Principal Update HHS 9-2-24
An International Baccalaureate World School
Greetings from your Principals!
As we step into our second week of school, I want to take a moment to commend everyone for an outstanding start. Your energy, resilience, and dedication have set a positive tone for the year ahead. In over 5,000 IB schools across the globe, students and educators alike are embracing the principles of lifelong learning and international-mindedness—just as we are here at Ann Arbor Huron High.
Each day is an opportunity to grow, learn, and support one another. Whether you're a freshman finding your way or a senior preparing for your next chapter, we're all in this together. School will resume on Tuesday, September 3rd. Let's make it another great week!
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders, To Change the World.
In service,
The Huron Leadership Team
IB students develop a range of interrelated skills known as Approaches to Learning (ATL). These include research skills, social skills, thinking skills, self-management skills, and communication skills. These skills aim to empower students to become self-regulated learners who can ask good questions, set effective goals, and pursue their aspirations with determination.
What are the approaches to learning (ATL)?
ATL are deliberate strategies, skills and attitudes that permeate the teaching and learning environment.
ATL supports the IB belief that a large influence on a student’s education is not only what you learn but also how you learn.
ATL are intrinsically linked with the IB learner profile attributes to enhance student learning and assist student preparation for life after high school.
Approaches to Learning (5 elements)
1. Thinking skills (critical thinking, creativity and innovation, transfer)
2. Communication skills
3. Social skills
4. Self-management skills (organization, affective, reflection)
5. Research skills (information literacy, media literacy)
Approaches to Teaching (6 elements)
Teaching through inquiry
Teaching through concepts
Teaching developed in local and global contexts
Teaching focused on effective teamwork and collaboration
Teaching differentiated to meet the needs of all learners
Teaching informed by assessment
Our beloved Flaming H, the enduring emblem of the Huron High School River Rats, has been proudly displayed across the world. During the Fall of 1968, Al Gallup, the first Assistant Principal at Huron High School, was asked to design an academic award pin for the new school being built in Ann Arbor. The design for this pin depicted the “Flame of Knowledge” that the new school would ignite in students during their high school careers. This design was so well-received that it was adopted as the logo for the new school, which had not yet been named. Since then, our Flaming H has become the enduring brand of the Huron High School River Rats, representing our commitment to inspire students to let their flame of knowledge burn brightly both during their time at Huron and throughout their lifelong journey. Once a River Rat, ALWAYS a River Rat!
During 1967-68, when a new Ann Arbor High School was under construction, the students faced a unique challenge—they did not have a mascot. Before the school even opened, Ann Arbor High students, who would remain at the original school, jokingly began calling their future rivals “River Rats.” This nickname referenced the new school’s proximity to the Huron River and an old medical waste site. However, the students who would attend the new Huron High School embraced the name with pride.
The administration, particularly Huron’s first principal, Paul Meyers, was not as enthusiastic about the "River Rat" moniker, mainly due to his negative experiences with rats during his service as a captain overseas in World War II. As a result, the nickname was initially ignored, and when Huron opened in 1969, the intended mascot was the Huron. Unfortunately, this mascot did not garner much enthusiasm from the student body.
In a bid to find a more fitting mascot, Huron held a write-in ballot where students could suggest alternatives. Popular suggestions included the Highlanders, the Hawks, and the Indians, but none managed to secure over fifty percent of the votes. Meanwhile, students kept writing in "River Rat," and the name began to gain traction. During this time, local media also started referring to Huron sports teams with variations of the nickname, such as Bat Rats for baseball players and Mat Rats for wrestlers. Over time, "River Rat" became ingrained in Huron's history, solidifying its place as our unique and proud mascot.
We are pleased to announce that Jodi Bullinger has joined Huron High School as the new Class Principal for grades 10/11 (L-Z). With 26 years of distinguished service in Ann Arbor Public Schools, Jodi brings extensive experience and a strong dedication to student success.
Jodi's career began as a coach and English teacher, and she has since transitioned to roles including psychology teacher, Interim Athletic Director/Assistant Principal, and 9th Grade Dean at Pioneer High School. Her expertise in relationship-focused, trauma-informed education will enhance our efforts to build a supportive and inclusive environment for all students.
A proud product of Ann Arbor Public Schools, Jodi is a graduate of Pioneer High School and the University of Michigan. She also serves on the executive board for the Letterwinners MClub and has furthered her studies at Eastern Michigan University and Marygrove College. As a parent of four Ann Arbor Public Schools graduates and a third-generation NCAA Division I athlete, Jodi's deep roots in our community enrich her commitment to education.
Jodi is enthusiastic about collaborating with the Huron community to ensure that every student feels safe, valued, and inspired. We look forward to the positive impact she will bring to our school and invite you to join us in welcoming her to Huron High School.
Huron High School Counseling Center
Click https://sites.google.com/aaps.k12.mi.us/huronhighschoolcounseling/home
During the first two weeks of school we are enrolling students, completing schedules and balancing classes. In order to provide consistency for parents, students, and teachers, schedule change considerations will be made on a limited basis for extenuating circumstances only the first two weeks of school. Students must follow their current schedule as is.
Attending a class that does not appear on the schedule may jeopardize attendance. No request should be made through personal meetings, phone calls or emails to administration during the first week of school. We do not honor specific teacher requests. Our class lists are structured to provide equitable class sizes at each grade level. Thank you for understanding that it can take a few weeks for a child to acclimate to a new grade, peer group and teacher. No schedule change will be made unless there is a conflict or for reasons as listed below:
- Failures
- Summer School
- Testing Out
- Missing a Class
- Double-Booked Periods
- Taking a course online through A2Virtual
- Reduced Schedule (only available to 11th and 12th grade students meeting specific requirements)
- Course needed for graduation
- Level change - *Parent/Guardian approval is required for level changes
- Dual Enrollment (Classes taken at a College/University)
- Split Enrollment (Classes taken at another AAPS school)
- Community Resource Enrollment
- Work Experience
Counselors are assigned alphabetically by the student's last name; students stay with the same school counselor all four years of their high school career. Please note that we do not honor counselor change requests from students or parents.
For the daily bell schedules and early release schedules, please visit: Daily and Early Release Schedules.