March Family Newsletter 2024
3.13.24
Students of the Month
9th - ELLEYOT ANDRESEN
10th - ALEIGHA JONES
11th - CLAIRE LINDBLAD
12th - SYDNEY SATHER
AHS UPDATES
JAG Spotlight Event
SPOTLIGHT DAY WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) celebrated all their students' achievements, so far, to be tomorrow ready! Altoona participants came together with Chippewa Alternative School and Stanley Boyd to present our JAG Spotlight Day at Altoona High School.
JAG is led by Amanda Burkart, former AHS graduate. “I want to empower students to be leaders, overcome their barriers, and give them hope to create their own pathway because they are students of promise, creating their own, individual story focusing on their dreams.”
This is a day where community members, building staff and administrators, and legislators get to hear how JAG has impacted our students. Students did an amazing job sharing their stories, their talents and focused on how JAG helped them overcome challenges leading to successful futures. A special shout out for Megan Proudlock and Fernando Contreras Ramos for presenting as well as, Chawntel Schwoch sharing her beautiful voice with us, what amazing young adults!!
Summer School
Altoona High School is piloting a summer course for a physical education credit (0.5 credit).
This course will run during the first RAIL time slot (June 10-27, M-Th). Exception is that Thursdays will run until 3:30 p.m. for off site adventures and fun!
Students in current grades 9-11 will receive an interest survey in their school email this week.
Why should your student consider summer PE?
It provides a different format for PE than during the school year.
It offers different opportunities for physical education outdoors with a variety of activities.
Taking this course during the summer can open up other opportunities in your schedule during the school year.
We must have enough students interested in order to offer a sign up.
Thanks for your consideration in this additional opportunity!
For additional offerings, please see the Summer School Catalog.
School Board Student Representative
Dear Class of 2026,
As you begin to look ahead to your junior year, you will likely start to hear even more about unique opportunities for college, career, or military exploration. There is one opportunity that I would like to tell you about and invite you to consider.
Every year, the Board of Education has a student representative as an honorary position at the Board table. We do this as a regular reminder of the reason for our service and as a direct linkage to the student experience. The Board representative attends every regular Board meeting and provides a report to the Board about the goings-on of the high school. The student Board representative is also welcomed to provide insights or commentary on agenda Board discussion items. The regular Board meetings are normally scheduled for the third Monday of the month.
We have two representatives! We have both a junior student and a senior student serve as representatives. The representative will be selected going into their junior year and will serve for two years.
The selection process for this position will begin with the submission of a written application. From the written applications, finalists will be selected for in-person interviews. From the interviews, a candidate will be recommended to the Board, and the full Board will vote on the selection.
The term of service will be September 2024 through May 2026. Upon completion of the term, the student Board representative will receive a $1000 scholarship ($500 for each year of service) to support college, career, or military post-secondary endeavors.
I hope you will consider this unique opportunity to gain a governance perspective, exercise leadership and communication skills, and serve your community. To apply, please complete this application and submit it to the main office, attention to Ms. Buss or Ms. Ginder, by 3:30 pm March 15th.
Sincerely,
Rick Risler
President of the Board of Education
Board Learning Visit
On March 8th, administration and school board members attended the monthly Learning Visit at Altoona High School. During this visit they learned of the variety of classes offered that aligned to what students need and want to learn about, layering supports to help all students achieve their goals, and giving students skills they need to be college and/or career-ready.
Hiring Fair- March 12th
We are excited to host a district-wide hiring fair on March 12th from 4:30-6:00 p.m. in Pedersen Commons (1903 Bartlett Ave. Altoona, WI). This event will be a chance to learn about job opportunities within the School District of Altoona for the 2024-2025 school year. These opportunities include those such as teachers and paraprofessionals to the various other critical support roles. Leaders will be available to discuss openings, answer questions, and share about the amazing work being done in each building and across operation areas. If you know anyone who may have an interest in joining our Railroader team, please share this event with them.
Parent Informational Night - March 12th
"The Altoona Police Department, School Resource Officer Rico and Sgt. Peterson are hosting a parent informational night on online safety. Join us for discussions, tricks, and trends. Geared towards parents who are looking to keep their children safe when it comes to online use. Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Altoona High School auditorium."
Upcoming Events
March
25-29 Spring Break
April
10- TESTING DAY 9th-11th grade
18- Mid Trimester 3
24- Career Fair
25- Family Conferences 4:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Testing Information
PreACT & ACT Testing - April 10, 2024
Here are some common questions and answers about testing day:
What time does testing start ?
- Students in grades 9-11 will report to school at the normal start time of 8:15 a.m.
- Students will report to their testing locations by 8:20 a.m.
What time does testing end?
- The majority of students will be finished testing by 1:10 p.m.
- If your child has accommodations, their tentative schedule will be emailed to you before the test.
What does my student do after testing is complete?
- 9th and 10th graders who are PASSING all of their classes may go home after they finish the PreACT around 1:10 p.m.
- If students are failing a class, they must stay at school until the end of the day (3:35 p.m.) to work on missing assignments and/or assessments.
- 11th graders may go home after they finish the ACT testing around 1:10 p.m.
Will transportation be provided on testing day?
- Yes, morning and after school transportation is available for all students.
- Students can stay at school after testing is complete and wait for end of the day buses or pick-up.
Will my student be able to eat?
- A mid morning snack will be provided by the school but if your child would like additional food, they can bring their own and keep it in their backpack.
- 9th and 10th graders have a lunch break built into the schedule. Students can purchase a bag lunch or bring something from home to eat.
- 11th graders can eat after testing is complete at 1:10 p.m. or they can leave at that time.
Can I pick my student up early?
- No early dismissal will be allowed as we need all students to stay quiet until the end of testing around 1:10 p.m.
Will I be able to text or get a hold of my student during testing?
- No, your student is not allowed to have their personal device on them during testing. If you have emergency situation, please call the front office.
Forward Exam- 10th grade
10th grade students and families:
Assessment comes in a variety of forms in schools and in the upcoming weeks, your student(s) will take a state exam named the Wisconsin Forward Exam as part of this process. Read below to learn more about the details and purpose of this test.
The Forward Exam is designed to gauge how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards. These standards outline what students should know and be able to do in order to be college and career ready. The Forward Exam is administered online in the spring of each school year at:
10th grade Social Studies
Accommodations and supports for students with disabilities and/or English language learners are built into the system so that the progress of students can be accurately measured. The Forward Exam is a high quality, research-based, and affordable online assessment that meets Wisconsin’s expectations. It is a customized assessment with innovative item types that includes test questions reviewed and approved by Wisconsin educators. To learn more, click or visit this link here.
All students are required to participate in the Forward Exam as part of the assessment system in the School District of Altoona. This test will take place between the timeframe of March 18-April 26. Please see the additional document with more details from your principal regarding the logistics of these testing dates for your student(s).
Thank you for your support and understanding as your student completes another step in their academic journey within the School District of Altoona.
Sincerely,
Amy M. Dahms
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Testing Day Reminders
Here are some additional reminders about the ACT and PreACT Assessments on April 10th, 2024 from 8:15 a.m. - 1:10 p.m.
Tips for Test Taking
Get plenty of rest the night before.
Dress comfortably and wear layers.
Report to school on time- 8:15 a.m.
Be ready to begin testing after everyone is seated in your testing room.
Eat and stay hydrated. Breakfast can be purchased and a mid morning snack will be provided to students for FREE. Snacks or drinks can be consumed outside the testing room during breaks.
Test Day Checklist
DO bring a fully charged Chromebook.
DO bring pencils with good erasers.
DO bring a calculator permitted by ACT (11th grade). Some will be available to borrow.
Please review the Calculator Policy to see if your calculator is acceptable.
Prohibited calculators include calculators with built-in or downloaded computer algebra system functionality.
Leave all personal electronic devices (cell phones, smart watches, tablets, etc.) in your locker, car, or backpack in the hallway.
Using any electronic device at any time during testing or during breaks other than an approved calculator or watch is prohibited by ACT and, if used, will negate your test. There are no exceptions.
Come with a positive attitude and try your best!
Senior Info
Scholarship Information
All scholarship information received in the Counseling Office are posted on the Altoona High School Counseling webpage: https://sites.google.com/altoona.k12.wi.us/academiccareerplanning/high-school-counseling
Or for direct access to the Scholarship List you can bookmark this link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EUeu0bJ1SIhiwO63e_R56DadVSpa9XQBKCV3RuO_42c/edit#gid=0
Caps & Gowns Distribution
Caps and gowns will be handed out during the afternoon on Wednesday, April 24th.
ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES DEPARTMENT
RAM Hockey: First Choice Dental Academic Sectional Champions
RAM Hockey clinched the title of First Choice Dental Academic Sectional Champion for Division 2, Section 3! With an impressive team GPA of 3.74, this marks the team's inaugural win of this award.
Congratulations are also in order for conference rival Amery Co-op, securing the Academic award for Division 2, Section 1! See the full article here!
Winter Sports Seasons All Conference Selections
Congratulations to the following student-athletes for achieving All-Conference recognition during the Winter 2023-24 athletic seasons:
Boys Ice Hockey: Dallen Robinson (Honorable Mention)
Girls Basketball: Alyssa Wirth (1st Team), Josie Rondestvedt, and Ava Gunderson (2nd Team)
Boys Basketball: Keaton Camastral (1st Team) and Myles Sinette (Honorable Mention)
Golden Gala : Prom 2024
The 2024 Junior Prom will take place on Saturday, May 11th, at the Masonic Ballroom in downtown Eau Claire, running from 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. Additional information will be distributed to students and families, including specific communication to families of the Class of 2025 about donation and volunteering opportunities. Please reach out to Elissa Upward with any questions you may have.
DECA: Elevating Business Skills and Achievements at Altoona High School
This school year, 18 students were part of DECA, engaging in competitions, workshops, and real-life experiences to develop business skills and networks for success. At the State DECA conference in Lake Geneva from February 25th to 28th, 2024, 11 Altoona DECA students competed against more than 1400 students from 102 schools. Four students qualified for the International DECA Conference in Anaheim, CA, at the end of April, where they will compete with over 17,000 students from all 50 states and 12 countries. Notable achievements include Emma Swanstrom and Maddie Gannon securing 3rd place in the Marketing Sales Project, and Mason Hoepner and Adrian Mohr achieving 3rd place in the Sports and Entertainment Marketing team event. Additionally, a shout out to Freshman, Serena Carlson, who narrowly missed podium placement in Principles of Hospitality Marketing by just three points. Other commendable performances came from Logan and Morgan Kelley with their 20-page business plan, and Ethan Flynn with his business plan.
Clothing orders and Altoona’s 24/7 Sideline Store
Make sure to place your orders for Girls Soccer and Boys Tennis apparel before their team stores close on March 14th.
Girls Soccer: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/vfpVMy9wUG
Boys Tennis: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/UEGudYr8Sc
For year-round clothing options, visit the Sideline Store to customize your Altoona gear. Choose from brands like Carhartt, Nike, Under Armour, and more. https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/wisconsin/altoona/altoona-high-school
COUNSELING CORNER
Weekend Meals & Care Closet
Weekend Meals Grades 4K-12
Who is eligible to sign-up? Families of Altoona students 4K-12 who are facing financial difficulties and need some extra assistance.
How does this program work? Each week, meals will be packed and delivered to students to take home.
How to apply? Please fill out the attached form and send it to your child’s school counselor.
Forms are also available at
Weekend Food Program Application
Programa de Comidas de Fin de Semana
Care Closet
For more information, or to sign up, please contact your child's school counselor or access forms at
2023-2024 INFO
Parking Permits
Skyward Family Access
Skyward is our student management system. This is where you can find all of your student's information regarding attendance, grades, schedule, etc... If you have not done so already, please log in and complete the registration process. This needs to be done each year to ensure we have the most up-to-date information.
#AltoonaRails Social Media
What: The School District of Altoona is growing our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.