AGIS News Archive: January 2008

A Message from Dr. Steinhoff, Our New Lead Principal

January 30, 2008

Greetings to the entire AGIS community!

It is with much excitement and enthusiasm that I have finally joined the AGIS team. I feel very fortunate to be a part of a vibrant school that provides a top-notch education for all of its students and continues to keep kids first. For those who may be unaware, my name is Dr. George Steinhoff and I will be taking over the helm as the new Lead Principal at your school. Please don't hesitate to stop and introduce yourself the next time you visit your school. AGIS is a wonderful place and for sure it will take some time to get to know everyone!

As a way of introduction, I'd like to note my background and experiences that have led me to AGIS. I have recently completed my doctorate in educational policy and administration from the University of Delaware and also hold a masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania. I have served as a Principal in both elementary and intermediate schools which has offered much knowledge about balancing academic rigor with a developmentally appropriate approach to learning. Most recently, I served as the Principal at Pennell Elementary in Aston, PA.

Going forward at AGIS, I will remain true to many of my core beliefs about schooling: schools exist to serve their communities towards the development of bright and motivated students; schools must remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for students to learn; schools need to view students as more than just a test score while still embracing the belief that all students do have the capacity to achieve at high levels of proficiency, and school staff should treat every student as if they were their own. Indeed, as a father of three myself that last point is an especially guiding one for me.

In advance, I'd like to thank everyone for your continued support of our staff and school. AGIS is a wonderful place and you are fortunate to be a part of it.

Sincerely,
Dr. Steinhoff, Lead Principal

National School Counselor's Week

January 30, 2008 In honor of National School Counselors' Week next week, take time to reflect upon the many roles and responsibilities of our school counselors. The 2008 national theme for this week is "School Counselors: Creating Pathways to Success." This week helps focus public attention on the unique contributions of professional school counselors within our school systems. National School Counselors' Week highlights the tremendous impact that counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. We recognize the valuable contribution school counselors make to the education of our next generation. They have been integral in efforts to reduce student dropout rates by helping identify and address problems early in a student's career. Our school counselors help us succeed.

AGIS FIFTH-GRADE KNOWLEDGE MASTER OPEN TEAM FINISHES IN TOP 9 PERCENT NATIONALLY IN JANUARY COMPETITION; SECOND TOP SCORER IN PENNSYLVANIA

January 30, 2008 The Avon Grove Intermediate School Knowledge Master Open (KMO) team placed in the top 9 percent nationally in the January 23rd computer-based academic competition for fifth-graders. The AGIS team placed second out of 21 participating schools in Pennsylvania, and 22 nd overall out of 248 fifth-grade teams.»Read More

Bus 88

January 30, 2008 We have just received notification from our transportation department that Bus 88 is at capacity and we can no longer issue bus passes for that bus. This is in addition to the previously flagged buses.
No bus passes can be honored for buses 2, 9, 15, 16, 18, and 88. Thank you for your cooperation.

Attention Fifth Grade Parents

January 30, 2008 The 2008 PSSA Writing Assessment will be administered to the fifth grade students the week of February 11. Please plan to have your 5th grade students in school and on time this week. They will benefit from a good night’s sleep and a nourishing breakfast each day. An information sheet has been sent home with your fifth grader. For further information regarding the 2008 Writing Assessment please refer to the website www.pde.state.pa.us.

Calling All Artists!

January 30, 2008 March is Youth Art Month and AGIS will be holding its second annual art contest. This year's theme is "Art & The Environment." Interested artists should create an original and independently created work of art that corresponds to the theme. Names should be written on the back of the artwork and the completed entry form attached to it. Extra entry forms are available from Mrs. Benjamin or Mrs. Hallman in the art rooms. All entries are due by February 29. Winners will be announced March 31.

Volunteers Needed

January 30, 2008March is Youth Art Month and the art department is looking for volunteers to help mount, label, and hang artwork. Interested parents should contact Mrs. Hallman at shallman1@avongrove.org by email or through the main office by phone.

Kindergarten Registration for 2008-09

January 16, 2008 Penn London Elementary School has scheduled the week of March 3 to register students eligible for kindergarten for 2008-2009. Please call their office at 610-869-9803 after February 4 to request a registration packet. The packet will include registration requirements and forms as well as specific dates and times.
Eligibility as per Avon Grove School District Board Policy No. 201, Title 22, Sec. 11.14 states "A child is eligible for admission to kindergarten if s/he has attained the age of five (5) years on or before September 8th of each school term."

2007-08 AGIS Yearbook

January 16, 2008 Forms with ordering information are going home with our students today. Anyone wishing to purchase a yearbook must turn in the order form and payment on or before Friday, February 15. The price is $14.00. Checks should be written to "AGIS" (NOT PTA or Lifetouch.) There may be a few extra yearbooks to sell when they arrive, but the only way to be sure you will get a copy is to place your order now. If you have any questions, you may contact Mrs. Betty Sharon at 610-869-2010.

Bus Passes

January 16, 2008 Please be aware that most of our buses are near capacity. We are limited to 2 or 3 passes per bus. We are NOT able to issue bus passes for ANY group of students. This includes birthday parties, scout meetings, etc. No bus passes can be issued for buses 2, 9, 15, 16, and 18, which are full.

AGHS Alternate Schedule for April 1, 2, and 3, 2008

January 14, 2008 During the administration of the PSSA test on April 1, 2 and 3, 2008, Avon Grove High School students will report to school on an alternative schedule. »Read More

Schools Receive Keystone Achievement Awards

January 14, 2008All four Avon Grove School District schools received Keystone Achievement Awards from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for demonstrating sustained academic progress. The awards were presented to public schools that achieved adequate yearly progress (AYP) in the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school years.

Robotics Club News

January 8, 2008 The AGIS Robotics Club participated in two competitions this fall. The first was a warm-up at Montgomery County Community College in November. Three of AGIS's teams placed in the top 15 out of 55 total teams.

No School January 21 and 25

January 3, 2008On Monday, January 21, we are observing the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School will be closed. If we do not have any school closings due to snow or ice before the end of the month, Friday, January 25 will be a Teacher Inservice Day. There will be no school for the students that day unless the inservice day has to be postponed.

AGIS Band & String Instrument Concert

January 3, 2008 The AGIS Band and the fifth and sixth grade String students will be presentation their Winter Concert on Wednesday, January 9, at 7:00 PM in the AGIS cafetorium. We hope many of you will plan to attend this special evening as we showcase the talents of our wonderful students.

Attention 5th Grade Parents

January 3, 2008The 2008 PSSA writing tests will be administered to our fifth graders the week of February 11. Please do not plan any appointments or trips for this week. You can refer to the PA Department of Education website www.pde.state.pa.us for further information regarding the 2008 Writing Assessment.

PSSA Tests: March 31-April 4

January 3, 2008 All AGIS students, grades 3, 4, 5, and 6, will be taking PSSA reading and math assessment tests the week of March 31, with make-ups scheduled the week of April 7. Please do not plan any appointments or trips on these dates.

Another Bus Is Full

January 3, 2008Bus 72 is full and cannot accommodate any additional students. We now have six buses that are full: buses 2, 9, 15, 16, 18, and 72. We are not able to honor any requests for passes for these buses until further notice.

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