Avon Local Schools February 2024
December 2023
Superintendent's Message
It’s hard to believe it’s February! Soon we'll be heading down the home stretch of the 2023-2024 school year. Our kindergartners recently celebrated the 100th day of school and our Avon East students marked 101 days of school. We have so much to celebrate as our Eagles continue to Soar in 2024!
Congratulations to Avon High School students Elena Ko (flute), Cameron Lam (violin), Ada Ortan (cello), and Justin Schwab (viola) for being selected for the All-State Band and Orchestra. The students attended the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) Professional Development Conference in Columbus last week and performed alongside students from around the state. We are proud of all of you.
Our Avon Middle School Math Club recently competed at the North-Central Ohio Chapter Mathcounts competition (grades 6-8) at Ashland University. AMS finished in third place.
Congratulations to eighth-graders Alexis Sudik and Reagan Sudik; and seventh-graders Reese Goodman and Garima Mago. Reese Goodman did well enough to qualify as an individual for the State competition. She will compete in Columbus on March 16 among top math students from all over Ohio.
Last week we celebrated our school counselors as part of National School Counseling Week (Feb. 5-9), sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Thank you to our amazing team of school counselors within our district.
Rachel Kelly (School Psychologist at AELC with Counseling responsibilities)
Nicole Joseph (Avon East)
Jessica Stringer, Michelle Haney (Heritage)
Maria Enourato, Becky Speicher (Avon Middle School)
Julie Malone, Sherry Pietch, Bre Reinhard, Rene Reinker (AHS)
As outlined in our Strategic Plan, the planning committee meets twice per year to monitor and refine the plan as needed. This monitoring group consists of a representation of all stakeholder groups. The group is meeting Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Avon Middle School to audit the plan. To view the district’s Strategic Plan, click here.
Reminder to attend the State of the Schools Forum February 26 at 6 p.m. at the Avon High School Performing Arts Center. You will hear updates about departments around our district. If you are unable to attend, the presentation will be available on our district website.
Happy Valentine’s Day Eagles!
Thank you for your continued support of our schools.
As always, if there are any questions/concerns, please call or email.
Sincerely,
Ben Hodge
Upcoming Events
Feb. 19: No school (Presidents' Day)
Feb. 20: BOE meeting at 6 p.m. at AMS
Feb. 21: Eagle Pride Day
For a complete list of district events, click here.
Safety Update
The State of the Schools presentation on February 26 at 6 p.m. at the Avon High School Performing Arts Center will include information regarding our district's safety improvements, grant opportunities and next steps moving forward. As always, “Safety is EVERYONE’S Responsibility”.....Speak Up, SAVE LIVES! We hope to see many Eagle families in attendance.
Get to know the Treasurer’s Office
The Avon Local Schools Treasurer’s Office handles all money that flows in and out of the district; as well as payroll and benefits, employee attendance, state reporting, and various other responsibilities. The office consists of the Treasurer (Sadie Fox), Associate Treasurer (Erin Longwill), and three Fiscal Specialists (Tina Soulas, Accounts Payable; Cheryl Sudbrook, Payroll; and Crystal Straka, Fiscal Specialist).
The district undergoes an annual financial audit that is conducted by the Auditor of State’s office. In recent years, the district has received various awards from the Auditor of State, including Excellence in Financial Reporting and Outstanding Achievement in Open and Transparent Government. The most recent audit completed by the Auditor of State is for the year beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022. There were no findings or comments for that year. The 2022-2023 year is currently being audited. All completed audits can be found in the Treasurer’s section of the Avon Local Schools website.
For more information regarding the Treasurer's Office, contact Treasurer Sadie Fox, foxs@avoneagles.org.
Parent access to assessments
Eagle families have access to your student's State and District assessments through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Once you have logged into your PowerSchool Parent Account, you can access Assessment results by clicking on the “Test Results” link. Assessments included are:
ACT
SAT
Ohio State Tests
NWEA/MAP
PSAT
Unified Sports comes to AMS
Unified Sports brings students together in the spirit of inclusion and sportsmanship. Avon High School has been involved in the program for several years with sports such as flag football, basketball and track. This year we are proud to bring the program to our middle school students.
Avon Middle School recently hosted teams from Amherst, Elyria and Westlake middle schools in a friendly game of basketball. Thank you AMS staff members Mike Ryan, Veronica Mulgrew, Tammy Fishleigh, and Natalie Kenny for planning and prepping this event for our students.
Cheering on our student athletes are the Sparkle Cheer Squad at AHS and the SOAR Squad at AMS.
National Signing Day
Congratulations to the student athletes listed below formally signing letters of intent last week to compete at the next level. Thank you to their coaches, families and friends for supporting them on their journey as Eagle athletes. Best of luck for the future.
Football
Luke Hamilton - University of Michigan
Jakorion Caffey- University of Cincinnati
Connor Rowlison - Colgate University
Matt Muir - Slippery Rock University
Carson Canning - Ohio University
Men’s Lacrosse
Case Lowery - College of Wooster
Jake Starkey - Spalding University
Women’s Lacrosse
Katie Achtziger- Ashland University
Women’s Tennis
Natalie Smitek- Xavier University
Denver Johnson - Western Illinois University
Women’s XC and Track and Field
Maddie Harrington - John Carroll University
Bridget Bergen - University of Akron
Women’s Swimming
Violet Siftar - Niagara University
Eva Molenaar - Clarion University
Women’s Basketball
Molly Drenik - John Carroll University
Women’s Soccer
Caroline Prahst - Ohio Wesleyan University
Total Eclipse
A historical total eclipse will take place April 8 and Avon will be in the center of it. For a brief incredible moment you will see the moon gradually slide in front of the sun, reducing it to a thin crescent and then blotting the sun out altogether. A total eclipse is so rare that the last one took place in Ohio in 1806 and the next chance to see one here in Avon will be in 2099. Avon and the surrounding area will experience an increase in traffic and viewers.
Reminder, there is no school on April 8.
Safety is the most important part of viewing the eclipse. Specialized eye protection is required to safely view the eclipse. All Avon students and staff will receive a pair of safety glasses. For more information on viewing the eclipse safely, click here.
Eclipse Reserved Parking
Get your reserved parking now in the Avon Local Schools district parking lots. Buy early and save! Buying the day of the event the price will be increased by $15.
Click to sign up HERE
Each lot will open at 7 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. on April 8.
Partial eclipse is estimated to be approximately 1:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Full eclipse is estimated to be approximately 3:10 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.
** Bring your driver's license with the registered name to check into the parking lot.
Concessions will be available in the lots.
** Tickets are NONREFUNDABLE
** NO ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, DRUGS or FIREARMS permitted on school property!
For more information on the eclipse, click here.
Images from around our schools
100 Days of School at AELC
101 Days of School at East
Celebrating Black History Month at AMS
Avon Eagle Run, presented by Bendix
Avon Eagle Run registration is now open. We invite the community to join us for the 22nd annual Avon Eagle Run, presented by Bendix, Saturday, May 25 at 8 a.m. at Avon High School, 37545 Detroit Road.
Proceeds from the Avon Eagle Run benefit the Avon Schools Educational Endowment Fund, the French Creek YMCA and other local charities. The family-fun event includes a 5-mile run, 5K run/walk and 1-mile Kids Fun Run.
Classes are also competing for the most student/staff participants. Please include your child's teacher's name (grades PreK-5) when registering. Middle school families include your child's grade level. Our high school students have chance to win a free parking spot for next school year as they will be entered into a drawing. Don't delay, register for the Avon Eagle Run today!
The first 1,000 adults to register will receive a T-shirt. T-shirts will also be given to the kids. For more information, contact Hermes Sports and Events at 216-623-9933 or via email roadracing@ hermescleveland.com
Follow the Avon Eagle Run on Facebook and X (Twitter).
To register, click here.
Perfect Valentine's Day event
Spend Valentine's Day cheering on the red hot Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, February 14 at 7:30 p.m. and watch the Avon High School Big Band perform on the Cavs hardwood! The performers will be getting onto the court prior to the game around 7 p.m.
Prime performance facing example sections for Avon families and friends to choose from are: 118, C122, M118, M117, 225, and 221. Tickets will be delivered via Seat Geek.
A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales will be going back to the Avon Band and Orchestra Boosters. Thank you. To purchase tickets, click here (must use this link for proceeds credit).
We're hiring!
We have several positions available within our district, with many offering flexible hours (including substitutes). For more information, click here.
School library catalogs available
Just a friendly reminder that our school library catalogs our available online 24/7. Click here, or scan QR code provided. The libraries strive to curate an engaging collection of diverse topics appropriate for each library's student population. We understand that some of the topics explored in these works may not align with every parent/guardian’s vision for their individual child’s experience. We encourage every home to have thoughtful conversations about those topics of importance according to their individual visions. Parents/guardians who wish to restrict their child’s access to particular materials may do so by contacting the building administration at their child's school.
Avon Early Learning Center: Nora Fox at foxn@avoneagles.org
Avon East: Erin Holzhauer at holzhauere@avoneagles.org
Avon Heritage: Maura Neville at nevillem@avoneagles.org
Avon Middle School: Kelli Davisson at davissonk@avoneagles.org
Avon High School: Kristina Buller at bullerk@avoneagles.org
Avon Parks & Recreation Department
Stay connected with Avon's Parks & Rec Department by signing up for e-blasts. To sign up, visit www.cityofavon.com, click on Parks & Rec., click on “Stay Connected." For a list of upcoming programs, click here.
Safety Town
SAVE THE DATE!
Registration opens Friday, March 1 at 8 a.m.
Brought to you by the City of Avon Parks & Recreation Department and the Avon Safety Forces, this program is for children ENTERING KINDERGARTEN in the 2024-25 school year. The week-long session will take place at the Board of Education Office (36600 Detroit Road). Each day will focus on a different topic such as fire safety, riding the bus and healthy living.
SPACE IS LIMITED! The program is open to AVON residents that will be entering KINDERGARTEN in the Fall of 2024. Safety Town is not a requirement for kindergarten.
For more information, click here.