PEAK News!
Newsletter for Parents of Apex High School Students
September 24, 2024
Cougar Families,
Homecoming Week is here!
The rain on Friday is causing us to proactively make some changes so that all the events can still take place. We are basically taking a carbon copy of Friday only doing it all on Thursday instead!
Here is all the information you need in one place.
Interims will go out in Cougar Class on Wednesday!
Be sure to ask your child about their interims! This is the midway point of the first quarter and a good time to assess how things are going. If grades aren't where you want/expect them to be, what adjustments need to be made now? Set a goal, then create some action steps that will help you to achieve your goal.
Junior Parent Information night will be held on Wednesday (Oct. 16th) from 6:30 - 7:30 PM @ AHS. Information will be shared by Apex counselors and representatives from Wake Tech and NC State. We look forward to having you and discussing your student's junior year and post - secondary plans.
Today is the last day to register for the PSAT!
PSAT: We will be offering the PSAT on Wednesday, October 2nd! Any student can take the PSAT, but Juniors who have a GPA of 4.375 or higher OR Juniors who qualify for Free & Reduced Meals are able to take the test at no cost. Review the registration and payment information @ tiny.cc/PSATRegistration The deadline to register is September 24, 2024! The deadline to pay (unless you qualify for a free test) is September 30th at 2:30 p.m.
Don't forget that all previous editions of PEAK News can be found on the Apex High website under Principal's Message.
Stay PEAK,
Elaine Hofman
Principal of Apex High School
Parent Resources
PTSA Updates and Reminders!
Food Pantry Help!
Did you know that almost 25% of AHS students (approx. 600 students) qualify for free or reduced breakfast/lunch? Of that number, AHS and the AHS PTSA support our families most in need of assistance by providing shelf stable items to send home every week during the school year. Last year, that number was 28 students that received a backpack full of food every Friday. As you might imagine, 28 backpacks every week = a LOT of food needed to stock the pantry and keep it stocked!!!
How can you help? We have created an Amazon Wishlist (https://amzn.to/3ZOY5BW) of items that we need in order to fill the pantry right from the beginning of the year. Please consider donating, your Amazon order will be delivered directly to the school! Easy peasy! If every family that was able donated even 1 item to the pantry no matter how big or small, we could likely stock the pantry enough to last us through the holidays. We thank you in advance for your generosity in helping our AHS families in need!
Membership:
There are several ways to support the Apex High School PTSA
- Buy a membership
- Buy spiritwear
Use this link to take you directly to the PTSA Spirit Wear and Membership store
Subscribe to Cougar Notes - This newsletter put out by the PTSA is another great way to learn about all the academic and extra-curricular programs going on at Apex High School. It's another important way for you to stay connected, but you must subscribe in order to receive this newsletter. Here's the link!
Important Dates!
- Thursday, September 26 - Homecoming parade & Football Game
- Saturday, September 28 - Homecoming Dance
- Wednesday, Oct 2 - Senior Sunrise, PSAT
- Thursday, October 3 - Teacher Workday - No school for students
- Monday, October 14 - Teacher Workday - No school for students
- Thursday, October 31 - End of 1st Quarter
- Friday, November 1 - Teacher Workday - No school for students
Class of 2025 Information!
New Information!
Senior Sunrise is on Wednesday, Oct 2nd!
All Seniors should report to the football stadium as soon as they come to school for breakfast provided by the PTSA. They will then have their Senior Class Picture made on the football field at 7:30. Cougar Class and 1st period are flipped that day. All Seniors should report to school by 7:25, even if they have a 1st period hole in their schedule in order to not miss out on their Senior Class picture!
PTSA Bright Futures College Essay Support
We need your help! We're looking for extra parent tutor volunteers to proofread and coach students on their college essays as part of the PTA Bright Horizons program. We'd love to have you on board if you have writing experience at your work.
The time commitment is flexible: 1-4 hours in the evening over a week on your schedule from now until the end of October. 30-minute training is provided via slides/recorded Zoom. We have a few experienced tutors from last year and want to add more, as this free assistance is very valuable to our seniors.
Interested? Reply with your interest to sineadborg@gmail.com. Your support can make a big difference!
Thanks for considering!
Best, Sinéad Borgersen PTSA Bright Futures Program
This email was just sent to your Senior!
Dear Apex High Seniors,
Need help with your college essays? Sign up for a free proofreading session with our experienced parent volunteers through the PTSA!
The majority of the session times are in the evening or on weekends. We are offering the program until the end of October.
Sign up for one session at the time best for you at this link
Don't miss out on this chance to polish your college essay!
Best, Sinéad Borgersen PTSA Bright Futures Program
Previous Information
Senior Program Planning Guide! This gets updated throughout the year so please bookmark this link!
Save the Date for important End of Year Senior Events:
- Graduation Practice (Mandatory for all Seniors!): Wednesday, June 4 at 3:00 pm in the Main Gym
- Senior Awards Assembly (Mandatory for all Seniors!): Thursday, June 5 at 8:30 am in the Main Gym
- Senior Clap-Out immediately following the Awards Assembly
- Senior Picnic will immediately follow the Clap-Out on the football field.
Mid-Year Graduation Date has been set. Mark your calendars for January 21, 2025 at 10 am! We will hold the Mid-Year Ceremony in the Apex High School Auditorium.
Linda Brannon, our Financial Aid Advisor is ready to work with you! Here is some information from her and how you can make appointments to meet with her:
- As a reminder, most of the students/family appointments are scheduled virtually at times that do not interfere with students' class time or parents' work schedules, which has been very popular and valued for the past 4 years. Your students/parents seem to appreciate the flexibility and they are able to meet together to discuss FAFSA and other financial aid concerns at a convenient time.
- Virtual appointments may be scheduled regularly on Mondays, Wednesdays and some Thursdays.
To schedule a virtual appointment use this link: https://calendar.app.google/KDNMNums4QBEtA126
- FYI - I am currently updating my website with the 2025 FAFSA Information and other updated financial aid info as I have it at this time. Brannan's Financial Aid Tools (google.com) - Mrs. Brannan's website.
- If you feel it is beneficial, I am happy to schedule in-person time with students who would like to meet in person at school. Students/families may email me to schedule this type of appointment at: LBrannan@wcpss.net
Apex High Graduation is Wednesday, June 18th at 8 am at the Convention Center
Senior Fee Information:
Please use this link to access information about the required Senior Fee!
Information from previous PEAK News editions!
Driver's Ed Information:
Driver Education Registration will start at Apex HS this week. Information is posted on our school website under Students --> Driver Education --> Driver ED Updates. .
The link to the information page is https://tinyurl.com/mw6c6v2y
These tip lines were shared with students in their Cougar Class. Please keep them for reference in case you ever need them:
Text-A-Tip Mobile App - The Apex Police Department has a mobile app available for ITunes and Android users that allows anyone to submit anonymous tips that relate to potential crimes and information on crimes that have occurred to the Apex, NC Police Department. Key Features Include:
- Anonymous 2 way interaction between the tipster and the police department
- Ability to attach images to tips
- An intuitive interface that makes it easy to quickly send a tip and get a response.
For crimes that have already occured, anyone can text information, 100% anonymously, to: TIP411 (847-411) keyword APEXPD.
Safe Schools Tip Line - (919) 856-1911
The tip line is a proactive way to help prevent and stop violence at school. Tip line calls go to the WCPSS Alarm Monitoring Center. A specially trained operator will receive the caller’s information and ask for additional information to take care of the situation. Call the Tip Line to report:
Threats of violence
Aggressive behavior
Weapons on campus
Drugs or alcohol on campus
Harassment
Vandalism
Suicide threats
Anything else harmful to school
Free and Reduced Lunch Information:
Any students who need free or reduced price meals should apply for them this year (after July 1st, 2024 at myschoolapps.com). YES - even if they had free/reduced meals last year! Carryover benefits will expire October 10th, 2024! Make sure to get those applications in ASAP! Students with questions about their meal benefits should stop by the cafeteria before school during first breakfast!
Basketball Fundraiser!
We're excited to announce a 5K fundraiser on September 26th, to support our basketball team! This event is a fantastic opportunity for our school community to come together, have fun, and show our team spirit.
The race will take place at the Apex Track, gates will open at 5pm, kids 400m fun run will start at 6pm, and 5k heats will follow. Please register using the link and spread the word to friends and family. Registration Page: https://www.movemint.cc/events/apex_basketball_twilight_5k_2024
Pre-Pay for Meals Online
With a MySchool Bucks account paying for school meals is easy. Go to www.MySchoolBucks.com or call (855) 832-5226 to enroll. You'll need your child's ID number, available in your registration materials or at your school. Once your account is established you may:
- Securely deposit funds to your child's account
- Check balances
- Set spending limits
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
Menus are available on our interactive Meal Viewer website, which gives you the flexibility to:
- View menus in PDF and print if desired
- View 5 weeks of menus for breakfast and lunch in real time as necessary changes are made
- Set up multiple profiles at the schools of your choice
- See any menu changes posted by the manager at each site
- Choose menu items based on allergens
- View nutrients and carbohydrate count for each menu item
- Print menus with carb counts per item and items with allergens designated
- Add nutrients for meals eaten, even partial meals
- Submit ratings on your favorite items
- Download the app
- How to download the app and register [VIDEO]
Testing Schedule
Here are some major testing dates you can already put on your calendars for 1st Semester!
- 10/2 - PSAT - Registration deadline is 9/24/24
- 11/6 - PreACT - All Sophomores, no registration needed
- 1/13/25 - 1/17/25 - 1st Semester Exam Week (specific schedule will be sent at a later date)
Here is a document with our Testing Calendar for the entire year. This is subject to change.
AHS Social Media!
Please use the following links for quick access to information!
Principal Elaine Hofmann - Bio
Apex High School
Email: ahofmann@wcpss.net
Website: https://www.wcpss.net/apexhs
Location: 1501 Laura Duncan Road, Apex, NC, USA
Phone: (919) 387-2208
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/apexhighparents
Twitter: @ApexHighSchool