AVHS Staff Updates (Summer)
Friday, June 10
Important Upcoming Dates at AVHS
June 20-23, June 27-30 - Credit Recovery for Math & Science Courses (8am to 12pm)
July 11-14, July 18-21 - Credit Recovery for Social Studies & English Courses (8am to 12pm)
August 31 - First Days of School (All Grades)
September 1 - Students attend regularly scheduled classes
September 2, 3, 4, 5 - NO SCHOOL
September 6 - Return to classesSeptember 12 - 17 - Homecoming Week
Summer Credit Recovery
What? Credit Recovery will be offered this summer for those who have received an incomplete or fail for required courses. Credit recovery does NOT mean students need to complete the entire course
When?
SESSION ONE: MATH AND SCIENCE COURSES June 20-23, June 27-30
SESSION TWO: SOCIAL STUDIES AND ENGLISH COURSES July 11-14, July 18-2
Time is from 8:00-12:00pm
Transportation is provided if living in the district.
Questions? Contact Jennie Moren
How to Help Students Register?
CLICK HERE to register for Math
CLICK HERE to register for Science
CLICK HERE to register for Social Studies
CLICK HERE to register for English Language Arts
Covid Tests Available for Staff
Summer of 2022 Carpet Projects
If your classroom is highlighted, all contents will need to be removed by June 10th.
Mark O'Brien and the custodial staff will handle the heavy lifting. They will need your help with personal items. Please email Mark at mark.obrien@district196.org if you need boxes.
REMINDER! Personal Leave Requests on Eagle Reserve
8.7.3 Ineligible Days: Emergency/personal leave days may be used without stating a reason, except as follows:
A. During the first ten (10) student contact days (1st allowable is Friday, September 16, 2022).
B. Mondays and Fridays during the last twenty-five (25) student contact days of the school year (Begins Wednesday, May 3, 2023).
C. The Tuesday following Memorial Day (May 30, 2023).
D. The last two (2) student contact days (June 6/7, 2023).
E. All non-student contact days.
Exceptions to the days listed above shall be made for reasons outlined in Section 8.7.4. Allowable Reasons: Teachers shall be granted emergency/personal leave for the following reasons:
A. Property closing.
B. Court appearances when a party to a court proceeding or witness in a court proceeding, except against ISD 196.
C. Emergency causing serious physical damage to property.
D. Bereavement Leave (Section 8.4).
E. Religious observance as required by the teacher’s religious conviction provided such requirement cannot be taken care of while school is not in session.
F. Attendance at a wedding.
G. Attendance at the graduation of teacher’s son, daughter, brother, sister, parent, spouse, or self.
*Effective the day after School Board approval of the 2021-2023 collective bargaining agreement: Attendance at a graduation of a teacher’s child, sibling, parent, spouse, self, and all persons who reside in the household and rely on the teacher for support.
H. All leaves under Family Leaves (Section 8.6). ISD 196-DCUE AGREEMENT July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2023
I. Attendance at a school event of the teacher’s child (pre-school through post-secondary). Such leave is limited to sixteen (16) hours per school year.
*Effective the day after School Board approval of the 2021-2023 collective bargaining agreement: Attendance at a school event of the teacher’s child and all children who reside in the household and rely on the teacher for support (pre-school through post-secondary). Such leave is limited to sixteen (16) hours per school year.
J. Military duty and to attend military ceremonies for teacher’s son, daughter, brother, sister, parent, spouse or self.
*Effective the day after School Board approval of the 2021-2023 collective bargaining agreement: Military duty and to attend military ceremonies for teacher’s child, sibling, parent, spouse, self and any person who resides in the household and relies on the teacher for support.
K. Childcare emergency when the teacher’s childcare provider cannot provide services.
L. Absences necessary to attain an additional educator license.
Calendar Updates for 2022-23
The District 196 2022-23 Calendar has been up for some time with the last updates being made on 5/26/22. Please note that teacher workshop days will be Wednesday (8/24), Thursday (8/25), Monday (Aug 29), and Tuesday (Aug 30).
The first days of school (grades 6-12) will take place on Wednesday (8/31) and Thursday (9/1) to be followed by a 4-day Labor Day weekend with classes resuming on Tuesday, September 6.
The end of Trimester 2 moved from March 2 to March 9 (one week later) by a school board vote last week. The March K-12 Staff Development Day has changed from March 3 to March 10. This results in trimesters of the following length (in student contact days):
2022-2023
Trimester 1—58 Days
Trimester 2—57 Days
Trimester 3—56 Days
Please be aware of this when licensed staff sign up for Personal Days for 2022-2023.
UPDATE! Building Alarms & Alerts
Test 1 - Fire alarm at the panel and pulled button
Success - Flashing strobes and did not hear Anne’s voice with fire alarm
Test 2- Pushed alert button at the panel
Success - Anne's voice came on and the overhead doors dropped
Summary - We feel good that the system will not drop garage doors or have Anne’s voice come on in the event of a fire or fire warning unless detectors pick up smoke at the doors. This test has been successful for three consecutive tests on three different occasions.
- If staff members see flashing strobes, they should exit their classrooms and evacuate due to a fire alarm.
- If staff members hear Anne Kusch's voice come on the PA, they should consider the situation as an active safety threat/building alert and act accordingly (run, hide, or fight)
REMINDER! End o' Year Memo
Reminder! Finals & Final Exams
Nuts and Bolts:
- As always, seniors will be allowed to come in to school during the week of June 6th to meet academic obligations for their diplomas.
- If you are planning to give a final, have a plan for how you will deal with potential absences/illness.
- As outlined in our Faculty Handbook, each class needs to have a meaningful end-of-trimester activity. Teachers may give a final exam/assessment in accordance with learning targets and their learning team, offer intervention days or classroom community activities that celebrate successes, and allow for reflection on accomplishments.
- Final grades are expected to be entered in Campus by 11:59 on June 14th.
REMINDER! Hall Passes: 3 Days Left... Please Use Them!
Three quick reminders on pass-related items as we look to maintain consistent and structured expectations that promote a positive learning environment:
- Passes –
- Students should always have a pass when they leave your class.
- If they are working outside of your room, a pink pass with their names and time/date is sufficient.
- Advisory passes –
- If you want to give a pass for a student to leave their advisory and come to you, no problem.
- Please do not write passes for a student to leave your advisory and go to another teacher’s advisory as they are dealing with their own advisory students and activities.
NEW! Prayer Is Over...for this School Year
Summer is Coming: Supervision & Support Needed!
The last several days of school are a time when additional teacher supervision is needed throughout the building. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- During passing time, PLEASE BE IN THE HALLWAYS
- Unless an emergency, please keep students in the classroom during the entire period. If they must leave the classroom, a pass IS REQUIRED.
- Be on time for your assigned duties.
- If you are a teacher of seniors, your Department Leader will assign you some “opportunities” for the time after the seniors are gone. Thank you for helping your colleagues.
Coffee & Conversation: OPTIONAL staff meetings
Where - STEM Classroom
What - Come for the coffee - stay for the conversation
We'll check in, see what topics are coming up for our faculty and staff and discuss some of the plans people have for finals/end-of-year activities as we head to the homestretch of the 21-22.
A School-Wide Approach to Cell Phones
Our AVHS school-wide approach allows students the flexibility to use cell phones to stay connected to their family and friends during passing time, lunch, and before/after school, but also to keep them from becoming a diversion from the learning in the classroom. This is how it works:
Expectations: What We Do During the School Day
During all class periods, cell phones and personal devices are turned off or on airplane mode and stored out of sight.
Students may use personal cell phones and mobile devices before and after class, during their lunch periods, and between classes.
To prevent usage in hallways and restrooms, students will exchange their cell phones for a pass to leave the classroom during instructional periods. If a student does not have a cell phone, they may exchange their student ID.
Non-Negotiables: What We Don’t Do
It is never acceptable to send threatening or harassing messages or phone calls.
It is never acceptable to take photos or videos of others without their permission.
It is never acceptable to take pictures or videos of fights or dangerous situations.
It is never acceptable to use your cell phone or electronic communication devices with messaging or picture-taking options to be visible in locker rooms or restrooms.
Students who violate this policy regarding cell phones and electronic devices are subject to appropriate disciplinary consequences.
Formal warning. Teacher notifies parent/guardian of the violation (email or call).
The teacher notifies the parent/guardian of the violation with a phone call. Referral to document call in Infinite Campus.
Referral to Student Support Office. The administrator will meet with the student and contact the parent/guardian to establish appropriate consequences.
NOTE: If a student refuses to surrender an electronic device to an administrator they are subject to additional consequences.
EXCEPTION: Students who use a personal mobile device to monitor a medical condition (i.e. diabetes, epilepsy) may carry devices with them at all times.
The Learning Center
What? The Learning Center (TLC) Serves as a disciplinary alternative to out-of-school suspension or dismissal. Students may be assigned to The Learning Center for as little as one class period or as long as two days. In addition to providing a place to process harm when it has been committed, TLC can also help students repair the harm with adults' support, as well as be a place for the development of skills that help them improve their academic performance and social-emotional skills.
Who? Assignments to the Learning Center should only be done by a member of the Admin team or the Behavior Support Team. Students are NOT allowed to “check themselves in” to TLC. TLC is staffed by our Behavior Support Clerk (Mr. Diallo Powell-Brown) and our Basic Skills Clerk (Mr. Jibril Adam) as well as by teachers with an assigned duty hour.
Why? In order to help the student, we need time and space, sometimes in a reactionary manner and preferably in a proactive manner. It enables students to stay on task, learn from their mistakes, and repair harm as needed. Keeping students in school as much as possible is important (that is where they learn best), but we also know that restorative work takes time, so we provide TLC.
How does it work? Our goal in TLC is to help students maximize their time in the classroom. When a student is struggling in class and a check-in is needed, the teacher should call x18297. We will send a member of the Student Support Office to check in with the student outside the classroom. A Behavior Support team member can offer students the opportunity to return to class with a clear understanding of expectations or have the student join them in TLC for the remainder of the class period. A student's check-in will be logged to identify those who need more support and/or problem-solving strategies.
The student's Assistant Administrator (Jennie Moren *A-K or Paul Tinder *L-Z) will determine the appropriate consequences.
Where? TLC is located in the Green Room periods 1-4 & periods 6 & 7 (across from the Choir Rooms) and Community RoomB during 5th period.
When? TLC operates from 7:15 am until 2:30 pm
Minimum Isolation Period Shortened to Five Days
Isolation may end after five full days if staff or students are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their other symptoms have improved. The five-day isolation period starts with day zero being the first day of symptoms OR the day the positive test was taken. If the above requirements are met, the employee can return on day six. (i.e. An employee testing positive on a Wednesday could return on a Tuesday.)
Creating a Culture of Adult Wellbeing at School
Access to district-provided meditation resources
- This Virtual Calming Room was designed to assist in identifying different strategies for managing emotions.
- Smartphone mental health apps
Access district-provided to hotlines and other resources
- Associated Clinic of Psychology (ACP). At no cost to you, call 612-455-8646 to schedule confidential phone coaching sessions to support you. Please mention the Educator Resilience Program in a VM and two dates/times you are available to talk. You will receive a call back confirming your session.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Your EAP can help with almost anything you can think of. EAP services are confidential and available 24/7 at no cost. District 196 employees can utilize this program by calling 866-326-7194 or logging on to hpeap.com (password ISD196)
13 Educator-Approved Podcasts to Listen to This Year. Highlights include:
- This Teacher Life How do we enjoy education “when it feels like a hot mess”? What does “learning” mean in 2021? In episodes such as “4 Things That Are NOT Overrated This School Year” and “Balancing Parenting Life with This Teacher Life,” Genta shares real-life narratives from her own teaching experience, along with tips and tricks about how teachers can stay motivated and creative in their classrooms.
- The Mindful Kind The 10-minute-long episodes cover topics like tips to improve sleep quality, how to overcome imposter syndrome, and different ways you can let go of past mistakes. The concise format makes for a great binge-listening experience and also works well if you don’t have a lot of free time to unwind.
The Resilient Educator (ReEd) has resources for educators to find that healthy work-life balance and live happy and productive lives inside and outside of the classroom.
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