Averill Park HS
May 2017 Newsletter
A Message from the APHS Leadership Team:
May is upon us and there is much going on at Averill Park High School this month. Advanced Placement exams start this week, we are preparing for the June Regents Examinations, spring sports are in full swing, and the Junior Prom will take place in a few weeks. During this busy time, we ask students to maintain balance in their studies and social activities. It is important to continue to focus on curricular studies while preparing for extra-curricular activities. It is easy to let social activities overtake the focus on academics, but with the end of the school year approaching, we remind all students to keep their eyes on finishing the year with a strong academic record.
We also ask parents to continue to monitor their children's academic progress - Quarter 3 report cards have been posted, and we ask that you continue using SchoolTool to check Quarter 4 Interim Reports. In addition, please monitor class attendance using SchoolTool, to ensure students are not at risk of reaching Stages that could result in loss of credit for courses. If you have any concerns, please reach out to teachers and counselors for support.
We have several upcoming events for students which are held off campus in various locations. The safety and well-being of our students is always our highest priority. Therefore we wanted to make you aware of the following precautions that will be taking place for the Junior Prom and the Senior Dinner Dance.
All school rules regarding tobacco, alcohol, prescription and illegal drugs (and paraphernalia) are in effect for these events.
Students will be subject to search for above mentioned items.
Alcohol sensors will be be used to screen students prior to entering and throughout the event.
Please know that participation in these events is a privilege. Students earn this privilege by performing well academically, attending school regularly (and on time), and adhering to the Code of Conduct. The HS administration has begun notifying students who are ineligible to attend these events. We ask parents to also monitor your child's grades, attendance, and behavior to ensure your child is able to partake in the upcoming spring festivities.
Additionally Mrs. Miller, School Nurse, will be available at each of these events. Students are prohibited from carrying any medications, with the exception of epi-pens and emergency inhalers. For students who have received permission to be given specific medication with advanced notice, Mrs. Miller will have them available. This must be prearranged by the families at least two days prior to the date of the event. This applies not only to prescription medications, but also to common over-the-counter medicines (such as Advil or Tylenol). Please plan ahead, and make arrangements with Mrs. Miller if your child will require medication during the social events.
Our goal is to assure that these events are safe for our students and any cooperation you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We are looking forward to a Safe Spring with fond memories to last a lifetime.
Finally, we'd like to take this opportunity to remind you of our school's dress code with the warm weather approaching (the language below is from the district's Code of Conduct policy):
School is considered a workplace for adults and students. Appropriate dress is:
1. That which is safe and does not disrupt or interfere with the educational process. This includes, but is not limited to chains, safety pins, spikes, animal collars, leashes, etc.
2. That which does not include items which are vulgar, obscene, libelous, or denigrate others because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender (including identity and expression), sexual orientation, sex, weight or disability.
3. That does not promote and/or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs and/or encourage other illegal or violent activities.
4. Student clothing must at all times cover undergarments, midriffs, and cleavage so that none of these is visible to others. Skirts and shorts must reach at least the mid- thigh of the wearer. Tops must not be strapless.
5. The middle and high schools are hat-free campuses. Students are expected to remove all headwear prior to entering the building. Exceptions to this rule may be granted by the principal for religious or medical reasons.
We thank you for helping to ensure that your child is appropriately dressed for the anticipated warmer weather in the school environment!
Please see the events and important dates that are scheduled for this month:
May 1-12: AP (Advanced Placement) Exams
May 4: CASDA College Fair - 6:30-8:00 PM, APHS Main Gym
May 16: Underclassmen Awards Ceremony - 6:30 PM, APHS Auditorium
May 16: School Budget Vote and Board Elections - 7 AM-9 PM, APHS Auxiliary Gym
May 17: Student Safety Assemblies - for upperclassmen, during school day
May 18: Junior Class Photo - during Block 1
May 20: Junior Prom
May 25: Spring Music Concert - 6:30 PM, APHS Auditorium
May 29: Memorial Day - No classes
We look forward to this busy month, and if you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely,
Ms. Michelle Tsao, Principal
Mr. Brian Bishop, Assistant Principal (Grades 9 & 11)
Mrs. Christina Mein, Assistant Principal (Grades 10 & 12)
Champions of Character
Japanese Club Field Trip
Mr. AP Competition
Other News and Notes
June 2017 Regents Examination Schedule
Please see this link for the June 2017 Regents Exam schedule: goo.gl/QrBYwH
Local final exams will be added to the schedule at a later time.
From the Health Office
Fall sports sign up started April 3rd in the Health Office, and will continue during lunches and after school until the end of the school year. Your child will come home with a blue card, so please send that back to the Health Office ASAP.
There will be time this summer to hand in any physicals and 30 day paperwork in the gym atrium- Parents must be present at this time.
JV/V Football and Cheerleading- Monday July 31, 6-8
JV/V Girls Volleyball- Tuesday August 1st, 5:30-7:30
JV/V Boys and Girls soccer- Wednesday 2nd, 5:30-7:30
JV/V Golf, Girls tennis, and boys and girls cross country- Thursday August 3rd, 5:30-7:30
Monday, August 7th, 5:30-7:30 for anyone that has missed any of the above mentioned dates. This is the very last day to turn in paperwork. If it is not received by this day, your child will not be allowed to try-out for their sport. Fall sports begin Monday, August 14th. Please look at the athletics section of the website for more information.
Dr. O'Bryan, our school physician, will be here May 10th doing in school physicals - if your child needs a school physical please call and let the nurse know at 674-7020. Dr. O'Bryan will also be at the school during the summer for last minute sports physicals on August 9th from 8:30- 1:30. This is at a first come, first served basis.
Parents: All students entering 7th , 8th and 12th grades must have the meningococcal vaccine.
End of the year medication pick up: If your child takes medication at school they need to be picked up no later then June 23rd. If there is any medication left over, they will be disposed of.
There are still 10th grade students that do not have a physical on file. Please send a copy of a current physical into the Health Office for your child.
From the Counseling Center
CASDA College Fair
Thursday, May 4, 2017, 6:30-8:30 pm in the APHS Main Gym. The College Fair is an opportunity to speak with representatives from over 120 colleges and universities. There will be public and private, four year and two year, large and small, liberal arts and vocational colleges represented as well as the military. Also represented will be a number of institutions presenting financial options
College Entrance Exam Dates
ACT TEST DATES (with REGISTRATION DEADLINE)
June 10, 2017 (May 5, 2017)
SAT I & II (with REGISTRATION DEADLINE)
June 3, 2017 (May 9, 2017)
Students need to register for the SAT and/or ACT online OR through the mail.
The envelope must be postmarked by the registration deadline indicated above.
Working Papers
If you will need working papers for a summer job, please come into the Counseling Center before school gets out to pick up the application for working papers. There is a physical form that must be completed by your family doctor, or the school nurse if there is a current one on file. Your physical must have been within the last twelve months.
**Don’t forget to check the Job Board in the Counseling Center for possible employment opportunities in the area. **
Scholarship Opportunities
The Counseling Center receives notifications of scholarships being offered to high school students on a continuous basis. Remember to check the Naviance or stop in the Counseling Center and look in the scholarship binder for information about each scholarship offered.
Summer Programs at College
Many Colleges offer summer programs to High School students in programs of various contents of interest. Some of these programs can be found on the Counseling Center website under College and Career planning.
APHS Yearbook - The Threshold
Purchase your APHS 2017 Yearbook! The cost is $75 - Cash or checks written to: APHS Yearbook. (Personalizations are no longer available at this time)
Order forms are in the Main Office and Room 205.
Yearbooks will arrive and be distributed in June.
Order your AP book of memories now!
Tastemaker Contest (May 15) - Battle of the Principals
Junior Prom Information - May 20, 2017
The Class of 2018 Junior Prom is being held on Saturday, May 20, 2017 from 6-10:00 pm at the Albany Marriott at 189 Wolf Road, Albany,NY. The theme is Enchanted Forest.
Tickets will be sold on Thursday and Friday, April 27 & 28, and Thursday and Friday, May 4 & 5, in the PE/Gym lobby after school from 2:15-2:45pm. The price of the prom ticket is $70 per person and can be purchased by cash or check. Checks should be made out to APCSD Class of 2018.
Picture information goes directly to Lifetouch (LifetouchSpecialEvents.com, event code AD606030M0). An email was sent out with all information to junior parents and students with information regarding the event and pictures. Please email Marylou Vosburgh at vosburghm@apcsd.org with questions.
Senior Events until Graduation
Senior Arts Gala - 6/2 at 6:00 PM
Senior Awards - 6/8 at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium
Senior Picnic - 6/12 during the school day at Grafton State Park
Graduation Rehearsal - 6/20 at 12:00-2:30 PM (required for all seniors)
Senior Dinner Dance - 6/22 at 6:00-10:00 PM at Birch Hill in Castleton
Graduation - 6/24 - ceremony at 2:30 PM (Seniors to arrive by 1:45) at the Convention Center, Albany
S.A.G.E.S. and AP Connections Garage Sale
Would you like to help students with disabilities at Averill Park High School gain real world experience? Then visit our garage sale on Friday June 2nd from 12-6 PM. We will be located in the grassy area across the street from the high school. 50% of the profits will be given to the charity of the student's choice (we are currently conducting research projects to choose the charity) and 50% will be given to the S.A.G.E.S (Students Are Gaining Education through Service) and AP Connections programs. Both programs support students with disabilities at APHS.
We are currently looking for donations of items to sell. We will take just about anything that can be easily moved by high school students. You can drop your donation off at the high school main office or contact Kelly Ryan at ryank@apcsd.org to schedule a drop off time. We will accept donations through May 19th. Please note any unsold items will be donated to Doors of Hope or GoodWill, you will not get items back.
Real world skills involved with this project include: research, giving back to the community, pricing items, organization, reduce, reuse, recycle, money, Point of Service (POS) application, and communication.
Please contact Kelly at ryank@apcsd.org with any questions!
Art Students Receive Awards
The Averill Park High School Art Department is pleased to announce senior Morgan Moscinski and junior Leah Paulson received top awards out of over 400 entries in the 18th Annual High School Regional Juried Art Exhibition held in The Opalka Gallery at The Sage Colleges.
Morgan received the Juror’s Choice award for her diptych oil painting titled “Key Stone.” Leah Paulson received the Dean’s Award for her digital color print titled “Risen.”
Students participate in French Immersion Program
Congratulations to Alana Carroll, Will Hynes, Hannah Katz, Jacob Miller, Ian Moore, Camaran Schwarz, Luke Switzer, Hanna Teal, Kelsey VanFleet and Julia Zaremba.
LOTE Lip Sync Contest Results
The Averill Park High School Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Department’s 8th annual Lip Sync contest on April 7 was a tremendous success with eight student performances and one teacher performance. Over $1,000 was raised for scholarships for graduating seniors currently enrolled in a foreign language class.
The Best Costume award was given to Mrs. Scheidel’s Spanish 4 class for performing “Pura Vida”. Mr. Brown’s French 4 class won best choreography for their rendition of “En feu” and his French 5 class was awarded Best Lip Syncing for their routine for “Les démons de minuit”. Mrs. Apelanz’s Spanish 5 class won the Best Overall performance for “Todos me Miran”. Not to be outdone, the LOTE teachers performed “Gimme chocolate” by Baby Metal.
Congratulations to all participants!
Best Lip Syncing
LOTE Faculty Performance
Best Overall Performance
About Us:
Website: www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/aphs
Location: 146 Gettle Road, Averill Park, NY, United States
Phone: (518) 674-7000