable use of funds listed below.
Link to apply for additional support funds through Qualtrics:
https://district196.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0jOx6So2qcNjcLI
Questions? Feel free to reach out to Carla Christiansen, Lisa Schmidt, or Mike Otto
AVHS Site Goal: ACT Reading Benchmark
The percentage of all students in grades 11 and grade 12 at Apple Valley High School who meet or exceed the College Readiness Reading Benchmark composite score (22) as measured by ACT will increase from 32.0% in 2022 to 40.0% in 2023. (19 students= 41%; 42 students= 47%)
REMINDER! T2 Grading Memo
Here is a link to the T2 Grading Memo: CLICK HERE
It is also attached to Pete's email from Monday morning.
Important Notes from the Memo:
1. Finals are on March 8 (Study Period in Advisory, P2, P4, Lunch w/Advisory, P6) and March 9 (P1, P3, P5, Lunch w/Advisory, P7).
2. The window to begin entering grades will open on March 3rd. Final grades must be entered into Campus by 11:59 pm on Thursday, March 16th.
3. If entering comments, only use the Campus canned comments. DO NOT enter your own.
Questions? Contact Pete Buesgens
Jackie & Jorja win Outstanding Service Awards!
As many of you know, Jackie Preble is the forever “finder of lost things” so it felt very appropriate to tell her that a bouquet of flowers had been found in the parking lot, but they must have been destined for her. As one of her nominators shared, her “unique” way of working with kids and colleagues coupled with her sincere care and “how can I help” approach to all things AVHS are treasured here in our community.
Cultural family advocate, Jorja Valandra, said she was shocked to receive the news from Superintendent Kreger, but anyone who works with her, knows and appreciates who Jorja is as an exceptional partner and staunch advocate for students. Jorja cares deeply for her students and goes to tremendous lengths to know who they are, what they need, and how to help them realize their greatest dreams.
We are incredibly fortunate to have such kind, supportive, fun, and dedicated colleagues to work with. Please join us in celebrating Jackie and Jorja by stopping down to the main office and the CFA office to congratulate them this week. Go Eagles! Go, Jackie! Go, Jorja!
Digital Resource Teacher (DRT): Are You Interested in Serving Next Year?
The DRT typically has the equivalent of one teaching period removed from their schedule to allow them to serve as a Digital Resource Teacher. Interested teachers should look at DRT Qualifications and Responsibilities and reach out to me directly if they would like to learn more.
Preliminary Schedule for March 10 Staff Development/Grading Day
REMINDER that we will meet in the morning at the District 196 Area Learning Center -
2120 Silver Bell Rd, Eagan, MN 55122
- 7:05 am Next Steps Share Out
- 8:00 Staff Meeting
- 8:45 Team Time
- Essential Outcomes for each unit through April 21 (Data Day)
- Common Formative & Summative for each unit through April 21 (Data Day)
- 11:00 Lunch and grading on your own at locations of your choosing
Who Do I Go To For Help?
Technology. Click here for AVHS Tech Help. The AVHS Tech Help page is for parents and students and is for issues with Schoology, Campus, iPads, internet support, and more.
Contacting counselors. Click here to find your student’s counselor. Counselors are available to assist with concerns about scheduling, academic progress, and mental health.
Contacting administrators. Click here to contact an AVHS Assistant Administrator. Assistant Administrators assist with questions about attendance, behaviors, credit recovery, and school climate/safety concerns. Ms. Moren works with students with the last names A - K and Mr. Tinder supports students with the last names L - Z.
Apple Valley High School
Website: avhs.district196.org
Location: 14450 Hayes Road, Apple Valley, MN, USA
Phone: 952-431-8200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avhsscholar
Twitter: @avhsacademics