AHS eNewsletter 10/17/2023
October 17th, 2023
Tornado Forecast of Upcoming Events
October 18th-20th: No school for students - Staff Development and MEA
October 23rd: Late start for students.
- School begins for students at 8:30 am.
- Student transportation will operate under normal timelines.
- Students who arrive before 8:20, will be required to stay in the cafeteria, the main lobby, or the library to work on class assignments quietly.
October 26th: Parent/Teacher Conferences from 2:50 - 5:50
*Seniors must order cap and gown now via link below*
Mental Wellness Support
As we enter the MEA break, we want to highlight mental wellness and provide contacts for available support 24 hours a day/7days a week. Our student's social and emotional well being is a top priority and we're thankful to you for partnering with us to be a healthy learning community.
All students heard a supportive message from Principal Farley asking students to check their school email for a slide presentation. The presentation provides contacts for support free of charge if they or someone they know is experiencing a mental health crisis. As a reminder, the following resources were shared:
- Anoka County Mobile Crisis Response Service: 763-755-3801.
- Hennepin County Mobile Crisis: 612-596-1223
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988 or Chat 988lifeling.org/chat. For Spanish speakers, call: 1-888-628-9454. Tele-Interpreters are available to connect to crisis centers supporting over 240 languages.
- Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate, physical danger.
Thank you for partnering with us on these critically important matters of mental wellness. We wish you and your loved ones a safe, healthy and happy MEA break.
AHS 2023 Veterans Assembly Speaker
Sergeant Major Shepherd, Kevin L. , US Army
Served : 2 September 1987—23 October 2016
Anoka High School Invites military veterans and the larger community to its annual Veterans Day Assembly, Friday, November 10th from 7:40 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. Veterans, active and retired, are invited to share a service photograph to be included in a slide show as part of the assembly. Include year of Anoka High School graduation, name, rank, service branch and current location serving, if applicable. Please send this information to Colleen.Neary@ahschools.us
Photos will be accepted through Wednesday, November 1.
This year’s keynote speaker is Sergeant Major Kevin L. Shepherd. Sergeant Major Shepherd's first active duty post was with the 22nd Maintenance Company, part of 7th Corps in Heilbronn, Germany. He was there for the fall of the Berlin Wall, went to Desert Storm and then returned to Germany. We are excited to have Sergeant Major Shepherd as our speaker this year. Principal Mike Farley, a Navy veteran, will also address students and the wider community. Student Council President Hannah DeRungs and National Honors Society President Whitley Jones will make various presentations, informing attendees about the flag, recognizing veterans and explaining the wreath-laying ceremony. Band, choir, and orchestra ensembles will perform multiple numbers. TAPS will be played by students Zachary Davis and Christopher Surratt . The 45 minute assembly begins at 7:40 am., and all are welcome.
AHS Girls Swim and Dive Team has qualified for True Team State 2 years in a row!
Congratulations to the Anoka girls Swim and Dive Team for their exceptional performance at the 7AA section meet. Displaying grit, determination, depth and spirit the team qualified for the True Team State Meet on Saturday at the U of M Aquatics Center for the second year in a row.
Congratulations to coaches and athletes on this outstanding accomplishment!!!
Trimester 1 Parent/Teacher Conferences are coming up!
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 26th from 2:50 pm- 5:50 pm. Families will need to register for a time to meet either face-to-face or virtual with teachers.
2024 Anoka High School Yearbooks are for sale now!
- Purchase yearbook (price good through 10/27)
- Submit SENIOR portrait (DUE by 11/3)
- Purchase SENIOR Recognition Ad (DUE by 12/1)
Advance Placement (AP) Testing
Registration for AP Testing has begun in students' AP classes. Students will be automatically registered for their AP exam unless they indicate otherwise on the AP/College Board site. Billing for students' AP exams will be done through Fee Pay ($60 per exam, $10 for qualifying students). Payment is due on Friday, November 3 to ensure that student exams are ordered. Exams will take place in May 2024 at the Lord of Life Church in Ramsey and a bus permission form will need to be filled out. Please have your student visit the main office next week for a permission form. If you have questions, please reach out to Assistant Principal Tung Pham (tung.pham@ahschools.us).
Hey Seniors! Don't forget to order your cap and gown!
Now is a great time for Seniors to start planning ahead for your commencement ceremony. Please follow this link AHS Graduation to order your cap, gown, announcements, and accessories. Senior families are responsible for each student's personal orders.
Anoka High School Volunteer News
Welcome back Anoka Families! Volunteering is back for the 23-24 school year and we would love to have you join us! Please visit our Volunteering at AHS page to complete the volunteer application and background check.Thank you to everyone who has already filled out applications and background checks.
We have our first volunteer opportunity. We are asking our Anoka Families to donate breakfast items for our wonderful Veterans Program on November 10, 2023. I have a SignUp Genius for your use. Please bring your item by November 9, 2023.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Deanna Ollig, Volunteer Services Coordinator at Deanna.Ollig@ahschools.us.
Support the Anoka Dance Team at Texas Roadhouse!
What's going on in the College and Career Center?
October is College Knowledge Month
As Minnesota high school students think about applying to college, application fees should not be a barrier. There are many opportunities for students to apply to Minnesota institutions for free. Many colleges and universities never charge an application fee; sometimes this offer is limited to applications submitted online. Many colleges and universities waive application fees during College Knowledge Month (October). Some institutions use promo codes for their applications during this time.
Here is a link to free college application opportunities during October.
Ready, Set, FAFSA!
This series of free virtual events runs Tuesday evenings in October. With coming 24-25 FAFSA changes, these sessions will cover the college application process, how to create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID), general financial aid information, and how to search and apply for scholarships.
Information for families about registering for the October series is available here. Registration is open!
All sessions will have simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, Somali, Hmong and Karen.
Students who attend a session or watch one of the recordings will be eligible to win a $500 scholarship!
A second series will launch in January and will include FAFSA and MN Dream Act information.
These sessions are a collaborative effort between the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Minnesota Department of Education, ECMC The College Place and Minnesota Goes to College.
Mini Medical School
Have you ever read a food label and thought what does it really mean? Or wondered why nutrition guidelines or recommendations seem to change year to year? How do soaring temperatures, little rain, and extreme weather conditions around the world impact food production, and what effect do patterns of human consumption have on the environment? “Food, Nutrition & the Effects of Substances on Health” will explore these questions and more, diving into the connections between food and nutrition as well as the health of our planet. This series will delve into understanding different substances ingested– including cannabis, alcohol, psychedelics, and opioids– and their effects on mental and physical health. Register now for this virtual and free event.
Application Window for Trimester 2 Online Classes
The Anoka Hennepin Online Learning Program's application will open on October 1 and close on November 17. Any student/family that would like to start taking online classes during Trimester 2 must apply during the open window. Students currently taking online classes Trimester 1 do not need to re-apply. All classes will be asynchronous (with no Google Meets). Students will still be able to choose part-time or full-time.
Please note that filling out the 2023-24 Anoka-Hennepin Online Classes Application (grades 9-12) does not guarantee enrollment into the Anoka Hennepin Online Learning Program. Parents/Guardians will be notified if more information is needed. This form MUST be filled out by a parent or guardian.
Enrollment is based on courses offered and space available. Once your request is received, you will receive a Parent Permission form that will need to be signed and returned to the online program before registering for online classes.
This e-newsletter is published by Anoka High School. Questions, comments or concerns about the school e-newsletter? Contact us.