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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