Newsletter – February/March 2010

     Only a handful of days remain in the third grading period of what is turning out to be another great year at Antwerp Jr./Sr. High School.  With the continued cooperation of our parents, we hope to provide a positive, safe, and highly-educational experience for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year.
     The testing season is nearly upon us with students taking state-mandated tests the week of March 15-19.  Sophomores will take one section of the Ohio Graduation Test each day that week while the freshmen will take OGT practice tests each day that week.  Seventh and eighth graders will take achievement practice tests on those days.  We hope to have excellent attendance during the week of March 15, especially with the sophomores who must eventually pass all sections of the OGT in order to earn a diploma.  Make-up days are available the following week, meaning sophomores who are absent on any day between March 15-19 will have an opportunity to take one or more sections of the OGT the next week. However, perfect attendance by your sophomore student during this week would save him/her from the hassles of making up one or more tests. 
     Buses will run on time the week of March 15-19, but students in Antwerp Middle School and High School will follow a two-hour delay bell schedule.  Students in grades 6-10 are expected to be here on time (by 7:50).  They will take their tests between the times of 7:50 and 9:50.  Students in grades 11-12 may arrive by 9:45 each day that week.  The exception would be the handful of juniors and seniors who need to take one or more parts of the OGT.  Those students will be contacted individually here at school by Mr. Arnold.  Juniors and seniors needing to ride the school bus will go to the gym at 7:50 for supervised activities each day the week of March 15-19.  First period will begin each day at 9:50.
     Speaking of schedule changes, please make note that we will operate on a two-hour delay on March 23 for the purpose of a teachers’ in-service training.  Buses will run two hours late that day, with first period beginning at 9:50.
     Attention parents of sophomores interested in attending Vantage: Sophomores wanting to attended Vantage for the 2010-11 school year need to submit their applications, for priority consideration, to Mrs. Caligiure by Monday, March 22nd.  Direct your questions about Vantage to Mrs. Caligiure.
     Also, seniors and parents of seniors are reminded that as scholarship information comes into the school, Mrs. Caligiure posts applications in both the office conference room and Mr. Lehman’s classroom.  We also have a bulletin board loaded with scholarship information near the high school wing.  Remember, students need to apply for scholarships in order to be considered for scholarships.
     Concerning scheduling for next year, we are in the beginning stages of putting together a master schedule with the classes for students from which to choose.  When helping students to schedule classes, parents should be aware of a program known as “Acceleration”, which allows students who qualify to take classes at least one grade-level ahead of where they currently are.  If this program is of interest to you, contact Mrs. Caligiure for more information.
     To all those parents who drive their children to school in the morning, we would like to thank you for respecting the no drop-off / no parking area in front of the school.  This area is designated for bus drop-off’s only through 9:00 a.m.  Again, thanks to everyone for your continued cooperation as we do our best to prevent any unnecessary accidents in this high student-traffic area.
     Upcoming events include the GMC Cheerleading competition on March 6 at Defiance College starting at 10:00; a National Honor Society-sponsored blood drive on March 8; the spring production of The Sound of Music on March 19-21 (contact Mrs. Smith for more details concerning the spring production); Mobile Dentist in the building on March 22; the H.S. winter sports program on March 23 at 7:30; and the final Washington, D.C., trip meeting on March 29.
     If you have any questions concerning your child(ren) at Antwerp Jr. / Sr. High School, contact Mr. Arnold at the school (extension 2100).  Also, keep in mind that you can communicate with any of your child(ren)’s teachers via electronic mail.  All staff members’ e-mail addresses are listed on the school web-site.

Sophomore Class Information

     The sophomore class is in need of parents to help supervise the concession stand during basketball games.  Profits from the concession stand go to the sophomore class fund and help pay for prom, graduation, and the senior trip.  Please contact Mrs. Sorrell at sorrell_a@aw.noacsc.org  to volunteer.