AHS Schedule Change Consideration

Beginning in 2019, AHS reviewed the benefits of adding a Resource/Flex Period to our schedule to allow more access and flexibility in the day for students and staff.  This time would allow for such benefits as catching up from sick days, pre-teaching, re-teaching, ACT preparation, Academic and Career Planning work, school culture and celebrations, and many other unique opportunities.  

After a Covid pause, the consideration resumed and concluded that to add a Resource Period, AHS could not maintain the current scheduling structure as it would either shorten classes significantly, or lessen opportunities for students.  Additional, upon reviewing various schedules common across our state and nation, and observing continuously changing learning dynamics, we saw an evolving world of educational practices where a change to the schedule may provide a better student experience and academic opportunities, and remedy some of the challenging or limiting elements of our current schedule.  A team of 24 teachers and administrators reviewed eight different schedules and believe that the alternating day, A/B Block schedule (classes meet all year on alternating days) may provide the best opportunities for our student moving forward.  

The information below highlights the next steps in our journey.  Throughout October, we will be providing different means of interactions with families and students to learn and discuss the possibilities of a new schedule.  

Opportunities for our AHS Families:

• Oct. 18th - Parent Presentation- South Gym 

• Oct. 20th - Parent Presentation- South Gym

• Oct. 21st- Sharing of information, via email, to all families.  This will include the Parent Presentation slide deck, a one-page sheet on the 'why' for the consideration, an FAQ from our meetings with families,. and other information necessary to ensure our families are  fully informed.  

• Oct. 26th- Optional, scheduled meetings with Sue Casetta, Dir. of Curriculum and Instruction, and Adam Kurth, High School Principal.  The process to sign up to meet will be shared on the 21st.

• Continuous- Families are always able to email or call to discuss questions on the proposed schedule.  casetta@arrowheadschools.org and kurth@arrowheadschools.org.  To ensure the best and fastest responses, please put both administrators on your email if you reach out.   We ask that you review all materials shared on the 21st as most questions of our families will be answered within that information. 

Our goal is always to continuously review what we do to ensure the best education and experience possible for our students.   We hope our families see our work as an effort to continue pushing AHS to provide the best education around.

Homecoming Ticket Information

Homecoming ticket sales began on Friday, October 7th. 

• In Person Ticket Sales: One day only! Friday, October 7 during lunch and after school

  • Students who purchased a ticket in person on Friday, October 7 received a promo code. Each student needs to go online and use that promo code to purchase the electronic ticket.  Students may purchase tickets online, using their promo codes, beginning at 4 PM on Friday, October 7.  

  • Purchasing more than one ticket?  Each promo code redemption needs to be completed in separate transactions. Each attendee's contact information needs to be registered with his/her individual ticket.  

  • You will receive an electronic ticket. Bring this electronic ticket on a phone with you to the dance. DO NOT REDEEM THIS TICKET!  Only dance staff may redeem the ticket.  SCREENSHOTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

  • Students need BOTH their electronic ticket and student ID to enter the danceTicket purchasing can be accessed through this link or the QR code below: https://gofan.co/app/events/722033?schoolId=WI13607   

• Online Ticket Sales:  Beginning Friday, October 7 at 4 PM through Saturday, October 15 at 8:30 PM

  • Tickets will be available for purchase ONLINE only 

  • Tickets will cost $12 + processing fee

  • Purchasing more than one ticket?  Each ticket purchase needs to be completed in separate transactions. Each attendee's contact information needs to be registered with his/her individual ticket.  

  • You will receive an electronic ticket. Bring this electronic ticket on a phone with you to the dance. DO NOT REDEEM THIS TICKET!  Only dance staff may redeem the ticket.  SCREENSHOTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

  • Students need BOTH their electronic ticket and student ID to enter the dance

  • Ticket purchasing can be accessed through this link or the QR code below: https://gofan.co/app/events/722033?schoolId=WI13607   

• Bringing a Non-Arrowhead Guest?  

Anyone bringing a guest from another school must have a signed Guest Form turned in by 2:30 pm on Friday, October 14th. You may print a form from the link, find them at the greeters’ desks at both campuses, or grab a copy during ticket sales

• Students may bring only ONE guest and they must be under the age of 21 and at least a freshman in high school

• Homecoming Dance Rules 

  • If a student is bringing a guest from another school, they must have a guest form completed and turned into either office by 2:30 pm on Friday, October 14.

  • At the dance the students need their ticket on their phone and student ID to enter. 

  • Do NOT redeem the ticket in advance; Only staff working the entrance may redeem the online ticket. Screenshots will not be accepted!

  • Guests must also present a School ID. 

  • No stilettos will be allowed on the gym floor.  

  • There will be a mandatory, free coat check monitored by staff in the commons area.

  • Students may access their things from the coat check once throughout the dance.

  • Doors will lock at 8:30 PM. No one will be allowed to enter after that time.

  • Students will not be permitted to leave the dance before 9:00 PM. 

  • Random Preliminary Breath Testing (PBT) will occur for students prior to entering the dance.

Email senate@arrowheaschools.org if you have questions.  (This is a student run email.) 

How to Become a Canvas Observer

Participate in your child’s education by becoming a Canvas observer. Canvas is Arrowhead’s course management system and parents are invited to follow along in their student’s learning. Here are the steps to sign up for an account:

• Go to https://arrowhead.instructure.com

• Click on the words "Need a Canvas Account? Click Here, It's Free!"

• Click on the words "Parents sign up here."

• Complete the parent sign up form. You will need a PAIRING CODE from your students. 

At Open House, 1st through 4th period teachers will also have pairing codes available if needed. As observers, parents are linked to a student or multiple students and are able to view data from observed student(s) including grades, assignments, and events. Here is an OBSERVER PERMISSION GUIDE which covers what an observer can see in more detail.

Although assignments can be graded within Canvas, this does not often represent the full picture of the student’s progress. Skyward should be regarded as the most accurate grading system for Arrowhead students.

Additional information on becoming a Canvas Observer can be found here. If you have any other questions regarding Canvas or need additional help signing up to be an observer, please reach out to Donna Smith (smith@arrowheadschools.org).

AHS Programs Financial Support 

School funding is always a challenging world to navigate.  Each year, schools see a set of opportunities with costs associated with them that are unable to be funded by the current state funding and the AHS budget.  We often have families with the means to support such opportunities who have expressed that there isn't an avenue to be made aware or to donate directly to a need.   Each newsletter, we will list opportunities for our community to consider supporting.  There is never an expectation, only an appreciation for considering.

Current Considerations

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra -  We are fortunate to host the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Ken-David Masur, Music Director performing for our school and community.  This is an incredibly rare opportunity for our performing arts and other students to have this experience.  We continue to seek sponsors for the student performance to mitigate the cost of hosting.  Please see the linked information and contact Adam Kurth at kurth@arrowheadschools.org if interested

The Warhawk Rise Program - A new program we are developing at AHS that will recognize any student who has improved their grade point average by .75 or better from one semester to the next.  (EX: from a 2.5 Fall semester to a 3.25 Spring semester)  This is a significant achievement by students who put in great efforts toward success that may not always receive the recognition they deserve.  The annual cost of this program runs about $3,000-$4,000 and includes a semi-formal celebration brunch with their families invited and and gift bags recognizing their efforts.  Please contact Principal Adam Kurth at kurth@arrowheadschools.com or North Counselor, Kelly Matthias at matthias@arrowheadschools.org to support.  

Arrowhead Scholarship Fund - This amazing program provides an incredible amount of scholarships each year thanks to the generosity of our community.  Families and companies have the ability to provide direction as to how their scholarship would be decided and awarded.  Please see the ASF Donor Webpage for more information!

Thank you for making it all the way to the end of our newsletter!