Albemarle High School Newsletter

August 2015 ~ First Quarter

Principal’s Message

Table of Contents

Principal’s Message 1

Contact Information 2

Important Dates 2

Student and Staff Kudos 2 & 3

Important Staff Personnel 3

Newsweek National Ranking 3

UVA Community Credit Union 4

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the start of the 2015-2016 school year. Our corridors and halls are buzzing with the energy of new students and former students from many different backgrounds as they negotiate a new season at AHS. Albemarle has one of the most diverse groups of students in the county and this diversity lends a real-world experience to all students.

This is an exciting year of many improvements and changes. We are continually looking to enhance our relationships with students and parents as we maintain our focus on the division’s strategic plan of emphasizing the importance of preparing our students for lifelong success after graduation. To this end, we want to share some important news with you about the upcoming year.

As you may already know, schedules, report cards, and newsletters are no longer being mailed home but will be distributed to you electronically via the Parent and Student Portal or E-communications such as Blackboard Connect, email, or our e-newsletter, the Patriot Progress.

Every student at AHS this year has been assigned a laptop as part of a countywide initiative to help students develop the technology skills they will need to be successful after high school. The laptop is one more instructional tool that will be used to enhance teaching and learning in our classrooms, and students will use these devices to research and solve real world questions while collaborating and presenting information in ways not accessible without access to technology.

Further in this newsletter you will find other important information to help keep you up to date with upcoming events and news so please take a moment to look inside. We hope to see you at our Back to School Night, September 10th between 6:15 and 9:00 p.m. This is going to be another exceptional year! Jay Thomas, Principal

AHS Salt Water Aquarium, Sea Urchin

“AHS Intensifies Efforts to Provide Students with Professional Experience” in Arts and Letters Pathway

AHS Artist Karin Turner’s self portrait “The AHS pilot program, Arts and Letters Pathway, offers arts students the opportunity to focus their academic career on a particular area of interest. Most students say the most anticipated component of the pathway is the emphasis on arts education outside the classroom.” For an in-depth look at this program with comments from participants as well as organizers, read this excellent article by Grace Paine in Charlottesville Tomorrow by clicking on the link below. http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/21193-albemarle-high-arts-pathway/

Albemarle High School Page 2 ~ August 2015

Contact Information

Main  Office   975-­‐9300  

Main  Fax   974-­‐4335  

Athletics   974-­‐4308  

Attendance   974-­‐4310  

Community  Ed   975-­‐9450  

Guidance   974-­‐4321  

Important Dates

First  Day  of  School                                8/19  

Labor  Day  –  no  school                              9/7  

Back  to  School  Night                      9/10  

6:15  –  9:00  p.m.  

Conference  Night                                    9/30  

4:30  –  7:30  p.m.  

Conference  Night                                    10/8  

4:30  –  7:30  p.m.  

Homecoming                                             10/10  

8:00  –  11:00  p.m.  

 

Ruth Sisman named August’s Innovative Educator

Ruth was selected by Practical Money Skills, a financial literacy website that partners with VISA as well as several of the largest banks in the US. Congratulations, Ruth! Please follow the link below for more information:

http://practicalmoneyskills.com/foreducators/innovative/teachers_2015/08_tea.php

AHS Student Aisha Balogun Wins in Major World Writing Competition

Aisha Balogun’s essay The Fountainhead has earned the rank of Third Place in the Ayn Rand Institute's 2015 essay contest. This is one of the largest essay contest programs in the world.

This is an astonishing accomplishment as each year there are more than 2,500 contest submissions from more than 100 countries. As the Third Place winner, she has won a cash prize of $1,000.

AHS Cross Country Team 2015 at the top of Old Rag Mountain. Cross training at its best!

Albemarle High School – Administrative Staff

Title Name

Principal Mr. Jay Thomas

Assistant Principal Ms. Kasaundra Blount

Assistant Principal Mrs. Melissa Hankins

Assistant Principal Mr. Carl Kiehn

Assistant Principal Mrs. Megan Wood

Athletic Director Ms. Deb Tyson

MESA Director Mr. Tony Wayne

Counseling Director Mrs. Meghan Parsons

Albemarle High School – Counseling Staff

Caseload Counselor Name

(MESA) Mr. Chris Lennon

A + (ESOL) Mrs. Alison Neil

B – CRI Ms. Jamie Sherwell

CRJ – HAN Ms. Molly Garnett

HAO –LOD Mr. Brian Heath

LOE – PA Ms. Jackie Perry

PB –TAX Mrs. Maren Lennon

TAY – WE + (AVID) Mrs. Katie Bledsoe

WF – Z Mrs. Meghan Parsons

Albemarle High School – Student Services Staff

Title Names

Gifted Resources Teacher Mrs. Alexis Mason

Registrar Ms. Nanette DeFrank

Career Awareness Specialist Mrs. Laura Massey

Counseling Office Associate Mrs. Jeannie Johnson

Student Assistance Program Coordinator Ms. Sarah Bennett

Prevention and Resource Coordinator Ms. Carol Hernandez

Psychologist Mr. Eren Clark

Testing Coordinator Mr. Rian Shell

School Nurse Mrs. Carol Janssens

Albemarle High School Named One of America’s Top High Schools by Newsweek!

What a GREAT way to start the year! Albemarle High has been named one of America’s top high schools in Newsweek’s 2015 High School Rankings. We ranked in the top three percent of more than 16,000 schools that were considered. Within Virginia, AHS was ranked third in the state.

This is another fine example of the work between our students and staff who help make AHS such a wonderful place.

AHS Student Kai Millner is Mentee of the Year for 100 Black Men of America Fifteen year old Kai Millner is already a young leader and fully engaged in giving back to his community. Highlights of this young man’s remarkable story can be seen in the following YouTube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROIb57NtUwg&feature=youtu.be

Faculty News: Tony Wayne New MESA Director Tony started his Patriot Career in 1986. He begins his 30th year in teaching this year, having served as the Science Department Chair for 11 years. In addition to his conference presentations throughout the year, Tony serves as the Vice-President of the Virginia Instructors of Physics (VIP) and serves on the Board of the Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST).

Albemarle High School Page 3 ~ August 2015

Administrative, Counseling, and Student Services Staff Members

The Albemarle High School

newsletter is a publication of Albemarle County Public Schools. It is published quarterly and distributed to all Albemarle High School families.

Albemarle County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national origin, pregnancy, or marital status. Questions or concerns regarding compliance with the School Division's nondiscrimination policies may be directed to:

Director of Human Resources 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 Phone: (434)296.5827

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1691 et seq., prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities receiving federal funds, including discrimination in employment and student admissions. All Albemarle County Public Schools students, applicants, and employees are covered by this law. For questions or concerns regarding Title IX, please contact:

Title IX Coordinator Department of Human Resources 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 Phone: (434)296.5827

Our Vision:

All learners believe in their power to embrace learning, to excel, and to own their future.

Albemarle High School Page 4 ~ August 2015