The Altamont School

Altamont is located on top of scenic Red Mountain in Forest Park. Although it is frequently (and erroneously) called Altamont High School, it runs from 5th through 12th grades. The official school home page can be found here.

School News:

• The new building is coming along well, since the construction crews have been able to work more due to the dry weather we've been having (how ironic--it's been storming all afternoon). Although I haven't seen the progress with my own two eyes on account of not being in summer school (yay!), my sources say that the school building should be ready by September. The gym should be done in October, long before our numerous basketball teams will need to use it to practice. Construction on the new entrance will begin soon, but that means that all non-drivers will have to be dropped off in the lower parking lot and walk up the hill everyday, come rain, sleet, snow (yeah right)--you get the picture. No more cheating. I, for one, am glad about this arrangement, for it means that I will no longer be a lone soul trekking up the hill every morning and getting funny looks from the juniors and seniors (What's she doing down here? She doesn't drive!).
• I was up at school on July 23 and saw the beginning of demolition for the Student Center. Let me tell you--it is not pretty. Also, it is one weird feeling to look at where Mrs. Phillips' room used to be and be able to see the lockers on the other side of the hall. REALLY weird.

I don't have anymore news right now, since my not-actually-at-school status kind of keeps me out of the loop (no pun intended). Check back in September!

Advice for New Students:

Registration

• Get there EARLY so you can find your friends if you want lockers by them.
• If you need to make a schedule change, go by all the other stations first (except for the table where you turn in your registration card). Changing schedules is usually a long and arduous process and is best left until last, in my opinion. This way you can make sure there are still used books left and get the locker you want (you could get stuck buying all new books--BIG bucks--or end up with a locker in the middle of the grade which registers after you).
• Bring a backpack or other sturdy bag to hold your books and other stuff you will collect along the way.
• Bring stuff you want to put in your locker with you to registration. After you've been through all the stations, go to your locker. Set up your locker as best you can--September 8 will be hectic enough without having to bring all that stuff and put it in your locker before the bell rings!
• After you've finished with your locker, try to locate the classrooms you'll be in (if you have time).

General

• NEVER absolutely rely on Activities for doing last night's homework--you'd be surprised how many times there will be an event at which your attendance is required. Sometimes you'll know about it in advance, sometimes you won't.
• What is Activities? It's a 30-minute period which is your free time (except for when there is a mandatory assembly). If you decide to belong to a club, they will hold meetings during Activities on their designated day of the month. If you don't have to be at a meeting, assembly, etc.(which you will find out during the daily reading of the Morning Report during second period), you can go anywhere you want on school grounds--the lounge, the field, the hall, classrooms, the tennis courts, the study garden/Depression, the gym, etc.
• Incoming Freshmen: DO NOT wait until August to read Ivanhoe. Everyone thinks that this will make it fresh in their minds--this is not the case, since the part you haven't finished yet certainly won't be fresh in your mind! Read the book early enough to make sure you have time to finish it and take very good notes.
• Throw away your trash. I know from experience that the statement,"The lounge will be closed if the grounds do not start looking cleaner", is not a bluff (the lounge was closed for at least five months last year; I've lived through four or five lounge closings in four years). A closed lounge limits the selection for postponed breakfasts to bagels and doughnuts, and their availability is not reliable.
• DO YOUR SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT EARLY (be advised: this is more easily said than done)

That's all I can think of right now; I'm sure I'll remember more in the future, especially once school starts.

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