The APHS Look AHEAD-November 2021
The Opening Newsletter for APHS Students and Parents- v.28
The APHS Look AHEAD- 21-22
Dear APHS Students and Families,
Welcome to November! We hope this edition of the APHS Look AHEAD finds you, and your family, doing well. The first two months of the 21-22 school year have been exciting and tremendously successful, but also full of adjustments and new transitions for everyone within the school community. It had been a while since we functioned as a full building!
As always, all of our students, staff, and school community have risen to the occasion in every way imaginable throughout the past two months. That said, this has been a big transition, and many students have struggled a bit to adjust to the rigor, pace and energy of everyday, full-time school. As we move into the month, please remember that our teachers are available to assist with any academic challenges which might emerge. Our counseling staff is here everyday, as well, to support students with their social-emotional needs. If you need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out. That is what we're here for! I know that, working together cohesively, we can take care of all of our students' needs.
As you can see in this edition of the Look AHEAD, the month of October was full of many celebrations at APHS. As we move into November, we also have a great deal to be excited about, as well. Please stay connected with our social media pages, and your school email accounts, and know that we are looking forward to seeing you at many of our upcoming events!
This month, as the days get darker and colder, I also encourage us to consider trying something new! Learning something new, or getting involved in an activity that really absorbs and interests us, is great for our well-being! Keeping our brains active is not only good for us physically, but it can help you feel you are flourishing and making progress with a new skill, or just make you smile as you make a mess and decide to start again.
Here is a calendar full of ideas to prompt some thoughts around trying something new during this "New Ways November":
https://www.actionforhappiness.org/media/1056826/nov_2021.jpg
Please have a wonderful start to your month, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything!
Serving every student every day,
The APHS Building Leadership Team
-Mr. Heath Quiles, High School Principal (quilesh@apcsd.org)
-Mrs. Christina Mein, Assistant Principal, Grades 9 and 11 (meinc@apcsd.org)
-Mrs. Rebecca Leach, Assistant Principal, Grades 10 and 12 (leachr@apcsd.org)
#AP_EveryStudentEveryDay
"Creating passionate learners who contribute positively to their community and the world."
Sand Lake Kiwanis Providing Assistance to Families During Holiday Season
Below you will find information from the Sand Lake Kiwanis about assistance available to families in need during the holiday season.
Click here for more information:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K3nA-ZpZk5j7tNRXUgbzfaKICIuGrLgM/view?usp=sharing
Hard copies of this form are also available in each building.
Please note that completed forms need to be turned in to the Building School Nurse by November 8, 2021.
Marking Period 1 Ends on November 12 - Watch for Report Cards in the Mail!
This year, to help facilitate better communication with regards to grades and student progress, we will be mailing home report cards at the end of each quarter.
Please feel free to reach out to your student's teachers if you have any concerns or questions. We are here to support our students, and each of you is a part of our collective work to get the job done.
Eligibility Guidelines to Attend/Participate in Extracurricular Activities
As we approach the end of the first marking period, please take this opportunity to review with your child(ren) the high school Eligibility Guidelines to attend extra-curricular activities.
Please note, due to traffic conditions at the start of the school year, we will be exempting tardy's (lates to school) that occurred the first two weeks of school. Please also note that only unexcused absences and/or tardies will be counted towards ineligibility. Any absence related to COVID will be considered excused.
As always should you have any questions, please reach out to your child's counselor or assistant principal.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sX7DYNUNSp6tq8OKJUThjOJxml03DwCZl9AoFyl0UTM/edit?usp=drive_web
Halloween Costume Contest at APHS - October 29
Many APHS students and staff dressed up for the annual Halloween contest on Friday, October 29 -- and it’s time to announce our winners! There were two winners in each of the following categories:
Scariest: Aubryn Cavagnaro and Gia Powell
Most Creative: Kat Gaboury and Cooper Smith
Funniest: Nathan Bergmann and Aiden McCue
Best Pairs: Abby and Samantha Alberino, and Anna Wicks and Hannah Stewart
Best Staff: Mr. Quiles and Miss Caboot
This contest was sponsored by the high school newspaper The Chronicle and Shoprite of North Greenbush. Thank you to everyone who participated, and congratulations to our winners.
APHS celebrates Second Spirit Week
During the week of October 25-29, APHS students celebrated their second Spirit Week of the year leading up to Halloween! The Spirit Days included: Country Vs. Country Club, Decade Day, Pink Out, Teacher impersonation, and Halloween Costume. Many students participated in each theme day! Check out some of these pictures below! APHS students definitely know how to show their spirit. Student Government looks forward to planning the next Spirit Week for Thanksgiving break!
The Great Pumpkin launch
The 2021 Pumpkin Launching in physics was a huge success. Physics students build pumpkin launchers every year to analyze the motion of the pumpkins, the energy of the launch and determine the force applied to the pumpkin to make this happen. We will use their data to personalize the analysis in class as we learn about these physics concepts. The tradition continues...
Thank you for your support of this fun project.
Off Broadway Players Fall Production - November 5 & 6
"Greetings, Adventurer!" The Off-Broadway Players are proud to present She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen. This story uses a world within Dungeons and Dragons to explore topics of loss, bullying, the power of sisterhood, friendship and the strength you can find within yourself. Oh and we fight monsters... lots of monsters.
The production will be on November 5 and 6 in the High School Auditorium. Seating is limited so buy your tickets today! Tickets are $10/ Adults and $8/ students. They will be sold during lunches or by emailing Mrs. Christy at christys@apcsd.org.
Please note, we do not recommend bringing students who are younger than 9th grade and masks will be required.
Junior Class Prom Fundraiser
BREAKING NEWS! APHS's favorite band, 10:01 (ten oh one) has just announced they will be playing a fund-raising concert just for AP Students! 10:01 - you know them, you love them.
This amazing concert will be on Monday, November 8 from 7:00-8:30 pm at Butler Park. Mark your Calendars! Tell your friends! Buy your tickets! Tickets will be on sale in the main foyer of the HS from Monday - Friday, November 1-5. Tickets will be $10 if purchased ahead of time, or $15 at the door. All proceeds go to the Class of 2023 prom!
The night of the concert you will be able to purchase 10:01 merchandise, junior class merchandise as well as hot chocolate and a variety of yummy snacks. Bring your own lawn chairs or picnic blankets!
You aren't going to want to miss this - it's going to be a BIG ONE! All students are invited to a rockin' night in the park! And it all benefits the Class of 2023 Prom!
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Yost.
The High School Newspaper, The Chronicle, Coming Soon
The November issue of The Chronicle, the high school newspaper, will be available on-line during the second week of November.
Library Media Center - Now Open to Students!
Our Library Media Center is a multi-use, open academic environment that belongs to us all. It is open for students from 7:30 am to 3:15 pm each school day unless otherwise announced.
It is expected that students in the Library Media Center engage in academic endeavors. It is the student's responsibility to complete schoolwork, homework and use the library resources while spending time in the LMC. This can be done individually or within a group. Acceptable collaborative activities include: working with other students on a school assignment, tutoring another student, studying with another student, etc. Unacceptable collaborative activities include: meeting up with friends to “chat”, coming in just to play games, taking a text break, etc.
Our Library Media Center serves as an academic hub for our school community, and students are reminded that there needs to be a level of decorum in the library. Students need to use quiet voices and follow the rules outlined in the APCSD code of conduct. Failure to abide by these rules may result in loss of library privileges. We need to keep our library as an open learning environment for all students, and infringement on this is unacceptable.
In keeping with the open, academic environment, and preserving our new carpeting; food will not be allowed in the library. At this time, only water bottles or contained beverages will be allowed. The library is not a cafeteria - we have a beautiful cafeteria/student union where students can study with a snack.
Students must follow the Acceptable Use Policy when using BYOD or school computers and devices in the Library Media Center, as with anywhere in the school.
Library materials generally have a 2-week loan period, but renewing materials is not a problem. You may keep a book for as long as you need it, providing there isn’t another student waiting for it. If another student requests a book already on loan, the student in possession of the book will be notified.
Overdue notices will be sent to students and parents via email and possibly by telephone, when necessary. Students are responsible for the replacement cost of lost or damaged materials. Seniors with outstanding library materials may not receive their diploma until all library materials have been returned or paid for.
Join A World of Difference!
A World of Difference will be meeting on Tuesday, November 16. Please consider joining us. A World of Difference is a club that recognizes that attitudes and beliefs affect actions and that each of us can have an impact on others, and ultimately on the world in which we live. We get trained by the Anti-Defamation League on how to recognize and deal with the "isms" we are faced with. What we do is designed to help our members:
- recognize bias and the harm it inflicts on individuals and society
- build understanding of the value and benefits of diversity
- improve intergroup relations
- confront racism, anti-semitism and all the other forms of bigotry.
If you feel these are issues you are passionate about, or feel you would like to make a difference, please join us in the library on Tuesday, Nov. 16. You too can make a world of difference.
Manufacturing Day at APHS
APHS students were able to participate in an in-house field trip called Virtual Manufacturing Day on Friday October 15. Mrs. Ashline arranged this day to allow students an opportunity to see some career options virtually. Other career options available in the Capital Region were shared with students looking for career opportunities in engineering, and the trades. There was a representative from Questar talking with students as well as in-house advisors to help with planning future steps and paths. Thank you Mrs. Ashline for this awesome opportunity!
Fun with Powder Puff Football at APHS
On October 6th, the junior and senior classes came together to bring back the traditional powder puff flag football game. Awesome job to everyone involved and thank you to chaperones and referees: Mr. Minkler, Officer Nikles, Mr. Malenfant, and Dr. Franchini. The seniors had the higher score at the end of the game, but everyone had a great time and it was great to be together as a student body again.
National Honor Society Inducts New Members at APHS
National Honor Society inducted 61 its newest members on Wednesday, October 20. These deserving students were selected based on their outstanding Scholarship, Leadership, Character, and Service to our community!
Jack Adams, Nathaniel Bourgault, Lauren Bradley, Libby Bulmer, Mason Buttaci, Isabella Cardillo, Colin Catlin, Grant Conlee, Rielly Countois, Hannah Crupi, Brier Cylkoff, Elizabeth Daly, Dayna Densmore, Ava Faragon, Sydeny Ferguson, Margaret Finnerty, Alexandra Gaboury, Meredith Gaylord, Chloe Grimm, Isaac Joseph, Sonja Kaye, Makayla Kieley, Avery Kittleson, Stephen Koval, Danielle LaPier, Ella Lindheimer, Mara Little, Michelina Lombardi, Isabella Mahar, Machara Malone, Carli McShane, Ashleigh Mein, Terry Meissner, Joseph Minehan, McKenzie Miner, Jeana Monaco, Francesca Morone, Abigayle Nagel, Thomas Nero, Alexander Norton, Michael O’Connor, John O’Neill-Knasick, Bailey Ouimet, Alayna Penman, Kaelin Pogue, Logan Powell, Madison Rose, Liam Rounds, Zachary Ryan, Erin Schulz, Julia Skiba, Tyler Spink, Evan Sweet, Nickolas Tempel, Payton Van Aken, Lillian Vrsalovic, Emily Walsh, Rebecca Ware, Kylie Weaver, Jenyka White, Anna Zusy
These students needed to display and commit to the 4 pillars of National Honor Society: Character, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service. If you have ideas for community service projects that NHS members could complete during the school year, send information that can be shared with the group to advisor Ms. Freeman at freemann@apcsd.org.
Dodgeball Tournament open to all High School students
Key Club Blood Drive a Success
Averill Park High School's Key Club bi-annual blood drive was a success on Thursday, October 28! Partnering with the Red Cross, 30 people donated with a result of 26 units of blood -- which exceeded our goal. Students and staff donated during free blocks and community members came in all day long. We are thankful for the support of students, staff and the community that made this drive possible and as effective as it was.
Senior Apparel available
Seniors! Get your senior apparel. Forms are available in the main office and in Ms. Freeman's room 601. All Senior Apparel order forms are due to Ms. Freeman by Friday, November 19th.
Seniors tending to the Senior Courtyard
Students in Mrs. Yost's College Readiness class took a mask break and did some school community service cleaning up the Senior Courtyard!
News from the Counseling Center
-Students are asked to log on to their Naviance accounts often to see what scholarships are being offered and what colleges are having visit sessions with students who may have interest or questions about their campus.
-HVCC Instant Admission- Tuesday November 30th: Hudson Valley Community College will be offering a second Instant Admission day. Interested students please contact the Counseling Center to get an appointment to meet with the HVCC advisors. You can email your counselors for more information.
-Russell Sage College Instant Admission-Tuesday November 9th . Any students interested in attending Russell Sage College in the fall, please contact the Counseling Center to reserve an appointment to meet with the Russell Sage advisor.
-SUNY campus experts are hosting a Financial Aid Day on November 20th . Students can select from in-person, virtual, and Spanish-speaking options. These events will address how to apply, the types of aid available, and the award process. Many offer the option to complete the FAFSA during the event. Students can register at: engage.suny.edu/portal/financial_aid_days
Students can find more SUNY events, including workshops about the Educational Opportunity Program, The NYS Dream Act, Culturally Diverse Programs at SUNY, and more at suny.edu/studentevents.
Working Papers:
If you need your working papers. Please print out the application at https://averillpark.k12.ny.us/working-papers or stop by the Counseling Center. Once all forms are completed and the physical form, AT-16, is signed by a medical professional, you will need to bring all originals, and form of ID (ie. Birth certificate, NYS ID) to the Counseling Center for processing.
Seniors:
If you have not met with your counselor yet for your senior conference please contact them as soon as possible to make arrangements.
College Entrance Exams:
Please check the college board website for any updates and cancellations concerning upcoming exams.
COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS:
ACT TEST DATES REGISTRATION DEADLINE:
December 11, 2021 November 5, 2021
February 12, 2022 January 7, 2022
April 2, 2022 February 25, 2022
June 11, 2022 May 6, 2022
ACT ASSESSMENT and ACT ASSESSMENT PLUS WRITING:
(Choose either of two test options — the ACT Assessment or the ACT Assessment Plus Writing, which includes a 30-minute Writing Test. Not all colleges and universities require a Writing Test. Check with the colleges you are considering — or go to www.actstudent.org for a list of institutions that require or recommend the Writing Test.)
SAT I & II
TEST DATES REGISTRATION DEADLINE
November 6, 2021 October 8, 2021
December 4, 2021 November 4, 2021
March 12, 2022 February 11, 2022
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.
Please use this link for information about accommodations:
https://accommodations.collegeboard.org/how-accommodations-work
Food Pantry Program Sends a Special Thank You
We would like to thank the Averill Park Education Foundation (APEF) for purchasing and delivering extensive supplies to our food pantry programs this month! Due to the flooding we experienced this summer, many food items and products were lost, and we were in need of support in restocking our shelves in preparation of the new school year. We are now ready to start our program for 2021-2022, and provide support to our students and families in need.
We would also like to thank our own Averill Park High School staff for their on-going contributions to the food pantry. Generous donations were also made by the APTA members.
Breakfast and Lunch - No Charge to Students this Year! FREE!! FREE!!
The Averill Park Central School District Food Services Department will be operating under a waiver from the USDA during the 2021-2022 school year. This waiver will allow all students to be served breakfast and lunch at no charge during the 2021-2022 school year.
Families are encouraged to complete a 2021-2022 Application for Free & Reduced Price Meals, as there are many additional benefits associated with an approved application for students and families including Pandemic EBT.
https://averillpark.k12.ny.us/services/food-services
Our Food Services Director, Colleen Wise can be reached at 518-674-7004 with any questions you may have.
Parent Drop off/Pick up Information
We have been assessing and making adjustments to the parent drop off and pick up area since school has begun.
In order to maximize the drop off/pick up area, we have added cones to the drop off/pick up area. We ask that families pull all the way up to the furthest cone. Once your vehicle is in the cone area, please have your child(ten) get out/in the vehicle at that cone's spot.
By using this larger drop off/pick up area we can reduce the number of vehicles on Gettle Road and Route 43 and increase the number of students being dropped off/picked up at a time. Thank you for your cooperation with this!
IMPORTANT LINKS TO CALENDARS AND SCHEDULES FOR 21-22
The APCSD District Calendar for 21-22:
https://averillpark.k12.ny.us/images/District/2021-2022SCHOOLCALENDAR.pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sJNKmfAEuqWuYyhVWt5eNgLhR9GC1lVm/view
This is a fixed schedule, and will not change based on snow days.
Marking Periods/Grade Reporting at the HS for the 21-22 School Year:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MLP4E1wY-7zeKL6GuG_DQtsAJLhFYhL5-DNjtAtivlA
Our Daily Bell Schedule for 21-22:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vxwV7mATanOY6bX72_i-14QNHud7FduiWzrr41Dr4uY/edit#gid=0
Please note that this includes schedules for one- and two-hour delays.
The HS Lunch Schedule for 21-22
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MpANeVyIwf2eg8euaMAPCQjt3pOYDVaiVz5e6oM2dLo/edit#gid=0
Updates on General Operations at APHS for 21-22 in Consideration of COVID
As we open the 21-22 school year, we are aiming to create the greatest sense of normalcy within our school environment which is possible. Of course, we must at the same time follow the guidelines which have been set forth by the Governor's Office, as well as the NYS Department of Education and Department of Health.
Operations at the HS will look essentially like they did as we opened the pre-pandemic, 2019 school year, with a few exceptions based on relevant guidance:
Masks will be worn by all students and staff, vaccinated or not, at all times while indoors.
Masks will be optional when students and staff are outdoors.
We will maintain a social distance of 3-feet throughout our time in the building, including in the cafeteria and LGI for lunches. Outdoor options will be available for students as they eat.
Student transitions will be short in duration, at 4 minutes, and students will move stay to the right as they move.
Morning health screenings and temperature checks will NO LONGER occur.
Student bathrooms will continue to be monitored directly by staff. Students will continue to sign-in and sign out of these spaces.
We will continue to maintain fixed seating charts for all classes, study halls, and the cafeteria.
Students must sign-in and sign-out of all spaces. One student may leave a given classroom or space at a time.
Hallway transitions will be used for students to go from one class to the next. Masks will be worn at all times, and students will stay to the right in their travels. Bathrooms will not be available during transitions.
Here is a link to the recent district-level communication regarding our re-opening: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iA_8ZkX-7a4Ux1U1yK2-hSpZ_3SdWpP5DzoL9jB7hTw/edit?usp=sharing
We will continue to monitor conditions in the weeks and months to come, and will stay in touch should we need to make adjustments to our operations.
Student and Parent Access to Instructional Resources and Information:
While we will open the 21-22 school year as a 100% In-Person Instructional Program, we will continue to be a Google Classroom School. All HS faculty will be using Google Classroom as the consistent platform for sharing instructional materials with students, and their parents/guardians.
We will continue to maintain a singular digital location for students and parents to access these Google Classrooms, as well as a syllabus for each course.
A link to our Instructional Resources Site on the HS Webpage is here:
https://sites.google.com/apcsd.org/aphsfamilyresources20-21/instructional-resources
Reporting Absences Related to COVID- Maintaining Instructional Continuity.
Anytime that your child is absent from school, it is important that you report this absence to the HS Attendance Office at 518-674-7024. Conversely, you may report absences via our dedicated attendance email address, at aphsattendance@apcsd.org
FOR ABSENCES RELATED TO A LONGER-TERM QUARANTINE, OR A RECOVERY FROM COVID:
- Please be sure to report the absence to our Attendance Office AND School Nurse. This will initiate a specific protocol to provide your child with ongoing access to instruction for COVID-related reasons.
- Your child's Guidance Counselor will work with you and your child's teachers to make sure that s/he has access to work while absent. This will include ongoing access to Google Classroom. Teachers may provide students with access to virtual support while they are out.
- All students who are absent for a longer-term, COVID-related reason, will receive at least one period of live virtual support per day with Mrs. Wood, the High School In-School Support Teacher.
If you have any questions, please contact your child's counselor, or the HS Attendance Office.
APHS Building-Wide Norms 21-22
With our day-to-day school life looking a bit different than it did last year, we have developed guiding norms for all students at APHS. Please take a few minutes to take a look, as these are the basis of our collective expectations for students at the high school.
Hallway Norms:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BR-6YovqShBt26q1ca62NF5bAoxUg9cAB5dpxc1WJtc/edit?usp=sharing
Bathroom Norms:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xs2Ei584GEnz_WOYDD_qCm1BEScEf_t4qQIsPNqtrbE/edit?usp=sharing
Classroom Norms:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pcCZb1h1rJGE0T-3ehV0bJDRoVX7eYRBOhz-Ij35Ayc/edit?usp=sharing
Cafeteria/Lunch Norms:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TWTuEnTURKUXW1oL257AQGkphuN69UIDy4wMU1WZmQE/edit?usp=sharing
Norms for Digital Citizenship:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tTm8O35Cu-Bv7zwbB_pO1-X4UhPraUS-owdIBH6m4nE/edit?usp=sharing
Our Assistant Principals, Mrs. Mein and Mrs. Leach, will review these norms with all students at their scheduled class meetings on Friday, September 10th.
News from the Health Office
What to do if my child is sick:
Any symptoms that resemble or cross over with COVID and other illnesses a child will need a clearance note from their doctor or a negative test in order to return to school. Please submit to the nurse's office before having your child return to school.
Continue to wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay home when sick to help decrease the spread of illness.
Please see the information about what to do if your child is sick: https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/news-archive-2021-2022/5211-what-to-do-if-my-child-is-sick
The APHS Yearbook for 21-22
The APHS 2022 Yearbook will cost $65 if purchased before December 31, 2021. In
January the cost will increase to $75. Personalization is also available early in the
school year.
Yearbooks can be ordered online at: www.jostensyearbooks.com
Questions? baileya@apcsd.org / blosteinm@apcsd.org
Upcoming Events/Important Dates
3- Picture re-take day
5 - Conference Day - No School for Students
5 & 6 - OBP Fall Production
9- Dodgeball Tournament, 2:30pm
10 - Emergency Go Home Drill
11 - Veteran's Day - NO SCHOOL
12- Quarter 1 Marking Period Ends
20 - LOTE Lip Sync, 6pm
24-26 - Holiday Recess
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