The APHS Look AHEAD- November 2022
The Opening Newsletter for APHS Students and Parents- v.38
The APHS Look AHEAD- November 2022
Dear APHS Students and Families,
I hope that this newsletter, and the opening of the new month, find you and your family doing well! We are headed into an exciting time of year, with many holidays and events, but also a number of new potential sources of stress!
This is a good time to take stock in how we are keeping a balance between our personal and professional, or academic, responsibilities. On the school end of things, please stay in touch if you have any questions or concerns about how your child is doing. It's just late enough in the year that we are starting to see trends in terms of strengths and weaknesses, but still early enough to do things differently, as needed, for a successful outcome for each of our students.
So far, the 22-23 school year has been off to a wonderful start! While we are just about two weeks from the end of the first marking period, our student performance data from the interim point is projecting students to be doing markedly better as we wrap up this quarter, than they were doing at this same time last year. With most facets of COVID behind us, day- to-day life at the high school is starting to feel normal again. Students are once again heavily engaged in extracurricular activities, we had a successful Spirit Week and Homecoming Dance, and there is a lot of positive energy each and everyday in the building. We are even starting, once again, to build forward! We have new College in the High School courses being offered, 6 new clubs and activities, and our student leadership team is working on creating a number of new community building experiences as we head deeper into the year!
As we work on keeping the balance during the upcoming busy months, it's also a good time to set new goals. Here is a calendar of daily activities you can do to help set new patterns in this "New Ways November": https://actionforhappiness.org/new-ways-november
Enjoy the upcoming month, and be sure to reach out if there is anything that you need. We are here to help!
Serving every student every day,
Heath C. Quiles
Principal, Averill Park High School
The APHS Building Leadership Team
-Mr. Heath Quiles, High School Principal (quilesh@apcsd.org)
-Mrs. Christina Mein, Assistant Principal, Grades 10 and 12 (meinc@apcsd.org)
-Mrs. Rebecca Leach, Assistant Principal, Grades 9 and 11 (leachr@apcsd.org)
#AP_EveryStudentEveryDay
"Creating passionate learners who contribute positively to their community and the world."
Emergency Go Home Drill - November 10
The Averill Park Central School District will conduct a Go Home Early drill on Thursday, November 10, 2022. All schools will dismiss 15 minutes earlier than regular dismissal that day and students will travel home as they normally do. Parents who pick up their child(ren) at school should plan to arrive at school 15 minutes early.
For the high school, this means that dismissal will be at 1:55 pm.
New York State requires all school districts to hold an annual “Go Home Early” drill to ensure students and staff know what to do in the event of an emergency that requires school grounds to be cleared with students needing to be transported home.
On November 10, there will be no late buses at the High School. All students and staff will be required to leave the school building until the drill is complete, but will be allowed to re-enter if needed.
If you have any questions, please contact the high school office at 518-674-7002.
Warrior Wednesday- November Focuses on SOCIAL AWARENESS
WARRIOR WEDNESDAY THEME: SOCIAL AWARENESS
This competency focuses on developing the ability to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and contexts. Social awareness skills include the ability to:
- Take others’ perspectives
- Recognize strengths in others
- Demonstrate empathy and compassion
- Understand and express gratitude
- Identify diverse social norms, including unjust ones
- Recognize situational demands and opportunities
- Understand the influences of organizations and systems on behavior
Additional information about how Averill Park will be addressing this theme and how you can support your child at home can be found here.
Come out to see OBP's Fall Production - November 4th & 5th
OBP's Fall production of the Single Man premieres November 4 and 5, at 7pm.
Tickets are $8.00 for students and $10.00 for adults.
You can purchase your tickets during lunches the week of October 31st and at the door. We hope to see you there and can't wait!
World Languages Annual Lip Sync - November 19th
The APCSD 6-12 World Languages department will hold its 12th annual Lip Sync competition in the APHS auditorium on Saturda,y November 19 beginning at 6:00pm. Students from Spanish 4, Spanish 5, French 4, and French 5 classes will compete for best costume, best lip-syncing, best choreography, honorable mention, and best overall performance awards. There will even be a teacher performance! The suggested donation entrance fee is $5. All proceeds benefit the World Languages department extra-curricular activities fund.
Pumpkin Launching 2022
What could be more fun than to launch pumpkins on Halloween? This year’s Physics students got to shoot their pumpkins while analyzing the motion and energy of the launchers. This has been a tradition at Averill Park for over 15 years. Students build a catapult, trebuchet or slingshot launcher and project their pumpkins through the air to determine the initial velocity and angle that they shoot at. Everyone did a great job!
Career Day at APHS - BIGGEST EVER
Career Day at APHS was a huge success!
AP students using VR equipment for virtual tours, visited with representatives from over 30 different career and post-secondary pathways, and participated in Heavy Equipment demonstrations outside!
Everyone walked away having gained knowledge about unique opportunities available for their future as they think about careers.
Thank you to Olga Ashline for setting up this amazing opportunity!
Biology Students participate in Day In The Life of the Hudson
Ms. Oldendorf's APHS bio classes participated in the Day in the Life of the Hudson this week! More than 4,200 students participated along the Hudson River from NYC to Troy and we were part of it! Students had a great day and caught tons of fish!
APHS Blood Drive a success
More than 20 students, staff, and community members donated blood at the APHS Key Club-sponsored Red Cross blood drive Thursday, October 27. Watch for the April 6th blood drive if you weren't able to donate this time.
Students Come Together to Carve Pumpkins!
Students in Construction I, SAGES, & AP Connections joined together to carve pumpkins. Students in SAGES wrote letters to local businesses asking for pumpkin donations and Construction I students designed the faces using AutoCAD. The students carved the pumpkins together and a good time was had by all. Inclusion Rocks!
After School and Late Bus information
The late buses are now running!
Please remember that ALL students staying after school must sign up each day. To do so, you can click on the 'After School Sign Up' button on your Launch Pad or click on the yellow 'After School Sign Up' button that is located on the APHS webpage.
After school expectations:
- Students who are staying after school are expected to either be with a teacher or other staff member/advisor, or be signed up to stay in the library.
- After students are done working with a teacher or attending a club meeting, students are to report to the supervised location as follows:
- On TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS students will wait in the cafeteria until their ride and late bus arrive at 4:15 pm. We have supervision in the cafeteria until that time.
- On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays students will go to the library after working with teachers or attending clubs to wait until their ride gets here. Students should be picked up by 3:15 pm on M/W/F. We have supervision in the library until 3:15 pm on those days.
Seniors - The Yearbook needs your baby pictures AND your Senior Quotes
Attention Seniors: The Yearbook needs your Baby Pictures
Email to baileya@apcsd.org by November 1st.
Senior Quotes are needed for the yearbook. Quote sheets are being distributed in advisory and are also located in the main office & Room 205. They are due by November 16th and can be returned to the Main Office / Ms. Bailey.
Quote sheets include: Senior name, nickname and a quote /message. Seniors may: write a quote, list clubs / activities, sports, reflect upon HS years, write a message to friends and family. (Approximately 30 words in length).
Questions: baileya@apcsd.org
Student Government sponsoring a Trip to Washington, DC
The Washington, DC trip for Juniors & Seniors is Friday, April 21st (students will miss an A day of school) through Sunday, April 23rd and is sponsored by the APHS Student Government. There are still seats available for interested juniors and seniors; they may see Mrs. Ford in either Room #604 afternoons or in the Library during Advisory on B Days or email fords@apcsd.org for more information. Trip highlights include visits to the Smithsonian Museums, Arlington Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard, Mt Vernon (home of George Washington) along the Potomac and much more.
Attention Seniors!
Information for Seniors:
Senior Tea at Unbreakable Nutrition for the month of November. During the entire month of November, Unbreakable is collaborating with the senior class. For every Senior Tea purchased in November, a portion of the cost will be donated back to the Class of 2023. Thank you Unbreakable for supporting the senior class!
Dodgeball Tournament Wednesday, November 9th at 2:45. Teams of 6. $5/player or $30/team is due with team registration form to Ms. Freeman by Thursday, November 3rd. This event is for all grades, so please talk it up across grades also. “Uniforms” are encouraged but must be school appropriate. Registration forms can be picked up in room 601 or the main office.
Senior Apparel – The classic, senior apparel with the signatures of the entire class in an AP logo on the back is now being sold. T-shirts - $12, Long sleeve shirts - $17, hoodies - $25, and sweatpants - $22. All orders must be submitted to Ms. Freeman by Friday, November 18th. Orders will be ready for pick up before winter break in December. Please make checks payable to APHS Class of 2023. Order forms can be picked up in room 601 or the main office. When we return to school for the first time in January (Tuesday 1/3/2023) dress in senior apparel to show everyone who is graduating in 2023!
Senior Blocks – Would you like to leave your mark on APHS? Senior Block designs are $10 are due by Tuesday, November 22nd, that’s just before Thanksgiving break. Blocks must be positive and school appropriate. They must be free of any codes or abbreviations. The walls are very difficult to paint on and small detail gets lost in the bumps of the blocks. Please do not clutter your designs. Since you are leaving your blocks here at APHS, use them to identify you as an APHS student. What was your favorite thing about high school? What did you do while you were here?
Mr. AP – Show is on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Applications for steering committee positions are due to Ms. Freeman by Monday October 31st. We are still looking for: Student Director, Student Coordinator, Stage Manager, Artistic Manager, Marketing Manager, Video Specialist, Choreographers, and Master of Ceremonies. Please pick up applications from Ms. Freeman in room 601. Nominations for contestants will be coming in early November so start thinking about if you would like to participate and who you would like to see compete.
News from the Health Office.
Physicals for winter sports:
Sign-ups for winter sportsl opened on October 17th. All students trying out for sports must have a current physical on file in the health office. Be sure that your child has a current physical on file before signing up. You will be notified through Family ID email if your child is not approved for sports due to physical or needing medication orders turned in.
Grade level physicals:
State law requires your child to have a physical examination because he or she either entered school within our District for the first time this year or they are in kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, or 11th grade. 8 NYCRR 136.3(b)(1). A physical exam is mandatory because the District must: (1) appropriately assess the student's current health status; (2) determine the student is free from contagious diseases and fit to participate in all aspects of school programming; (3) identify any need for the District to modify its programming in consideration of your child's health needs; and (4) secure any necessary health care supports within the school environment. Please send this paperwork either by email to millerv@apcsd.org or have it faxed to 518-674-7052. Communicate with Mrs. Miller that you are having papers faxed so that she can confirm when they are received.
Tylenol and Ibuprofen permission slips:
In order for your child to receive any Tylenol or Ibuprofen, written permission needs to be turned in EVERY year. If you have not done so please fill out the attached form
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v-M20kCWIhLHqrrpiKuWO-24DTOdcsGNZknE5LGF0MY/edit
and send it back into the nurse's office. Verbal permission is no longer accepted for permission.
Student Parking
Attention APHS Juniors and Seniors, Parents and Guardians:
Thank you to those that have registered their vehicles and display their APHS parking permit in their vehicle each day. We still have a small group of identified vehicles that have not registered for a 2022-23 parking permit. APHS staff have checked the parking lots several times this year so far and two reminder notices have been given to those vehicles that have been identified as not having a 2022-23 APHS parking permit.
Here's a link to the 2022-2023 Parking Permit Application. Parents, Guardians, Juniors and Seniors please check that you have registered your vehicle and have a 2022-23 APHS parking permit. The next time that APHS staff goes out to do a check, vehicles may be towed at the owner's expense. Please reach out to Mrs. Mein if you have any questions.
News from the Counseling Center
FROM THE COUNSELING CENTER:
Counselors are starting to meet with the senior class to discuss plans after high school graduation as well as help guide them in the planning process for applying to colleges, financial aid and scholarships. Also, students are asked to log on to their Naviance accounts often to see what scholarships are being offered and what colleges are visiting the high school to meet with interested students. Students are asked to have a signed permission slip from a parent in order to miss class to meet with visiting college representatives.
College Planning:
The Counseling Center receives information regarding financial aid, invitations to events on campuses, scholarships, etc. This information can be found in the Counseling Center or on Naviance. Naviance is a College and Career software program available that the students have been introduced to and encouraged to use.
Instant admissions days
Columbia Greene Community College, Schenectady County Community College and Hudson Valley Community College will be here in November to host their Instant Admission days. If you are interested, stop in the Counseling Center for an Instant admissions application and to reserve a spot to meet with representatives from the Colleges. All applications must be turned back into the Counseling Center to receive an appointment time.
Report Cards:
Report cards will continue to be mailed home at the end of each marking period. They will be mailed AND made available to view via School Tool on the following dates:
1st Quarter Report Card: Wednesday, November 16th
2nd Quarter Report Card: Wednesday, February 1st
3rd Quarter Report Card: Wednesday, April 19th
4th Quarter/Final Report Card: Wednesday, June 28th
Vocational-technical education
For any 10th grade students who may be interested in a Votec program during their junior year, please email Mr. Plantz at plantzj@apcsd.org.
College Entrance Exams:
Please check the College Board website for any updates and cancellations concerning upcoming exams.
COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS:
ACT TEST DATES - REGISTRATION DEADLINES:
December 10, 2022 - -Registration Deadline: November 4, 2022
February 11, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: January 6, 2023
April 15, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: March 10, 2023
June 10, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: May 5, 2023
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 5, 2022 - - Registration Deadline: October 6, 2022
December 3, 2022 - - Registration Deadline: November 4, 2022
March 11, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: February 11, 2023
May 6, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: April 7, 2023
June 3, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: May 5, 2023
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.
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 a form of ID (ie. Birth certificate, NYS ID) to the Counseling Center for processing.
IMPORTANT LINKS TO CALENDARS AND SCHEDULES FOR 2022-2023
The APCSD District Calendar for 22-23:
https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/images/2022-2023_District_Calendar.pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hYmkNpCz8VeXZLC7xfrcwugS1jyDgo3h/view?usp=sharing
This is a fixed schedule, and will not change based on snow days.
Our Daily Bell Schedule for 22-23:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lcPp84ngqBMdb_zIdS__uFIYRBn0XRQbKettmfZ2tgk/edit?usp=sharing
Please note that this includes schedules for one- and two-hour delays, as well as half days.
Marking Periods/Grade Reporting at the HS for the 22-23 School Year:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xgsWJUMocNNgA3PROdA-ZRPPWw9Yl_2BX8Cl-t9F25s/edit?usp=sharing
The HS Lunch Schedule for 22-23 will be sent to all students and families as we get closer to opening!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MYU8Pt28QuFZm7FejZklyNaLr7q_842Y/view?usp=sharing
Attendance, On-Time Arrivals, and Reporting Absences
Regular attendance in school is a precursor to academic success, and being on time, and present in instruction, is a life skill that reflects a high level of responsibility, organization, and college/workplace readiness.
Anytime that your child is absent from school, it is important that you report this absence to the HS Attendance Office, on the same day, at 518-674-7024. Conversely, you may report absences via our dedicated attendance email address:
Each morning, the school day begins promptly at 7:30 am. Students should plan to be in their first block classroom, and ready to learn, at that time.
Students who arrive to school after 7:30 am will be considered tardy to school, and will need to receive a pass from the Attendance Office prior to reporting to their first block class.
Students who arrive to school late without a written excuse from a parent/guardian in hand will be assigned a detention during their Advisory period for the same day.
Updated Eligibility Guidelines for the 2022-2023 School Year
At Averill Park High School, student participation in extracurricular activities is a privilege. Students earn these privileges through maintaining good standing in their attendance, behavior, and academic performance.
Ineligibility is defined as restriction from participation in extracurricular activities and events for a 5-week period. The following criteria are used to determine that a student is ineligible:
Attendance:
Students who have acquired 5 or more unexcused absences to school within any five week marking period are not eligible to participate in extracurricular activities for the following five weeks.
Behavior:
Students who have been involved in any disciplinary infraction which results in an ESD, ISS, Out-of-School Suspension, or who have 3 or more referrals within a five week marking period, are not eligible to participate in extracurricular activities for the following five weeks.
Achievement:
Students who are failing 2 or more classes during any five week marking period are not eligible to participate in extracurricular activities for the following five weeks.
All students who are ineligible, except those who have received an Out-of-School Suspension, will be offered the opportunity to earn back eligibility through a variety of means, including but not limited to:
Students who have acquired 5 or more unexcused absences from school in a five week marking period will be referred to a restorative attendance circle. If a student actively participates in, and regularly attends, scheduled circle meetings, the student may earn back eligibility.
Students who are ineligible as a result of discipline referral(s) may request to work with their assigned Assistant Principal to develop a community service plan. At the completion of the plan, the student may earn back eligibility. Students who have received an Out-of School Suspension will not be offered this opportunity.
Students who are ineligible as a result of failing 2 or more classes may work with their teachers/counselor to develop and implement an Academic Recovery Plan. Upon successful completion of the plan, the student will provide their assigned Assistant Principal with documentation from their teacher(s) that he/she is passing their class prior to the date of the scheduled event. At that time, the student may earn back eligibility.
APHS Building-Wide Norms 22-23
With our day-to-day school life finally returning to a more normal routine, we will be working this year to rebuild the common, building-wide expectations for how we conduct ourselves, and treat others, while engaging as a member of the APHS school community.
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. We will go back to these often throughout the upcoming year:
Hallway Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y-pKKvtfvH0LZz5-viMNei2rTV-vfQ05/view?usp=sharing
Bathroom Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1muMNet_0jPMtQWn-VHHp11w7wiRywa2N/view?usp=sharing
Classroom Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y-pNRXBs0nqzR-quwCs_u9gLNPYg2lzH/view?usp=sharing
Cafeteria/Lunch Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s7neyDaiuhpe-FErk7zQj-8loPrT45Gp/view?usp=sharing
Courtyard Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M-MB1yOn8bl_7C-XU9XpTn34orYb1ugV/view?usp=sharing
Norms for Digital Citizenship:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dqB2t1_FrQA3Wp7iDN2DYyLBR79GGZ5T/view?usp=sharing
Diversity and Equity Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qp8awk2_bsHZOQLWdAr0c44NjSSc_hkr/view?usp=sharing
Alcohol and Drug Free Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1blKPY643qw4zIptZUKmU2ttYH5Yo42IG/view?usp=sharing
Senior Courtyard/Atrium Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PzOa7LOqIiVQKk2zEK5HEokP0kPbLZAf/view?usp=sharing
Upcoming Events/Important Dates
November 2022:
November 1st - Superintendent Conference Day - No School for Students
November 3rd - School Picture Re-Take Day, Aux Gym
November 4th & 5th - Fall Drama Production, 7pm
November 10th - Go Home Early Drill. The HS will dismiss 15 minutes early.
November 10th - End of Marking Period 1
November 11th - Veterans Day - No School
November 16th - Qtr 1 Report Cards posted and mailed home
November 18th - APEF Gala
November 19th - World Language Lip Sync. 7pm
November 23-25 - Thanksgiving Recess - No School
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