Since August, we’ve been encouraging students to take an active role in understanding their progress by initiating conversations with their teachers whenever they feel uncertain about their standing in any class. As you may have noticed, PowerSchool reflects evidence of student learning, but it does not display an averaged grade. This means students need to directly engage with their teachers to understand their current level of learning.

With the end of the semester quickly approaching, now is an ideal time to remind your child of the strategies we’ve suggested:

1. 1. Shift the conversation focus.
      Encourage them to ask:

      1. • “Where can I improve?”

• How can I continue to grow?”

  • Instead of the less constructive, “What’s my grade?”

1. 2. Request specific feedback.
      General responses like “You’re doing fine” or “Keep it up” are positive but not actionable. Students should seek clarity about:

• • • • Specific learning targets or standards.

      • Reporting categories or rubrics.

      • They should not leave the conversation until they have a clear understanding of what steps they can take to improve.

We have 1 normal week & 1 Assessment week left in the semester, with evidence being collected through December 18. There are still opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning during this time.

Educational experts such as Dr. Thomas Guskey, Dr. Lorin Anderson, and Ken O’Connor highlight the importance of these student-teacher conversations. They are critical to student success, ensuring alignment between student efforts and teacher expectations.

Snow Day Prep - As we start to move into some chillier weather, we wanted to remind you of our process regarding Snow Days.  If we are notified “last-minute,” there will be no learning expectations set for your children that day.  If we have advanced notice and/or if the snow day extends to multiple days, then you could expect the following:

• • • Online learning day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. following the regular day schedule. 

    • Teachers will post assignments and instructions on Google Classroom by 10:00 a.m., designed for students to work independently at their own pace or synchronously with the teacher present via Google Meet.

    • During their assigned teaching blocks, teachers will be available online to provide one-on-one support through email, Google Meet, or chat.

We recognize that not all families may be in a position to participate fully in online learning due to potential outages. Please prioritize your child’s well-being, and know that our counselors are available via email for support if needed.

HS Arts Showcase & Music Concert - Join us to celebrate the Musical Arts at ACS. Lobby doors open at 4:30 on Wednesday (12/10) with a few special pre-concert performances. See you there!

Homecoming - The high school Student Council is hosting its annual Winter Homecoming for grades 9 and 10. The goal is to create a fun evening where students can connect with friends, dance to music, and enjoy some food. The event is on Thursday, December 11th, from 7:00–9:00 PM. Students can purchase their tickets from Student Council members. 

Assessment Week Busing - If you have a child who regularly rides the bus and would like them to have access to this during assessment week (Sunday - Wednesday / December 14-17), please take a moment to fill out the Assessment Week Bussing Form before Sunday, December 7, @ 12:00 p.m.  Please note that students will have a supervised space for them to be in the event that they would like to take the regular bus home at 3:10.