High School News
DECEMBER 2023
Hello Agora!
My name is Paul Harkins, and I have the privilege of working with our 10th grade students and our math department. This is my third year at Agora and my 16th year in education. I guess the old saying is true--time flies when you’re having fun!
Living outside of Philadelphia, I am a huge Philly sports fan with the Eagles, Sixers, and Villanova basketball being my favorite teams to follow. I love to be outside regardless of the season, whether it’s running, golfing, or just sitting on my deck and relaxing. I have two pugs, Chance and Seamus, who think they run the house, but I love them nonetheless. Typically, I’d share a fun fact about a trip I have taken, but I haven’t gone anywhere recently. Sometimes it’s just nice to stay around your home and relax.
If you have any school-related questions that I could help you with, please feel free to reach out any time via email at pharkins@agora.org. Thank you!
Paul Harkins
Assistant Principal
With our fall break behind us, it is time to get back to school, work, and all that our daily routines require of us. This is the time of year when we find ourselves trying to keep warm and stay healthy while bustling from one errand, chore, or obligation to the next. It can be overwhelming, but designer Janet Gwen reminds us to stop and take time to be "grateful for small things, big things, and everything in between." Gratitude and contentment are keys to wellness. What are some of the small things that make you smile and keep you going? Below, the high school administrators share a few of their little favorites!
Erin Hilson - my loving family and many other relationships that bring me joy
Heather McCormick - warm blankets and slower winter weekends to connect with family & friends
Holly Allen - fuzzy socks and new paints
Jeff Miller - my assistant principals
Eric Buffington - clean drinking water directly available in my home
Paul Harkins - friends & family; the opportunity to work with the Agora community
Erinn Slacktish - family dinners with my husband & boys
Valerie Natale - music and the change of seasons
Morgan Witman - snuggling with our newly adopted Mini Rex bunny
Here in the high school, the PBIS All-Star program is intended to reward positive behavior in the classroom. High school students are encouraged to nominate classmates who demonstrate Agora's core values of 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. The monthly PBIS All-Star students will be announced in this newsletter, in The Agora Times (our high school newsletter for students), and celebrated in live class sessions.
😄CONGRATULATIONS😄 to the October 2023 PBIS All-Star students!
- Kaylynn G. - 11th grade - English
- Jade W. - 9th grade- Math
- Autumn P. - 9th grade - Science
- Jayden B. - 9th grade - Social Studies
- Julie K. - 10th grade - Electives
Agora is proud to offer our high school students 30 club options where they can achieve, exercise leadership skills, find friends, broaden their interests, and more! Below is a list of our high school student clubs. Please encourage your student to consider participating in a club or two! For a description of each club and the student sign-up link, click here:
https://www.smore.com/rqvjc-high-school-clubs
- Agora Car Club
- Agora Theatrics Club
- Anime Club
- Art Club
- Astronomy Club
- A Time For Christ Club
- Book Club
- Chess Club (combined with middle school participants)
- Coffeehouse
- Cooking Club
- Debate Club
- Equine Club
- FBLA - Future Business Leaders of America (Agora chapter)
- F.I.R.E. Club - Female Initiative, Respect, Empowerment)
- Gaming Club
- GSA - Genders & Sexualities Alliance
- Girls Who Code
- Global Awareness Club
- HOSA - Future Health Professionals Student Organization (Agora chapter)
- 4 Diamonds Mini-THON Club
- Photography Club
- Poetry Club
- PYLN - Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network
- Pursuing Joy Club
- RAKA - Random Acts of Kindness at Agora
- Sable Alliance - fostering unity in our school community through exposure to Black culture
- Spanish Club
- The Agora Times - e-newsletter by and for Agora high school students
- Travel Club
- Writing Club
Act 158 of 2018 (Act 158), signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf on October 24, 2018, provides alternatives to Pennsylvania's statewide requirement of attaining proficiency on the three end-of-course Keystone Exams (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology) for a student to achieve statewide graduation requirements.
In order to graduate from high school, students must meet all local graduation requirements related to credits and coursework along with the state requirements outlined in Act 158. Students must score proficient or advanced and/or score within a specific target range on Keystone exams to meet either the Keystone Proficiency Pathway or the Keystone Composite Pathway. There are alternate pathways that students may be eligible to complete if their Keystone scores do not meet the testing requirements.
Administrators and school counselors are working closely with each high school student to review Keystone scores and help students determine which pathway they are eligible to complete to meet graduation requirements.
- Tuesday, December 5: Required 3:30 PM Advisory session--link is in ClassConnect
- Wednesday, December 6: Morning half-day for students; asynchronous afternoon
- Wednesday, December 20: Morning half-day for students; asynchronous afternoon
- Friday, December 22: Morning half-day for students; schools and offices close at noon
- Monday, December 25 - Monday, January 1: Winter break; schools and offices closed
- This is a great time for students to catch up on missing assignments
- Tuesday, January 2: School resumes; asynchronous day for students
- Students are expected to log in AND complete assigned coursework
Occasionally, high school students will follow half-day schedules with abbreviated classes that are completed by noon. The next half-day for students is scheduled for Wednesday, December 6; 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.
