EMPOWERING 21ST CENTURY GRADUATES
Congratulations on your selection Bennett VanDuinen
Confident- Self Aware: Able to identify their own Strengths and weaknesses; Growth Mindset: Embrace their ability to grow through dedication and hard work; Grit: Willingness to expend sustained effort to complete tasks with excellence.
At the start of the year, Bennett found himself involved in incidents with Administration and Officer David. It was a difficult time and the interaction was not positive. As the year moved forward, with the help of his mom he was able to meet with us all and work to restore the relationship that was hampered by our contacts. He worked to meet with us all and share that we could move on to a better place. Since that meeting and discussion, he has grown to talk with us all and engage daily; talking, sharing weekend events, and just plain being nice and appropriate. We all shared at lunch one day how impressed we all were with where Bennett has come in interacting with us all since the start of the year. I can't think of a better compliment for a student than this recognition! Thanks Bennett for letting all of us be a positive part of your day; you are a positive part of our day!
Calling APS 358-5200? We Have Some Changes
As AHS attempts to work at the best customer service possible, Mrs. Manning, AHS Switchboard Secretary, is taking all calls personally at switchboard verses the phone tree that has been in place for a few years. As we discussed the pro's and con's with families after we made the changes, it was suggested that the 358-5200 have two main selections: 1. AHS Attendance and 2. TBJH Attendance, so we moved to adding a phone tree with two selections-- after the two options, the call goes directly to Mrs. Manning. We are hoping that this modification will meet our parent needs as we move forward with semester 2. Please feel free to share your thoughts on our changes as we want to make our phone system the most user friendly as possible.
After School Tutoring!
We are continuing to offer tutoring assistance after school for all AHS students! This will be staffed by AHS teachers and assistance can be provided in any subject. Tutoring sessions will be held in the Media Center from 2:45 to 3:45pm every Monday and Thursday that students have a full-day. Specific information for each week will be posted in student announcements. Students do not need to sign up in advance and students are responsible for their own transportation. Please contact Mr. Pattison @ (pattisonj@alpenaschools.com) if you have any questions.
Chromebook Reminders:
Bring your Chromebook and charger to school with you every day so you are prepared for class. Mrs. Samp is not able to provide extra chargers.
Did you know???
Dropping your backpack on the floor can crack your Chromebook screen.
Hitting the keys on the keyboard too hard causes damage to your device.
Counselor Corner: Seniors: Are you still wondering about whether you have enough credits to graduate or whether you've met all of your requirements? If so, please make an appointment to see your counselor as soon as possible! Also, don't forget that the FAFSA Lab will be held on Feb. 10 from 6-8 p.m. in the PBL Room, D211. It is imperative that you complete a FAFSA if you are planning to attend college and want to be considered for federal aid. In addition, most scholarships also require that you complete a FAFSA. The deadline for completion is March 1 for priority consideration.
AdviseMI
Scholarship of the Week- Alpena Exchange Club, Stanley C. Beck Youth of the Year award, $1,000 scholarship, will be awarded to an AHS senior. Write an essay on a given prompt- due Feb. 14th, More Info Here
Students, please take advantage of the many generous local scholarships offered to you. These awards will have smaller applicant pools, therefore your chances of being selected are higher. Remember a list of all scholarships can be found here .
FAFSA Lab February 10th, 6pm in D211- Need help filling out and submitting your FAFSA? Please join me, the counseling staff, and ACC financial aid administrators for the FAFSA night. This is a hands-on event where we will help you directly; please come with your questions and 2020 tax forms. Full list of documents needed can be found here
From the Restorative Center...
This week will be our first drawing for a week of perfect attendance. We will be giving out three $20 gift cards to Campus Closet. Stay tuned to see who our lucky winners are.
Fire, Tornado, and Lockdown Drills-- It is always important to practice
As the new semester begins, AHS teachers review the Emergency Preparedness Procedures in all of their classes, and I have personally talked about Fire Drills, Tornado Drills, and Lockdown Drills during Advisory time to remind all stakeholders the importance of being aware in the event any of these happen. I have encouraged students to discuss drills at home with families and to be open to sharing questions and concerns with their teachers. It is a good timely reminder and one that keeps students and staff vigilant to these topics. I appreciate all you do at home to help with these matters and open to any feedback.
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.
Upcoming Events:
2/2/22 Student Athletes-- National Signing Day -- Stay Tuned for More Information
2/7/22 Winterfest Week
2/10/22 FAFSA Completion Lab from 6-8pm in PBL Room D211
2/11/22 Winterfest Assembly
2/12/22 Winterfest Dance
2/17/22 Early College Pre-Application Meeting 7pm Auditorium
2/18/22 Freshmen Class Meeting with Jostens (Class Rings)
2/24/22 Jostens will be here during all lunches to collect class ring orders