Avondale Monthly Curriculum Update
May 2023 Newsletter
Important Dates in May
May 3rd District-wide PD Day
May 6th NWEA Window Opens
May 7th Teacher Appreciation Day
May 10th Lunchroom Hero Appreciation Day
May 12th Mother's Day
May 18th Armed Forces Day
May 21st National Talk Like Yoda Day
May 27th Memorial Day
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
OS Supported Resources & Discovery Ed Resources
(These shoes were designed as a project in social studies by a GATE student who was inspired by Japanese culture!)
Physical Fitness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
News to Know...
- Check out the 2024-2025 Staff Calendar: CLICK HERE!
- A new CTE course in Pharmacy Tech will be considered for pilot next school year at AHS. This course will support our students looking to get certifications and those who might want to enter the workforce after graduation.
- FOSS has produced a new version of their K-5 science program called FOSS Pathways. The district will be exploring this streamlined version of the FOSS curriculum for the 2024-2025 school year.
District/County Professional Learning Opportunities!
IXL Training Session Recordings Here:
Foundations I
Tues, 4/1 12:00-1:00pm ET
Using IXL to Fill Knowledge Gaps
Mon, 4/8 4-4:30pm ET
Effective Small Group Strategies (Tier 2)
Tues, 4/16 4-4:30pm
Using IXL to Accelerate Learning
Tues, 4/23 4-4:30pm ET
Recording
Tips for a Highly Engaged Classroom
Tues, 4/30 4-4:30pm ET
Uncovering insights in IXL Analytics
Tues, 5/7 4-4:30pm ET
Recording Coming Soon!
Career Development NEWS
Spring has sprung and lots of field trips and career events are afoot!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
May 1: "Jobs in Action" Construction Career Day (AHS)
May 2: Careers in HealthCare at OU (9th gr)
May 6: "Jobs in Action" Constellation Wind Farm Tour (AHS)
May 8: Tools to Schools Construction Semi at AMS (7th gr)
May 10: Oakland Schools Technical Campus Tour (8th gr)
May 21: Carpenters and Millwrights Career Fair (AHS)
May 23: K-5 District Wide Future Focus Day
6th Grade Career Day
6th Grade Career at AMS on Thursday, April 4 was a great success! Students had the opportunity to see 3 different sessions and were very engaged! We had 26 speakers from 13 different career clusters and they were all fantastic! There were lots of hands-on demonstrations! Avondale Grad, Erik Michon opened students’ eyes to the world of manufacturing. Parent Sumaya Boomgaard talked about Physical Therapy and brought lots of PT equipment for the students to try. Our park naturalists, Lance Devoe and Lauren Oxlade brought a snake, baby turtles and a lizard for students to see. Parent SA Pettey and her colleague, SA Mosley shared their experiences with Homeland Security. Avondale Grad, Chad Mowry (nurse anesthetist student) helped nurse anesthetist Andrea Bittinger demonstrate intubation and let the students try it. Rick Ramaindo, owner of “All About Catering” talked with students about culinary careers and worked some MAGIC into his presentation. Parent, Michelle Zellen helped our students learn about marketing. Rich Bolon, engineer from GM had students make rubber band cars! Carrie Cox from the Oakland County Water Resource Commissioner's Office brought 2 vehicles from the water department for students to see. Many other speakers brought props and hands-on things for students to do. It was an absolutely AMAZING day!
Career Day Intubation
Career Day - Park ranger
Career Day - Physical Therapy
LIFT Manufacturing and Makino Tech Expo
This month, a group of Middle school students had the opportunity to visit the LIFT manufacturing training center in Detroit. At LIFT, they were immersed in a realm of state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, encompassing robotics, metal 3D printers, linear friction welders, and more. The students toured the manufacturing floor, learning about the machines and various job opportunities. Then they were able try their hand at robotics programming and welding using both handheld simulators and an augmented reality welding machine used to train welders. Congratulations to Leah LeDuc who got an impressive score of 97 on the AR welding machine! Overall, it was a great day for our students!
Our high school students also delved into the world of advanced manufacturing at the MAKINO TECH EXPO in Auburn Hills. Led by industry professionals, they explored the intricacies of advanced manufacturing and engaged with local companies to discover potential career pathways. Students also saw demonstrations on an array of cutting-edge machinery, from EDM to milling machines and automated robotic systems. The event left a lasting impression on all attendees, offering a firsthand glimpse into the dynamic realm of modern manufacturing!
EDM at Makino
Makino Manufacturing 4.0 discussion
Makino robot dog!
Business Meets Avondale Internship Fair
April 22 brought a sense of anticipation to Avondale High School as the 2nd annual "Business Meets Avondale" Internship Fair unfolded, sparking enthusiasm among both students and guests! We welcomed 6 of our 8 “Internship Partner” businesses who currently provide internships for our students as well as representatives from Michigan Works who assist in internship funding. Additionally, 14 more businesses and members of the community attended to see what our internship program is all about! 42 CTE students also registered for the event!
Prior to the sessions, business owners and community members were treated to tours of Avondale High School's Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, accompanied by a synopsis highlighting the skills and certifications taught in each program. The visitors were impressed by the breadth of offerings, cutting edge equipment, and the skills our students are acquiring.
The event then moved to the auditorium where both students and businesses gathered for presentations. After a brief explanation of the Internship program by Mr. Ballard, each current intern shared insights into their experiences, emphasizing the tremendous opportunities and how much they have grown in their skills since starting the internship. Following this, attendees moved to the lobby for one-on-one conversations between prospective intern students and Internship Partners. Business owners were impressed by the confidence of our students, the quality of their questions, and their eagerness to provide resumes—a testament to the resume-building sessions offered prior to the event.
Several visiting businesses expressed keen interest in becoming Internship Partners for the Fall, while members of the Rochester Hills Mayor's Business Council of HR Directors were so impressed with one of our interns, Bonnie Benford, that they invited her to speak at an event in May.
Students left the event feeling excited and empowered by their interactions with business owners, finding the event incredibly helpful. Many students eagerly signed up to show interest for multiple internships, reflecting their enthusiasm and readiness to engage with real-world opportunities.
K & S
Current Interns with Mr. Ballard
Transcendence Family Wellness Center
Educating English Learners
- MDE PL Offerings for English Learners:
- EL Timelines for important compliance and programming reminders
- Resources SMORE which includes OS Guidance documents and teaching / leading resources.
- Oakland Schools Workshops Document with information and descriptions for all EL professional learning offerings for 2023-2024
Assessment Updates
- MSTEP/MiAccess Testing continues this month.
- Click here for the NWEA Benchmark Assessment Schedule
- For details on Michigan Testing & Assessment check in the Spotlight Publication
Past Staff Newsletters
- April Newsletter Featuring 2024-2025 Curriculum Updates
- March Newsletter Featuring Reading Month and PD Opportunities
- February Newsletter Featuring Black History Month and Artificial Intelligence updates.
- December/January Newsletter Featuring culturally responsive instructional supports.
- November Featuring Career development updates.
- October Featuring resources to support English Learners.
- September Featuring our district/building instructional coaching team and coordinators.
Office of Curriculum & Instruction
Email: coleen.brunni@avondaleschools.org
Website: https://www.avondaleschools.org/
Location: 2940 Waukegan Street, Auburn Hills, MI, USA
Phone: 248-537-6009