Monday, August 31, 2009
Contact Numbers
While cell phones have tremendously helped schools communicate with parents they have also presented some new issues. It is critical we have up to date contact numbers so we can contact parents in the case of an emergency. Many times people change cell numbers, or run out of minutes on pre-paid phones and we can't contact parents. When there is a change in your contact information please notify us so we can have accurate contact information. Protecting your children is our number one concern and it is vital we are able to contact parents when there are issues with your children. Emergency contacts other than parents are important, but the final authority concerning students is the parent. We have wonderful parents and students and we thank you for your help and understanding in this matter.
Homecoming Events
Believe it or not, due to the football schedule and the testing schedule, Homecoming is right around the corner. All the grades are beginning the process of working on their respective floats. Students are encouraged to donate money, time, expertise or contribute in any way possible to help their grade have the best float! Check the website regularly for the latest updates on homecoming activities. Reminder that daily announcements are listed on the website as well.
Who's Who Pictures Wednesday
Senior Who's Who, class officers, and other similar groups will have their pictures made Wednesday, Sept. 2. Students are encouraged to come dressed appropriately. Faculty pictures will also be taken on this day.
Tuesday Volleyball
Our volleyball will play their first area game Tuesday night at Brooks High School. We invite everyone to come out and support our volleyball team.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Hunter's Highlights
This has been a great week at Ardmore High School. Things have really swung into full gear as the fall sports season cranks up. Our volleyball team has been doing great and have defeated many opponents while looking forward to their area schedule starting next week. The football team opens against Elkmont, which is always and exciting game. Our guys have worked extremely hard and we know the hard work will pay off. We will also get our first look at the Award Winning Tiger Band this Friday during half-time. Our cheerleaders did a wonderful job at the pep rally and know they will help keep our crowd fired up at the games all year long.
Speaking of pep rallies, we had an awesome pep rally and with over 900 students we are very crowded in the gym. It was hard for all the parents to find a place to sit, and we welcome all parents to the pep rallies, but we have a seating chart for our students so we can be accountable for them. Thank you for your patience as we try and find a place for the "parent section", but we must make sure our students are taken care of.
We are excited about this year and look forward to a banner year. It is great to be an Ardmore Tiger!
Speaking of pep rallies, we had an awesome pep rally and with over 900 students we are very crowded in the gym. It was hard for all the parents to find a place to sit, and we welcome all parents to the pep rallies, but we have a seating chart for our students so we can be accountable for them. Thank you for your patience as we try and find a place for the "parent section", but we must make sure our students are taken care of.
We are excited about this year and look forward to a banner year. It is great to be an Ardmore Tiger!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Pep Rally
We will have a pep rally Friday, August 28, 2009 beginning at 2:10. This is the first pep rally of the year and everyone is really excited. Our volleyball team has started their season and is playing great! The volleyball team plays at Athens Tuesday beginning at 5:30. This is a great time to get involved with the school. We have many wonderful things happening at Ardmore High School.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday Summary
This has been a great week at Ardmore High School. The fall sports season is off and running with the volleyball regular season starting and the football jamboree on Friday. Our girl's will be playing in the Athens tournament on Saturday and football opens against Elkmont next week. The Tiger Band will also make its fall debut next week at Elkmont.
Schedule changes are pretty much over and everyone is settling down into their routine and in some ways it seems like we never left. This has been a great start to the school year and we are looking forward to the remainder of the year.
Schedule changes are pretty much over and everyone is settling down into their routine and in some ways it seems like we never left. This has been a great start to the school year and we are looking forward to the remainder of the year.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
New Gym
If you haven't seen our gym I would like to invite you to a volleyball game. Over the summer a dedicated group of volleyball and basketball parents, players and coaches did a lot of painting. The gym looks awesome and we thank all the volunteers that helpe. While it is impossible to thank everyone, Ms. Karen Tucker has done the artwork in the gym and we are very grateful to her for her hard work! Great job Tigers!
Volleyball
Volleyball season is underway and our girls are doing great. All of our teams defeated Tanner in the first game of the year and we are looking forward to a great year. Coach Martin and the team have worked very hard and we know their hard work will show!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Friday Summary
Today marks the end of the first week of school. It seems to have gone very smoothly and the students, parents and staff of Ardmore High School have done a great job of ensuring a great start to the school year. We are looking for great things this year.
Our Meet the Tigers night was a great success with everyone having the opportunity to hear the wonderful Tiger Band for the first time this year. The football team, volleyball team and cheerleaders were also introduced to the Ardmore community and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. Thanks to First National Bank for sponsoring this event.
The Black and Gold intersquad game is scheduled for Friday night, August 14, 2009 beginning at 5:30. We hope everyone can come out and support our team. Admission is $2.00 and concessions will be served.
Our Meet the Tigers night was a great success with everyone having the opportunity to hear the wonderful Tiger Band for the first time this year. The football team, volleyball team and cheerleaders were also introduced to the Ardmore community and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. Thanks to First National Bank for sponsoring this event.
The Black and Gold intersquad game is scheduled for Friday night, August 14, 2009 beginning at 5:30. We hope everyone can come out and support our team. Admission is $2.00 and concessions will be served.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Schedule Changes
The beginning of school is an exciting time of year. Unfortunately, schedule changes are a part of this time of year. This year due to proration our classroom numbers are high and schedule changes are very difficult. We have had to do some major rearranging in order to try and keep the classroom numbers down. We want to thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Meet the Tigers
First National Bank will host its annual "Meet the Tigers" night Thursday, August 13 at 6:30. The event will be held at the First National Bank in Ardmore and will recognize fall sports and the Ardmore High School Band. Please come out and meet the Tigers.
Black and Gold Game
The Ardmore High School Football Program will host a "Black and Gold Game" Friday night beginning at 5:30. The varsity and middle school teams will participate in this pre-season scrimmage. Admission will only be $2.00 so come out and support our Tigers and get a look at the 2009-2010 football team.
Monday, August 10, 2009
AYP
Recently, accountability results for the state of Alabama were released and Ardmore High School was listed as “Not making AYP” and also “On School Improvement”. Knowing your child’s school is “On School Improvement” can cause undue stress and concern for parents and community members. The intent of this article is to state the specific reasons for the accountability status for Ardmore High School.
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) established a system of accountability for the nation’s public schools. Each school must make what is defined as “Adequate Yearly Progress” or AYP. Schools are measured in many different areas and subgroups to determine their AYP status. Schools must be found proficient in each category for each subgroup in order to make AYP and therefore receive a “Clear” status.
Ardmore High School is on School Improvement due to the Graduation Rate. The manner in which Graduation Rate is calculated has changed from time to time and is different from state to state. A school automatically makes AYP if the graduation rate is above 90 or if the graduation rate improves from one year to the other. The graduation rate for Ardmore High School beginning in 2005 and going through 2008 is as follows: 78%, 77%, 90%, 83.78%. The projected rate for 2009 is 93.08%. A one percent drop from 78 to 77% caused the school to not make AYP and a drop from 90 to 83.78% caused the school to once again not make AYP.
It is worthy of noting that 83.78%, while less than 90, is much higher than many schools that did make AYP. A school can have a graduation rate of 75% and make AYP as long as it is an improvement from the previous year. The system, as it exists, labels a school, such as Ardmore, even though more of its students may graduate than many other schools. Obviously, one student not gradating is too many and we are working diligently to improve everything about our school every year including the graduation rate.
One category should not define a school. Ardmore has an average ACT score of 23 which is above the state and national average. The test scores at Ardmore are consistently above the state average on the SAT and ARMT which are standardized tests used to determine AYP status. When all a person sees is the label “Not Making AYP” or “On School Improvement” other pertinent information can be overlooked. Many other test scores reflect the quality of education received by students at Ardmore. Ardmore students perform excellently on the Alabama High School Graduation Exam and graduates are prepared for their future regardless of what level of higher education they may pursue.
The faculty and staff of Ardmore High School want the parents, community and all stakeholders to understand that the students attending Ardmore High School receive a quality education and they can take pride in their school.
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) established a system of accountability for the nation’s public schools. Each school must make what is defined as “Adequate Yearly Progress” or AYP. Schools are measured in many different areas and subgroups to determine their AYP status. Schools must be found proficient in each category for each subgroup in order to make AYP and therefore receive a “Clear” status.
Ardmore High School is on School Improvement due to the Graduation Rate. The manner in which Graduation Rate is calculated has changed from time to time and is different from state to state. A school automatically makes AYP if the graduation rate is above 90 or if the graduation rate improves from one year to the other. The graduation rate for Ardmore High School beginning in 2005 and going through 2008 is as follows: 78%, 77%, 90%, 83.78%. The projected rate for 2009 is 93.08%. A one percent drop from 78 to 77% caused the school to not make AYP and a drop from 90 to 83.78% caused the school to once again not make AYP.
It is worthy of noting that 83.78%, while less than 90, is much higher than many schools that did make AYP. A school can have a graduation rate of 75% and make AYP as long as it is an improvement from the previous year. The system, as it exists, labels a school, such as Ardmore, even though more of its students may graduate than many other schools. Obviously, one student not gradating is too many and we are working diligently to improve everything about our school every year including the graduation rate.
One category should not define a school. Ardmore has an average ACT score of 23 which is above the state and national average. The test scores at Ardmore are consistently above the state average on the SAT and ARMT which are standardized tests used to determine AYP status. When all a person sees is the label “Not Making AYP” or “On School Improvement” other pertinent information can be overlooked. Many other test scores reflect the quality of education received by students at Ardmore. Ardmore students perform excellently on the Alabama High School Graduation Exam and graduates are prepared for their future regardless of what level of higher education they may pursue.
The faculty and staff of Ardmore High School want the parents, community and all stakeholders to understand that the students attending Ardmore High School receive a quality education and they can take pride in their school.
Welcome Back
I would like to welcome back our students and faculty. We are all looking forward to a great year here at Ardmore High School. We have a wonderful staff and an awesome student body. I look forward to working with each and every one of them this year.
We are always looking for new ways to communicate with parents and stakeholders so a blog seemed like a logical place to begin. I will be updating this blog periodically so please follow along with us and you will recieve the most up to date information available concerning Ardmore High School.
We are always looking for new ways to communicate with parents and stakeholders so a blog seemed like a logical place to begin. I will be updating this blog periodically so please follow along with us and you will recieve the most up to date information available concerning Ardmore High School.
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