FRIDAY FALCON

December 2021 - Volume 1:6

ADMINS' NEWSLETTER

Hello AHS Friends and Families,


Today Avon High School students and staff wore their pajamas to help raise awareness and honor the brave children at Connecticut Children's Medical Center! All donations will benefit these young patients. The following email was sent out to the senior class to help push towards the day's goal of $2022!


  • Hello seniors, Think back to when you were in 6th grade at TBS. Remember the year your classmates Morgan, Hannah, and Emily organized "Whipping Childhood Cancer?" You helped to raise over $13,000! Well, tomorrow is year four for PJ Day at AHS. Let's show our support one final time and wear your PJs (school appropriate ones) and consider making a donation. All donations make you automatically entered in a drawing for prizes from several local businesses. Donations are accepted during lunch outside the cafe or during the day in the school counseling office. You can also donate electronically, using this LINK. If the school raises $2022 for this event, each senior who donates will be entered in an additional drawing to throw a shaving cream pie in my face, for old time's sake. Take care, Mr. Renkawitz.


We are proud to announce that Avon High School students and staff exceeded the goal. We are still counting it and will update everyone asap! We are sure that Mr. Renkawitz will be having his pie before the December Break! Thank you to everyone that donated and participated in the fantastic fundraiser! Stay tuned for the update!!!!

  • IDs are to be worn at all times during the school day.

  • Please pick up you school ID and school photos from Mrs. Tubridy.

  • Please remember to only exit the building through the front entrance during the school day.

NURSE'S CORNER

Please remember to submit your child's proof of CoVid vaccination to the AHS Nurse's office. If a quarantine is necessary your child may be sent home from school if we do not have proof of vaccination on file. You can email a picture of your child's vaccination card to : ahsnurses@avon.k12.ct.us


Thank you - if we all work together we can remain in school and sports! Stay Well!

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

Ms. Lane and Ms. Twohig

Connelly's Corner

~ James Connelly - Director of Security & Safety/Avon Public Schools


Good day all,

I was hoping that I would never have to write this email again, but having watched the news the other day, here it is. Your Holiday safety briefing.

As many of you are (painfully) aware, there has been a massive uptick in auto burglaries in the area, especially from driveways. Unfortunately, this is a very popular and easy crime to commit, especially considering that it takes all of 7 seconds to break into a car and steal something. It is also very lucrative (the platinum and palladium in your catalytic converter is worth some serious money).

Some of the ways you can help prevent this from happening are (as you probably already heard):

  • Don't leave things in your cars (It's literally window shopping!)

  • Lock your doors and activate the alarm (and take the keys inside with you)

For long term prevention, a few things to consider:

  • Outdoor lighting (turn them on at night and, if possible, keep on overnight)

  • Security Cameras pointed so that you can see down the driveway and, if possible, the street (gotta see the getaway car).

Also, as the Holiday season approaches I'll throw out this for your information.

Shopping mall parking lots are also fertile ground for thieves so keep that in mind as you are out and about shopping.

Basic stuff:

  • Be aware of your surroundings, keep an eye out for people keeping an eye on you.

  • If you have to keep stuff in your car, try to cover it or store it so that it's not as visible from the outside (easier said than done, I know).

  • Try using cashless options if they are available to you.

  • Also, double check with your credit card companies about the lost/stolen purchase policies.

  • "Porch Piracy" is still a very real issue, and it is expected to be worse this year considering the ongoing supply chain issues.

A few more things to consider:

  • Doorbell cameras

  • Secured delivery boxes in front of your house

  • Amazon and many other online stores offer several options for delivery to local business (Whole foods, Kohls, etc). You may want to consider that as an option for a more secure delivery of items.

If you are planning on leaving town for the holidays a couple things to consider:

  • Don't broadcast the information to everyone on social media (you never know who is watching).

  • Consider contacting your local police and asking them to do "passing calls" on you residence while you are gone (they may call it something different but the idea is the same, they do more drive bys of the house while you are gone).

These are just a few ideas to help make your holiday season a bit more secure and enjoyable.

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

AHS Happenings...

Open Mic Night

~ Ms. Mouning

On November 17th, the student club, Avon Voices for Equity, held its first Open Mic Night in the school cafeteria. Students, staff, parents, and guests shared poetry, music, and thoughts connected to the event’s theme, “Speak Truth to Power.” With close to fifty people attending, Avon Voices for Equity hopes to create more events for our school community to discuss equity related issues.

SEPTA

Join Us for an Upcoming Event Sponsored by Avon SEPTA:


Avon Public School Roundtable


Join us Thursday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom and meet representatives from the Avon Public Schools certified staff who provide specialized instructional and supports across the district. We will break out into “rooms” so you can attend sessions specific to your interests. You will have the opportunity to learn the roles and goals of each department, specific to the elementary, middle and high schools. Don’t forget to bring your questions too!


You do not need to be a SEPTA member to join. All families and caregivers in the Avon School District are welcome to join!


Meet the following APS staff:

Aimee Davis - AHS School Psychologist

Todd Dyer - AHS Dir. of School Counseling

Joanna Fracasso - PGS Special Ed Teacher

Lisa Gilbert - RBS Preschool Teacher

Tiffany Gooding - AMS School Psychologist

Danielle Gurekovich - RBS Preschool Teacher

Jill Polinsky - RBS Special Ed Teacher

Christina Pompeo - TBS Speech & Language

Kathi Rafferty - PGS Special Ed Teacher


...AND MORE!


Please RSVP by filing out this form and you will be sent a Zoom invite.


To learn more about Avon SEPTA, please go to our website, Facebook page or send email us at SEPTA.Avon@gmail.com


What is SEPTA?

Avon SEPTA is a non-profit organization open to anyone who has an interest in the welfare of children with special needs, including parents, families, teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, students and friends. Avon SEPTA helps support, strengthen and enrich the lives of children with special needs. The group began as a small parent group in 2003 and became a Connecticut PTA in 2004.


Our Goals:

  • To ensure all children receive an education that allows them to reach their full potential.

  • To bring together parents, families and teachers of children with special needs in order to share their experiences.

  • To educate parents about special education, including the identification and placement procedures for children with special needs.

  • To inform legislators, school boards, and the community about the importance of special education programs.

  • To improve the lives of children by providing cultural, social and physical enrichment.

  • To advocate for children with special needs and their right to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.

Meetings are scheduled throughout the year with guest speakers on topics that are of interest to our membership. We also host social gatherings so members can connect and support each other.


To become a member of Avon SEPTA, please fill out this membership form.

Congratulations!

~ Mr. Ismail, Mr. Brochu and Mr. Culbertson


Congratulations to all the musicians!


Mark Wang, Daniel Choi, Danielle Chong and Jingrui Hu - Northern Regional Orchestra Festival

Melody Grant, Isabelle Lawton, Maya Parady, Lillian Peng, Brian Cunningham and Samyukta Senthil - Northern Regional Choir

Michael Chen, Natalie Melnik and Harshmit Verman - Northern Regional Band


Participation in CMEA concert festivals provides students the opportunity to be challenged through the performance of high quality repertoire and to develop relationships with other high caliber young musicians from around our state. Under the direction of the Student Affairs Commission, CMEA produces several auditions and concert festivals during the course of each school year. These include four middle school and four high school regional festivals, an elementary first festival experience and the premier All-State Festival which brings together the finest high school musicians in the state of Connecticut.

In addition to festival experiences, there are opportunities for members to apply to bring their own school ensembles to perform as a showcase ensemble at the CMEA Annual In-Service Conference.


~ Mr. Filon

Fall 2021 CCC All Conference/CHSCA All State (*All State Honors as well)


Boys Golf - Blake Barrett and Nate Gaul

Boys XC - Carver Morgan, Jack Martin*, Luke Hester, Jack O'Donnell*, Thomas Armistead*, Nick Bailey* and Jevonte Eaves

Girls XC - Marenn Ek*

Field Hockey - Kendall Neamtz*, Katrina Frez, Missy Blaha and Olivia Brown*

Boys Soccer - Nate Tiffany* and Lucas Monteiro

Girls Soccer - Izzy Lasota* and Kate Loparco

Volleyball - Jocelyn Powers* Second Team Class L

Football - Tabor Engle, Cameron Dawiczyk, Tyler Brokenshire, Chris Bourquin, Cameron Casey, Nils Jerger, Chief Ebana, Connor Lavore and Christian Wilson


As of 12/6 Football All State was not finalized yet.



Reminder!

  • We hope you are enjoying the weekly School Counseling newsletter. We are excited to share our new format with you and let you know the newsletter will be coming to you on MONDAYS beginning on November 29, 2021. There will be no newsletter released the week of Thanksgiving.

  • Please remember to look for our Weekly Newsletter sent out each Friday. The newsletter can be found here!

AHS STUDENT CLUBS

Avon High School Theatre

~ Ms. Paterson

  • AHS Theatre put on two great performances of "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" on November 19th and 20th. In-person audience members as well as audience members who viewed the live video streaming from home gave great feedback on the play. This weekend, a group of over 20 cast and crew members will see a professional production of "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" at Hartford Stage. We can't wait to see their interpretation of the piece!

  • AHS Theatre students saw 'It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' at Hartford Stage last Saturday! AHS cast and crew members enjoyed seeing a different interpretation of the same play they had just presented as AHS's fall play in November. Having selected the play prior to knowing Hartford Stage was doing it, Ms. Paterson saw it as an unanticipated silver lining to learn that Hartford Stage was also presenting the play. The most exciting part of the trip was meeting the assistant director after the show to talk about the artistic choices of their production, and then being surprised by the actors coming up to chat before they went out for dinner between shows! Students were surprised to learn that the professional actors were performing the play twice in one day. Any AHS students who are interested in being part of the AHS spring musical should email Ms. Paterson at jpaterson@avon.k12.ct.us

Model UN

~ Mr. McDermott and Mr. Greco

The Model UN participated in a two day conference organized by the World Affairs Council. The conference took place at Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford on December 3rd and December 4th. Through their efforts, delegates worked collaboratively to create resolutions which established peaceful, sustainable, just, and prosperous solutions to complex global challenges. Delegates also had to think on their feet to respond to various "crises" presented in their committees. All students who participated did an outstanding job and certainly represented Avon High School exceptionally well.


Students who participated at World Affairs Council Model UN Conference: Jack Beitman, Noelle Blake, Nora Buzzeo, Vikram Chetnani, Udayan Chidambaram, Shaunak Chimade, Maya Corrie, Ravi Corrie, Leah Cuyler, Jack Cuyler, Katrina Frez, Chloe Kieper, Uttej Kollu, Makena Logan, William Mathias, Ana Molina, Tanush Raju, Jeremy Richard, Sabrina Robaczynski, Bridget Soucy, Yilan Tang, Chinmay Vadlamudi, Harshmit Verman and Daniel Wang.


Students who served as Officers at the World Affairs Council Conference Pranav Anandavel and Saarah Qureshi.

IN THE CLASSROOM

Science



~ Mr. Marella

Environmental science students applied scientific methods to test the characteristics of different types of plastics.

Ilakiya Prabhu (left), Ishanvi Balaji, Amelia Smith and Madison Brady test out the effect of heat on their unknown plastic sample

Lucas Fernandes (left) and Adrian Parady check on the buoyancy of their unknown sample in salt water.

Mathematics

~ Ms. Greene

We are learning about Procedures and Parameters in AP Computer Science Principles. We are able to make some pretty cool artistic designs when we add these to our code. Computer science is definitely a creative endeavor!

Athletic Update

~ Mr. Filon

Please follow AHS Athletics on Twitter @AHS_Falcons.


Winter registration will remain open until December 10th. Register using the link below

https://www.familyid.com/avon-high-school-athletics/avon-high-school-winter-athletic-registration-21-22


Congratulations to all of our fall sports teams on a great season! Our student athletes and coaching staff would like to thank all of the community members for their continued support of AHS athletics. It was great to see everyone at our games this fall.


Please refer to the CIAC Winter Sports Guidelines Document if you have a child who is participating during the winter season. See the link below

http://www.casciac.org/pdfs/CIACWinter2021-2022COVIDSportGuidanceFinalDraftv4_Approved.pdf.


Winter schedules can be found on the CIAC website link below

http://ciacsports.com/site/?page_id=105


The Avon Falcons Athletics Hall of Fame will announce its inaugural class this spring. For more information, please visit our new website. www.avonfalconshalloffame.com



Just a reminder that masks are required at all times inside Avon High School for all athletic events.


Good luck to all of our winter teams. Let's bring home some more league and state championships!


Come out and support our teams!

Go Falcons!