Dear AHS Families, Staff and Students,

Here we are, in the final quarter of school, and we can feel spring in the air (hopefully soon). This time of year brings a sense of energy and momentum, and our students continue to shine across academics, the arts, STEM, and civic engagement. This week, we were thrilled to learn that AHS has once again earned a spot on UConn’s prestigious Top 10 list for participation in the Early College Experience program. For the 2024–2025 academic year, 30.44% of our students are enrolled in UConn ECE courses, placing us #9 among high schools across the state. This recognition reflects the commitment of our students and faculty to pursuing rigorous academic opportunities, and we are so proud to be part of a program that opens doors to college-level learning and credit. We extend our deepest thanks to our teachers who make these courses possible and to our students who continually rise to the challenge.

As we continue to advance our school-wide goal of creating more opportunities for students to practice our Portrait of a Graduate (POG) skills, particularly collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, we’ve seen inspiring examples of this work come to life both locally and on the national stage. Two student teams from our Mechanical Engineering course were named semi-finalists in NASA’s highly competitive HUNCH Design and Prototype competition; an extraordinary accomplishment given the hundreds of submissions from across the country. Congratulations to Brianna Converse, Lian Cao, and Sebastian Carlo for their Lunar Regolith Stake project, and to Petra Schliewen, Shruthi Hanumanthu, Cameron Kraft, Jude Matthews, and Graham Johnson for their innovative Lunar Lander design. Both teams placed in the top 15 nationally which is evidence of their technical excellence, ingenuity, and collaboration. 

In that same spirit, our students also showcased their STEM talents in early March at the Connecticut Science Olympiad, hosted at UConn. Competing against 42 schools, Avon placed 5th overall, a remarkable achievement. Even more impressive, we placed in the Top 10 in 61% of events and in the Top 15 in 96% of events. Individual event highlights included a 3rd place finish in Anatomy & Physiology by Vishnu Mukku and Mridhulaa Rajagopal, top placements in Bungee Drop, and a 2nd place finish in Optics by Suhayl Ahmed and William Zheng. These accomplishments reflect not only academic dedication but also the power of teamwork and perseverance. We are proud to recognize the full team of students who participated and represented Avon with excellence: * Sreetama Kushari * Theja Suresh Nagan * William Zheng, * Suhayl Ahmed * Lidia Kapylova*  Sarah Chung *  Leela Amin *Ray Hu * Mark Li *Peter Zheng, *Vishnu Mukku * Prisha Jindal, *Kavitha Paramatmuni *Mridhulaa Rajagopal *Shruthi Srivatsan * Saujus Kant *Liya Tang *Yonlee Park *Jyotsna Venkat. 

Our students also performed exceptionally well on the U.S. Biology Olympiad Open Exam. Out of nearly 12,000 students from 44 states and 25 international schools, Nabeel Chasmawala earned an Honorable Mention, placing in the top 20%, while Vishnu Mukku, Aradhana Chetnani, Mridhulaa Rajagopal, Lidia Kapylova, and Emily Bai received Merit Certificates for placing in the top 30%. Their performance reflects a deep curiosity and commitment to excellence in the life sciences.

We’ve also seen exciting growth in our Portrait of a Graduate (POG) skill of communication and expression, another core competency we continue to nurture. Our student journalists have had several of their stories featured on the FOX61 Student News Web Page. Will Lamadrid’s piece Collinsville Getting a Face Lift, Derek Graves and Brian White’s story Gifts of Love, and Alexander Meltser’s Connecticut's Students in Engineering all highlight the creative expression, perspective, and emerging journalistic voice of our young writers. Meanwhile, our music program continues to thrive and earn statewide recognition. We are proud to share that six students were selected to participate in the prestigious Connecticut Music Educators Association All-State Music Festival. Congratulations to Ananya Rudra, Holly Freeman, Anna Hofheimer, Victoria D’Amato, Shriya Dharan, and Natalie Melnik! These students earned their spots through two rounds of rigorous auditions, and their selection is a testament to their years of practice, dedication, and outstanding performance.

The end of March and beginning of April offered meaningful opportunities to raise awareness, deepen our collective understanding, and strengthen our POG disposition of Cultural Competence. On Friday, March 28, our entire school came together for a vibrant Unified Pep Rally, a celebration of inclusion, connection, and school spirit. We launched Unified Basketball four years ago, and this year, we were honored to be recognized by the CIAC as a National Unified Champion School! We are incredibly proud of our Unified Sports athletes and partners whose leadership and compassion enrich our community every day. In addition, on April 2, we recognized World Autism Awareness Day, a United Nations-designated day that promotes acceptance and appreciation for individuals on the autism spectrum. Many in our community wore blue to show their support and to honor the diverse strengths, voices, and contributions of students and families touched by autism.

Looking ahead,  we would like to highlight a very special recognition for our own Coach Terri Ziemnicki, Varsity Field Hockey Coach and longtime member of our Avon Coaching staff. Coach Ziemnicki is the recipient of the 2025 Kathy Holloway Women of Inspiration Award, and she will be honored at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame induction banquet this June in South Dakota. Coach Z is an exemplary coach and educator, and this award is a testament to her years of dedication to our student-athletes and school community. If you would like to reach out and congratulate her, she can be reached at coachziemnicki@avon.k12.ct.us.

As always, thank you for your continued support of our students and our school. Let’s make this final quarter of the year one filled with learning, connection, and celebration. Please note that report cards are now in PowerSchool and the honor roll list will be generated when we return from Spring break. 

Wishing everyone a spectacular and serene Spring recess!

Dr. Lockhart