Month: October 2019
AP Registration Deadline is November 8
Happy Halloween, All Saints, All Souls, and Professional Development
This week on Thursday, October 31, many in our community will celebrate Halloween by dressing up in costumes and collecting or distributing candy door-to-door. At the high school, we allow appropriate costumes and have fun with the tradition. The attached memo (LINK) shares guidance about appropriate school costumes. The following day, November 1 will have no school for students. I hope everyone will remember to celebrate this holiday well and wisely. Staff will be here bright and early November 1 for a day of Professional Development.
The calendar also reminds us that Halloween has roots in the Christian observance on November 1 of All Saints Day. This sent me to Wikipedia (a remarkable resource) which notes that this day is celebrated as a national holiday in many historically Catholic country. It also noted that All Saints’ Day in Mexico, coincides with the first day of the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebration. As the name implies, this is a day when Christian faiths’ honor the lives of all Christian saints, both famous and obscure. All Souls Day commemorates all of those who have died. Beliefs and practices associated with All Souls’ Day vary widely among Christian churches and denominations.
Have a great week,
Dr. J
Last Chance – Student Picture Make-ups and Do-Overs
Tuesday, October 29th is Picture make-up day. The photographer will be available in the Teacher’s cafeteria from 8:00 – 12:00. If your student did not receive an updated student ID picture, an appointment notice will be given to them in their homeroom. Any student that wishes to have their pictures retaken, please report to the Teacher’s Cafeteria during your study period, Old Hall or between classes.
AHS Building Project Forum Oct. 30
AHS Building Project Forum Oct. 30
The AHS Building Project has moved into the Design Development phase and project partners have been busy over the summer. Learn more about the project’s progress at the next Community Forum on October 30th, from 7-8:30pm at Town Hall.
Topics covered will include:
-
Project overview and process going forward, including the next phase of Estimating and Value Engineering
-
HMFH Architects design update – facade, interior, athletic fields
-
Consigli Construction – timeline, phasing plans, student impact
The forum will answer questions such as: “What updates have been made to the design?”, “What buildings will be completed when my 6th/7th/8th/etc. grader is at AHS?” and “What effect will construction have on students?”
During the Design Development phase (summer 2019 – summer 2020), all aspects of the design for the new school will be finalized. Current plans are to begin construction pre-work in March 2020 and construction in October 2020. The first building is expected to be open to students in January 2022, and the school fully constructed in 2024 (followed by one year of site work).
For more information, visit www.ahsbuilding.org, or follow the project on Facebook and YouTube.
Veteran’s Day 2019 – No School
On Saturday, November 11th, the United States recognizes the many who have served in our military through the observance of Veterans Day. This holiday is observed on November 11th is because the hostilities of World War 1 ceased at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. A Federal Act in 1938 declared November 11 a legal Federal holiday, “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereinafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.’”
Tomorrow through Veteran’s Day, you may notice an installation of flags around the AHS flag pole. These are placed by the Arlington Rotary with the help of students from our Workplace Program in honor of Veterans Day. Rotary will be placing 160 flags this year in front of the school flag from Nov 1st till Nov 13th. These flags are sponsored by community members and will bear the names of their loved ones. Thank you to Rotary for honoring our veterans,
Arlington Public Schools will observe Veterans Day on Monday, November 11th. As a result, there will be no school activities that day.
We wish everyone a happy Veterans Day,
Dr. Janger
Diwali – October 27 — Bhai Dooj Tika – October 29
Diwali – October 27
Bhai Dooj Tika – October 29
This week, our district calendar lists two religious holidays, Diwali/Deepavali and Bhai Dooj. I try to give a brief overview based on what I have been told and materials I have collected. I welcome any further information on how these holidays are observed in our Arlington community.
I am told that Diwali and Bhai Dooj mark the first and last day of a Hindu festival that is celebrated differently by multiple religions across Southern Asia including Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. Wikipedia quotes the Times of India as stating that Diwali is, “a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple.” The holiday is known as “the festival of lights”, and celebrants often light many candles to symbolize the victory of light over darkness. While Bhai Dooj can be celebrated very differently depending on the region, it is a holiday meant to celebrate familial relationships, and especially those between brothers and sisters.
While our regular school schedule continues on these dates, for celebrating students we are happy to have flexibility in scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on this date. This is a date when Hindu employees/students may take a vacation day.
Wishing everyone a happy Diwali.
Sincerely,
Dr. Janger
By Subharnab Majumdar – originally posted to Flickr as The Rangoli of Lights, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8101819
NOTE: Our school calendar includes holidays and observances that are significant in our community. As a regular feature, I try to send updates on these observances and information on accommodations. We are not always familiar with all the holidays, with which religions are represented in our classrooms, or with the nature of different traditions. I encourage you to send me notes to educate us on the appropriate and positive ways to recognize and support the diversity of our community. Also, please notify your teachers well in advance of any special considerations you feel you need, so that they can make appropriate plans.
SOURCES: For anyone wondering, I gather this information from Wikipedia, information sent to me, a few college interfaith chaplain sites, and greeting cards. I don’t use quotations or citations much, because I am claiming neither expertise nor scholarship. Kids, don’t do this for homework
Shimini Atzeret and Simchat Torah 2019
This week, many in our Jewish community will celebrate the holidays of Shimini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. On Sunday evening, October 20, Shimini Atzeret arrives after the seven-day festival of Sukkot, and is literally translated as eighth day.
Simchat Torah follows on Monday evening, October 21. Simchat Torah marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle. The Torah is the first 5 books of the Hebrew bible.
The AHS community wishes Chag Sameach to our Jewish friends and neighbors.
Neither holiday will affect our academic calendar, but as always our teachers are flexible with assignments and deadlines, if there is a conflict.
All the best,
Dr. J
NOTE: Our school calendar includes holidays and observances that are significant in our community. As a regular feature, I try to send updates on these observances and information on accommodations. We are not always familiar with all the holidays, with which religions are represented in our classrooms, or with the nature of different traditions. I encourage you to send me notes to educate us on the appropriate and positive ways to recognize and support the diversity of our community. Also, please notify your teachers well in advance of any special considerations you feel you need, so that they can make appropriate plans.
SOURCES: For anyone wondering, I gather this information from Wikipedia, information sent to me, a few college interfaith chaplain sites, and greeting cards. I don’t use quotations or citations much, because I am claiming neither expertise nor scholarship. Kids, don’t do this for homework
AHS Flu Clinic Cancelled – BOH
Dear Parents/Guardians:
At this time, we regret to inform you that the Health Department must cancel the remainder of the in school flu clinics, which take place during the school day for students and teachers. Based on the lack of medical personnel available to assist with vacations and the volume of students utilizing this service, we are unable to ensure patient safety and therefore have decided to cancel the remainder of the school flu clinics. These clinics include the following: Peirce Elementary School, Stratton Elementary School, Gibbs, Ottoson Middle School, and Arlington High School.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. While we are disappointed with this decision, patient safety is our top priority. We would like to extend an invitation to our public flu clinic, which will be open to all students and their families on Thursday, October 24th at the Ottoson Middle School from 5-7PM.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Natasha Waden, RS
Public Health Director
Town of Arlington
27 Maple Street
Arlington, MA 02476
(781) 316-3170
nwaden@town.arlington.ma.us
www.arlingtonma.gov/health
AHS Building Project Forum 10/30
The AHS Building Project has moved into the Design Development phase and project partners have been busy over the summer. Learn more about the project’s progress at the next Community Forum on October 30th, from 7-8:30pm at Town Hall.
Topics covered will include:
- Project overview and process going forward, including the next phase of Estimating and Value Engineering
- HMFH Architects design update – facade, interior, athletic fields
- Consigli Construction – timeline, phasing plans, student impact
The forum will answer questions such as: “What updates have been made to the design?”, “What buildings will be completed when my 6th/7th/8th/etc. grader is at AHS?” and “What effect will construction have on students?”
During the Design Development phase (summer 2019 – summer 2020), all aspects of the design for the new school will be finalized. Current plans are to begin construction pre-work in March 2020 and construction in October 2020. The first building is expected to be open to students in January 2022, and the school fully constructed in 2024 (followed by one year of site work).
For more information, visit www.ahsbuilding.org, or follow the project on Facebook and YouTube.