ARCHIVE
ASFG APPRECIATION BOXES WINTER 2023
Special thanks to the Parents Association for their outstanding organization and service, particularly in managing the food arrangements and the raffle—a highlight where every team member received a gift. Additionally, profound gratitude to Ms. Barbara Reyes, Elementary Spanish Teacher; Alondra Velasco, Mexican Program Director; Marcela Gutierrez, Human Resources Manager; John Opiela, Assessment Coordinator; and Kristen Fry, Middle School Assistant Principal. Their collaborative efforts were pivotal in assembling all the pieces of this intricate puzzle, ensuring robust student engagement and participation.
TECHO Registration and Payment
To confirm participation, families must complete the following process:
Fill out the TECHO Interest Survey.
Pay through the Parent Portal or directly through the ASFG Cashier. You may address any questions regarding payment methods to the school cashier, cashier@asfg.edu.mx, or by calling 33-3648-2470.
____________________________________________________
Required donation for participating in this workshop: $4,500 MXN
REGISTRATION & PAYMENT DEADLINE: Friday, January 12, 2024
Overnight trip dates: Saturday, February 24 - Monday, February 26, 2024
Service opportunity: 30+ hours toward High School Service Hours
Workshop Location: Nueva España, Zapopan, Jalisco (20.74480, -103.33964)
GUAMUN | January 18 - 20
ASFG will host GUAMUN from January 18 - 20. We anticipate 100 students participating from both ASFG and other schools.
The event will be hosted on the 5th floor and rooftop. We will provide alternative spaces on Friday, January 19 for the 5th floor teachers and classes affected by the event.
We will share the list of participating students on January 12. The work they miss on Friday, January 19 will be due on Wednesday, January 24. Please keep in mind that student organizers and participants are spending many hours preparing position papers, organizing the event, and partaking in the activities both leading up and during the three days.
⚠️ NEW ⚠️ | NO CLASSES ON MONDAY, JAN 22, 2024
In an effort to support the successful execution of Week Without Walls local workshops and international trips, the high school staff will dedicate Monday, January 22, 2024, to planning the week.
On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, we will create an opportunity for students to learn about the local workshops and to meet with teachers leading the overnight trips.
SENIOR PARENTS: Universidad Panamericana & ITESO Scholarships
In late January, senior students and parents will receive details about the Universidad Panamericana and ITESO scholarship application process via email. Stay tuned for updates from Ms. Millstone!
Bullying survey
Students completed the biannual bullying survey in their science classes on Monday, January 8. This will help give us valuable information about the safety of our school and insights into how we can continue to improve it. We are going to work this year to make better use of the data and share the findings earlier with all stakeholders, including parents, to formulate an actionable improvement plan.
Frida Finals Visit
During the recent finals week, we introduced a special visitor to our classrooms to provide a comforting presence for students: Frida, a gentle boxer dog. This initiative, led by Ms. Millstone, offered an opportunity for students to interact with Frida during a potentially stressful time.
To ensure a balanced environment, we limited visits to two slots per period, mindful of maintaining focus in the testing environment. Additionally, Frida was available in Ms. Paty Marti's classroom during breaks between finals for any student who wished to spend a relaxing moment with her.
This initiative aimed to create a calming atmosphere and offer emotional support to our students during their exams. We believe these moments with Frida helped to alleviate some of the stress associated with finals week
⚠️ NEW ⚠️ | Book Club for 24-25
Dear Parents,
We are delighted to inform you about an exciting initiative from our English Department, designed for students in grades 9-12 who share a love for reading. A student-initiated Book Club is being formed, providing a wonderful opportunity for your child to engage in literary discussions outside of the regular curriculum.
Who: This club is open to any student from grades 9-12. Depending on interest, we may consider forming smaller or grade-level specific groups.
What: The club members will have the freedom to select their own reading material. This could range from themed reading like mysteries, frequently banned books, or novels in verse.
When: The goal is to read one book per month with weekly meetings to discuss the readings.
Why: The primary aim is to foster a joy of reading and provide a platform for students to share their thoughts and insights on different books, all in a relaxed environment without the pressure of grades.
Where: Meetings will be held on the ASFG campus.
We encourage you to discuss this opportunity with your child if they have an interest in books and literature. It’s a great way for them to build a community with fellow book enthusiasts. For more details or to express interest, students can reach out to an English teacher.
If your child is interested, please ask them to add their name to the form below, and Emily will follow up with the next steps!
Google Survey for Students: Book Club for 2024-2025
We appreciate your support in spreading the word about this literary venture.
Thank you,
Ms. Alt, Mr. DeMarco, Ms. Slack-Larimer, and Mr. Lux
The pictured book covers are not indicative of the books that will be read in the Book Club. They represent a random selection of books Mr. Zink has read or listened to over the past 6-8 months.
Week Without Walls
Week Without Walls counts at 10% of the third quarter academic grade.
Our high school office team and staff is working to finalize details for the Week Without Walls local workshops. These options will host approximately 146 students. Some of the options we are exploring include:
Service Opportunities
FM4
Colomos
Huellas de Amor
Stagecraft (support stage construction for High School Musical)
Job Shadowing
Senior Project Workshop
TECHO
Creative Workshop
Turtle & Environmental Conservation at Mayto Beach
Technology Focused - GDL - “Latin America’s Silicon Valley” w/Rocketry
Upcoming Important Dates:
Monday, January 22, 2024 - Mark your calendars: High School students will not have class because we will be hosting a Staff Week Without Walls Planning Day. This will create a necessary space to prepare and enhance this program for our community.
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Students will be informed about the local workshop options and will be asked to sign-up via a Google Form. If there is a charge associated with the workshop the charge will be reflected on the parent portal. 12th grade will have priority in the selecting workshops window.
Friday, January 26, 2024 - Sign-ups will close on Friday, January 26 at 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 8, 2024 - Career fair with Week Without Walls preparation following the Career Fair. Students are expected to be on campus to ensure clarity about the needs for their successful participation in Week Without Walls.
October Events
As we delve into the month of October, we have a series of events that are integral to the ASFG experience. These events are not just extracurricular activities; they are woven into the fabric of our educational philosophy and contribute significantly to our students' academic and personal growth.
Tuesday, October 3 - College Fair - it was a total success
Wednesday, October 11 - Last day of Q1 & 9th Grade Interdisciplinary Essay (see below)
Thursday, October 12 - No School - Romería Zapopan
Friday, October 13 - Classes will be held and full student attendance is expected
Tuesday, October 17 - Making the most out of HS 9th and 10th grade Student & Parent meeting
Wednesday, October 18 - PSAT and much more!
Friday, October 20 - Week Without Walls Parent meeting
Tuesday, October 24 - Parent - STUDENT - Teacher
Friday, October 27 - Halloween
WAYFINDER
Fostering Social-Emotional Learning in Our Classroom
Wayfinder is an interactive program designed to help students build essential social and emotional skills vital for their overall well-being and success in school and beyond. This evidence-based program has been developed in collaboration with child development and educational psychology experts to address children's unique challenges and opportunities in today's world.
Our primary goal in implementing Wayfinder is to support your child's development, focusing on six Core Skills: Self-Awareness, Collaboration, Empathy, Adaptability, Agency, and Purpose.
You can further support your child's journey with Wayfinder at home. Visit Wayfinder’s Family Hub to learn more about Wayfinder and to download sample activities you can enjoy together at home.
Save the date: Tuesday, October 24
Parent - STUDENT - Teacher Conferences
Join us on Tuesday, October 24, in the Upper School Building for our Parent, Student, Teacher Conferences. This is a valuable opportunity to collect your child's 1st quarter report card and discuss their achievements with teachers. We emphasize the importance of both students and parents attending.
Key Details:
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Registration: Opens at 7:40 a.m. for report card collection.
Location: Register at the tables outside the high school office.
Meeting Duration: Please limit discussions to 7-10 minutes out of respect for others.
Mandatory Attendance: Students with grades below 65% must attend to address their "At Risk of Conditional Matriculation" status. Affected parents will receive a separate email post grade finalization.
Your presence, irrespective of your child's academic standing, reinforces their growth as a purposeful learner and effective communicator.
📸 Say cheese! 📸
Please make sure that your child is prepared for their assigned picture day with the clothes and hairstyle they want to be shown in their yearbook photo.
2024 Yearbook Background:
OPEN HOUSE RESOURCES
Making the Most of High School - Tue, Oct 17, 2023
Parents and students in 9th and 10th grades are invited to attend a crucial presentation by High School Counselor, Ms. Melissa Rosas. The session, "Making the Most of High School," will offer actionable insights on self-organization, digital tool usage, time management, and effective study habits.
Date: Thursday, October 17, 2023
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Language of Presentation: English
Location: High School Cafeteria Core A
9th Grade Interdisciplinary Essay - Oct. 11, 2023
We're excited to announce the upcoming interdisciplinary essay assessment, which allows students to integrate what they've learned across humanities classes. This test will be held on Wednesday, October 11, from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Key Points:
This essay contributes to 20% of your child's grade in English, Spanish, Mexican History, and either AP Human Geography or World History & Geography.
After writing the essay, students will take their yearbook photos from 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
9th grade students will be dismissed for the day at 11:45 a.m. through Door 1
Preparation:
Ensure your child to get a good night's sleep and offer your child a healthy breakfast
Ask your child about the general themes of the essay
The essay topic will not be disclosed beforehand, and no additional resources can be used during the test.
We encourage students to review major themes from their classes and engage in teacher-led prep activities.
Please remind your child about the importance of advance preparation and academic honesty. Instances of dishonesty will be seriously addressed, potentially resulting in a zero.
On the Day of the Essay:
To help your child start the day on a positive note, please ensure they arrive on campus before 8:15 a.m.
Save The Date: 🧭 Week Without Walls 🧭
Overnight Trips Informational Meeting
Friday, October 20, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. - Upper School Cafeteria, Core A
At ASFG High School, we're committed to holistic education, equipping students for top-tier universities and life beyond. Our Week Without Walls (WWW) program elevates this mission by extending learning outside the classroom.
Choose between international journeys, domestic adventures, or unique local workshops in Guadalajara. WWW fosters cultural literacy, teamwork, and personal development. Through hands-on experiences, students gain invaluable insights into our interconnected world.
Pathways for Prevention - September 18-22
Pathways for Prevention specialists will be visiting ASFG as part of our health education program and to talk about substance abuse prevention and wellness.
Parental involvement is crucial, please save the date to join us:
Parent Meeting - Thursday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Quarter 1 MidPoint = Progress Reports
As of Friday, September 15, 2023, PowerSchool displays the latest grades for your child. We invite you to assess your child's progress across all classes. Please remember that these grades are fluid and will evolve as teachers consistently update them.
Steps to View Grades on PowerSchool:
Visit PowerSchool
Enter your username and password.
Select the "Grades and Attendance" tab on the left.
Observe the latest grades listed under Q1.
If you've forgotten your credentials, please reach out to Ana Paola Cedeño in the High School office: anapaola.cedeno@asfg.edu.mx.
No High School Classes
Monday, September 25, 2023
On Monday, September 25, there will be no classes for High School students. This day is reserved for our teachers' Professional Development, where they will delve into our explicit Social Emotional Learning curriculum. Our high school team's primary focus during this training will be to familiarize themselves with the new Wayfinder curriculum, which aligns with the Collaborative for Academic Social Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework.
Senior and Financial Aid Night - Tuesday, September 26, at 7:00 p.m
Join us for our Annual Senior and Financial Aid Night on Tuesday, September 26, at 7:00 p.m. This event, located on the ground floor of the upper school building, will feature Ms. Serena Millstone discussing upcoming college events for seniors. This is especially pertinent for students considering universities in Mexico, the U.S., and other international institutions. Additionally, the latter part of the evening will focus on financial aid information for families eyeing U.S. universities. For your convenience, parking is available in the basement of the high school building.
College Fair - Tuesday, October 3
Over 90 colleges and universities from the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Europe will visit our campus on October 3!
Don't miss this excellent opportunity to talk to representatives directly about the admissions process, degree programs, and scholarships. We highly recommend that parents are involved in these conversations.
Students absent for travel during final exams will have a 20% deduction applied to the exam grade.
2023-2024 Calendar Dates & Travel Plans
We hope this early communication will support families in planning travel around the 2023-2024 ASFG Calendar.
Nov 20-24: No school due to the Mexican Revolution Holiday and United States Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec 18 – Jan 2: Winter break
Mar 25 – April 5: Spring break
Any concerns or questions must be communicated via email to Mr. Kaufman, michael.kaufman@asfg.edu.mx. We require the email to ensure documented communication between the office and families.
🎓Senior Parent Farewells🎓
We invite parents of 4th, 8th and 12th grade students to celebrate their child’s achievement through an optional message as a cherished memory from their families. These messages and accompanying photos will be included in an exclusive section of the yearbook designed specifically for graduates. An example can be seen below. (Read more...)
ENGLISH INVITATION
INVITACIÓN EN ESPAÑOL
High School Open House – Thursday, September 14
Save the date and arrive early! Parking will be available in both the Upper School Building and Filadelfia Street parking lots. I truly hope we will improve attendance this school year to meet the wonderful high school teaching team and learn what your child's daily experience is like.
Open House Schedule
5:30 - 5:50 p.m.: Parent registration outside the High School Offices.
6:00 - 6:10 p.m.: Join us in the Upper School Cafeteria for a brief 10-minute orientation.
6:10 - 8:45 p.m.: Rotate through your child's classes, spending 15 minutes in each.
Location: Ground Floor, Upper School Building
Español
English
Parent Role in High School – Thursday, August 24
The purpose of this meeting is for high school parents to meet with the high school administration to learn more about high school expectations and how you might support your child socially, emotionally, and academically throughout this school year.
For parents of 9th graders and new high school families, attendance at this meeting is mandatory. It will provide key insights into high school expectations and how you can support your child throughout this pivotal year.
For parents of returning students in grades 10, 11, and 12, attendance is optional but highly encouraged, as the meeting will offer valuable information to continue guiding your child's success in high school. There is always new information to learn, relationships to build and policies to know about.
We will be offering a morning session and an evening session.
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Morning session: 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Evening session: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: ASFG Auditorium
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided from English to Spanish.
Add/Drop Period Ends August 30
Please be aware that adjustments to your child's class schedule may occur during the first few weeks of classes. This is a standard part of our process to align with each student's educational needs. The add/drop period will end on August 30, 2023, so we kindly ask that you discuss any potential changes with your child before this date. Your cooperation is essential in fostering a successful learning environment.
The Bell Schedule
We will continue with the 10 minute passing period between the classes that end around 10:00. The purpose of this is to provide a bit of time for students and teachers to get to the bathroom, fill up water bottles, and be outside in the hallways.
This school year we really want to emphasize the importance of adults being out in the hallways between classes, use the passive supervision of our windows to intervene if students are casually in the hallway during instructional time.
READING, READING, READING
While attending the English Department meeting last week, I learned of an essential expectation that the department would like all staff to be aware of and support.
High School Students' Independent Reading Requirement:
What: All high school students are expected to carry an independent reading book with them for their English classes.
Why: This practice fosters continuous learning and enables students to engage in reading during free moments.
How You Can Help: Please support this practice by encouraging students to bring their independent reading book to your class, especially for those moments when they are all caught up.
By reinforcing this habit, we can contribute to an enriching learning environment that promotes a love for reading and independent exploration of literature. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.
SEE YOU AT THE END OF SCHOOL YEAR EVENTS
May 24 - Senior Project Community Showcase
Wednesday, May 24 from 9:00a.m. to 12:00pm the Seniors will be sharing their Senior Project efforts with the community in the ASFG Auditorium. This is a great opportunity to see what your child created or will be required to create before graduating from ASFG. Please come out to support the Class of 2023!
May 30, 2023 - Helping Hearts Parent Presentation
Please save the date to attend the Helping Hearts Club's evening event on Tuesday, May 30 at 7:00 p.m. The Helping Hearts Club is working to have two presentations that will support parents in working with their teenage children.
Advanced Placement Parent Performance: Bring a friend to attend the presentations to support the Helping Hearts Club.
June 7 Senior Campus Parade Let's ALL Show Up for Our Community!
Wednesday, June 7 from 9:00a.m. to 12:00pm the Seniors will be sharing their Senior Project efforts with the community in the ASFG A
High School Happenings Feedback Form
Please provide Mr. Zink feedback on the High School Happenings website by completing this Google Survey, ASFG High School Happenings Feedback Form. I hope to use this feedback to improve this experiment in communication and identify the value of this website offers for high school parents.
Students absent for travel duing final exams will have a 20% deduction is applied to the exam grade.
2023-2024 Calendar Dates & Travel Plans
We hope this early communication will support families in planning travel around the 2023-2024 ASFG Calendar.
Aug 14-18: First week of classes for high school students
Nov 20-24: No school due to the Mexican Revolution Holiday and United States Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec 18 – Jan 2: Winter break
Mar 25 – April 5: Spring break
Any concerns or questions are must be communicated via email to Mr. Kaufman, michael.kaufman@asfg.edu.mx. We require the email to ensure documented communication between the office and families.
English - Video
Español - Video
Advanced Placement Exams May 2 - 12, 2023
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams start on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Please review the calendar with your child to ensure they have the time and space to adequately prepare and practice recalling or quizzing themsevles with the diverse content and skills. See the study habits below for tips for your child.
*Tuesday, May 2 - Friday, May 12
Reminders
Students with an exam scheduled for Tuesday - Friday are allowed to use the day before the exam to prepare.
After the exam students are dismissed to go home
Students should be in direct communication with their teachers before the absences to schedule time to make up the missed in-class work during these absences
How can family members help?
Have a nightly routine that supports your child to get a good night's sleep.
Ensure your child is studying a little bit every night and practicing with recall or self-quizzing.
Offer your child a healthy breakfast on exam dates.
Review the family calendar to identify upcoming conflicts with mock exams, study needs or AP Exam dates.
Check that your child arrives to their exam early.
*AP Spanish Literature Exam (Late date) rescheduled from Monday, May 1 to Wednesday, May 17 at 11:30 a.m.
As a high school we improved and we can do even better!
Long Weekend Absences - May 1, 2023
Long Weekend Absences: There will be no classes on Monday, May 1, in celebration of Labor Day.
Special thanks for the parent support ensuring all students attended the entire school day on Friday, March 17, 2023. We saw an improvement, and I know as a community we can still do even better.
ICC - Inter Class Competitions
The student council alongside Mr. Chris Hopper and Mr. Michael Kaufman have led the efforts to ensure we have a robust ICC competition throughout the school year.
Semester 1 - Boys & Girls Soccer
Semester 2 - Boys Basketball and Girls Volleyball
We are excited to host the Girl's Volleyball Finals this week on Wednesday, April 26 during Mentoring.
ANOTHER: Senior ProGraduation Fundraising Party
We have learned that a graduation fundraising party, called the ProGrad Party, will be held at a nightclub on Thursday, April 27, 2023, the day before a regularly scheduled school day. We feel it is important to bring attention to the potential impact this party could have on your child's health, academic performance, behavior, and overall end-of-year success.
Any student arriving on campus on Friday, April 28, that appears to be recovering from a late night may be subject to a breathalyzer test administered by the Safety & Security team. Any student refusing to participate in this process will be required to be picked-up by parents, receive unjustified absences and abide by corresponding office consequences. We appreciate your support by ensuring your children are in class the entire day on Friday, rested and ready to learn.
Acción Violeta Women's Day - March 8, 2023
Acción Violeta is hosted several actions in participation with International Women's Day on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
Everyone was encouraged to wear purple and black.
Female students and staff gathered together during break in front of the office to be together, reflect and sing.
Course Requests 2023-2024
Wednesday, March 15, and Thursday, March 16
Students in 9th, 10th and 11th grade will be making their official requests in Powerschool.
Please take some time to speak with your children about the courses they are planning on requesting. Things to discuss:
Are the courses challenging and intersting to your child? Why?
What electives are they requesting electives? Why?
Are they stepping out of their comfort zone?
What do you as parents and a family need to consider to support a sustainable and healthy balance between school, extracurriculars, family time, and sleep?
Spring Musical - Little Shop of Horrors
You and your family are cordially invited to our Spring Musical, Little Shop of Horrors: a comedic musical satire of old B movie horror films that earnestly examines the topic of greed, and how even the best of us is susceptible to doing terrible things to achieve our desires. First performed on Broadway in 1982 with music by Alan Menken and book by Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors features all the fun and silliness you'd expect from the classic Disney movie duo, while also being deeply tragic.
Tickets will be available at the high school office: $100
Showtimes:
Thursday, March 23, at 3:30 p.m.
Friday, March 24, at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 25, at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday Wellness for Students
Congratulations to the Helping Hearts Club and their founders, Valeria Montes, Emiliano Cuevas and Natalia Dibildox (Pictured left to right) for hosting a wonder Wednesday Wellness for Students during mentoring on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Special thanks to Ms. Serena Millstone for her support of the student club and all of the presenters that came out to support!
Get a glimpse of the diverse workshops offered below and view some of the photos at the following Google Photos Album; Wellness Wednesday-Helping Hearts.
Wednesday Wellness for Students Workshop Offerings
Manejo de Ansiedad y Estrés
Comer bien para estar bien
Adicciones y sus retos
Cómo ayudar a un amigo con problemas de salud mental?
Como acercarse a un adulto si necesitas ayuda para ti o un amigo con problemas
Mis pensamientos y mis emociones
Pasión por lo que haces
Mindfulness and Meditation
Dealing with grief
Yoga
Depression and how to deal with it
Love your body
Developing Good Habits
Social Media Detox
Suicide Prevention Talk
How to find your passion or what you love doing
The Universe Has Your Back
Your Own Formula for Mental Health
Desórdenes alimenticios: Que son, prevención y recuperación
TECHO
Congratulations to the TECHO Club for leading a successful construction the weekend of February 18 - 20. Thanks to the student leaders Issac Aguilar and Bella Debarle for their work alongside their classmates, Ms. Alicja Surzyn and Mr. Michael Kaufman to ensure the success of the great service project.
Special thanks to the donation of Bansi bank to help make the TECHO build more affordable for high school students.
Art Fest 2023
It was great to see all of the High School talent being showcased at the 34th annual ArtFest.
15 AP Art Students had their showcased in the Art Fest auction on Friday night and displayed all day Saturday. A handful of high school students and teachers supported the vent with their musical talents Saturday afternoon.
Ms. Jodi Peterson and Mr. Pepe Sandoval are the wonderful guides on the side helping cultivate such wonderful talent.
Career Fair
The Career Fair on Wednesday, February 15, was a successful experience for students in attendance to hear from Alejandro Litchi, ASFG Parent and Mexican entrepreneur. Additionally, students attended three workshops based on student interests surveys from November 2022.
9th graders went to ITESO to work with both a career exploration survey and workshop experience to better prepare them as they begin thinking about their college and career plans.
GUAMUN
Congratulations to GUAMUN 2023! They hosted a wonderful event focused on diplomacy and current events. The Secretariat, Claudina Vaqueiro and Diana Palma, worked tirelessly to lead all the delegates to a successful experience.
Jaz O'Hara the Opening Ceremony shared a great message about the story of refugees and their needs. The audience was also honored to hear from Pablo Lemus, Mayor of Guadalajara.
Senior ProGraduation Fundraising Party
We have learned that a graduation fundraising party, called the ProGrad Party, will be held at a nightclub on Thursday, March 16, 2023, the day before a regularly scheduled school day. We feel it is important to bring attention to the potential impact this party could have on your child's health, academic performance, behavior, and overall end-of-year success.
Any student arriving on campus on Friday, March 17, that appears to be recovering from a late night may be subject to a breathalyzer test administered by the Safety & Security team. Any student refusing to participate in this process will be required to be picked-up by parents, receive unjustified absences and abide by corresponding office consequences. We appreciate your support by ensuring your children are in class the entire day on Friday, rested and ready to learn.
Spanglish video message from Mr. Zink, Please take 5 minutes to watch
Semester Report Cards
Parents will be receiving an email with an attached PDF of your child’s first semester report card. We want to ensure each family received a digital copy of the report card.
Quarter 3 Progress Reports - Feb 17
The quarter three mid-point is February 17, 2023. Please take the time to review your child's academic progress by entering PowerSchool to view your child's most up-to-date grades.
Please keep in mind that these grades are dynamic and will be changing as teachers continually update grades. The third quarter ends on Friday, March 31, 2023.
Mr. Zink's Top Three - 2022
Just a little something to learn more about Mr. Zink, outside of being a high school principal.
Top 3 Experiences:
🚴♀️ Teaching Penélope to ride a bicycle
🛫 Visiting family in Maine
🛹 Skateboarding on my 40th birthday
Top 3 Podcasts/Podcasts Episodes:
2023-2024 Calendar Dates & Travel Plans
This school year we had an increase in the number of absences during the final exams. We recognize the late dismissal for the winter break impacted this situation for families.
We take this opportunity to insist that parents do not make travel plans until the 2023-2024 is officially released.
Any concerns or questions are must be communicated via email to Mr. Kaufman, michael.kaufman@asfg.edu.mx. We require the email to ensure documented communciation between the office and families.
TECHO 2023 Construction
February 18 - 20, 2023 TECHO Construction Overview: This opportunity is limited to 100 participating students.
This is an overnight TECHO experience leaving from ASFG's campus Saturday morning and returning to ASFG's Monday evening.
60 spaces allotted for Seniors.
40 spaces allocated for students in grades 9-11.
Participating students will have modified attendance expectations on Tuesday and Wednesday following the construction.
To confirm participation, families need to pay either at the bank or directly at ASFG's cashier before 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31.
ONI Senior Service Trip 2023
Matias Martinez is leading an ONI trip as part of his senior project, along with the support of Julian Flores and Cristina Artaza. We plan for 20 Senior students to attend this great service experience.
Junior Meetings - Class of 2024
Ms. Millstone will be meeting with all 86 juniors and their families about their college plans from February through May. The high school office will contact parents or if special attention is required please contact Paola Cedeño (33-3648-2453) at your earliest convenience.
Most meetings will be hosted during the following time slots:
Tuesday-Friday's from 7:40-8:40
Wednesdays from 11:15-12:15
Thursday's 2:35-3:35
National Honor Society 2023
Congratulations to the 2023 National Honor Society Inductees! NHS members and family gathered on Monday, January 23, to acknowledge and recognize students of the American School Foundation of Guadalajara for their accomplishments in the ideals of Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, Service, and Character.
Each year, candidates go through an extremely rigorous selection process, meaning that induction to the NHS is an extraordinary feat- an indication of excellence in several spheres.
Inductees
Paula Abaroa del Toro
Michelle Karolina Aceves Muñóz
Mateo Ahumada Corte
Emiliano Cuevas Rodríguez
Artemio González González
Giselle Hawa Moragrega
Inductees Continued
Carolina Jiménez Pacheco
Bruno Lombardo Lamas Alvarado
Sofía Padilla Regules
Diana Sofía Palma Cervantes
Jonathan Emilio Perez Gomez
Veteran NHS Members
Isabella Juliana Debarle
Fernando Gonzalez Castaneda
Arun Ishikawa Pandey
Valeria Montes
Sergio Padilla Regule
Pablo Quintero Gutierrez
Nicholas Sampaio de Oliveira
Claudina Nicole Vaqueiro Ornelas
Paula Daniela Viera Govea
Marisa Lazo, 2022 Career Fair Keynote Speaker
Career Fair, February 15, 2023
Ms. Millstone and the Parents Association have been working tirelessly to ensure a great experience for all of our students. We are thrilled to announce that Alejandro Litchi will be the keynote speaker to the 2023 Career Fair.
Students in grade 10-12 will attend three workshops that expose them to the experience of different professionals. The workshop topics were selected was based on student interests surveys from November 2022.
9th graders will go to ITESO to work with both a career exploration survey and workshop experience to better prepare them as they begin thinking about their college and career plans.
2023 Graduation Date
The 2023 Graduation we be held on Friday, June 9, with a start time of approximately 5:00 p.m.
The High School Graduation Day Community Survey identified that Friday is the best day of the week for the academic ceremony. We had 223 responses with an overwhelming preference for the Friday evening academic ceremony.
The 2023 Graduation we be held on Friday, June 9, with a start time of approximately 5:00 p.m. With no time Spring time change (cambio de horrario) we will have a better understanding of the exact start time in April.
As stated in the videos embedded in the survey, rain and Guadalajara weather is out of our control. We will continue with the use of the tents that can help protect against the elements and hope the weather cooperates.
Final Exams - December 19 - 22, 2022
On December 19 - 22, high school students will be taking their final exams according to the schedule found below. Students may arrive at school and depart from school based on their individual exam schedule. Final exams count as 20% of a final semester grade and thus high importance should be placed on preparing for these exams.
Suggestions for preparing for exams:
Start reviewing exams as of now.
Complete all review activities suggested by the teacher.
Study class notes alone, in pairs, and in groups. All three types of learning are important.
Have a nightly routine that supports getting a good night’s sleep.
Ensure an early arrival for each exam.
9th Grade Final Exams
Grade 9 Students have two final interdisciplinary projects for Spanish and Mexican History, and English and Early World History which take the place of exams. Some grade 9 students may have exams similar to grade 10-12 students based on their individual course schedule. Chemistry, Geometry, and AP Human Geography exams will be scheduled as follows:
Monday, December 19, 2022
9:00 a.m. Geometry and Honors Geometry
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
9:00 a.m. Grade 9 Integrated Science
10th to 12th Grade Final Exams
Grade 10-12 Students have exams according to their daily schedule:
Monday, Dec 19
9:00 a.m. Period 1 classes
12:30 p.m. Period 2 classes
Tuesday, Dec 20
9:00 a.m. Period 3 classes
12:30 p.m. Period 4 classes
Wednesday, Dec 21
9:00 a.m. Period 5 classes
12:30 p.m. Period 6 classes
Thursday, Dec 22
9:00 a.m. Period 7 classes
12:30 p.m. Make Up Exams
PSAT & Admissions Exams - October 25
On Tuesday, October 25, grade 10 and 11 students (along with 9th graders that signed up) will be taking the CollegeBoard PSAT assessment at 7:50 a.m. Many Seniors will be taking their Tec de Mty and ITESO admissions exams. The PSAT helps students prepare for college admissions tests that are administered for both national and international universities.
How can family members help?
Have a nightly routine that supports your child to get a good night's sleep.
Ensure your child is at school on time to be seated in their testing room at 7:50 a.m.
Offer your child a healthy breakfast.
Check that your child arrives with a fully charged graphing or scientific calculator, sharpened pencils, and an eraser.
Make sure your child brings their ASFG school ID.
Halloween - October 28, 2022
This will be a wonderful community event filled with the school parade, costumes, music, and treats. Thank you in advance for your support and we look forward to bringing the complete Halloween experience back to campus on this wonderful day. Let’s make this Halloween and Day of the Dead a fun and kind celebration!
In order for this day to run smoothly, please be aware of the following items:
Students in grades 9, 10 and 11 report to first period class at 8:20 for attendance
The celebration is 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The Parents Association is providing high school students with tacos and music.
Student council is organizing a costume contest, pumpkin carving, a balloon toss, and a great community-building experience!
Only current ASFG students may attend this event (do not invite students from other schools).
Leaving Earlier than 11:30 a.m. on Halloween
Early dismissal requests will not be accepted on Friday during the Halloween celebration.
The high school office will only accept dismissal requests from parents for any student needing to leave campus before 11:30 a.m. up until Thursday, October 27 at 3:00 p.m.
Costume Reminders:
No plastic or wooden guns, knives, swords, or other weapons etc.
Please keep wheels and pets at home.
Please be respectful when choosing your costume remembering there is no place for sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise offensive costumes on our campus.
If your child is in a group costume, please discuss with them to be sensitive and considerate to those who may feel excluded from the costume idea.
If there are any doubts about your child’s costume, please ask them to check with Mr. Kaufman or Mr. Zink in the office first.
The high school office reserves the right to ask any student to change their costume or go home, even if you are a Senior!
Senior Halloween Dances
Senior Dances will happen after the school parade. We anticipate the following dance times. Please understand the schedule is fluid based on the parade end-time and we encourage Senior Parents to be on campus from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.:
1st Performance starting after parade, approximately 10:15 - 10:30
2nd Performance in early childhood, approximately 10:30-10:45
3rd Parent Performance on the roof at approximately 11:00
Parent Teacher Student Conferences
Tuesday, November 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
On this day there will be no academic classes and we will hand out the 1st quarter report cards. More importantly, teachers will be available to meet with you and your child about their achievements. We highly encourage all students and parents to attend.
Registration opens at 7:40 a.m. to pick up your child’s 1st quarter report card
The registration table will be open throughout the two sessions outside the high school office
Note the early end time at 1:30 p.m. to these conferences
We ask that conversations are limited to approximately 7-10 minutes to be respectful of other parents waiting to meet with teachers
Required Attendance: All students who have a grade below 65% are required to attend to understand their status of "At Risk of Conditional Matriculation." Parents of these students will be contacted in a separate email once grades are finalized.
Suicide Prevention Slides
Please see the Suicide Prevention Slides at left to learn some of the information that was shared during Wednesday's meeting.
We had hoped for a higher attendance at Wednesday's parent meeting. We had less than 20 families represented of the 298 we have in high school or 6.5% of families represented.
Watch the video above hear a message from Ms. Millstone!
College Fair
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Parents are welcome to attend from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Please remember the fair is designed for students to engage with the schools. They should have priority at all the booths. We still welcome parents to attend, ask questions and listen to their child converse with the representatives.
10:50 - 12:30 Students attend 3 Workshops
75+ Universities represented from all over the world
The fair will be spread across the entire upper school building
Frequently Asked Questions 1 of 2, from the post-it notes at the Parent Role in High School Obligatory meeting
Please watch the latest High School Happenings video, total time 2:41. This edition is in Spanish. All content referenced is located below in English.
Open House, Wednesday, September 14
Save the date and arrive early! Parking in both the Upper School Building and Filadelfia parking lots.
5:30 p.m. - 5:50 p.m. registration
6:00 p.m. - We will begin promptly in the Upper School Cafeteria
6:10 p.m. - Parents will be dismissed from the cafeteria to report to their first classroom for the evening's learning
PSAT Opportunity for 9th Grade Students
Each year, The American School Foundation of Guadalajara, A.C. offers the PSAT/NMSQT test from the College Board to grades 9, 10, and 11 students. All grade 10 and grade 11 students are required to take this test. In addition, we allow grade 9 students to elect to take this test for $26 USD.
The PSAT will take place on Tuesday, October 25th. If you are interested in your 9th grade child taking the PSAT, please sign up using this link.
The last day to sign up is Monday, September 12 by 3:00 p.m.
Yearbook Photos
9th Grade: September 14 *10th Grade: September 14
9th Grade: October 13
11th Grade: October 19
12th Grade: November 3 (ExAlumi Photo and ASFG's Directory)
Senior Yearbook Photo information will come out later in the semester
Yearbook Makeups: November 7
*corrected September 7 at 9:30 p.m.
High School Absence Policy Reminder
High School Policy Basics
Unplanned absences require parents to email hsabsences@asfg.edu.mx the first day of the absence or no later than 2 working days for unplanned absence (sick)
Planned Absence
1 working day for planned absence of 1 day
5 days prior for planned absence of 2 or more days
Why? to facilitate timely communication for your child’s learning
Long Weekend Policy • September 16, 2022
Please remember the policy for absences associated with the long weekends is as follows:
"Absences connected with long weekends or holidays are only justified if they are documented with a medical note. Appointments for medical purposes, processing of IFE cards, driver’s licenses, visas, or passports will not be granted on days before or after long weekends or holidays." Page 105 of the 2022 Parent Student Handbook
We highly discourage early dismissal on long weekends because students missing quizzes, tests, labs or other in-class assessments without proper medical documentation will not be able to make-up the missed work.
We request any families requesting to leave early on Thursday, September 15, communicate with the office before 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 14. This will allow the office to prepare exit campus passes in advance.
Student Goal Setting in Academic Mentoring
On Monday, September 5, all high school students completed their academic goals for this school year. We encourage you to ask your child to show you their Google document that they completed in class today. This is a great document to make visible in your household. I believe visible goals get accomplished.
Seniors started with 👆 End goal 👇
Senior Project About Me
Nearly all Seniors have created their Senior Project website. Their first task is to complete the landing page to their website, which is the About Me page. The About Me page is due Wednesday, September 14.
This a great opportunity for parents to ask their child to show them their progress on their website and begin discussing project ideas, themes, research topics and much more.
Service Learning Info Fair
September 21, 2022 During Mentoring
We invite parents to have conversations with their child about the service learning info fair:
What service info session did you attend? Why?
What problems most concern you in our community?
Show me your service website (Specific to Class of 2024, 2023 and 2023)
Frequently Asked Questions 1 of 2, from the post-it notes at the Parent Role in High School Obligatory meeting
Parent Role in High School Presentation and Video Link
Parent Role in High School – Thursday, August 25
The purpose of this meeting is for high school parents to meet with the high school administration to learn more about high school expectations and how you might support your child socially, emotionally, and academically throughout this school year.
We will be offering a morning session and an evening session.
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Morning session: 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Evening session: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: ASFG Auditorium
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided from English to Spanish.
TECHO Service Club
All High School Students were invited in the "Generation Google Classroom" to express their interest in the TECHO Service Club that helps build emergency housing in Guadalajara metropolitan area for those in need.
Almost, Maine – Fall Play Auditions
Auditions for the fall play will be hosted on Tuesday, August 23 at 3:15 p.m. in the ASFG auditorium.
Callbacks: Thursday, August 24 at 3:15 p.m.
10th Graders need a graphing calculator
For the 2022-23 school year grade 10 students will be required to buy the TI-Nspire CX II CAS graphing calculator from Texas Instruments. This calculator allows the students to analyze mathematical functions and scientific relationships
The calculator is sold at our bookstore for $175.00 USD. We ask that parents pay a non-refundable deposit of $87.50 USD to the school cashier no later than August 26. When the calculators arrive, you will pay the remaining $87.50 USD balance.
Sent on July 1, 2022: A thank you and save the date / Un agradecimiento e invitación para el próximo ciclo
Save the Date: Succeeding as a High School Parent for the 22-23 School Year
Thursday, August 25
8:00a.m. or 7:00pm