Good Afternoon, this is Steve Mares, principal of Athens Drive Magnet High School with announcements for the upcoming week. A copy of these announcements will be posted on our school website, emailed and texted to our school families, and emailed to the Athens Drive PTSA email group.
I hope you all received my voice message that I sent this morning where I shared information regarding an incident we had at school. As I had stated in that message, several of our students received an airdropped message that threatened violence at our school. Please know that we immediately began working to investigate and ensure the safety of our students, staff, and visitors. I appreciated the way our students and staff responded to our instructions, and after we felt like the threat was not credible, we finished the day in a positive manner. Please understand that we take all threats seriously, and we do pursue any hoax threats with criminal prosecution. Please know that the safety and well-being of our students is of the highest priority for my staff and me. We take our responsibilities very serious, and we want you to know that we care passionately about ensuring the safety of our students every day.
Please remember that Sunday, November 11th, is Veterans Day. Our students will not have school on Monday, November 12th, in honor of this holiday. No school for students and staff on Monday, November 12th. I would ask that we all take time this weekend and on Monday to reflect on the incredible sacrifices that our Veterans, both active and retired, have made serving our country. For our parents and family members who are Veterans, I thank you very much and honor you for your service.
Parents, please remember that Report Cards were sent home today so please be expecting your student to share them with you this afternoon. We have already begun a new Quarter, so let’s encourage our students to take on the Second Quarter with a renewed commitment to academic excellence!
A huge congratulations to our Men’s Soccer Team for winning their Second and Third Round Playoff games this week! We are now in the final 8 in the State. The Fourth Round Playoff game will be played tomorrow, Saturday, November 10th at Green Hope High School. It would be great to have a large showing of Athens fans to support our student athletes!
I would like to give a huge “Thank You” to all of parents, staff, and students who helped us prepare for and share information about Athens Drive Magnet High School at the Magnet Fair last Saturday. We had a lot of interest shown in our school and it was wonderful to provide information about The Drive to prospective students and families. We also had staff from a school in another District visit us this week to see our program and learn from us as they are starting a similar Magnet Program. We do have a fantastic school family, and it was wonderful to be able to share the great things going on at The Drive!
Our Magnet Coordinator, Ms. Tonya Hinton is coordinating our Magnet Tours for families interested in finding additional information out about Athens Drive Magnet High School. If you are interested in helping out with a Tour (they are held from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.) on the following dates: Friday, November 16th; Wednesday, November 28th; Monday, December 10th; Monday, December 17th; Monday, January 7th; and Wednesday, January 23rd, please contact Ms. Hinton at tchinton@wcpss.net. Thank you for your support of our efforts to attract families to The Drive!
I am proud that our Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform at the North Carolina Music Educators Conference in Winston-Salem on Monday, November 12th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Benton Convention Center. This is an exceptional honor for our band program and school as they will be performing for an audience of N.C. music educators. It is the 4th time that our Wind Ensemble has performed at this conference in 12 years—quite a record and quite an honor!
We will hold our Powder Puff football game on Tuesday, November 13th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Stadium.
Wednesday night, November 14th, beginning at 6:30 p.m., we will have our Winter Sports Parent Night meeting. If you have a student athlete playing a Winter Sport, we ask that you please attend this meeting to get important general information about Athens Drive sports and then sport specific information from our coaches during individual team breakout meetings. Prior to our Winter Sports Parents Night meeting, we will be honoring those students who have signed National Letters of Intent for athletic scholarships. I am excited for our students and their families to celebrate these achievements with our school family!
Our Athens Drive Theatre Department proudly presents our fall play, Football Romeo, this coming week. The Play will be held on Thursday, November 15th and Friday, November 16th, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. The performance lasts approximately two hours with a 15-minute intermission. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $7.00. Please come out to support the nearly 50 students that have worked tirelessly to make this show special and enjoy the beauty of theatre as only passionate high school students can deliver!
We will be hosting Reality of Money simulation on Thursday, November 15th in the Main Gym. This financial interactive simulation, sponsored by State Employees Credit Union and the Athens Drive Business Alliance, is designed to help students understand basic household budgeting and decision making. Upper level Career and Technical Education classes, Work Force Learning classes, and Civics and Economic students will experience the real-life costs associated with their choices as they assume the role of an adult.
We will be celebrating Literacy in a special way this coming week at The Drive. On Tuesday, November 13th, our students will have the opportunity to hear from Ms. Georgia McBride, a Publisher, Business Owner, and Author. On Thursday, November 15th, Mr. Brian Dawson, a Radio Personality/Host will be a guest speaker. And then on Friday, November 16th, we will have our STEM Wars during Third and Fourth Periods in the Gym. We are also welcoming students to Dress Up For Their Love of Literacy for our STEM Wars and Spirit Week for Books: Tuesday, Comic Con versus Favorite Book Character; Wednesday, Protagonist versus Antagonist; Thursday, Music Genre Day; and Friday, Sci-Fi versus Fantasy (Star Wars versus Harry Potter, STEM Wars Celebration). We are looking forward to sharing the work of our students, providing learning opportunities for our students, and celebrating Literacy next week.
In effort to support grieving students, our Student Services Department is collaborating with Transitions GriefCare, a division of Transitions LifeCare, to extend its grief counseling services to support our students. Support groups and educational offerings are available to help students develop and strengthen their ability to cope with grief’s impact. Topics include understanding normal thoughts and feelings in grief, expressing the pain and complex emotions of grief, identifying new coping strategies and adapting to change, learning ways to handle holidays and special days, and connecting with peers who can relate to similar experiences. Please contact Mr. Wright (jwright@wcpss.net) if you are interested in your student participating in this group.
There are going to be two important meetings coming soon for students and parents in our Health Science Career Academy. There will be a mandatory meeting on Monday, November 19th, during both Lunches in the Auditorium for the students of the Class of 2020 in order to discuss their 2019 Summer Internship. Students need to attend this information session and attendance will be taken. In addition, there will be a Parent Alliance Meeting that will be held on Thursday, November 29th, in Rooms 2418 and 2420 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (for parents of Freshmen and Sophomore in the Health Science Career Academy) and 6:30 p.m. (for parents of Juniors and Seniors in the Health Science Career Academy).
Please know that we continue to have representatives from universities meeting with our students during the school day. University representatives are located in the area outside of the Attendance office during both lunch periods. This is a great opportunity for our students to learn about the various programs that are available, admission requirements, and financial aid. For more information on the colleges that are visiting, you can contact Ms. Carrillo in Student Services (919-233-4050 ext. 24893) or visit the Student Services website (http://adhs-student-services.weebly.com). On Wednesday, November 14th, Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Greensboro, and UNC-Wilmington will be here during “A” & “B” lunch.
Yearbooks are currently on sale for $80.00 through the yearbook website (https://athensdriveyearbook.weebly.com). Prices will increase in December, so please make sure you purchase now for your lowest price option.
Our Health Science Career Academy is holding its 3rd annual Fresh Market Pie Sale. Please visit the website https://bit.ly/2zYEeWv for details and to order. Orders are being accepted thru Monday, November 12th and delivery will be Monday, November 19th, from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. in Room 1926. Thank you for your support of our students!
Our Band is holding a BBQ fundraiser on Friday, November 16th, from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge at 5610 Tryon Road. Plates of BBQ Pork and Fried Chicken are being sold for $10.00/plate. Homemade desserts can be purchased for $1.00 each. Please see the band website (http://www.athensdriveband.com/) for additional information. Thank you for supporting our students and Band Program!
The Band’s annual fruit and nut fundraiser is continuing this week. Information on this fundraiser is available online on the band website (www.athensdriveband.com/fundraisers/fruit-and-nut-sale). In addition, any Band student will gladly take your order. Orders need to be placed by Tuesday, November 13th, and orders will be picked up on Friday, December 7th.
Chorus is still offering its Butterbraid and Go Play Save Coupon Book fundraiser. See any Chorus student to buy some delicious treats for the upcoming holiday season or a coupon book with over $12,000.00 worth of coupons!
Our final football game is tonight at Apex Friendship High School. Winter sports begin competition soon, so please check the Athens Drive athletic website (www.wakecountyathletics.com/athensdrivehs) for more information about game dates and times and thank you for your support of our student athletes.
Those are all the announcements for this week. Please continue to check the Athens Drive website (www.wcpss.net/athensdrivehs) for general information to help you stay informed. I hope you all have an outstanding three-day weekend. Go JAGS and please take care.