Athens High School

Some thoughts for the starting school year

A letter from the Principal ~ May 2024

Dear Athens High School Community,

As we stride into May, we embrace the culmination of another enriching academic year. It's a time to reflect on achievements, celebrate our vibrant community, and cherish the memories that define our time together.

Mark your calendars for a series of events that embody the spirit of our school. On May 10th, our cherished prom promises to be a night of elegance and camaraderie, creating lasting memories for our students. Following that, on May 17th, we invite you to immerse yourself in the creativity and talent of our students at the Open Air Festival, showcasing the harmonious blend of art and music.

In addition, join us on May 18th as we celebrate the Athens 50 Festival, a testament to five decades of excellence in education and community building. This milestone is a tribute to the dedication of our staff, students, and supportive families.

Seniors, your time with us draws to a close, with May 22nd marking both your last day and the Senior Honors Convocation. Your achievements and contributions have left an indelible mark on Athens High School.

Finally, on June 1st, we gather at Oakland University's O'Rena for the commencement ceremony, celebrating the Class of 2024 and their journey towards new horizons.

As we navigate through this bustling month, let us uphold our core values: be thoughtful in our actions, act with unwavering integrity, and strive to make a positive impact in our community and beyond.

May this month be filled with joy, reflection, and anticipation for the bright futures ahead.

Warm regards,

Vernon Burdon

Principal, Athens High School

News You Can Use

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Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

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AP Testing

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Senior Honors Rehearsal

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Seniors Last Day

Prom Tickets

The last day to purchase Prom tickets is Friday, May 3rd.

Attention Athletes Playing College Sports Next Year

If you are planning on playing college sports next year, mark your calendar for Monday, May 20 at 3:00 pm in the Main Gym. Stop by and see Mr. Heugh in the Athletic Office if you have questions.

MiPHY Opt Out in Power School

Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth Parental Notification

Our school is taking part in the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth Survey supported by the Michigan Department of Education. The research survey will ask about the health behaviors of 7th, 9th and 11th graders across Michigan. The survey will ask about behavior and attitude related to nutrition, physical activity, injuries, tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use.

Students will be asked to complete an online survey. Participation in the survey will cause little or no risk to any student. The only potential risk is that some students might find certain questions to be sensitive. The survey has been designed to protect each student’s privacy. Students will not be asked to provide their name or any other identifying information. Also, no school or student will ever be mentioned by name in any reported results. The results of this survey will help students in the future. We would like all selected students to take part in the survey, but the survey is voluntary. No action will be taken against the school, you, or the student if the student does not participate. Students can skip any question that they do not wish to answer. In addition, students may stop participating in the survey at any point without penalty.

The surveys are available at the school for your review. If you have any questions, please contact the office of your school.

If you object to your child’s participation in the survey, please complete the MiPHY Opt Out Form in Power School before May 10, 2024. You only need to complete the form in Power School if you do not give your child permission to take the survey.

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Red Hawks,

We’re excited to invite you to Open Air Fest! The Creative Guild’s arts and music festival will be on Friday, May 17th from 4-9pm in the Athens High School student parking lot. This will be a big event to showcase the various talents of our students district-wide. Here’s a video from last year to get an idea of what it’s like: https://youtu.be/SxIC4ig6sU4?si=4OEReSjH91u0qrBD

Admission is free, but having cash on hand is encouraged for the various student bake sales and also concessions that support the athletic boosters. Festival-goers may also wish to bring a chair to enjoy the show. With games and other activities, there will be fun for all ages! Please reach out to Thomas Butcher or tsdcreativeguild@troy.k12.mi.us with any questions.

If you are interested in participating please complete the form on the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5V50ELfkHVnU5YTmPVNrQQyVZtwWMzJDCk1doh75SB8VU9g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Congratulations to the following Athens Students!

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Maddy Kott Crowned Miss Michigan Teen USA

Congratulations to Athens Senior, Maddy Kott, crowned Miss Michigan Teen USA. She is a 4-year sideline and competitive cheerleader, in addition to playing lacrosse. Good luck to Maddy as she competes on the national stage in Hollywood this summer!

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Senior Evan Watson Breaks a 42 Year Old School Record!

Evan Watson broke a school record in the 200 meter dash on April 24. He posted a time of 22.18 seconds; two hundredths of a second faster than the previous school record set 42 years ago. Evan will be running track next year at Illinois State University.

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Thomas Sutton Named Boys & Girls Club of Troy Youth of the Year

TROY, Ml - Troy Athens High School senior Thomas "Tommy" Sutton was selected as the 2024 Boys & Girls Club of Troy (BGCT) Youth of the Year. This is his first time winning this award. Tommy will now compete against members of other Boys & Girls Clubs in the state for the Michigan Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship courtesy of program sponsors which include Toyota, Kohl's and Mondelez International.

As the 2024 Youth of the Year honoree for the Boys & Girls Club of Troy, the 17-year old is among hundreds of teens across the country being recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community.

BGCA's premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. The program encourages Club members to reach their full potential by achieving academic success, leading healthy lifestyles, and contributing to their communities.

"Over Tommy's time at the Boys & Girls Club of Troy, he has been a shining example of hard work, discipline, and dedication to BGCT for all of our members. From being a leader among our Leaders In Training and as a Junior Staff, Tommy has become an outstanding young leader. We have witnessed him grow over his five years at the Club and has become a positive role model for all our youth here. I'm amazed by not only by how far Tommy has come both academically and personally, but that he continues to give back to the club that has given him so much," said Boys & Girls Club of Troy CEO Jeff Evans. "His talent, personality and work ethic make him a well-deserved representative of the Boys & Girls Club of Troy and the local community."

"It is an honor to represent the Boys & Girls Club of Troy as the 2024 Youth of the Year," said Tommy. "I thank the Boys & Girls Club of Troy for helping to grow me into the person that I am today. Thank you for providing me with a platform to share my story, to grow my voice, and to show pride and respect for my Club. I will also make sure that everyone knows how amazing it is to be a part of a great environment, the Boys & Girls Club of Troy."

Tommy has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club for five years. He has volunteered in a number of roles throughout the Club, most notably in leadership roles through the Leaders In Training and Junior Staff programs. He is also a member of the National Honor Society at Troy Athens High School. Tommy says that his favorite memory at the Club has been working with members to help them get through tough times and watching them thrive in the Club's programs. He plans to follow his interests in Business at Central Michigan University.

Each year, thousands of Club teens participate in local, state, and regional Youth of the Year events. Six teens, including five regional winners and a national military youth winner, advance to Washington, D.C., for the National Youth of the Year Gala & Celebration Dinner, where one outstanding young person is named Boys & Girls Clubs of America's national teen spokesperson. The National Youth of the Year is a role model, leader, and advocate for the nearly four million youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs each year, and all of America's young people.

ABOUT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF TROY

The Boys & Girls Club of Troy, located at 3670 John R Road, is a non-profit youth development organization that provides educational and recreational activities, in addition to mentoring programs, to more than 1,200 children, aged six to 18, in the tri-county area of metropolitan Detroit. For more than four decades, the Club's positive environment has enabled members to become responsible, self-reliant, and caring adults. Visit www.bgctroy.org for more information.

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve nearly 4 million children and teens through Club membership and community outreach.

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Congratulations, OSTC Students!

Congratulations to the following OSTC students recently inducted into the National Technical Honor Society:

William Barnes, Jonah Calhoun, Melissa Fermin, Macy Kort,

Lillian Kotila, Olivia MacKay, William McDowell, Kristen Rivett, Kate Sajonas, and Mikayla Twum.

Class of 2024 News & Reminders

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Senior Exit Survey

Please follow the instructions below to complete your SENIOR EXIT SURVEY.

This important questionnaire/information is used for -

· Senior Honors Convocation Program & Commencement Program accuracy.

· Where we are sending your FINAL transcript.

· To receive your cap and gown.

To access the Class of 2024 Senior Exit Survey:

1. Open your student or Parent Portal at ps.troy.k12.mi.us NOTE: You must use the website version of the portal. The survey is NOT available in the mobile app.

→ Students can log in with your TSD username (include the part before the @ not the full e-mail address) and your password.

2. From the left menu, select FORMS.

3. Click on the High School Senior Exit Survey, complete and submit.

Please be sure to fill in the phonetic spelling of your name.

Senior Prom

Prom will take place on Friday, May 10th at 7:00 pm at Andiamo in Warren. Tickets - $70 each (includes full dinner / dessert) and available for purchase through May 2nd. Please purchase online through SchoolPay and pick up tickets in the cafeteria the week before. Questions??

kdunneback@troy.k12.mi.us

Parchment

All Seniors attending college should request a final transcript at www.parchment.com using the “hold for grades” option. Please check out the Athens Counseling website for step-by-step instructions. Please note final transcripts will be available June 26th. Please note: After July 1st Parchment will be charging a processing fee for your transcripts.

Go to http://www.parchment.com/u/registration/3724/account and Sign in to your Parchment account.

If you forgot your password, no problem! Simply click the Forgot Password link to reset it.
If you do not have a Parchment account yet, create a New Learner Account now.
Parchment can be used to send your transcript to the NCAA, as well.

Final Exams

Examinations are individually determined by each teacher. Check with your teaches for specific instructions.

Graduation Requirements

If you will not be completing your graduation requirements by May 16th, please contact your counselor to make the necessary arrangements for completion options/requirements.

Andrea Grove A-C

agrove@troy.k2.mi.us

Lindsey Willen (for Mrs. Jamil) D-G

lwillen@troy.k12.mi.us

Ann O’Neill H, K, L

aoneill@troy.k12.mi.us

Jackie Cheyne M-Q

jcheyne@troy.k12.mi.us

Hannah Nagi R-S

hnagi@troy.k12.mi.us

Kelsey Blazoff I, J T-Z

kblazoff@troy.k12.mi.us

Senior Skip Days

There are NO authorized Senior Skip Days. Seniors are expected to maintain regular attendance for the remainder of the year.

Financial Obligations

Seniors must clear up all financial obligations (book fines, uniform fines, media fines) before their cap and gown can be issued May 22nd.

Parents, please check current balance in PowerSchool for fine information. Fines are paid via SchoolPay in PowerSchool. If they have the missing book/item, please drop off in Counseling Office. If the missing item is lost, fines can be paid via SchoolPay.

All Senior fines must be cleared before graduation. All questions regarding fines should be addressed with the issuing teacher.

Please contact Mrs. Vought, Media Specialist, regarding Media fines. svought@troy.k12.mi.us

National Honor Society

NHS members in good standing (completed required service hours) can wear an NHS collar as part of the graduation regalia. If you paid the $40 suggested donation to NHS, you would receive a collar and it will be yours to keep. The collar will be available at the NHS table when you pick up your cap and gown.

If you did not pay the $40, donation to NHS, you may borrow a collar. When you pick up your cap and gown, you will see an NHS table with either Mrs. Rice or Mrs. Syme and give them $25 cash deposit. When you return the collar after commencements, we will return $20 to you. The $5 fee is for the dry cleaning of the collar.

Cap & Gown Distribution

Cap & Gown distribution will take place on Wednesday, May 22nd, 3rd hour. Caps & Gowns will be distributed to students who have no academic or financial obligations and have completed their Senior Exit Survey.

Honors Convocation Rehearsal

For those students participating in the Honors Convocation, rehearsal will take place on May 21st in the gym/auditorium 1st hour.

Graduation Rehearsal

Graduation Rehearsal will take place Wednesday, May 22nd in the Main Gym - 1st hour.

Senior Honors Convocation

Our annual Senior Honors Convocation will be held on Wednesday, May 22nd at 6:00 pm in the Athens Auditorium. This dignified ceremony, recognizing our outstanding seniors, is always the highlight of our end of year activities. Seniors with a 3.0 and above career GPA will be honored. In addition, many scholarships and departmental awards will be presented. You will receive an invitation about 3 weeks prior to the ceremony if your senior is being honored. It is mandatory that all students being honored wear their graduation gown (with proper attire under gowns). Seniors should report no later than 5:30 pm to the gym for line-up. Honor cords are distributed with your cap and gown. No extra honor cords will be available the day of graduation at Oakland University.

Proper Attire & Behavior

To ensure the dignity of the occasion for all any student who is wearing improper attire or is behaving inappropriately will be removed from the line-up prior to the ceremony and will not be allowed to participate. High school graduation only happens once in each student’s life. Let us make your graduation a memorable occasion. In keeping the ceremony dignified, please no signs or decorations on caps. The recommended options for attire are a dress, skirt and blouse, dress slacks with blouse or shirt and tie and dress shoes. Please—NO tennis shoes or flip flops.

Commencement

The Athens High School Commencement for the Class of 2024 will be held at Oakland University—O’Rena, Saturday, June 1st @ 10:00 am. Arrival time for students: 9:00 am. Every Senior will be given 6 tickets. Tickets will be distributed with caps and gowns on May 22nd. If extra tickets are needed, please email Mrs. Sutton at lsutton@troy.k12.mi.us after April 1st. Extra tickets are limited to a maximum of 4 per family. Extra tickets are first come first email.

Senior All Night Party

The Athens Senior All Night Party will take place Saturday, June 1st at Athens High School - 9:00 pm - 4:00 am. For tickets and information, go to: https://athensparty.weebly.com/

If you have any questions regarding any information in this bulletin, please contact:

Ms. Megan Henry, Assistant Principal mhenry@troy.k12.mi.us

Mr. Mike Munaco, Assistant Principal mmunaco@troy.k12.mi.us