Alpharetta High School
Newsletter - Week of March 28th
Upcoming Dates
SGC voting – March 23 – 29
Senior Games – March 31
AP Pre-bubbling - April 13th
12 grades uploaded – April 15th (4pm)
Prom (at 200 Peachtree Atlanta) - Saturday, April 16 @ 8 pm
SLO testing begins - April 18th
Honors Week - April 18th - 22nd
Junior Book Awards/Honors Night - April 21st
Last Day of Anchor Time –April 21st
CTAE Pathways Testing - April 18th - 22nd
Spring pep rally - April 22
EOC Testing - Starts April 25th
Recovery deadline – May 12th
AP Testing - May 2nd - May 13th
Senior Exams - May 20th - 24th
Other Exams - May 24th - 26th
Graduation Practice - May 25th
Graduation Ceremony - May 26th, 7PM
Personnel School Climate Survey - STILL OPEN
Below you will find the Staff school climate survey, please complete the survey! We have to have a certain level of participation from ALL staff members or we get dinged on CCRPI. These results provide invaluable data to determine where change might be needed or what we are doing well.
http://apps.gadoe.org/schoolclimate/personnel.nsf/Survey.xsp
Professional Development
Assignment for all teachers:
Create a common formative assessment and differentiated lesson using technology in March or April
By the end of the year, you should have three examples of this type of PLC work.
Debrief with PLC afterwards, upload documents to TKES, and use the following link to record your work.
This form allows us to show our growing prowess in differentiation:
Check out Edivate for ongoing Professional Development opportunities!
March Birthdays
Amy Landi 3/2
Larochelle Francois 3/7
Flavia Villarinho 3/8
Tranise Coryell 3/9
Cassie Zielinski 3/9
Marshall King 3/12
Lauren Donnenfeld 3/18
Jeff Cohen 3/19
Kim Mullis 3/20
Rebecca Perkins 3/21
Mary Beth Sibold 3/21
Kenya Lacy 3/22
Tony Murdock 3/23
James Johnson 3/24
Darlene Todd 3/25
Adam Smiley 2/27
Megan Powanda 3/ 27
Alpharetta Testing Website
Flandecia has created a testing website that you can check regularly to get any info on what is happening in the world of testing.
https://sites.google.com/site/alpharettahighschooltesting1/home
HAPPY TESTING!!!!
SLO Testing Training Dates:
April 14, 2016 - A Lunch and B Lunch in Room 2216
April 15, 2016 - 7:45AM and 3:30 PM Room 2216
EOC Testing Training Dates:
April 18, 2016 - A Lunch and B Lunch in Room 2216
April 19, 2016 – 7:45AM and 3:30 PM Room 2216
April 20, 2016 – 3:30 PM Room 1220
The AHS Faculty High School Photo
Last week’s photo was of Pollye Bostick, English teacher.
Whitney Decaminada was the first staff member to guess correctly and earn a jeans sticker! Thank you all for playing each week!
Please keep sending in photos for us to identify.
Quote for the week
“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”
―Malala Yousafzai
16-year-old Pakistani student Malala Yousafazi was an advocate for students’ rights in her hometown of Swat during a very dangerous time of war and political upheaval. Malala won the Nobel peace Prize in 2014. She now lives in the United Kingdom where she still attends school.
Teacher Candidates for School Goverance Council - VOTE this week!
We have two teacher candidates running for the open seat on our SGC. Please read about the candidates below. Voting will begin on March 23rd. Teachers vote using the Employee Portal and their FCS logins and passwords.
Virginia Brown
I have had the honor of serving others through various leadership roles within our school community. Currently, I serve as a member of the Instructional Leadership Team and as the school-based New Teacher Induction Advisor, Professional Learning Facilitator, Student-Teacher Mentor, and Ninth Grade English Team Leader. This year, I have coordinated and facilitated two in-house new teacher seminars over differentiation and blended learning, revised our school-wide professional development plan, written a Request for Flexibility (RFF) for our new teacher program, facilitated two AHS University professional learning sessions, conducted monthly new teacher meetings, and hosted our new teacher orientation session over the summer. I know that my previous leadership roles will be an asset to the school governance council. These leadership positions have allowed me to connect with many different teachers in our building (student teachers from local universities, novice, veteran, and interdisciplinary) and leaders in our district, giving me valuable insight into our school and learning community culture. I am keenly aware of both the challenges that we face and the successes that we have enjoyed, and I would find personal satisfaction in helping to solidify Alpharetta High School’s position as a leader and exemplar in our state, district, and learning community.
Brenda Williams
I've been employed by Fulton County Schools as an IRR teacher for 12 years and started the year that Alpharetta High School opened. I'm totally involved with the staff and students. I've been the Dance Team sponsor, track team coach, Tennis coach and served as the peer mediation sponsor. I'm always available to help the students. Before teaching I owned my own company Conflict Resolution Skills Group ( I'm a certified mediator for the State of GA), and worked in Human Resources for 20 years. I'm very active in my community and has served as Chattahoochee High School PTSA President. My children all graduated from CHS. I'm a public servant and my passion is to help people be the best they can be. Serving on the SGC will give me an opportunity to help AHS staff and Students
Learning Opportunities
Black & Silver Celebration
AHS Foundation
Black & Silver Celebration
The AHS Foundation cordially invites you to attend the 5th Annual Gala event. This Casino-Themed event will feature cocktails, buffet dinner, live and silent auctions.
When: Saturday, May 7, 2016 – 7:00 pm
Where: Golf Club of Georgia, One Golf Club Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30004 – The GCG Clubhouse has just undergone a spectacular renovation.
Why: The Foundation has contributed over $150,000 to projects at AHS including: upgraded auditorium lighting, teacher enrichment, scholarships, the AHS Band’s equipment truck, campus beautification days, the new lacrosse skills wall, art display pedestals and a the new, redesigned weight room. Future initiatives will also include education and mentoring programs to increase graduation rates. This is your chance to become part of an extraordinary movement – do not miss out!
Information and reservations: http://www.alpharettahighschoolfoundation.com/black--silver.html
Purchases before April 8 are discounted.
AHS Orchestra Rocks!
AHS Orchestras sets the standard for FCS Schools musical accomplishment by their performances at the GMEA, LGPE and Carnegie Hall.
The results of the Georgia Music Educators Association District V Large Group Performance Evaluation were recently released. The Alpharetta High School Sinfonia and Symphony Strings all received the highest rating of Superior with Chamber and Philharmonia closely following, both with an Excellent rating. Immediately following the LGPE performance all AHS musicians participated in a music sight-reading evaluation, receiving the highest rating of Superior.
The LGPE program is an evaluation process for musical performance and sight-reading abilities for orchestras and their teachers. The LGPE affords valuable opportunity and motivation for student learning during an extended period of time prior to the event as part of regularly scheduled school work. The judges are recognized authorities in the field of music education and provide a written and/or oral critique.
The success of the LGPE performance was preceded in January by the AHS Symphony Orchestra invitation-only performance at the GMEA In-Service Conference in Athens, where selected orchestras and bands from the entire state performed for the leading music educators in Georgia. The AHS Orchestra will also be performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 25th, 2016.
The Alpharetta High School Orchestras are directed by Mr. Sheldon Fisher.
Manifest - AHS's Creative Arts Magazine
Dear Teachers,
Alpharetta's Creative Arts Magazine, Manifest, has released our second issue, ALT! The students have been working very hard in order to release this issue and we want our teachers to take a look!
You can check out ALT on the website http://ahsmanifest.weebly.com/ along with our fall issue, CTRL.
Thank you to those that have given support and encouragement. We are so proud of our Manifest staff!
Manifest Marketing Department
Alpharetta High School’s Creative Arts Magazine
Need Power?
The media center is now out of power strip and are taking orders. Pam and Brenda will place the order this Friday (March 25). This order for power strips will be the last one this year.
Hill Talk by Mike Scheifflee
Are you interested in educational reform and the changes being made to Georgia Education? If so, join me for Hill Talk, a weekly update on educational topics from the Capital. From now through the end of the current legislative session you can keep yourself updated on the future of education in Georgia.
What is the Deal with Deal? Click here to find out what Governor Deal has in store for this legislative session as reported by the AJC: http://www.myajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/defining-legacy-a-big-part-of-deals-strategy-for-l/nptLX/
Did you know that on March 15th The House of Representatives unanimously voted in favor of SB 364?
This PAGE endorsed bill provides “important relief on testing and educator evaluation requirements, including reducing the percentage of student growth measures on evaluations from 50 percent to 30 percent for teachers and 70 percent to 40 percent for leaders. Further, student measures will not be utilized for evaluations unless students are in attendance for 90 percent of a teacher’s course. The bill also reduces the number of required tests from 32 to 24 during a student’s K-12 academic experience.” (Harper, Craig. PAGE Director of Communications)
What are the next steps for SB 364?
The Governor now has until the end of this legislative session to sign the bill with the 40th session convening on March 24th. However, he does have the ability to veto the bill which requires 2/3rd majority from each house.
Have questions or want more information, please reach out to Mike Scheifflee.
Reminder, when making contact and conversing with representatives be sure to use your personal email and conduct contact outside of working ours.
More information and a full copy of SB 264 can be found at: http://pageinc.net/page-position-and-analysis-of-educator-evaluation-and-testing-bills
Up this week in Education: 39th Day of Legislature March 22nd
HB 864 “Move on when Ready Act” http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/864
SB 329 “High school diploma and duel credit coursework” http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/SB/329
SB 348 http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/SB/348
SB 355 “Student/teacher Protection Act” http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/SB/355
Winter Guard Performance - after school, March 30th
Recently our three Alpharetta winter guards competed at the Marietta Castle Classic winter guard competition. Our Cadet team made up of Webb Bridge and Hopewell students claimed first place in their division. Their score earned them promotion to the next division up. Our Junior Varsity team gave an impressive performance and outscored their competitors which earned them a first place finish. The Varsity team did an amazing job and outscored their competitors by a large margin easily earning them a first place finish. Their score earned them promotion to the next division up as well.
All three of our teams will give a FREE performance Wednesday, March 30, in our gym. We would love to see as many of our administrators, teachers, friends, and supporters here next Wednesday, March 30, in our main gym.
Epson Training
The initial training is an online, self-paced course. It consists of seven video tutorials (each 2-7 min. in length) and an assessment. The assessment requires the teachers to enter their name and school. I will send you a monthly report listing who has completed the training. I appreciate your support with ensuring that teachers participate.
Please communicate to teachers (in the classrooms with the new projectors) that they need to complete the online course. Here is how they register:
1. Login to the FCS Employee portal.
2. Click the Edivate icon.
3. Click ResourcesàLearning TargetsàCatalogsàInstructional Technology
4. Click Register for Epson Interactive Projector training.
One you are registered you will access the course by going to ResourcesàLearning TargetsàCourses. Please use Internet Explorer to access the course. Before beginning the training you should have Epson Easy Interactive Tools software installed on your computer. If you do not, please contact your School Technology Specialist.
Barnes and Noble Teacher Appreciation
Barnes and Noble Education Appreciation week is approaching! They have brought Educator Program Applications to us and will pick them up next Tuesday. All you have to do is pick up the application in the teacher mailroom, fill it out, and place it in the black basket marked "Barnes and Noble." A representative from the store will return with your personalized discount card and you will be able to receive 20% off all book purchases for the rest of the year. If you already have a card, you just need to bring in your AHS or Fulton ID to the store to renew it each year.
During Educator Appreciation Week (April 9 - 17), card owners receiver 25% off. There are also special drawings and perks for all staff members this week.
Horace Mann here March 24th
Your Horace Mann Representative, Kelli Ketcham, will be here Thursday, March 24th from 9:00 to 3:30 in the Media Center if you would like to schedule an appointment with her to discuss Auto, Home, Life Insurance or Retirement planning. Please e-mail Kelli at kelli.ketcham@horacemann.com to schedule a time to meet. Horace Mann Insurance was founded by Educators for Educators and offers discounts for educators.