The Den Quarterly

Dear AGCS Families,

As the days grow longer and the weather warms, we find ourselves entering the final quarter of the school year. This is always an exciting time filled with learning, growth, and well-earned celebrations. Our new academic building is progressing beautifully, and each milestone brings us closer to providing our students and teachers with the building they deserve.

At AGCS, we believe in the power of celebration. As we move through the last months of the year, we have many exciting events to look forward to. From positive behavior rewards to graduations, Arts Fest, and prom, there are countless opportunities for our students to shine and enjoy the results of their hard work.

We also take time to recognize the incredible dedication of our teachers. Teacher Appreciation Week is a special time for us to celebrate the educators who make a lasting impact on our students every day. Their commitment and passion deserve to be honored, and we look forward to showing our gratitude in meaningful ways.

As we enjoy the beauty of spring and the energy that comes with it, let’s finish the year strong and make the most of every moment!

In Partnership,

Kristen Bishop, CEO/Head of School

This winter the project team was able to complete the roof while progressing nicely with the interior partitions and rough-in of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and sprinkler (MEPS) systems. Drywall is nearly complete in the west half of the building as well as a large portion of the first floor on the eastern side. Painting has begun where drywall is complete which will allow the carpentry team to begin installation of the ceiling grid before the MEPS contractors can begin installing sprinkler fixtures and equipment. Exterior wall panels and glazing continue to progress; this spring will bring the completion of the building envelope in its entirety.

Looking ahead to the summer, contractors will install ceramic tile, flooring, casework and terrazzo once permanent power is in place and HVAC systems are on-line. Preparations have begun for sitework including installation of gas lines, sanitary systems and the extension of loop road parking.

Take advantage of the opportunity to be a part of our new 7-12 Academic Building by purchasing a personalized, commemorative brick to honor your family, a student, a precious friend, or a loved one. Or, consider going in on a brick with your group or friends! Your brick will become a permanent part of the facility and will be a special tribute for generations to come!

Bricks start at $200. Choose between a 4"x8" brick with 3 customized lines of text, an 8"x8" brick with 6 customized lines of text, or an 8"x8" brick with the AGCS logo and 2 lines of customized text.

All proceeds will fund the construction of our beautiful new 7-12 Academic Building on the State Road Campus. Be a part of AGCS history by purchasing your commemorative brick today!

April 1: Paraprofessionals Day

April 3: School Librarian Day

April 23: Administrative Professionals Day

May 1: Principal's Day

May 2: School Lunch Worker's Day

May 5-9: Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week

May 7: School Nurses Day

Avon Grove Charter School has achieved the honor of being designated a Philadelphia Inquirer 2025 Top WorkPlace. This is the 4th consecutive year that AGCS has received this recognition!

On Monday, April 7, 2025, Avon Grove Charter School proudly hosted its 4th Annual Recruitment Open House, welcoming prospective candidates eager to learn more about joining our innovative and vibrant school. Attendees had the option to participate in a morning or evening session, with an initial 34 candidates RSVPing. Ultimately, we were excited to host 30 attendees.

The event began with a warm welcome from our Chief Executive Officer/Head of School, Kristen Bishop, who shared Avon Grove Charter School’s history, continued growth, and culture. Chief Personnel Officer, Tosha Bowers, provided an overview of the school’s competitive benefits, open vacancies and professional development opportunities, highlighting the many advantages of being part of a dedicated team.

Candidates also had the opportunity to tour the main campus and engage in on-the-spot interviews with school leadership, making the experience both informative and interactive. We are extremely excited about the potential new additions to our Avon Grove Charter School family and look forward to continuing our mission to inspire lifelong learning one student at a time.

To learn about Avon Grove Charter and its employment opportunities, please visit www.agcharter.org.

At our recruitment open house, we debuted a new video featuring the voices of our current AGCS staff. In it, staff members discuss what AGCS means to them and why it is a great place to work.

The AGCS spring season is underway and we are so glad to be back outside! The middle school girls soccer team is off to a terrific start under the guidance of our new coach, John Strange. The varsity girls soccer program is once again looking to compete in the MIL playoffs and we expect a big push for positioning as the season moves on. The Boys Lacrosse team has already recorded a few early season league wins and looks towards the MIL championship as they have 15 seniors on their roster.

It’s going to be a fun spring! Check out another new tool for the athletics program. You can see scores, schedules, and more if you visit agcsathletics.com. Come on out to out home field, Nichol Park, to support our teams.

The AGCS Boosters is looking to grow their leadership with adults who are willing to help support our student athletes. You don't have to have a current child participating in AGCS athletics to be a part of this team. AGCS Boosters is dedicated to providing opportunities and assisting with needs of student athletes of AGCS. Email sportsboosters@agcharter.org for more information.

Be on the lookout on our social media pages for our Jersey Mike's Student Athlete of the Week features! We have partnered with Jersey Mike’s Subs to recognize our student athletes on a weekly basis. Our community gets to learn all about our athlete's success, and our athletes receive a free sub/hoagie from Jersey Mike's! Congrats to all who have been recognized so far this school year.

PSSA testing is quickly approaching!

Pennsylvania students in grades 3 through 8 are assessed in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. Pennsylvania students in grades 5 and 8 are assessed in science.

Individual student scores, provided only to their respective schools, can be used to assist teachers in identifying students who may be in need of additional educational opportunities, and school scores provide information to the school and district for curriculum and instruction improvement discussions and planning.

National “Take Your Child to Work Day” is scheduled for Thursday, April 24th. AGCS recognizes that that job shadowing experiences can be beneficial for students and strengthen the bond between parents/guardians and their children. Therefore, we will approve “Take Your Child to Work Day” requests as excused absences on Thursday, April 24. In order to participate and have the absence excused, families must:

• Submit a request to the attendance office by the end of the day on Friday, April 18th stating that your child will be absent and participating in “Take Your Child to Work Day”.

• Within the request, please include WHO the child will be shadowing and WHERE the shadowing will take place.

• Students who participate in “Take Your Child to Work Day” will be asked to complete a reflection form to serve as one of their College and Career artifacts required by the state.

"Take Your Child to Work Day" falls in the middle of our state testing window (grades 3-8) and on one of our scheduled make-up testing days. If a student is absent during their scheduled testing dates, and has requested to be absent for "Take Your Child to Work Day", the school administration may contact you to discuss the absence related to completion of state assessments.

Failure to submit this request by Friday, April 18th will result in any absence related to Take Your Child to Work Day as being “unexcused”.

Our fifth-grade teachers have been “Making an Impact” this year by exercising their creative juices and tapping into the skill sets of our specialist teachers. The teachers collaborated by creating cross-curricular learning opportunities for their students. Cross-curricular lessons provide students with authentic learning experiences and allow them to see how their learning skills are relevant in all content areas.

Some activities included Battleship-themed games (grid coordinates, technology, collaboration, reading strategies, & writing), the Ugly Sweater Fashion Show (spending strategies, using a check register, marketing, art, public speaking & presentation skills). Fifth Grade will close out the year with their Volume Zoo Project called Boxed Beasts which ties together research, art, math, financial literacy, music, environmental science concepts, and even our PACK values!

Check out some pictures from the cross-curricular events along with a “day in the life” shots!

Last month, Avon Grove Charter School took an important step to make sure we’re as prepared as possible for any emergency by holding a safety drill in partnership with our local first responders, including fire, police, and emergency services.

This exercise was designed to simulate a real-life intruder situation, helping us test and improve our emergency response plans. It gave our staff the chance to practice responding quickly and effectively and also allowed our local first responders to familiarize themselves with our school layout and procedures. Everyone worked together to ensure we’re ready for any situation, should it ever arise.

The drill took place on an in-service day; the student body was not present during the exercise. Staff members participated, following our safety procedures and ensuring that we were fully prepared for any potential emergency. The simulation included a scenario that helped us identify areas for improvement, fine-tune our processes, and make sure we’re working in sync with local emergency responders.

We also took this opportunity to review communication protocols, ensuring that our staff can quickly and clearly share information with both parents and first responders in the event of an actual emergency. This is an important part of keeping everyone safe and informed.

We understand that drills like this can be unsettling, and we want to assure you that the exercise was conducted in a controlled, safe environment. The goal was to prepare, not to worry anyone. While the situation was simulated, it’s crucial for us to be proactive in training for emergencies to ensure that we are ready for anything.

We want to express our sincere thanks to our local first responders for their partnership and commitment to our school’s safety. Their involvement was invaluable in ensuring that we’re doing everything we can to protect our students and staff.

Avon Grove Charter School is currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please visit our admissions page for more information and to submit your child’s application if they are not already an AGCS student.

If you have a child who will be of Kindergarten age for the 2026-2027 school year we encourage you to add your family to the 2026-2027 Kindergarten Interest Mailing List to receive important updates regarding the Kindergarten lottery for through next school year.

Please consider submitting a student referral if you know of a student or family who would be a great fit here at Avon Grove Charter School. After a referral is entered, someone from our school will reach out to the family to share more information about our school, admissions process, and how AGCS could help them reach their full potential.

The AGCS Intent to Return forms have been open since January for current AGCS families to indicate whether they plan to have their child(ren) return for the 2025-2026 school year. These forms are required to secure your child’s enrollment for next year. If you have not completed your Intent to Return form, please access these forms from your ParentPortal account.

If your plans have changed since submitting your Intent to Return Form, please email our Enrollment Office and they can update your child’s records.

• Clean Audit: We are pleased to report no findings in our recent federal, state, and local annual financial compliance reporting and investor financial reviews. AGCS continues to meet all fiscal mandates.
• USDA Funding: We continue to meet all monthly compliance requirements for the USDA funding related to the academic building project and maintain a strong working relationship with the USDA and partnering entities.

• Budget Alignment: As of the third quarter, the school is on track with the projected budget revenues and expenditures approved by the Board of Trustees in June.
• Financial Statements: Approved financial statements are available online (once board-approved).

• Budget Process Underway: The process for the 2025-2026 budget is currently in progress.
• Data Collection: Divisional staffing, curricular, non-instructional, facilities, food services, and capital expenditure data has been submitted to the business office, with data entry to be completed by mid-April.
• Review and Refinement: Administration will review budget line items, clarify priorities, and make necessary adjustments.
• Finance Committee & Board Updates: The Finance Committee will review the budget, and board members will receive ongoing updates.
• Board Presentation: The 2025-2026 budget will be presented to the Board of Trustees at the May 2025 Public Board meeting.

Looking Ahead, we remain committed to maintaining a balanced budget while supporting academic excellence, expanding resources, and strategically focusing on long-term facility goals.

Congratulations to Nurse Holly on being installed as the President of the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners! Holly’s term begins in September 2025.

Nurse Holly and Nurse Sam from the Early Learning Center attended a training on March 7 to become certified CPR instructors. This, combined with our recent Youth Hearth Watch Heart Safe School Award, helps us to ensure AGCS is a safe, healthy environment for our students and staff.

Staying Hydrated

As Spring arrives and temperatures rise, please be sure to send a water bottle to school with your child(ren).

Field Trips

Our staff and students are looking forward to field trips in many grade levels this year. Due to staffing, the school nurses do not attend field trips. The only medications allowed on field trips are epinephrine injectors and rescue inhalers. If you need to attend a field trip to manage your child’s medical needs, please contact your child’s teacher and the school nurse.

Illnesses

Multiple illnesses continue to circulate in the community. The AGCS School Nurses ask that all sick students remain home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, or 24 hours vomit free and tolerating foods in the case of stomach viruses. Should your child need to be picked up from school sick, please have a plan in place for your child to be picked up within an hour of the nurse’s call.

Sunscreen

In October 2018, the Pennsylvania School Code was amended to include a section on Sun Protection Measures for Students. This amendment states that a school entity shall allow the application of non-aerosol sunscreen during school hours, at a school-sponsored activity, or while under the supervision of school personnel.

A school may cancel or restrict the possession, application, or use of a non-aerosol topical sunscreen product by a student if any of the following occurs:

• The student fails to comply with school rules concerning the possession, application, or use of the non-aerosol topical sunscreen product.

• The student shows an unwillingness or inability to safeguard the non-aerosol topical sunscreen product from access by other students.

Every Kid Healthy Week

April 21st-25th is Every Kid Healthy Week! Visit https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/get-involved/every-kid-healthy-week/ to see how your family can participate and register to win a $1000.00 grant!

This quarter, our Student Services Department has been hard at work finalizing our comprehensive school counseling plan that was submitted and accepted by the State. Additionally, we have been getting ready for spring interventions to start as we continue to build on our social emotional support for students. A few other highlights:

• Our mission is that every student has an adult at school they can count on. Every small change we make towards this goal is another student that identifies having a support person at school. Did you know our school continues to be in the 99th percentile when compared nationally for student’s reporting to have supportive relationships?

• We recently had our fidelity monitoring with the state for PBIS, we look forward to updating the community with those results at the end of the year!

• Spring Interventions are getting underway and will continue for the remainder of the year. If you have any social, emotional, or behavioral concerns about your child, please submit a request for support, which is located on the school website under the “for parents” dropdown menu.

• Shout out to our newest Lion’s Club branch: The ELC Lions Cub Pack! Our ELC Lions Cub pack recently went to the Book Barn to complete a community service project that provides books to others at no cost. All proceeds go back to the community.

• Our HS division also had a very successful Adulting Day! Student’s learned about cooking, car loans, transportation options, camping essentials, budgeting, sewing, and so much more.

A huge shout out to our divisional teams that continue to support students!