ABRPTSO
Weekly Chatter
AB Regional High School
September 19, 2021
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Table of Contents
- Calendar of Events
- Ready, Set, We're Back!
- Registration for Advanced Placement Exams
- Understanding the College Application Process (Fall College Night)
- Fall Activities Fair
- Freshman Parent Night
- Two Openings for Parent Representatives on School Council
- Volunteer for the Career Education Program
- Extended Privileges for Juniors and Seniors
- Clubs & Activities - Form Required
- ABSAF Fundraising Drive
- Fall Courses via Community Ed
- PSAT/NMSQT Registration Opens Sept. 20th
- AB Youth Volleyball Clinic
- Looking for a Mental Health Provider?
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September 21 - Understanding the College Application Process (Fall College Night) for Parents/Caregivers
September 22 - Senior Class Meeting - Period 2
September 22 & 23 - Fall Activities Fair
September 23 - Freshman Parent Night
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Ready, Set, We’re Back!
Welcome back to all our students and staff and a Very Special Welcome to the new Freshman Class of 2025! The ABRPTSO is wondering if summer is over yet? We are still enjoying warm days - when it’s not raining ;) - yet we are also excited to be back together again
in school. Together, the PTSO can help you organize your school months with our weekly Sunday Chatter updates and on-line School Directories (which are coming soon).
Not only are the students together again in person, but the ABRPTSO is too! If you can spare a little time, we would love for you to join us at our monthly meetings. Please see below for meeting dates, time and location, and see upcoming Chatters for links to our agendas. We are always looking for new ideas, and welcome your energy and input into making this year a success. Now off to find a pumpkin spiced something or other...
ABRPTSO Meetings: Tuesdays at 7:00pm in ABRHS Conference Room 115N:
Oct. 19, 2021
Nov. 19, 2021
Dec. 19, 2021
Jan. 18, 2022
Feb. 15, 2022
Mar. 15, 2022
Apr. 12, 2022
May 17, 2022
Jun. 7, 2022
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Registration for Advanced Placement Exams
AP (Advanced Placement) Exam registration is now open. Please check the link for sign up information under the Counseling tab on the ABRHS website.
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Understanding the College Application Process (Fall College Night) for Parents/Caregivers
Fall College Night will be held on Tuesday, September 21st at 6:00 pm via Zoom (https://abschools.zoom.us/j/96864326293). This presentation will include information about the application process, the various application deadlines including early decision, early action, regular decision, and the impact of COVID-19 on the college process for students in the class of 2022. Counselors will review the procedures for students to follow in submitting applications and requesting transcripts, school reports, and teacher recommendations. This workshop offers families a chance to review the steps and to have any general questions answered. This presentation will be recorded.
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Fall Activities Fair - September 22 & 23
Would your student like to join a club or activity or have questions about volunteer opportunities? Have them stop by the Fall Activities Fair on Wednesday, September 22 and Thursday, September 23 outside under the tents, during all lunch periods. Over 65 student clubs and organizations which are open to new members, will be exhibiting over a two day period. The clubs will be split between the two days with different ones exhibiting each day. Also, there will be a table with information about our volunteer opportunities program.
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Freshman Parent Night - September 23
The Counseling Department will hold a virtual informational evening for parents and guardians of freshmen on Thursday, September 23rd. Counselors will meet with the families of their students via Zoom. Links will be sent to participants in advance of the event.
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Two Openings for Parent Representatives on School Council
Each public school in Massachusetts is required to have a School Council, the role which is to serve as an advisory board to the principal and to be involved in developing and approving the school's yearly School Improvement Plan. Members of the School Council include the principal, teachers, students, parents and at least one community representative. Meetings are open to the public. AB's School Council meets five times during the year on Wednesdays (10/6, 12/8, 2/9, 4/6 and 5/18) at 5:00 to 6:00pm in Room 115N. If you would like to be considered for the School Council, please send a short statement explaining why you are interested and any relevant experience to Lynn Hurley, HS Office Manager by Friday, September 25th.
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Volunteer for The Career Education Program
The Career Education Program at ABRHS provides opportunities for students to explore different career fields while providing them with tools and resources to succeed. We are currently looking for volunteers to present at our Career Speakers events from all career areas (business, sciences, trades, education, technology and more). If you are interested in presenting or learning more about our career programs, please fill out the form at this link: Career Education Volunteer Form
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Extended Privileges for Juniors and Seniors
Any junior or senior may apply for Extended Privileges by filling out this form and dropping it off at the main office of the High School. Seniors who already have been granted privileges do not need to reapply. Extended Privileges allow students to leave campus during their free periods.
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Clubs & Activities - Extracurricular Agreement Form Required for Student Participation
If your student would like to join a club or is considering joining a club or activity this year, you need to complete the online Extracurricular Activity Agreement form. This required form needs to be read and filled out by the parents and/or guardians with their students. The form and instructions can be found at this link: Extracurricular Activity Agreement Form 2021-2022. This form needs to be completed each academic year. For more details about clubs and activities follow this link: Extracurricular Activities. Please contact Melissa Dempsey if you have any questions.
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The Acton-Boxborough Student Activities Fund (ABSAF) is launching its 2021-2022 Fundraising Drive!
The Board is thrilled to start a new year of fundraising and happy to announce that we presented a check for $10,000 to the Acton Boxborough School Committee in May of 2021. We will continue our efforts this year through ABSAF Pass Sales, Fall Phonathon and outreach to the AB Community.
ABSAF is a non-profit organization that supports our students in all of the extracurricular activities they participate in (see below):
- Athletic Teams (Junior High to High School Varsity)
- Academic Teams (Math Team, Science Team, Speech & Debate Team, and Academic Decathlon Team)
- Performing Arts Groups (Band, Chorus, and Theater)
- Community service at ABRHS and RJ Grey Junior High
Donations are accepted throughout the school year and any contribution is appreciated. Many families benefit from the tremendous value of the ABSAF Pass. A donation of $175 or more, will grant you and your immediate family an ABSAF Pass with the following benefits below:
- Admission for all immediate family members to home High School regular season sporting events.
- Two complimentary tickets to each of the theatrical productions at the Junior High and High School.
- Convenience for your family when attending AB events that charge admission.
To learn more about how to obtain an ABSAF Pass and support extracurricular activities at the Junior High and High School, please visit www.absaf.net or tap on this link:
On behalf of the students at AB Regional High School, we thank you in advance for your support!
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Fall Courses via Community Ed
Community Ed is offering a myriad of teen and college prep courses this fall. Visit our website or sign up for our email list to receive updates regarding new classes. You can reach our office at 978-266-2525 with questions or to register.
Coming in September:
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PSAT/NMSQT Registration Opens September 20th
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) will be offered at Acton Boxborough Regional High School on Saturday, October 16, 2021 starting at 8:00 AM. The PSAT/NMSQT measures critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills. It is also the qualifying exam for 11th graders to enter the competition for National Merit Scholar scholarships and is a valuable tool to help prepare for the SAT. The ABRHS Counseling Department recommends that 11th grade students considering applying to college take the PSAT/NMSQT. While some believe taking the exam in 10th grade could be "extra practice," it is only recommended if the student has completed both Algebra I and Geometry by the end of ninth grade. Juniors will be given priority in the registration process in order to ensure test availability.
There is no alternative test date at ABRHS for students unable to test on October 16, 2021. If students have a schedule conflict on that day, they will need to contact other local schools to see if they can register to take the test there.
Online Exam registration will run from 9/20/21 - 10/4/21 with a late registration period running until 10/8/21. October 8, 2021 is the last day to register. Students can register here.
To complete registration, students must answer all of the required questions. Registration is not complete until students have printed the pdf of the confirmation page that is provided at the end. Student Guides provided by Collegeboard will be available at the entrance to Counseling during the registration window if students wish to pick one up as a resource to prepare for test day.
Acton-Boxborough Regional HS is excited to offer families the convenience of paying exam fees online at the time of registration. Please be sure to have a debit or credit card available before beginning registration. Paying online is a great way to make sure that payment has been made while avoiding mailing payment.
Here are the important dates for the registration process:
- Mon, Sep 20, 2021 at 8:00 AM - Registration Begins
- Mon, Oct 4, 2021 at 8:00 AM - Registrations and payments after this date will incur a $5 late fee
- Fri, Oct 8, 2021 at 3:00 PM - Registration Ends
- Tues, Oct 12, 2021 at 3:00 PM- Registrations that have not been paid for will be canceled.
- Sat, Oct 16, 2021 at 8:00 AM - PSAT/NMSQT Administration
**Registration can be completed online here.
Please contact Ms. Jen Hagopian if you have questions or require financial assistance.
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AB Youth Volleyball Clinic at ABRHS
If you have a child interested in learning more about the sport of volleyball or working on their volleyball skills, please join Varsity Coach Darren Gwin and members of the girls volleyball teams at their first YOUTH CLINIC.
The clinic is for children in grades 4th -8th and will be on Saturday, 9/25 and Sunday 9/26. Come for 1 or both days.
4th - 6th grades 1:00p - 3:00p
7th - 8th grades 3:00p - -5:00p
Location: ABRHS Field House (upper gym)
Pre-registration is preferred via google form or you can sign up day of.
Cost:
1 day $35.00
2 days $60.00
If the link is not working to register, you can go to ABVB’s website at abvbspike.com to register as well.
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Looking for a Mental Health Provider?
INTERFACE Referral Service is a mental health resource and referral Helpline that helps children, adults and families, in subscribing communities, become connected with mental health and wellness resources. Part of your ABRPTSO Membership Donation goes towards the funding of this service.
INTERFACE Referral Service looks forward to continuing to help residents of Acton & Boxborough find a successful match with an outpatient mental health provider in their area, who is able to see them at a convenient time, takes their insurance or meets their fee requirement, as well as meets their clinical needs.
Please call the William James College INTERFACE Helpline at 617-332-3666 Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM, for resource information and/or provider referrals from a mental health professional. Please also review the very extensive website at interface.williamjames.edu for additional information about the service, as well as resources on mental health and wellness across the lifespan.
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The Weekly Chatter is distributed each Sunday. If you have a submission you'd like to include in the Chatter, please email it to ABWEEKLYCHATTER@gmail.com by noon on Friday. The Chatter was created solely for the purpose of communicating school-related events, groups and forums to parents and students.
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