Wishing you and yours all the joy and blessings
of this Holiday Season. It’s been an incredibly successful, albeit challenging
semester for Animas High School and the perseverance demonstrated by our
Ospreys is unprecedented and inspirational. Thank you for the honor and
privilege of working with such amazing young adults.
Please take a moment to review the final updates
for 2012:
AHS Response to Recent Tragedy in CT
Inclement Weather
POLS
AHS Quill
Testing and Assessment Update
Volunteers Needed
AHS Student Ambassadors
Upcoming Events & Exhibitions
2013-14
Enrollment
AHS Response to Recent Tragedy in CT
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only
light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
-Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
As we struggle to make sense of the horrific
events that transpired at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut
last Friday, the Animas High School community sends its deepest condolences to
the families and individuals affected by this tragedy. We want to take this
opportunity to assure you that your children are safe. And that Animas High
School takes student and employee safety very seriously.
Recent acts of school violence and the resulting
intense media coverage bring school safety issues to the forefront for all of
us. However, children, in particular, may experience anxiety, fear, and a sense
of personal risk. Pulling our students and staff together on Monday morning was
a powerful and impactful experience that highlighted our connections and care
for each other. But we also look to parents and families for help in assisting
our students with processing this horrible incident. Knowing how to talk with
your child about school safety issues could be critical in recognizing and
preventing acts of violence, and will play an important role in easing fear and
anxieties about their personal safety.
To guide parents through discussions about school
violence, the National Mental Health Association offers the following
suggestions:
•
Encourage children to talk about their concerns and
to
express their feelings. Some children may be
hesitant to initiate such conversation, so you may want to prompt them by
asking if they feel safe at school. When talking with younger children remember
to talk on their level. For example, they may not understand the term
"violence" but can talk to you about being afraid or a classmate who
is mean to them.
•
Talk honestly about your own feelings regarding
school
violence. It is important for children to
recognize they are not dealing with their fears alone.
•
Validate the child's feelings. Do not minimize a
child's
concerns. Let him/her know that serious school
violence is not common, which is why these incidents attract so much media
attention. Stress that schools are safe places. In fact, recent studies have
shown that schools are more secure now than ever before.
•
Empower children to take action regarding school
safety.
Encourage them to report specific incidents (such
as bullying, threats or talk of suicide) and to develop problem solving and
conflict resolution skills. Encourage older children to actively participate in
student-run anti-violence programs.
•
Discuss the safety procedures that are in place
at your
child's school. Explain why visitors sign in at
the principal's office or certain doors remain locked during the school day.
Help your child understand that such precautions are in place to ensure his or
her safety and stress the importance of adhering to school rules and policies.
•
Create safety plans with your child. Help
identify which
adults (their advisor, a trusted teacher or
support staff) your child can talk to if they feel threatened at school. Also
ensure that your child knows how to reach you (or another family member or
friend) in case of crisis during the school day. Remind your child that they
can talk to you anytime they feel threatened.
•
Recognize behavior that may indicate your child
is
concerned about returning to school. Younger
children may react to school violence by not wanting to attend school or
participate in school-based activities. Teens and adolescents may minimize
their concerns outwardly, but may become argumentative, withdrawn, or allow
their school performance to decline
•
Keep the dialogue going and make school safety a
common
topic in family discussions rather than just a
response to an immediate crisis. Open dialogue will encourage children to share
their concerns.
•
Seek help when necessary. If you are worried
about a
child's reaction or have ongoing concerns about
his/her behavior or emotions, contact a mental health professional at school or
at your community mental health center.
More information is available online at www.mhacolorado.org.
In the meantime, please know that Animas High
School is committed to your children's safety, and that we are here as a
resource should you need additional guidance on how to discuss school safety
issues with your children.
 |
| Students and staff gather to connect, reflect and support each other Monday morning. |
 |
| Coming together to remember those affected by last Friday’s horrific events, Hannah Quick, Class of 2013, shares a prayer for peace with the AHS community. |
Inclement Weather
We appreciate everyone’s coordination with last
Friday’s cancelation due to the first snowstorm of the season. It’s important
to remember that Animas High School takes a conservative approach to weather
closures due to the fact that we draw students and families from across
Southwestern Colorado. Please know that a decision to delay or cancel school is
never arbitrary and the Head of School utilizes multiple, regional resources to
inform his decision when making the call. Additionally, our campus presents
unique challenges when grappling with significant or ill-timed snowfall. Rest
assured that AHS has budgeted an ample amount of annual instructional hours,
allowing us the opportunity to take the safest, most conservative approach when
the need arises.
There was confusion however, related to our
school’s strategy in mirroring 9-R closures. If 9-R cancels school, you can be
sure that Animas High School will follow suit. However, there exist situations
where Animas will articulate a different plan than our local district of
residence. To this end, please make sure you re-familiarize yourself with the
Inclement Weather Policies that are documented in the 2012-13 Student Handbook.
(pg. 11)
Weather
Closures
Animas
High School will communicate with students/parents regarding weather closures
in the following ways:
·
Main
School Phone Line (970-247-2474): By 6:30 a.m. AHS
Administration will put a message on the school’s answering machine with details
regarding any closures/delays.
· Local Media: By 6:30
a.m., AHS Administration will contact local radio stations with details
regarding any closures/delays.
·
AHS
Website: By 7 a.m., AHS will have a message on www.animashighschool.com
and www.animashighschool.blogspot.com
regarding any closures/delays.
Find a copy of the Student Handbook Here: http://www.animashighschool.com/pdf/StudentHandbook2012.pdf
Additionally, the school is now taking the extra step of utilizing
social media, specifically the Head of School’s Blog and the AHS’s Facebook
page, to inform our community of cancelations. Links to these platforms can be
found on the school’s homepage and via the URLs below:
We make sure to have multiple avenues for our families to consult at
the slightest chance of cancelation. Remember, the surest avenue if you have
any question is to give us a ring as we always update the school’s main line
message first. (970-247-2474)
It appears that we may face additional challenges with the weather
before the end of the semester and we thank you in advance for utilizing these
outlets in seeking out AHS closure information.
POLS
It’s hard to believe that Presentations of Learning (POLs) begin
tomorrow. Your student has been scheduled for their POL either Wednesday or
Thursday. Please reference POL information, released in last week’s update for
specifics. You can find that info here:
AHS Quill
End of the semester, End of the World? The final issue of 2012 (and
possibly the last Quill in our existence?) is hot off the presses. We are so
impressed by the work of our student journalists. Come by campus and pick up a
copy and find recent issues of the AHS Quill here: http://www.theanimasquill.com/issue-archive.html
Testing and Assessment Update
1. Winter ACT prep sign up reminder: Don't
forget to email kristi.good@animashighschool.com to
sign up for a Winter ACT prep class. Both classes start on
January 7th and end on February 28th. Students can choose to take it
during SIG or after school from 3:30-4:30.
2. See 2012 PSAT/NMSQT results table on
testing blog: http://testinganimashigh.blogspot.com/
3. Sophomores get ready for another round of NWEA testing,
starting Jan 7th (the day we return from the break). Freshmen will be
testing the following week, starting on January 14th.
Volunteers Needed
We’re
proud of our school’s ability to pull in the best volunteers to help support
our programs of excellence. We’re looking for some help in Semester Two with
our lunch program. Specifically, we’re seeking folks who can help us with lunch
coverage on Tuesdays & Fridays from 11:20 to 12:40. Contact volunteer@animashighschool.com
to lend a hand!
AHS
Student Ambassadors
Applications
for this year’s Student Ambassador program are available now in the AHS Main
Office or online at: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bx3AAN9dCF3DOGNCRW1RRm5nWHM
Applications
are due December 18th by 3:15 pm. The Final Ambassador Roster will
be posted at 8 AM on January 7th in the AHS Main Office. There will
be a mandatory Student Ambassador Training on Wednesday, January 9th
from 3:30 to 5 pm at AHS.
Upcoming Events & Exhibitions
The Animas High School Chemistry students
are exhibiting their knowledge of how the structure of matter determines the
properties of materials through several exciting projects. A number of students have chosen to research
how a consumer product such as a bicycle frame or surfboard can be improved by
altering the materials of which they are made.
These students have artfully written business letters to the product
manufacturers, advocating for their suggested improvements. The
students will mail their letters on Tuesday the 18th. A second group of students have researched
new materials that may one day change our world including self-healing polymers
or electroactive polymers that can serve as muscles for prosthetics. These
students are writing feature articles that highlight how these materials work
and their potential impact on society.
A third group of students have investigated how particular chemicals
like caffeine and potassium nitrate have shaped the course of human
civilization and are writing a feature article that examines the relationship
between the chemistry of the substance and its effect on society. Students
writing feature articles will be striving to have their work published through
an online newspaper that highlights science reporting by high school students, www.scijourner.org. Students will also be creating a compendium
of all feature articles which will be available in digital form.
There will
be a Staff and Teacher Appreciation
Luncheon on Friday, December 21st
from 11:30-1:00 at Animas High School. Volunteers who are interested
in bringing food or helping with the event should contact pac@animashighschool.com.
Locals Day- Benefits Animas High
School
Date: February 10, 2013 (Sunday)
Tickets: $40 Adults, $32 Students/Seniors, $25 Child
* Must present
a Locals Day coupon to get discounted tickets
Coupons
available: AHS website, AHS Quill,
coupon with Constant Contact, Durango Telegraph, Durango Herald
DMR has
also decided to include both Animas High School and Mountain Middle School in
their Ski For Schools Day. What’s better than one day on the slopes for your
school? TWO!
2013 SKI FOR SCHOOLS DAY- Benefits
DRO Schools
Date: January 21st, 2012
Tickets:
available through 1/18 at 5 p.m. $35, available at City Market, Albertsons, and
Nature’s Oasis; not available at Durango Mountain Resort!
2013-14
Enrollment
Online enrollment forms for the 2013-14 school year will be live on Animas
High School’s website January 7th, 2013th at 12:00 AM MST. AHS will be
accepting intent to enroll submissions for students in the 9th, 10th
and 11th grades. Look for more enrollment information in future
weekly updates.
