News Archive: September, 2010

September 30, 2010 Due to inclement weather all after school activities in the Avon Grove School District are cancelled. PTA Market Day pick up will still occur and our YMCA after care program will still operate as usual.

September 23, 2010 Tomorrow is Spirit Day. Wear your schoolhouse or Avon Grove Colors.

September 23, 2010

Students must be in their homerooms at 8:25.
Students arriving after 8:25 must go to the office for a tardy slip.

ALL absences for trips, educational field trips,family days, travel days, etc. require PRIOR APPROVAL at least ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE in order to be considered an excused absence. This includes one day or multiple day absences. Excuse notes that come in after an absence for one of these reasons, when no prior approval has been requested, are unexcused absences.

District policy states that excuse notes must be received within 3 days after a student returns in order for the absence(s) to be excused. If a note is received later than 3 days after the absence, the absence remains unexcused. You will receive a warning letter when your child has 3 or more unexcused absences.

**IMPORTANT: The PA Compulsory Attendance Act states that a parent may write ten excuse notes during a school year. After ten parental excuse notes, a doctor’s note is required for each additional absence. You will receive notice once your child has had 10 absences excused by a parent note. You can access the entire Pennsylvania Compulsory Attendance Plan at www.pde.state.pa.us/k12

If you are picking your child up before 3:10 you must come into the building to sign your student out. This includes students being sent home ill by the nurse.

If someone other than the parent is to pick up the student, this is to be noted on the note and there must be a phone number on the note where the parent can be reached during the day. Individuals are required to verify their identity in the main office prior to the release of a student.

September 23, 2010 All students have been given many important forms to take home to be completed by their parents/guardians. They included new Internet and Media policy forms, Emergency Procedure Cards, and Free or Reduced Meal Program Applications. Also, the PTA packet included forms required for PTA Membership, Directory Opt Out, and Volunteer Sign Up.
Please be sure to complete and return all the forms right away. Your prompt attention and cooperation in providing this necessary information is very much appreciated.

September 23, 2010 You may now request a bus pass when needed if the bus is not on the flagged bus list. 22 buses are at capacity so passes cannot be issued for the following buses: 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 21, 23, 27, 35, 38, 43, 45, 47, 50, 52, 53, 63, 80, 81, & 88. Please be aware that the other buses are near capacity and limited to 5 passes per bus; therefore we will NOT be able to issue passes for ANY groups of students (i.e. birthday parties, scout meetings, etc.)
Please send in a note that includes all of the following: your student’s first & last name & teacher, the bus number & the first & last name of the student with whom your child is riding (or the location of the established bus stop,) the date, your signature, and a phone number to reach you if necessary that day.

September 23, 2010 We are looking for volunteers to share their careers and educational experiences with our students. The dates and times for each career day follow. We will need 10-12 presenters for each schoolhouse. Thank you!
Red Schoolhouse – October 21, 12:45-3:00 pm
Please call Lori Travers, Red Counselor, 610-869-2010 ext 5207
Orange Schoolhouse – October 21, 12:45-3:00 pm
Please call Deb Burns, Orange Counselor, 610-869-2010 ext 5208
Blue Schoolhouse – October 22, 12:45-3:00 pm
Please call Susan Gill, Blue Counselor, 610-869-2010 ext 5209
Purple Schoolhouse – October 22, 12:45-3:00 pm
Please call Kristy Brown, Purple Counselor, 610-869-2010 ext 5206

September 23, 2010 If you forgot to send in an order envelope last Friday on picture day, you may call Lifetouch at 610-684-4033 to order a packet using the school ID picture that was taken. (There will be an additional cost of $5 for shipping charges.) If you prefer, you can wait until the retake day scheduled for Wednesday, November 3.

September 23, 2010 Applications for 2010-2011 free or reduced price meals are due no later than Wednesday, October 13. Students participating in this program must reapply each school year. The grace period will end on October 13. After this date, students without a current application on file will be charged full price for meals. Please return your applications asap. If your financial circumstances change, applications may be submitted at any time throughout the school year. Forms are available in the school office.

September 23, 2010

National PTA Reflections Program
2010-2011 Theme: “Together We Can...!”

AGIS will participate again this year in the National PTA Reflections Program. This annual program is a popular opportunity for students to be recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for original works of literature, musical composition, visual arts, photography, dance choreography, and film/video production.

This year’s theme is “Together We Can..!” The theme must be reflected in the student’s work and students are required to include a title and artist statement on their official participation form. Students are encouraged to enter more than one submission, and to consider trying works in under-represented categories. Visual Arts and Photography receive the most submissions each year.

AGIS students will receive guidelines and an official participation form in their Thursday folders encouraging them to participate in this year’s Reflections Program. All student entries must be received in the AGI Main Office by Friday, October 15. All participating students will be recognized at a Reflections Reception on November 10 at 6 pm.

Contact AGI Reflections Chair with additional questions, suggestions, or to volunteer to help coordinate the Reflections Art Show and Reception on Wednesday, November 10.

~ Traci Kveragas, AGI Reflections Chair

September 21, 2010 If you were absent on the original portrait day, or missed the opportunity to purchase portraits, or request your portrait to be retaken, Wednesday, November 3, 2010 is AGIS Portrait Retake Day.

Retakes: If you desire a retake, please return the complete package to school on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 to the Lifetouch photographer.

New Purchases: If you have not yet had your portrait taken and wish to do so, Wednesday, November 3, 2010 is your opportunity. Students may pick up information on portrait style, packages and prices at your school’s office. Bring your payment to the Lifetouch photographer on Wednesday, November 3, 2010.

Visit Lifetouch.com for additional information.

September 10, 2010 President Obama will deliver his second annual Back-to-School speech on September 14. His speech will be broadcast live online at 1 p.m. The Avon Grove School District does not plan to broadcast President Obama’s speech across the schools. Individual teachers develop their daily lesson plans based upon planned course outlines for individual subjects and grade levels. The planned course outlines are aligned with the Pennsylvania Content Standards. The expectation for the utilization of any type of media within an instructional activity is the alignment of the material to the grade level/course planned course outline. If parents would like to know if their child's teacher is planning to participate in viewing this broadcast with the class as part of an instructional activity, the parent/guardian should contact their child’s teacher. If a teacher has planned a standards-based instructional activity involving the broadcast and parents do not want their child to participate, the parent/guardian may seek exemption from instruction, in writing, pursuant to board policy and must submit the written request to the school principal.

September 9, 2010Parents or Guardians, please plan to come “Back To School.”
Meet your child’s teacher and learn about his/her classroom procedures, plans, and expectations.

• Purple & Blue Houses - Monday, SEP 13
  
• Orange & Red Houses - Tuesday, SEP 14

All 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade parents are to report directly to their child’s homeroom for one of two presentations at…
either 6:30-7:15 PM or 7:20-8:00 PM.

Sixth grade parents are to report directly to the cafetorium at 6:30 PM.
The presentations are prepared for the parents/guardians. Students are not expected to attend.

September 9, 2010

Look for more information on your child’s flyer / order form. Visit Lifetouch.com for clothing suggestions, online payment details, etc.

SE ACERCA EL DÍA DE LA FOTO – EL VIERNES, SEPTIEMBRE 17
Encuentra más información en el volante u orden de pedido del día de la foto de tu hijo/a. Visita Lifetouch.com para sugerencias del vestido, detalles sobre pagos en el Internet, y más.

September 9, 2010 The PA Department of Education has set these PSSA dates:

• March 14-25 Reading & Math Grades 3-8 & 11
• March 28-April 1 Writing Grades 5, 8, & 11
• April 4-8 Science Grades 4, 8, & 11
• April 11-15 PSSA Make Ups

These tests are very important and we ask parents to plan accordingly so that students are in school on these days.
More information will be provided throughout the school year.
Your support is appreciated.

September 9, 2010 M.A.P. tests (Measures of Academic Progress) are being given to all students this month on computers at various locations in the school. These tests take about 1 hour to administer. Each child will be assessed in Reading and Math. M.A.P. is given 3 times a year and is a nationally normed test that gives our teachers excellent information about areas of strength and areas of need for their students. Following the fall administration, students will set goals for the year for growth based on the scores they receive over the next few weeks.

September 9, 2010
LUNCH INFO
All students that have been on the free or reduced meal program must reapply each school year. Forms have been sent home. The cafeteria requires a note from a doctor if a student has any food allergies or is not able to drink milk with his/her purchased lunch. A new doctor’s note is required EACH year.

BUS & DISMISSAL INFO
As in the past, requests for bus passes cannot be honored for at least the first two weeks of school. We will notify you in our newsletter when bus pass notes will be accepted. It is very important that you give your child a written note each day that s/he will not be riding a bus home. That note serves as his/her “ticket” to be picked up or to go to another area of the building at dismissal time.

MEDICATION
Please note that ALL medication dispensed at school requires a note from physician/health care provider AND the parent/guardian. All medication must be in the original bottle/package and labeled with the correct student’s name, correct dosage, and correct instructions. Expired medication will not be administered.

September 9, 2010 During the day, your child may visit the nurses’ office and be seen by one of our two school nurses, Ms. Stefanosky (purple/orange) and Mrs. Lee (red/blue.)
Children come to the nurses’ office with a variety of illness related symptoms, such as stomach aches, headaches, and sore throats. They are also seen for minor injuries such as scrapes, cuts, bumps, and bruises. In general, students are assessed and treated for these illnesses and injuries, and returned to class. Written notification is sent home with your child if medication is given for a headache. You may also receive a note from the nurse notifying you of your child’s visit if his/her symptom or injury has the potential to become more severe at home, and follow-up by a health care provider would be necessary. Parents are typically called only if illness-related symptoms are severe, such as high fever or vomiting, and the child cannot function in the classroom, or if an injury has occurred, such as a severe head bump or possible fracture, which warrants further medical attention. Please be sure that your child’s school nurse has your correct current home, work, and cell phone numbers so that we may reach you in the event of an emergency.

September 9, 2010 If you would like to make a difference in a student’s education and could volunteer a minimum of 1½ hours every other week, we have an opportunity for you. Please look for the flyer that was sent home with each student this week. Complete and return it right away. You will be contacted when the schedule is completed.

September 9, 2010
NEXT MEETING Tuesday, September 21 our PTA will have a General Membership meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the audion.
AGIS PTA PACKET We recently sent home our AGIS PTA packet. We encourage you to join our PTA and to participate in all of our activities and events. Please fill out and return your response sheet no later than Friday, September 24. The success of our PTA depends on our volunteers.
DIRECTORY ADS We still have room for ads! Please contact Christine Plankinton or Julie DiVittorio for more information. Most of our ads are business card sized, but limited space is available for some larger sized ads.
VOLUNTEERS If you’d like to help out on the directory (proofreading and /or distribution,) please contact Michelle Griffith.
UNLISTED PHONE NUMBERS If your phone number was NOT listed in last year’s directory, and you would like it to be listed this year, please contact the school to ask that the unlisted tag be removed from your child’s record. If you have children at PLE and AGIS, you must contact BOTH schools.
SECOND FAMILY OPT-IN This form applies to children whose parents do not live at the same address, and is a way for the non-custodial parent to have their address listed in the directory along with the child’s primary address. All forms are on the PTA website, www.agispta.org.
OPT OUT FORM If you choose to NOT have all your family information published in the directory, you MUST return this form. Otherwise, all family information (parents’ names, home address, and phone number) will be published. The family information on file with the district will be used in the directory.
DEADLINE All forms must be returned to school by Friday, September 17, and can be found on the PTA website. If you have any questions please contact Michelle Griffith.