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Raptor Report

October 29, 2025

from AMHS Partners in Education (PIE)

Community News

Good Food, Great Music, Fabulous Time at the International Dinner!

The organizers of the AMHS International Dinner extend a heartfelt thank you to PIE, Ms. Ryan, Mr. Grimshaw, the AMHS Jazz band and other musical performers, the AMHS Art Club, and all of the families who pitched in to make the 2025 AMHS International Dinner such a successful and enjoyable evening! 


CCSD Superintendent Anita Huggins attended the event and the district shared a number of pages on their Facebook page. Check them out at this link.

Pink Out Raises $3,000 for Breast Cancer Research

Following the Pink Out earlier this month, Academic Magnet and the School of the Arts donated $3,000 to the Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC for Breast Cancer Research.

AMHS Booster Club Hosting Oyster Roast Nov. 16; Purchase Tickets by Friday October 31!

Don’t Miss the Fun! 


It’s the final week to grab your tickets for the AMHS Athletics Booster Club Oyster Roast — happening Sunday, Nov. 16, 4–7 pm at Holy City Brewing!


Enjoy fresh oysters, sliders from The Natural, chili from TBonz, and desserts from Nothing Bundt Cakes — plus great drinks and Raptor community fun!


Get your tickets by THIS FRIDAY - Oct. 31bit.ly/AMHSOysters Join us for a great night of food, friends, and Raptor spirit!


AMHS Football Team Hoping to Organize 'Trunk or Treat' Event for Homecoming Game on Halloween

The AMHS Raptor Football team would like to invite all Raptor families to a "Trunk or Treat" before the homecoming game on October 31, Halloween. Please fill out this interest form if you have interested Trunk or Treaters or if you’re interested in setting up a car for the children attending the game.


"Trunk or Treat" events provide a "trick or treating" opportunity for participants by visiting cars in a parking lot. Car owners are invited to decorate their trunks and offer a Halloween treat (or trick!).

Registration Open for Senior Class Trip

LINKS: Info Letter | | Deposit | Email Mrs. Renes

Attend and/or Volunteer for Shuck Fest!

An Academic Magnet family founded The Lonon Foundation to provide psychosocial and emotional support to children impacted by a parent's cancer diagnosis or death. The Shuck Fest on November 9, 2025 will raise money for this important cause. Scan the QR code or click here for tickets!


Volunteer opportunities are available for the event as well! If you're interested in volunteering for this year's Shuck Fest benefitting The Lonon Foundation, send your name, age, and contact information to maddym@thelononfoundation.org

It's Time! Order a Yearbook & Create Senior Ads!

Congratulate your Academic Magnet High School senior by surprising them with a message in the 2026 yearbook. Let them know how proud you are of their accomplishments. Secure your ad space now by visiting YearbookOrderCenter.com using order code 25698. Order a 2026 yearbook while you’re there, too! The current price for the yearbook is $65.

CREATE YOUR AD TODAY!

Students May Request Student Peer Tutoring from NHS

The following link below is the official Academic Magnet National Honor Society (NHS) internal tutoring request form. Students can fill out the form to request peer tutoring if they need help in any of their classes for the 2025-26 School Year. The form is posted on the school website under students/National Honor Society. Or you can view here at this link.

Completing this form with as many details as possible will allow NHS to match the student with a tutor (an AMHS NHS junior or senior).



Disclaimer from AMHS NHS Tutoring Committeee: 

The most important thing to remember when signing up for tutoring is that the National Honor Society Tutoring Committee is completely student-led and student-run. This means that scheduling and availability is entirely up to the committee members. We do our absolute best to make the perfect match for your student as the request comes in, taking into consideration the student's needs and preferences. However, we can not guarantee that all preferences are filled. It is important to understand that because this committee runs on a volunteer basis, hours and the ability to commit to regular tutoring are restricted. 


Please allow 3 to 5 days for AMHS NHS to respond to your tutoring request. We will try to make a pairing as quickly as possible, but submitting a request in advance gives us ample time to fulfill the request properly. For example, if you have a test on a Thursday, notify us by Monday or sooner that you would like to schedule a tutoring session. If you have a test on Monday, notify us by Wednesday of the previous week or sooner. 

Administrative News

School Counseling News

Leslie Pridgen

School Counselor

Grades 9 -12 Last Names: A - HOL

Leslie_Pridgen@charleston.k12.sc.us

Gabrielle Krupilis

School Counselor

Grades 9 -12 Last Names: HOM - SI

Gabrielle_Krupilis@charleston.k12.sc.us

Monica Vallejo 

Director of School Counseling  

Grades 9 -12 Last Names: SK - Z

Monica_Vallejo@charleston.k12.sc.us

SENIORS: Click here for

College Planning Guidance



How To Prepare for the 2026–27 FAFSA® Form

Prepare now so you can complete the 2026–27 FAFSA form as soon as it’s available. Here are some ways you can get ready:


FAFSA Information 



Upcoming College Visits

Colleges often visit AMHS or the Charleston area. Keep up to date by visiting this document.


November 18: University of South Carolina-Columbia


Ms. Mansfield, the 2024-25 College and Career Specialist, is on the AMHS campus on Wednesdays and Thursdays during school hours.


Her email is rhiannon_mansfield@charleston.k12.sc.us 

Click here for Resume Tips!

Click here for Interview Tips!

Class Updates

Class of 2026

SAVE THE DATE! CCSD has set graduation dates for 2026 and our AMHS seniors will walk across the stage on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 3 pm. Graduation will be held at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.

Essay prompts for 2025-26 can be found here.


Learn more about the Common App here and here.


Early Action Deadlines for Clemson University and the University of South Carolina are TODAY - October 15, 2025!

Class of 2027

Class of 2028

Class of 2029

Parent Boards

AMHS enjoys the support of three parent-led, community supported groups and an active SIC group. You can read about each group's mission and get updates below or find out more under the Parent Tab on the School Website.

AMHS PIE

Show your AMHS pride with t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and more! Scan the QR code above or visit this link!

Raptor Parents - Do you have a business or service that PIE might be able to partner with when looking for vendors for special events? Please let us know! Email us at: amhspie@gmail.com

Haven't joined yet? Memberships and sponsorships are still welcome even though the official campaign has ended!!! Join PIE or renew your membership or sponsorship HERE.

Next PIE Board Meeting is Thursday, November 20, at 4 pm

AMHS Conference Room #7235


Please contact Kate Williams at amhspie@gmail.com with any questions.

AMHS SIC

Learn more about the AMHS School Improvement Council (SIC) here


Questions for SIC? Reach out to Chair David Northrup or Ms. GG.


The SIC Report for 2024-2025 can be found on the AMHS website. Read it at this link. The next meeting is November 10, 2025.

AMHS Booster

We support Raptor Athletes through membership and sponsorships.


All funding serves a variety of needs: Team Allotments, Hudl Sports Video Performance Platform, Scholarship Awards, All-Sports Banquet and Awards Ceremony, Sports Events and festivities, Senior Athlete Posters, Team Needs as requested, and MORE!

 

It's never too late to join, just click here.


Website: https://amhsbc.membershiptoolkit.com/



Email: amhssportsinfo@gmail.com

Raptors of Distinction

Help spread the good news! Got scoop on a current or former Raptor making their mark in the world? Share it with the Raptor Report here.

Clubs, Arts + Academics
The AMHS Student Newspaper. Read it here to "get the word on the birds."
Raptor Athletics

Record-breaking Raptors Make it Official

Isa Jickling '26 and Parker Hamilton '26 got to hang their new all-time AMHS swim records last week. Isa is the new AMHS record holder for the 200-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle. Parker is the new AMHS record holder for the 100-yard freestyle. The swimmers accomplished these feats at the last meet of the season, the SCHSL 3A State Championship. Isa earned a spot on the podium with both swims, earning 3rd place each time. Parker was atop the podium as the state champion with his record-breaking time. Way to go, Raptors!

What's on the Schedule...

Contact information for all of our head varsity coaches is available here. Follow the Raptor Athletics Instagram and Facebook page for updates and/or changes. View the Raptor Athletics Website at this link.

Athletic Director: Raymond Knauer or 843.746.6376


Coach contact information is here.

Opportunities
Know of an opportunity from which AMHS students might benefit? Share it with the Raptor Report here.

Seniors May Apply for the Lyceum Scholars Program at Clemson

Learn more about the Lyceum Scholars Program at Clemson.

Open to incoming first-year students of any major, the Lyceum Scholars Program uses a great books approach to studying the moral, political and economic foundations of a free society. All Lyceum Scholars receive a $60,000 scholarship disbursed over their four years at Clemson University.


Those interested in becoming Lyceum Scholars must apply first to Clemson University. After submitting an application to Clemson, the Lyceum Scholars Program application will be available in their Clemson admissions portal. The deadline to apply is Dec. 7, 2025.

Applications Open for the United States Senate Youth Program

The United States Senate Youth Program, established in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution, is a unique educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. The 64th annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week will be in Washington, D.C. March 7 – 14, 2026. The national deadline for all states to submit their delegate selections is December 1, 2025. Two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity will spend a week in Washington experiencing their national government in action. Students must be actively serving in high-level elected or appointed leadership positions to qualify to apply (see How to Apply).


Student delegates will hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and directors of other federal agencies, as well as usually participate in meetings with the president and a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. All transportation, hotel and meal expenses will be provided by The Hearst Foundations. In addition, each delegate will also be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. Applications are due prior to December 1. Please inquire to your school counselor.


Learn more: https://ussenateyouth.org/

Know a Raptor Interested in Medical Career?

Are you interested in a career in the medical field? Ms. Kaley, the AMHS athletic trainer is accepting applications for student aides who are interested in learning more. Please complete this application and reach out to Ms. Kaley at Mixonka@musc.edu with any questions.

Community Service + Activities

Guidance counselors will regularly post opportunities for service on students' Canvas page and those are also sometimes shared on AMHS social media accounts. Students are encouraged to find opportunities for service in their own communities. Additional opportunties that are shared with the Raptor Report are listed below.


Have a service opportunity to share? Email raptorreporteditor@gmail.com.


Volunteers are needed for the annual Walk for Autism on Saturday April 25th, 2026 from 7 am to 1:30 pm. Any students wishing to volunteer can come for part of the hours or all. If interested in volunteering please contact Rose O'Neal at 843.553.1316 or rrzoneal@hotmail.com. Volunteers will be needed in several tasks: setting up tables and tents, manning jump castles, food stations, silent auction tables, merchandise table, ticket sales and at the end of the event breaking down tables and tents along with clean up. 

One Last Thing ...

The Raptor Report is published weekly by AMHS PIE on Wednesdays during the school year except for holiday breaks.



Faculty, students, and parents are encouraged to submit articles and/or pictures of AMHS events, honors, and needs.


Please email your information to the Raptor Report Editors by 5 pm on the Monday preceding the Wednesday publication date.


Feedback or suggestions for improvement? Please send an email as well.

2024, No. 7

2023, No. 8

2020-22, No. 2

2019, No. 1