The APHS Look AHEAD- October 2022
Dear APHS Students and Families,
It's hard to believe that we are already one month into the school year at Averill Park High School. That said, we are off to a wonderful start on many fronts. Our focus on "getting back to basics", after two and a half years of disruption, has begun to rebuild the foundation for the kinds of educational experiences we want for our students, both inside and outside of the classroom, each and every day. While it is early in the year still, we are happy to see things functioning in a way we can once again call "normal".
The upcoming month is a big one! Our first progress reports come out this Friday. This is an excellent checkpoint opportunity to see how our students are doing, and provide early support and intervention to those who need it. Please be sure to proactively connect with our teachers if you have any concerns or questions about your child's progress. This is also Spirit Week at APHS. Each day has a theme, and we will end the week with our first indoor Pep Rally in a number of years. Our Homecoming Dance this past Saturday, which was attended by almost 700 students, was also an amazing success. As we move into the upcoming month, we will also be inducting our newest members into the APHS Chapter of the National Honor Society.
Finally, this is a month during which the days get shorter and darker, and sometimes it can be hard to keep our energy where it needs to be in order to be successful. Reflecting on the things we have which make us happy can be helpful. During this Optimistic October, here is a list of activities you can do each day to keep the focus on the positive: https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/calendar_download/pdf/Oct%202022.pdf
Be sure to reach out with anything that you need, and we are looking to continuing our collective work to ensure the success of all of our students, each and every day.
Serving every student every day,
Heath C. Quiles
Principal, Averill Park High School
The APHS Building Leadership Team
-Mr. Heath Quiles, High School Principal (quilesh@apcsd.org)
-Mrs. Christina Mein, Assistant Principal, Grades 10 and 12 (meinc@apcsd.org)
-Mrs. Rebecca Leach, Assistant Principal, Grades 9 and 11 (leachr@apcsd.org)
#AP_EveryStudentEveryDay
"Creating passionate learners who contribute positively to their community and the world."
Students participate in Senior Sunrise event
Senior Class officers, along with their advisor Ms. Freeman, organized Averill Park High School's first Senior Sunrise event on Thursday, September 29th. The class gathered at 6:30 am by the football field to watch the day begin at 6:46 am symbolizing the beginning of their last school year at APHS. Coffee, donuts, and hot chocolate were provided with some relaxing wake up music. Thank you seniors for the great turn out so early in the morning. Great job to the class officers for beginning this tradition. It was so nice to gather with this group and symbolically look forward to a year full of great events and opportunities to make lasting memories together!
After School and Late Bus information
The late buses are now running!
Please remember that ALL students staying after school must sign up each day. To do so, you can click on the 'After School Sign Up' button on your Launch Pad or click on the yellow 'After School Sign Up' button that is located on the APHS webpage.
After school expectations:
- Students who are staying after school are expected to either be with a teacher or other staff member/advisor, or be signed up to stay in the library.
- After students are done working with a teacher or attending a club meeting, students are to report to the supervised location as follows:
- On TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS students will wait in the cafeteria until their ride and late bus arrive at 4:15 pm. We have supervision in the cafeteria until that time.
- On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays students will go to the library after working with teachers or attending clubs to wait until their ride gets here. Students should be picked up by 3:15 pm on M/W/F. We have supervision in the library until 3:15 pm on those days.
Warrior Wednesday in October
RELATIONSHIP SKILLS
This competency focuses on developing skills to establish and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and to effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals and groups. Relationship skills in school include the ability to communicate clearly, listen actively, cooperate, work collaboratively to problem solve and negotiate conflict constructively, navigate settings with differing social and cultural demands and opportunities, provide leadership, and seek or offer help when needed. These skills help students navigate their interactions with both adults and peers throughout their school day and build skills essential for future careers. This month's activities focus on developing good communication skills.
Additional information about how Averill Park will be addressing this theme and how you can support your child at home can be found here
Blood Drive at APHS - October 27
On Thursday October 27, the APHS Key Club is partnering with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive at the high school. The drive will run from 8:00am until 12:30pm behind the school in the auxiliary gym. Please help us achieve our goal of 25 units! If interested, you can sign up to reserve a time at redcrossblood.org
Student Government sponsoring a Trip to Washington, DC
Student Government is sponsoring a Trip to Washington, DC for Juniors & Seniors April 21-23 (we will miss a Friday- A Day).
Any interested Junior or Senior can come to the meeting in the library on Thursday, October 13th during Advisory to learn more & get an application (Library will be closed to drop ins that day).
Email Mrs. Ford for pass or you can write a pass during Advisory to library if you want to come to the meeting.
Fall Career/Trades Fair @ APHS
Mark your calendars!
Averill Park High School is excited to announce our FALL CAREER/TRADES FAIR.
WHEN: Thursday, October 27, 2022
WHERE: Averill Park High School - Library
TIME: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
This will be a great opportunity for students to start learning about the many career opportunities available in the capital region. The goal is to build awareness and show the unique training and education available. Parents are welcome to stop in as well. For more information or to be a vendor please contact Olga Ashline ashlineo@apcsd.org.
Four Students Commended in National Merit Scholarship Program
Averill Park High School students Cooper Smith, Christian Romer, Samuel Bonesteel and Tyler Michaels (not pictured) have been named Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program!
Commended Students are recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the qualifying test used for the Program.
The New APHS FAB Lab is Open for Student Use
"Students can come in during their study halls, Advisory, before or after school, any free time they have. They just need to sign in and they can use all of the things we have here,” said APHS Library Media Specialist Morgan Park. “There is a lot of fun stuff, both high tech and low tech, for students to use.”
Construction Practicum Takes to the Field
Students in the Construction Technology Practicum have been working on installing foam board insulation and fire wrap in a new construction Westchester modular in town. The house will be the future home to the owner of Bradley Park Builders. Students have been learning about completing work in compliance to local ordinances and building codes. Teachers Mr. Kozlowski and Mr. Engel provide supervision and support while students complete the work with their team. The job went so well already, they’ve already been invited back for the next one.
NOPIATES Committee to hold Vaping Informational Event
NOpiates Committee is happy to announce that we will be hosting a free event at Sky High Adventures in Averill Park on Thursday, October 19 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. In addition to information sessions that will be held, tabling and resource sharing will also be available. To register, email nopiatesevents@gmail.com
Food Service Change
As you may be aware, the Averill Park Central School District is no longer able to provide free meals to all students as it did during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is due to the USDA ending nationwide funding which allowed school districts to provide meals for free during that time.
What does this mean for you?
- Families must fill out free and reduced price meal applications for the 2022-23 school year and meet income qualifications in order to receive free meals.
- Families must fill out the application and be approved on a yearly basis, even if they have participated in the program during previous school years.
- Families who do not qualify for free and reduced price meals will need to resume paying for school lunches.
Please note that if your family currently receives federal benefits (such as SNAP), your student is automatically enrolled in the free and reduced meal plan and you should have received a confirmation letter in the mail.
Free and reduced meal applications can be found on the district website here. If you cannot print out this application, or if you need assistance filling it out, please contact your school building.
News from the Health Office.
Physicals for winter sports:
Sign-ups for winter sports will open on October 17th. All students trying out for sports must have a current physical on file in the health office. Be sure that your child has a current physical on file before signing up. You will be notified through Family ID email if your child is not approved for sports due to physical or needing medication orders turned in.
Grade level physicals:
State law requires your child to have a physical examination because he or she either entered school within our District for the first time this year or they are in kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, or 11th grade. 8 NYCRR 136.3(b)(1). A physical exam is mandatory because the District must: (1) appropriately assess the student's current health status; (2) determine the student is free from contagious diseases and fit to participate in all aspects of school programming; (3) identify any need for the District to modify its programming in consideration of your child's health needs; and (4) secure any necessary health care supports within the school environment. Please send this paperwork either by email to millerv@apcsd.org or have it faxed to 518-674-7052. Communicate with Mrs. Miller that you are having papers faxed so that she can confirm when they are received.
Tylenol and Ibuprofen permission slips:
In order for your child to receive any Tylenol or Ibuprofen, written permission needs to be turned in EVERY year. If you have not done so please fill out the attached form
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v-M20kCWIhLHqrrpiKuWO-24DTOdcsGNZknE5LGF0MY/edit
and send it back into the nurse's office. Verbal permission is no longer accepted for permission.
News from the Counseling Center
FROM THE COUNSELING CENTER:
Counselors are starting to meet with the senior class to discuss plans after high school graduation as well as help guide them in the planning process for applying to colleges, financial aid and scholarships. Also, students are asked to log on to their Naviance accounts often to see what scholarships are being offered and what colleges are visiting the high school to meet with interested students. Students are asked to have a signed permission slip from a parent in order to miss class to meet with visiting college representatives.
College Planning:
The Counseling Center receives information regarding financial aid, invitations to events on campuses, scholarships, etc. This information can be found in the Counseling Center or on Naviance. Naviance is a College and Career software program available that the students have been introduced to and encouraged to use.
Instant admissions days
Columbia Greene Community College and Hudson Valley Community College will be here in November to host their Instant Admission days. If you are interested in applying to HVCC or CGCC for Fall 2023, stop in the Counseling Center for an Instant admissions application and to reserve a spot to meet with representatives from the Colleges. All applications must be turned back into the Counseling Center to receive an appointment time.
College Fairs
SUNY College is holding their Virtual SUNY Expo on Thursday, October 13th and Wednesday, October 19th . Meet online with admissions representatives from nearly every SUNY college. Please visit Suny.edu/attend/events/virtual-college- fair for more information.
PSAT
APHS will be hosting the PSAT on Wednesday, October 12th this year. An email will be sent to all juniors to assess interest. Tests not being used by the Junior class will be made available to interested Sophomores. An email will go out to the Sophomore class once we know how many Juniors will take the tests. Please be watching your email for more details.
College Entrance Exams:
Please check the College Board website for any updates and cancellations concerning upcoming exams.
COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS:
ACT TEST DATES - REGISTRATION DEADLINES:
October 22, 2022 - - Registration Deadline: September 16, 2022
December 10, 2022 - -Registration Deadline: November 4, 2022
February 11, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: January 6, 2023
April 15, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: March 10, 2023
June 10, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: May 5, 2023
ACT ASSESSMENT and ACT ASSESSMENT PLUS WRITING:
(Choose either of two test options — the ACT Assessment or the ACT Assessment Plus Writing, which includes a 30-minute Writing Test. Not all colleges and universities require a Writing Test. Check with the colleges you are considering — or go to www.actstudent.org for a list of institutions that require or recommend the Writing Test.)
SAT I & II
TEST DATES - - REGISTRATION DEADLINE
October 1, 2022 - - Registration Deadline: September 2, 2022
November 5, 2022 - - Registration Deadline: October 6, 2022
December 3, 2022 - - Registration Deadline: November 4, 2022
March 11, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: February 11, 2023
May 6, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: April 7, 2023
June 3, 2023 - - Registration Deadline: May 5, 2023
Students with disabilities who wish to apply for accommodations on college placement testing should pick up an information sheet in the counseling center or refer to the website for the test they wish to take. Decisions regarding accommodations for College Board and ACT testing rest with the testing company.
Working Papers:
If you need your working papers, please print out the application at https://averillpark.k12.ny.us/working- papers or stop by the Counseling Center. Once all forms are completed and the physical form, AT-16, is signed by a medical professional, you will need to bring all originals, and a form of ID (ie. Birth certificate, NYS ID) to the Counseling Center for processing.
IMPORTANT LINKS TO CALENDARS AND SCHEDULES FOR 2022-2023
The APCSD District Calendar for 22-23:
https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/images/2022-2023_District_Calendar.pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hYmkNpCz8VeXZLC7xfrcwugS1jyDgo3h/view?usp=sharing
This is a fixed schedule, and will not change based on snow days.
Our Daily Bell Schedule for 22-23:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lcPp84ngqBMdb_zIdS__uFIYRBn0XRQbKettmfZ2tgk/edit?usp=sharing
Please note that this includes schedules for one- and two-hour delays, as well as half days.
Marking Periods/Grade Reporting at the HS for the 22-23 School Year:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xgsWJUMocNNgA3PROdA-ZRPPWw9Yl_2BX8Cl-t9F25s/edit?usp=sharing
The HS Lunch Schedule for 22-23 will be sent to all students and families as we get closer to opening!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MYU8Pt28QuFZm7FejZklyNaLr7q_842Y/view?usp=sharing
Attendance, On-Time Arrivals, and Reporting Absences
Regular attendance in school is a precursor to academic success, and being on time, and present in instruction, is a life skill that reflects a high level of responsibility, organization, and college/workplace readiness.
Anytime that your child is absent from school, it is important that you report this absence to the HS Attendance Office, on the same day, at 518-674-7024. Conversely, you may report absences via our dedicated attendance email address:
Each morning, the school day begins promptly at 7:30 am. Students should plan to be in their first block classroom, and ready to learn, at that time.
Students who arrive to school after 7:30 am will be considered tardy to school, and will need to receive a pass from the Attendance Office prior to reporting to their first block class.
After an adjustment period at the opening of the school year, beginning on Monday, September 26th, students who arrive to school late without a written excuse from a parent/guardian in hand will be assigned a detention during their Advisory period for the same day.
Updated Eligibility Guidelines for the 2022-2023 School Year
At Averill Park High School, student participation in extracurricular activities is a privilege. Students earn these privileges through maintaining good standing in their attendance, behavior, and academic performance.
Ineligibility is defined as restriction from participation in extracurricular activities and events for a 5-week period. The following criteria are used to determine that a student is ineligible:
Attendance:
Students who have acquired 5 or more unexcused absences to school within any five week marking period are not eligible to participate in extracurricular activities for the following five weeks.
Behavior:
Students who have been involved in any disciplinary infraction which results in an ESD, ISS, Out-of-School Suspension, or who have 3 or more referrals within a five week marking period, are not eligible to participate in extracurricular activities for the following five weeks.
Achievement:
Students who are failing 2 or more classes during any five week marking period are not eligible to participate in extracurricular activities for the following five weeks.
All students who are ineligible, except those who have received an Out-of-School Suspension, will be offered the opportunity to earn back eligibility through a variety of means, including but not limited to:
Students who have acquired 5 or more unexcused absences from school in a five week marking period will be referred to a restorative attendance circle. If a student actively participates in, and regularly attends, scheduled circle meetings, the student may earn back eligibility.
Students who are ineligible as a result of discipline referral(s) may request to work with their assigned Assistant Principal to develop a community service plan. At the completion of the plan, the student may earn back eligibility. Students who have received an Out-of School Suspension will not be offered this opportunity.
Students who are ineligible as a result of failing 2 or more classes may work with their teachers/counselor to develop and implement an Academic Recovery Plan. Upon successful completion of the plan, the student will provide their assigned Assistant Principal with documentation from their teacher(s) that he/she is passing their class prior to the date of the scheduled event. At that time, the student may earn back eligibility.
APHS Building-Wide Norms 22-23
With our day-to-day school life finally returning to a more normal routine, we will be working this year to rebuild the common, building-wide expectations for how we conduct ourselves, and treat others, while engaging as a member of the APHS school community.
We have developed guiding norms for all students at APHS. Please take a few minutes to take a look, as these are the basis of our collective expectations for students at the high school. We will go back to these often throughout the upcoming year:
Hallway Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y-pKKvtfvH0LZz5-viMNei2rTV-vfQ05/view?usp=sharing
Bathroom Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1muMNet_0jPMtQWn-VHHp11w7wiRywa2N/view?usp=sharing
Classroom Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y-pNRXBs0nqzR-quwCs_u9gLNPYg2lzH/view?usp=sharing
Cafeteria/Lunch Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s7neyDaiuhpe-FErk7zQj-8loPrT45Gp/view?usp=sharing
Courtyard Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M-MB1yOn8bl_7C-XU9XpTn34orYb1ugV/view?usp=sharing
Norms for Digital Citizenship:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dqB2t1_FrQA3Wp7iDN2DYyLBR79GGZ5T/view?usp=sharing
Diversity and Equity Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qp8awk2_bsHZOQLWdAr0c44NjSSc_hkr/view?usp=sharing
Alcohol and Drug Free Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1blKPY643qw4zIptZUKmU2ttYH5Yo42IG/view?usp=sharing
Senior Courtyard/Atrium Norms:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PzOa7LOqIiVQKk2zEK5HEokP0kPbLZAf/view?usp=sharing
Averill Park High School
Email: quilesh@apcsd.org
Website: https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/
Location: 146 Gettle Road, Averill Park, NY, USA
Phone: 518-674-7000
Twitter: @APHS_Leaders