EMPOWERING 21ST CENTURY GRADUATES
Happy New Year! Welcome 2022
Welcome back and I hope your Holiday Break was refreshing and healthy. As we enter 2022, students will be wrapping up semester 1 with final exams January 19-21. The schedule will be released this week and will be 2 exams per day. Students will have some type of "Final" in all classes; it may be a culminating project, traditional exam, etc. Your students will be able to tell you as teachers have been sharing final exam items for weeks with their classes.
Synergy will be turned off on the 19th for teachers to grade and post grades.
The grades have to be shut off to complete the grading process; so please, be patient and understanding.
The grades will be available on Saturday midday
Report cards will be uploaded to Synergy on the the 28th; if you want a printed copy, please see Mrs. Manning in the Main Office.
I added a couple repeat "Items" from the last Weekly Update as reminders as it seems like forever since we have been in school. I can't wait to see you all tomorrow morning. Welcome back!
ATTENDANCE UPDATE FOR SEMESTER 1, 2021
After meeting with the teaching staff in department settings, it was determined that AHS will suspend the current Attendance Policy (Page 18 of Alpena High School Student/Parent Handbook) based upon the current COVID/quarantine issues facing our student population and families for SEMESTER 1 ONLY.
There have been many inquiries regarding the Attendance Review Board (ARB) and doctor’s notes. Currently, over 550 AHS students have 8 or more absences. Attending school has been a struggle for some families with multiple COVID outbreaks, but with Brightspace and teacher communication, students have been able to stay connected and continue learning. It is not optimal, but it is the situation that AHS students are facing due to the health concerns.
Truancy is still being monitored as an ongoing process and is being handled on a case-by-case basis with Dean Florip and School Success, Mrs. Siegert. The Assistant Principals are working with each student as attendance issues are addressed.
Aubrey (maiden name Kowaski- AHS grad 2008) is going to long-term substitute for Ron Worth as he heads off into retirement world on January 23rd. Congratulation Mr. Worth-- you will be greatly missed, and we thank you for your dedication and service to APS.
Aubrey is coming with a well crafted educational background with an Engineering & Science focus. She is going to join the Teachers of Tomorrow program to be certified to teach in science(s). She is excited to give back to APS what she feels prepared her for the world outside Alpena. Her area of studies are Ecology/Evolutionary Biology; she earned her Master's Degree Conservation Ecology with a a focus on aquatic sciences. She attended Michigan Tech where she pursued her Doctorate in Environmental Engineering.
Aubrey was a two sport high school athlete and continued to play Woman's Hockey at the University of Michigan.
She currently resides in Presque Isle with her husband Brandon and two children, Eamon (5) and Eoinn (3).
OK2SAY is the student safety program which allows students to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees, and schools. It uses a comprehensive communication system to facilitate tip sharing among students, parents, school personnel, community mental health service programs, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and law enforcement officials about harmful behaviors that threaten to disrupt the learning environment.
ENTRANCE INTO THE BUILDING--YOU CANNOT LET ANYONE ENTER
As a reminder during the school day, all doors at AHS are locked except for the Student Entry in the Front Oval to the left of the Wildcat and the Main Entrance in the Back Oval. Parents and visitors must mask and sign in a the Main Office. It is important that students not let individuals into the building without proper identification. If an adult is asking to enter, please direct them to the Back Oval and apologize that you cannot let them in the building. It is important that we do this 100% of the time.
Staff Bathrooms
Since the start of the year, teachers have had multiple incidents of students using the Staff Bathrooms in D, E and F Houses. The rooms are clearly marked as "Staff" and yet, it continues to happen. The bathrooms are not to be used by students as each house and in all areas of the building have clearly marked student restrooms-- please help with the student restrooms.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
AHS Athletics for the Week
Tuesday
Hockey Home Cheboygan 6pm
Girl's Basketball Home Petoskey 5:30pm JV Varsity 7pm
Boy's Basketball Away Petoskey
Wednesday
Wrestling Away Cadillac
Friday
Boy's Basketball Home Petoskey 5:30pm Fresh/JV Varsity 7pm
Girl's Basketball Away Petoskey
Hockey Away Soo Showcase
Saturday
Wrestling Away Durand High School
Hockey Away Soo Showcase
Cheerleading Away 11th Annual Chemic Cheer Challenge
Ski Club 2022
The first Ski Club trip is a Bus Trip to Nubs Nob on Friday. The deadline to sign up is Tuesday 1/3/21.
See the Ski Club website for more details:
https://sites.google.com/alpenaschools.com/skiclub/home
Upcoming Events:
1/3/22 School Resumes
1/3/22 Tutoring 2:45 Media Center
1/4/22 ACES Application Deadline
1/6/22 NHS Meeting 2:30 Auditorium
1/6/22 Tutoring 2:45 Media Center
1/11/22 KAPUT Meeting @ 5:30 in the commons
1/12/22 Parent Information Forum-- Applying for Scholarships 6:30 Auditorium
1/14/22 Senior Salutes due for Yearbook
1/14/22 Online classes need to be completed for semester 1
1/17/22 No School
1/19/22 Final Exams through Friday
1/20/22 1/2 day for students; 2 exams in the a.m.
1/21/22 1/2 day for students; 2 exams in the a.m.
1/23/22 Synergy is reopened to families Monday midday
1/24/22 Semester 2 begins
1/28/22 Reports will be uploaded to Synergy