High School News
August 2023
Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Students,
I had a busy but fun summer from fishing with my son to watching my daughters play softball. Taking the time to slow down and relax in the sunshine really helps recharge one's energy. I hope you have found similar opportunities and are ready to start the new school year strong. Here at Agora, we are excited to begin the 2023-2024 school year. Please remind your students to complete all assignments and check their course gradebooks frequently. We are thankful that you have entrusted us with your students' education. You are all a very important part of our school community, and we encourage you to be an active member of the learning process. Please be sure to reach out when you have questions. Family coaches, advisory teachers, teachers, school counselors, assistant principals, assistant directors, directors and I provide you with many resources. Our skilled and devoted staff are working hard to create a rigorous and engaging learning environment. Please watch for this newsletter throughout the school year as it will provide important information and reminders about upcoming events.
This year, each high school newsletter will feature a message from one of the high school administrators pictured below.
Jeff Miller
High School Principal
Reading plays a strong role in developing lifelong learners. At the high school, our days are busy--but we value any chance we get to read after hours. Here are some of the page-turners your high school administration team has been enjoying!
Erin Hilson - The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
Heather McCormick - We Belong by Laurie Barron & Patti Kinney
Holly Allen - Lost on the Appalachian Trail by Kyle Rohrig
Jeff Miller - The Gunslinger by Stephen King
Eric Buffington - writing The Changing and reading Start With WHY by Simon Sinek
Paul Harkins - The Wager by David Grann
Erinn Slacktish - Research-Based Methods: The Essential Knowledge Base
by Trochim, Donnelly, & Arora
Morgan Witman - A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon
Valerie Natale - The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
Danielle Schall - Trust-Based Observations by Craig Randall
- Monday, August 28: First day of school (orientation for all students)
- Friday, September 1 - Monday, September 4: Labor Day weekend, no school
- Wednesday, September 13: Half-day in the morning (see schedule in newsletter below)
- Monday, September 25: Yom Kippur, no school
- Wednesday, September 27: All-school ADO - Agora Day Out activities in person or virtual
Occasionally, high school students will follow half-day schedules with abbreviated classes that are completed by noon. The first half-day for students is scheduled for September 13; students have classes in the morning only, and staff in-service takes place in the afternoon. The half-day academic schedule for students is detailed in the image to the right.
Agora's Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) framework was designed by teachers and students to create a common way for all learners to feel safe, to know what is expected of them, and to be rewarded for meeting those expectations. Our PBIS framework is based on the shared core values of our school including learner centeredness, wellness, responsibility, and engagement. All high school staff and family coaches have the same set of PBIS expectations. Throughout the school year, teachers will work with the students in their classes to collaboratively develop and maintain a PBIS matrix featuring expectations unique to that group of learners. Teachers will select a few students each month to receive a special postcard in the mail to encourage continued effort and acknowledge positive behavior.
The PBIS All-Star student recognition program that was launched last year will continue in the 2023-24 school year. The program is based on the premise that rewards are most effective when used to build new skills or sustain desired skills. The PBIS All-Stars program is intended to reward positive behavior--specifically, demonstration of Agora's core values. High school students are encouraged to nominate classmates who consistently demonstrate learner centeredness, wellness, responsibility, and engagement in their classes. Each month, five students' names will be randomly drawn from the pool of student nominations (one from each of the five content areas), and those five students will be recognized as the PBIS All-Star students for that month. Last year, we celebrated THIRTY PBIS All-Star students! Monthly All-Star students are announced in this newsletter and celebrated in live class sessions and in The Agora Times, our high school newsletter for students.
😄Congratulations😄 to the May 2023 PBIS All-Star students! They are:
- Harley H. - 9th grade - English
- Katie L. - 10th grade- Math
- Anthony W. - 10th grade - Science
- Zaeer W. - 9th grade - Social Studies
- Brayden G. - 11th grade - Electives
In addition to being recognized publicly within our school community, PBIS All-Star students receive a t-shirt designed by our PBIS staff and student core teams (see image below). We are grateful for the commitment of our PBIS teams and appreciate their efforts in helping to energize student recognition in our school. High School students who are interested in being a member of the PBIS student core team can contact Assistant Principal Holly Allen at hoallen@agoracyber.net
European Quartet, 2024--Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, London - hosted by Trisa Lesczynski
Informational meeting - Tuesday, August 29 at noon