Archived Announcements

24/25 Schedule Change Request - Due Wed 5/8 11:59pm

Change Week is here! If you want to make a change to a course request for next year, please fill out the form below

Rising Juniors taking CPCC courses: This form is MANDATORY to indicate course changes based on CPCC enrollment to confirm plans made during Registration. 

Important Reminders: 


Change Week Request Form: https://forms.gle/6j9cQTc41FEkGoYX8

Cap & Gown

Our caps and gowns are ordered through Southern Recognition. You can order them from www.srgrad.com and scroll down to the very bottom on AK's page if you just want the cap and gown. The cap and gown unit includes everything you will need for graduation: cap, gown, tassel, and medallion!

NCSSM Process for Transcript Request & Recommendations

Friday, October 27th, 12:45: Interest Meeting.

Friday, January 5th: Application due

Friday, February 16th: Transcript Request & Counselor Recommendation Form due

Wednesday, February 28th: Counselor & 2 Teacher Recommendation submission deadline

24/25 Registration

Registration is here! We are hosting a VIRTUAL Registration Information Night on Wednesday, January 31st at 6pm for all families. We will review the registration process, and answer your questions about registration for the 24-25 school year. Link to join will be posted on www.akregistration.weebly.com on January 31st at 5:30PM.


Counselor Assignments

1/3/24 Update: Ms. Graves' caseload has been divided amongst the counselors for the remainder of the 23/24 SY. The breakdown is as follows:

Tr-Ut : Mr. Wegner

Uv-Vera : Mrs. DiPierno

Vere-Wag : Mrs. Ramos

Wah - War : Mrs. Sartwell

Was - Whit : Mrs. Smith

White - Williamson : Ms. Brooks

Wils - X : Ms. Lee

Y : Mrs. Schiffman

Z : Mrs. McCourt

Senior Appointment Calendar Links - Opening Wednesday

Last Names A-Bow: Mr. Wegner - Click Here

Last Names Box-Ded: Mrs. DiPierno - Click Here

Last Names Dee-Fe: Mrs. Ramos - Click Here

Last Names Fi-Hil: Mrs. Sartwell - Click Here

Last Names Him-Kos: Mrs. Smith - Click Here

Last Names Kot-Mel: Ms. Chasity Brooks - Click Here

Last Names Mem-Pes: Mrs. Elizabeth Lee - Click Here

Last Names Pet-Saw: Mrs. Schiffman - Click Here

Last Names Sax-To: Mrs. McCourt - Click Here

Last Names Tr-Z: Ms. Graves - Click Here

September Timeline for Class of 2024

Monday & Tuesday, September 18th and 19th: Counselors visiting senior homerooms with appointment and application information

Monday, September 18th: Class rank is run and uploaded to Naviance

Wednesday, September 20th: Students can match Naviance and CommonApp accounts

Wednesday, September 20th: Senior Appointment links are made available

Thursday, September 21st - October 30th: Senior Appointments (Required for every senior)

Wednesday, September 27th 6:00PM: COLLEGE KICKOFF NIGHT @ AK in Auditorium - 6PM

9th Grade Virtual Parent Night

All 9th grade students and families are invited to 9th Grade Virtual Parent Night.

This is an opportunity for families to learn about AK, including graduation requirements, school policies, and general student services information. We encourage all families to attend!

Location: VIRTUAL (Join: bit.ly/akparentnight)

Monday, December 4th - 6:00PM

See you there! 

New Counselor Assignments for 2023/2024

Hello AK Knights! We hope you have had a restful summer and are ready to tackle the 23-24 school year! 

We have changed counselor caseloads over the summer to accommodate new staff and changing enrollment numbers. Here are the new counselor assignments by last name, effective today:

A-Bow: Mr. Wegner

Box-Ded: Mrs. DiPierno

Dee-Fe: Mrs. Ramos

Fi-Hil: Mrs. Sartwell

Him-Kos: Mrs. Smith

Kot-Mel: Ms. Chasity Brooks

Mem-Pes: Mr. Cable until Aug 30

Mem-Pes: Mrs. Elizabeth Lee after Sept 1

Pet-Saw: Mrs. Schiffman

Sax-To: Mrs. McCourt

Tr-Z: Ms. Graves

Please be sure to contact your NEW counselor with any needs you or your family has. See you soon!

AK Student Services Team

Governor's School Summer 2024

All Governor's School information can be found HERE. Please adhere to all deadlines! 

Schedule Changes

Today, Thursday, August 3rd after 2:00PM, PowerSchool will be open to view student schedules for the 2023-2024 school year.  There is a process for requesting changes, but they will be granted on a very limited basis.  Here is the instruction sheet to follow.  

Please read through it carefully and follow all steps to request a change.  We ask that you not call or come to the school or directly email any staff member about your schedule.  Additionally, we just want to remind everyone to check the website continuously for updated information, specifically in regard to the start of the school year.  As always, thank you for your continued support and we hope you enjoy the rest of your summer.

INSTRUCTIONS TO REQUEST A CHANGE

Amnesty Week - Schedule Request Change Period

As part of our continued scheduling process for the 2023-2024 school year, we will be holding an Amnesty period this week, May 16th-May 24th.  This is an opportunity for students and parents to review course selections before going into the summer, and request any changes.  Final schedules will be released at the beginning of August, and at that time, change requests will only be reviewed on a limited basis, so we want to encourage families to take advantage of this now. 

With this process, students will go into PowerSchool and review their course choices for next year.  If any changes are being requested, fill out the Google form using the link provided (SEE BELOW).  There are a few courses that have specific updates and those can be found below.  If you have any of those as your course selections, please read the detailed information and make any adjustments needed.  Any questions, see your counselor or Ms. Ritch.


AP Physics 1:  This course is changing from A/B day to everyday yearlong.  To take this class, please adjust your schedule to accommodate the change in format.

American History Cohort at CPCC:  You need to complete this form.  There is a place to check YES, you are part of the cohort, and then we need to know what classes you are dropping to have early release both semesters to make room for the CPCC classes.  Please note – these must be two A/B day classes or two semester classes.

African American Studies:  There is some new information to share about this class.  Please listen to the announcements this week as we will be calling down any student who put it as a course choice and explaining this in person.

French 3, 4 and 5:  These classes will be online next year.  In the past, it was self-paced, but going forward, we will be enrolling students in an online class with a full-time teacher.  This period will be built into your schedule as a time for you to work on the course.  If you do not want to take this online, please select something else in place of this course.

German 3 and 4:  These classes will be online next year.  In the past, it was self-paced, but going forward, we will be enrolling students in an online class with a full-time teacher.  This period will be built into your schedule as a time for you to work on the course.  If you do not want to take this online, please select something else in place of this course.

AMNESTY DAY REQUEST FORM

The next event in ACT’s My Journey: Connections series is here!

Join ACT and Joe Dorri, president of the nonprofit TheGoodStudent.org, as we explore key psychological factors that are important for students’ wellbeing and future success. We’ll also discuss how they will use these factors to understand themselves and where they want their future to take them.

Why your students should attend:


Free Webinar: Tips and Takeaways for Wellbeing, College, and Career Success

Thursday, May 11, 2023: 6:00 p.m., CT

Can’t make the live event? Register anyway to get the recording sent to your inbox. 


FREE Test Prep

Cracking the Test Week

Now is when juniors embark on their college application process and when sophomores & freshman begin thinking about what they need to do. The Princeton Review knows that students need to create their own test prep plans, which is why we are hosting Cracking the Test Week. From March 12th to March 16th, our experts will discuss ideal test prep timelines, strategies for all kinds of tests, and what to expect from the new Digital SAT. Students can register using any of the below links. Click (ctl +click) on link to register. Please contact Ms. Sartwell in Student Services if you have any questions. maryc.sartwell@cms.k12.nc.us

 

SAT, ACT, or Both? 

Sunday, March 12, 2023, 8PM ET

 

Study Skills 101

Monday, March 13, 2023, 8PM ET

 

ACT Strategy Session

Monday, March 13, 2023, 10PM ET

 

SAT Strategy Session

Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 8PM ET

 

The Digital SAT

Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 10PM ET

 

Advanced Placement 101 

Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 8PM ET

 

The Digital SAT

Thursday, March 16, 8PM ET 

2022 College & Career Fair

Ardrey Kell will be hosting a College & Career Fair for all families on Feburary 22, 2022 from 3:30-5:30 in the mall area. More information to come! 

Parent Course Registration Information Session Zoom Link

 Join us at 6 PM on January 31 for our parent registration night.

​ 

Use the link below to join: https://cms-k12-nc-us.zoom.us/j/99616358794?pwd=OFhPd0lob2owRExyMkRPVGVzVHBBZz09 


National Merit Semifinalists

National Merit is an annual academic competition for recognition and college scholarships. These students were identified by their high PSAT score of 2021. In order for these students to advance to a Finalist position, they are tasked to complete an online application, and get a recommendation letter from someone that knows them well academically (please ask them to get a teacher recommendation otherwise you have to write them one). As a Finalist, they will be in the running for Scholarships in the Spring.  Congratulations!!

Amrith, Arhan

Arya, Sanya

Beeravolu, Keagan

Demsie, Hermella

Deshpande, Sana

Dutt, Nalini

Fenton, Taylor

Gupta, Arya

Hu, Michelle

Lankford, Gwinn

Mantri, Rishi

Narang, Isha

Pan, Catherine

Potier, Rachel

Raman, Abhinav

Reddy, Anish

Ryu, Claire

Sathyanarayanan, Yuthika

Shen, Matthew

Shivapooja, Aditya

Singh, Tina

Smith, Claire

Tang, Alex

Varma, Utkarsh

Wang, Clarisse

Yang, Boaz 

Senior Appointments

Hello AKHS Senior! It is time to sign up for your *REQUIRED* Senior Appointment. This is a time to sit down with your counselor and discuss your future 1-on-1! You will talk about your plans, colleges, transcripts, scholarship searching, graduation requirements, and more. Appointments will begin on September 19th. Please choose a time that works in your daily schedule well. Plan for up to 45min/1hr of meeting time.  Please review the Senior Handout before your meeting here!


Last names A-Brooks - Sign up with Mr. Wegner


Last names Brown-Der - Sign up with Ms. DiPierno


Last names Des-Gon - Sign up with Ms. Ramos


Last names Good-Jor - Sign up with Ms. Sartwell


Last names Jos- Mar - Sign up with Ms. Brooks


Last names Mas-Patel - Sign up with Mr. Cable


Last names Path-Sab - Sign up with Ms. Schiffman


Last names Sac-Thomas - Sign up with Ms. McCourt


Last names Thomp-Z - Sign up with Ms. Graves

Governors School:

Any Junior or Sophomore interested in applying to NC Governor's School for the summer of 2023, please review the documents below for information. Please contact Ms. DiPierno in Student Services with any questions. 

UNC College System General Newsletter

Access Here. 

UNC System Virtual Open Houses

During the week of October 3, 2022 a series of four virtual sessions will be hosted. Current students from each university will share about their college experience and answer your questions live. Each of the main sessions will be directly followed by a 30-minute Zoom session hosted by each university where admissions professionals can answer specific questions about the admissions process. You do not need to register for these sessions. Links for each 30-minute Zoom will be shared at the end of each Webinar. REGISTER HERE

College Application Week:

October 17-21 is Free College Application week, organized by CFNC.

Many North Carolina colleges and universities are waiving their application fees this week - see the attachment for the full list of participating schools, or visit cfnc.org/c2c

IMPORTANT: To receive the application fee waivers, you must apply through cfnc.org

CFNC will also host two virtual events for students to learn about admissions basics, admissions during Free Application week, and to get answers about admissions-related questions. These will be held Tuesday, 10/18 at 12:00 noon and Thursday 10/20/22 at 6:00 PM. You must register to attend. Visit the website to register: CFNC Live Virtual Events 

SAT & ACT Prep - Study Skills Week

From September 11th to September 15th, The Princeton Review is hosting Study Skills Week. Over the course of five online events, our experts will give students the tips and tricks to boost grades. We will also go over the new Digital SAT, the AP Program, and Strategies for the PSAT. Students can register using any of the below links.



The Digital SAT: What You Need to Know

Sunday, September 11, 2022 8PM EST

 

PSAT Strategy Session

Monday, September 12, 2022 8PM EST

 

Study Skills 101

Tuesday, September 13, 2022 8PM EST

 

Crafting Your Academic Essay

Wednesday, September 14, 2022 8PM EST

 

Advanced Placement 101

Club Fair

During lunch on Wednesday (9/28) and Thursday (9/29), students will have the opportunity to walk around to club tables to join and learn more about them. Please take time to visit each table to get involved! 

Schedule Changes

After 11:00AM on Wednesday, August 3rd, PowerSchool will be open to view student schedules for the 2022-2023 school year.  There is a process for requesting changes, but they will be granted on a very limited basis.  An instruction sheet is attached to this announcement and has also been posted on the Student Services website.  Please read through it carefully and follow all steps to request a change.  

We ask that you not call or come to the school or directly email any staff member about your schedule.  Additionally, we just want to remind everyone to check the website continuously for updated information, specifically in regards to the start of the school year.  Parent and student accounts will not be accessible until after 11:00AM on August 3rd.  

Parents of new students can email Ms. Thornton for the Access ID and Password needed to create a parent account.  Be sure to include your student's name and student ID number.  Click here for information regarding student and parent accounts.

 As always, thank you for your continued support and we hope you enjoy the rest of your summer

Graduation

We are so excited to have a normal graduation ceremony for our students! Graduation is on June 11th at 7pm at Bojangles Coliseum.  AK GRADUATION WEBSITE 

Junior Appointments

Junior appointments with counselors will begin April 19 and run through May 13. Students may sign up beginning April 7.

 

These appointments are an opportunity for juniors to talk about senior year and their post-secondary plans. We will cover how they can be preparing for college applications in the fall, as well as Naviance, Common App, financial aid and more!

 

Click on the name of your counselor below to schedule an appointment with them. 

 

Mr. Wegner - (last names A-Brooks) 

Ms. DiPierno - (last names Brown-Der)  

Ms. Ramos - (last names Des-Gon)

Ms. Sartwell - (last names Good-Jor)

Ms. Brooks - (last names Jos-Mar)

Mr. Cable - (last names Mas-Patel)

Ms. Schiffman - (last names Path-Sab) 

Ms. McCourt - (Sac-Thomas) 

Ms. DeAntonio - (Thompson-Z)

Princeton Review Study Skills Week- Online and Free

Join us for The Princeton Review’s Study Skills Week! This series of events will provide you with the skills you need to tackle your finals and stay focused throughout the summer. Our expert instructors will discuss effective ways to study and write your academic essays, the importance of grades in college admissions, and what you need to know about the new Digital SAT. The links to register can be found here!  


CRACKING THE TEST – SAT, ACT and AP

Finding Your Dream College

            Princeton Review - Free Virtual Sessions

Join The Princeton Review's standardized testing experts for a series events from April 24th to April 29th, covering everything students need to know about cracking any test they may face. We will talk about strategies for SAT, ACT, and AP Exams, as well as how standardized tests fit into the college application process. Students can register using any of the below links. Feel free to share with your campus community.

AP Strategy Session

Sunday, April 24th, 2022 | 8:00 PM ET

SAT, ACT, or Both?

Monday, April 25, 2022 | 7:00 PM ET

SAT Strategy Session

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 | 7:00 PM ET

ACT Strategy Session

Wednesday, April 27, 2022 | 7:00 PM ET

Test-Optional Admissions

Thursday, April 28, 2022 | 7:00 PM ET

SAT, ACT, or Both?

Thursday, April 28, 2022 | 10:00 PM ET

Finding Your Dream Colleges

Friday, April 29, 2022 | 7:00 PM ET

Community Talk: Examining Teen Mental Health

 You are invited to join Trinity Prep this Thursday, April 28 at 7 pm, as Lindsey Gage, LMFT, presents on “Examining Teen Mental Health: Stressors, Symptoms, and Strategies for Parents.” Parents will learn about contributing factors in their teen's mental health, and ways to help support positive mental health.  Link to Zoom HERE 

Senior Undecided Night

CMS Seniors (and others) - Are you still Undecided about what you want to do after Graduation? Join us for our Spring 2022 Undecided Night on Thursday April 28th from 6-7:30pm! We will have TWENTY different ideas for you for opportunities or programs that do not require you to go straight to a 4-year college, are either no-cost or low-cost (or pay YOU), AND provide an excellent salary and upward mobility.  Sign up here to get the zoom Registration link, invite your families to join you and eat dinner at your kitchen table (remind you of quarantine times?) while listening to these fabulous ideas and optionshttps://tinyurl.com/CMSUndecidedNight2022

Parent Education Series

The Student Services Department at AK is proud to facilitate a Parent Education Series this spring on six important topics that directly impact high schoolers. Please see the FLYER for dates and topics. These sessions are presented via Zoom and include AK Student Services team members and community partners. We look forward to interacting with you on these important issues!


The Digital SAT: What You Need to Know

With the College Board's big announcement about a Digital SAT in January, students, parents, and counselors are wondering how this new format will impact standardized testing and college admissions. On Sunday, March 20th, at 8 PM Eastern Time, The Princeton Review will be hosting The Digital SAT: What You Need to Know. This presentation will cover what's changing on the SAT, what's not changing on the SAT, and what it all means for students.

 

You can register using the link below (hold ctrl, then left click):

 

The Digital SAT: What You Need to Know | Sunday, March 20th | 8:00 PM

Mid Year Grades Report

Seniors who need a midyear transcript sent to colleges can pick up a request form in Student Services starting Monday, February 7. Mid year transcripts can be submitted to colleges after February 14.

Course Registration for 2022-2023

Please visit www.akregistration.weebly.com for all registration information, materials, and calendars! 

College Admissions Week With Princeton Review

Jump start your journey to college! Whether you need help sorting out your college list or need advice on how to get started, we're here to help. Join us from February 7ththrough February 11th as we host informational sessions that discuss everything you need to know about college admissions. Please click on the links for more information and to register on the flyer!  

Yearbook Application

Any students wanting to apply to be on Yearbook next school year need to complete the application HERE

Princeton Review Study Skills Week

If you want to gain confidence in the classroom, join us for our Study Skills Week from January 11th to January 13th. The Princeton Review is hosting a series of events covering academics basics such as studying and essay writing, as well as the role high school academics play in college admissions. More information HERE! 

Schedule Change

If you are interested in requesting a 2nd Semester Schedule Change, click on the link below to fill out the Google form.  Put all the necessary information into the form for counselor and scheduler review.  If the request can be accommodated, it will be reflected in your PowerSchool schedule by the start of second semester.  If you are a senior requesting to drop a class for Early Release or Late Arrival, please put NONE in the COURSE TO BE ADDED section.  This form will be available until January 7th. 

https://forms.gle/6tK4pUuEZJY97zcf7

Student Accolades

Congratulations to Rishi Mantri for winning the goIT Monthly Challenge for his app to promote Water Conservation. Rishi presented his project and won at the National level following the monthly competition. Read more here. Congratulations, Rishi! 

Freshman Appointments

 

Freshman Appointments with counselors will run from December 6 - 16. These appointments are open to any 9th grader who wants to get to know their school counselor, has any general questions, wants to talk about plans for the rest high school, college, etc.  Students can sign up using the links below:  

 

Mr. Wegner (A-Brooks)

Ms. DiPierno (Brown-Der)

Ms. Ramos (Des-Gon)

Ms. Sartwell (Good-Jor)

Ms. Brooks (Jos-Mar)

Mr. Cable (Mas-Patel)

Ms. Schiffman (Path-Sab)

Ms. McCourt (Sac-Thomas)

Ms. Robinson (Thompson-Z)

Seniors: Cap & Gown Orders

National Merit Semifinalists


We are pleased to announce that we have 29 Seniors who are named as a Semifinalist for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship based on their PSAT score. These students have an opportunity to continue into the National Merit Scholarship Competition! These students are:


Anthony, Mikaela

Avulapati, Sathvik

Bastola, Kunjal

Brentzel, Zoe

Byerly, Colin

Cai, Joshua

Cifuentes, Veronica

Datla, Navya

Gyoerkoe, Jacob

Kale, Mihir

Kulasingam, Neeraja

Kulkarni, Anushka

Lang, Katherine

Lin, Kevin

Longueira, Nicholas

Ludwick, Reid

Mishra, Prateek

Mishra, Sanjana

Nees, Andrew

Palukuri, Vamsi

Ramesh, Ananya

Sengupti, Aditi

Sharma, Soham

Shyam, Kavya

Sileo, Samantha

Vaddireddy, Sreya

Vasireddy, Sandeep

Velraja, Roopasree

Wallace, Emma

 

Congratulations and good luck on advancing to the Finals!

COUNSELOR COFFEES

Our school counseling team will be offering virtual Counseling Coffees for parents.  These virtual events are a drop-in format for parents to ask general questions about student wellness, academic support, remote or hybrid learning, registration questions, college admission inquiries - anything we can help with! If you are unable to attend, be on the lookout for additional dates, or reach out to your student's counselor.

Social Media Safety

Mrs. Brooks will be hosting a Social Media Safety session for all parents via Zoom on Tuesday evening, November 16th at 6pm.  See below for the link to the session.

https://cms-k12-nc-us.zoom.us/j/98355300978?pwd=SXRscGRvSzN3UVhoODNpZzlyWUowdz09 

Senior Information Video 2022

Senior families, please watch this video by the Student Services team about the upcoming school year! Many of your questions about processes and procedures will be answered.

Additionally, please review the Senior Handout 

Video Powerpoint can be found HERE! 

Senior Appointments

Hello AKHS Senior! It is time to sign up for your *REQUIRED* Senior Appointment. This is a time to sit down with your counselor and discuss your future 1-on-1! You will talk about your plans, colleges, transcripts, scholarship searching, graduation requirements, and more. Appointments will begin on September 20th. Please choose a time that works in your daily schedule well. Plan for up to 45min/1hr of meeting time. 

Please review the Senior Handout before your meeting here!

Please complete the Senior Brag Sheet in Naviance (under Surveys) before your meeting. 

Sign up links: 

Kyle Wegner - A-Brooks - Sign Up To Meet

Lori DiPierno - Brown-Der - Sign Up To Meet

Kristilyn Ramos - Des-Gon - Sign Up To Meet

Mary Sartwell - Good-Jor -Sign Up To Meet

Chasity Brooks - Jos-Mar -Sign Up To Meet

Chad Cable - Mas-Patel -Sign Up To Meet

Heather Schiffman - Path-Sab - Sign Up To Meet

Maria McCourt - Sac-Thomas - Sign Up To Meet

LaSandra Robinson - Thompson-Z - Sign Up To Meet

Governor's School

Students interested in the NC Governor's School: Please view this VIDEO PRESENTATION  and informational slides.  The first deadline is October 25th. Application linked in presentation.

PSAT Week With Princeton Review


This series of free events will help students and parents better understand the PSAT. During the week before the PSAT's official date, Princeton Review will be hosting a range of sessions discussing test strategies, the National Merit Scholarship, and how the PSAT fits into the college application process. All times listed are for the Eastern Time Zone. Ctl+Click to follow the link to register.  If you have any questions, please contact Brittany Ledford at Brittany.Ledford@review.com 

 

PSAT Strategy Session Monday, October 4, 2021 7:00 PM

PSAT Scores, Now What? Tuesday, October 5, 2021 7:00 PM

Finding Your Dream Colleges Wednesday, October 6, 2021 7:00 PM

Governor's School Information

Students interested in Governor's School can view the CMS Powerpoint HERE. Application deadlines coming soon!

Naviance Parent Night

CMS will present the Naviance platform to parents to help them understand the college and career program that CMS schools use. Sign up HERE. 

Senior Portraits

If you have not yet had your senior portrait taken, please click on the following link*. At this time, the studio has appointments available on October 2nd and October 9th. Once you click on the link, you will need to do the following:

Appointments are fifteen minutes each and there is a small sitting fee.

 

https://local.prestigeportraits.com/nc/indian-trail/2013-van-buren-ave.html

Spanish FAFSA Night

CFNC.org is presenting a VIRTUAL FAFSA information night in Spanish on September 28th. More information HERE! 

HBCU College Fair

AKA Sorority, Inc. is hosting a virtual HBCU college fair on Saturday, September 18th 10am-12pm. Register HERE! YOUTH EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AWARD

In 2019, the Canopy Housing Foundation, the charitable arm of the Canopy Realtor® Association, and its Realtor® members instituted the YES Award (Youth Excellence in Service) to recognize and celebrate the area’s youth who are engaged in improving the quality of life in the region.  The YES Award is an opportunity to recognize a deserving young person (ages 10-18) in Mecklenburg or Iredell county for their commitment to excellence in service.  The chosen recipient will receive a commemorative plaque and $500 to be donated to the charity of their choice in their name. The recipient will be honored at the Foundation’s awards celebration  (tentatively to be held virtually) on July 29, 2021. Details HERE 

2021 AK AWARDS CEREMONIES

This year over 230 students were nominated for department awards, scholarships, and senior recognitions, and were notified via letter and email. The awards website and broadcast will go live at 6:00pm on May 18th (Underclassmen & Junior Marshals) and 6:00pm on May 19th (Seniors). www.akawards2021@weebly.com

 

Award pickup will be Thursday, May 20th from 2:10-3:10pm. Last name A-L : Pick up in bus lot (enter on Society St. off of Community House Rd.). Last name M-Z : Pick up in Upper Student Parking Lot (enter by football field). OR in Student Services if you're at AK for an exam.

TEEN SUMMIT AND SCHOLARSHIP

Teen Health Connection is excited to host the 2021 Empower: Teen Leadership Summit June 14-17. We wanted teens to have the opportunity to hear national speakers, participate in thought-provoking workshops and to develop leadership skills that can become part of community plans and conversations. 

We have a dedicated committee of teenagers that are helping us to plan this year's Summit so that we can make sure that the 4 days are fun and different for everyone who is growing tired of this virtual world. 

If there are any questions or if you want to learn more about the 2021 Empower: Teen Leadership Summit please connect with Amber Jones at amber.l.jones@teenhealthconnection.org or Rett Liles at rett.liles@teenhealthconnection.org.

We can't wait to see returning friends this summer and meet some new faces as well. 

Participant Registration Link with scholarship options: https://formsmarts.com/form/25wc

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

Engineering Camp Charlotte is seeking high school volunteers to assist with either of the following:

- Preparing engineering camp materials (perfect for students who are detailed oriented and enjoy working as part of a team)

- Assisting campers on their activities (perfect for students who may want to pursue a career in education or others that support children)  

 

These volunteer positions are available for the following weeks: July 5-9, July 12-16, July 19-23, July 26-30, August 2-6.  We follow strict COVID protocols to ensure the safety of our campers, volunteers, and staff members.

Apply HERE!  

MARTHA BOOKOUT SCHOLARSHIP

Martha Bookout was a beloved teacher at Hawk Ridge Elementary. She had a passion for working with students. Martha was always the first to lend a hand. Martha was known in the community for her generosity, friendship, and dedication to her loved ones. She put others before herself. A $1,000 Scholarship will be awarded to AKHS senior who has the intention to major in the field of education and is an alumnus of Hawk Ridge Elementary. View the application in your Naviance account. 

FAFSA HELP EVENT


Students and families will have access to professional help from Central Piedmont staff while they complete the FAFSA from the comfort of their own cars.  A list of items to bring and resources available (including a number of laptops and hotspots) is described in this LINK. Saturday, April 24 at Harris Campus, 3210 CPCC Harris Campus Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208

AMNESTY DAY

This week will be Amnesty Day for the 2021-2022 school year.  All students have the opportunity to review their course selections and submit a request for any changes.  This is an electronic process and included below are all the documents needed, including the general instructions.  The Google form to complete a request is https://forms.gle/cotvb3x728BUZt678. 

PLEASE read through everything to ensure the procedures are followed correctly.  All requests are due by Friday, May 7th.  See the AK Registration Weebly if you need additional assistance.

 2021-2022 Amnesty Day Directions.pdf

2021-2022 AP Course Contract.pdf

2021-2022 Early Release Late Arrival Form.pdf

9th Reg Card 2020-21.pdf

10th Reg Card 2021-22.pdf

11th Reg Card 2021-22.pdf

12th Reg Card 2021-22.pdf

KNIGHTS BUILDING KNIGHTS RECRUITMENT


Knights Building Knights (KBK) is a leadership development and success collaborative designed to support male students, particularly African American and Latino, as they navigate and advance through high school. KBK strives to develop a brotherhood amongst participants to support and cultivate an experience of academic, social, and developmental excellence.


Use bit.ly/kbk22 to register for the interest meeting or text @KBK2122 to 81010 for more information

UNDECIDED NIGHT - SPRING

The CTE department is hosting an Undecided Night – Spring Edition for students.  This event is next Thursday evening, April 22nd from 6:00pm - 7:00pm. There are over 10 employers and training opportunities who will attend. JUNIOR APPOINTMENTS

Hello Rising AKHS Senior! It is time to sign up for an optional Junior Appointment. This is a time to sit down with your counselor and discuss your future 1-on-1! You will talk about your plans, colleges, transcripts, graduation requirements, and more. Appointments will begin on April 19th. Please choose a time that works in your daily schedule well. Students in the building may come to Student Services to meet in person if comfortable. All other meetings will be virtual.  

Please review the Junior Handout before your meeting HERE! 

Please use a personal (not school) email when booking

Sign up links:

A-Brooks - Mrs. DeAntonio - Book My Appointment

Brown-Der - Mrs. DiPierno - Book My Appointment

Des-Gon - Mrs. Ramos - Book My Appointment

Good-Jor - Mrs. Sartwell - Book My Appointment

Jos-Mar - Mrs. Brooks - Book My Appointment

Mas-Patel - Mr. Cable - Book My Appointment

Path-Sab - Mrs. Schiffman - Book My Appointment

Sac-Thomas - Mrs. McCourt - Book My Appointment

Thompson-Z - Mrs. Robinson - Book My Appointment

AKHS PTSO SCHOLARSHIP

The Ardrey Kell PTSO is offering ten $1000 scholarships to graduating seniors who will be furthering their education at either a two-year or four year program. A minimum GPA of 2.5 (unweighted) is required and your family must be members of the Ardrey Kell PTSO or have contributed to the 2020-2021 Capital Campaign. Due Friday, April 2, 2021. View application HERE!  

NEW SCHOLARSHIP

The Chambers-McCain Foundation is awarding qualifying black male high school seniors in the metro-Charlotte area with a 3.0+ GPA and community involvement with a $10,000 scholarship. Please see more information HERE! 

PRINCETON REVIEW INCLUSION & EQUITY NIGHT

On Thursday, March 25th, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 Eastern Time, The Princeton Review is hosting “Inclusion and Equity in College Admissions,” a roundtable panel with experts ready to discuss Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, LGBTQ friendly campuses, and other aspects of belonging in the college process. After hearing from our panel of experts, students will be able to ask questions and express concerns about the admissions process. Flyer and registration HERE.

PRINCETON REVIEW TESTFEST

Starting on Saturday, March 13th, the Southeast team of The Princeton Review will be hosting a High School Test Fest Week! During the week of March 13- 18, you and your students will find opportunities to take free online ACT and SAT practice tests, attend live online standardized testing strategy sessions (I’m exceptionally excited about the “9 Most Missed ACT Questions” presentation), and end the week with our Editor-in-Chief, Rob Franek.  Rob will be leading an interactive presentation on College Admissions in the Time of COVID.  All presentations are open to counselors, students, and parents. REGISTER HERE!

COLLEGE INFORMATION FOR SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES

This Thursday March 18th from 5:30pm – 6:30pm, in partnership with Juana Hernandez from CFNC, we are hosting an event for Spanish Speaking rising 9th through rising 12th grade students.  Ms. Hernandez will help students understand the importance of taking challenging courses in high school, being involved in school activities, understanding college admissions criteria, activities to get involved in over the summer and much more! Please note that this presentation will be delivered entirely in Spanish.

Link HERELATINO YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT

CMS is partnering with the Latin American community in Charlotte to deliver the Latino Youth Empowerment Summit (LatinoYES) for CMS high school students (10th, 11th and 12th).  This enrichment opportunity enables Hispanic/Latin American students to learn from Latin America business executives, community leaders, and employers in a culturally relevant environment. The summit also provides direct access to:

●         Employment and career opportunities

●         Leadership skills development

●         Scholarships and college information

This year’s summit will take place on Friday March 12, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at via Zoom.

●        Link to the event site can be found here.

●        The agenda includes a keynote by a local young entrepreneur and simultaneous breakout sessions where participants can explore the topics of leadership and empowerment, employment and college and career. You can see the flyer here.

 

Interested students can register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1X12P_EHLwRjkLVqyNjeBR-_nkAeP39ERMgtto1KVyYA/viewform?edit_requested=true

WEST KELL DIVERSITY INITIATIVE CONVERSATION

We are excited to announce that both AK and West Charlotte’s student councils are bringing the powerful initiative of West Kell back this year.  They have created a virtual program having discussions about race in education! This year our main goals are to discuss how both of our schools handle diversity and create equity, how students and teachers experience race at their respective schools, learning more about one another's schools and programs and having solution-based discussions around what can be done after the title conversation to build community and foster a better understanding/relationship between our two schools. 

THIS CONVERSATION WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, MARCH 12TH FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM! (This is a teacher workday) We are taking the first 42 students to sign up to participate in the program!  The link for the Google Form is as follows: tinyurl.com/westkell

PRACTICE SAT & ACT

Princeton Review is once again offering AK students a FREE practice SAT & ACT. View flyer HERE! 

Test Prep DISCOUNTS for AK Students: HERE!  and HERE!  

Junior Book Study

Princeton Review has published a book, College Admissions During COVID. If you are interested in reading the book and participating in a group book study, please reach out to Ms. Sartwell in Student Services through email maryc.sartwell@cms.k12.nc.us

REAL TALK: HBCU EDITION

Real Talk is a series by College Board (SAT) that connects Black students, parents and educators with admissions officers across the country.

Wednesday, March 3rd and Thursday, March 4th @ 7pm ET/4pm PT-Connect with admissions representatives from the best HBCU’s in the nation! Register now for this special two-night event. 

Register HERE! 

CPCC PARENT SESSIONS

CPCC has created virtual parent sessions to help navigate enrollment, applying, scholarships/financial aid, transferring, and other advising opportunities. See flyer HERE! 

CMS EATS AT HOME PROGRAM

TRANSLATED CMS DOCS

Find district documents in Spanish and other languages HERE.  Parents Learning English: Information HERE.

TUTORING FOR EL STUDENTS

CMS is offering free tutoring for K-12 EL (English Learner) students before and after school. More info HERE.  FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE NIGHT

Families, is your student the first to attend or consider attending a four-year college? Join us for our First Generation College Student Night on January 28th, 2021 at 6pm via Zoom. Flyer HERE. 

SENDING MID-YEAR GRADES

Seniors who need transcripts with mid-year grades on them sent to colleges will follow the steps below. Note that not all schools require these-please check before requesting. Yearlong classes *will* be included. You do not need to notify your counselor after you complete this process!

These transcripts will be sent after January 26th when class rank and GPA are updated. You may follow these steps to request beginning January 5th:

You can check the status of the transcripts on the Transcript Manager in Naviance.

UNDECIDED NIGHT FOR SENIORS

Are you still "undecided" about what you want to do after high school?  But pretty sure that you do NOT want to go the route of a 4-year college...at least not yet? There are plenty of other opportunities that could lead you to a great life and good salary! We are having a program that is open to all students and parents where you can hear from 25 different post-high school options that do NOT require going to a 4-year college.  These options include different jobs in different branches of the military, different companies that will pay you and teach you on the job right out of high school, and different departments at CPCC.  On Thursday January 7th from 6-7:30 you can sit back for an hour and a half and listen to 25 different ideas for what to do AFTER high school that just may interest you!  Sign up today at bit.ly/UndecidedNight and you will get a link to the zoom the day before the program.

SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUESTS

We are now accepting requests for changes to your second semester schedule. Please fill out the Google form to put in your request. The deadline to do this is Wednesday, December 16th. Changes that can be accommodated will be reflected in PowerSchool by January 4, 2021. This is NOT to change from in-person to remote or vice versa – this is for individual class change requests only.

SENIOR END-OF-YEAR INFORMATION

Graduation Caps and Gowns orders can be completed at www.southernrecognition.com 

 Orders are due on December 13th

JCSU Admissions

Johnson C Smith University is having a drive through admissions day on December 5th. More information HERE. Freshman Appointments

9th Graders are invited to sign up for optional virtual Freshman Appointments with their counselor. This is a time to get to know your counselor and ask any questions you have about the high school experience! Counselors are assigned by student last name. Sign up below!

**NOTE: Please use a personal (gmail, Yahoo, etc.) email address when you sign up. Your school email address blocks the confirmation email : ) **

A-Brooks - Mrs. DeAntonio - Book My Appointment

Brown-Der - Mrs. DiPierno - Book My Appointment

Des-Gon - Mrs. Ramos - Book My Appointment

Good-Jor - Mrs. Sartwell - Book My Appointment

Jos-Mar - Mrs. Brooks - Book My Appointment

Mas-Patel - Mr. Cable - Book My Appointment

Path-Sab - Mrs. Schiffman - Book My Appointment

Sac-Thomas - Mrs. McCourt - Book My Appointment

Thompson-Z - Mrs. Robinson - Book My Appointment

Financial Aid Night

CFNC's (The College Foundation of North Carolina) Timeka Ruffin will be hosting a virtual Financial Aid Information Night for AK families on Monday, November 23rd. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81072309968?pwd=Y3lZd2xJNWo0WUFPSXRyQkZwMXI3dz09

Meeting ID: 810 7230 9968  /  Passcode: Zbq1db

Naviance Parent Night

Parents and Guardians are invited to a virtual HOW TO night for Naviance. This is a cloud-based program that students use to plan and apply for college and careers! More information and registration HERE. 

Mental Health Support

"Blue" by Mental Health of America of the Carolinas is a peer-to-peer discussion group to build skills promoting wellness in one's life and reduce stigma by increasing knowledge around mental health over the course of several meetings. Flyer HERE 

Active Youth is a program by Mental Health of America of the Carolinas that supports youth mental health needs. Flyer HERE. 

Virtual College Fair

NACAC is putting on several virtual college fairs for students. Please see more information here!

UNC System Open House

The UNC System will host its first-ever Virtual Open House, giving North Carolinians in all 100 counties an opportunity to explore the state’s options for public higher education. A series of eight virtual sessions will highlight the unique learning opportunities at the 16 constituent universities.

The sessions, hosted in conjunction with North Carolina Countdown to College, will run from October 26 through October 30, 2020. Each UNC System university will offer a thirty-minute presentation that features faculty, staff, and current students. In addition to providing a broad campus overview, each presentation will highlight five unique and often-overlooked institutional features and attributes. Admissions counselors will also be on hand in a separate chat room to answer specific questions students and their families might have.

REGISTER HERE 

Governor's School

Sophomores and Juniors: You are invited to a Governor’s School interest zoom meeting to learn more about the prestigious summer program. Click HERE to view the flyer and zoom link information.

Please watch this video about Governor's School HERE. 

Interest Form 

Gov School Powerpoint 

Recommendation Form 

Application 

Senior Appointments

Hello AKHS Senior! It is time to sign up for your *REQUIRED* Senior Appointment. This is a time to (virtually) sit down with your counselor and discuss your future 1-on-1! You will talk about your plans, colleges, transcripts, scholarship searching, graduation requirements, and more. Appointments will begin on September 8th. Please choose a time that works in your daily schedule well. Plan for up to 45min/1hr of meeting time. 

Please review the Senior Handout before your meeting here!

Please complete the Senior Brag Sheet in Naviance (under Surveys) before your meeting. 

Sign up links:

A-Brooks - Mrs. DeAntonio - Book My Appointment

Brown-Der - Mrs. DiPierno - Book My Appointment

Des-Gon - Mrs. Ramos - Book My Appointment

Good-Jor - Mrs. Sartwell - Book My Appointment

Jos-Mar - Mrs. Brooks - Book My Appointment

Mas-Patel - Mr. Cable - Book My Appointment

Path-Sab - Mrs. Schiffman - Book My Appointment

Sac-Thomas - Mrs. McCourt - Book My Appointment

Thompson-Z - Mrs. Robinson - Book My Appointment

HBCU Showcase

Every Monday and Wednesday evening in October from 6pm-9pm EDT, Pridgeon Event Management will have a Historically Black College/University registered in a time slot to give a presentation about their school. Students will have a chance to ask questions and receive additional information. FLYER 

CFNC Countdown 2 College

The College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) hosts Countdown 2 College the entire month of October. During this time, students can get application help, some college applications are free, and families can get help with their residency application. Website HERE. 

Summer Ventures & Governor’s School

 Students and families: Wondering what academic enrichment opportunities you might line up for next summer? Learn more about North Carolina’s two signature programs offered to high school students, Governor’s School and Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics. Webinar HERE. 

Virtual College Exploration

CACRAO is proud to present the  Virtual College Exploration program, for all North and South Carolina students, September 14-October 9. The four-week program consists of hundreds of opportunities for students to learn about the college search process and about many different colleges through panel presentations and information sessions. More information here.

FAFSA Support

Mapping Your Future is hosting a webinar for families on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on 10/6 at 7:00 PM. Registration can be completed HERE. 

2020 Youth Energy Academy

The Youth Energy Academy (“YEA”) event provides hands-on activities for high school students to increase their knowledge of careers in the energy industry and the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (“STEM”) as they pursue their college and/or occupational careers. To register and learn more, click HERE. 

Scholarships

Interested high school students, families, school counselors, and college advisors are invited to join the following North Carolina scholarship programs for an informational evening via Zoom--UNCC Levine Scholars, NCSU Park Scholars, UNC Morehead Scholars, ECU Honors, and NC Central Scholars . Program representatives will provide an overview of each scholarship and answer questions. Below are four dates the sessions will be held and we hope you can join us for one! 

Sign Up Here: https://bit.ly/NCScholarships-Fall2020  

Class of 2020 Senior Awards Night Ceremony

View

Awards Website

Seniors!

In this uncertain time, please know that you will still have our complete support and guidance through the college application process! We will be holding senior appointments (via Zoom) beginning in early September, and you will get even more information sent home before then. 

In the spring, we publicized an opportunity to review a webinar on how to prepare for Senior Year prepared by AKHS counselors. Topics included using Naviance, researching colleges, requesting teacher recommendations, etc. After the webinar, students could sign up for a junior appointment. Thanks to all the students who took advantage of that opportunity! If you did not, you can still access the webinar (linked below) and all of the resources shared with students in the junior appointment (purple button below). Reviewing those resources will help you plan for your senior appointment. 


NEW COUNSELOR CASELOADS

AK was lucky to get a new counselor position for the 2020/2021 school year, so that we can reduce our caseloads and increase time with students. As a result, caseloads have shifted slightly. Please see the updated caseloads below:

LaSandra Robinson : Thompson-Z

Registration

Course registration for 2020/2021 will begin in February. Please visit www.akregistration.weebly.com for ALL registration information, including AP Contracts and Early Release/Late Arrival forms. 

Testing Night

Princeton Review will be here January 30th at 6pm for testing information for all grade levels

Freshmen Appointments

Freshmen Appointments will be held December 5th-December 20th. Freshmen are invited to sign up for an optional appointment with their counselor to discuss high school planning, college preparation, and other high school concerns. 

Links by student last name: 

A-Cal : Mrs. DeAntonio: https://calendly.com/deantonio

Cam-Ek: Mrs. DiPierno : https://calendly.com/lori-dipierno

El-Har: Mrs. Ramos : https://calendly.com/kristilynw-ramos

Has-Lem: Mrs. Sartwell : https://calendly.com/maryc-sartwell

Len-M: Mr. Cable : https://calendly.com/chad-cable

N-Rod: Mrs. Schiffman : https://calendly.com/heathers-schiffman

Roe-S: Mrs. Mills : https://calendly.com/latriciad-mills

T-Z: Ms. Edge : https://calendly.com/jorris1-edge

Student Opportunity

11/5/19: Charlotte Career Discovery Day will be on December 3rd. This is a great event that will allow students the chance to see a lot of different industries and career opportunities. AK will take students to the event. All of the information and how to sign up can be found on www.akvc3.com/ccdd2019

Freshman Night

Freshman Night will be November 13th at 6:15pm. All Freshman parents and guardians are welcome to join counselors and administrators at Freshman Night to have any questions answered about ninth grade and high school planning. 

College Admissions

9/23/19: Six Common College Admissions Myths: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2019-09-11/6-common-college-admissions-myths 

Senior Appointments

Seniors please use the links below to sign up for a mandatory senior appointment. Appointments will begin September 12th. 

How to link your CommonApp account to your Naviance account: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znOq38FUrTc  *REQUIRED to complete before your meeting if you are applying to Common App schools*

Brag Sheet (Please complete before appointment if able): https://forms.gle/Y6rNQcTrVwHDiFwn8

A-Cal: Mrs. DeAntonio: If you've not yet had your appointment, please email Mrs. DeAntonio at kellym.deantonio@cms.k12.nc.us OR stop by her office to schedule 

Cam-Ek: Mrs. DiPierno : https://calendly.com/lori-dipierno/senior-appointment 

El-Har: Mrs. Ramos : https://calendly.com/kristilynw-ramos

Has-Lem: Mrs. Sartwell : https://calendly.com/maryc-sartwell

Len-M: Mr. Cable : https://calendly.com/chad-cable

N-Rod: Mrs. Schiffman : https://calendly.com/heathers-schiffman

Roe-S: Mrs. Mills : https://calendly.com/latriciad-mills

T-Z: Ms. Edge (Clemmons) : https://calendly.com/jorris-edge/senior-appointment-2020

Financial Aid Information Night

9/11/19: Come get all your questions answered about Financial Aid and the FAFSA on Monday, October 21st at 4:30pm in the Media Center. 

Governor's School

Interested students must fill out this form: https://forms.gle/FDp332wwJuUW9A5u8 

Governor’s School fillable form links are listed below. Please feel free to send the recommendation link directly to your recommenders. These forms MUST be opened in Chrome and saved in order to edit them. 

Scholarships

9/11/19: Seniors can now access applications and information about UNC's Morehead Cain Scholarship and NC State's Park Scholarship in their Naviance accounts (Click "Document Resources" at the bottom of the Home page). These scholarships have an application that must be submitted to Student Services by September 25th. Students selected as a school nominee will be notified. Please note: UNCC's Levine Scholarship has an independent process. Students who apply need to contact their counselor directly. 

Brag Sheet for Rising Seniors: https://forms.gle/Y6rNQcTrVwHDiFwn8 

Senior Transcript Requests

8/19/19: Seniors please do not email your counselor for transcript requests. Transcripts will be sent after your Senior Appointment. This will give plenty of time for transcripts to arrive on time electronically to all of your schools. Senior Appointment sign ups coming soon. 

Get Ready for Senior Year

8/19/19: Class of 2020-Check out this helpful handout

College Kick Off Night

9/4/19: Attention Junior and Senior families: College Kick Off Night will be held on Wednesday September 18th at 6pm in AK’s auditorium. Topics will include college application information and junior/senior timeline preparation. See below if you can't make it! 

Final Transcripts

6/4/19: Seniors do not need to pay for final transcripts. These will automatically be sent to the school indicated in Naviance by counselors when grades are finalized for all students. 

Amnesty Day

5/20/19: Click on the Registration link above for course offerings (every grade level's registration card with elective options), AP Contracts, and course catalog for CMS.

Scholarship Calendar

4/8/19: CMS has created a scholarship deadline calendar for CMS level scholarships (offered to the entire district). Seniors can view it here and view the scholarships in their Naviance account.

Updating Admissions Decisions

3/27/19: Seniors need to enter their Naviance account and update admissions decisions as soon as possible. Be sure to include the school you will be attending *this is how we send the required final transcript* (All found on "Colleges I'm Applying To" page).

Scholarship Calendar

4/8/19: CMS has created a scholarship deadline calendar for CMS level scholarships (offered to the entire district). Seniors can view it here and view the scholarships in their Naviance account.

Updating Admissions Decisions

3/27/19: Seniors need to enter their Naviance account and update admissions decisions as soon as possible. Be sure to include the school you will be attending *this is how we send the required final transcript* (All found on "Colleges I'm Applying To" page).