The APHS Look AHEAD-September 2026

Dear APHS students and families,

Welcome to the start of a brand-new school year! There is a special kind of energy that fills the air each September, and I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to welcome our returning families back and greet our new faces for the first time. Walking through the halls as we prepare to open our doors, I am reminded of just how vibrant, creative, and resilient our high school community is. We have missed the energy, laughter, and enthusiasm that our students bring to this building every day, and we are beyond excited to officially kick off another fantastic year together.

As we look ahead, we have a wonderfully solid foundation to build upon thanks to the hard work of our students, teachers, and families last year. Together, we celebrated a remarkably successful school year, boasting an impressive 88% course pass rate across all classes and an outstanding 98% graduation rate. These numbers are more than just statistics—they represent thousands of hours of dedication, late-night studying, mentorship, and unwavering support from home. Building on that momentum, our focus for this upcoming year will center on strengthening our early intervention systems to ensure every student gets the support they need the moment they need it, while continuing to provide a dynamic, positive, and engaging school environment which is welcoming for all.

We truly are fortunate to have such a supportive and dedicated school community, but achieving our goals requires a strong partnership between home and school. Please take the time to thoroughly read through this newsletter each month to stay connected with upcoming events, opportunities, and important updates. I encourage you to reach out, communicate with our team, and partner with us so that together, we can ensure success for every student, every day. Mark your calendars—our annual Open House will be held on Wednesday, September 16th, right in front of the high school. I look forward to seeing you all there and celebrating the start of what promises to be an exceptional year!

Serving every student every day,

Heath C. Quiles

Principal, Averill Park High School

The APHS Building Leadership Team

-Mr. Heath Quiles, High School Principal (quilesh@apcsd.org)

-Mr. Scott Seligman, Assistant Principal, Grades 9 and 10 (seligmans@apcsd.org)

-Mrs. Rebecca Leach, Assistant Principal, Grades 11 and 12 (leachr@apcsd.org)

#AP_EveryStudentEveryDay

"Creating passionate learners who contribute positively to their community and the world."

• Ms. Carly Desiderio: Returning APHS Special Education Teacher. (Welcome back!)

• Ms. Ariana Lake: Teacher Aide

• Mr. Liam Magann: School Psychologist.

• Ms. Amber Smith: Student Assistance Counselor.
  

• Mrs. Becky Jones: HS Guidance Clerical

• Mr. Thomas Sawyer: Hall Monitor

• Ms. Erica Zuccaro: Teacher Aide.

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th, AND IT WILL BE AN A-DAY!

The APCSD District Calendar for 2026-2027: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pc5cTMAj5A94AJwf7L_8OJOZlNwiMicQ/view?usp=sharing

This is a fixed schedule, and will not change based on snow days.

Our Daily Bell Schedule remains the same in 2026-2027, and is linked here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jaHcsnbZBhuUzVGLKiTjlwL5Ul8nqyG6-v0hjIHEawE/edit?usp=sharing

Please note that this document includes schedules for one- and two-hour delays, as well as half days.

Marking Periods the HS for the 2026-2027 school year: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RdcA0Rd_B6DaLegynuyBErClpv_5Od4xh0ZkntXwqnI/edit?usp=sharing

Please note that we do NOT send home progress reports. Instead all HS grade books will be guaranteed accurate by the end of business, each Friday. Please see the article later in this newsletter for more details, AND CHECK YOUR GRADES EVERY WEEK!

The HS Lunch Schedule for 2026-2027 is located here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zwPP-R2nRfl9NydvJSfe14XGaym7wI_O/view?usp=sharing

https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/our-schools/averill-park-high-school/contact-aphs/

Never hesitate to reach out to us with any questions!

As we open the 2026-2027 school year, our morning announcements will occur in the last four minutes of Block 2 each day, instead of during Advisory.

Our goal in making this shift is to ensure that students are in an environment where they will sit and listen with focus to the announcements each day, as well as leaving more room for students to engage in clubs, extra help sessions, and other activities during Advisory.

Beginning in Semester 2 of the upcoming year, we expect that our daily announcements will move to a video program format. We are excited to see this on the horizon.

Each day, announcements will be emailed to students, parents, and staff by mid-day. Be sure to check your email to stay informed!

Averill Park High School will continue this year as a cell phone and personal device free building during the instructional day. This includes cell phones, as well as other personal devices, such as earbuds, smart watches, and mp3 players.

It is expected that all students will continue to use a Yondr pouch to secure their devices during the school day, or leave all devices at home.

• Incoming 9th graders, and new entrants will receive their Yondr pouch at 9th Grade and New Entrant Orientation on Thursday, August 27th at 6:30 pm. Those not able to attend will receive their pouch during first block on the first day of school.

• Returning students should continue to use the pouch they were given last year. On the first day of school, all advisory teachers will check with students to see who needs a new one. Students in need of a new pouch will sign up for one in advisory, and receive the new pouch on the second day of school, during first block. A bill for $40.00 will be mailed to the home of these students.

• Students who have a device will place it in their Yondr pouch and lock it up, in the presence of supervising staff at each entrance.
• Students who do not bring a device to school will sign a daily document certifying this as they come in.
• Students who have a device, but have forgotten their pouch, will turn their device in to be stored in the school vault until dismissal.

At the end of the instructional day (2:10 pm), students will be able to unlock their pouches and access their devices using unlocking mechanisms located at all student exits. Additionally, we will have staff available in the hallways throughout the building with these devices to make the unlocking process quick and easy.

If students or parents need to communicate during the school day, keep the following in mind:

• In the case of an emergency, parents and guardians may always call the high school main line at (518) 674-7000 to speak with their child.
• We have set up a handful of phone stations for students who have a critical need to speak with a parent or guardian during the school day. These are located in the main office and guidance office.
• Students will still have their school-issued Chromebook device with them at all times. For non-critical matters, we highly encourage the use of email to keep in touch.

Please be aware that anytime a cell phone or other internet enabled device is seen or used by a student during the instructional day, the student will be sent the office, the device will be placed in our vault, a call will be made to the student's parent/guardian, and the device will need to be picked up by a parent or guardian at the end of the day. Students will be assigned detention, and progressively larger consequences for each additional incident.

As we open the 2026-2027 school year, we would like to make sure that students and families are aware of a handful of updates to how we will respond to student behavioral issues in the upcoming year.

• Students who are found to be under the influence, or in possession of, any product containing THC while in school will receive a 5-day out-of-school suspension, pending a hearing with the Superintendent of Schools. In 2026-2027, students and families should expect that hearings related to THC will result in a 15-week suspension from school. Students who are first time offenders will be offered the ability to reduce this suspension to 5-weeks through participation in a program offered through our Student Assistance Counselor. This option will not be available to students beyond a first offense.

• Students who acquire 10 or more referrals within the school year with be required to participate in a parent meeting with the student's teachers, Assistant Principal, and counseling team. The goal will be to develop a plan to improve behavioral outcomes. Students who approach 15 referrals, and have not shown improvement, will be referred to a Hearing with the Superintendent for consideration of a longer-term suspension from school.

Our goal in implementing these updates is to ensure that we are providing a safe and non-dispruptive environment for all of our students at Averill Park High School. As always, all of our responses to student behavioral issues will remain aligned with the Averill Park Central School District Code of Conduct, linked here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1phxRnCU9GHe7q_hGf6aK31vKUCRXFBPY/view?usp=sharing

If you have any questions, please contact the Assistant Principal who oversees your student's gradel-level, at (518) 674-7002.

Over the past several years our full counseling team, which consisted of 4 school counselors, 1 social worker, and 1 psychologist has noted significant changes in student needs. Specifically, we have seen marked increases in student mental health and social/emotional wellness needs. The time that our school counselors have invested in helping to be responsive to students in these areas has taken away from their ability to be fully present and proactive to students in the areas of college and career planning, scheduling, and academics. Obviously, all of these areas are of great importance to our students and families, and deserve our full attention.

After taking a year to study potential solutions, our Counseling team, along with the HS Administration, has updated our operations, as follows:

• We did not replace the school counselor position vacated as a result of the retirement of Mr. Joe Plantz.
• In place of the school counselor position, we have hired an additional psychologist. Mr. Liam Magann joined our team this summer.
  
• In doing this, we are increasing the mental health side of the team. This team will now consist of one social worker, and two psychologists.

Along this new configuration, we have also reorganized roles such that our school counselors will provide services ONLY in the areas of college and career planning, scheduling, and academics. Students with needs related to mental health and social/emotional wellness will work exclusively with our now larger social worker and psychologist team.

Our longer-term goal is to ensure that all of our student needs are met proactively, and with the attention they deserve. By increasing the number of dedicated mental health providers available to students, and better defining the roles and services provided by each of our staff, we expect that all of our needs will be better met.

Here is a list of our updated school counselor assignments for the 26-27 school year: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CYFzmvy95FOXEbbIZ966LNpGuawdFpm79ctpdz9VJ3Y/edit?usp=sharing

If you have any questions, please contact the HS Counseling Center at (518) 674-7025.

In past years, we have always offered the option for students to access extra help with their teachers during our daily Advisory period, running from 10:20 until 10:50 each morning.

This year, each of our Core Academic Teacher Teams have worked to systematize this extra help. Teacher teams will meet once every two weeks to monitor the progress of students in each of their courses. When they discover students who are not meeting with success with a particular standard within the current unit of study, those students will be assigned to receive support in that standard during Advisory. Once students have mastered the content they need to move forward successfully, they will no longer be assigned to the support.

Our goal in this work is to be proactive in identifying students' needs before it's too late, and ensure we are providing students with the support they need to be successful during the school day, when we are all here to help.

Our Tier 2 Advisory Support Team for 2026-2027 is as follows:

• Mrs. Jody Agnew- Math
• Mr. Sean Organ- Social Studies
• Mrs. Veronica Gaboury- ELA 9/10
• Mr. Matt McKeeby- ELA 11/12
• Ms. Emily Caboot- Biology
• Mr. Wilfredo Reyes- Chemistry

If you have any questions, please contact the high school Guidance Office at (518) 674-7025.

On time arrival to school each morning is important to starting the day off right. When students arrive late frequently, they miss out on important instructional time, and also interrupt the flow of other students who are working and engaged, as the come in.

Late arrivals have been added to the Averill Park High School metrics for ineligibility. Students who are late to school, for any reason, more than 5 times in a five week period will be ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities for the following 5 weeks. A letter will be sent home to inform you if you fall into this category.

Students who are ineligible due to excessive late arrivals to school may earn back the ability to participate in extracurricular activities by setting up an appointment with the assistant principal who oversees their grade-level.

Please remember that the instructional day begins at 7:30 am. Students should aim to arrive to school by 7:20 each morning to allow time to get breakfast and travel to first block.

If you are experiencing extenuating circumstances with getting to school on time, please reach out to your guidance counselor and the assistant principal who oversees you grade level to explore options to help get this back on track.

It is important that all parents and guardians update and/or verify their contact information in Schooltool so that we can be sure to stay in touch with you throughout the year!

All students will receive a "first-day sheet" in their Advisory on the first day of school. Students will be asked to take these home, and have parents/guardians take a look, verify, update as needed, and sign off on them. Students should then bring these back to their Advisory teacher.

All "first day sheets" should be returned to students' advisory teachers no later than Friday, September 11th.

As we open the new school year, please be reminded that we are partners in providing a pathway to success for each of our students. With over 850 students in the building, our faculty and staff truly need your help, as parents and guardians, in keeping an eye on your student's progress as frequently as you can. This helps to ensure we are staying connected and working together to resolve academic issues as early as possible.

It is our commitment that all of our electronic grade books, available to all students and parents on Schooltool, will be updated and accurate by the end of the school day each Friday afternoon. We will send an electronic communication to all students and parents each Friday (beginning September 25th), reminding you to check Schooltool, and to contact teachers directly with any questions. Please check these gradebooks each week, and reach out to teachers with any questions.

Because we provide weekly grading information, we do NOT send 5-week progress reports to all students. We will, however, send a written communication at the traditional 5-week point in each marking period to any student who is failing 2 or more classes at that point.

Here is a fresh link to our marking periods and dates for releasing report cards and honor rolls:

If you need assistance making sure that you have Schooltool access, please contact Mrs. Chambers or Ms. Jones in the APHS Counseling Center at (518) 674-7025.

In recent years, we are been working on the creation of grade-level, interdepartmental teams of professionals who can collaborate with one another, and keep the focus on students who they have in common. This allows for staff who share students to spend time together, collaborate, and problem-solve, as a team, on how to best assist each student they share to find success.

To help facilitate this, our Assistant Principals work with, and case manage, specific grade-levels, as follows:

• Mr. Scott Seligman will supervise and case manage Grades 9 and 10.
• Mrs. Rebecca Leach will supervise and case manage Grades 11 and 12.

Be sure to reach out to the Assistant Principal assigned to your grade-level with any questions. They are here to help, and serve as your first line of defense for any issues which may arise.

As you look at your schedule, please know that our Counseling Team has made every effort to reduce student conflicts, and maximize student enrollment in the courses which most students selected. Our overall outcomes this year are statistically better than we have ever seen. Of course, there will always be conflicts in a complex schedule and a school of our size. Some students have, or may still, need to make some choices.

Please note that student schedules will not be changed between now and the opening of the school year.

We will have an Add/Drop Period for schedule changes between the dates of Monday, September 14th and Wednesday, September 23rd. The only exceptions to this include:

• a student has failed the prerequisite course, and needs the next course in the sequence,
• a student went to summer school and no longer needs the assigned course,
• a student is repeating a course with the same teacher,
• a student would like to replace a study hall with a credit-bearing course,
• a clerical error has occurred or two courses assigned to one time slot, or
• there are special medical considerations (requires medical verification from a physician).

If you have any questions related to scheduling, or if your schedule has an issue aligned with one of the above bullets, please contact our Counseling Center at (518) 674-7025. Our Counseling Staff returns to the offices starting on Monday, August 24th to help out.

Our procedures for morning arrival as we open the 2026-2027 school year are as follows:

• Students who take the bus will be let off of their buses immediately upon arrival to the HS. Students will pass through the Yondr Checkpoint Screening, and then will remain in the PE lobby area, where a satellite cafeteria is set up, until 7:20 am. At that time, when the bell rings, students will report directly to their first block classes. BE SURE TO WATCH FOR THE DRY BUS RUN ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 2nd!

• Students who are dropped off by parents, or who drive themselves to school, will enter the building through the Main Entrance in the front of the HS. These students will report to the HS Cafeteria upon arrival, where breakfast will also be available! At 7:20 am, when the bell rings, students will report to their first block class. We ask that students not be dropped off any earlier than 7:00 am.

• For parents who are dropping students off, please use the drop-off loop, and follow the traffic patterns outlined here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10HfRVkvS-58ROF22A-0_eXXkEOqjIwTy/view?usp=sharing

Student drivers are reminded that our morning warning bell rings at 7:20 am, with first block beginning at promptly at 7:30 am. Be on time, and remember to provide time for your Yondr screening.

Our dismissal procedures, at the end of the school day, are as follows as we open the 2026-2027 school year:

• Dismissal for all students at APHS will occur at 2:10 pm.
• Students who take the bus home should exit the building directly through either the Atrium or Athletic Wing doors.
• Students who drive themselves or get picked up by parents/guardians, should exit the building through any doors facing the front portion of the high school.
• Parents/Guardians who are picking up students should wait in the parent drop-off/pick-up loop.

Immediately at the bell, all students will able to unlock their Yondr pouches to access their devices. Unlocking stations are located at every student entrance, and monitoring staff will be walking the halls with mobile unlocking devices, to help out, as well.

If students are staying after school for academic support, athletics, or extracurricular activities it is important that they report to the location in which they are staying by 2:20 pm. When students have finished up, they may wait in the HS cafeteria for a late bus or a ride.

During the 2026-2027 school year, we will offer late buses for students who would like to stay after school. These buses will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, leaving the HS at 3:20 pm, beginning the week of September 21st.

ALL students that are staying after must sign up by 9 am the day that they plan to stay after. ALL students that are staying after must be signed up to stay with a faulty or staff member. Please note that Wynantskill will not be providing late buses this year.

Due to a continued shortage of drivers, we encourage students, to the greatest extent possible, to arrange their own transportation for after-school activities.

We are pleased to have the staffing neccessary to offer late buses once again!

Late buses will be available for high school students, beginning the week of September 21st, on TUESDAY and THURSDAY afternoons.

Students wishing to take a late bus must sign up to do so via a Google Form by 9am of the day that they wish to take the bus. We will share this form soon after opening. Please keep an eye out!

Our Food Services Team created a flyer with everything you need to know about our Breakfast and Lunch Services at Averill Park High School, linked here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v8F5mfshT2s8L2mkWXPMe2LiS3LlOnVc/view?usp=sharing

If you have any questions, please contact Ricky Welling, the Director of Food Services, at wellingr@apcsd.org

Averill Park High School will participate in a study investigating how high school students perceive the role of AI in their future careers. The study will be conducted by Jordan Bernstein, a senior in the Averill Park Science Research program and Dr. Reddy, the Science Research program director.

Participants will complete a brief survey about their views on AI. There is no anticipated risk, and participation is entirely voluntary. Students may withdraw at any time All responses will remain confidential and no names will be recorded. The survey is electronic, will take place during the advisory period, and will not affect instructional time.

Please use the QR code, or the link below, to sign your child up for the study and to review sample survey questions. Only those students whose parents submit the consent form will be allowed to participate in the survey.

Thank you for your consideration!

Consent Form link

Transparency and parent/family access to instructional materials is important to maintaining a partnership in the learning endeavors of our students.

All APHS faculty uses Google Classroom as the consistent platform for sharing instructional materials with students, and their parents/guardians.

We will continue to maintain a singular digital location for students and parents to access these Google Classrooms, as well as a syllabus for each course.

At the top of the high school website, please click on ACADEMICS. You will find a drop down bar for each Department. Simply click on the desired Department and then click on GOOGLE DRIVE. This will take you to the above materials for each teacher. Here is a quick link for that, as well:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PPqocYsmWxcp-VrXFjls9AL4fzEZrHkv

All faculty will have their materials posted and updated for the year no later than Friday, September 18th.

In the meantime, as we open, if you have any questions about a specific course, never hesitate to contact the teacher directly,

As a one-to-one instructional program, the Chromebook devices which are provided to each of our students are considered an important tool within our instructional program. These devices will be of a good deal of importance, as they will be the only devices allowed during the instructional day. Please note that we no longer sustain a "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) program. Students must use school-issued devices while in school.

All students should make sure that they power on their Chromebooks before school starts and bring their Chromebooks to school fully charged on the first day of school.

• All incoming Grade 9 Students and New Entrants will receive a new Chromebook on the first day of school in Advisory.
• Students in 10th, 11th, and 12th Grade Students should have a Chromebook, and should come to school with it fully charged and ready to use.

Parents and Guardians should look for more information, and a survey, in September. Keep an eye for those details.

As we open the 2026-2027 school year, the HS Leadership Team is excited to continue our school-wide WE Make AP a GREAT Place to BE Program.

This project aims to assist all APHS students in the development of their self-regulation skills, improve overall student behavior in the building, and create an engaging culture of common, school-wide expectations in an environment where all students are respected and feel connected.

The “WE Make AP a GREAT Place to BE” project will include:

• building-wide behavioral expectations and norms,

• quarterly grade-level assemblies and programming during advisory,

• student recognition and “YOU Make AP a GREAT Place to BE” awards,

• class competitions for best attendance, academic performance, and positive student behavior,

• explicit programming designed to teach students to better engage with their environment and one another.

If you have any questions, please contact any member of the HS Leadership Team at (518) 674-7002.

One important part of being a positive and contributing member of the school community is understanding, and adhering to, the guidelines, norms and expectations for how we all behave, and treat one another, when at Averill Park High School.

At it's most basic level, as part of our "WE Make AP a GREAT Place to BE" project, we expect that at Averill Park High School, all students will:

• Be Safe
• Be Respectful, and
• Be Responsible.

This looks different in different environments. Here is a link to what sorts of actions and behaviors align with these characteristics within specific areas at the high school:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dd_Dlqz5gZmbIdPVRfka3cZ5zdNDqjrcEKBXPnxY9rk/edit?usp=drive_link

Our Assistant Principals, Mr. Seligman and Mrs. Leach, will review these expectations and norms with all students at their first scheduled class meetings the week of September 8th.

On Thursday September 10th through Tuesday, September 15th, the APHS Assistant Principals will be running their annual class meetings during Advisory.

Students will report to their advisories for attendance, and then will report to the HS auditoirum by announcement, with their advisory teacher.

During this time we will review everything that students need to know to start the 2026-2027 school year off with a high level of success.

• Thursday, September 10th: Advisory Meeting for 9th Graders

• Friday, September 11th: Advisory Meeting for 10th Graders

• Monday, September 14th: Advisory Meeting for 11th Graders

• Tuesday, September 15th: Advisory Meeting for 12th Graders

We look forward to seeing you all then!

Regular attendance in school is a precursor to academic success, and being on time, and present in instruction, is a life skill that reflects a high level of responsibility, organization, and college/workplace readiness.

Anytime that your child is absent from school, it is important that you report this absence to the HS Attendance Office, on the same day, at 518-674-7024. Conversely, you may report absences via our dedicated attendance email address:

aphsattendance@apcsd.org

Each morning, the school day begins promptly at 7:30 am. Students should plan to be in their first block classroom, and ready to learn, at that time. In order to safely navigate morning traffic, cell phone screenings, and access to breakfast, we strongly recommend that you consider being IN SCHOOL BY 7:15 am each morning.

Students who arrive to school after 7:30 am will be considered tardy to school, and will need to receive a pass from the Attendance Office prior to reporting to their first block class.

This year, we have updated our practices for chronicallly late students, as follows. These procedures will go into effect the week of September 21st, after everyone has had a chance to establish a healthy routine:

• Each time that a student arrives late to school without a parent excuse, they will be assigned an Advisory Detention for the same day.
• Additionally, students who are late to school 5 or more times in each five week period will be ineligible from participating in extracurricular activities for the following 5 weeks.

Please note that students who become ineligible may complete activities to earn back their eligiblity. To do so, they will see the Assistant Principal associated with their grade-level.

Attention APHS Juniors and Seniors:

The 2026-2027 Parking Permit is ready for you to apply!

Here's a link to the Parking Application: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BfwceUJjbpavo2q5xT2B7LOtIGQ1USQlm8Sr283nlG0/edit?usp=sharing

Completed applications may be dropped off with Mrs. Nitz in the Main Office.

Please note that parking is a privilege for Juniors and Seniors who are in good academic, attendance and behavioral standing. Eligible students can submit their application starting on the first day of school, Tuesday, September 8th. All students who would like a permit should request one by the end of the day on Friday, September 25th.

For the 2026-2027 school year, students may park in any spot in the main parking lot directly in front of the building (except for those designated as handicapped or visitor/reserved). Students may also park in the overflow parking lot (parent drop-off parking lot by the greenhouse/music wing).

On Monday, September 28th support staff will be checking the parking lots for permits. Be sure to have yours by then!

A reminder that all students at the high school are assigned a locker to use while in school. Locker assignments, as well as information related to your combination, are available to students and parents in SchoolTool.

If you have any issues with a locker not working, please stop by the Main Office for assistance.

Our annual Open House will be held on Wednesday, September 16th from 5:45 pm- 7:15 pm.

This year's event will again be a "Freestyle APHS Meet and Greet", or an informal, open-format opportunity to connect with each of your child's teachers in a relaxed environment.

Each Academic Department Team will be set up at tables outside the high school (weather-permitting). Families may stop by to see who they would like to at any time during the evening. Stay for as long as you'd like, or just stop by. Some amazing dinner options will be available, by purchase, through our friends at Cakes and Catering by Sarah. A sample of items available is as follows:

Look for a specific communication from Mr. Quiles in the weeks to come, but mark the calendar today, and we hope to see you there!

A plain language review of the Code of Conduct will occur in our annual class assemblies, scheduled to occur during the week of September 8th.

At Averill Park High School, student participation in extracurricular activities is a privilege. Students earn these privileges by being in good standing with their attendance, behavior and academics.

Ineligibility is defined as restriction from participation in extracurricular activities and events for a 5-week period. The following criteria are used to determine whether a student is eligible:

Attendance/Later Arrivals:

Students who have acquired 5 or more unexcused absences to school, or are late to school more than 5 times, assessed at either the quarter midpoint, or end, are not eligible to participate in extracurricular activities for the following five weeks.

Behavior:

Students who have been involved in any disciplinary infraction which results in an ESD, ISS, or Out-of-School Suspension, are assigned a period of ineligibility for 20-days following the date of the incident.

Achievement:

Students who are failing 2 or more classes, assessed at either the quarter midpoint, or end, are not eligible to participate in extracurricular activities for the following five weeks.

Students who have lost their eligibility, except those who have received an out-of-school suspension, will be offered the opportunity to earn back their privileges through a variety of means, including but not limited to:

• Students who have acquired 5 or more unexcused absences from school in a five week period will be referred to a restorative attendance circle. If a student actively participates in, and regularly attends, scheduled circle meetings, the student may earn back eligibility.

• Students who are ineligible as a result of discipline referral(s) may request to work with an assistant principal to develop a community service plan. At the completion of the plan, the student may earn back eligibility. Students who have received an out-of-school suspension will not be offered this opportunity.

• Students who are ineligible as a result of failing 2 or more classes may work with their teachers/counselor to develop and implement an Academic Recovery Plan. Upon successful completion of the plan, the student will provide an assistant principal with documentation from their teacher(s) indicating they are passing their class(s). At that time, the student may earn back eligibility.

If you have any questions, please contact the APHS Main Office, at (518) 674-7002.

Important information from our Health Office as we open the new year:

Senior Immunization Requirements: 2 doses of the Meningococcal A Vaccine (REQUIRED)

Who: Students who are 16 years old and entering their senior year.

Due: September 22, 2026

Email or fax immunization records to the nurse. We are noticing that many doctor's offices are not entering all immunizations into the NYS immunization database; please make sure you have a copy of their immunization record from the doctor's office.

*If your senior needed this, you received a letter at the end of the last school year.

* For those students who are still out of compliance, a second notification letter is being sent home the week of August 17th

MEDICATIONS at school:

To ensure the safety of all students, any medication that needs to be taken at school is required to have a provider's order on file at school. This includes daily medications and rescue medication (Epi-pens, inhalers, diabetic, and/or seizure medications)

The order must include: Medication name, dosage, route to be given, time given, frequency, and be signed by the provider. Parents must also sign, giving the nurse permission to give the medication at school.

If you would like your child to receive any over-the-counter medications during the school day in the nurse's office, BOTH you and their provider must fill out the over-the-counter medication form, and BOTH must sign it. Without this, your child will not be able to receive OTC medications from the nurse's office.

Physical exam (required)

Who: Grade 9, Grade 11, and new students to the district, all students with IEPs & 504s

When: Within 30 days of school starting.

Valid Exam Date: 9/1/2025 or later

Must be on a NYS-approved form and signed by the provider

Injuries:

If your child is injured at school, during sports, or at home, medical documentation from a provider must be turned in to the nurse. Their PE teacher will be notified of PE restrictions. An updated PE note must be turned in from every appointment if it is a long-term injury. (surgery, an injury that isn't healing properly, illness, concussion)

• What body part was injured
• What can they do in PE/sports? Can they do upper body/lower body workouts? Can they walk?
• If the note states no PE or gym, they are not able to do anything in PE class and will have to make up the classes that they miss. PE is a state requirement for graduation. You or your child can always reach out to their PE teacher for grading questions.
• Being able to participate in PE in some way will allow your student to continue to earn PE credit during this time.
• A clearance note from the provider is required for the student to return to PE/sports.

Form links: (Click on the link to bring the form up)

OTC Form:

https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/OTC-Medication-Authorization-Form.pdf

Physical Form:

https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/3312023_health-exam-form-1-1.pdf

Authorization to administer medication form:

https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AdministrationofMedicationForm.pdf

High School Nurse & Nursing Director: Val Miller

Email: millerv@apcsd.org

Office Number: 518-674-7020

Fax Number: 518-674-7052

District Nurse: Janine Hamilton

Email: hamiltonj@apcsd.org

If you have any questions, please call the APHS Health Office at (518) 674-7020 or email Nurse Miller at millerv@apcsd.org.

This school year, AP Examinations will be administered May 3 through May 14, 2027.

If you are taking an AP Course, you will soon be receiving information from the AP Coordinators regarding the $99 exam fee (fee is per course). This fee will be due to the AP Coordinators at APHS by October 1. 2027.

Students who complete the free/reduced lunch application and are eligible for free/reduced lunch will receive a fee waiver.

Please watch for more information, or contact Ms. St. James at stjamesa@apcsd.org or Mr. Giannone at giannonej@apcsd.org if you have any questions.

APHS Senior Photos / Class Photos / Yearbooks:

Final Senior photo dates are August 24th through August 27th!

Photos are taken at the HS ~ Upstate Images provides the tux / drape.

These are ALL of the dates for Senior photos. Make sure you plan ahead!

Senior Photo make-up/final date is October 9th.

Online, Seniors must choose their yearbook photo.

Yearbook photos must be taken by Upstate Images, have tux / drape and a blue background.

All seniors have received additional information by both mail and email.

http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/j94cv23_d7cLjXlcBJSatA~~/AAAAARA~/cRDJD6iJS0hrbWjrDpq3vpzbs0Qy-1AfULOitOoeAsiF8vCEtrx1MuoCQKxELtgq1gPVubiZCgRfxPpwgn78vYABwsMF_t61FZ0dqK3liC0kHIa1PUxWPRbxleKuyK5pwXBfzxxGrlvi3muFrGuhkyhPA7YQL-jKznRb-gxIO-IDJkWBuCW9h6OJmFjbfi6X_xv56ZG60lghE2ZShvby05TYHmwa1LcftKg41GwlHcg~

Seniors: If you have not done so, schedule your senior photo now!

School Pictures for students in grades 9, 10 and 11 at APHS are scheduled for September 23rd and 24th, and will be taken during PE classes. The make-up date will be November 2nd.

2026-27 Yearbooks will be available to purchase in September; Order your yearbook early; Yearbooks sold out quickly last year!

Order online at: jostensyearbooks.com

Questions: baileya@apcsd.org

The newest edition of the Averill Park Community Education brochure:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12kI_Tws00Yr3upRbc_WACTNC53j5ujce/view?usp=sharing

A reminder that at Averill Park High School, promotion from one grade to the next remains contingent upon the passing of all required subjects and the accumulation of the number of credits shown in the chart below.

Freshman 0-5.25 credits

Sophomore 5.50—10.75 credits

Junior 11.0—16.25 credits

Senior 16.50 and above credits

September 2026:

Sept 1st Staff Development Day - NO SCHOOL

Sept 2nd: Superintendent Conference Day - NO SCHOOL

Sept 8th: First Day of Classes for all Students- It will be an A-Day

Sept 10th- Sept 15th: Opening Assemblies for all Grade-Levels during Advisories

Sept 11th: Updated First-Day Sheets due to Advisory teachers

Sept 14th: Semester 1 ADD/DROP Begins

Sept 16th: Freestyle Open House-Parent Night, 5:45pm - 7:15 pm

Sept 18th: Senior Sunrise. 6 am. Football Field.

Sept 21st: Yom Kippur- NO SCHOOL.

Sept 23rd and 24th: School Pictures in all PE Classes

Sept 23rd: Semester 1 ADD/DROP Ends

Email: quilesh@apcsd.org
Website: https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/
Location: 146 Gettle Road, Averill Park, NY, USA
Phone: 518-674-7000
Twitter: @APHS_Leaders