The Rev Report - September 18, 2026

Posted Date: 09/18/26 (06:26 PM)

Dear ABRHS Community,

It was another great week at the high school! I enjoyed having Advisory for the second time this year and seeing students play cards at lunch in the Cafeteria and Library - instead of being on their phones! Our 12th graders met in counseling groups to learn about post-secondary planning, and students in all grades are working hard in their classes. Finally, we are looking forward to welcoming caregivers to school for Back to School Night next Thursday.

Yom Kippur - September 20 through September 21

Yom Kippur begins on Sunday evening and will last until sundown on Monday. In honor of Yom Kippur, we will not have school this Monday, September 21. For those observing, have an easy fast.

ALICE Drill - Tuesday, September 22 at 10:05 am

We will have an ALICE Drill on Tuesday at 10:05 am. We activate our ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) protocols during a situation involving an active threat. An important feature of this protocol is that students and staff exercise the options that provide the most protection for themselves.

On Tuesday, each classroom will show a video that outlines our ALICE procedures, and then students will listen to a scenario that describes a location of an active intruder in the building. The students and teacher will discuss how they would respond to the given scenario. We will have Acton PD present for this drill, and we thank you for your help in keeping AB as safe as possible.

PSAT Exam Registration for 11th Graders - Ends September 30

The PSAT/NMSQT is a great tool for students considering college. ABRHS wlll offer this exam to 11th graders on Tuesday, October 13. The PSAT is the qualifying exam for the National Merit scholarships, and online registration will end on September 30.

Please register here and contact Shannon Dandridge, sdandridge@abschools.org, if you have questions. Students can request a fee waiver as part of the registration process. Students in 11th grade who are not registered for the PSAT will join the 12th graders for career speakers and college visits on October 13, unless they are excused from school by a caregiver through the main office.

“990” Instructional Hours

There has been a lot of talk at the high school recently about “990” and what that will mean for our students’ schedules next year. First, if you don’t know what 990 is, please don’t worry. We will share much more detailed information soon. For a quick overview, it is important to know that, during a periodic review, DESE (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) has cited the high school for not meeting the mandated 990 hours of instruction required in a school year for every 9th - 12th grader. We have one school year to correct this issue, which means we will make changes that will take effect for next school year, 2027-2028.

There are three areas that we need to address to comply with DESE guidelines: 1) all students will need to be fully scheduled; 2) we will need to add 18 total hours to the overall school year; and 3) seniors' last day of school can be no more than 12 days before the end of the 9th - 11th graders’ school year.

This week, we have formed a staff committee to look at possible solutions, and we will share more details about the issue and request feedback from students and families about these possible solutions soon. We will keep you updated throughout the process.

Morning Buses, Traffic, Bicyclists, and Pedestrians

In the mornings, between 7:30 and 8:00 am, the campus is very busy with buses, car traffic, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Additionally, many students drive to Senior Lot, Pump House, or Lower Fields. We ask that you follow all traffic rules and allow buses to get to the Front Circle to drop off students. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping everyone as safe as possible.

12th Grade Updates

This week, the 12th graders met with their counselors to discuss this school year and post-secondary planning. Additionally, Counselors Ms. Chu and Ms. Dandridge presented at the 12th Grade College Night on Wednesday evening. Here are the slides, and feel free to reach out to a student’s counselor for more information. Finally, the Counseling Department is offering Friday College Application Drop-in Sessions from September 18 through November 6. Counselors will be available during all three lunch periods in 119S for support on applications and to answer questions.

Activities and Club Leaders Meeting

On Thursday morning, the Leaders of our clubs and activities met with Assistant Principals, Ms. Hagopian and Ms. Mullin. They discussed effective leadership that models our Vision of a Graduate attributes: adaptability, collaboration, communication, intellectual curiosity, and integrity. We are proud of all of our leaders, and here are the slides from that meeting.

Financial Aid Night - Wednesday, September 23 at 6:00 pm

The Counseling Department will be hosting Financial Aid Night for 12th grade caregivers on Wednesday, September 23 at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium. This event will provide information on the college financial aid process. Contact Heather Arthur, harthur@abschools.org, or Sara Clinton, sclinton@abschools.org, with any questions.

Back to School Night - Thursday, September 24, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Our annual Back to School Night for parents and caregivers will take place this Thursday, September 24, beginning at 6:30 pm. Parents and caregivers will follow student schedules and have the opportunity to meet teachers and learn about your students’ courses. We will send Back to School Night schedules and instructions via email next Tuesday. We anticipate a large turnout, so we encourage you to plan enough time for parking and getting to the first class. We look forward to seeing you Thursday night!

Senior Lot Painting Party - Friday, September 25 at 3:00 pm

We will have a Parking Spot Painting Party on Friday, September 25 at 3:00 pm. Even if you don’t have a spot, you can help paint a Class of 2027 area. Fill out the Senior Parking Space Painting form today, as each design must have pre-approval.

Kicks for Cancer - Saturday, September 26

Next Saturday, September 26, the Girls and Boys Varsity Soccer teams will play in the annual Kicks for Cancer tournament. Support this worthwhile cause, and good luck to our teams.

9th Grade Elections - Tuesday, October 13

We are excited for our 9th Grade Class to elect their Class Leaders and Student Council Representatives on Tuesday, October 13. Next week, we will share more information about these elected roles and the mandatory Election Workshop for all those interested in running for office.

Have an enjoyable weekend!

Sincerely,

Ms. Dean, ABRHS Principal

Photos of the Week