October 17, 2023

AHS PTSA is proud to publish bi-monthly newsletters that showcase our school, opportunities for engagement, and updates for our AHS families. This is one of the many ways your PTSA Membership supports our community. Thank you to those that have joined!

In This Issue

FCS Community Meeting
Counseling Updates
International Baccalaureate Diploma
FCS Grading Policy
PTSA Announcements
- Teacher Appreciation
- Adult volunteers needed!
Performance
- Theater: A Night of Murder Mysteries
AHS Blood Drive
AHS Clubs
- AHS Clubs and Organization Information
- Robotics Booster Club
- Girls Soccer Parent Meeting
- Women's Larcrose Shoe Drive
- Boys Basketball Tryouts
- Girls Golf Informational Meeting
- Gymnastics Informational Meeting
AHS Letter Jackets
AHS Business Partner Spotlight
Stay Informed
- Principal Scheifflee's Friday Morning Message
- AHS Daily Announcements
- Raiders Revealed Blog
- AHS Video Morning Show
SGC Public Comment

FCS Community Meeting

Counseling Updates

CLASS OF 2024 SENIORS

Attention Seniors, please login to Naviance an complete your College Bound Information Survey as well as your Post Secondary Plan Survey. These surveys allow counselors to write your letters of recommendation and assist you in planning for your future after high school. Counselors will begin calling seniors in who have not completed the surveys, as they are mandated by the state of Georgia.

CLASS OF 2024 SENIORS

Presidential Scholars Program

The 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program nomination window is open from September 1 to November 1. Any high school senior may complete the application, provided they meet all program qualifications outlined by the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The student informational brochure includes information on the application criteria and the two required essays. The application, program criteria, and informational brochure are on the Excellence Recognitions USPS webpage. Applications are due by November 1 at 5:00 p.m.

Application: 2024 USPS Application

Required Verification Forms: Click Here

Student Informational Brochure: Click Here

Coordinator’s Guide: Click Here

U.S. Presidential Scholars website: Click Here

College Applications

Fulton County Schools is no longer using Naviance for college applications.

While Naviance will continue to be used to research and plan for college, for the 2023-2024 school year, students will apply to college using the following platforms:

Common Application
Coalition
GaFutures
Common Black College Application
Individual College Application Portal (visit school’s admissions website)

Many of the abovementioned college application platforms will allow school counselor to upload high school transcript. Therefore, students will not have to request transcripts outside of the application platform. However, if/when needed, students can request transcripts here via ScribOrder.

Federal Student Aid

2024–25 FAFSA Roadmap | Knowledge Center

For the 2024-25 award year, the FAFSA is getting a facelift that includes a redesign and fewer questions. Plus, formulas determining aid eligibility have been modified with the goal of expanding financial assistance for low-income families. The FAFSA for the 2024-25 school year is projected to be available in December 2023, a few months later than usual. In years past, FAFSA applications opened up each October before the start of the next academic year.

Local College Deadlines

College	Early Action	Regular Decision
GA Tech	Oct 17^th	Jan 4^th
UGA	Oct 15^th	Jan 1^st
GSU	Nov 15^th	April 1^st
KSU	Oct 31^st (Priority)	June 30^th

CLASS OF 2025 JUNIOR ADVISEMENT

Counselors will be hosting the Junior Advisement meeting in the AHS Auditorium, Monday, October 30^th. This is a student only session and a copy of the presentation will be posted to the counselor website at the conclusion of the meeting. Attendance for all juniors is mandatory. Following the meeting, counselors will be pushing into all levels of 11^th grade American Lit classes to assist students in completing their 11^th Grade Bridge Bill and Junior Survey. Following advisement meetings, counselors will send out instructions for 11^th grade parents and students to schedule their 11^th grade Junior Advisement 1-on-1 meetings with their counselor.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Visit our updated counseling website for scholarships https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/27935

JUNIORS & SENIORS

Upcoming College Visits. Login to Naviance to register.

Brown University	Matthew Price	-	10/17/23 1:30 PM
Wentworth Institute of Technology	Marisa Najarian	-	10/17/23 2:30 PM
U.S. Navy	Bobby Wilkerson	-	10/18/23 10:15 AM
University of Chicago	Marjorie Betley	-	10/18/23 2:30 PM
Washington and Lee University	Elaina Wenger	-	10/19/23 1:30 PM
Illinois Institute of Technology	Armando Bocanegra	-	10/19/23 2:30 PM
Kennesaw State University	Markie Dean	-	10/20/23 11:15 AM
Istituto Marangoni Miami	Yazmene Kaylani	-	10/23/23 10:15 AM
University of South Carolina-Columbia	Lorenzo Myers	-	10/23/23 11:15 AM
University of Alabama in Huntsville	Chloe McAlpin	-	10/24/23 9:15 AM
Ohio University-Main Campus	Bianca Durant	-	10/24/23 10:15 AM
University of Missouri-Columbia	Allison Desira	-	10/30/23 2:30 PM
New York Institute of Technology	Thomas Shea	-	11/9/23 10:15 AM
University of Kentucky	Zach Lamb	-	11/15/23 9:15 AM
Arcadia University	RaeAnn Topa	-	11/27/23 10:15 AM

RESOURCES

Tutors

Alpharetta High School provides this list as a service and does not endorse or recommend any particular tutor. We recommend that each family carefully consider researching all available tutors.https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/19471

Alpharetta High School’s National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta offer free peer tutoring https://alpharettanhs.weebly.com/need-a-tutor.html or Mu Alpha Theta Peer Tutoring Request Form
Peachtree College Planning will be hosting “Making College More Affordable for Every Family” virtual workshop on October 17th. To register https://bit.ly/3LksvWO

How to Support Students Facing Academic Pressure & Stress

As we approach the fall, school begins picking up and the weight of different responsibilities can begin to feel overwhelming. Many of our students deal with high levels of school anxiety and academic stress. They are being asked to juggle college level classes, extracurricular activities, sports, clubs, and full social lives. All these things combined can increase anxiety disorders and depression in middle and high school students. This blog will seek to provide helpful information on warning signs of anxiety and depression in your students and ways to help address academic stress. https://summitcounseling.org/how-to-support-students-facing-academic-pressure-stress/

Peachtree College Planning will be hosting “Making College More Affordable for Every Family” virtual workshop on October 17th. To register https://bit.ly/3LksvWO

International Baccalaureate Diploma

IB Statement of Intent

Any students intending to pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma beginning Junior Year (2024-25) must complete the Statement of Intent on or before January 10, 2024. This year’s Statement of Intent will be submitted digitally and can be accessed either via the AHS IB webpage or by clicking the link here https://tinyurl.com/AHSIBIntent2024. Students will need to login with their @fcstu.org accounts to access the application, but a .pdf of the “worksheet” document can be found here https://tinyurl.com/AHSIBWorksheet2024 for review and preparation.

OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN MORE

* OCTOBER 18 - Sophomore students are also invited to experience IB classes by shadowing current IB Diploma Programme students https://tinyurl.com/IBShadow2023. Signups will close October 18 and the experience will occur on October 26.
* OCTOBER 25 - Mr. Fortunato will also hosting our monthly IB Community Meeting on October 25 at 6:30pm in the AHS Media Center. The topical focus of the night will be the Extended Essay as well as additional information about the Diploma Programme
* November 15 – IB Community Meeting. The topical focus of the night will be Theory of Knowledge.
Students and parents can schedule individual meetings with Mr. Fortunato to discuss IB and create a “road map” of what courses would look like. Visit the AHS IB webpage and select “Schedule a Meeting” from the menu or use the following link to go directly to the booking page https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/AlpharettaHighSchoolIBDiplomaProgramme@fultonschools.org/bookings/. More information about the Diploma Programme can be found on the AHS IB webpage http://www.fultonschools.org/ahsib.

If you have any questions about International Baccalaureate or the 2022-23 Statement of Intent, email Mr. Fortunato: fortunatof@fultonschools.org

IB Shadowing

Interested in IB but not sure what the classes are really like? Sign up today to shadow a current IB student and experience learning in IB!

Dates for this experience will be in October, so interested sophomore students should complete this form at https://tinyurl.com/IBShadow2023 to reserve their spots! Signups close October 18, so don’t delay!

Oct. Community Meeting

Join Mr. Fortunato on Wednesday, 10/25, from 6:30-7:30pm in the AHS Media Center for our monthly community meeting!

This month’s focus will be on the Extended Essay, with guest presenter Ms. Katie Mitchell. This is a great opportunity for parents of current or interested IB students to learn about this core aspect of the Diploma Programme.

FCS Grading Policy

PTSA Announcements

AHS Theater

Night of Murder Mysteries

Alpharetta High School Theatre presents a Night of Murder Mysteries, October 26 - 27 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased using the QR code below, online at Alphatheatre.com, or at the AHS Auditorium.

AHS Student & Staff Blood Drive

Donating blood is a vital act of compassion and altruism. Your donation can save lives during emergencies, surgeries, or treatments for various medical conditions. Hospitals constantly need a fresh and adequate blood supply, as it has a limited shelf life. Regular donations ensure a steady inventory to meet demand. Additionally, donating blood offers potential health benefits to the donor, including a reduced risk of certain health issues. It's a way to contribute to medical research and advancements while demonstrating community support and responsibility.

Ultimately, your generosity in donating blood can significantly impact and improve the lives of others.

STUDENTS & STAFF ONLY blood drive will be held on October 19th from 9 AM-2 PM.

Requirements (Student & Staff Only):

● Must be 16 years or older

○ Those who are 17 and older do not need parental consent

● Must weight at least 110 lbs

● Must be at least 5'1"

● Must not be iron-deficient

Reminders:

● Eat nutritious, iron-rich food

● Complete the Rapid Pass to save time: tinyurl.com/ahsrapidpass

● Bring a government-issued/school ID

● SLEEP before and after

● No caffeine 24 hrs before drawing blood

Signing up:

Visit this link: tinyurl.com/1ahsblooddrive

● Type in the zip code 30005

● Click find a drive, and scroll down until you see the October 19th date at the Alpharetta

High School location

● Click “see times” and select the blood donation type you want to give

● Choose a time slot for when you will give blood

● Fill out any other personal/account information asked

● Next, reserve your spot on the sign-up genius!

● Add which class period you will be donating, teacher’s name and room number in the

comments!

AHS Clubs

AHS Clubs & Organizations

Over 65 clubs and organizations are represented at AHS. Click on the button below for a full list including meeting times, faculty representatives, social media handles and contact information. Get involved at AHS!

Click Here - AHS Approved Clubs 23/24

Robotics Booster Club

AHS Robotics Booster Club will be have a meeting 10/17/23 at 6:00pm. Please plan to attend if you would like to help your son or daughter’s robotics club have a successful season. There is a lot of logistics and planning to run the club! Contact Mr. McCray at MccrayK@fultonschools.org for more information!

Girls Soccer

Join Coach Phillips for a Parents Meeting on 10/24 from 6pm-7:30pm in the AHS Media Center. At this meeting Coach Phillips will go over pre-season conditioning, tryouts, and season expectations, as well as fees and other important information