Andover High School News & Events
September 15, 2023
Starting the 2023-2024 School Year off Andover Together!
Important Calendar Dates
- September 18: First Late Start Schedule Day, Class starts at 8:30 AM
- September 25-29: Homecoming Week
- September 28: Picture Retakes (IMC)
- October 2: Academic Lettering Ceremony (GYM) 7:00 PM
- October 6: NHS Blood Drive
- October 11: PSAT for 11th Graders
- October 12: Last Chance Senior Photo During Lunches (IMC)
- October 12 and October 17: Conferences
- October 18-20: No School; MEA
Trimester 1 Late Start Dates are listed here.
You can also view a District Calendar here.
Attendance Matters
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Andover High School is off to a great start in the 2023-2024 school year! We are excited to have students back, energized to learn, grow, and support one another to start the year.
As we begin this school year we want to review our new attendance initiative called “Attendance Matters” in order to heighten your awareness of the importance of your child attending school each day. If your child is healthy, they should be in school. Every day a student is absent is a lost opportunity for learning. Too many absences not only can affect achievement for the absent student but also can disrupt learning for the entire class.
Read the rest of Mr. Feine's Attendance Letter to families.
Monday Advisory/CT Schedule
Our first Late Start/CT Schedule will begin this Monday morning the 18th with classes starting at 8:30 AM. Transportation will continue to run at its normal time in the morning. There will be space available in our cafeteria for breakfast or the IMC for those students who choose to come early to school and do school work.
The following are days in which we will not have CT during Trimester 1:
- October 16th - Short week due to MEA Break
- November 21st - Short week due to Thanksgiving Break
- November 27th - Last Monday of the Trimester
Andover HS Parking Lot Procedures
Homecoming 2023
Homecoming Spirit Week Days:
- Monday, Sept 25th: Monochrome Monday
- Tuesday, Sept 26th: Dynamic Duo
- Wednesday, Sept 27th: Western Out
- Thursday, Sept 28th: Barbie vs. Ken
- Friday, Sept 29th: Husky Day
Homecoming Dance - Saturday, September 30th
The homecoming dance will be taking place on Saturday, September 30th from 7:00 -10:00 PM in the Gym. Tickets are being sold the week of September 25th in all lunches. Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door. The homecoming dance is for Andover High School students only.
News from the Volunteer Services Coordinator
Our Homecoming Dance will be held on Saturday, September 30th from 7:00 - 10:00 PM. We need 12 adult volunteers to help make this fun high school tradition a success. Please use this link to sign up.
Please remember all volunteers must complete a volunteer application and background check each academic school year before volunteering. You can find the applications here.
If you have any questions, please email Tina Huston with any questions at tina.huston@ahschools.us.
Fall Strength Training
Fall Strength Training started on Tuesday, September 12th and will run through Thursday, November 16th. It is being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45 - 4:00 PM.
Cost is $40.00 and you can sign up through SchoolPay via the lock and key on A-H Connect.
Every Meal - Fighting Child Hunger
Andover High School is excited to partner with Every Meal to offer a free weekend meal program to all of our students.
Every Meal is a nonprofit organization with a mission to fight child hunger through community and school partnerships. They strive to make a difference in children's lives by focusing on food gaps like weekends, school breaks, and summer when it is difficult to access food in school.
If your family is interested in enrolling in this program or you are looking for other community resources please contact our school social worker.
Robin Burge-Ross MSW, LICSW
763-506-8584
Counseling Office Info
Back on Track
Need to make up a class? See your counselor to register for credit recovery. You can see details here.
Are Your Student-Athletes Ready to Play?
See the PDF below to check out this NCAA Student-Athlete guide if you're considering pursuing athletics in college.
Career Center
Senior Parent Night for College Help
If you have a senior that is planning on going to some type of postsecondary education after high school and you have questions about that process, this event is for you. We will be hosting a fall workshop to go through the college application process, financial aid and scholarships, and much more! Registration is not required to attend. It will be held on Tuesday, October 17th from 5:00 - 6:00 PM in the IMC (Library).
Pay Less for College Event
This free workshop is designed to help parents find ways to work within the financial aid system to increase their eligibility for financial aid, reduce taxes, and find more efficient ways to pay for a college education. Presenter Mike Branch, CFP of Focus Financial will cover:
Two Types of Aid: Need based and merit based
Three critical issues in college planning: taxes, control & financial aid scholarships, and loans & credits
Tax credits, tax free savings accounts, and other incentives
How to structure income and assets to maximize eligibility for financial aid
The four partners in planning: parent, student, school, government
Developing your recipe: GPA, class rank, ACT Score, EFC, unique abilities
Registration and more information can be found here.
College and Career Visits
These trips are open to all students to sign up and attend. Check back often, as these opportunities are added throughout the school year. Space is limited, sign-up today!
Advanced Placement Exam Update
News from the Youth Services Coordinator
My name is Tammy Peterson and I am Andover’s Youth Service Coordinator. In a nutshell, my role as the YSC is to help connect students with meaningful leadership and service opportunities. Here are a few items of interest:
Service Hours
Does your student enjoy volunteering? Are they looking for safe and fun ways to give back? Feel free to join the Youth Service Google Classroom (code: je2x6nu) to see opportunities available through Youth Service. Be sure to submit completed volunteer hours via the Verification of Hours form! Are you wondering how many service hours your student has accumulated during high school? Send me an email, and I can get you a transcript of their volunteer hours.
DROP in for Service!
In an effort to bring the spirit of service to our school, the Andover Leo club will be leading a variety of fun and meaningful service projects at Drop in for Service. Students can receive service hours right here at school during late start time on select Mondays! Click here for more details on dates, times, and room location.
Andover Leo Club: The Andover Leo Club, is a student-led volunteer group that gathers twice a month, and has multiple service opportunities available. The Leos provide a fun and easy way to connect with fellow students, help our community, and possibly earn a letter. Click here for information about the club, and to see this year’s calendar. Join our classroom using code: 4dnp2qx.
The Leo Club will be holding a food drive and fundraiser at this year’s Powderpuff game (September 27th @ 7PM). The cost of admission to the game will be two nonperishable food items, or two dollars. All food donations will go to the ACBC food shelf. Cash donations will benefit Gifts for Seniors.
Andover High School is an official Jefferson Awards Leadership School. One Jefferson award is given each month to a student who exemplifies a true spirit of service.
President’s Volunteer Service Award
The President’s award is given for hours completed in the calendar year. Any service from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 is considered for the award. Just return your Verification of Hours form to document the hours you’ve spent volunteering.
My hours:
Monday 7:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Tuesday 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday 7:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Thursday - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
*Hours may vary based on program needs
Questions? Contact me at: tammy.peterson@ahschools.us
PSAT for 11th Grade Students
Andover High School will offer the PSAT to interested Juniors on Wednesday, October 11th. This is a regular school day and students will be responsible for the work they miss in classes.
Although we primarily focus on the ACT in MN, the PSAT is an option for 11th grade students who want to prepare for the SAT.
Another main reason students test is to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program. National Merit recognizes students who test in the top 1% in their state. We would suggest students in the top 5% of the junior class consider testing if they want a chance to be a National Merit Scholar.
60 spots are reserved for interested Andover High School students. Test takers will need to pay through the SchoolPay app to secure their spot.
PSAT/NMSQT
Who: 11th graders
Where: Andover High School Media Center
When: Wednesday, October 11th, 2023 7:40-10:30 am
Cost: $20 *Those on free/reduced lunch can contact their counselor for payment assistance.
-The PSAT is approximately 2 hours 15 minutes in length and will be in a digital format, taken on a school issued device this year.
-Registration is open September 8 – September 29. Only students who’ve paid through SchoolPay will have a test ordered. We are unable to accommodate late or day of registrations.
Please contact Marcia Stam at 763-506-8508 or Mandy Johnson at 763-506-8565 with any questions.
Join the Andover High School Team!
Andover High School is a great place to work and learn. Our communities work together to provide residents with safe and friendly neighborhoods, high-quality schools, a wide range of business and economic opportunities, beautiful parks and abundant recreational activities.
We need your help…Join our team! We are looking for custodians, child nutrition and security staff to join us in providing students a future without limit.
You can make a difference in your community, work at Andover and help prepare our students for life.
For more information, please contact our school at andoverhs@ahschools.us or 763-506-8400. Visit ahschools.us/jobs for more postings.
Celebrating the First Week of School
Great moments are born from great opportunities, and that is what we have this school year.
As we wrap up the first week, see how school leaders from across the school district teamed up with Superintendent Cory McIntyre for this years’ back-to-school video. At Andover High School and schools across the district, we believe that *miracles* happen each and every day, and when teams have a shared purpose - amazing things can happen.
Over the past week, staff members have focused on their purpose or their “why,” and how they make a difference in the lives of students. Check out the video and join us in supporting and cheering on our students and staff as they go for the gold this school year!
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