AHS eNewsletter 11/21/2023
November 21st, 2023
Tornado Forecast of Upcoming Events
November 15th - December 1st: Schedule Change Window Open for Trimester 2 or 3
November 21st: Deadline for Graduation Cap & Gown orders
November 22nd - 24th: No school - Holiday
November 27th - Regular Day start at 7:40 am, NO late start
November 30th - Last day of Tri 1
TONIGHT IS THE DEADLINE FOR CAP & GOWN ORDERS!
Graduation Cap and Gown Deadline is TODAY Tuesday, Nov. 21st, 2023
This is a reminder for seniors to place an order for their cap and gown by today, Tuesday, November 21st.
The cap, gown, and tassel are paid for by the school.
Your order helps to ensure that we have the correct size available to you for our commencement ceremony on Monday, June 3rd.
Jostens needs the orders now to make sure we get the correct numbers and sizes of gowns.
Seniors need to follow this link AHS Graduation to order.
Mental Wellness Support
As we enter into Thanksgiving break, we want to highlight mental wellness and provide contacts for available support 24 hours a day/7days a week. Our student's social and emotional well being is a top priority and we're thankful to you for partnering with us to be a healthy learning community.
All students heard a supportive message from Principal Farley asking students to check their school email for a slide presentation. The presentation provides contacts for support free of charge if they or someone they know is experiencing a mental health crisis. As a reminder, the following resources were shared:
- Anoka County Mobile Crisis Response Service: 763-755-3801.
- Hennepin County Mobile Crisis: 612-596-1223
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988 or Chat 988lifeling.org/chat. For Spanish speakers, call: 1-888-628-9454. Tele-Interpreters are available to connect to crisis centers supporting over 240 languages.
- Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate, physical danger.
Thank you for partnering with us on these critically important matters of mental wellness. We wish you and your loved ones a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving break.
Only 4 Days Left in Tri 1 ⏳
There are only 4 days left in Trimester 1. Take time to get caught up over break if you are behind or missing assignments from any of your classes. Attendance is directly correlated to academics success, so be present these last days. Monday is a regular start at 7:40 am.
Business and Marketing Students Participate in the DECA/BPA New York Experience
On November 8 through the 12, nineteen members of Coon Rapids DECA, Anoka DECA, and Blaine BPA travelled to the “Big Apple” to participate in the New York DECA/BPA Experience. They were immediately engaged in corporate presentations and seminars from executives and managers from:
- Nintendo
- Wells Fargo Investments
- Blackstone
- Madison Square Garden
- Radio City Music Hall
- The New York Stock Exchange
When asked about the New York Experience, senior Coon Rapids DECA member, Anna Kelley said,
“The business tours in New York really solidified my choice of going into business as a career. Each and every business we went to made me want to ask so many questions. I left New York with a strong desire to work for an organization like the ones we toured.”
Blaine BPA Senior, Dorcas Aroloye, echoed Kelley, and went further by saying,
"Going to Blackstone in New York was a transformative experience, where I had the privilege of meeting David Obwaya, an alumni from Blaine. Witnessing his journey from Blaine High School to his current position is a testament to the power of determination and the doors that open when passion meets opportunity."
Anoka DECA Senior Joe Keane loved the entire New York Experience. Keane said,
“The New York Stock Exchange is perhaps the coolest thing I’ve ever seen…” and “Madison Square Garden is massive, and their history is amazing!”
The trip was not only all business. The students also had the opportunity to visit many cultural and historical landmarks.
Coon Rapids Senior DECA member, Samantha Schulz, commented that the 9/11 Memorial was one of the most moving and somber places she had ever visited, but it also gave her an encouraging sense of hope for the future.
Senior BPA member, Silas Murangiri, said it best when asked about his experience,
“The time spent was enjoyable and immensely educational… It was a valuable learning journey that broadened my understanding significantly.”
DECA is a student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Business Professionals of America is for students pursuing careers in business management, information technology, finance, accounting, and office administration.
To get more information on DECA or BPA, contact:
COON RAPIDS HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Blake Bodenburg, DECA Advisor Blake.Bodenburg@ahschools.us
ANOKA HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Douglas Orr, DECA Advisor Douglas.Orr@ahschools.us
BLAINE HIGH SCHOOL
Mrs. Holly Boisjolie, BPA Advisor Holly.Boisjolie@ahschools.us
AHS senior Braylan Allison publishes novel titled, "Lunar"
Anoka High School senior publishes novel, shares story at AMSA to inspire seventh graders
(11/17/2023) Students spend years reading books, few publish their own. Braylan Allison, a senior at Anoka High School, published a novel titled “Lunar” during her freshman year and has plans to publish a second book in the trilogy early next year.
The book is a fictional story of a teenager, Roselnn, and her struggles of not only navigating high school while transforming into a werewolf. The premise may sound familiar, but Allison said she wanted to find a unique take on the genre.
“It’s a supernatural type story with a little bit of mystery,” Allison said. “I didn’t want it to be like ‘Twilight’ because it had been done a thousand times, so I took a little different approach.”
Allison started writing the story during her English Language Arts (ELA) class in seventh grade and after working on it for a couple of years, was encouraged by her mom to publish the book.
“I’ve always been a big reader,” Allison said. “Writing was something I thought was interesting because I could come up with my own ideas. I’ve also learned recently there is a big line of writers in my family.”
Last month, Allison visited a seventh grade ELA class at Anoka Middle School for the Arts (AMSA) to inspire a new generation of young writers. During her visit with the students, she answered questions about the writing process, editing and how to create a story. She also helped students with their own suspense stories.
Allison said the 200 physical copies of “Lunar” she ordered are out in the world and after her visit to AMSA, more copies will be ordered. “Lunar” is available by order, digital download and at the Anoka County Library. Visit her website to learn more about “Lunar.”
Consider helping out a family this holiday season!
Tornado Take-Out is Anoka High School’s food shelf. Students whose families could use a little extra food at home can pick up a bag for the weekend. At this point in the school year, we could use some help stocking the shelves. If you are willing and able to buy a few of these items, we’d appreciate your support. Donations can be dropped off in the main office. Just put “Tornado Take-Out” on the bag. These are some of the foods that work well in the bags:
small(ish) cereal boxes/bags
breakfast bars
instant oatmeal
complete pancake mixes and syrup
chunky soup
ravioli
macaroni bowls
peanut butter
crackers
canned fruit
canned veggies
canned spaghetti
noodles
complete boxed dinners (Banquet makes some)
LaChoy dinners
Chicken Helper
canned chicken
granola bars
nuts/trail mix
popcorn
fruit snacks
chips
pudding cups
Schedule Changes for Trimester 2 or 3
If you would like to request a change to your Tri 2 or 3 schedule, please click this link to review the criteria and steps to follow. Students must submit all schedule change requests using the Schedule Change Request Form during the November 15 - December 1 window.
If the change can be made, it will show on your class schedule tab in Student Vue. If the change cannot be made, your counselor will email you. Please check both Student Vue and your email for updates after submitting the request form.
This e-newsletter is published by Anoka High School. Questions, comments or concerns about the school e-newsletter? Contact us.