OCTOBER 2024

I would like to thank all the students, staff, parents and guardians for a phenomenal start to the school year. There have been drastic improvements in the climate and culture of our school over the past few years. Students have adopted our school motto of Pride and Excellence and we see it every day within our building.

The saying, "it takes a village to raise a child" is so true. Every day our students walk in the building we try and create a safe, positive and respectful environment where students can achieve success and have lasting experiences.

This past month we were able to experience fall sports in full swing, in addition to many positive activities by our clubs and organizations. If your student has yet to join a club or activity, please refer to the clubs and activities section on our AHS homepage to find something of interest.

Respectfully,

Jeffrey Lebb

Instagram @ahsprincipal

The Audubon Education Foundation is an all-volunteer non-profit group started by parents, teachers and administrators 18 years ago to raise funds for classroom extras. Through fundraisers, we’ve raised and spent in excess of $150,000 on grant proposals for unbudgeted items ranging from Chromebooks to gardens at the elementary schools. We are very much in need of new members, as so many parents and teachers have “graduated out” over these 18 years. Please join us if you can, and/or support our upcoming November 15 “Nite at the Races” to be held at Audubon Park. This event is very popular and there are many ways to contribute. Check the District website under “Community” for more information, or the Ed Foundation Facebook page, our partner Fathers Association website, or other Audubon social media sites.

Thank you!

bpslack@comcast.net

Are you or your business interested in being a sponsor for THE WAVE newsletter? This publication is shared electronically with all students, parents, guardians, board of education members, teachers and staff of the Audubon School District. THE WAVE newsletter is published on our Audubon High School main website each month. It is also shared on social media via Instagram through our Principal, Mr. Lebb's account @ahsprincipal and our Vice Principal, Mr. Corley's account on X @VPCorley. We are also creating a digital link where it will become part of The Retrospect, where members of the local community can view all the incredible happenings at Audubon Jr.-Sr. High School.

By becoming a sponsor, your business will be showcased in our newsletter each and every publication for the 2024-2025 school year. Depending on the monetary donation or gift cards donated to our school (used for our student recognition programs), you can have your business card added to our letter or even become part of a larger contributor and sponsor a certain section of our newsletter , like our Student of the Month program. The larger sponsors will also be publicized on our school tv's, hallway recognition boards and advertised on the newsletters on a more grandiose scale.

If you, or your business, is interested in becoming a sponsor of our newsletter, please contact Mr. Corley at 856-547-7695 ext. 4122. Feel free to click on the PDF below for more information. We look forward to creating a partnership to help showcase our school, students, staff and community.

We’re excited to share "The Counselor's Corner", a newsletter packed with valuable resources for all students and families! This newsletter is your go-to guide for staying informed and supporting your student's success. Don’t miss out on these helpful insights—check it out today!

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act designates the week beginning with the first Monday in October (October 7-11, 2024) as the Week of Respect. The Week of Respect provides school districts with an opportunity to recognize the importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) while placing emphasis on age-appropriate instruction that focuses on the prevention of harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB). This week supports the role of the School Safety/School Climate Teams as they work to fulfill their requirement to develop, foster and maintain a positive school climate.

All of the Social Studies teachers at AHS provided age appropropriate instruction focusing on HIB topics including tolerance, acceptance, working together effectively and teamwork principles during the Week of Respect

The counseling department celebrated the Week of Respect by promoting the following activities:

Anonymous Deed Monday - Do something nice for someone without telling them.

Love the Earth Tuesday - Do a good deed for the earth - plant a tree, water a flower or pick up trash.

Caring Words Wednesday - Tell someone something nice about themselves or thank a teacher.

Education Thursday - Read a book or educate yourself on a different culture, religion or lifestyle.

Helpful Friday - Help someone out, whether it is a friend, or someone less fortunate.

We also promoted the Week of Respect by students filling what respect means them and putting this message in a leaf. A TREE OF RESPECT was constructed with all the Respect Leaves to promote this culture of acceptance and respect within our school.

It's that time of year again! Please join together in helping Mr. Cosenza's 8th Grade Social Studies classes with their Winter Toy Drive. The class has been learning about citizenship and their role as citizens in their community. Each of us has a responsibility to give back and help those in need. The students will be collecting donations of toys, personal care items and school supplies to give to those less fortunate than us. Each class will play a different role in this project. Students will need to make announcements in homerooms, collect items from drop off locations, create posters and flyers all before packing day. On packing day they will have to organize, separate, pack, and wrap as many filled shoe boxes as possible. For the last 8 years we have managed to get over 50 filled shoe boxes each year to donate and we are always looking to break new records (82!). Please help out in any way you can! Collection will begin on November 1st and the last day to donate is November 22nd. Reach out to Mr. Cosenza (dcosenza@audubonschools.org) if you have any questions. As always, thanks for your support!

The Health & PE staff had to continue to be flexible to start the 2024-25 school year with more construction in the Main Gymnasium to start the year, just as there was last year. Teachers and students are eagerly waiting to get back into our brand new gymnasium once again. The HPE staff also has a new health room. Room D1 has been converted into a cardio room where there are 13 new stationary bikes (thanks to Mr. Reed for putting the time in to get a grant for the bikes!). The new Health Room is now C009, where the teachers and students have much more space and even have windows to see the outside world!

Students have started the year in activities like basketball, pickleball, tennis, and soccer. Students have also been participating in a football unit, which will lead us into the GFL!!!!! Each period will have a Gym Football League Champion crowned, and also get their names "etched" into the GFL trophy and pictures in the bulletin board outside the Main Gym.

**The Marching Band has continued a very successful season - after placing first at their first few competitions, the band placed an extremely impressive third place at the USBands Ludwig Musser Classic held at Met Life Stadium (where the Giants and Jets play!) in early October. The colorguard placed second in their caption at that competition as well! The band then placed first again at the Egg Harbor Twp US Bands competition the next weekend. The band and colorguard will travel to the NJ State Championship for USBands at South Brunswick HS this coming weekend, followed by the USBands Group 2A National Championship in Allentown, PA on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Good luck to the band and congratulations again for showing Pride and Excellence each week!

**The JH Concert Band has worked hard through their musical repertoire for the upcoming Winter Concert, including a medley from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, and a very cool arrangement of Jingle Bells!

**The SH Concert Band has powered through their repertoire as well this Fall. They are an outstanding group with a lot of talent and a LOT of Seniors! Musical highlights at the concert will include an exciting concert opener entitled Choose Joy, and a neat arrangement of Dona Nobis Pacem, a standard in the choral repertoire.

**Just a reminder that the Winter Band Concert is Thursday, Dec. 5th at 7pm. The students will be wearing black (pants, dress, etc) and white (shirt, top, etc). No sneakers, jeans, t-shirts, etc. Thanks so much for making sure the students are dressed appropriately for their performance!

Thanks to everyone for all of your support of these wonderful students in the AHS Band program!

Mr. Bantle's students traveled to Haviland to read to students in Miss Cherie's class. Over the past two weeks, we have worked hard practicing their book and creating a Halloween craft for the preschool students to make. It was an AMAZING day and the interactions were so great to see!

Mrs. Egner's Animal Behavior class is now testing their self-constructed mazes, and our clever mice are quickly learning where to find the food.

The World Language Department celebrated Spanish Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15) by decorating the hallway in B building..

Per NJ Department of Education guidelines, all over-the-counter and prescription medications must have a doctor's order and parent signature. Online access to medical forms can be found online:

https://www.audubonschools.org/ahs/content/nurse

• Asthma Treatment Plan (Required for all students with a diagnosis of asthma)
• Epi-Pen Packet
• Health History Form
• Non-Prescription/Prescription Medication Consent
• Emergency Medication Self-Administration Form

Heart Safe School Designation from Youth Heart Watch at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, an affiliate of Project ADAM.

Audubon Jr.-Sr. High School is the second school in NJ to be a designated youth Heart Watch Heart Safe School.

In order to be designated as a Youth Heart Watch Heart Safe School, schools must meet a specific list of criteria, including placement of an AED that is accessible from any part of the school’s campus within 3 minutes; designation of a CPR-AED site coordinator and trained cardiac emergency response team; a cardiac emergency response plan; annual awareness training on sudden cardiac arrest, and an on-site cardiac response drill practicing CPR and AED use.

To recognize this milestone, Audubon Medical Emergency Response Team completed an on-site emergency response drill and provided a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan, in addition to receiving certificates that recognize Audubon Jr/Sr High School their Heart Safe School status.

This month, classes visited the Media Center and took advantage of our online databases to research various reform movements of the 19th Century. Topics included abolitionism, women's suffrage, child labor, and temperance.

The Media Center continues to be a place where students have the opportunity to check out books, read quietly, and get work done for classes. Here's a sampling of students "in action."

There's a new club in town at AHS for 7th thru 12th graders! Come join us!

The Health Prep Club performs mission-related activities that address Audubon and National needs while delivering life-saving services to communities. Members will plan and implement projects that will save hundreds of lives from care packages to disaster response and education, to meeting healthcare and first responder career guests. The club has collected funds for the recent hurricane victims and donated to local emergency organizations. Our next project is for Veterans Day!

Check out our new Instagram page....greenwavehpc

See Nurse Barry for more information!

Health Prep Club recently collected for the hurricane relief of victims in North Carolina and donated to the Red Cross. If you'd like to add to the relief collection, please contact Nurse Barry.

Tuesdays are pretzel days! Our weekly pretzel sale prices are $1 each, but the mustard and smiles from the Interact members are always free! Pretzels are sold immediately after school in the breezeway and by the trophy case.

Happy Halloween! To get into the Halloween spirit, Interact Club is selling pumpkin-shaped pretzels! Pretzels will be sold during a presale during all lunches on 10/24, 10/25, 10/28, and 10/29. Pretzels are $2 each, and they will be delivered on Halloween morning during homeroom. Limited pretzels will be sold on Halloween, so buy ahead to guarantee your treat!

Interact Club is hosting a collection for For the Love of Pete's Pantry. Items requested are *travel size* toiletries, individually wrapped snacks, and gallon size ziploc bags. Check out our new Amazon Interact Club Wish List for Pete's Pantry for ideas/inspiration or ship items to your home to help contribute. All items collected will be used to help make Blessing Bags for the pantry to distribute during their Treats on the Street services at Aviator Park in Philadelphia. We will be collecting until the end of November. All donations can go to Mrs. Drinkhouse in A214 or be given to any Interact Club member. As always, thank you for your support!

Intergenerational Club hosted 2 successful events in October: a Game Night at the Audubon Senior Center on 10/16 where senior citizens and students taught each other different board and card games. We also helped out at the Audubon Preschool's Trunk-or-Treat event on 10/18. Our display won "Best Overall"--if kids picked "trick" our students sprayed them with silly string--if they chose "treat," they received candy (and we still sprayed them with silly string).

S.T.A.R.S.

Students and Teachers Against Racism and Stereotypes

Advisor: Mrs. Mueller

Students thrive socially and academically in inclusive schools. S.T.A.R.S. is a club whose goal is to make the Audubon district a tolerant and accepting place for all students. As a group we plan activities that advocate for all students, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc. S.T.A.R.S. sponsors annual events like National Mix It Up Day, National Day of Silence, World Kindness Day, etc. We share information among club members and make students aware of local events they can attend. S.T.A.R.S. also runs an Annual Spring Bake Sale as well as any other fundraiser events the group proposes (In the past, we have sold handmade bracelets, handmade buttons, felted heart keepsakes, concessions at events, etc.). We are always open for new members and have a lot planned for this school year!

AHS is working with BSN Sports to offer custom Audubon apparel to staff and community. These items are not affiliated with any clubs or activities, we are simply providing the community with an opportunity to get general Audubon apparel.

Please continue to support our specific programs as they provide team stores and apparel sales. If interested in purchasing AHS gear, click on the image below.

Order your school yearbook today!

Get ready for a fantastic year ahead packed with unforgettable moments. Reserve your yearbook early to hold onto every incredible moment from the school year. Click on the following link to purchase:

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1057894/Audubon-High-School/2025-Yearbook/2024082904290993066/CATALOG_SHOP/

• Cindy Vanrell Spink graduated in 1992 and participated in Girls Basketball, Winter Track, Spring Track, AHS Concert Choir, Prom Committee, Winter Ball Committee, AHS Concert Choir Social Chairperson, Guidance Office Aid, Concessions. Cindy currently works as a Marketing Program Manager at The Vanguard Group
• Jennifer Wells graduated in 1992 and was a member of the Girls Basketball and Softball teams. Jennifer currently works as an Implementation Specialist at Nuvem.
• Amy Paratore graduated in 1993 and was a member of DECA. Currently, Amy works as a Sales Support Specialist.
• Nicole Racite Lombardi, a 1996 graduate, was an active participant in Spring Track, Cheerleading, Band, Choir, the Spring Musical, and Marching Band during her time at school. She now works as a dedicated Special Education Teacher, continuing her passion for helping others.

• Erin Knoll MacMinn graduated in 1997 and was an active participant in Spring Track during her time in school. She achieved the honor of being named first-team all-conference in 1995, 1996, and 1997. Presently, Erin works as an Emissions Compliance Engineer.
• Sarah (Barry) White, a 1997 graduate, participated in Softball and Cheerleading, was recognized in the Colonial Conference and All-South Jersey Band, earned the Best Drum Major Award at the Chapter Championships in 1996-1997, and was a National Honor Society member. She is now an Officer in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps, currently serving in the NJ Air National Guard, a mother to three wonderful children, and serves as the school nurse at Audubon.

• Jeff Lebb graduated in 1999 after actively participating in multiple sports, including Football, Wrestling, and Baseball, throughout his high school years. Currently, Jeff serves as the Principal of Audubon High School.
• Nicole Piontkowski Stallard, a 1999 graduate, was actively involved in Girls Soccer, Spring Track, Cheerleading, Peer Mediation, and the Yearbook committee during her time in school. She now dedicates her career to education, working as a Math Teacher.

• Amanda Carelli Barbieri graduated in 2001, engaging in various activities during her school years, including participation in band, choir, peer mediation, and intergenerational programs. Currently, Amanda works as a behavioral therapist.

• Nichole Salamone Holt graduated in 2001 and was an active member of the Girls Basketball Program and (Motivating Young Minds Against Drunk Driving. Nicole worked 6 years of claims adjuster, 14 years in the real estate appraising field and office manager, and currently is a Police Dispatcher for the whole county of Camden.
• Lindsay Furman Quinn graduated in 2001 and was actively involved in Girls Soccer, Spring Track, Cheerleading, Student Council, STARS, and French Club during her time in school. She now serves as an Assistant Principal, continuing her dedication to education.
• Katie Ross graduated in 2002 and was actively involved in extracurricular activities during her school years. She participated in Girls Basketball and was a member of the Color Guard from 1997 to 2002. Currently, Katie works as a Patient Care Coordinator.

• Cara Low Gaehring graduated in 2004 and received notable recognition for her achievements. She was honored as a STARS Award recipient and was awarded the Martin Luther King Freedom Medal, showcasing her commitment to promoting equality and social justice. Currently, she works as a Substitute Teacher and Secretary in Audubon.
• Desiree Booth Bisaga graduated in 2008 where she was a member of Girls Tennis, Swimming Choir, Spring Musicals, and Color Guard. Currently she works as the Center Administrative Director for Proud Moments ABA.

• Kieran Boland graduated in 2010, actively participating in various sports during his time in school, including Cross Country, Boys Basketball, Winter Track, and Spring Track. Currently, Kieran works as a Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer
• Erica Paolucci Cavanaugh, a 2010 graduate, was highly involved in activities such as Color Guard, Choir, Student Council, National Honor Society, Spanish Honors Society, during her time at school. She also served as the Varsity Soccer and Swimming Manager, participated in musicals and one-act plays, and contributed to Project Memorial. Erica has been named Educator of the Year in the Mount Holly Township School District, has choreographed musicals at GCIT for the past nine years, and currently works a 5th-grade teacher at Mansion Avenue School.
• Joseph Gaspari graduated in 2023 and is currently in college. At Audubon he participated in Cross Country, Winter Track, Spring Track where he helped Audubon win a 2020 Boys XC sectional championship, 2021 Boys XC sectional championship and first Audubon's ever state championship in Cross Country and boys Spring Track State Championship.

https://www.audubonschools.org/docs/district/calendar/district-calendar-current.pdf

https://ahs.audubonschools.org/