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Academic
To leave a message in voice mail, dial 651-683-6969 and then enter the five digit extension found by the staff picture.
- AVHS Library
- Art
- AVID
- Business and Marketing
- Career Development
- English Language Arts
- English Language Development
- Family and Consumer Science (FACS)
- Math
- Mentor
- Performing Arts
- Physical Education/Health
- Science
- Social Studies
- Special Education
- STEM
- Technology and Engineering
- Work Experience
- World Languages
AVHS Library
Andrew McCluskey
Media Specialist
Email: Contact me
Phone: 952-431-8241
Visit the AVHS Library page to access all of our resources.
Art
The visual arts program provides a journey of artistic discovery for creative self-expression and personal fulfillment and for developing right brain functions considered essential for tomorrow’s leaders, inventors, thinkers, and artists. The program also provides important preparation for future success in an information society that emphasizes visual imagery for communication. Study in the visual arts begins with two trimesters of exploratory art experiences followed by 9 one-trimester courses of in-depth study in Digital Art and Animation, Ceramics, Drawing, Creative Dimensions, Jewelry, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture. Further advanced study is available in all areas with two additional levels of study offered.
Also available for the seriously interested college bound art student is advanced placement college credit through enrollment in Portfolio on an instructor permission basis.
All students entering the AVHS Visual Arts Program for the first time and who have not completed an equivalent course begin with enrollment in one of our two Introductory Survey Art classes. Those art students wishing to enter two-dimensional in-depth study areas (Illustration, Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Creative Dimensions and Photography) enroll in Introduction to 2-D Art.
Those art students wishing to enter three-dimensional in-depth study areas (Ceramics, Jewelry, Creative Dimensions and Sculpture) enroll in Introduction 3-D Survey Art. The Introductory 2-D Art and 3-D Art classes are the foundation art courses that provide opportunity to meet the needs of both the generally interested student and the student interested in in-depth study. They offer interest exploration in a broad range of media contributing to student creativity, perceptual awareness, non-verbal communication skills, and cultural appreciation.
AVID
AVID @ AVHS
AVID is a program to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility. It has a proven track record in bringing out the best in students, and in closing the achievement gap. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination.
AVID is a growing program at Apple Valley High School. Our program now consists of 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade students at AVHS.
Business and Marketing
Career Development
Career Development classes are designed to take students into the 21st Century international workforce. Business and community leaders across the nation indicate that students must have a sound academic background combined with the ability to apply what they have learned to succeed in the workforce. The Career Development courses will help students select career areas on which to focus that can lead to appropriate post-secondary training with no limitations on level of advanced degree to which a student might aspire. Registration: Students will select the courses through the regular registration process in their high schools. Students may select offerings at any of the District 196 sites as indicated. Course descriptions are found in the Career Development Registration Guide supplement or see your counselor.
Transportation: Transportation will not be provided for students who register for a course at a site other than their resident high school.
Availability: Classes will operate on a space available basis with priority for seniors followed by juniors
English Language Arts
Our goal in English Language Arts is to provide students with a rich offering of courses in literature, writing and speaking that spark interest in the dynamics of effective communication, provide opportunity for intellectual growth and equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for life after high school.
English Language Development
The English Learners (EL) program is a series of courses designed to help students whose first language is not English. The goal of the program is to help students reach grade level proficiency in the four areas of language acquisition: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Depending on their level, students take one, two, or three hours of EL. Sheltered Civics and U.S. History are offered for students in Levels 1 and 2, and some students in Level 3, with teacher recommendation. In addition, an EL study hall is available as support for any student whose native language is not English. In addition to the English credits earned in the AVHS EL program, all AVHS EL students are expected to earn a minimum of 6 English Department credits.
Family and Consumer Science (FACS)
Family and Consumer Science ~ Life Skills for the Life Span! These classes will prepare students for real life. FCS courses provide a comprehensive, foundation designed to assist students in developing the core knowledge and skills needed to manage their lives. Emphasis is on foods and nutrition, human and child development, leadership, family and parent education, consumer economics and resource management, housing, interiors and living environments and career preparation. Critical skills in decision making, problem solving, critical thinking, work and family management, and workplace readiness are reinforced through authentic experiences. A unique focus is on the management of families, foods, work and their interrelationships. Take the FCS challenge and enhance your lives forever
Math
The mathematics curriculum in District 196 addresses the concerns that have been identified in mathematics education. The textbooks provide materials that use current technology and real-life applications. They also incorporate reading, integrate with other subjects, and present material needed by all students in the future. Success in any mathematics course requires a solid background from previous coursework, proper study skills, and a commitment to daily work. Please feel free to contact any member of the department with your questions.
Mentor
Beyond the classroom, learning opportunities are boundless. This premier program offers two courses for college bound students. The Mentor Program provides students the opportunity to explore the college selection process, their potential careers of interest, their aptitude for those careers, and to eventually be mentored by a professional in a selected field of interest. Students can opt to only take the first course, Seminar, or both Seminar and Field Experience.
Seminar is an opportunity to explore the college and career options best suited for each individual. Seminar must be successfully completed in order for a student to advance to Field Experience, which is designed to shadow with a professional in the field. A partial listing of the many potential fields is listed below.
- Accounting
- Advertising
- Architecture
- Biotechnology
- Business
- Chemistry Communications
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Education
- Engineering
- Finance Fine Arts
- Genetics
- Geology
- Human Resources
- Interior Design
- Journalism Law
- Law Enforcement
- Marketing
- Medicine
- Meteorology
- Performing Arts Photography
- Physical Therapy
- Psychology
- Public Relations
- Social Work
- Veterinary Medicine
Performing Arts
The Arts are valued and important to the educational well-being of our young people and our country. Arts education benefits both student and society. It benefits the student because it cultivates the whole child, gradually building many kinds of literacy while developing intuition, reasoning, imagination, and dexterity into unique forms of expression and communication. This process requires not merely an active mind but a trained one. Arts education also helps students by initiating them into a variety of ways of perceiving and thinking. Learn more about our Arts opportunities.
Physical Education/Health
The Apple Valley Physical Program develops knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable students to lead healthy active lives. We have a wide curriculum of electives to choose from including Racquet Sports, Team Sports and other Lifetime activities such as Disc Golf, Aerobics, Strength Training, Self Defense, Pilates just to name a few. Students are required to take the following:
- Physical Education
- Wellness and Safety Education classes
- Fitness For Life
- Safety Education
- Wellness One
- Wellness Two
- Three Physical Education Electives
The Apple Valley High School Physical Education Department recommends and encourages students to take at least one Physical Education class each trimester. Studies have shown that physical activity improves a student's emotional, mental and general physical health. We hope that you have an opportunity to register, attend, learn and enjoy the many activities that are made available to you through the Apple Valley High School Physical Education Department.
Voicemail ext. : 82532
Science
Our science teachers have developed a broad range of courses all designed to peak the interests of students in the areas of Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science and engineering. Our courses have been developed to best match various learning styles as well as interests.
In planning your path through the 4 years of high school in the sciences, please remember that you are required to take 3 years of science to graduate including a biology course and either a physics or chemistry course. That said, we and colleges we talk to highly recommend that you enroll in 4 years of science, including earth science, biology, chemistry, and physics.
In addition, our Honors Earth Science, Honors Biology, and Honors Chemistry courses along with electives such as Anatomy and Physiology (a College in the Schools course - or CIS), AP Chemistry, and AP Physics are courses designed to broaden the background of students who are interested in science as a possible career or field of study in college. We also offer electives in astronomy, meteorology, ecology, and STEM principles for students who want to learn a bit more about our planet and universe.
Science education doesn't stop at the end of 7th hour, either. Through the science department students may participate on the Science Olympiad team, the Rocket Team, and/or the First Robotics team after school. All of these teams are a part of national programs and have competed in regional, state and national tournaments in the past. Check with your science teachers for more information (also in the activities section of the AVHS website).
Social Studies
Welcome to the Apple Valley Social Studies Department! Our department offers classes that are useful socially, politically, and intellectually. Our 9th grade classes focus on political systems and how they affect us. Our 10th and 11th grade classes discuss history, both our own and then more broadly with the history of our world. Through analysis in both grades, you will gain valuable insight into why your world and your country became as it is. As seniors, you learn and discuss yourself and your society through psychology, sociology, criminology, and economics. We aim to provide a complete education through analysis, discussion, and problem solving techniques. Whether you choose on-level or Honors / AP® versions of these classes, we are sure you will find our classes stimulating and engaging.
Special Education
The Special Education Department at Apple Valley High School is committed to providing a full range of services for students with special needs. These services include opportunities for skill development, academic support in resource and specially designed classrooms. In addition, support services staff integrate into the mainstream, working collaboratively along side general education teachers of the AVHS community. Special education teachers support and consult with the general education teaching staff and team-teach in targeted classrooms.
School Psychologists
STEM
Improving STEM education in the United States has been identified as a critical concern. The pipeline of students entering STEM fields does not meet the current demand for new scientists and engineers, only a small portion of our population is scientifically literate, and students from other countries consistently outperform US students. Additionally, the science and mathematics components of STEM are not adequately integrated with the technology and engineering components and none of the STEM components are well integrated with other conceptual areas. Furthermore, until we learn more about how understanding of STEM is developed there are not clear pathways to remediating the situation. Addressing this national need requires research and development of the best ways to present STEM concepts including re-thinking the way we integrate STEM, train teachers, develop curriculum, and assess learning.
Everyone has a vested interest in successfully educating students in K-12 STEM. Without adequate education and research on how students learn and engage in STEM, the pipeline of educated graduates going into these fields will remain woefully inadequate. STEM education is a critical issue not only nationally, but also for the state of Minnesota and our local communities. Furthermore, it is essential not only to research this subject, but also to disseminate the results of that research to other researchers and classroom teachers in an expeditious manner. Inadequate STEM education not only impacts our educational system, but also has far reaching consequences for our economy, global stature, and quality of life.
STEM education is at the heart of today's high-tech, high-skill global economy. For America to remain economically competitive, our next generation of leaders must develop the critical-reasoning and problem-solving skills that will help make them the most productive in the world. PLTW sparks the ingenuity, creativity, and innovation within all of our students.
Technology and Engineering
Welcome to the Technology and Engineering Department. Our department offers a variety of hands on learning experiences in the following fields of technology: Engineering, Architecture, Computer Animation and Graphics, Woodworking, Metalworking, Small Engines and Fabrication (in the AVHS International FAB LAB).
In these courses we explore production and manufacturing processes. We emphasize critical thinking skills including problem solving and applying a design process. We offer the students the ability to apply skills in a real world setting with hands on, activities based learning. They are using more than theory in their activities. The skills that they learn are valued by many college engineering programs and by companies with a STEM focus and that are technology oriented. Also look at our Project Lead the Way information. This is pre-college engineering experience.
Our department offers a unique opportunity for students to explore cutting edge technologies such as 3D printing and scanning, laser engraving and CNC machining and plasma cutting. This is done in our state of the art facility, the AVHS Fab Lab, which is a member of the International Fab Lab Association.
Work Experience
Work Experience offers special support to students while promoting the goals of increasing employability skills, developing vocational training and awareness, and promoting student success at Apple Valley High School.
World Languages
The World Language department offers students the opportunity to study French, German, Japanese and Spanish. The unique focus of these classes develops an understanding of different cultures through language learning. The classes concentrate on speaking, writing, listening and reading of the language. These courses are interactive and give the students ample opportunities to work with the language in an authentic way.
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Administration
Attendance
Reporting an Absence
AVHS Absence Call-in Voicemail 952.431.8299
Please be sure to say student's first and last name, spelling the last name, the student's grade, date of absence and reason for absence. Also leave a telephone number where you may be contacted.
Please view your student's attendance by logging in to your Campus Portal and clicking on the Attendance tab on the left. If you require assistance logging in to your Campus Portal, you can call the main office at 952-431-8200.
Thank you.