Good afternoon, this is Steve Mares, Principal of Athens Drive Magnet High School, with a message for Friday, February 3^rd. A copy of this message will be posted on our school website (www.wcpss.net/athensdrivehs), emailed to our students, and emailed and texted to our school families.

 

NEW/UPDATED/UPCOMING ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

GREAT WEEK AT THE DRIVE! We have a lot to celebrate at The Drive, and this past week has been no exception to that! There are so many fantastic things going on each day, and as I have said before, I often do not mention the good stuff happening in my weekly messages throughout the year. However, I do want to highlight just a few items that we can celebrate to give you all a glimpse of our great days of teaching and learning. We held our Mid-Year Graduation ceremony last night and we presented Diplomas to 25 students! It is always a great day to be a JAG when we can honor student achievement—especially with a Diploma! We had a tremendous start to our Second Semester as students came to classes beginning on Monday and actively engaged from Day 1. We had a fun week of Athletics that continues tonight with Basketball games at home and at Leesville Road High School. Our students are working to prepare for our Spring Musical. Our students prepared for our Black History Spirit Week next week. We had Clubs, Winter Guard, Dance Team, and other organizations meeting and building community throughout the week! Students celebrated their acceptances to many Colleges, Universities, and notification about scholarships they have received. We welcomed new students and families to The Drive who recently enrolled. We had three new staff members join the Athens faculty—Mr. Piccolo, a new Assistant Principal, Mr. Granger, a new Business Teacher, and Mr. Alaimo, a new Carpentry Teacher. I appreciate the efforts of our staff, students, and families to continue to support our student’s achievements and allow them to find their passions while we begin the Second Semester!

 

MAGNET SCHOOLS OF AMERICA SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION AWARD: I am excited to share that Athens Drive Magnet High School has earned the recognition as a Magnet Schools of America School of Distinction Award! To receive a National merit award, schools must demonstrate commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation and diversity efforts, and consistent delivery of high-quality educational services to all stakeholders. In addition, it recognizes an accomplishment in relation to school vision, integration of the magnet theme into student learning, professional development, parent and community partnerships to support the school and magnet theme, and overall student achievement.  This accomplishment is truly a school family effort that we can all take pride in! I want to thank our students, families, and staff for making this possible.

 

REPORT CARDS GO HOME WITH STUDENTS ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6^TH: Please remember that Second Quarter and First Semester Report Cards will be sent home with students on Monday, February 6^th.

 

MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER—IN-PERSON EVENT: Please remeber that we will be holding our In-Person, Second Semester Meet the Teacher Night next Thursday, February 9^th. The schedule for the evening is as follows:

 

5:00     -    5:20            Senior Parent Meeting

5:30     -    5:45            First Period

5:52     -    6:07            Second Period

6:14     -    6:29            Third Period

6:36     -    6:51            Fourth Period

 

SENIOR MEETING PRIOR TO OUR MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT: As I mentioned above, please remember that Mr. Remaley, our Senior Class Advisor, will be leading a Senior Parent Information Meeting prior to our Meet the Teacher Night on Thursday, January 27^th. The Senior Information Meeting will run from 5:00 p.m. until 5:20 p.m. Senior families, thank you for putting this meeting on your calendar!

 

PARKING ON CAMPUS: I am requesting assistance from our students and school families to help us stop a problem in our back student and staff parking lots. We have seen a dramatic increase in cars parking in our Senior Lot and Stadium Lot who have not purchased a Parking Pass to park on campus. While we write tickets, talk to students, etc. to help stop students from parking on campus who do not have Parking Passes, the problem has persisted. To help ensure that the students who have purchased a Parking Pass have a space to park in, all students need to park in their assigned lot and space number. We had tried to allow a first-come, first-serve policy, but that has not worked as well as we have hoped. Thus, beginning Monday, all students need to park in their assigned space and in the correct lot. Students with a “S” to begin their tag park in the Senior Lot, and students with a “SST” to begin their pass park in the Junior Lot (which is in front of Jaguar Stadium). I would ask all students who want to drive and park on campus to be sure that they have a valid Athens Drive Parking Pass. Please know that the cost of a Parking Pass is prorated down each month throughout the year. Students who park illegally on campus cause us problems as they are taking a space from a staff member or student who has paid for a spot. Please also know it is important from a safety perspective for us to know who is parking in each space and have parent permission for students to drive and park on campus. Thank you for your help in ensuring our students do the right thing and not park on campus unless they have a valid Parking Pass.

 

COLLEGE AND CAREER READY GRADUATES: Seniors, as we move through your final year of your High School journey, it is important that you are aware of a new opportunity provided to you that can assist you with next steps after Graduation. Specifically, you can have an opportunity to receive credit for Community College requirements while still in High School. The General Assembly passed legislation that requires the North Carolina Community College System, in partnership with the State Board of Education, to implement College and Career Ready Graduates (CCRG). This program provides instruction via modules in foundational skills for Mathematics and English that are critical for success in Collegiate courses. By providing the opportunity to meet this requirement in High School, students will be more prepared to be successful in Community College courses. Implementation of this program is required by State law, and will take place via classroom instruction that we refer to as CCRG Math. High school students are identified to participate based primarily on their unweighted Grade Point Average (GPA) at the end of their Junior year. Specifically, students who have an unweighted GPA between 2.2 and 2.799 are required to participate while students with an unweighted GPA below 2.2 are invited to participate. There are other data points that can help students to meet this requirement such as their Math 3 End-Of-Course test score, ACT score, SAT score, Advanced Placement coursework, along with some other measures. If your Senior has between a 2.2 and 2.799 unweighted GPA, they have been identified as needing to participate in the CCRG Math Modules. We will meet with identified students next Wednesday, February 8^th, during Second Period, in the Auditorium. By completing this requirement, students can increase their preparedness for post-secondary learning as well as save money on courses at the Community College. Completing these courses in High School will save students time and money when they begin at a Community College by eliminating the need for additional support or preparation classes there. This material will also help prepare students for University placement tests, military technical schools, and career math needs. We are excited to offer this opportunity for our students and want you to consider enrolling! During our meeting, Seniors will have an opportunity to Opt-In or Opt-Out of taking the CCRG Math Course. Please discuss and confirm this decision with your students, as they will complete an intention form during the meeting, and we value parent input. If you would like additional information, please contact Mr. Katz, Assistant Principal (skatz@wcpss.net), or Ms. Pearson, Dean of Students (jnpearson@wcpss.net).

 

SPIRIT WEEK TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Next week, led by our Black and Brown Student Union and our Student Government, we will be having a Spirit Week to celebrate Black History Month. On Monday, February 6^th, Black History Month Colors Celebration (wear Red, Green, Yellow, and/or Black in honor of black excellence); Tuesday, February 7^th, Sunday’s Best (Dress up with suits, ties, dresses, and more. Dress for success in your best!); Wednesday, February 8^th, Rep an H.B.C.U. (Wear paraphernalia representing Historically Black Colleges or Universities); Thursday, February 9^th, Throwback Thursday (60’s Motown, 70 Soul Train, 90’s, 2000’s, etc.); and Friday, February 10^th, I Have A Dream Day (Believe in your dreams and dress for your future. If you want to be a doctor, dress like one. Want to be a principal, civil rights leader, Olympic athlete, mechanic, realtor, or musician? Dress like one.). I thank our students and staff who have worked to help us celebrate Black History month in a myriad of ways.

 

SWEETHEART CHARITY GALA: We are looking forward to our Sweetheart Charity Gala (dance). The Sweetheart Charity Gala is a semi-formal dance open for ALL students. Proceeds from ticket sales, and ValentineGram sales, will benefit the Women Center of Raleigh. The dance is Saturday, February 11^th, from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. at Chatham Station in downtown Cary. Tickets cost $20.00 and the online payment link will be open Friday, February 3^rd through Friday, February 10^th, and also will sold during both A Lunch and B Lunch the week of February 6^th in the Gym/Auditorium Lobby. Please know that we will only be able to sell a maximum number of tickets due to the capacity of Chatham Station. ValentineGrams are $2.00 and will be on sale from Monday, January 30^th through Friday, February 10th during both A Lunch and B Lunch in the Gym/Auditorium Lobby. They will be delivered on Valentine's Day during Fourth Period.

 

USE OF BREATH-A-LYZERS AT OUR WINTER GALA: I want to inform our students and school families that we will be utilizing Breath-A-Lyzers at the entry of our Charity Gala. I don’t want it to be a surprise to our students, as this is our regular practice for dances hosted by Athens Drive. I want to ensure that we have a safe, fun dance that is free from alcohol and drugs. Thank you for your support in helping us ensure that our students make positive choices and enjoy school events before, during, and after the activities!

 

SENIOR BREAKFAST INFORMATION: Our Senior Breakfast is scheduled for Thursday, April 27^th. This special event is completely sponsored through donations. Please consider helping us make this a treasured memory for all Seniors. There are many ways all Athens Drive families can help (whether you have a Senior or not). The Athens Drive Senior Breakfast Committee is seeking a company sponsor for our Senior souvenir cups. The sponsor would pay a donation fee of $500.00 which is tax-deductible as a donation to the school. This would be a great opportunity for a company to advertise their logo on the cup that each Athens Drive Senior receives (approximately 450 students) as a keepsake. Your logo will be seen on this keepsake for years to come! If interested, please email: lauriesingh3@gmail.com by Friday, Feb 10^th. Here is a link to donate items to fill the Senior souvenir cups, due by March 31^st: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904044CAFAF23A3FC1-senior. Our Senior Breakfast food committee would love to work with local restaurants as we seek food donations to feed the Seniors. If you own or are employed at a local establishment who would like to provide food for this event, please reach out to Karen Taylor at: karentaylor2000@gmail.com. Company donations qualify for a tax deduction and we can provide those details as needed. If you own a business or love a business that you want to support by providing a gift from that business, we welcome gift donations. Each year we provide as many gifts for our Graduating Seniors as we are able to collect. We are open to anything, and have received gifts both large and small in years past. Some examples of what we are looking for include: gift cards (for food/ Amazon/Walmart/Target/etc.), TV's, laptops, college appliances, items needed for college/ future endeavors, earbuds, headphones, goodie baskets, etc. All donations should be labeled as a Senior prize and can be left at the Main Office. In addition, you can sign up to donate using this link: https://athensdriveptsa.com/class-news/senior-page/senior-breakfast/. Another great way to support our Senior gift initiative is to donate any unwanted gift card you received for the holidays! We are incredibly proud of our Seniors and thank those who help us provide a special celebration to honor their achievement!

 

PROM INFORMATION: Juniors and Seniors, join us for a night Under the Stars at Prom on Saturday, May 6^th from 8:00 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. Prom ticket sales will begin Wednesday, March 1^st at a discounted price of $40.00 each. Beginning Friday, March 31^st, ticket prices will increase to $50.00 each. All ticket sales will be on the school website from Wednesday, March 1^st to Friday, April 28^th.  Once you have bought your ticket, you must complete the Prom Application for ADHS Students. Any guests attending Prom will need to complete the Prom Guest Application. Any students attending Prom need to submit their Prom application, submit their Prom Guest Application (if applicable), and pick up their Prom ticket at the Prom table after school during the week of Monday, May 1^st through Friday, 5^th. Prom tickets can be bought at the Prom table for $50.00 with CASH ONLY! Students will not be admitted to Prom without their photo ID and Prom ticket (picked up from the Prom table). I look forward to a great night!

 

GRADUATION INFORMATION: Seniors and Senior families, now that Mid-Year Graduation has happened, and we are now shifting our focus towards June Graduation! Please make sure you save the dates:  Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal on Thursday, May 25^th beginning at 7:25 a.m. in the Upper Gym (Seniors need to attend this Rehearsal to participate in Graduation!) and Graduation on Saturday, June 10^th, at 12 p.m. at the Raleigh Convention Center. If Seniors have ordered their Cap and Gown, then they will get to pick it up on Wednesday, March 15^th during both A Lunch and B Lunch in the Gym/Auditorium Lobby. If a Senior cannot pick their Cap and Gown up on that date, then the next date will be Thursday, May 4^th, again, during both lunches in the Gym/Auditorium Lobby. If a Senior still needs to order their Cap and Gown, Please go to jostens.com and order online as soon as possible. If you have any questions, regarding anything “Senior,” please contact our Senior Class Advisor, Mr. Remaley (cremaley@wcpss.net).

 

SENIOR INFORMATION: Seniors, welcome to the start of Second Semester and the final Semester of your High School experience! We have many fun activities planned for our Seniors in the coming weeks, such as Senior Breakfast, Prom, Senior Sunrise, Senior Awards Assembly, Graduation Rehearsal, Senior Picnic, and of course, Graduation on June 10^th! The best way to stay informed and connected to our Senior Class and Senior activities is through the Senior Remind message group (to join text the message:  @remaley-7  to the number:   81010).   Mr. Remaley will send out Senior messages every school day at 2:30 p.m. so don't miss out on anything! Seniors, please also know that it is not too late to order a Cap and Gown; however, you will no longer receive the group pricing discount. Please order online by visiting jostens.com (and keep in mind that the longer you wait the more it will cost). In addition, have you paid your $60.00 Graduation Fee? This is a WCPSS requirement (not an Athens Drive one) and is required before your Senior can receive their Diploma. If you need to pay it, please do so using the school website Online Payment System (CLICK HERE to access). The Graduation Fee can also be paid in cash at the Main Office. If you are not sure if you have paid it, then check your Senior's PowerSchool account. If you have any Senior related questions, please contact our Senior Class Advisor, Mr. Remaley (cremaley@wcpss.net).

 

FOOD PANTRY: Please know that Athens Drive's Food Pantry now has an online order form. If you would like to place a pick-up order for your household, please use our Food Pantry Sign-Up link. If you have any questions or needs, please reach out to Ms. Burnette, our Student Assistance Program Counselor, (pburnette@wcpss.net) with any questions.

 

WINTER GUARD COMPETITION: I want to wish our Winter Guard well on their first competition of the season! They perform tomorrow, Saturday, February 4^th, at Cleveland High School at 6:15 p.m. I know they will represent us well!

 

JAZZ BAND: Our Jazz Ensemble is currently beginning Rehearsals, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. in the Band Room. Membership in this Ensemble is open to any musician. Please see Dr. Markoch for more details or visit our Band website.

 

SPRING ATHLETIC SEASON INFORMATION: Spring Sports are right around the corner. Most Spring Sports are going to start on Monday, February 13^th, and the details for all the Spring Sports we offer are found below. To try out for any sport, please remember that you must be academically eligible to participate and have completed registration paperwork, including an up-to-date physical form in DragonFly. If you have any questions, please contact the Head Coach of the Sport you are interested in trying out for. You can find the contact information for all Head Coaches here. If you have any general questions please contact our Athletic Director, Coach Seese (tseese@wcpss.net).  

 

• Stunt: February 23^rd Open Gym from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. and Tryouts February 27^th and 28^th from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
• Track and Field: Beginning February 13^th practice will be 2:45 – 4:30 p.m. There will be no tryouts, anyone that attends daily and works hard will be on the team.
• Softball: Tryouts will be February 13 – 15^th from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. on the Softball Field.
• Men's Lacrosse: Tryouts will be February 13^th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Williams Stadium.
• Women's Soccer: Tryouts will be February 13^th through February 15^th from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. at Williams Stadium.
• Men's Tennis: Tryouts will be February 15^th from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Tennis Courts.
• Men's Golf: February 21^st and 22^nd at 3:00 p.m. at Lochmere. Please email Coach St. John (wstjohn@wcpss.net) to confirm your tee time.
• Baseball: Tryouts will be February 13^th through February 15^th from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. at the Baseball Field.
• Women's Lacrosse: Tryouts will be February 13^th through February 15^th from 2:45 – 5:00 p.m. at the Practice Field near the Tennis Courts.

 

STATE EMPLOYEE’S CREDIT UNION (SECU) PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE SCHOLARSHIP: It's that exciting time of year when we release the application for the SECU People Helping People Scholarship. The Scholarship awards $10,000.00 to a student who exemplifies demonstrated scholastic achievement with a 2.5 unweighted Grade Point Average or higher on a 4.0 scale along with exhibiting leadership, excellence of character, and community involvement. The applications will be due to Mr. Grabiec by Thursday, February 23^rd. Please review and submit all required documents to be an eligible nominee for this great Scholarship. Feel free to reach out to Mr. Grabiec (mgrabiec@wcpss.net) with any additional questions.

 

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SENIORS: Please continue to reference our Scholarship Information Page on the Athens Drive Magnet High School webpage which is updated often with new scholarship opportunities! We have amazingly talented students at The Drive, and these are great opportunities to get money for College!

 

CLOSING THOUGHTS AND TAKE CARE: I am proud of our school family for the Magnet School of Distinction award recognition by Magnet Schools of America! I appreciate the work of our students and staff to embrace out Magnet Theme and help our students find ways to support their passions at The Drive! We have such a wonderful school family and I continue to be honored and proud to serve at Athens Drive Magnet High School! Thank you all, as always, for your constant support of our efforts. I hope you all enjoy your weekend! Please continue to check the Athens Drive website (www.wcpss.net/athensdrivehs) for general information and to help you stay informed. As always, please continue to be safe, and take care of yourselves, your loved ones, and each other. GO JAGS!

 

 

REMINDER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKLY MESSAGES:

 

UTILIZING POWERSCHOOL TO TRACK YOUR STUDENT’S PROGRESS: Please know that PowerSchool is available for parents in addition to your student(s). This is one of the best ways to keep track of your student’s progress. PowerSchool contains up-to-date grades (including missing assignments). Please know that your parent account will update at the same time grades are entered by teachers. PowerSchool can be used to receive notifications about when your student is tardy or absent from a class. It is highly recommended that all parents use this tool. Instructions on how to set this up can be found at https://www.wcpss.net/student-information. and https://www.wcpss.net/domain/7130. I am thankful for your support and glad we are together in assisting our students in reaching their ultimate potential!

 

ACCESSING TEACHER/COURSE INFORMATION: To best support the academic success of our students, every teacher has created a Learning Management System in Canvas. Students and families can access these resources by finding their teacher on our Faculty Directory on the Athens Drive Magnet High School website. Students who are out of school due to absences must utilize this resource to stay up-to-date with class assignments and resources.

 

LUNCH TIME TUTORING: To support the academic needs of our students, we have students and teachers available to tutor students in all subject areas during Lunch. Every Tuesday and Thursday, during both “A” and “B” Lunches, students can receive help in subjects where they may be struggling. “A” Lunch tutoring happens in Room 2616 and “B” Lunch tutoring happens in Room 2714. This is a great opportunity for our students to receive help during the school day to support their learning.

 

WADE EDWARDS LEARNING LAB (WELL) FOR FREE TUTORING SUPPORT: If you or your student needs some additional academic support, you can visit the Wade Edwards Learning Lab for FREE tutoring. The WELL exists to assist students in achieving their academic goals through planning, scheduling, encouragement, and focus. The WELL maintains a team of talented, trained tutors ready to assist students in their areas of need. Their tutors are both volunteers from the community and students from local colleges. Students meet with the same tutor each time for an hour or more each week. Visit their website, wade.org, for more information and to request tutoring support.

 

GRADUATION DATE FINALIZED FOR THE CLASS OF 2023!! I am happy to announce that our Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2023 will be held on Saturday, June 10^th, 2022, beginning at 12:00 p.m. at the Raleigh Convention Center! I look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of this incredible Class at our Commencement Exercises! Seniors, and their families, please also know that we will be holding a MANDATORY Graduation Rehearsal at Athens Drive on Thursday, May 25^th, beginning at 7:25 a.m. in the Main Gym.

 

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN THE SENIOR REMIND GROUP: As we discussed in our Senior Class meeting this week, we need our Seniors (and their families) to stay connected to EVERYTHING Senior related. We do not want our Seniors or Senior families to miss anything related to their Senior Year. To make this happen, we need all Seniors and their families to join the Senior Remind message group today! If you are using the Remind App, then enter the class code: @theremaley. If you are not using the App and prefer a text message, then text the message: @theremaley to the number: 81010. Mr. Remaley, the Senior Class Advisor, will use this source to get important Senior information to our Seniors and their Senior families daily at 2:30 p.m. The reply option on Remind is NOT turned on so if you have questions, please email Mr. Remaley (cremaley@wcpss.net). Please be sure to sign up TODAY and do not miss a thing from Senior Year!

 

SENIOR EXAM EXEMPTION: For the 2022 – 2023 school year, once again, Seniors can be exempt from Non-State Mandated Final Exams and Field Tests based on the following criteria: Students who have a Final Course Grade of “C” or higher are eligible to be exempt from Final Exams. Absences will not be considered in determining Senior Exemption status for the 2022 – 2023 school year. 

 

SENIORGRAM IS NOW AVAILABLE: Please know that we have posted our SeniorGram with important dates and information for Seniors and their families. Thank you for marking these important dates down so that our Seniors have a fantastic finish to their High School career!

 

SCHOLARSHIP BULLETIN: Seniors should already be signed up for Mr. Grabiec’s Scholarship Remind message, as we covered this in our Class Meeting and during Drive Time. In addition, please see our Scholarship Bulletin for additional Scholarships available for students.

 

PLEASE USE OUR CARPOOL LANE INSTEAD OF OUR JUNIOR AND SENIOR PARKING LOTS: I would ask that all families who are carpooling our students please use the Carpool Lane we have established in the entrance to our campus from Avent Ferry Road. We are finding that there are many families who are using our Junior and Senior Parking Lots in the back of school off Jaguar Park Drive to pick-up their students and that is causing considerable congestion for our Juniors and Seniors who are trying to leave campus. Thank you for being considerate of our Juniors and Seniors and not creating additional traffic and congestion in our Junior and Senior Parking Lots.

 

STUDENTS LEAVING CAMPUS FOR LUNCH: As we are discussing in our Class Meetings, Juniors and Seniors who have an approved Off-Campus Lunch Pass are the only students who may leave campus for Lunch. A Junior or Senior student cannot leave campus during lunch without having an authorized Off-Campus Lunch Pass. Freshmen and Sophomores are NEVER allowed to leave campus during the school day, unless on an approved school trip. If a Junior or Senior would like to purchase a Lunch Pass (the cost is $10.00 for the year), please visit the Off-Campus Lunch Pass Google Form we have created located on the Athens Drive Magnet High School website to complete the Application. Thank you for your support in ensuring our students do the right thing and stay on campus during Lunch.

 

STUDENTS MUST HAVE A VALID PARKING PASS TO PARK ON CAMPUS: I would like to ask all students and parents to help us ensure that only those students who have a valid Parking Pass park on campus. Please understand that any student who parks on campus must have a Parking Pass and park only in their assigned area. It is important for us to know who is parking on campus and have parent permission for students to drive and park on campus. We will begin to ticket students who are parking on campus without having a valid Parking Pass to park on campus. Please also understand that Athens does not retain any of the money collected for the Parking Passes—the money collected for Parking Passes goes directly to Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) and pays for our Security Officer on Campus who patrols the outside of the school. If a student wants to purchase a Parking Pass, they can still purchase one. Students interested in securing a Parking pass for the 2021 – 2022 school year should carefully read and follow the guidelines on the application. To complete the Parking Pass Application process, please complete the On-Line Parking Registration.

 

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL ON CAMPUS: Please know that we have several different areas on campus to support the safe arrival and dismissal of our students. You can visit our Transportation Information section on our website to get additional information and maps on where to drop-off and pick-up our students. Please know the following information:

 

• Special Transportation Arrival and Dismissal: The entrance to our campus off Athens Drive is only for students who require Special Transportation to get to school each day. Families who have students who have special needs may use this entrance as well. This entrance is NOT to be used for our general carpool students.

 

• Carpool Arrival: Please remember that ALL carpool arrival is handled through our Carpool Loop in the Carpool Parking Lot through the entrance from Avent Ferry Road. If you are planning on leaving to turn Right on Avent Ferry, please enter the Parking Lot from Avent Ferry Road and be in the Left Hand Lane to drive all the way up the Carpool Parking Lot and around the semi-circle at the top of the Parking Lot. Please pull all the way up to the end of the semi-circle and stop and drop your student off. If you are planning on leaving to turn onto Athens Drive, please enter the Parking Lot from Avent Ferry Road and be in the Right Hand Lane to drop your student off and then turn right to drive to the Exit to Athens Drive. Please be sure that your student is ready to exit the car as you come to a stop to expedite the carpool process. Students can begin exiting their vehicles at 6:45 a.m. to enter our school. Please remember that students should be dropped off in the morning with enough time for them to be in class, ready for learning at 7:25 a.m. Please also remember to not drop your student off at any other location around campus or along either Avent Ferry Road or Athens Drive. Thank you for helping us ensure the safety and well-being of our students.

 

• Carpool Dismissal: In the afternoon, we will also use our Carpool Loop in the Carpool Parking Lot that is accessible through the entrance from Avent Ferry Road. I would ask that when you arrive you drive all the way around the Parking Lot and pull up almost to the Exit of the Parking Lot. Cars will line-up in two single file lines, staying to the right and left of the middle of the Parking Lot so that cars can pass in between to Exit. As soon as cars begin to back up through the semi-circle, we will begin two lines to help us keep cars off Avent Ferry Road and traffic flowing. As students are picked up, we will move the cars forward to keep the Carpool line moving. Once your student has been seated in your car, you can move to the left lane and careful drive to the exit of the Carpool Parking Lot. Please be safe and aware of your surroundings as you drive through Carpool to ensure the safety of our students and each other!

 

• Bus Transportation: If your student will be riding the bus to school, students and families that have transportation eligible bus riders can find our new Bus Routes for the 2022 – 2023 school year posted on the Bus Routes page of our website. Please find the intersection nearest your residence and that will be your bus stop. Please be familiar with your bus route and plan to get to your bus stop at least 20 minutes early. Wake County Public School System will also share your student’s transportation route, stop, and estimated bus arrival time on-line in PowerSchool. In addition, please understand that due to a shortage of Bus Drivers, we will have several “double back” routes; meaning that one bus will run two routes each morning and afternoon to pick-up and drop-off our students. Thank you for your support.

 

NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND COUNSELORS: It is my pleasure to introduce new Counselors and an Assistant Principal who have joined our school family! Here are the names and break-down of the Alphabet for our Administrators and Counselors for this year:

 

Student Last Name:	Administrator	Counselor
A – Cl	Mr. Clinkscales	Ms. Crutcher
Co – Ha	Mr. Coats	Ms. Huber
He – Mc	Mr. Katz	Ms. Dickson
Me – Sam	Ms. Harris	Mr. Grabiec
San – Z	Ms. Wiggins	Ms. Hegarty

 

PLACES FOR STUDENTS TO EAT LUNCH ON CAMPUS: Please know that ONLY Juniors and Seniors with an approved Lunch Pass are allowed to leave campus for Lunch. Sophomores and Freshmen are NEVER allowed to leave campus during the school day, unless on an approved school trip. Student who remain on campus to eat Lunch have multiple options for where to sit during Lunch. Students can eat in the Cafeteria, the Gym/Auditorium Lobby, the Courtyard, the cement area outside of the Gym/Auditorium Lobby, use the Basketball Courts behind the Lower Gym, and hang out in the open area outside of the Lower Gym. It is my expectation that students exhibit positive behavior as they eat Lunch or hangout in these areas.

 

JUINIORS AND SENIORS LEAVING CAMPUS FOR LUNCH: Juniors and Seniors who have an approved Off-Campus Lunch Pass are the only students who may leave campus for lunch. A Junior or Senior student cannot leave campus during Lunch without having an authorized Off-Campus Lunch Pass. Freshmen and Sophomores are NEVER allowed to leave campus during the school day, unless on an approved school trip. If a Junior or Senior would like to purchase a Lunch Pass (the cost is $10.00 for the year), please visit the Off-Campus Lunch Pass Information on our website. Finally, please remember that students must have cleared all fees or fines they have, as an Off-Campus Lunch pass will not be issued if the student has any outstanding fees or fines owed.

 

WHAT LUNCH DO I HAVE? “A” LUNCH OR “B” LUNCH? A student can determine if they have “A” Lunch or “B” Lunch depending on what course they have Third Period. If a student has an Arts, English, Math, Occupational Course of Study, Social Studies, or Special Education class, then the student will have “A” Lunch. That means the student will go to First Period, then Second Period, then Lunch, then Third Period, and then Fourth Period. If a student has a CTE, English as a Second Language, GradPoint, Physical Education/Healthful Living, Science, or World Languages class, then the student will have “B” Lunch. That means the student will go to First Period, then Second Period, then Third Period, then Lunch, and then Fourth Period.

 

ATTENDANCE INFORMATION: We are continuing to implement new procedures for Student Check-In and Check-Out and are working to go as paperless as possible with regards to our Attendance procedures. I would ask that school families please use our Attendance-Specific email address (athenshs-attendance@wcpss.net) to send any communication regarding Attendance. Any emails from parents/guardians, doctor’s offices, etc. need to be sent to that email address. In addition, when a parent/guardian comes to school to check-out or check-in a student, the parent/guardian will be using a QR Code that we have posted on the Front Door of the school to complete our process. As soon as the parent/guardian is done entering the information in the Google Doc, we will contact the student’s teacher and the student will come to the Front Doors of the school for Check-Out. Please remember that for safety reasons, there are no student Check-Outs allowed after 1:45 p.m. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we implement these new procedures!

 

PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL OPEN AT 4:00 P.M. EVERY AFTERNOON: Please know that the Wake County Public Library in our school will change its operational hours and will not open until 4:00 p.m. each afternoon. Students will not be able to remain on campus to wait for the Public Library to open. Thank you for your understanding for the safety of our students and staff with regards to these Public Library operational hours.

 

BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR: As we begin a new school year, I would like to remind all our students and families to be respectful of our Athens Drive neighbors. Please remind your students to park legally, drive in a safe manner, throw trash away properly in trash cans, and use appropriate language as they walk, drive, and move around our school campus. We want to be responsible and respectful neighbors, and I ask that we all represent The Drive in only the highest manner. Thanks for helping to carry on over 40-year tradition of excellence both inside and outside of the classroom!

 

DRESS CODE: Parents, I would like to enlist your support in helping us maintain appropriate dress at school. Wake County Public School System has a Dress Code Policy. Please be sure that students do not wear clothing that violates the dress code. Hats, hoodies, do-rags, and bandanas will also not be allowed to be worn on school grounds. Thank you for support in ensuring our students dress appropriately for teaching and learning every day!

 

VOLUNTEERING AT ATHENS DRIVE: Now that school family members and visitors are allowed in the building without COVID-19 restrictions, please remember that if you would like to volunteer at Athens Drive, or in any Wake County Public School System school, you must register prior to helping with any tutoring, office support, PTSA, Athletics, Band, Chorus, Theatre, or Club activity this school year. You can register to Volunteer at a computer in the Library during school hours. Please come to the front doors, buzz in, and let our Receptionist know you are here to register as a Volunteer. Thank you for your service and thank you for helping us maintain a safe school climate conducive to learning.

 

APPLYING FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS FOR THE 2022 – 2023 SCHOOL YEAR: Please know that Breakfast and Lunch will now be free to all students who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals for the 2022 – 2023 school year. Students must apply for free and reduced-price meals to obtain these benefits. Parents can complete a meal benefits application online at https://www.myschoolapps.com/. Paper applications also are available at all schools. More information can be found at WCPSS Free & Reduced Meals. Thank you for taking care of this important responsibility so that we can ensure that our eligible students can take advantage of this benefit.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS: Athens Drive Magnet High School has a variety of Social Media Accounts that students, staff, school families, and the community can follow to stay abreast of what is happening at The Drive. Here is an updated list: 

• Instagram: 
• School Instagram: @AthensHSMagnet 
• Student Services: @athensdrive_studentservices 
• The Torch (Yearbook): @athens_torch 
• The Oracle (Newspaper): @athensoracle 
• ATV (Morning News Program): @atvjagnews 
• Athens Athletics: @athensjags 

• Twitter: 
• School Twitter: @AthensHSMagnet 
• Student Services: @ADHSStudentSvcs 
• PTSA: @AthensDrivePTSA 
• The Torch (Yearbook): @athenstorch 
• The Oracle (Newspaper): @athensoracle 
• ATV (Morning News Program): @atvjagnews 
• Athens Athletics: @athensjags 
• Athens Drive Student Government: @ADHSExecBoard 
• STEM Academy: @AthensSTEM 
• Health Science Career Academy: @ADHS_HSA 
• Athens Career Corner: @ADHCareercorner

• Facebook: 
• School Facebook: Athens Drive Magnet High School 
• Athletics: https://www.facebook.com/Athens-Athletics-108865961678322

• Remind:
• Senior Class Messages from Mr. Remaley, Senior Class Advisor: text to 81010 @theremaley
• Senior Scholarship Bulletin Information: https://www.remind.com/classes/mgrabiec/people#:~:text=remind.com/join/mgrabiec

ATHLETIC SPORTS PASSES: Athens Drive Athletics Sports Passes are now on sale for the 2022 – 2023 Athletic year! All passes this year will be Digital, via the GoFAN platform. We offer four levels of sports passes; Student Pass, Individual Pass, Family Pass, and Go Jags Family Pass. If you purchase a Go Jags Family Pass, a customized Paw Print on the sidewalk outside Jag Stadium is included with your package. To get the Paw Print painted prior to the Fall Season, please make sure you purchase your Athletic Sport Pass by Sunday, July 31^st. If you have any questions regarding Athletic Sports Passes for the 2022 – 2023 Athletic year, please reach out to our Athletic Director, Coach Travis Seese (tseese@wcpss.net). We are looking forward to a great athletic year!

 

TICKETS:  Individual Game Tickets to all events this year are sold through the GoFan platform. Tickets for all events for the Fall season are posted on our GoFAN Platform Website and can be purchased anytime. In addition, we are accepting credit and debit cards at the gate this year. However, please understand that we will NOT be accepting cash at the gate, as all tickets must be purchased either through the GoFan Platform Website or with a credit/debit card at the gate.

 

SPORTSMANSHIP:  For our 2022 – 2023 athletic season, a major focus of our Athletic program is to promote positive, competitive sportsmanship. When attending any game home or away, please remember you are representing Athens Drive and it is important to be a positive role model for our student athletes and school family! You can find our Fan Code of Conduct for all our athletic facilities HERE.

 

ATHLETIC SPONSORSHIP: One of the ways we raise funds to support our Athletic Department at Athens Drive is by selling Sponsorships to local businesses. If you own a company or work at a company that would be interested in sponsoring Athens Drive Athletics, please contact Coach Travis Seese, our Athletic Director, at tseese@wcpss.net. Our Sponsorship Levels link provides information on Sponsorships. Thank you for your help in finding ways to continue to fund our Athletic Department programs!

 

JAGUAR PAW PRINTS: Jaguar Paw Prints are on sale again this year for the athlete recognition paws that lead up to Jaguar Stadium. If you purchase a Go Jags Family Pass, it is included with your Pass membership fee. However, if you would like to order a Paw Print separately, please fill out this Paw Print form and we will send more information to you on how to purchase the Paw Print for the 2022 – 2023 school year.

 

LIVE STREAMING OF EVENTS IN OUR GYMNASIUM AND JAGUAR STADIUM: We will be offering Live Streaming again this school year through the NFHS Network. You can purchase the Live Streaming package by visiting the WCPSS Live Streaming Website and clicking on Athens Drive.

 

JAG CLUB VOLUNTEERS: We are looking for volunteers for our Athletic Booster Club that provides support for our Athletic Teams at Athens Drive.  If you are interested in volunteering with the Jag Club, please contact our Athletic Director, Coach Seese at tseese@wcpss.net and/or Richelle Laskey at richellejagclub@gmail.com.

 

JAG CLUB FACEBOOK GROUPS: The JAG Club has created Facebook groups for each Class to provide parents/guardians with up-to-date information regarding what is going on regarding Athens Drive Athletics as well other information. If you would like to join one of the JAG Club’s Facebook groups, please click on the appropriate links: 

 

Seniors           

Page Monitor: Richelle Laskey richellejagclub@gmail.com

Senior Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Athens-Drive-Sophomore-Parents-100112738558727

 

Juniors

Page Monitor: Aylin Gay aylin.gay@gmail.com

Junior Facebook pages: http://www.facebook.com/groups/athensclassof2024/

 

Sophomores

Page Monitor: Karen Taylor karentaylor2000@gmail.com 

Sophomore Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/groups/520790015923241/?ref=share 

 

            Freshman

            Page Monitor: Lori Airee my6blessings@yahoo.com 

Freshman Page: https://m.facebook.com/groups/1436009150248819/?ref=share_group_link