Andover High School News & Events

September 15, 2024

• September 16: First Late Start Schedule Day, Class starts at 8:30 AM
• September 30 - October 4: Homecoming Week
• October 3: Picture Retakes (IMC) 7:00 - 10:00 AM
• October 7: Academic Lettering Ceremony (AUD) 7:00 PM
• October 9: PSAT/NMSQT for 11th Graders
• October 10: Last Chance Senior Photo During Lunches (IMC)
• October 10: Conferences
• October 17-18: No School; MEA

Trimester 1 Late Start Dates are listed here.

You can also view a District Calendar here.

Husky House Tutoring Center Dates and hours are listed here.

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Every day a student is absent is a lost opportunity for learning. Too many absences not only can affect achievement for the absent student but can also disrupt learning for the entire class. Because attendance is so important and we have seen an increase in absenteeism, we are launching our Attendance Matters initiative to improve student attendance at Andover High School.

Research shows that students who consistently miss school are at risk of lower academic achievement, failure and even dropping out of school altogether. Here are some facts:

• Chronic absenteeism begins as early as pre-kindergarten

• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.

• By 9th grade, student attendance is a better predictor of graduation than 8th grade test scores.

Bringing awareness to the issue of chronic absenteeism, and providing information and resources to parents can help improve student attendance and consequently, student achievement.

Read the rest of Mr. Feine's Attendance Letter to Families.

Our first Late Start/CT Schedule will begin this Monday morning the 18th with classes starting at 8:30 AM. Transportation will continue to run at its normal time in the morning. There will be space available in our cafeteria for breakfast or the IMC for those students who choose to come early to school and do school work.

The following are days in which we will not have CT during Trimester 1:

• October 14th - Short week due to MEA Break
• November 4th - Short week due to Staff Development on Tuesday, Nov 5th
• November 18th - Last Monday of the Trimester

Homecoming Spirit Week Days:

Monday, September 30th: Jersey Day

Tuesday, October 1st: USA

Wednesday, October 2nd: 70's Day

Thursday, October 3rd: Color Wars

Friday, October 4th: Husky Out

The homecoming dance will be taking place on Saturday, October 5th from 7:00 - 10:00 PM in

the Gym. Tickets are being sold the week of September 30th in SchoolPay via the lock and key on A-H Connect. Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door. The homecoming dance is for Andover High School students only.

There are many volunteer opportunities that come up throughout the school year at Andover HS. To start your volunteer journey, please complete the Andover HS 2024 -2025 online volunteer forms. Completing volunteer forms help keep our students safe while enriching their lives through extracurricular activities. Click Andover HS Volunteer Forms to start your volunteer application and background check request!

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities at Andover HS, please contact Tina Huston, Volunteer Services Coordinator - tina.huston@ahschools.us or 763-506-8430.

Show your support for the Andover HS school staff during fall evening conferences. Donate a Grab-n-Go snack item for teachers to have a quick bite to eat during evening conferences on Thursday, October 10th. If you would like to donate a snack item, please sign up at Fall Conference Snack Donations and select an available donation slot.

Please drop-off your donations to the school office during school hours starting Monday, October 7th through Thursday, October 10th. You can send the items with your student or we've even had families send items by Amazon! Please label donations VSC.

Andover High School Senior, Jaxon Knutson, has been named as a National Merit Semifinalist. More than 16,000 of the high scorers, representing less than 1% of the nation’s high school graduating seniors, will qualify as Semifinalists. Only Semifinalists will have an opportunity to advance in the competition for Merit Scholarship® awards.

Congratulations Jaxon!

The PSAT/NMSQT will be administered online this year. Students who have registered to take the test should plan to attend the Digital Readiness Check on Monday, September 30 from 7:30 - 8:20 AM in the IMC. (This is a late start day, and classes will begin at 8:30am). You will need your school assigned chromebook to complete this. If you do not have one, one will be provided for you to use. The Digital readiness check must be done prior to the test date. If you have a schedule conflict due to PSEO, or are absent that day, please contact Marcia Stam in the College/Career center to coordinate a makeup time. She can also be reached at 763-506-8508 or marcia.stam@ahschools.us

Counselors at Andover High School are divided by alphabet for grades 9 through 12. Students will

most likely have the same counselor all four years of high school. Counselors provide many more

services than just a schedule change! They also provide such services as academic and career

counseling, college planning, personal and social counseling, individual planning and guidance,

letters of recommendation and more. If you have questions or would like to meet with your

counselor, please stop into the counseling office, located on the first floor next to the IMC. You

can also connect with your Counselor.

Need to make up a class? See your counselor to register for credit

recovery. You can see details here.

Want to see what colleges are coming here for a college visit? Looking to go on a Campus/Career Tour? Check out the College and Career Center Calendar of Events!

You can also view the updated Career Center Newsletter.

My name is Tammy Peterson and I am Andover’s Youth Service Coordinator. In a nutshell, my role as the YSC is to help connect students with meaningful leadership and service opportunities. Here are a few items of interest:

Service Hours

Does your student enjoy volunteering? Are they looking for fun and meaningful ways to give back? Feel free to join the Youth Service Google Classroom (code: je2x6nu) to see volunteer opportunities available through Youth Service. Be sure to submit completed volunteer hours via the Verification of Hours form. Are you wondering how many service hours your student has accumulated during high school? Send me an email, and I can get you a transcript of their volunteer hours.

DROP in for Service!

In an effort to bring the spirit of service to our school, the Andover Leo club will be leading a variety of fun and meaningful service projects at Drop in for Service. Students can receive service hours right here at school during late start time on select Mondays! Click here for more details on dates, times, and room location.

Andover Leo Club: The Andover Leo Club, is a student-led volunteer group that gathers twice a month, and has multiple service opportunities available. The Leos provide a fun and easy way to connect with fellow students, help our community, and possibly earn a letter. Click here for information about the club, and to see this year’s calendar. Join our classroom using code: pyldasw.

The first Leo Club meeting of the school year will be held on Thursday, September 19th at 2:30 in the north cafeteria. Join us to meet the leadership team, learn more about the club in general, and hear all about this year’s impact project!

Food Drive and Fundraiser

The Leo Club will be holding a food drive and fundraiser at this year’s Powderpuff game (October 2nd @ 7PM). The cost of admission to the game will be two nonperishable food items, or two dollars. All food donations will go to the ACBC food shelf. Cash donations will benefit Stepping Stone Shelter in Anoka.

Jefferson Awards

Andover High School is an official Jefferson Awards Leadership School. One Jefferson award is given each month to a student who exemplifies a true spirit of service.

President’s Volunteer Service Award

The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals for their volunteer hours completed within a calendar year. Any service from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, will be considered for this award. To apply, simply return the Verification of Hours form to document the hours spent volunteering. If your student is interested in pursuing this award or may already have enough hours to qualify, please have them stop by or send me an email.

Hours:

Monday and Wednesday - 7:00-12:00

Tuesday and Thursday - 10:30-3:30

*Hours may vary based on program needs

Questions?

Contact me at: tammy.peterson@ahschools.us

As a long-standing tradition in Anoka-Hennepin Schools, view the 2024-25 back-to-school video, "It takes all of us."

What it means: The difference that every staff member makes in school communities each day is powerful. Everyone plays a role in the success of each student in Anoka-Hennepin Schools.

The handoff: With each “win” that students achieve in their educational journey, staff in the district are all working together - preparing for that handshake they will receive at commencement, before a diploma is placed in their hands. 🤝🎓

Students are in pursuit of their educational purpose at each stage in their journey:

• From early learning - where students are introduced to a world of possibilities - 🌎

• To elementary school - where we build community, and spark joy in learning - ✨

• On to middle school - where students test their own independence, and may connect with a staff member who they can count on - 📚

• And then, finally, to high school - where their own purpose may be realized as they prepare to walk across the stage on graduation day… 📖

As we approach the 2024-25 school year, it is more important than ever to focus resources on something that every staff member, student, parent, and community member would agree is an essential function of our school district - preparing our students to cross the stage at graduation.

It takes all of us! Have a great school year!

The back to school season is a busy time for families, school staff and our communities. There is often more traffic congestion in this season and it’s more important than ever for drivers to pay attention before- and after-school to keep families, students and staff safe.

Check out these tips from the Anoka-Hennepin transportation department as a back to school reminder:

• Crosswalks: Be mindful that we are sharing the road with young walkers and staff helping them across the crosswalks or intersections. Always stop for school patrols and crossing guards.
  

• Know drop-off and pick-up procedures: Schools have procedures in place to keep traffic safe. Make sure you know your school’s plan for the safety of all students and staff.
  

• Use slow speeds: Use caution in school zones and be aware of your surroundings. We can all work together to ensure the safety of drivers, school buses, walkers and bikers.
  

• School bus safety: Familiarize yourself with school bus safety tips on the road. Always stop if yellow or red lights are flashing or if stop arms are extended from a school bus. Allow extra time for students to board and exit the bus and proceed to safe sidewalks to enter school zones or return home.
  

• Share the road: Be patient of other vehicles stopped for pedestrians or using caution in school zones. Do not pass other vehicles or school buses. Be alert, young children may take an unpredictable path as they are learning safety rules.

Thank you for your partnership in school traffic safety.

A broad range of parent/guardian representation is needed at upcoming Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) meetings for the upcoming school year from families with students in all age levels - including early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, and transition-aged students - with a full continuum of student disabilities.

What it is: SEAC (pronounced “seek”) is comprised of parents/guardians of students in the district who receive Special Education services.

Why it matters: The intent of SEAC is to advise the school district on parent involvement, current issues, program development and established department priorities. The council serves as a resource and as an advisory council for special education programs in the district.

See meeting details and learn how to get involved.

For years, Anoka-Hennepin Schools has published Backpack Online as a subscription based electronic newsletter. As the 2024-25 school year begins, that publication has transitioned from a weekly to a monthly e-newsletter that will be sent to all parents and guardians of Anoka-Hennepin students and subscribers.

The e-newsletter has also been re-branded from Backpack Online to FOCUS on Anoka-Hennepin Schools. The e-newsletter will be sent on the first Wednesday of each month (except for holidays) and provide an outlook on news, events and district publications to your email inbox. It will not be sent via text message.

The newsletter will keep parents/guardians and community members informed of the latest events affecting Anoka-Hennepin Schools, students and communities.

Important details for families

Parents and guardians do not need to subscribe to receive the e-newsletter if they have elected to receive emails from the district and school(s) their children attend. If families unsubscribe from receiving this e-newsletter, they may no longer receive important emails from the district or their child’s school. Learn more about communication and notifications and how to choose your preferred communication methods with AHlert.

Neighbors and community members

Anyone can subscribe or view archived versions of the e-newsletter by visiting ahschools.us/focusenews.

Technology plays an important role in preparing students for life, and Chromebooks are utilized as a daily learning tool in Anoka-Hennepin middle and high school classrooms. Anoka-Hennepin students in grades 6-12 are assigned a Chromebook from the school district to ensure access to technology systems that support classroom learning.

Over 28,000 Chromebooks are distributed to students the first week of school. As careful as students and schools are, accidents do happen each year - and thousands of Chromebooks are returned at the end of the school year with damages.

Families have the option to enroll in the Device Protection Plan.

The Technology Protection Plan is optional; it is not required, however, by electing not to participate in the Protection Plan, families may be required to reimburse the school district for the replacement or repair of damaged Chromebooks assigned to their student/s. Damaged or broken screens may cost between $50 to $150 depending on parts needed; or the replacement cost for the entire device could be up to $410.

Families can opt-in to the Device Protection Plan by logging into A-HConnect, and selecting "My Student Information," and "Fees." Parents must select or decline coverage under the Device Protection Plan. Enrollment begins July 1, 2024.

• The plan cost is $20 per student or $60 per family per school year.

• If the student qualifies for free or reduced-price school meals in the 2024-25 school year, the cost of the Protection Plan will be reduced to $0.

• Repairs with the Protection Plan are subject to a $20 deductible.

View the Device Protection Plan flyer to learn more. (PDF)

Enroll in the device protection plan using Synergy.