September 16, 2026
Principal's Message
Hello Red Hawk Community,
It is Rivalry Week, and there is always extra energy and excitement when Athens and Troy compete. Rivalries are for the culture. They create traditions, memories, school spirit, and a sense of pride that connects generations of Red Hawks. As we celebrate, I want to remind our entire community that while we are rivals on the field, court, or competition surface, we are #OneTroy in our community. Let’s show our Red Hawk pride through a healthy rivalry that celebrates Athens without disparaging our peers at Troy High.
We saw that spirit during an amazing boys soccer match between two of the top teams in the state, and we look forward to another great atmosphere at Friday night’s football game. Let’s show up, support our Red Hawks, and represent Athens with pride.
Tonight is our Open House, and we look forward to welcoming our families into the building. This is an important opportunity to connect with our teachers, experience our classrooms, and strengthen the partnership between home and school.
Next week, the excitement continues with Homecoming Week! This year’s theme is “A Brand New Homecoming.” We are looking forward to spirit days, our Powder Puff game, the Homecoming Parade, football game, and dance. It will be a great week to celebrate our school, our traditions, and what it means to be a Red Hawk.
Let’s celebrate with pride, stay Above the Line, and continue showing everyone what Red Hawks represent.
Keep Pointing Positive, Go Red Hawks!
Vernon Burden
Principal, Troy Athens High School
News You Can Use
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Click here to sign up for the EFT virtual meeting on September 22nd. See Mrs. Syme in room 262 if you have any questions about these amazing experiences.
Red Hawk Students and Families,
With the 2026-27 school year underway and the scheduling process near complete, we would like to share an important update regarding counselor assignments and caseloads. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigated this transition.
Due to staffing changes within our Counseling Department, counselor caseloads have been adjusted by students’ last name to ensure balance and continued support for all students. As a result, some students will be assigned a new counselor beginning today, Monday, August 31st. We are working on updating our digital footprint (website, PowerSchool, etc.) with our updated caseloads over the next few days.
We understand that many students and families have built strong relationships with their counselor, and we recognize that change can be difficult. Please know that our counseling team works closely together and is dedicated to helping students feel supported, connected, and successful throughout their high school journey.
Whether you are continuing with your current counselor or meeting someone new, you can expect the same level of care, professionalism, and dedication that defines the Athens Counseling Department. We are excited to build new connections while continuing to provide outstanding support for all students.
Please see below for counselor assignments by last name:
- Mrs. Andrea Grove: A-C
- Ms. Ann O’Neill: D-I
- Mrs. Jackie Cheyne: J-ME
- Ms. Hannah Nagi: MI-SC
- Mrs. Kelsey Blazoff: SE-Z
- Currently, Mrs. Blazoff is on maternity leave. Please contact her long-term sub Mrs. Joelle Pett should any need arise (JPett@troy.k12.mi.us).
Your student’s assigned counselor will be reaching out to introduce themselves by the end of the week. Thank you for your understanding, flexibility, and continued partnership. We are looking forward to another great year at Athens.
Go Red Hawks!
Athens Counseling and Athens Administration
Schoology is a great place for up-to-date information. Use the codes below for information specific to your students class:
AHS Class of 2027: RM4S-633B-GDR7S
AHS Class of 2028: WQFG-BCPB-PVJ42
AHS Class of 2029: 5X2R-M6SK-S4QP8
AHS Class of 2030: 8TMJ-3P48-TRXPW
Beginning this year, the attendance voicemail line will no longer be available. All attendance reporting must be submitted through the VisitU mobile app.
Dear Athens Parents and Families,
We are writing to share an important update regarding Athens Activity and Clubs Fee for the 2026–27 school year. The one-time annual fee has increased from $50 to $100.
We recognize that some families have already paid the previous $50 fee in advance, and we apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause. Those families who have already paid the $50 fee should have received a full reimbursement through SchoolPay. This will allow each family to decide whether they would like to participate and submit the updated $100 fee for the 2026–27 school year.
This is the first increase to Activity and Clubs Fee in nearly 20 years, since the fee was initially implemented. The $100 fee is a one-time annual fee that covers participation in all Activities and Clubs throughout the school year.
Our activities and clubs provide students with valuable opportunities to get involved, explore their interests, build relationships, and develop a stronger sense of connection and belonging within their school community. We remain committed to providing a wide variety of meaningful opportunities for all Athens students.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our Athens Activities and Clubs programs. We look forward to another great year of student participation and engagement.
Sincerely,
Vernon Burden
Athens High School
PTO President: athenspto.pres@gmail.com
PTO Vice President: athenspto.vp@gmail.com
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9/16...................Curriculum Night | 6:30 pm
9/26...................Homecoming Dance | 6:00 pm
9/30...................Athens Parent University | 6:00 pm
10/8...................Half Day Dismissal 10:56 am
10/8...................Parent Teacher Conferences | 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
10/8...................Parent Teacher Conferences | 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
10/8...................Senior Headshots by appt. | 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm
10/9...................Half Day Dismissal 10:56 am
10/9...................Parent Teacher Conferences | 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
10/15.................PTO Meeting | 7:00 pm | TACC2
10/16.................Picture Retakes | 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
10/29.................End of Quarter 1
10/30.................No School
Athletic News
For schedules, scores, updates and more, visit www.athensredhawksathletics.com.
Troy Athens Athletics will be using GoFan All - Sports Passes that will be available directly on your phone.
Football Crosstown Rivalry Game on Friday, September 18 at 7:00 PM at Troy.
Website: https://athensredhawksathletics.com/
Athletic Boosters: https://www.athensathleticboosters.org/
Student Celebrations
Staff Spotlight
Staff Spotlight: Ms. Cracchiolo
1. What is your role at Athens, and how long have you been here?
I teach AP Psychology and English 10 at Athens. This is my 25th year in education, and I am proud to say that 23 of those years have been spent at Athens. It is hard to believe I have been teaching for that long because I still genuinely love being in the classroom. Each year brings a new group of students, new personalities, and new opportunities to make connections. I feel very fortunate that, after 25 years, I still look forward to coming to school, getting to know my students, and hopefully creating a classroom they enjoy being part of.
2. What is your educational background?
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Psychology from Western Michigan University and my master’s degree in English and Education from the University of Detroit Mercy. I am fortunate to teach two subjects that I genuinely love. While psychology and English may seem very different, both are ultimately centered on understanding people, such as the way we think, behave, communicate, and make sense of the world around us. That connection is one of the reasons I have found teaching both subjects so rewarding.
3. What do you enjoy most about working with our students and staff?
Without question, the relationships are what I enjoy most about working at Athens. My favorite part of teaching has always been getting to know my students as people, not simply as students sitting in my classroom. I love the conversations, the laughter, and the everyday moments that make each group of students and each school year unique. The students at Athens are some of the kindest, most compassionate, and genuinely generous young people I have had the privilege of teaching. One of the best parts of teaching for as long as I have is reconnecting with former students and learning where life has taken them. I love when they stop by, send an email, or reach out just to say hello. There is something incredibly special about seeing a student years later and realizing that, even if only for a short time, we were part of each other’s lives. I have also been fortunate to work alongside incredibly dedicated, talented, and caring colleagues who genuinely want the best for our students and for one another. I have developed wonderful friendships with many of them over the years. Some of those friendships have lasted for decades, and those colleagues have truly become like family. The relationships I have built with both students and colleagues are the biggest part of what has made Athens such a special place for me.
4. What is one accomplishment or part of your work you are most proud of?
After 25 years of teaching, I am most proud of the relationships I have built with my students and the impact I hope I have had on their lives. I am certainly proud when my students succeed academically, challenge themselves, earn strong AP scores, or discover an interest in psychology or English, but I believe the most meaningful part of teaching extends beyond grades and test scores. I have always worked to create a classroom where students feel respected, supported, challenged, and comfortable being themselves. I want my students to leave my classroom knowing more than when they entered, but I also want them to know that I genuinely cared about them and believed in their ability to succeed. When former students tell me that something they learned in my class stayed with them, influenced what they chose to study, or simply made their
high school experience a little better, that means more to me than any test score or grade ever could. Knowing that I have made a positive difference in the lives of my students is, without question, the greatest accomplishment of my career.
5. What is something you enjoy outside of school (hobby, interest, or fun fact)?
I love spending time with my family and friends, and I also really enjoy traveling and cooking authentic dishes inspired by the places I have visited. I have been fortunate to travel with students on two Athens Abroad trips. I went to Italy in 2023 and England, Ireland, and Scotland in 2025. Those trips were especially memorable because there is something incredible about experiencing another part of the world alongside students and watching them discover new places and cultures for the first time. They have also given me the opportunity to get to know students outside of the classroom and create memories I will always treasure. This past summer, I returned to Italy and visited Greece for the first time with my husband. Traveling truly is my passion. I am usually either planning a trip, talking about a trip I just took, or thinking about where I want to go next!
6. What makes the Athens community special to you?
After 23 years, Athens has become much more than simply the place where I work. It has been a significant part of both my professional and personal life. Over the years, I have developed lifelong friendships, taught multiple siblings from the same families, watched students grow into adults, celebrated their accomplishments, and created countless memories. There is a genuine sense of connection and school pride at Athens that makes this community one of a kind. I am grateful to be a teacher at Athens, even though I graduated from Troy High, and proud of the career I have built here. When I look back over the past 23 years, I realize just how many people, experiences, and relationships are connected to this school. I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent the majority of my career in a community that has given me so much, both professionally and personally. I feel very fortunate to call Athens home.
Announcements/Fliers
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