The Friday Falcon - Avon Public Schools

The Friday Falcon
Volume II, Issue 29
April 17, 2015
Dear Avon High School Families,
Early this fall we began exploring the possibility of a new bell schedule for Avon High School. The
schedule below represents the bell schedule that we plan on implementing in the 2015-2016 school
year. While the times may need to be adjusted slightly, this schedule provides a general overview of
how the schedule will run. Unlike our current schedule, the new schedule is mostly a “locked” model.
Therefore, Mondays and Wednesdays will always be odd periods, while Tuesdays and Thursdays will
always be even periods. Friday will be a flex day. If we have two consecutive five day school weeks,
week one will be an odd flex on Friday, and week two will be an even flex on Friday. If we have
disrupted weeks for holidays or inclement weather, we will use Friday to pick up the lost instructional
time appropriately with the odd or even periods.
This particular schedule was selected following an extensive review of possible models along with the
incorporation of feedback from faculty and student focus groups. The schedule below was chosen for
several reasons. Most importantly, we know that the traditional high school model continues to evolve,
and we must provide a structure for students that allows them to take advantage of available learning
opportunities both in and out of school. As our internship program continues to grow, and students
express interest in earning college credit during their high school years, we need a schedule that offers
the flexibility to leave school early on scheduled days to complete required internship hours or take a
course off of the AHS campus.
Some other benefits of the schedule allow
for shared staffing between buildings to
support student learning needs across the
district, provide opportunities for AMS
students to take courses at AHS in targeted
areas that are academically appropriate, and
also allow for a locking of the schedule to
facilitate the scheduling of appointments
with professionals and families outside of
AHS that are related to student learning
needs. I am sure many of you have faced an
inconvenient reschedule over the years as a
result of the rotation.
We are excited about the new opportunities
this schedule will offer our students. I would
like to thank all of the faculty and students
who spent time providing us with feedback
and suggestions in order to make an
informed decision regarding this change.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any member of the Avon High School
administrative team.
I hope you are able to enjoy a restful weekend.
________________________________________________________________________________
Avon High School is a student centered community that empowers each member to engage in authentic and
substantive learning, develop effective leadership, and demonstrate humane character.
4/20/15
4/21/15
4/22/15
4/23/15
4/24/15
D
A
B
C
C
Day
Day
Day
½ Day (3, 4, 1)
½ Day (7, 8, 5)
Last Friday evening, sophomores Dylan Bernetich and Andrew Mascoli coordinated and performed in
“Acoustic Night” at Avon High School. Dylan and Andrew organized the event as a fundraiser for a new
sound shell in the auditorium. Several students performed with some guest staff appearances. All
organization for this event was expertly handled by Dylan and Andrew. They did a fantastic job and
raised over 250.00 toward the sound shell project. Well done!
2:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
Mon.,
Mon.,
Mon.,
Mon.,
Mon.,
Mon.,
Mon.,
Tue.,
Tue.,
Tue.,
4/20 V Baseball Stafford Away - Arute Baseball Fields off of Levinthal Run
4/20 V Boys Lacrosse Ellington Away - Ellington High School
4/20 V Boys Tennis Granby Memorial Away - Granby Memorial High School
4/20 V Girls Golf Cheshire Home - Blue Fox Run
4/20 V Girls Lacrosse Ellington Home - Avon High School
4/20 V Softball Stafford Home - Fisher Meadow
4/20 V Girls Tennis Granby Memorial Home - Avon Middle School
4/21 V Boys Golf SMSA Away
4/21 V Boys Outdoor Track Windsor Locks, Enfield Away - Windsor Locks HS
4/21 V Girls Golf Northwest Catholic, East Hartford Away - Wampanoag Country
________________________________________________________________________________
Avon High School is a student centered community that empowers each member to engage in authentic and
substantive learning, develop effective leadership, and demonstrate humane character.
3:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m.
Tue.,
Wed.,
Wed.,
Wed.,
Wed.,
Thu.,
Thu.,
Thu.,
Thu.,
Fri.,
Fri.,
Fri.,
Fri.,
Sat.,
Sat.,
Sat.,
Club, West Hartford, CT.
4/21 V Girls Outdoor Track Windsor Locks, Enfield Away
4/22 V Boys Golf Ellington Home - Blue Fox Run
4/22 V Boys Tennis Ellington Away - Ellington High School
4/22 V Softball East Granby Away - East Granby High School
4/22 V Girls Tennis Ellington Home - Avon Middle School
4/23 V Boys Golf Classical Magnet Away
4/23 V Boys Lacrosse Conard Away - Conard HS Stadium
4/23 V Girls Golf Daniel Hand Home - Blue Fox Run
4/23 V Girls Lacrosse Newington Away - Varsity Girls' Game Field behind tennis
4/24 V Baseball Coventry Away - Coventry High School
4/24 V Boys Tennis Enfield/Somers Home - Thompson Brook School
4/24 V Softball Coventry Home - Fisher Meadow
4/24 V Girls Tennis Enfield Away - Enfield High School
4/25 V Boys Lacrosse Farmington Home - Buckingham Field
4/25 V Girls Lacrosse Glastonbury Home - Avon High School
4/25 V Softball Suffield Away - Suffield High School
Follow us on Twitter
Chris Tranberg - @PrincipalAHS
Greg Ferry - @AvonFalcons
School Counseling - @avonhscounselor
AHS Library @1AHSLibrary
Sierra Club
The Avon High School Sierra Club will host its 7th annual Eco-Night/Eco Fair
on Friday, May 8th, from 5:30 to 9 in the high school gallery. As usual, they will
have vendors such as Farmer's Cow, Whole Foods, Flatbread Pizza, Ben and
Jerry's, Ten Thousand Villages, and a few activity tables such as bracelet making,
henna, face-painting, and smoothies/trail-mix. Cost of admission is 3.00.
Over spring break, special education
teacher Gina Carchidi participated in
community service trip to Guatemala.
Pictured with Ms. Carchidi is a mother and
two children who are now sleeping in a
bed, as opposed to the floor, thanks to the
fundraising efforts her AHS Advisory
group. The project allowed for the delivery
of 25 bunk beds which allowed for 50
mothers and children to sleep in a bed.
Additionally, Ms. Carchidi helped with the
construction on a new school, and delivery
of supplies to an orphanage.
________________________________________________________________________________
Avon High School is a student centered community that empowers each member to engage in authentic and
substantive learning, develop effective leadership, and demonstrate humane character.
Project Graduation
AHS PROJECT GRADUATION - VOLUNTEERS & CHAPERONES NEEDED! Event
needs your help as much or as little can give, whether you have a Senior or
not! Please contact Patti Grillo at gr93089@comcast.net if you are interested.
AHS Project Graduation Restaurant Fundraisers:
Please support Project Graduation by eating out at some
of Avon’s best eateries!!
First and Last - Tuesday, April 21, 2015
15% of all sales during dinner will be donated!
Moe’s - Wednesday, May 6, 2015
15% from sales 5-9pm will be donated!
New England Pasta Company - Thursday, May 7, 2015
20% of all sales from 2-6 pm will be donated
School Counseling News
Avon Dollars for Scholars: Deadline for seniors to apply is April
25! www.avon.dollarsforscholars.org/
Big Decisions: Seniors, please let the school counseling office know of all college
results, including admits, denies, and waitlists. We are here to help you talk
things through if needed as your May 1 deposit deadline approaches. Please
remember that you can only send a deposit to ONE college.
Sophomore and Junior Families:
Announcing College Knowledge Night
Wednesday, May 20, 6:30-8:00, AHS Auditorium
Please join us for questions and answers about college admissions
with admissions counselors from:
Boston College
Central Connecticut State University
Muhlenberg College
Union College
The University of Connecticut
Academy Night will be held on Wednesday, April 29th at the MG Maurice Rose
Armed Forces Reserve Center, 335 Smith Street, Middletown, CT
at 7pm. Informational session bringing together representatives from all 5
service academies – U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy,
U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and the U.S. Coast
Guard Academy to discuss the admissions process, life of a
cadet/midshipman, opportunities and commitments, and information on the
congressional nomination process.
Requests for external credit: All requests must be approved in advance; purple
forms are available in the School Counseling office. Please be advised that
summer school programs are generally designed for credit recovery
or enrichment only and are not intended to replace AHS graduation
requirements. Please see your school counselor with questions.
________________________________________________________________________________
Avon High School is a student centered community that empowers each member to engage in authentic and
substantive learning, develop effective leadership, and demonstrate humane character.
The Addams Family
In just a few weeks Avon High School will present our spring musical, The
Addams Family. Opening night is Friday, April 24 at 7:30 PM. Additional show
times include Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, April 26 at 2:00 PM.
Please mark your calendars!
Tickets can be ordered at http://www.avonhstheatre.org or through the Avon
High School website. Tickets are $12 in advance for adults or $8 for students and
senior citizens. At the door, tickets will be $15 for adults and $10 for students
and senior citizens. Reserved priority seating will be available for $20 per ticket.
Questions can be directed to avonhstheatre@gmail.com or 860.404.4740.
Tickets will go on sale in the AHS lobby one hour before the show, and the
auditorium will open twenty minutes before curtain.
________________________________________________________________________________
Avon High School is a student centered community that empowers each member to engage in authentic and
substantive learning, develop effective leadership, and demonstrate humane character.
Spring is finally arriving! Despite the fact that cooler temperatures are hanging on for
dear life, we are told by our local meteorologists that sunnier days are on the way.
With warmer temperatures comes the approach of the fourth and final quarter of
this school year, which seems inconceivable! Please keep the following in mind as
you and your children gear up for the last 25% of the year:

All full-day absences for students should be called in by 9:00am. An automated
call goes out at 10:00am, which can serve as a reminder, but if unexcused
absences are not resolved by the end of the day, a second round of calls goes out
around 6:00pm. Any unexcused absence remaining the next day may be subject
to disciplinary action if not cleared through the attendance office.
 Should your child have ten or more absences in any one class, even those
excused by a parent, there is the potential for credit loss in that class. An
exception to this policy are absences that are verified by a doctor. If your child
has visited the doctor and missed any classes as a result, please get those
doctors’ notes in sooner than later, to avoid the need to produce them at the
end of the school year.
 Just a reminder that seniors are only allowed to sign out for privileges during
double opens, or two consecutive single classes. If they leave during an open for
an appointment but are missing all or part of a class, they must sign in or out in
the main office, with advance parental permission. Seniors should not be leaving
for privileges during their 30 minute lunch block, or during single opens.
We are energized and excited for the remainder of the school year, and we hope you
are too! Should you have any attendance-related questions, please call Carolyn
Taylor at (860) 404-4746, or email her at ctaylor@avon.k12.ct.us. Happy Spring!
________________________________________________________________________________
Avon High School is a student centered community that empowers each member to engage in authentic and
substantive learning, develop effective leadership, and demonstrate humane character.
Please Mark Your Calendars
April 23, 2015
April 23-24, 2015
April 24-26, 2015
Avon vs. Farmington Charity Basketball Game – 7:00 PM – Farmington HS
Parent Teacher Conferences
Addams Family – AHS Auditorium
________________________________________________________________________________
Avon High School is a student centered community that empowers each member to engage in authentic and
substantive learning, develop effective leadership, and demonstrate humane character.