Monday, September 27, 2010

NOTAM 092710

27 September 2010


MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
It’s Week #3 of the school year, and I continue to be impressed by the remarkable spirit that seems to be coming from everyone and everywhere. You are all rockin’ this school in a way that simply makes me glad to be among you each day! Last Friday’s assembly was riveting as our ASB leaders prepared everyone for Spirit Week (this week!) and the first dance of the school year—the Aviator Ball, scheduled for Saturday evening. I must say that I may think twice about dining with Mr. Gudor, Mr. Shiroma, Ms. Durrant, or Dr. Katims ever again after observing their unabashed enthusiasm for quickly devouring a “pie”, but I certainly applaud their competitive, good-natured spirit! I’m eager to see who the actors will be in the next assembly, but for this week, I’m looking forward to seeing how the AHS spirit is revealed each day through a different fashion theme!

I was also very impressed with the learning I saw taking place last Friday on our very first College & Career Day. I heard positive feedback from most students with whom I interacted, but I didn’t get the opportunity to observe all of the activities. Our goal is to provide you with a progressively more informative and useful program that prepares you for college and career. So, let your voice be heard by letting your advisors, Ms. Carper, and the administration know what was helpful to you, what wasn’t so helpful, and what you want to experience as the year continues.

Speaking of preparing for college and career: Mark your calendar for the Life After High School Fair that is scheduled for Wednesday, November 3rd from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Highline High School. One hundred (100) different colleges and career organizations will be there to help you plan for your future!

Over this past weekend, I spent several hours reading 97 inspiring essays written by AHS students who are vying for one of the 75 Pathfinder tickets that are being sponsored by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Peter Anderson & Galvin Flying, and other aviation and community leaders. And, while I promised that I would announce the selection of students in this week’s NOTAM, I am simply not able to do so without your assistance. The reason? Almost all of the essays are truly outstanding, and many of them are masterpieces! I so wish that we had sponsorship to take everyone who applied, but currently, we don’t. We have 22 more applicants than spots available. I am, therefore, asking for voluntary (and perhaps temporary) withdrawal from students who have attended Pathfinder two or more times. If you are willing to give up your seat to someone who has not had the same opportunity as you, please come to the main office TODAY to see Ms. Stark or Ms. Hiranaka. In the meantime, I’ll be checking with the Pathfinder coordinators to see if there’s any possibility of additional sponsorship. If there is, the students who volunteer to give up seats will be reinstated. By Wednesday of this week, we will post a list of selected students on the windows in the main office (viewable from the courtyard). I am thanking you, in advance, for your understanding and patience as we work through the selection process. As a reminder, if you are selected, you must attend Etiquette Training next Monday, October 4, from 3:45-5:30 p.m.

You all know that we don’t have athletic teams at AHS, right? That may change very soon, though, thanks to some amazing parents and students who are interested in starting an Ultimate Frisbee team. If you are interested in learning more, email ultimate.ahs@gmail.com. Parents: Information will also be available this Wednesday at our Evening of Learning program. Students and parent organizers will be ‘manning’ a table in the Cafeteria, starting at 5:30 p.m.

We inadvertently omitted a very important club offering during last week’s Club Fair! If you are interested in a professional aviation career, you may want to join the Airline Career Experience (ACE) club, which is sponsored by the Air Line Pilots Associated and advised by Alaska Airlines Captain John Sluys and AHS Ground School instructor Robin Lee. ACE will meet this Thursday during club time in Room 17.

On October 8, there is no school; however, we will be hosting the Pathfinder inductees, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University VIPs, and a number of other VIPs who are interested in knowing more about our school. If you are a member of ACE, the Skunkworks Robotics Team, Science Olympiad, or an ASB officer, I request the pleasure of your company and your participation in a demonstration of learning from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Further details will be provided to your advisors. Other students may also be asked to participate, so stay tuned. And…thanks in advance for your ambassadorship!

I look forward to seeing parents at our annual Evening of Learning this Wednesday from 6:00-8:00 p.m.! The program starts in the Gymnasium. Students, please remember to give your parents your class schedule, too! Unfortunately, on the invitation, we mistakenly listed 6th period as a class that parents would attend. Please ‘scratch’ 6th period and instead, add 7th period!

My best to all for a spirited week of learning and fun! I am honored to be your principal!
~Reba


NOTE:
Keep checking the AHS website or logging onto school computers to get updated information on events/meetings.


QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

~ Mark Twain (quoted by Ramneet Kaur in her Pathfinder essay)

Sunday, September 19, 2010

NOTAM 092010

20 September 2010


MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:

Greetings, AHS Scholars! I hope your first full week of learning was a remarkable one in every way! This week brings more opportunities to experience the culture of AHS, with Friday designated as our very first College and Career Day, which will be followed by nine more throughout the school year. Activities that take place on these days will increase your knowledge of college and career opportunities and will give you the time you need to develop or refine your résumé, hone your interviewing skills for colleges, internships and employment experiences, write college essays and applications, create your portfolio, etc. As part of preparing for life beyond high school, this Friday, our freshmen and sophomore women will attend an assembly from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the gym to hear from a Chilean pilot about her career progression. On Friday afternoon, we’ll have an all-school assembly facilitated by our awesome ASB leaders. Complete details about Friday’s schedule will be shared by your first-period teacher.

In last week’s NOTAM, I informed you about the Pathfinder gala which is scheduled for October 9, 2010 at the Museum of Flight (information is still on the website under tab). As a reminder, essays are due this Thursday by 4:00 p.m. Please submit them to our office manager, Lenore Stark. Selected participants will be named in next week’s edition of the NOTAM, and required Etiquette Training will take place after school on Monday, October 4. Details related to Pathfinder are posted on the AHS website.


On Wednesday, September 29th, your parents / guardians are invited to attend an Evening of Learning, which is the AHS version of an open house. Invitations were mailed home last week. Your parents will be attending mini-sessions of your classes, so please make sure they know where they’re going by helping fill in the schedule on the program.

That’s it for this week. Best to all for an inspiring, engaging week of learning. Honored to be your principal—Reba


NOTE:
• Are you in the habit of checking the AHS website or logging onto school computers? At both places, you’ll find information regarding upcoming events and meetings. Among other opportunities you’ll find this week:
o Monday meeting at lunch for students interested in music club
o Speech & Debate
o Alaska Airlines Aviation Day for interested students.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“The world is but a canvas to the imagination.”
~ Henry David Thoreau

Sunday, September 12, 2010

NOTAM 13 Sept 2010

About the NOTAM this year:
Dear Students, Parents & Families, & Friends of AHS,

At Aviation High School, we believe that communication with student and families, our partners and friends in aviation, and members of the communities we serve, is vitally important. The weekly NOTAM (Notice to Airmen, a term we ‘borrowed’ from the aviation world) is our version of most school’s bulletin, but we hope you will find it a bit more personalized and representative of the uniqueness of our school. Most importantly, we hope you will read it each and every week as it is our primary written communication tool for stakeholders inside and outside the organization.

For those of you who have been acquainted with AHS prior to this school year, you will notice that the NOTAM is changing a bit. To begin with, we are posting much of the information that used to be in the NOTAM on the school calendar is posted on our website at http://www.AviationHS.org. You can click on events to find additional information, not just for the week but for scheduled activities throughout the month and school year. Please make it part of your weekly routine to review the calendar so that you don’t miss an opportunity!

This year’s NOTAM will primarily consist of the following:

 The Principal’s Message
Ms. Gilman’s message will inform you about learning opportunities that need more explanation than can be provided on the calendar. Example: Pathfinder event that is the focus of this week’s message. She will also give updates about the school’s progress toward permanently locating at the Museum of Flight. Reminders will be provided about special events. And, frequently students will be recognized for earning awards and honors and doing good deeds. Unlike previous years’ NOTAMs, we will publish students’ outside accomplishments monthly if we know about them…and we do want to know! Just send an email to Ms. Stark at starkml@hsd401.org detailing the recognition, and you’ll see your name in print!


 Message from the ASB
There may or may not be a weekly message from ASB. Officers will inform you about special events such as dances, spirit weeks, etc.

 Message from the PTSA
Don’t expect weekly messages. We will occasionally print them to remind you of important events and timelines, but your best way to keep informed of PTSA information and activities is to regularly check their website at http://www.aviationptsa.org.

 A quote of the week, which is intended to make you think about an issue or simply enjoy!
Ms. Carper, our counselor, will post scholarship information in her office and also post to our website. Likewise, Ms. Pappas and Ms. Burr will post mentoring information and internship opportunities in their office and on the website. Make it a habit to check this information on a regular basis and know that it will be updated as new opportunities develop.
In summary, make it a habit to read the entire NOTAM each week! We highly encourage parents and students to read and review it together; and, if you have questions, contact us. Because of the change in our advisory schedule this year, there will no longer be an advisory period on Mondays during which time the NOTAM is reviewed. Rather, highlights will be reviewed during students’ first period classes. Therefore, students must assume responsibility for reading the rest of it on their own time. It will be posted on our website each Sunday evening to give you a ‘heads up’ on the week ahead. The NOTAM is available as a blog as well; we encourage you to subscribe to the feed.

This first edition of the NOTAM is lengthy, and we apologize for that. Future editions will be more concise.

Sincerely,

The Administration & Staff of Aviation High School

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
You’re back, and we welcome you!

As we begin the 2010-2011 school year, there’s already a great sense of excitement and wonderment about what the year will bring. I love hearing the ‘buzz’ of your conversations and interactions in the hallways and classrooms, and I’ll be one of your greatest fans as you pursue your goals for college and career at Aviation High School!

Our ASB officers and representatives provided an excellent start to the school year on opening day with a spirited assembly. Well-deserved thanks go to President Sarah, Vice-President Miranda, Secretary Elizabeth and Treasurer Jenny for demonstrating such outstanding leadership skills. They encouraged everyone to get involved in school activities this year, so I hope you are already thinking about clubs and teams that develop your leadership capabilities and complement your academic studies. Remember that you are creating your resume during high school. Academic achievements along with involvement in school activities and volunteerism within the community all enhance your competitiveness to get into the college of your choice, earn scholarship awards, and gain internship and employment experiences.

At Aviation High School, we don’t have a football team, so we don’t have a traditional Homecoming event; rather, we have our own version of homecoming called Pathfinder, and this year it will be held on Saturday, October 9. It is a formal (suits or tuxes for guys; semi-formal to formal wear for ladies) gala event held at the Museum of Flight for the purpose of honoring extraordinary people who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace. The evening starts with a reception in the Great Gallery where we mingle and get acquainted with distinguished guests as we sip a beverage and enjoy some tasty appetizers. The reception is followed by dinner, a procession of former Pathfinder recipients, and on-stage interviews of the Pathfinder inductees. This year’s Pathfinders are Suzanna Darcy-Hanneman, Clay Lacey, and Bill Boeing Jr. The celebration honoring these three individuals should be nothing less than spectacular!

Thanks to the generosity of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Museum of Flight, Galvin Flying, and several individual AHS supporters, up to 75 selected Aviation High School students attend for free! If you are interested in attending, check the website for more information (details are under the tab). (Check it soon; among other things, you will need to write and submit a brief essay by Thursday, 23 September.)

Pathfinders is a great networking event and has opened doors for many AHS students, including internships and work experiences!

That’s it for my message this week. My best for an engaging and insightful week of learning! I am honored to be your principal!

~Reba (or Ms. Gilman, if you prefer; l answer to either!)


MESSAGE FROM ASB:
Welcome back to AHS and a special welcome to the class of 2014! We hope you are as eager and excited as we are for another great year at Aviation High School. We have a lot of plans for the 2010-2011 school year and we need your help to make them successful. Thank you to all who purchased ASB merchandise and ASB cards, which we hope you'll enjoy the many perks of having (i.e. discounts to special events and free admission to the Museum of Flight, including weekends). Speaking of, to kick off the school year we will be having our first spirit week and semi-formal dance (the Aviator's Ball) so stay tuned for more details. Have a great first week, and remember, be proud that you're a Phoenix!
Sincerely,
Your ASB

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~GANDHI