ARHS Community Happenings!

Mid-October is a busy time of year at Amity, and here are a few of the highlights from the week and upcoming events for you to know about:

• One of the hallmarks of 9th grade at Amity is Link Crew, our robust and ongoing 9th grade orientation and support program. Starting well is one of the keys to success in anything, and Link Crew gives our students that strong start. In fact, our program is so noteworthy that it was featured this week on WTNH’s “What’s Right With Schools” program. Here is the link to the feature: Link Crew - What's Right With Schools
  
  
• Last week we announced that Amity had been selected by the College Board as an Advanced Placement Honor Roll School due to our efforts to increase the number and diversity of students taking AP exams, and since then a number of people have asked just what that means. We investigated it, and here are a few of the data points about last spring’s AP test-takers that earned our school this distinction:
  
  
• We had 398 students take AP exams last spring, an increase of more than 20 students from the previous three-year average.
  
  
• Many students take multiple AP courses, so the total number of AP tests taken is also a consideration. Last spring Amity’s students took a total of 839 AP exams, which is a new school record and an increase of 84 AP exams over the previous three-year average.
  
  
• The College Board considers a score of 3 or higher on an AP test to be worthy of college credit, and last year our rate of AP test-takers scoring 3 or higher was 91.5%. This represents an increase of 4.6% from the previous three-year average rate.

• Our annual PSAT testing day will be next Thursday, Oct. 17, for students in grades 9-11, and students in grade 12 should use the day as an independent post-secondary planning day (seniors do not need to report to school on Oct. 17). The testing day is an early dismissal day, and the College Board requires that students not have cell phones during the PSAT, so we will collect phones and keep them secure during the school day before returning them to students prior to dismissal. We also request that parents/guardians not dismiss their children early on the testing day, as this can interfere with the testing environment for other students. Thanks in advance for your understanding and support.
  
  
• Our fall sports teams are nearing the end of their regular season schedules, and that means Senior Night celebrations at home games over the next few weeks. Cross Country started the celebrations on Monday, Field Hockey celebrated their Senior Night this Wednesday, and Volleyball’s Senior Night was Thursday. Next week we will honor the Boys Soccer seniors on Tuesday and both the Girls Soccer and Swimming & Diving Seniors on Friday. After that there is a gap before we honor the Cheerleading and Football seniors at their last home game of the season on Friday, Nov. 15. Congratulations to all our fall senior athletes, and best of luck with the rest of your seasons!
  
  
• We have been making changes to our school and district websites since the summer to create a more intuitive and user-friendly experience for visitors to the sites, and this afternoon we are unveiling major changes to the site that will make finding the information you need simpler. One of the most important updates is that our Parent and Student tabs have been replaced with a Student Life tab which collects some of the most frequently accessed information in one easy-to-access location.
  
  
• Ping-Pong Fridays have returned! Amity’s Chinese National Honor Society hosts ping-pong competitions during lunch waves on the second Friday of the month, and our first Ping-Pong Friday was earlier today. All students are welcome to participate in games during their lunch period – no experience or paddle necessary!

Go Spartans!

Andre Hauser

Principal

• October 14, 2024 - Indigenous Peoples Day / Columbus Day - No School
  
  
• October 17, 2024 -
  PSAT Day for Grades 9 - 11, Early Dismissal / No Field Trips
  
  
• October 21, 2024 - BOE Fall Community Forum, Technology in Schools - More Info
  
  
• October 22, 2024 - Winter Sports Information Night - More Info
  
  
• October 24 - 25, 2024 - Music In Motion - More Info
  
  
• November 5, 2024 - Election Day - More Info

This week's Chef of The Week is, freshman Gracjan Cuprys. Gracjan is currently in Chef Linkstrom's Culinary Essentials. In class, Gracjan is a leadership rockstar! He guides his team with grace, kindness and knowledge. He truly cares about everything he creates. Some fun facts about Gracjan is that he loves pasta and his favorite restaurant is Frank Pepe's

If your student will be absent for any reason, please be sure to contact the attendance line to report the absence. Each absence must be followed up by a note or email from a parent or guardian in order to be excused

Please send email notes to: arhsattendance@amityregion5.org. That note or email will suffice to excuse absences 1-9. Subsequent absences will require documentation from a doctor or medical provider to be excused.

Collegeboard is strict about deadlines for registration so please sign up on time!

• Registration is open from Friday, October 4, 2024 - Friday, November 1, 2024
  
  

• AP Exam Fee: $107 per exam
  
  

• AP Seminar and Research Exam Fees: $151 per exam
  
  

• Late Fee: Registration will reopen from November 22, 2024 - March 7, 2025 but will have a $40 extra late fee (as set by CollegeBoard, not ARHS)
  
  
• Cancelation Fee: If you cancel by March 7, 2025, $40 of your registration fee will go to CollegeBoard and the remaining will be refunded. Any cancellations after this date will not be refunded.

Free Webinar for College Bound Student Athletes and Families! Are you a student-athlete dreaming of playing your sport at the NCAA level? Invest in your future and spend an hour on Sunday, Nov. 3, from 6 to 7 pm understanding the requirements and how to prepare for NCAA certification.

Join NCAA Eligibility Center staff, who will walk you through what you need to do to compete at the NCAA Division I, II or III level. Staff will be answering questions live during the presentation, so come prepared to learn how to take your game to the next level!

Parents need to fill out the Senior Transcript permission form in PowerSchool and submit payment through My Payments Plus before we can send transcripts out to colleges/universities. Please note there is a 24 hour lag between the form being completed and the fee showing up in My Payments Plus. Keep that in mind with regards to deadlines.

Do you need help with your UCONN application? Dan Teague, our UCONN admissions rep will be here at Amity on Thursday, October 24th during the lunch waves. You can make an appointment to see him by seeing Mrs. Vallie or Mrs. Cocco in the Career Center.

Tutors are needed for New Haven Elementary students on the Yale campus. Help is needed in Mathematics on Tuesdays and Thursdays for grades 2-5 and for older students with Math (and tennis!) on Mondays and Wednesdays.

If you have any questions about this program, please contact Larry Hurwitz, Site Coordinator @ Dwight Hall via email at lhurwitz95@gmail.com or text at 203-812-0886.

Volunteers are also needed within the BOWA - Please see the C&C calendar for opportunities & more details. College Representatives Visiting Amity! Only 3 weeks left of visits! Juniors and Seniors sign-up for your favorite schools!

• Financial Aid Night - October 16, 2024 at 6:30 PM - More Info
  
  
• ASVAB Testing - October 25, 2024 - More Info
  
  
• UCONN Health Program - October 26, 2024 - IWEM Workshop - More Info
  
  
• College Essay Writing Workshops - Last Session November 3, 2024 - More Info
  
  

The College & Center is excited to host our upcoming 3rd annual Trades Week during the week of Nov. 4th through 8th!

All students will have the opportunity to visit with our daily guest speakers outside the cafeteria and learn about the many trade careers represented. These speakers will donate their time and share their expertise with all students. A list of participants will be coming soon!

”Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (including vascular technologists) operate special imaging equipment to create images or to conduct tests” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023).

Medical sonographers work in hospitals, clinics and physicians offices where physicians need visual tests to accurately diagnose patients. Training to become a medical sonographer can vary as colleges and trade-schools offer certificate, associates degree or bachelors’ degree programs. The average annual salary is $80,850 and much faster than average job growth is expected (11%) through 2033 (BLS, 2023).

To learn more, visit our medical sonographers table during TRADES WEEK (November 4-8), or visit the following websites: The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, and The Society for Vascular Ultrasound.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is a private university located in Troy, New York (near Albany), approximately 130 miles from the BOWA area. Founded in 1824, RPI currently enrolls over 5,800 undergraduate students and many are pursuing careers in engineering and technological fields. More than 110 programs (bachelors, masters, doctorate) are offered within 5 schools. Students pursue majors such as computer science, architecture, engineering (mechanical, chemical, biomedical, civil and aerospace) and business, as well as many accelerated programs.

Campus life is very active with many clubs and activities to choose from. There are 21 athletic teams (all D3 except D1 for Ice Hockey teams) who compete in the Liberty League athletic conference. Annual tuition, room and board is $85,291 (2024-2025). For more information, check out RPI’s admissions website, check out their quick facts, watch a brief video, or take a virtual tour.

• Help the PTSO and your student(s) by joining today! To access our membership form, please open amityptso.org in a new browser, click on Membership, and then Click Here to join! PTSO membership must be renewed every year.
  
  
• If you ever have any PTSO questions, please reach out to us at amityptso@gmail.com
  
  

• Join our Facebook Group and be a part of our virtual community by visiting this page and answering the security questions required to gain access.

• JOIN! Catch the Spartans Spirit! Membership is open for all…families, coaches/faculty/staff and grandparents. Your membership donation benefits all of our athletic programs.
  
  

• SHOP! Visit the Athletics Booster Gear Store for customizable Amity apparel and gear. Amity “A” decal stickers, car magnets and “Amity PROUD” yard signs are available while supplies last. Email goamityspartans@gmail.com to order. Delivered to you!
  
  

• SPONSOR! Looking for business sponsors that would be interested in helping to promote the Booster Club. Contact Carrie at goamityspartans@gmail.com.
  
  

• LIAISONS! Looking for parents or athletes from each team to send us occasional updates on your team’s accomplishments and fundraisers. We want to recognize and promote our Amity student athletes and coaches for their wonderful attitudes and play. Please contact Carrie at goamityspartans@gmail.com with any questions.
  
  

• FB LINK! Stay up to date and in the loop with weekly schedules, team announcements and fundraisers. - View Facebook
  

• Volunteers Needed!
  Adults, college students, and high school juniors and seniors may call or email to help. We need volunteers to assist with registration, food tables, chaperoning, and games at the Halloween Spooktacular for 7th & 8th graders in the Woodbridge Center on 10/25/24. A few students are needed for the Family Game Night on 10/17/24 in the Woodbridge Center. We approve community service hours for mature high school students.
  
  
• Tech Help - If you would like to teach some older adults how to use their technology (phones, notebooks, etc.), please contact us at 203-389-3464. It would be a commitment of an hour or two one day/week.
  
  

• Families in Need - Woodbridge resident families in need should contact Human Services to apply for food, holiday baskets, fuel assistance, and holiday toys. Call 203-389-3429 for more information.

  
  
• Vaccine Clinics Offered by Woodbridge Human Services - More Info
  
  

• Trainings Offered:
  by BRIDGES, Milford- Youth Mental Health First Aid – Register Here
  Narcan (Naloxone) Administration for Opioid Overdose Training – Register Here
  
  

• Job Bank Seeks Woodbridge and Bethany Teens Who Want Paid Work
  The Job Bank guides teens ages 13-18 as they apply, interview, and earn money doing odd jobs for Woodbridge residents. Teens are needed now. Contact the Job Bank to schedule your interview. Jobs include leaf raking, yard work, snow shoveling, babysitting, housework, animal care, tutoring and tech assistance. Woodbridge residents may call 203-389-3429 to hire a student.
  
  

• Call 203-389-3429 or email npfund@woodbridgect.org for info or to sign up for programs.
  Sign up for Youth Services Notifications of our programs: www.woodbridgect.org/list.aspx
  Youth Services’ Website: https://www.woodbridgect.org/160/Youth-Services
  

Please join us for the Fall Fall Board of Education Community Forum on the topic of “Technology in Schools,” where we will discuss three important topics that are shaping the future of our schools: cell phone use, artificial intelligence (AI) in education, and the use of PowerSchool and the Schoology platforms.

Date: Monday, October 21, 2024 - More Info

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Amity Regional High School Library Media Center

Questions may be anonymously HERE prior to the evening. Questions will also be taken live on the night of the event and will be answered as time permits.

For more information about cell phones in school, please see The Connecticut State Board of Education recently adopted new guidance here.

If you are interested in how AI is changing student learning and schools, please watch this 10-minute video that highlights the impact AI is already having on education.

The Connecticut State Department of Education is presenting a three-part webinar series for parents and families titled: Supporting Your Child’s Health and Well-being During the School Year. The flyer contains descriptions of each of the webinars as well as registration links.