Abingdon High School Teacher Receives "Super Teacher" Award

Steve Ahn, AHS science/biology teacher, has been selected as one of eight educators statewide to receive the Virginia Lottery Super Teacher Award.  The award was created to honor outstanding Virginia public school teachers for dedication and commitment to students.  This program is sponsored by the Virginia Lottery, the Virginia PTA, and Virginia-based The Supply Room Companies.  on May 8, Mr. Ahn received a $2,000 cash prize and an additional $2,000 classroom credit from The Supply Room Companies.  He will also receive an educational experience for his classes provided by the Science Museum  of Virginia.  This award was presented by Virginia Lottery Executive Director Paula Otto and Supply Room representative, Addison Jones.  Mr. Ahn was received the award at a presentation attended by his students, peers, school and school board personnel, and various invited guests.  A direct quote  from Mr. Ahn that was used in the essay submitted for his nomination states, "Positive experiences lead to learning . . . by genuinely being interested in and caring for my students . . . I do more than deliver content - I develop meaningful relationships with amazing people."

Two New Doctors at Abingdon High School

Congratulations to Abingdon High School English teachers, Renee Clifton and Crystal Hurd, on their successful attainments of Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis degrees from  East Tennessee State University.  Dr.  Renee Clifton wrote her dissertation, "Portraiture of Evelyn Thompson Lawrence," focusing on lifelong learning and the importance of the life story. Dr. Clifton will be working with her subject this summer to write a biography of Lawrence’s life. Dr. Crystal Hurd’s dissertation, "Transformational Leadership in the Life and Works of C. S. Lewis," emphasizes the positive leadership role C. S. Lewis exemplifies to others. Dr. Hurd will be presenting her research findings at the C. S. Lewis Colloquium at Taylor University next month.  The AHS administrators, faculty, staff, and students celebrate their outstanding achievements!

AT2, Trout Unlimited, and the United Way Participate in Joint Venture:

On Monday, March 30, Abingdon High School's AT2 group released trout for their "Trout in the Classroom" project.  The program is administered through Trout Unlimited and allows students to raise trout from eggs and then release them into the wild.  Trout Unlimited provided a $1000 grant to cover the cost of the tank, filters, aerators, lights, hood, power head, thermometer, water test materials, and chiller.  The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) provided the eggs and trout food which AT2 picked up in December as a field trip to Marion State Fish Hatchery.  Many students participated in the set-up and maintenance of the tank, but Preston T. (pictured releasing the trout) performed the daily water tests and the weekly water changes.  On March 30,  AT2 met Justin Laughlin of DGIF and John Ross of Trout Unlimited at Whitetop Laurel Creek outside of Damascus to release the trout and to sample benthic invertebrates.  After the trout release, the students came back to Abingdon to work a service project with the United Way.  Students packed backpacks with food as part of the "Backpacks Unite!" program.  Backpacks are delivered by the United Way to needy students.

AHS Softball Standout Signs with Walters State:

Abingdon High School senior, Katelyn S., will be continuing her softball career as a Walters State Lady Senator next year.  Katelyn recently signed a letter of intent with Walters State Community College, located in Morristown, Tennessee.  Katelyn's parents, several family members, friends, and AHS staff were in attendance for this occasion.  Katelyn has a career .378 batting average while boasting a .416 on-base percentage as a Lady Falcon.  She has led her team to the Virginia Class AA State playoffs for the past two seasons, including an appearance in the State championship game in 2010.  Katelyn will be entering the nursing program while attending Walters State.

AHS Golf Athlete Signs with UVA-Wise:

Abingdon High School athlete, Katie M., is the first-ever UVA-Wise women's golf signee. This is a new program for UVA-Wise, and Katie was honored with this designation with a visit from UVA-Wise Coach Leigh Clark who came to AHS for Katie's signing of a letter of intent for her to play collegiately at the Wise campus.  Katie is a three-sport athlete and has earned the Coaches' Award in both golf and basketball and the Falcon Award in tennis.  She has consistently been on the honor roll at AHS and is a member of the National Honor Society.  Katie plans to pursue nursing when she enrolls at UVA-Wise this fall.

AHS Ecology Classes Develop Board Games:

The Abingdon High School ecology classes, under the direction of their teacher, Lisa Andis, developed board games that pertained to chapters in their textbook and coinciding with their curriculum.  Not only did the classes enjoy creating the games, they had fun playing them, as well.  The games are displayed in the AHS Library.  Students and faculty are encouraged to go by the library and learn as you play.  Some of the games include the following:  Up the Creek, Science Trivia, Mineopoly (mining questions), and Biome It (biome chapter).

AT2 Takes Learning Underground　

The Abingdon High School organization "AT2" (Appalachian Teen Trekkers) went caving recently in Bluff City, TN. Students literally got their "hands dirty" (as well as the rest of their bodies) as they learned about cave formation, Virginia geology, and uses of this cave in prehistory and Civil War history. Students also gained experience in Leave No Trace (LNT) principles and caving ethics. One of the many highlights of the trip was the 10-inch tall, 20-foot long crawl to "Leroy's Room" led by AHS media specialist, Virginia Hollifield and AHS science teacher, Steve Ahn. AT2  is an adventure and service organization dedicated to getting our students "back on trails, back on track, and back into our community." http://at2.mountainalliance.org/

Abingdon High School Chorus Awarded 12 Places in 24-Member All-State Chorus:
 
Auditions were held on February 11, at Pulaski County High School for All-State Chorus at the Senior District Chorus event.  Twenty-four delegates are chosen from each of the 16 Districts in the state for All-State.  Of the 24 chosen from District 7, 12 were from Abingdon High School.  Three placed as No. 1 in their respective sections.  AHS also had four alternates chosen.  Those selected were as follows:  Soprano I - Gretchen G. and Katelyn B.; Alternate, Miranda T. Soprano II - Erica J.; Alternate, Kyra D. Alto I - Haley P. and Lauren R.; Alternate, Allison R. Alto II - Sarah S., Audrey M., and Christina S.; Alternate, Meggie M. Tenor I - Adam G. (No. 1) and Nicholas D.  Bass I - Joseph B. (No. 1).  Bass II - Jacob S. (No. 1).  All-State Chorus will be at Lynchburg, VA, April 26-28.  Rose Payne is the AHS Choral Director.

Scholastic Bowl Wins District:

On January 21, the Abingdon High School Scholastic Bowl team won first place in the Southwest District Tournament at Southwest Virginia Community College. Scholastic Bowl is an academic activity that involves students answering questions in different categories,  such as English, history, math, and art. The members of this team have shown a lot of dedication, practicing every week and traveling to other schools in the district to compete in scrimmages. The team members who traveled to SWCC this weekend were: Liam B. (Team Captain), Conner P., Tyler C., Najwa W., Allie Wi., Logan H., Shelby R., and Marc S. The other members who were unable to attend the district tournament were: Shelley G., Eric J., MacKenzie B., Sara M., Julie B., Emily B., and Aleena B.

AHS Athlete Named Prokicker.com All-American:

Abingdon High School Junior Mitchell L. was recently named to the inaugural Ray Guy Prokicker.com High School All-Americans as Third-Team Punter. The inaugural Ray Guy Prokicker.com High School All-Americans include some of the nation’s top punting, kicking, kickoff and long-snapping prospects. According to the Prokicker.com release, players were selected by the Prokicker.com staff, who watched and coached the players during camps, and also by how the players performed on the field during the 2011 high school season. There were four All-America categories – punting, kicking, long-snapping and kickoff specialist. Virginia had two athletes named to one of these distinctions.  “These young men have proven that they’re the best of the best,” Mr. Guy of Prokicker.com said. Other honors for Mitchell include being named to first-team district and regional punter, second-team kicker; Virginia preps.com AA First-Team All-State Punter and Virginia Preps.com AA underclassmen First Team All-State Punter.  Additionally he set five school kicking and punting records and has one state of Virginia record submitted (single game six punts for 50.33 yard average).

AHS DECA Students Receive Numerous Awards at District Competition:

DECA members participated District Competition on Wed., November 30.  Winners are as follows:  Megan Neece, 1st in Professional Development, 2nd in Selling, and 1st Overall; Jeremy Phillippi, 2nd in Customer Relations; Lexi Johnson, 2nd in Test on Principles of Business Administration; Kiersten Sproles, 3rd in Communications; Emily Fleenor, 1st in Communications; Logan Hardesty, 2nd in Job Interview; Erin Campbell, 1st in Emotional Intelligence Interview; Emily Greear, 2nd in Customer Relations, 1st in Test in Principles of Hospitality & Tourism, and 1st Overall; Sophie Silcox, 3rd in Test and 3rd Overall in Principles of Marketing; Dan Roy Boggs, 1st in Selling and 1st Overall in Retail Merchandising.  Winners will advance to State Competition in March in Norfolk.  Kim Greear is the DECA sponsor.



AHS students attend VA Technology Student Association Leadership Academy

On November 18,  nine Abingdon High School students traveled to Midlothian, VA, to attend the TSA Leadership Academy. While there, they participated in breakout sessions that included the following:  Inspire a Shared Vision, Model the Way, Enable Others to Act, and Challenge the Process and Encourage the Heart. The students also participated in a team-building activity at Peaks Experience. After learning how to tie a figure 8 knot (used to attach a climbing rope to your harness) and how to belay a climber, the students spent over an hour climbing the various indoor rock walls. Four of our other non-pictured AHS students are on the TSA executive committee:  State President Luke Quigley, Historian Gretchen Gross, Southwestern Region President Alissa Gembach and Immediate Past President Jason Dreyzehner.

Abingdon High School Student Earns International Space Olympics Top Honors

Jason D. received top honors in the 2011 International Space Olympics held in Korolev, Russia from October 18-30.  He and five other students were chosen to represent Virginia based on submissions of their original research projects involving space exploration, and their academic abilities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.) Selected students were provided travel scholarships and sponsored by the Verizon Foundation and Energiya Rocket Space Corporation. Of two hundred students from around the world competing in the 19th annual International Space Olympics, Jason placed 1st overall, tying with a Russian student. The competition included exams in mathematics, physics, and computer science, as well as the presentation of the Student Research Project. Jason’s project, titled “Curing Cavities: New Treatment Methods for the Prevention of Dental Caries Necessary for Extended Duration Space Exploration and Colonization Missions,” placed 1st in the category of “Science and Space,” and 2nd overall of the seven categories.  His project described a method of crippling the bacteria that causes dental cavities, Streptococcus mutans, by replacing it with a genetically modified form that is unable to produce tooth-eroding lactic acid. His winning project will be published in a Russian science journal. In addition to competing in the Space Olympics and participating in the opening and closing ceremonies, participants visited Mission Control Center for the International Space Station and video-conferenced with the three astronauts aboard, visited Star City and the space museum, had lectures with Russian cosmonauts, visited the Kremlin, and were guests in local Russian schools to learn about their culture and lifestyles. The Olympians shared their experiences with teachers and students throughout Virginia by blogging on the Internet, which can be found at http://www.pwnet.org/russia2011/index.htm.   Resources for elementary students that tie-in with the Space Olympians projects are also available through Thinkfinity in Virginia at http://www.thinkfinityva.org/spaceolympics.cfm.

 


On Friday, October 21, 2011, the new Abingdon High School band room officially opened with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception to celebrate this much-needed addition to the school's current facilities.  The new addition affords the 130-member Falcon Band over 2,400 square feet of additional space for classroom instruction and related use, with the older section being remodeled for individual practice rooms, storage, etc.  On hand for the ceremony were school board members, Chairman Billy Brooks, Elizabeth Lowe, Buckey Boone, and Herschel Stevens; Division Superintendent Jim Sullivan; Washington County Board of Supervisors member Kenneth Reynolds; Architect Charlie Day -- all shown making the officing cutting; Delegate Joe Johnson; officials from the Town of Abingdon and Washington County Sheriff's Office; Trademark Construction representatives; and several central office staff.  Allison Givens, Falcon Band President, gave the welcome, and the school board members in attendance and Mr. Sullivan made comments on the process of steps taken to acquire this special addition.  Principal Chad Wallace and Band Director Gary Holley also spoke and expressed their gratitude and delight in having this wonderful new band room for the enhancement of student achievement.  Many thanks to everyone who helped to make this project a reality and a great facility for our students.

During the 2010-11 school year,  students in Mr. Ahn’s biology class planted a potato patch at Abingdon High School. This school year the project continued when some of the same students who are now in Ms.Andis’ ecology class harvested them. The cafeteria staff has plans to use the potatoes in soup for a school lunch. The students are eagerly awaiting “soup day!”  As we all know, fresh and homegrown always tastes the best!

Chemistry & Biology Classes go to Mountains for Outing:

On Saturday, October 8,  students from Sarah Sawyers' Abingdon High School’s dual enrollment chemistry and Virginia Highlands Biology classes conducted research on Beech Mt. (adjacent to Whitetop).  Chemistry and biology meshed as students investigated the effects of acid rain on salamanders.  Over 50 students participated in this learning experience.

Spanish IV & V Classes Bring Class Lessons to Life:

Students in Ms. Lisa Fore's Spanish classes take their lessons to a hand-on learning experience.  They students, in the pictures below, prepare to re-tell the Mexican folktale "El Oso Principe" (The Bear Prince) by performing a sock-puppet show.  Additionally, the Spanish IV/V classes studied Mexican foods and recipes.  Afterwards, they were required to prepare their recipe, present it to the class, and try/taste all foods presented.  Some recipes included the following: mexican chocolate souffle cake with ancho powder, sweet corn tomalito, mexican wedding cookies, mexican sweet corn bread, various salsas, and empanadas.  In the foods picture, Celsea C. is presenting her black bean and butternut squash tostados.

Homecoming Week Continues with Celebrity Guests for Unity Day!

Everyone was surprised to have celebrity country music stars visit during "Unity Day" for Homecoming Week.  Here are some of the guests who dropped in for the day. Billy Ray was happy to have finally met his idol - Patsy Cline! 

Several members of the Grand Ol' Opry came by, too.  They included June Carter Cash, Porter Wagoner, Minnie Pearl, a soon-to-be-discovered unknown, and Loretta Lynn.

The Mandrell Sisters meet Mother Maybelle Carter.

Not to be outdone - the students are in "unity," as well.  Each grade level has their
"own" t-shirt design.

Homecoming Week Off to a Great Start!

Activites for Homecoming Week have a great start.  NASCAR day kicked things off.  Participation was been great and students, faculty, and staff have joined in this exciting week by showing their Falcon spirit.  This is evidenced below in our "winning" faculty team of Falcon pride!

Eighty-two AHS Students Chosen for Senior All-County Chorus:

Auditions for Senior All-County Chorus were held at Abingdon High School on Wednesday, September 21.  Of the 131 students chosen, 82 were from Abingdon High School. The members from AHS are as follows:  Soprano - Gretchen Gross, Audri Easterling, Erica Johnson, Celina Wade, Kyra Duncan, Miranda Thompson, Shandi Honaker, Ashton Campbell, Stevie Summerfield, Katie Salyer, Kelly Smith, Mary Proctor, Tori Upton, Misaki Fields, Audrey Smith, Aleia Warren, McKenzie Stiltner, Kelly Bauserman, Kaitlyn Bailey, Amanda Gill, Alaina Gembach, Alyssa Briscoe, Allison Adkins, Mercedes Lewis, Sarah Warren, Phoenix Miller, Alex Arthur, Ashton Bishop, and Kaitlin McCormick; Alto - Sarah Smith, Riley Sullivan, Audrey Mallory, McKenzie Moore, Allison Rutan, Symone Hohensee, Breanna Cooper, Christina Summers, Lauren Roark, Carrie Lopez, Haley Phillips, Amanda Helton, Lindsey Gent, Meghan Matthews, Lauren Glossner, Hope Dingus, Katelyn Brown, Hannah Phillips, Presley Taylor, Macie Frazier, Heather Phillippi, Imani Watson, Madison McClanahan, Abby Miller, Morgan Turner, Shannon Murphy, Carter Newton, Kayla Keene, Erin Campbell, and Sierra McMillan; Tenor - Adam Gambrel, Nicholas Doggett, Dakota Hughes, Nick Mays, Nick Reynolds, Clayton Sexton, Sam O'Neill, Nathan Hawsey, Tucker Grant, Justin Colon, and Jacob Herndon; Bass - Jacob Snead, Joseph Brooks, Kaleb Peterson, Cameron Phillips, Billy Mays, Joe Rackowski, Jordan Richey, Hayes Armstrong, Will Clark, Thomas Wolfe, Chris Richardson, and Zack Harless.  Rose Payne is the AHS choral director.  Congratulations to these young people on this accomplishment.

AHS Students Earn AP Scholar Distinctions:

Each year students who take Advanced Placement tests through the College Board program have the opportunity to earn AP Scholar status.  Abingdon High School had 19 students who were awarded this distinction in 2011.  The AP Program offers three levels of AP Scholar achievements through AP courses and exams.  The AHS students who received these awards are as follows:  AP Scholar with Distinction (granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores 3 or higher on five or more of these exams) - Danielle Jeffrey and Alexander Nadler; AP Scholar with Honor (granted to students who received an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams) - Elisabeth Andrews, Liam Bench, Graham Gardner, Alex Looney, Chelsea Thrasher and Lauralee Yeary; and AP Scholar (granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams) - William Armstrong, McKalia Coleman, Shelley Goldsmith, Sarah Hawsey, Natasha Hilt, Connor Pennings, Luke Quigley, Moira Rosenbaum, Katelyn Scott, Philips Studholme, and Hunter Wilson.  Abingdon High School is very proud of these accomplishments and the students' outstanding performance on these prestigious exams.  For the 2011-12 school year, AHS has students enrolled in seven in-house AP subjects and six other on-line AP courses.

AHS Students Enjoy Enhanced Learning Experience at Duke Marine Lab:

A sea-worthy adventure was enjoyed by thirty-five Abingdon High School students recently as they traversed several geologic provinces on their journey to the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, North Carolina. This expedition was led by their Captain Steve Ahn, an AHS biology/earth science teacher, and his other AHS mates, Virginia Hollifield and Kim Laws. The journey included a visit to the North Carolina Maritime Museum; a ride on the English double-decker bus tour of historic Beaufort; several plunges into the waters of Indian Beach, one of which was enhanced by a fireball meteorite; a sojourn to the Rachel Carson Marine Estuarine Research Reserve on Carrot Island, where wild horses made their appearance; a wild ride on the research vessel,  "Susan Hudson,"  whereupon seafaring guides dredged and trawled  to bring aboard ship sea treasures for students to sift and explore marine life; a kayak experience on a saltwater river; a visit to the  North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores where they walked the nature road “from the mountains to the sea;” a ferry ride to the barrier island, Shackelford Banks, where they swam in the sound waters, jumped waves in the Atlantic Ocean, and combed the beach for sea shells; and the phenomenal lab experience at the Duke Marine Laboratory where students explored sea life under a microscope.  Not much more could have been placed into this great experience!