AHS Principal's Newsletter

August 2024

Dear AHS Families,

We are just two weeks away from the start of school! I hope you have all been able to enjoy your summer. I was able to take a break from the office for a bit for some family camping adventures and beach time! It certainly feels like this summer has flown by, but I am looking forward to hearing student voices in the hallway, seeing my colleagues, and feeling the school alive again.

Thanks to the hard work of our guidance team, department heads, and Mrs. Lingley, schedules are ready! Students and families can expect Aspen to be live for login on Tuesday, 8/20 and students can access their schedules there. Counselors have been reaching out to students with scheduling conflicts to help resolve them. Please check your AHS student email to see if your counselor has been in touch.

We invite incoming freshmen/new students and their families for a New Student Night on Monday, August 26th at 6:30 pm in the auditorium. The admin team and department heads will present important back to school information and answer questions you might have about what you and your child can expect at AHS. We hope this evening will be a warm welcome into our school community. We'd also love to see freshmen and new students for student-led tours on Wednesday 8/21 from 8-2. Drop in the lobby during that time and our National Honor Society students will take you around the building!

We look forward to inviting all families to join us for our Fall Open House on Wednesday, September 25th at 6:30 pm. More information about the schedule for the evening will come out soon, but please save the date. This will be an opportunity to meet the teachers of your children and learn about their classroom expectations and course content.

I will be in communication throughout the start of the school year with more information; however, I also want to be mindful that the start of the school year can feel like information overload. The first few days of school will provide students with lots of information - course syllabi, grading policies, supply lists, forms to be signed, and more. If you have any questions about what you've received, please ask. It's our job to help.

As you navigate the start of the year, I encourage you to check out our website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram - @amesburyhighschool - for updates and resources. You can also find important district-level information in Superintendent McAndrews' latest newsletter. Below you'll find some important dates to have on your calendar as the start of the school year approaches. Should you have any questions as we wrap up the summer, please don't hesitate to reach out. Summer office hours for the high school are Monday-Thursday from 8am-2pm.

With gratitude,

Danielle

First Day and Freshman Orientation

We are so excited to welcome the Class of 2028 into the AHS community!

Our first day of school, August 28th, is designed to give freshmen the opportunity to adjust into the building before the rest of our students arrive. It's predominantly student-led thanks to our student council, which is a great way to set the tone and allow freshman to connect with some older peers.

Freshmen should arrive by 7:40 and report to the auditorium.

All other students must arrive by 9:30 and report to the following locations for class meetings:

Grade 10 - Cafeteria

Grade 11 - Auditorium

Grade 12 - Courtyard

See the bell schedule for the day below.

NOTE: Buses will run a loop for freshmen at normal pick up time and another two hours later for all other students.

Bus Information

Attention Senior Families - Class of 2025

Wow! Senior year is upon us for the Class of 2025! Be on the lookout for announcements from the class about all of the exciting things to come this year.

Senior Celebration

August 26th 5-7 pm

AHS Parking Lot

Class questions? Email advisors Mrs. Johnston and/or Mr. Opolski.

kaitlin.johnston@amesburyma.org

ian.opolski@amesburyma.org

Yearbook questions? Email Ms. Leary.

barbara.leary@amesburyma.org

Guidance Department Updates

Student Schedules

Students can access their schedule in Aspen beginning on 8/20.

Counselor Assignments

Counselors at the high school are assigned by last name and are as follows. Please note that Mrs. Erika Lynch will be taking on students previously on Alexa Savvas' caseload.

Erika Lynch - erika.lynch@amesburyma.org

Grade 9 - A-G

Grade 10 - A-G

Grade 11 - A-H

Grade 12 - A-E

Sue Saurman - susan.saurman@amesburyma.org

Grade 9 - H-M

Grade 10 - H-M

Grade 11 - I-M

Grade 12 - F-L

Matt Sydow - matthew.sydow@amesburyma.org

Grade 9 - N-Z

Grade 10 - N-Z

Grade 11 - N-Z

Grade 12 - M-Z

Summer Reading

Any student who signed up for Honors-level English is required to read their grade-level book. These titles are optional for students registered for College Prep English. College Prep students who choose to read the grade level text may receive an extra credit test grade.

Required Honors Grade Level Reads:

Grade 9: Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Grade 10: The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

Grade 11: The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

Grade 12: 1984 by George Orwell

Email questions to English Department Head, Mr. Steve Bastien (steven.bastien@amesburyma.org).

School Council - Seeking Parent and Community Members

I'm looking for a grade nine parent/guardian and two community members to join my school council. We meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm virtually. The role of the school council is to:

Assist in the identification of educational needs of the students attending the school
Make recommendations to the principal for the development, implementation and assessment of the DCAP
Assist in the review of the annual school budget and school implementation plan

Plan to improve student performance
EL - description of models and approaches to assist EL

Please email me directly by September 3rd if you're interested in joining!

danielle.ricci@amesburyma.org

What I'm Reading

I had lots of fiction beach reads this summer, but my latest educational read was Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Robert Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patten. In my role as principal, a big part of my job is problem solving and navigating conflict. This book provides actionable strategies that I can use daily. The strategies are universal and can be applied to many areas of life. Check out more in this article that provides an overview of the strategies. Thanks to my AP Mrs. Lingley for the recommendation!

Email me your recommendations for my next read!