YELLOW JACKET NEWS

Happy Friday, Yellow Jacket Families! 🐝

We had another busy week of fundraising with our Grand Jacket event. Students have enjoyed great food, fun get-out events, and spirit days throughout the week. This afternoon we will find out who our 2026 Grand Jacket will be!

Congratulations to our Boys Basketball Team! Last week they became District Champions, and last night they were crowned Region 7 Regional Champions. Our playoff run continues this Tuesday at U of D—good luck, Jackets!

Today our students participated in the K-12 Career Development Future Fest. We hope they enjoyed learning about different career opportunities from professionals across many fields.

Enjoy your weekend, and go Jackets! 🐝

Doug Wilson
High School Principal

AVONDALE HIGH SCHOOL

• March 9: MSVMA District 16 Choir Festival-Mixed Chorus and Women's Chorus will perform at Oxford High School

• March 10: MSVMA District 16 Choir Festival-Concert Choir and Men of Avondale will perform at Stoney Creek High School
• March 11: Avondale “Chopped” Cooking Competition 4:30pm
• March 12: MSBOA District 16 Band Festival-AHS Bands will perform at Warren Woods Tower High School
• March 12: Avondale Theatre Company Fundraiser @ Qdoba 5-9PM (flyer below)
• March 17: Board Meeting at the Administration Building 7:00pm
• March 18: Theatre Booster Meeting in AHS Performing Arts Lobby at 6:30pm
• March 20: NO SCHOOL - Professional Learning
• March 23: Parent Teacher Conferences 4 - 7:30
• March 24: Gleaners Mobile Food Pantry at The River Church 9:30-10:30am

• March 27: HALF DAY - End of the 3rd Quarter
• March 30-April 6: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
• April 9 - Choir Fundraiser at CK Diggs

CAREER READINESS & DEVELOPMENT

• March 16: Jobs in Action: Blue Planet Jobs Field Trip (AHS)
• April 29: Construction Career Day
• April 24: LTU Architecture & Design Tour

From February 16–March 6, 2026, students in grades 5–12 will have the opportunity to complete the MI Student Voice Perception Survey. The anonymous, online survey takes about 10 minutes and asks questions about engagement, belonging, and social-emotional learning.

Survey results will help school leaders understand students’ experiences and guide improvements in instruction and services. Participation is voluntary—students may skip questions or opt out without penalty. Families who wish to opt out should return the linked form to their school.

An email with additional information has been sent to families, and schools will continue to share updates, reminders, and resources throughout the survey period. Additional resources, including FAQs and sample questions, are available below:

• MI Student Perception Survey Flyer

• Student Perception Survey Questions

• FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

• Student Participation Opt Out Form

Questions? Please contact your school’s front office.

At the start of the second semester the tardy policy will be updated as follows:

Policy for Excessive Tardiness: UPDATED

Excessive Tardiness: A student will be considered excessively tardy if they arrive late to class twice in a single school day.

Consequences for Excessive Tardiness:

If a student has 2 or more tardies during a single school day they will have to serve a lunch detention the following school day. If they have multiple lunch detentions in the same week the following consequences will follow.

First lunch detention in a week:

• The student will have to serve a lunch detention, be notified of next step warning and a notice will be sent home.

Second lunch detention in a week:

• The student will have to serve a lunch detention, will be assigned an after school detention and a notice will be sent home .

Third lunch detention in a week:

• The student will have to serve a lunch detention, a notice will be sent home and will be referred to administration for further disciplinary action.

Please go over this tardy policy with your student so they are aware of the consequences before they are enforced.

It is important to remember that consistent tardiness disrupts not only the student’s learning but also the learning of others. Please talk with your student about making every effort to arrive at class on time.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping maintain a positive and productive school environment.

We are confident that this policy will help reinforce the importance of punctuality and encourage students to develop better time-management habits.

OSTC Registration

OSTC 2026-2027 Enrollment:

Oakland Schools Technical Campus (OSTC) enrollment for the 2026-27 school year is open for current 10th and 11th grade students!

Ready to apply?
Visit the OSTC website to get started!
*Current OSTC students who would like to return next year do not need to complete an application for Fall 2026.

Already applied?

OSTC will send confirmation of your student's enrollment by U.S. mail and email in April.

Upcoming OSTC-NE Events
For students and families who would like to learn more about OSTC programs, attending one the event below is strongly encouraged.

• Attend a Program Showcase either Wednesday (3:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.) or Saturday (9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.).
• To register for an after school or Saturday showcase, simply click on this link: https://forms.gle/kkET9Nxa2y1GoWqr6

Any questions? Please contact OSTC-NE Counselor, Mr. Maddock at Randy.Maddock@oakland.k12.mi.us

Avondale High School students are invited to take part in Avondale “Chopped,” a cooking competition, sponsored by Chartwells K12 Discovery Kitchen, inspired by the Food Network favorite! Student teams will create a dish representing a specific culture—using a mystery ingredient revealed on event day—while showcasing creativity, teamwork, and cultural pride.

Event Details:

• Location: Avondale High School
• Date: March 11, 2026
• Time: 4:30 p.m.

Questions? Contact Susan Meek, Director of Dining Services, at susan.meek@avondaleschools.org

As part of our planning for the 2026–27 school year, we are pleased to share a list of tentative district dates to help families and staff begin planning ahead. The list below highlights major dates such as the first and last day of school, holidays, and breaks. We hope this early release will assist with your planning for the upcoming year.

Important dates for the 2026–27 school year:

• August 24, 2026: First Day of School - Half Day of School
• August 28, 2026: No School
• September 4-7, 2026: No School - Labor Day Weekend
• September 21, 2026: No School for Students - Yom Kippur & Staff Professional Learning
• October 7, 2026: Fall Count Day
• October 12, 2026: No School - Holiday
• October 13, 2026: No School for Students - Staff Professional Learning
• October 30, 2026: Half Day of School - End of Quarter 1
• November 3, 2026: No School for Students - Staff Professional Learning
• November 9, 2026: No School - Diwali
• November 23-27: No School - Thanksgiving Break
• December 21, 2026 - January 1, 2027: No School - Winter Recess & Christmas Break
• January 18, 2027: No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 21 & 22 2027: Half Day of School - End of Quarter 2 & First Semester
• February 10, 2027: Winter Count Day
• February 12-15, 2027: No School - Mid-Winter Break, Presidents Day
• March 10, 2027: No School for Students - Eid al-Fitr & Staff Professional Learning
• March 25, 2027: Half Day of School - End of Quarter 3
• March 26 - April 2, 2027: No School - Spring Break & Good Friday/Easter
• May 7, 2027: No School - Staff Professional Learning
• May 28-31, 2027: No School - Memorial Weekend
• June 10, 2027: Half Day of School
• June 11, 2027: Last Day of School - Half Day for Students - End of Quarter 4 & Second Semester

Please note that the 2026-27 school calendar is not yet complete or finalized. A full calendar, including the testing schedule, curriculum nights, orientations, and other significant dates, will be provided at a later date. For all current calendars, visit www.avondaleschools.org/calendars.

Vote May 5, 2026!

On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Avondale voters will see two school-related proposals on the ballot. The district is seeking to renew the existing sinking fund and operating millages with zero tax increase for residents.

All Avondale voters are encouraged to learn more about how millage proposals impact our schools at www.avondaleschools.org/millages.

Please take a moment to help us celebrate our Yellow Jacket Staff and Students

Listening Sessions with the Principal

Parents and guardians are invited to join the high school principal for open Listening Sessions, designed to provide an opportunity to share ideas, ask questions, and discuss ways to continue strengthening our school community. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect directly and collaborate on what matters most for our students, and learn about the exciting things happening at AHS.

Dates (8:00–10:00 am in the High School Conference Room)

• March 17

• April 14

• May 19

In addition, there will also be available time during Parent-Teacher Conferences on March 23 for a short conversation.

Senior year is just a busy time with so many transitions. They are celebrating all of their last moments at AHS while making huge plans for their future. Here are a few documents to help keep you organized this year.

It's time to start thinking about commencement and graduation gifts!

https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/avondalehs/

Prom will be here before you know it! Here is the link for parents of Avondale Juniors and Seniors.

https://www.zola.com/wedding/ahsprom26

Guest Passes and Prom Agreement Forms will not be uploaded to the site until March 9th. Ticket sales link will be made available online the week of April 13th.

Oakland Hope is proud to present Dressed in Hope, a prom support initiative helping students attend prom with confidence and dignity.

Students can volunteer with Oakland Hope and earn a $10 credit for every hour served, which can be applied toward prom attire such as dresses, suits, shoes, and accessories.

Please see the Dressed in HOPE Flyer. Additionally, if you are interested in donating new or gently used formal wear, we would be grateful for your support.

You are cordially invited to participate in a fundraising event supporting the Senior class of 2026. We have started with “SENIOR WELL WISHES”. Please submit a personalized message for your senior, to be shared during the Senior celebration and the Senior All Night Party event. Proceeds from this event will directly fund the Senior All Night Party. You can submit one wish or you can get unlimited wishes for 20 dollars. Please put all wishes in google form. Payment information provided in document as well! If you have any questions you can email us directly Avondalehigh2026@gmail.com . You can also visit our website http://avondalesanp.com created for Senior 2026 class with all fundraisers and donation information as well.

Direct Link to send well wishes - https://forms.gle/kWoetikmCW3GuXME7

The Class of 2026 - Senior All Night Party is starting to be planned. Future meeting dates and fundraisers will be shared here as we get information.

Coming soon….

Information on how to purchase your Senior Lawn Signs

Sponsored by SANP 2026

Upcoming Meeting Dates - All Meetings will be Via Zoom from 6 to 7:30PM

March 18, 2026

April 1, 2026

April 15, 2026

April 29, 2026

May 13, 2026

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/71060428281?pwd=9a9m2F3z1GS8Mtw77cFHnEepU55KVa.1

Meeting ID: 710 6042 8281
Passcode: 6Dv3rz

The SANP Planning Committee is looking for Donations. If you or your business would like to help out, please see the attached information.

WE NEED YOU!

Mr. Cornwell and the Avondale Choir Boosters welcome you to join the Choir Boosters. All are welcome! Please feel free to stop into a meeting and support our amazing choirs!

Community Health Clinic: Honor Community Health Clinic is a third-party organization. While it is connected to the high school building and serves as a great community partner, it is a separate entity entirely. Students should only miss class time to go to the Health Clinic on an emergency or appointment-basis. Students who miss more than 10 minutes of class due to being in the Health Clinic are considered Absent (A) from class.

For any students who have a scheduled appointment to the Health Clinic, parents should call in within the 24-hour period to have this absence changed to an Excused Absence (E), just as they would if the student went to a doctor’s appointment outside of school.

Personal Devices

• Students should plan to use their school-issued Chromebook for all academic needs.

• Personal laptops and tablets do not have the safeguards needed in our learning environment, so they are not permitted for regular use at school.

• If a student has a specific curricular need for a personal device or advanced software, they should connect with their administrator for approval prior to using a personal device at school.

Outside Food & Drink

• Only transparent drinking containers will be permitted in the building.

• Students are not permitted to bring outside food or drinks (fast food) into the building after 7:22 (this does not apply to homemade lunches).

• These measures are being implemented to help maintain a secure and safe environment for all students and staff.

Last Name

• A - Go: Jackie Chavez - jacqueline.chavez@avondaleschools.org
• Gp-O: Melinda Reyes - melinda.reyes@avondaleschools.org
• P-Z: Shelby Dallaire - shelby.dallaire@avondaleschools.org
  
  

• Scholarships: This link is updated every time we receive new scholarships.
• College/Career Rep Visits: You will need to sign up and choose the school, trade program, or military you would like more information on. This form is updated every time a college/career rep signs up to visit our campus.
• Application Overview: Attached is the document to reference for any application process. There is also a CommonApp Guide.
• Parchment:You are responsible for sending your transcripts to colleges and trade schools through PARCHMENT. You need to use your PERSONAL email and LEGAL name to set up an account. When you are applying for colleges/trade schools now please DO NOT put "Hold for Grades". It will not be until April or May that you will request "Hold for Grade" to the school you are going to.
• FAFSA: Application does not open until October 1st 2025. Colleges/Trades will need this for your financial aid package. Attached are some Financial Aid Resources.

Your student ID will be needed this year for MANY THINGS!

Purchasing tickets for Leadership events, admission to Home Athletic Events.

(Power School identification will NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED at games or dances)

The Career Development Department recently sponsored another impactful Jobs in Action field trip—this time to the Detroit Carpenters and Millwrights Union Training Center. The visit gave students an up-close look at skilled trades careers and the powerful opportunities available through apprenticeship pathways.

The day began with students hearing directly from three longtime union members, who shared their personal career journeys and insights into the industry. They spoke candidly about the many benefits of applying to the apprenticeship program, including free education, earning while learning, immediate entry into the workforce, and strong health and retirement benefits. Their real-world perspectives helped students see the trades as a viable and rewarding career option.

Students then toured the facility, visiting classrooms, the millwrights floor, and the shop floor. Along the way, they observed apprentices actively working and building their skills in real time. Two current students took time to speak with our group—one who is new to the program and already enjoying the experience, and another who is a fourth-year apprentice. The fourth-year student shared especially valuable insight about her journey as a female in the trades, offering encouragement and practical advice that resonated strongly with many of our students.

The visit concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where students asked thoughtful questions about training, daily work life, and career pathways. By the end of the day, a dozen students raised their hands to indicate interest in pursuing the apprenticeship program, including several female students and four seniors preparing for their next steps after graduation.

Moments like this are exactly what Jobs in Action is all about—helping students discover opportunities they can truly see themselves pursuing. It was an exciting and inspiring day of career exploration and future planning.