image of school supplies in pastel colors and text of ARHS updates, March 19, 2023

Laker Nation is soldiering through the month of March, looking toward the future and holding many events to brighten the present. This month, in addition to being Women’s History Month, is Music in Our Schools month.  The federal education law known as the "Every Student Succeeds Act" identifies music as a core subject, and part of a well-rounded education. On Thursday, March 16th, the Band and Choir, and select groups performed for the community and demonstrated their passion and skills. A very competitive volleyball tournament was also held on Thursday as a fundraiser for the Class of 2026. Teachers, basketball players, hockey players, and other students formed teams and an annual grudge match has been born! Apponecon will be held on Friday night, from 5-10, and students will fill the Library playing arcade games, board games, foosball, and more. Student Council provides the food for this free event and a canned good is the price of tournament play. See our Apponecon commercial at arhs.lakernation on Instagram to get pumped for the event!

Our DECA students had a successful State Conference in Boston last weekend! Congrats to Corey Swenson for receiving a medallion for first place on his exam in Personal Financial Literacy.

The following students were also called on stage as a finalist in their category:

Nikhil Barnick

Jocelyn Carvalho and Casey Mouradian 

Alana Gurney and Hannah Kuriscak, 

Jason Demers and Luke Richards

Austin Pelletier.

The following students placed in their category and earned a spot to compete at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida:

Sophia Kyranos and Abbey Menendez

Rowan Baptista, Shea Garland, Alex El-Ghadi and Lucas Quinn

Also qualifying to compete in Orlando is our School-Based Enterprise team of Max Anderson, Damon Defaria and Jack Macphail who earned Gold Certification for our School Store.

And a shout out to Ella Fisher who organized the conference with her State Officer team!

Congrats to all!

Our SRO has been providing safety tips each day in the month of March, including traffic light protocol, locking car doors, and device-free driving. The SRO internship is also going strong. Our three SRO interns recently met with police to learn about fingerprinting and will be traveling to the state police lab and Fall River courthouse on March 22nd. 

Our English MCAS is around the corner. All grade 10 students will be sitting for the exam on March 28th and 29th. We will be holding a meeting with sophomores and other test takers to emphasize the need for sleep, preparation, nutrition, and a charged Chromebook. We will be offering breakfast, on both days, before the exam.

Core Value Recipients March 13-17

Abby Burnap - Achievement

Keltey Fournier - Honor

Mackenzie Nunez - Self-Advocacy

Ella Hirst - Honor

Mr. Koczela, Mr. Levesque, Mrs. Pacelli - Resilience! Their rooms are finally a place to call home!

Weekly Punctuality Award

Sophia Mendez

Upcoming Events and opportunities

Apponecon is back! A message from the Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Solomon: Do you want to lose to Mr. Giorlando in Madden and various other tournaments?  Do you want free food from exotic locales such as Jersey Mike's, Wings Over New Bedford, and Fat Cousins?  Do you want to experience the finest Ping Pong, foosball, and Arcade Basketball set ups this school has ever seen?  Then come to Apponecon on March 17, from 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm in the ARHS Library.  Admission is free, so bring your student ID for entry, and a canned good to donate for each tournament you want to join. Apponecon merch will be on sale that night-cash only! Please see our Instagram commercial featuring Boston Piquette as Mario!

Any student with interest in being certified as a lifeguard should email Coach Cabucio.

Spring Sports are on their way! The Laker online athletic registration is open through March 17th and practices begin on March 20th. 

Consider Unified Track: Are you interested in athletics but only have a couple of days a week available to commit?  Do you believe strongly in inclusion and bringing groups of people together?  Do you want to have lots of fun with the coolest special educators ever?  An informational meeting was held on March 8th, but there is still room! Please contact Mr. Shara rshara@freelake.org

March 21st is WDSD (World Down Syndrome Day). It occurs on 3/21 to represent the 3 copies of the chromosome and the chromosome that is affected is 21.  To raise awareness about our children with Down Syndrome, CRAZY SOCK DAY was developed. Chromosomes tend to have distinct shapes and come in pairs. Each has a different length and shape to it, and the 21st seems to resemble a striped sock. Hence - Crazy Sock Day! We will be participating throughout the district. 

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Artapalooza at Assawompset Elementary School is back. Please contact Mrs. Frizado or drop by the Main Office if you are interested in working with art and children on March 18th.

The Freetown Library is hosting a Henna Program event for teens 13+! Please see the attached flyer for this March 18th event. Henna Program.png

Please see the attached flyer for Girls Who Code, a free virtual summer program. GWC Summer Program.pdf Deadline approaching.

The Apponequet Athletic Boosters Club will be holding their annual Flower Sale at the Old Lakeville Town Hall on April 7th and 8th, a sure sign of Spring! Please help support this event.

Flower Sale 2023

Ongoing Activities

"The Care Closet" stocks items for students with unmet needs or unexpected "situations" so that they may be able to better focus on school.  

Thank you, parents! You have responded with such enthusiasm and generosity!

Please visit our regularly updated wishlist for needed items! 

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2EJ3DPB697U1O?ref_=wl_share

Our School Store is mobile while under construction. Come see us after school every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday to purchase a snack, drink, or candy. We'll be in the cafeteria hallway!

Join a Club!  What a great way to get involved in Laker Nation. Meeting each week:

Green Team

AST- Art, Share, Travel club

Game Club

Math Team

Student Council

Book Club

Food Committee

Portuguese Club

Student dismissal: Please visit freelake.org and choose the Apponequet website. Click on the “ARHS Parent Dismissal button” and complete the form to dismiss your student.

Reminder of Driving Instructions for Parents/Guardians 

Drop Off - The school opens at 7:00 am and students are supervised in the Lecture Hall until the bell rings at 7:30 am. 

Please note that both entrances are open for drop off this year. Vehicles must exit by the same side as they entered and are cautioned to drive carefully as our student drivers enter the building from the parking lot.  Please contact the Main Office or SRO Bartholomew with any questions. 

Pick Up - We continue to ask parents and guardians to park when arriving for pick up to ensure that cars do not block the bus lanes and Howland Road. If you have any questions about this process, please contact the Main Office or SRO Bartholomew.

Follow ARHS on Instagram - Arhs.lakernation - where we celebrate every day Laker life, events and our Core Value Award recipients. We have honored multiple students for their achievement, honor, resilience, self-advocacy and random acts of kindness.

Upcoming Dates:

March 17 - Apponecon (Game Night)

March 20 - Spring Sports begin

March 28 & 29 - ELA MCAS

March 31 - Term 3 closes

April 2 - Term 4 begins

April 10 - Term 3 grades posted

May 19 - Junior/Senior Prom