ALHS Tiger Update: August 2024

As this newsletter hits the website, social media sites, and email accounts, we are a few weeks from welcoming our students back to the halls of ALHS. The team is excited to meet the new 8th grade class on Tuesday, August 20 and see all of our students on Wednesday, August 21 for the first day of classes.

I mentioned in the July Update that there are some new procedures that students will need to know for this upcoming year. The two largest changes deal with food delivery and added privileges for our senior class. I will include details on both of these changes immediately below this paragraph. Smaller changes, which are also important, include e-learning, use of lockers, graduation requirements and student attire. These updates will also be included further down in the newsletter. All of these updates will be presented to the school board on Monday, August 12 and become official with their approval on Tuesday, August 13.

If you have any questions about the upcoming year, please find a member of our administrative team at the Open House on Thursday, August 15. The whole team will be available throughout the day to help in any way we can. A list of the administrators is included at the bottom of this newsletter. Have a great final two weeks before school!

Family mailers were sent at the beginning of the week and should be arriving soon!

Chris Dibble, ALHS Principal

Students in grade 12 who meet established criteria will be allowed to leave campus during lunch and study halls. Seniors wishing to exercise this privilege must meet the following requirements:

• Attend 90% of all classes
• Maintain passing grades in all classes
• Maintain disciplinary expectations for a period of at least 10 days
• Have a parent or guardian sign a release
• Sign out and in each day at Door 3 (Pool Door)

It is important to recognize that this privilege can be revoked by administration at any time.

Ordering food for delivery has never been easier. However, the school supplies food to our students and delivery during school hours is not allowed. Students can bring food from home, but food from outside vendors cannot be delivered to the school for lunch. This includes delivery from restaurants, a delivery service or family members.

Any delivery (Door Dash, Uber Eats, restaurant) brought to school during school hours (8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) will be turned away at the door.

If your student desires food for delivery outside of school hours, they must be prepared to meet the delivery person at either the Tiger Door or Pool Door. School staff will not accept deliveries for students.

Schedules have been updated with an 8-period structure. Flex will take place during Period 3 and lunches will be placed in Period 5. All assemblies will take place during the Flex period.

E-learning assignments that are assigned for inclement weather will now be due 3 school days with the E-learning day counting as day 1. Teachers will be available on E-learnings days through email or the Tigers Unite app. Students not completing the E-learning assignment will have an "eL" posted for the attendance.

Graduation requirements for the Class of 2025 and 2026 remain unchanged at 46 credits. Requirements for the Class of 2027 will include Person Finance and therefore require 47 credits for graduation. The Class of 2028 and all subsequent graduating classes will also have the Career Exploration requirement and therefore need 48 credits to graduate. School Counselors and Flex teachers works closely with all students to ensure graduation requirements are met each year.

Students will no longer be assigned a locker at the beginning of the year. Allowing backpacks in the classrooms has drastically reduced the number of students requiring a locker for daily use. All students will have the opportunity to use a locker by signing up during the Open House on Thursday, August 15 or at any time throughout the year.

The final change in the handbook will align the language for student attire with District Policy 504. The administrative team or designee will have the final call on what is appropriate dress. The basic rules include:

• Hats and other headgear, except as a religious observance, must allow the face to be visible and must not interfere with the line of sight to any student or staff, including while the student wearing the hat is seated. Hoodies must allow the face and ears to be visible from the front and sides and must not interfere with the line of sight to any student or staff including while the student wearing the hoodie is seated.
• Pants and shirts should be worn to cover all undergarments, which includes underwear and bra straps.
• Clothing that promotes products or activities that are illegal for use by minors are prohibited. This includes but is not limited to alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Clothing with obscenities or sexual connotations is forbidden.
• Footwear must be worn in the building at all times due to state health mandates.
• Any clothing or actions deemed to be gang-related will result in suspension.
• Students are not allowed to bring blankets or coats to class or wear blankets or coats during school hours.

Student Mailers were sent out at the end of July. If you did not receive the mailer, please contact Katie Cords (katie.cords@alschools.org) to update your address.

Thursday, August 15

• ALHS will be open to all students from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. to pick up schedules, get school pictures taken, sign important forms, and complete other beginning of the year tasks.
• Teachers will be available to students, families and caregivers from 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. in an Open House format. Teachers will be located in their classrooms.

Tuesday, August 20

• All 8th Grade students will attend a day of Link Crew orientation. Information will be mailed to all 8th grade students. Transportation will run as it would on any normal school day. Lunch and breakfast will be served and students will walk through schedules after a morning of fun activities with Link Crew Leaders.

Wednesday, August 21

• First day of school for ALL GRADES. Watch the mail for more information about the first day of school schedule.

As of now, there have been very few parents filling our the interest form to join this committee. If you have any interest, please fill out THIS FORM and we will move forward with the organization of the committee in mid-August. For those of you who have already submitted your information, look for texts and emails in a couple weeks.

Do you have an idea to share with the leadership team at ALHS? The Electronic Fishbowl is way for anyone to share ideas and connect students, families and school staff. Please use THIS LINK to share your thoughts.

Ideas submitted: 18

• Thursday, August 15, 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.: ALHS Open House and Picture Day
  
• Staff available 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 20: 8th Grade Orientation Day
• Wednesday, August 21: First Day of Classes Grades 9-12
• Friday, August 30: No Classes

Chris Dibble, Principal, chris.dibble@alschools.org, 379-5341

Sean Gaston, Assistant Principal, sean.gaston@alschools.org, 379-5351

Johanna Thomas, Principal on Special Assignment, johanna.thomas@alschools.org, 379-5365

Sa Taw, Dean of Students, sa.taw@alschools.org, 379-5850

www.big9conference.org: Albert Lea

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Email: welisten@alschools.org
Website: www.alschools.org
Location: 2000 Tiger Lane, Albert Lea, MN, USA
Phone: (507)379-5340
Facebook:

• District: https://www.facebook.com/AlbertLeaAreaSchools
• High School: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094894976143

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