AHS Weekly Update- Week of November 26th, 2012

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, CyberMonday and WEEKLY UPDATE TUESDAY! We hope you and your family had an amazingThanksgiving recess. There’s less than a month to go in semester one and the action at AHS remains robust. Please take a moment to review the following updates:

November Grade Checks

Beautiful Work

Friendraising Success

Upcoming Events

November Grade Checks

ThisWednesday, AHS students will be participating in their monthly grade check ritual with their advisors. Are you following all of your student’s progress online? Parents are expected to frequently check-in with the school’s online grade book program, PowerSchool. Parents and families who need assistance with PowerSchool are encouraged to contact the AHS Main Office at 970-247-2474 or via email mainoffice@animashighschool.com The staff appreciate your help supporting and monitoring your student’s scholastic growth.

Beautiful Work

AHS students continuously amaze us with their initiatives, exploits and success. Recently, a number of pieces of student work made the Durango Telegraph. Please check out the following links:

 A series of op-ed pieces written by Animas High School students that are running over the next few weeks in the Durango Telegraph:

http://www.durangotelegraph.com/index.cfm/archives/2012/november-15-2012/news1/soapbox/

Elijah Gutt

http://www.durangotelegraph.com/index.cfm/news2/soapbox/

GeoyFischer

Nathan Youssef, Class of 2013, recently published his first book. You can read about Nathan’s efforts here: http://www.durangotelegraph.com/index.cfm/archives/2012/october-25-2012/news/the-pole/ and download his book online at: www.101waystocontribute.com

Friendraising Success

On November 14^th, students, staff, families, friends and community members assembled at the Henry Strater Theatre for Animas High School’s Annual Fall Friendraiser. The evening was a huge success. Read about the event in this fantastic column by Ann Butler of the Durango Herald:

http://durangoherald.com/article/20121116/COLUMNISTS03/121119633/0/SEARCH/An-evening-of-'friendraising

Upcoming Events

The next Parent Advisory Committee meeting will be on Monday, December 10 at noon at Durango Doughworks, 2653 Main Avenue.

Corridos: Historia por Música: Within just one musical form, the "corrido", one can hear tales of heroes and bandits, natural disasters, love, war, drug smuggling, betrayal, horse chases, oppression, workers rights, immigration and much more. Junior Spanish students will be reading their own original corridos (*En Español) and displaying their research on an important event/person in Mexican-American relations. Please join us on Monday, December 10th from 6:30-8pm in the Durango Recreation Center for this evening of history, music, and Spanish!

There will be a Mock Trial on Supreme Court Case Korematsu v. U.S. (1944) on Thursday, December 13th from 8:15-12:45 at the La Plata County Courthouse 1060 E. Second Avenue

Exhibition Description: The juniors will be bringing to life a Supreme Court case that pertained to Japanese Internment camps during WWII. The essential question we have been studying throughout this project is "How should the U.S. government balance individual liberties with national security during wartime?"  For the trial, students will assume the roles of judges, lawyers and witnesses as they seek to determine whether or not Fred Korematsu is guilty of violating the Civilian Exclusion Order, which removed 120,000 Japanese Americans from thewest coast and into internment camps.  Our student judges will also decide whether or not Executive Order 9066 was constitutional. 

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.

Animas High School

AHS main #- 970-AHS-AHS4

www.animashighschool.com

www.animashighschool.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/AnimasHighSchool

 

Animas High School Values:

 

• Rigorous academics, where all students are prepared for college success
• Culture of excellence, where students are held to high expectations
• Strong faculty-student relationships, where students are well known  
• Engaging learning, where students see the relevance of their education

 

AHS Weekly Update- Weeks of November 12th and 19th, 2012

At Animas High, we’ve got so much to be thankful for this year! Amazing students, committed and inspirational staff and supportive and engaged parents are just some of the blessings we’re celebrating this week. On behalf of the entire AHS community, we wish you a safe and joyous start to the holiday season.

Please take a moment to review the following updates:

AHS Mock Elections

Test Prep at AHS

Power Lunches Continue

The Animas Quill

FLC Concurrent Enrollment

Upcoming Events

AHS Facebook Page

AHS Mock Elections

The voting was spirited last Tuesday as AnimasHigh School students went to the polls in the school’s mock election. Below are the results. Regardless of the outcome, our school’s results have given our calculus classes a large amount of data to examine, explore and analyse. Great job AHS and thanks to Sara Price’s Global Issues classes for facilitating an incredible mock election!

2012 All-School Election Results:

Presidential:

Barack Obama

Congressional:

Sal Pace

County Commissioner:

District 2 - Gwen Lachelt

District 3 - Julie Westendorff

Amendments:

S - No

64 - Yes

65 - Yes

Test Prep at AHS

AHS is pleased to provide SAT and ACT test prep courses for our students. These courses are provided on a limited basis and are enrolled on a first come/first served basis. Currently, we have a few additional spots in the fall ACT prep course that started this week. If your student is planning on taking a prep course, DO NOT WAIT for the spring. Courses fill extremely fast and there may not be room for your student in future prep classes. Take advantage of this valuable opportunity today. Questions can be forwarded to AHS’s Coordinator of Testing and Assessment at Kristi.good@animashighschool.com. Additional information about admissions testing and prep classes can be found here: http://testinganimashigh.blogspot.com/p/prep-courses-for-act-sat.html

Power Lunches Continue

RIVER SAFETY & SLALOM BOATING

Who: Marci Cary and Lisa Adams of Blue Heron Canoe and Kayak

Club. Marci has logged over 20 years on her kayak. Member of the US National Wildwater team, she has competed across the US and in Guatemala. Lisa is a lifelong canoeist-- open canoeing since she was 5 years old, solo canoeing from age 13, and kayaking from age 16. Her ten-year racing career has taken her to across the US as well as internationally in Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and Mexico. She has been a member of the US National Slalom team for 2 years.

Where: 12:35- 1:10 in Matt’s Humanities Room

When: Wednesday, November14th

What: Come and learn about the sport of slalom racing and river safety. Join us for food and conversation!

Questions: Contact Rachael Sands at 259-3013.

The Animas Quill

 

The Animas Quill, Animas High School’s student newspaper has published the second issue of the 2012-13 school year. Be sure to pick up a print copy of the Quill at AHS or download the recent issue here: http://www.theanimasquill.com/issue-archive.html

FLC Concurrent Enrollment

 A representative from Fort Lewis’sConcurrent Enrollment Department will be visiting Animas High School on November 14^th. FLC will be reviewing options and opportunities for concurrent enrollment with students in our Junior Humanities classes. You can learn more about concurrent enrollment at Fort Lewis College here: http://www.fortlewis.edu/concurrent/Home.aspx

Upcoming Events

 

 The 4th Annual Fall Fundraiser is Wednesday, November 14 at the Henry Strater Theatre in Downtown Durango. The event starts at 5:30 PM and includes Student Displays and Presentations, Hors oeuvres and Cash Bar. Please RSVP to pac@animashighschool.com.  We’ll see you at the Strater!

Advanced Physics Exhibition, November 15th, 4:00-6:00 pm at AHS Come learn about the safety of our local traffic patterns! Animas High School Advanced Physics Students will present their evaluation of intersections around La Plata County.

AHS will be closed from November 19h through November 26^th for the Thanksgiving recess. Campus will re-open at 7AM on Tuesday November 27^th. There is no school on Monday, November 26^th as staff are participating in professional development experiences.

Corridos: Historia por Música: Within just one musical form, the "corrido", one can hear tales of heroes and bandits, natural disasters, love, war, drug smuggling, betrayal, horse chases, oppression, workers rights, immigration and much more. Junior Spanish students will be reading their own original corridos (*En Español) and displaying their research on an important event/person in Mexican-American relations. Please join us on Monday, December 10th from 6:30-8pm in the Durango Recreation Center for this evening of history, music, and Spanish!

AHS Facebook Page

 Congratulations to us! We have hit 300 “likes” on the Animas High School Facebook fan page!  Remember, we update the school’s Facebook page daily and this page is where you can keep up with all the action in real-time, Additionally, donors and philanthropic foundations are visiting non-profit’s FB pages to gauge community interest and stakeholder support. Let’s see if we can increase our social media and online presence. Please visit http://www.facebook.com/AnimasHighSchool and “Like Us” Better yet, share our page with your social network and help us hit four hundred likes!

Animas High School

AHS main #- 970-AHS-AHS4

www.animashighschool.com

www.animashighschool.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/AnimasHighSchool

 

Animas High School Values:

 

• Rigorous academics, where all students are prepared for college success
• Culture of excellence, where students are held to high expectations
• Strong faculty-student relationships, where students are well known  
• Engaging learning, where students see the relevance of their education

 

Public Charter Schools Win Big in Election

 Dear charter school supporter,

The 2012 election is an important moment in the public charter schools movement.

In two states, voters sent a clear message that they want public school options that are unique partnerships between teachers, parents, and students and that respond to the specific needs of their communities.

Voters in Georgia rejected the status quo and created conditions that support the growth of high-quality public charter schools that are accountable for student achievement. Now, charter applicants who are rejected by school districts will have access to a fair appeals process.

In Washington state, where votes are still being counted, voters are on the verge of making their state the 42nd with a public charter school law. If the results hold up, families and children in Washington will have the chance to attend schools that are as innovative as the companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing that drive the state’s economy forward.

In addition, the re-election of President Obama maintains leadership for charter schools at the national level. In his first term, President Obama created an environment where charter schools could thrive through the incentives in Race to the Top, Investing in Innovation, Promise Neighborhoods, and other reform programs. Over the past three years, almost half of states have revised their charter school laws to support growth and quality. Over the past four years, enrollment in public charter schools has risen by almost 1 million students. Today, more than 2 million students attend these unique public schools that serve the needs of students and their parents.

With the support of voters in Georgia, Washington and other states, and with the leadership from elected officials in state houses and Washington, D.C., the best days are ahead for the public charter school community.

Regards,



Nina Rees
President & CEO



© Copyright 2006 - 2012, The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
1101 Fifteenth Street, NW, Suite 1010. Washington, DC 20005.
(202) 289-2700

AHS Weekly Update- Week of November 5th, 2012

Thanks to everyone for their participation in last Thursday’s SLCs. A reminder for parents to be checking your student’s PowerSchool account weekly along with following all the scholastic action via faculty Digital Portfolios. Please help us by keeping a close eye on your student’s academic progress and communicating your concerns to their faculty advisor.

Please take a moment to review the following updates:

STAC Elections

 Test Prep at AHS

 Power Lunches Continue

The Animas Quill

FLC Concurrent Enrollment

Upcoming Events

AHS Facebook Page

STAC Elections 

Congratulations to all the student candidates for their efforts in this year’s Student Advisory Council elections. The results of the STAC election are as follows:

9^th grade reps- Lyle B. & Jacob S.

10^th grade reps- Natalie Y., Till S., Will S. & Teal L.

11^th grade reps- Eli KD., John R., Hanna M., Martina P. & Shannon E.

12^th grade reps- Jenna B., Cooper S., Jonathan C. & James S.

On Tuesday, November 6^th, the entire AHS community will participate in a mock national election. Stay tuned for more results from our civically minded ospreys!

Test Prep at AHS

AHS is pleased to provide SAT and ACT test prep courses for our students. These courses are provided on a limited basis and are enrolled on a first come/first served basis. Currently, we have a few additional spots in the fall ACT prep course that started this week. If your student is planning on taking a prep course, DO NOT WAIT for the spring. Courses fill extremely fast and there may not be room for your student in future prep classes. Take advantage of this valuable opportunity today. Questions can be forwarded to AHS’s Coordinator of Testing and Assessment at Kristi.good@animashighschool.com. Additional information about admissions testing and prep classes can be found here: http://testinganimashigh.blogspot.com/p/prep-courses-for-act-sat.html

Power Lunches Continue

RIVER SAFETY & SLALOM BOATING

Who: Marci Cary and Lisa Adams of Blue Heron Canoe and Kayak

Club. Marci has logged over 20 years on her kayak. Member of the US National Wildwater team, she has competed across the US and in Guatemala. Lisa is a lifelong canoeist-- open canoeing since she was 5 years old, solo canoeing from age 13, and kayaking from age 16. Her ten-year racing career has taken her to across the US as well as internationally in Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and Mexico. She has been a member of the US National Slalom team for 2 years.

Where: 12:35- 1:10 in Matt’s Humanities Room

When: Wednesday, November14th

What: Come and learn about the sport of slalom racing and river safety. Join us for food and conversation!

Questions: Contact Rachael Sands at 259-3013.

The Animas Quill

 

The Animas Quill, Animas High School’s student newspaper has published the second issue of the 2012-13 school year. Be sure to pick up a print copy of the Quill at AHS and follow all the action at: http://www.theanimasquill.com/issue-archive.html

 FLC Concurrent Enrollment

 A representative from Fort Lewis’s Concurrent Enrollment Department will be visiting Animas High School on November 14^th. FLC will be reviewing options and opportunities for concurrent enrollment with students in our Junior Humanities classes. You can learn more about concurrent enrollment at Fort Lewis College here: http://www.fortlewis.edu/concurrent/Home.aspx

Upcoming Events

The next Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting will occur on Monday, November 12 from 12:00 until 1:00 at Durango Doughworks, 2653 Main Avenue.

The first sophomore Biology exhibition will take place at AHS in the  lodge on Tuesday, November 13th from 4pm to 6pm.

This exhibition is open to all sophomore parents and any member of the community who works or volunteers for an ecology related business; such as the Division of Wildlife, Southwest Conservation Corps, Fort Lewis Biology Department etc. The students will be exhibiting management plans they have written for the Durango area to address ecological issues such as human-bear conflict, colony collapse disorder, invasive species, mega-fires and plastic consumption.

10th Grade Humanities Exhibition Students will present their Truth of War projects on Wednesday, November 7th from 5-6:30 pm at the Durango Public Library.

Over 100 million people have been killed by wars in the 20th century alone.  After war is over, soldiers often struggle to communicate their experiences to a larger audience, and to make the public understand what war is, beyond the messages they see in newspapers and other media. In this project, students will grapple with the question of: "What is the truth of war for soldiers?"  To help them answer this question, they will take a close look at the literature of WWI and WWII, and will examine that literature through a historical lens before creating a carefully crafted writing piece that attempts to express the truth of war. 

The 4th Annual Fall Fundraiser is Wednesday, November 14 at the Henry Strater Theatre in Downtown Durango. The event starts at 5:30 PM and includes Student Displays and Presentations, Hors oeuvres and Cash Bar. Please RSVP to pac@animashighschool.com.  We’ll see you at the Strater!

AHS will be closed from November 19h through November 26^th for the Thanksgiving recess. Campus will re-open at 7AM on Tuesday November 27^th.

AHS Facebook Page

 Congratulations to us! We have hit 300 “likes” on the Animas High School Facebook fan page!  Remember, we update the school’s Facebook page daily and this page is where you can keep up with all the action in real-time, Additionally, donors and philanthropic foundations are visiting non-profit’s FB pages to gauge community interest and stakeholder support. Let’s see if we can increase our social media and online presence. Please visit http://www.facebook.com/AnimasHighSchool and “Like Us” Better yet, share our page with your social network and help us hit four hundred likes!