August 14, 2009
Dear ARHS Parents & Guardians,
On behalf of the faculty and staff of ARHS, I would like to welcome all of our students and families to SY 2009 -- 2010.
Over the next two weeks, all ARHS families will receive two mailings. The second mailing, which will be sent on August 21, will include student schedules and Emergency and Health Information forms. The purpose of the mailing you are reading now is to provide ARHS families with information basic to the upcoming school year. As a cost saving measure, regardless of how many children are currently enrolled in the high school, families will receive only one copy of this mailing. Below is a list of enclosures.
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An important reminder for all new students and 9th graders: On Tuesday, August 18 from 8:30 -- 1:00, ARHS will hold a one-day Open House for all new students and 9th graders. The day is organized on a drop-in basis -- whenever they arrive, students should plan on staying for approximately an hour. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend. The goal of the day is for students to receive their schedules, become familiar with the layout of the building and meet some people who will play a role in their lives over the next four years.
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The first day of school for all students is Thursday, August 27. The day’s schedule is below:
1.9th graders will report directly to their homerooms at 7:45.
2.10 -- 12th graders will report to school at 10:00[Buses will make a 2nd morning run.]
3.Upon their arrival:
10th graders will meet with their counselors. Locations will be provided on the first day.
11th graders will report directly to their homerooms.
12th graders will report to the auditorium.
4.Dismissal is at the regular time, 2:20 pm.
Lastly, here are two other important dates:
Tuesday, September 8: 9th Grade/New Student Family Night @ 7 pm: This is a one hour meeting designed to provide parents and guardians of all new students with an overview of ARHS’s policies and procedures.
Thursday, October 1: Open House @ 7 pm
For the remainder of August, the main office is open from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. I encourage you to call if you have questions. I look forward to seeing everyone shortly.
Sincerely,
Mark Jackson
Principal
After School Clubs: The ARHS Parent Center and School Council have organized an ambitious fund raising effort for the upcoming school year. The goal is to raise funds sufficient to underwrite at least 30 student clubs. This budget line was cut entirely in this year’s budget. So, this fund raising effort is what stands between us and having any clubs for students this school year. Please read the enclosed flyer for details.
Attendance Policies: For the past two years, the school has worked to clarify and strengthen those policies and procedures designed to promote consistent student attendance. For the upcoming school year, we’ve taken a few additional steps.
The first can be described as improving our attendance "accounting practices." We will no longer lump all types of absences together as we track the absences students’ accumulate toward the limit of eight(8) per course. We’ve created a category of excused absences which do not count towards the absence limit. This category would include such things as school-sponsored field trips and foreign exchanges.
The paragraph above is only a brief summary of these changes. Therefore, it is important for all students and families to familiarize themselves with the changes in how absences are categorized and tracked. The Student and Family Handbook, which we will distribute to all students on the first day of school as well as make available on our web site, contains all the details.
Secondly, parents and guardians will have real time access via the Power School parent portal to their child’s attendance record. The ability to monitor attendance in real time will enable parents and guardians to assist their children in maintaining a good attendance pattern.
In a separate mailing scheduled for the week of September 8, all families will receive information about establishing passwords that will enable them to access the system.
Lastly, we are interested in improving the quality of the attention we pay to those students who exceed the absence limit of eight(8) days per course. This year, the school will notify parents and guardians as soon as students exceed the absence limit. This letter will provide information about how to schedule an attendance hearing, which all students who exceed the absence limit will be required to attend. At least for the first trimester, Mr. Jackson will chair these hearings. The purpose of the hearing is to improve student attendance. The school assumes that exceeding the absence limit is an opportunity disguised as a problem. The hearing provides an opportunity for the school and family to collaborate on a plan to improve the student’s attendance pattern. If there is no evidence of extenuating circumstances, the prospect of losing credit for the course is a real one. In this event, students will need to re-take the course in order to earn credit. However, the goal of the hearing is to ensure consistent attendance by resolving the issues that prevent it.
Cafeteria: Breakfast is available to all students every morning. The cost of breakfast is $1.00 full price and $0.30 reduced price. Students need to finish with breakfast before 7:40 in order to be on time for first period. The cost of lunch was increased to $2.50 last year. No further increases are planned for this year. The cost of a reduced lunch also will remain at $0.40. Keeping the lunch lines moving maximizes the time students have to actually eat. To help in this effort, the Food Service Department maintains ’cafeteria accounts’ for students. Students can deposit by either cash or check an amount of money that is automatically debited when they swipe their ID cards. Checks can be made out to Amherst School Food Service Department and left with the cafeteria cashiers.
Late Buses: Late buses will run according to the schedule below, starting on Tuesday, September 8. Students should be ready to board the late buses by no later than 3:45.
Monday: Amherst and Hilltowns
Tuesday: Amherst and Hilltowns
Wednesday: No late buses
Thurday: Amherst and Hilltowns
Friday: No late buses
24: Football tryouts begin at 9:00 a.m.
27: All other sports practices/tryouts begin at 3:15
Important: In order to try out or practice, students must be registered and cleared for participation. Contact the Athletic Office @ 362-1746 if you have questions or concerns.
7: Labor Day, All schools closed.
12: Homecoming: Games & Events from 1:00-9:00; see www.highschoolsports.net for details; Tag Sale for athletics from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (contact Athletic Director Karen Keough-Huff at 362-1747 or email huffk@arps.org if you want to donate items)
12: ACT administration
10: Late Arrival Day: All Students Report at 10 am
21: School Picture Day
5: College Recruiting Night 7:00 High School Library. Session is for student athletes (and parents) who are interested in participating in College Athletics.
10: SAT administration
17: PSAT administration