Arts Academy in the WOODS
All Parent Orientation Meeting and Senior Parent Meeting
Please join us for one of these orientation sessions:
Wednesday, September 8, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
(Senior Parent Meeting, 7:00 – 8:00)
Or
Friday, September 10, 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
(Senior Parent Meeting, 8:30 – 9:30)
All parents will review the important information you need in order for you and your student to have a successful year. Senior parents will meet separately to discuss information specifically for parents of Seniors.
Please RSVP to Rebecca Billiet in the office for one of the sessions. Email is the preferred method (raustin@artsacad.net), or you can call 586-294-0391. If you get the office voicemail, leave a message indicating your family’s name and which orientation you will be attending.
Thank you!
Orientation for New Students
New students must attend both days of the New Student Orientation, September 1 and September 2.
- Students will be in attendance from 8:00 – 3:10.
- Students do not need to bring a lunch. Lunch will be provided.
Phys Ed Instructor Opening
AAW is disappointed to announce that Earon Roth has submitted her resignation, as she is taking a full-time position in the Birmingham Public Schools. Mr. Spayde spoke with her on Friday and wished her all the best. Mrs. Roth's husband is taking a new job in Owosso, MI, and the Roth family will be moving to the western suburbs of Detroit.
Mrs. Roth has always been a valuable member of the AAW community. She cares for all students, and connected well with AAW students in particular. She is a fun and energetic teacher who will bring valuable experience to Birmingham. We will miss Mrs. Roth, and we wish her well in her new position.
The AAW Physical Education Job Posting to replace Mrs. Roth can be downloaded here.
Request for Proposal For Recruiting and Media Relations
AAW is accepting requests for proposals for a Recruiting and Media Relations position for the period September 23, 2010 – June 30, 2011. Download the complete Request for Proposal here. Resumes and proposals should be sent to Becky Billiet, raustin@artsacad.net.
AAW Foodbank Project: Something from Nothing
As a community outreach project and learning experience this year, the AAW Multimedia Department will be using the internet to demonstrate how much food we can donate to a local food bank at low or no cost to ourselves. The food we collect will be donated to Pop Kramer's Macomb County Veteran's Food Bank on 12 Mile Road between Groesbeck and Utica. From week to week the recommended stores and sale items will vary. You can get involved and track our progress here: http://aawfoodbank.wordpress.com/
Donated so far: $76.20 retail value, out of pocket expense: $3.88.
Welcome Back Letter
Dear Students and Parents,
The dog days of August are upon us, which means that the beginning of the school year is just around the corner. Ms. Becky, Ms. Ura, Mr. Mitchell, Mrs. Mantey, Mrs. Pardue, Ms. Hall, Mrs. Wenson, Mr. Coon and I have been working diligently to prepare the school for our opening day. The floors are waxed, the schedules are set, and we can’t wait to see your face walk in our doors on the first day of school!
This year AAW achieved a significant academic goal and has turned a corner in our desire to be a top-notch Arts and Academic High School. AAW made “Adequate Yearly Progress” in both 2009 and 2010, which means that AAW will not be listed as a school in need of “improvement” by either the State or Federal Departments of Education. Although we will continue to strive for higher levels of achievement, this is an important milestone for us, and we should be proud of what the AAW teachers and students have accomplished. Congratulations on your hard work and success!
As always, we have a lot of information to pass on in preparation for the first day of school. You should have received a mailing in which you will find:
- 2010-2011 School Calendar
- 2010-2011 Bell Schedule
- Instructions on how to access your Powerschool account
- Important information from Ms. Becky and Mr. Spayde
- An invitation to help review and perhaps revise our school rules
- A reminder about dress code, parking policies, and student drop off and pick up
- Fee Statement (if applicable)
- Immunization Exclusion (if applicable)
Please read the enclosed documentation closely.
Also, please complete the following included forms that need to be returned to the office.
- Emergency Card
- Student Directory Information Form
- Acceptable Internet/Email Use Policy
- Free Milk Application (Our federal and state grant monies are based upon data gathered on the Free Milk Application. Please, regardless of your income or desire to drink free milk, fill out this form, so AAW can get our fair share!)
As always, my door is open, and I look forward to seeing you in September.
Sincerely,
Maxwell Spayde
Principal
Arts Academy in the Woods
New Parent Portal
AAW is in the process of converting to a new database to manage our school records. Beginning with the upcoming school year, we will be using PowerSchool, which includes student and parent access to student records. You should be receiving a letter in the mail with your student and parent userid's and passwords. This link should take you to the site: https://ps.aaw.misd.net/public/
Some of you may have received a letter with a link that began with http instead of https. We apologize for the confusion, and hope you will have patience with us as we work out the kinks in the new system.
Once the school year begins, you should be able to view attendance, missing assignments, and grades for yourself/your student.
AAW meets AYP
The Arts Academy in the Woods is pleased to announce that we made Adequate Yearly Progress in both the 2009 and 2010 testing cycles. Additionally, AAW earned an EdYes grade of B for 2010. Other Macomb County high schools that earned a B in 2010 include Dakota and Chippewa Valley, Fraser, Lakeshore, South Lake, Utica and Stevenson. Although we strive to constantly improve, it is important to recognize our achievements. Congratulations to all our staff and students for their hard work.
Summer Admissions Info
Summer Admissions: Please call Mrs. Bolos-O’Neill at 313-886-3676 for more information about enrollment or to schedule a tour.
2010-2011 School Calendar
The calendar link has been updated for the 2010-2011 school year.
Board Member Application
The Arts Academy currently has an opening on its school board. If you are interested, please download and complete the Board Member Application, and submit it to the AAW office.
9th Annual AAW Spring Art Show
The AAW Spring Art Show Will be held on Friday May 21st from 6:30 to 8:30pm at AAW. The show will feature outstanding pieces from the 2D, 3D and Multimedia classes.
Rendezvouz
The music department is hosting Rendezvous to help celebrate the end of the school year. Rendezvous is a night where we will transform the Cafegymatorium into a jazz club for an evening of entertainment, live music, food, beverages and fun.
There will be new music each night!
Please join us at AAW on Thursday, May 20th and Friday, May 21st @7pm for this celebration. Tickets are $5.00 and are available through Ms. Vander Meulen or at the door.
New Homework Lunch program
AAW is proud to announce the implementation of our pilot Homework Lunch program. AAW is identifying students that chronically choose to NOT turn in homework, and we are helping those students catch up by providing this program. Students identified for homework lunch spend their lunch period in a classroom with a mentor teacher who helps the student get organized, get focused, and catch up. After a student catches up on his or her homework, she or he may return to the regular lunch period. If you have any questions on the homework lunch program, please feel free to contact Mr. Spayde in the office.
Spring Dance Concert
Please join us at South Lake High School from 6:30 to 8:30pm for the AAW Spring Dance Concert. South Lake is located at 21900 East 9 Mile Road between Harper and Greater Mack Ave.
Student Showcase
On May 27th our students' many talents will be showcased at Dylan's Raw Bar & Grille,15402 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Park (313 884-6030) from 6 to 9 p.m. 15% of the evening's profit will go to AAW.
AAW's Relay For Life team needs help
Our Relay For Life team, the A.R.T.I.S.T.S. is asking for items to be donated to sell at the event. They are asking for canned faygo soda, face paint/paint brushes, hot chocolate (not individual packets), plastic containers with lids, and bottled water. They are in need of parent chaperones for the day and night,
The date of the event is June 4th-June 5th so they need the donations ASAP. If you are able to donate please contact Alicia Johnston at aliciamariejohnston@yahoo.com
Gardening at AAW
Gardening will begin again at the school now that spring is here. Please contact Yvette at yvettegerace@aol.com if you are interested in assisting. Our regular FAPAPA meeting will be this Thursday, 5/13, at 6:30 at the school, and Yvette will be there if you'd like to talk about our gardening plans and needs.
Dress Code Reminder
With the arrival of warmer weather, we would like to remind students of our school dress code. If a student is not within dress code, they will be required to change clothing. We recommend that students keep a spare set of clothing in their locker if there is any doubt about whether or not they are in violation of our dress code. Other options are to change into clothing provided by the office or call a parent to bring a change of clothes, but we find that simply keeping a spare set in the locker is less disruptive to the student and parent.
The following attire is not to be worn at AAW or at AAW sponsored events, including field trips:
a. Midriffs (clothing that exposes skin between the shirt and pants/skirt).
b. Pants worn below the hips
c. See-through blouses or low cut blouses
d. Any top not covering the shoulders. Shoulder straps must be at least one inch wide. Tank tops must not show any undergarments. Low-cut tank tops, such as those with low cut necklines or low cut armholes, are not allowed. No "racer back" or sports bra style shirts are allowed.
e. Halter tops
f. Sunglasses (nonprescription). Students must have a doctor's note to be allowed to wear sunglasses inside the school.
g. Hats or head wear (unless required by culture or religion)
h. Slippers or house shoes
i. Pajamas or pajama pants.
Mini-skirts and shorts may not be higher than 3 inches above the wearer's knees (including any slits in the skirt). Pants or jeans with tears may not have tears higher than three inches above the knees.
More than one violation of this code may result in detention and/or possible suspension from school.
Open House Tuesday April 27
AAW will be hosting an open house for prospective students Tuesday evening at 7pm. It will feature a variety of performances and exhibits from our art departments, as well as a chance to meet our faculty and administration to learn about our academic curriculum.
Job Opening at AAW
Temporary Paraprofessional Position from May – June 2010, with possibility of continued employment beginning in August 2010 for the 2010-2011 school year.
Responsibilities include homework lunch, assisting with math support class, and coordination with teachers to determine who will attend homework lunch. Successful candidate will have the opportunity to create new communication protocols between teachers and homework lunch coordinator with the intention to support student learning.
$12 hourly, 30 hrs/wk from May 1 – June 30. Retirement available.
Evidence of successful work with students is required.
Evidence of successful collaboration with teachers is required.
Evidence of successful email communication is required.
Evidence of creating documents in Microsoft Word or Excel is desired.
Candidate must meet No Child Left Behind requirements for paraprofessionals; either 60 semester hours at an institution of high education, an associates degree, or passing scores on a state or local academic assessment.
Send resume and cover letter to raustin@artsacad.net
Gwen and Carmel perform Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay at the Jan 15, 2010 AAW assembly.