Star Connections
Confident. Prepared. Connected in Faith.
Still to come this week
AP exams are underway
Advanced Placement (AP) exams are underway for students who have taken AP classes this
year. These exams are important because they help determine whether students will earn college
credit or college advanced placement for their work in AP courses during the year. Here’s the
schedule for this year’s AP examinations .
Item Drive is underway
Holy Angels' annual Item Drive began on May 10 and concludes on May 18. The Campus
Ministry Team will be collecting items for St. Vincent DePaul and Bridging, Inc. Items needed
include shoes, clothing, dishes, electronics, furniture, silverware--anything you'd put in a garage
sale! Donations can be dropped off in the Convocation Center Lobby before school each day.
Financial donations received will be used to benefit two projects: our sister school in South
Africa and our AHA recycling team--which will use the funds to purchase new recycling
containers.
Week of May 14
Incoming ninth graders taking placement tests during the week of
May 14
Some of AHA’s incoming ninth-grade class members will be taking placement tests during the
week of May 14. (All tests begin at 4 p.m. and last about one hour.) Here’s the schedule:
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Monday, May 14—English
Tuesday, May 15—Math
Wednesday, May 16—Science
Thursday, May 17—World Language
Monday, May 21—Make-up Tests
Final parent senior party meeting is May 15; optional "Stars Give
Back" event planned for the party
The final senior party parent meeting is May 15 from 7-8 p.m. in the
Commons. PLEASE plan to attend. We will review final plans with you and
answer any of your questions.
Optional "Stars Give Back" activity planned. One of the optional activities at the party
will be "Stars Give Back" – an opportunity for the kids to pack bags for needy families
served by the Salvation Army. It’s a chance, during their celebration and after a fantastic
education, for them to give something to those who are not as fortunate as they have been.
We need your help with "Stars Give Back" donations. Committee chairs are hard at
work securing donations from local businesses and AHA families, but we will need additional
items. A list of suggested items is on the Senior Party web page of the AHA
website.(www.academyofholyangels.org >Parents >AHA Community Association >Senior
Party) Please let party chairs Debbie Beck or Bridget Zappa know if you have anything you’d
like to donate. Bring items for donation to the May 15 parent meeting, or drop off at school
in marked boxes in the lobby area from May 10-18.
Complete information about the Senior Party is on the AHA website
(www.academyofholyangels.org >Parents >AHA Community Association >Senior Party).
Prom is Saturday, May 19
AHA's prom is Saturday, May 19, at Brackett's Crossing in Lakeville. Here are all the details
along with an outline of AHA's expectations regarding student behavior at prom.
A look ahead
You're invited to a reception for Kathy Hanley, Kate Hanson, and Margaret Winter
English Teachers Kathy Hanley and Kate Hanson and Learning Variations Coordinator Margaret
Winter are retiring this spring. You're invited to a reception in their honor on Wednesday, May
23, in the AHA Commons starting at 5 p.m. (And plan to stay for the Spring Pops Concert at 7
p.m., too.) If you'd like to attend, please RSVP to Noelle Wynne at
nwynne@academyofholyangels.org by May 16.
Events on the horizon for seniors:
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Tuesday, May 22--Senior Service Day. Seniors will participate in a service project
following the conclusion of the closing Mass on May 22. The project will last from
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students will receive details.
Friday, May 25--This is the last day of class for seniors. Attendance is required.
Graduation rehearsal is held.
Thursday, May 31, 7 p.m.--Baccalaureate at St. Peter's Church. Baccalaureate is
not required, but we encourage seniors and their families to attend this last Mass
together. Seniors have chosen a member of the AHA staff to deliver a special
message that day.
Friday, June 1, Celebration Day-- Seniors are required to attend. Celebration Day
is AHA's end-of-year event to honor students for their achievements. (Parents are
welcome to attend Celebration Day.)
Sunday, June 3, 4 p.m.--Graduation. Held outdoors at AHA. (If the weather
doesn't cooperate, graduation is held in the Convocation Center gym.)
Students taking Pre AP Chemistry in 2012-13 must take math skills
exam on May 29
All students who have registered for Pre AP Chemistry must take the Pre AP Chemistry Math
Skills Exam on Tuesday, May 29. The test will be given after school in the Commons Annex
starting at 3 p.m. Students must bring two pencils and their calculator. If your student has
a conflict with an athletic event, he or she must come in at 6:45 a.m. on May 30 to make up
the test. Those who do not test will have to revise their schedules for next year and take
regular Chemistry instead of Pre AP Chemistry. If you have questions, please contact
Chemistry Teacher Steve Vopatek at svopatek@academyofholyangels.org
Shoot for the STARS Golf Tournament is June 20
Plans are underway for a great day at Deer Run in Victoria for AHA's annual Shoot for the
STARS Golf Tournament on Wednesday, June 20. Join us on the course and support AHA at
the same time. Here's more.
We want you to know
AHA offers summer school options
AHA is offering summer school options in three areas this year: enrichment, intensive study,
and credit recovery. Learn more here.
Is your student in the graduation Honor Guard?
Here are the instructions they need.
The AHA Community Association is planning for 2012-13 and needs
your help
The AHA Community Association is making plans for the coming school year and is looking
for committee chairs and volunteers for the following events. If you can help, contact Pam
McSweeny at pmcsweeney4@gmail.com
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Freshman orientation social (Committee chair and volunteers needed)
Father/Daughter, Mother/Son dinner dances (Committee chairs needed)
Senior party (Committee chairs needed)
School photo day (Volunteers needed)
Grandparents Day (Volunteers needed)
Staff welcome-back breakfast (Volunteers needed)
Are you an AHA alum? Do you have a senior this year?
If you are, we want you in our "legacy photo" this spring. On Friday, June 1, seniors will gather
in the early morning for a class photo before Celebration Day begins. After the class photo is
taken, we'd like to take a "legacy photo" featuring seniors with their AHA alumni parents and
grandparents. If the weather cooperates, we'll gather on the front steps at 7:30 a.m. following the
senior photo. If it's rainy, and Celebration Day is moved indoors, then the senior picture will be
taken following Celebration Day activities at about 10 a.m., and the "legacy photo" will follow
that. Call Carrie Carroll in the Alumni Office if you have questions, 612-798-0775.
Holy Angels introduces STEM Diploma program
Holy Angels is introducing a program which allows students to earn a STEM-focused diploma.
(STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.) Students in the class of 2014 and
beyond will be eligible. Learn more here.
Speaking of STEM, we've earned a new STEM grant, too
Learn more here.
We need decisions from senior families about whether they want to
keep their laptops
The lease agreement for your student’s laptop will expire at the end of this school year. The
laptop your student has used these last four years will belong to you after the laptop has been
cleaned and imaged with the factory image. All laptops belonging to the Class of
2012 must be returned by 8 a.m. on May 25 for the cleaning and
reimaging process. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Hanley:
khanley@academyofholyangels.org 612-798-2656.
Consider hosting an international student
Some of our international students need host families for the 2012-13 school year. If you've
thought about hosting an international student in the past, now's the time for you to contact
Admissions Director Jesse Foley at jfoley@academyofholyangels.org
From the College and Career Center
We need information about your student’s college decision by May
18
Has your senior made a final college decision? Make sure this information gets to your
student's College and Career Center Counselor. We need to know about admission decisions
and scholarships for Celebration Day and Graduation. We must have this information by
May 18 to guarantee it is included in the Graduation program. (We have compiled a
preliminary list of the information we already have. It will be enclosed in a mailing you'll
receive soon about graduation. Please review it when you receive it. We'll also send an email update next week.) Thanks for your help in ensuring we recognize your senior this
spring!
About seniors, colleges, and final transcripts
If your senior has informed us where they will be attending college, we will automatically
send a final transcript to his or her college choice after graduation. Most schools require a
final transcript to confirm graduation and successful completion of high school course work.
If your student needs a final transcript sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse, remind him or her
to check in with us to be sure we know this is needed.
News about the College Connection for Catholics Program
The College Connection for Catholics (CCC) Program, conducted by the Serra Clubs
throughout the United States, is helping Catholic high school graduates locate the Catholic
campus ministry or nearest Catholic church when they arrive on campus. This program has been
endorsed by many bishops and is an answer to the United States Council of Catholic Bishops’
goal to increase campus ministry contact. Research shows that college students choose the
organizations in which they will be active during their first few weeks on campus. It is important
that students are introduced early to campus ministry organizations.
The Academy of Holy Angels has agreed to provide the College Connection for Catholics
(CCC) Program with the names and addresses of graduating seniors and their college plans.
CCC will furnish the campus minister or pastor with this information, so they can send a
personal invitation to your student to visit their facility or church and hopefully participate in
a “welcoming social.” This will give new students the opportunity to learn about the campus
ministry program, to become familiar with the Mass schedules and Catholic activities, and to
meet other Catholic students. Should CCC not find an official Catholic presence near the
college or university, the student will receive information about a nearby Catholic parish or
a campus ministry at a nearby college. If you do NOT want your student included in
this program, please contact Ms. Kjorstad by phone at 612-798-2691 or email at
akjorstad@academyofholyangels.org, and we will not provide CCC with your student's
information. If you have questions about College Connection for Catholics, visit
www.collegeconnectionforcatholics.com
PACC Credit from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota
If your senior took any classes for PACC credit through St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, and
if they hope to get credit for college, they need to request a PACC transcript be sent to the
college they plan to attend in the fall. They should visit http://www.smumn.edu/pacc . They will
see a link to “Request a Transcript” on the right hand side of the page. They should click on this,
print out the form, complete it, and send to St. Mary’s. We recommend they do this in June once
their classes are complete to ensure the most recent information is sent to the college. St. Mary’s
does not charge a fee to have the transcript sent. Once their chosen college receives the
transcript, it will review and determine if college credit will be awarded for the coursework and
will contact you with this information in the summer. See Ms. Kjorstad or Mrs. Proctor if you
have questions.
Kudos to
AHA English Teacher Pam Boston who has been selected by MISF (Minnesota Independent
School Forum) as its Honor Teacher of the year in the secondary school category. Learn
more.
AHA Teacher and Coach Danny Woods who has been named head girls basketball
coach. Learn more.
This week's AHA Heroes. These students were chosen by their peers as people who
exemplify the AHA Way:
Several people nominated senior Michelle DePauw. Here’s a summary of what they said.
“I met Michelle through dance during the summer. Since then, I have always noticed how
she is kind to everyone. I haven’t heard her gossip about anyone. Michelle comes to mind
when I think of the AHA Way. She follows the AHA Way very well. She makes me want to be
a nicer person. Michelle is a great role model for honoring the absent because she is always
very positive and welcomes and includes everyone. Michelle is one of the dance team
captains and constantly has a positive attitude and always recognizes and speaks about the
good in people.
About ninth grader Katie Cassidy, nominators said, “Katie is a very sweet person and has
never, and won’t ever, talk about anybody in a negative way. She cares for everybody and
has everybody’s best interest at heart. She is consistently nice and respectful. She never
disrespects anyone and is always there. She is a good listener and does not gossip.”
We pray for...
Gabriel Rakes whose grandmother died
Is my team in action this week?
Go to www.missotaconference.org for the complete AHA sports schedule
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