Academy High Newsletter

October 30, 2026

Notes from Ms. Smith

The boys basketball gear store is open now through Body n' Sole! Check out the variety of gear for the students, fans and parents. There are youth and adult sizes available. This is a fundraiser for the basketball team.

We had a great turnout at Homecoming at the Yard. I'd like to give a special shout out to Mrs. Hutchison and student council for making this possible. We are already talking about a fun plan for next year!

We had our first Fall Bash yesterday which was complete with a cookout, a live DJ, karaoke, and tournaments. Students also decorated cookies and pumpkins. I was impressed by the number of students that sang and there were smiles all around.

If your student is planning to take an AP test, please contact Deborah Bodony by Friday November 6th. This will allow time for us to register your student.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions! You may contact me at esmith@academyhigh.org. You can also visit the Academy High Website for more information.

Erin Smith

Head of School

Poet visit - Jim O'Brien

Poems on Tap

Jim O'Brien occasionally publishes under the pen name James Escher. His poems have appeared in The Sangamon River Anthology, Inkwell Vol 1., Pegasus, Bear River Review, Pilcrow & Dagger, and The Tishman Review.

He is co-founder of the Champaign-Urbana Poetry Group and Chapter Facilitator for the Illinois Poetry Society. In 2018, he was awarded the 2018 ACE Volunteer Award from Champaign County arts council 40 North for sharing his passion for poetry and spoken word in an engaging and supportive manner.

He started writing poems on demand, or Poems on Tap, in 2015 and has appeared at pop-ups, bookstores, and art shows throughout central Illinois.

Tuesday October 27th we had a visit from Mr. O'Brien where he wrote "Poems on Tap" for students. He was so popular at school that he is going to plan another visit so that more students can get personalized poems.

Environmental Science Field Trip

This week students in Environmental Science had the opportunity to tour the wastewater treatment facility in Urbana. Students were led on the tour by Trent Lyons who explained from start to finish what happens to everything we flush down a toilet or wash down a sink. Students could apply what they learned in Environmental Science class about the role of microbes in recycling organic matter. They also learned that Daphnia, the freshwater crustacean that they will be using for their capstone research project on how humans have impacted aquatic ecosystems, are monitored by the wastewater treatment facility as the treated water (removed of all harmful waste products) is released into Boneyard Creek. This trip really opened everyone's eyes (and noses) about the important jobs in public service that happen behind the scenes to keep our community healthy.

Fall Bash

Thank you to Matt Walsh with Engaging Entertainment for DJ'ing our Fall Bash. If you're interested in booking a DJ, we highly recommend him! You can contact him at engagingentertainmentdj@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/engagingdj