First grade would like to send a BIG thank you to Effingham Starbucks for donating cups for our hot chocolate day! The students absolutely LOVED drinking, as they said, their "coffee" in Starbucks cups!! You made our day extra special with your generous heart! 💚
All Aboard The Polar Express!
Mrs. Miller's students received their own polar express tickets to have while they watched the movie. They enjoyed hot chocolate afterward and were surprised with a package of bells from the North Pole.
"Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."
This month Landon Berg was presented with the Kids Have Talent Award. The award is sponsored by Tingley Insurance of Effingham and recognizes students who excel in music. Landon is a 6th grader with a kind heart and a passion for music who is developing into a versatile musician. Has has taken piano lessons since 2nd grade and has twice earned a superior rating for his piano performances at the Music and Arts Festival hosted by the Musical Arts Association in Effingham IL. He has spent two years in the school band, playing alto saxophone and percussion. His saxophone solo received a 1st rating at the IESA Solo and Ensemble Contest. He also accompanied his classmates at the AGS Spring Concert by playing the drum set with the class’s vocal rendition of Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay. Landon is a first-year choir member at AGS. This year he auditioned and earned a spot in the choir for the ILMEA District 5 Music Festival at EIU Charleston. He is also active in music in the community, singing in the church choir and wowing audiences at the Effingham County Fair Talent Show for his rendition of Don’t Stop Believin’. We eagerly await what he will accomplish next!
Mrs. Cameron's 1st graders are having a blast celebrating the last day before Christmas break!
Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th grade had a behavior celebration dance party and were joined by Buddy the Elf, aka Mr. Kull!
"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing (and dancing) loud for all to hear!"
Please note that there will be early dismissals on December 19th and 20th. ACHS will dismiss at 2:05 PM, while AGS will dismiss at 2:10 PM. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. We wish everyone a joyous Christmas and a prosperous New Year! 🎄✨
Mr. Leihser’s classes celebrated their hard work with a hot chocolate day in class! They have been working on a poetry unit and were able to enjoy hot chocolate as they shared their poems with one another.
Freshman class will be selling seat cushions at upcoming home varsity games, or stop by the high school office to get yours now.
🏀 Get Ready for the Ultimate 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament! 🏀
Calling all ballers! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just looking for some fun, grab your teammates and join us for an action-packed 3 on 3 basketball tournament! 🏆🔥
📅 Date: March 22, 2025 🕒 Time: 9am 📍 Location: Altamont High School
🔹 Who can join? Everyone! Whether you're a local legend or just want to shoot some hoops with friends, this tournament is for ALL skill levels.
🔹 Registration Fee: $15 per player 🔹 Prizes: Awesome prizes for the top teams, plus bragging rights for life! 🏅💪
✨ What to expect:
Fast-paced, high-energy games
A great chance to meet fellow ballers
Snacks, music, and plenty of excitement!
So round up your squad, lace up those sneakers, and get ready to ball! 🏀💥
Sign up now and let’s see who’s got what it takes to claim the crown! 👑
👉 Email: splum@altamontschools.org to register or to get more information
#BasketballTournament #3on3 #Hoops #GameTime #BallIsLife
The fourth graders went to the movies this week and saw "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever."
"Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
Mrs. Miller's class on Grinch Day.
Good luck to our free throw winners from AGS!!! They will compete in Effingham tomorrow at the next level!! We are proud of you! Go Wildcats!!
Tony Hann, ACHS English Teacher/NHS Sponsor (interviewed by Will Reardon)
Where did you grow up?
- “Ironton, Ohio until first grade. I moved to Harrisburg, Illinois and that is where I grew up until I graduated. When I turned 18, my parents and I moved to Germany. “
What would you be doing if you did not pursue a career in education?
- “I would try to find something that involved sports. Either that or something involving the law because I like rules”
What made education a better choice as a career than law or sports?
- “I always enjoyed school, I like the atmosphere and I like learning things. I was always involved in sports and have always wanted to be a coach. I think I do a pretty good job of explaining concepts to people. Coaching is like that, just like teaching.”
What do you find as the most enjoyable part about education?
- “The most enjoyable aspect is of course the interaction with the students and the teachers. It is not the same job every day. The material that I teach may be the same but the reactions, questions and interactions from the students are always different.”
What was one of the things that took you the longest to learn while working in education?
- “Don’t take anything the students say or do personally. It is usually not anything that has to do with you as a person, but it is their reaction to something going on in their own life. Or it could be the fact they maybe don’t like what you are doing that day. You have to not take things personally and don’t let bad comments or bad situations stick with you.”
Describe yourself in high school only using three words and describe high school students today using three words.
- “Athletic, funny, and friendly. “High schoolers are the same as they have always been. Clueless, they don’t think about things because they are self centered thinking about their own situation, not thinking about the big picture. A little selfish, and smart but not motivated. Most kids just don’t put the effort into school because they expect it to be easy. They have to be prepared for the work that life takes.”
What accomplishment are you the most proud of?
“My family. My children are doing well. I have a good job and a good family.”
What was the first job you had?
- “I would mow lawns. I mowed five or six lawns with my little rider. I would use the mower to help haul my push mower behind from yard to yard. I liked it because I didn’t have to deal with people. I just had to pick up my money.”
How did this job prepare you for your future?
- “It taught me that even if things come up, things still have to get done. It taught me lots about responsibility and it gave me the feeling of getting things accomplished. It helped me pay attention to details.”
If you could go back to high school, what would he do differently?
- “I would have paid more attention to friends and others.”
What do you bring to Altamont schools as a teacher?
- “I bring fun to the classroom. Even though I don’t teach a “fun” class like PE, I still try to bring fun to the class. I do this by dressing up and showing school spirit. I bring personality to the school.”
What three words would students use to describe him?
- “Strict, because I am a rule follower, funny, and confident.
What advice he would give to students?
- “Try to be a good person and be nice. Try not to worry about things that you can’t control. While you cannot control those things, you can control the things you say and do.”
🎶✨ Exciting news! The AGS/ACHS Band and Choir Concert is happening this Saturday, December 14th at 6 PM in the ACHS gym! 🎉🎵
Come out and enjoy an amazing evening of music performed by our talented students. It’s going to be a night full of fantastic performances you won’t want to miss! 🎶👏
Seating Info:
Black seats front row is reserved for handicapped and elderly guests.
Black seats second row is reserved for our performers.
We kindly ask that all other guests sit in the bleachers for the best viewing experience!
We can’t wait to see you there and enjoy the music together! Let’s fill the gym with support and cheers! 🎺🎷 #AGSACHSBandConcert #SupportTheArts
Nikki Tedrick, ACHS Secretary (Interviewed by Trent Tedrick)
What does a run down of her day look like?
- “I do a wide range of things such as taking attendance of students to answering phone calls, filling papers, and helping out wherever it is needed. Anything to help ACHS run more smoothly I’ll help.”
What is a benefit of working at a school like ACHS?
- “Working at a small town school, it is important to fit into the culture of that small town. I feel accepted by the Altamont community and love the small town feeling.”
What do you bring to ACHS?
- “I hope to bring to ACHS some reality. I mean that I am real with students and what you see is what you get. I will be kind to the students but they’re going get the truth. I am not going to be sugarcoating anything.
What goals with working at ACHS?
- “The goals I have for the school are the same ones I have in life. I want to work hard and help others as much as possible. That’ll get you anywhere you need in life.”
What advice would you give to students?
- “I would tell them, always work hard and do the best you can. Working hard and trying your best is something you will always have with you. Being honest and doing your best is the best thing for you and one of the best things you can do for others. Staying in school and going to college is a very good thing but I understand that college isn’t for everyone and that's okay. Doing what you love and are passionate about will help you be happy and successful.”
ACHS Student Council is hosting a Christmas spirit week! See the dress up days below!
Steve Long, ACHS Social Studies Teacher (Interviewed by Alex Walker)
What would you be doing if he were not working in education?
- “I would probably be working at a tech company. I enjoy tech products a lot because of the possibilities of what they can do”
Why was education the best option for a career?
- “I love teaching people and learning along the way and helping other people understand subjects. Getting people to think of things in a critical way is one of the best feelings in teaching”
Why did you choose to work in Altamont?
- “Ever since my wife and I moved here; we have loved the community, loved being in this area, and being able to work here was always one of my goals.”
What is the part of education that you find the most enjoyable?
- “I call it the ‘Ah Ha moment’ which is the moment whenever you have a kid who is having trouble understanding something. Then it clicks and you can just see it on their face where they’re like ‘oh, I’ve got this now.’”
What is something that took you the longest to realize in education?
- “It took me a while to realize that every kid is different from what I grew up thinking. I have to adjust to help them find success.
What are some of your favorite hobbies outside of school?
- “I love reading, politics and news.”
What would you change if you could go back to school?
- “I would take college more seriously when I first started. It was the first time being away from home and I was not prepared for all of the responsibilities that I was facing. Luckily, I figured out what I needed to do pretty quickly”
What is one goal that you have achieved in your life?
- “I got hired here at Altamont. It has been something I was working towards for a while. All of my previous teaching experience helped me become the teacher I am today but I had been wanting to work at ACHS for over a decade.”
What is one thing you could tell people to help them get to know you better?
- “The most important thing to me is being respectful to others.”
What genre of music do you like to listen to when working on classwork?
- “My favorite music to play while working is smooth jazz. It is the finest of all jazzes.”
What would be three words that students would use to describe you?
- “Ducks, crazy, and even crazier.” (Interviewer’s note: This refers to the many, many rubber ducks which he has displayed throughout his classroom.)
Lily Russell, ACHS Social Studies Teacher/Asst Scholar Bowl Coach (Interviewed by Christina Cottingham)
Why did you choose to be a teacher?
- “I chose education because it is a very stable career. I think there’s a lot of things you could do in education like being a school counselor or a principal. I am a lifelong learner and this career aligns directly with my interests. I am also very passionate about teaching in general.”
What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
- “The thing that excites me the most is the fact I can teach students skills for them to use in and out of school. Social Studies is skill based and can definitely help kids learn how to navigate the world and how to be a better person.”
What is an obstacle that you have had to overcome?
- “I was a first generation college student. This means that my parents didn’t go to college and couldn’t help me with the funding or applying or anything. I worked all through high school as well as college in order to be able to afford college.“
What took the longest for you to learn while working in education?
- “I learned the helpful acronym QTIP. ‘Quit Taking it Personally.’ You’ll have some students or teachers that might do something that upsets or frustrates you. I learned to not take it personally anymore. Sometimes it does get to me, but I have gotten way better.”
What has it been like to be a first year teacher at Altamont?
- “I think I have assimilated well with the Altamont culture. I think the teachers and staff at Altamont have welcomed me and helped me a lot through my first year. I am very grateful for everyone here at Altamont.”
What advice do you have for Altamont students?
- “Be yourself, and don’t sell yourself short. You are capable of doing anything. Just because you come from your background does not mean you have to do a certain job or have a certain future. Do what YOU want to do and don’t let people get you down.”
What are you most proud of?
- “I am most proud of the fact that I went through and graduated with my Bachelors degree. I had school to do, a job at night, and it took 5 years to graduate.”
What is on your bucket list?
- “I want to eventually be able to travel the world. I want to go to every country and every territory if possible. I want to use the summer to travel as much as possible. I hope she can eventually make it happen.
Sheri Schafer, ACHS Family and Consumer Science Teacher, FCA/FCCLA Sponsor (Interviewed by Zach Meyer)
What would you do if you weren’t working in education?
- “I’ve always wanted to do something using my creative skills, I love problem solving and I thought about interior design or personal shopper.”
What made education a better career?
- “I did a lot of things before I was a non-traditional student, I worked in the private sector first. I was a hotel manager and then I was an assistant at a golf discount store. I then went back to being a teacher. The best thing is how family friendly it is and how it helped me feel young working with high school students all the time.”
What do you find most enjoyable in education?
- “Kids, students , I love getting to know them and connect with them. I love being a club sponsor because being able to get to know you as a teacher and then knowing them outside of the classroom gives me the opportunity to connect with them. I literally think, ‘if I change one person's life every year and I’ve been here for 30 years, maybe I have helped 30 kids.’”
What do you bring to the Altamont school?
- “I bring love for what I do and love for people. I genuinely want the best for kids that are in my classroom. I really do want them to succeed and want them to have success and want them to have a good life and have a family. I have hope for the future because I am a teacher.”
What do you want to accomplish at Altamont Schools?
- “I think I'm on the verge of accomplishing what I've wanted to accomplish, rejuvenating Family Consumer Science. There are so many schools that cut it. I used to work at a school that cut it. I think there is a new respect for what I teach now and I think Covid has something to do with that. I know there were a lot of negative things that came out of Covid. Being able to sourdough baking, knitting, it rejuvenated Family Consumer Science.”
What is one thing on your bucket list?
- “One thing on my bucket list is to go to Greece. I went to Italy this summer with my daughter and ate Italian food and it was a foodie tour. We took a pasta class and had a private Chef make us a meal in this really cool apartment. I would really like to do something like that in Greece.”
What advice would your Altamont Students have?
- “To find something you love doing and make it a career. It is not awful to go to work every day if you like what you're doing. Money is not everything if you do what you love that all that matters and if Youtube pays well with it then, Yeah!”
What is your favorite hobby when you're not in school?
- “My favorite thing to do is hang out with my granddaughter. People told me it’s way different than being a mother and I was like, ‘yeah whatever’ and they are right, it is. The love is so much more unconditional, I let her do things I would never let my kids do.”
What are 3 words to describe you in high school?
- “Quiet, smart and I'm gonna say I flew under the radar and I was not popular. I went to school and got a scholarship for college for my grades”.
What would you say to encourage others to join this career?
- “The one thing I love about Family Consumer Science, is that I teach life skills, and talk about the state of wellness and state of nutrition and nobody can say they won’t ever use this outside of school.”
What does a run down of your day look like?
- “I get up at 5:35 am everyday and take a shower then I take care of my fur babies and I might do a load of laundry. I get here at 7:15 every day. I like that I'm ready for the day if I get ahead. I make sure everything is prepped and ready for all my classes. I then teach and grade all day.”
If you could go back and do school and again what would you do differently?
- “I would have retired sooner if I was an FACS teacher right away. Instead of working in the private sector, I started later than everyone else. However, I wouldn't be who I am without those other jobs.’’
Parents enjoy an afternoon off while your kids hang out with the softball team and watch Christmas movies!
