AFNORTH MHS Week Ahead
Important Dates
13-17 Oct - FALL BREAK
22 Oct - PSAT
23 Oct - End of 1st Quarter
24 Oct - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Workday
25 Oct - Orcas Swim Home
5-6 Nov - 12:30 Early Release - Parent Conference
7 Nov - MHS IN SESSION (ES only, no school)
22 Nov - Christmas Fayre
28 Nov - NO SCHOOL
Attendance Procedures
Appointments: Email afno.attendance@dodea.edu BEFORE the start of school, if your child will be late due to an appointment.
Picking Up Students: Call the MHS office +31 45 527 8 263/262 when you ARRIVE at school. You MUST be on campus (parking lot or kiss & ride) before we can send your child out to you.
Late Arrivals and Absences: Email afno.attendance@dodea.edu if your child will be late/absent before the start of school. In the ‘Subject’ line, please include your students FULL name and grade. For absences of 3+ days, a completed Planned Absence form is required.
Welcome to our Virtual Newsletter!
We're excited to bring you the latest updates on school events, activities, news, and more—right here each week. This newsletter will continue to serve as your go-to source for a look at the week ahead.
Want to catch up on what’s already happened around the school? Head over to our Facebook page to see photos and highlights from this week’s events!
Have ideas or suggestions for what you'd like to see in future newsletters? We'd love to hear from you! Please reach out to our school secretary.
🍂MHS Fall Break Office Hours 🍂
Monday, 13 Oct: CLOSED
Tues, 14 Oct - Fri, 17 Oct: 08:00-11:30 & 13:00-15:00
Dear Lion Parents/Guardians,
September was Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This is a difficult, but important topic. Research shows that the best ways to reduce youth suicide are through education and having understanding adults available. Talking about suicide and how to help prevent it, reduces risks.
On October 22 for 6th/7th and October 27th for 8-12th , 2025, AHMS will facilitate our annual age-appropriate presentations, by grade-level, focused on teaching students how to reach out for adult support for oneself and others. It will include a brief discussion of warning signs, reminders of who our “helpers” are, and coping strategies. Following the presentation, students will complete an exit response slip indicating levels of stress, difficulties coping, and any other concerns they may want to share. They will also have the opportunity to indicate whether they would like to talk to an adult about any concerns.
Parent Resource Link - MindWise: SOS Signs of Suicide for Parents
School mental health staff will conduct brief meetings with any student asking to talk and parents will be contacted with any significant concerns. Students will also complete a survey about personal strengths or challenges with executive functioning skills. These are essentially “successful student skills,” such as time management, materials management, resiliency, etc.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Deb Kehoe, our school counselor, at deborah.kehoe@dodea.edu
ATTACHMENTS:
- #2: Opt Out Form: If you DO NOT give permission for your child to participate in the suicide prevention presentation, please sign and return the opt-out form to the front office by 22 October 2025. These students will remain in an alternate location, such as the library, during the presentation. However, we do encourage all children to participate.
- #3: NASP - Tips for Parents
- #4: MindWise - Facts about the SOS program
- #5: MindWise - Parent/Caregiver Handout
V/r,
Heather Rhine
Nurses Note:
A recent clarification confirms that the Influenza Vaccine is mandatory for both initial enrollment and continued enrollment in all DoDEA schools.
- GK Flu Clinic Date: October 29th (see announcement under 'Tri-Border News' section)
Please contact the clinic directly for details or to schedule your appointment. - Documentation Deadline:
Proof of flu vaccination must be submitted to the AFNORTH Health Office no later than December 1, 2025.
Heather Rhine
AFNORTH DoDEA School
OPC 460 Box 6
APO, AE 09752
United States
Contacts
Deborah Kehoe MHS Counselor
deborah.kehoe@dodea.edu
Sonia Woodmansee MHS Secretary
+31 455 278 262
sonia.woodmansee@dodea.edu
Alex Rogers Spexarth MHS Registrar
+31 455 278 263
alex.spexarth@dodea.edu
John Burgers Bus Coordinator
+31 455 278 228
Cell: +31 6 224 334 08
buscoordinator@afnorth-is.com
LUNCH
Click menu above to view PDF!
Our lunch program is run by Sodexo, whose contract is managed by the AFNORTH International School Directorate and Business Offices. Don’t forget to add money to your child's Sodexo Lunch account. Sodexo does not accept cash payment for lunches, only the Sodexo Lunch Card. Visit Qpay to add money to your child's lunch card and to view transaction history. If you are in need of a new lunch card for your child, please complete the google form and the business office will contact you with instructions to add the SXO number to your account.
TRANSPORTATION
Our transportation service is provided through Jacobs and Munckhof Regie Transportation and managed by the AFNORTH International School Directorate and Business Offices. In order to ride the after school activity bus, MHS students are required to sign up before 14:00 o’clock on the day they need transportation. Only students who are participating in an on campus activity or sport are permitted to ride the activity bus.
REGISTRATION & FAMILY PORTAL
Course grades and contact information can be viewed using the ASPEN Family Portal. Please ensure your students monitor their grades. If you see anything that needs to be updated, please let us know.
ENS (EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM)
The Emergency Notification System is used by AFNORTH International School and operated by the Directorate. It will be used to send messages with high importance. You must sign up annually to receive notifications. It is not mandatory to sign up, but it is highly recommended!
Follow the Yellow Brick Road! Click HERE to join the Wizard of Oz musical adventure!
Calling all amazing adults! Lend a hand and be part of the magic! Click HERE to volunteer!
| Attachment | Size |
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| Wizard-of-Oz_infoFlyer2025.pdf (3.76 MB) | 3.76 MB |
Please Join Us Parent meeting
Join our Europe West Superintendent, Dr. Jason Ter Horst, for an opportunity to provide input on all the great things happening at AFNORTH!
October 27 | 3:30-4:30 pm
Open to all AFNORTH ES & MS/HS Parents
Library Conference Room
We hope to see you there!
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Parent_Meeting_27October2025_accessible.pdf (3.14 MB) | 3.14 MB |
Click image above for PDF!
Parent Conferences
November 5 & 6
Student led conferences for 6th-11th grade, will be held from 1:00-2:00 pm each day. Parents will receive an email with the assigned time.
Individual teacher conferences will be from 2:15-4:00 pm each day. Please email the teacher to schedule: firstname.lastname@dodea.edu
*School releases at 12:30 both days
MHS is in session Friday, 7 November
Attention Students! DoDEA Europe is offering STEMposium 2025 for those 9th through 11th graders interested in career fields that emphasize Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This week-long experience will plunge you into an intense real-life scenario where you and your team will apply math, science and engineering concepts to confront a real-world engineering problem. The event will be in Wiesbaden, Germany from December 8-13, 2025. To sign-up visit: STEMposium Application Website. For more details, see your school POC Mr. LaVere
| Attachment | Size |
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| Stemposium_pamphlet.pdf (623.38 KB) | 623.38 KB |
Creative Connections is a six-day advanced symposium for 160+ high school students to showcase their talents. The objective of the activity is to provide students with advanced instruction in fine arts. Offerings vary from year to year. The week of intense coursework culminates with an art exhibition and stage show.
The 2026 event will include workshops in:
PERFORMING ARTS
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Modern Band
- String Ensemble
VISUAL ARTS
- AP Art + Design 2D/Drawing
- Architectural Design
- Graphic Design
- Mixed Media
- Photography
- Watercolor
- Wearable Fashion
MEDIA ARTS
- Live Video Production
- Short Film Production
Some changes from last year:
- The packet is more concise; all materials and information are housed in the Google Classroom (which you and your students will need to add yourselves to with the class code: 6qtcoqha).
- Festival is in January: January 25-30, 2026 (a change from our typical November timeline).
Please note: students may submit their application (with up to two workshop choices) only once, so please remind them to double-check before submitting. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, October 30th. The application portal will soon open for submissions
🥋 Kicks, Confidence, and Certificates! 🥋
Hey AFNORTH Middle and High School Students (Ages 11-18)!
Are you ready to move faster, kick harder, and stand taller? Join the AFNORTH Self-Defense Club and empower yourself with the skills to feel confident and secure!
Our primary focus is the dynamic martial art of Taekwondo, led by the truly amazing Sabom David. But that's not all! We'll sprinkle in techniques from Kung Fu, Karate, and other martial arts, and even invite awesome guest instructors to share their expertise. Come and learn how to move, kick, stretch, and break wood!
Why Join?
Expert Instruction: Learn from the best with Sabom David.
Internationally Recognized Belts: We periodically hold official belt tests. If you pass, you'll receive a prestigious, internationally recognized certificate issued from one of the largest global Taekwondo federations!
Ultimate Self-Defense: Gain practical skills, mental focus, and incredible physical fitness.
Ready to start your martial arts journey?
When: Every Monday after school, starting October 6th.
Time: 15:45 (3:45 PM) to 17:15 (5:15 PM).
Where: The mini-gym by the elementary section.
See you in the dojang! 👊
Please contact Dr. Chris Swift if you have any questions.
⚔️🛡️✨ AFNORTH D&D Club: Adventure Awaits YOU! ✨🛡️⚔️
Are you ready to embark on epic quests, battle fearsome monsters, and forge legendary tales with your friends? Do you dream of casting mighty spells, swinging powerful swords, or outwitting goblins with your cunning? Then the AFNORTH D&D Club is calling your name!
What is Dungeons & Dragons? It's the ultimate tabletop role-playing game where your imagination is the only limit! You and your friends create characters – brave knights, wise wizards, sneaky rogues, or even mighty barbarians – and then dive into a fantastical world guided by a Dungeon Master (DM). Every decision you make, every dice roll, shapes the story!
Why Join the AFNORTH D&D Club?
- Unleash Your Creativity: Build unique characters, explore rich worlds, and solve puzzles in ways you never imagined!
- Forge Friendships: Connect with fellow adventurers, collaborate to overcome challenges, and share unforgettable experiences.
- Develop Awesome Skills: Boost your problem-solving, teamwork, critical thinking, and storytelling abilities – all while having a blast!
- No Experience Needed! Whether you're a seasoned veteran or you've never rolled a 20-sided die before, we welcome everyone! We'll teach you everything you need to know.
Middle Schoolers & High Schoolers Welcome! Come find your party and create your legend!
Your adventure starts here!
Location: B3.1
Date(s): Every Tuesday (starting 30 September)
Time: After school until 1715
Contact Dr. Swift with any questions!
Ni Hao, AFNorth students, our Chinese club is once again up and running. Stop by Ms. Mitchell's classroom (B2.14) to pick up a permission slip and sign up. Our 1st meeting is this Friday, September 19, after school, from 3:40 to 5:30, and you must have a signed permission to participate, so don't wait!
Arts & Crafts Club
Mondays | Room A3.7, After school
October Dates:
Monday, Oct 6th: Fall Watercolor Paintings
Monday, Oct 20th: Spooky Garland & Ghosts
Monday, Oc 27th: Spooky Clay Sculpting
Questions? Email Ms. Alex at alex.spexarth@dodea.edu or come ask in the MHS Office! November Dates will be announced in Mid-October.
| Attachment | Size |
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| Art club.pdf (925.07 KB) | 925.07 KB |
AFNORTH Jazz club - Weekly Club Sessions: Tuesdays 1530-1730, Student should have at lease one year experience on their instrument or voice. Subject to approval by the US MHS Music Teacher. No instrument - ask Mrs. Brobst if you can borrow one from the US MHS Music Department.
Celebrate the First Tech Challenge 2025-2026 season kickoff and game reveal - Join the HS Robotics team Fridays in room B1.7 POC: Ian Eddington - ian.eddington@dodea.edu
Homework Club with Math Tutoring, Once a week on Tuesdays at 1545 in room D3.3.
ATTN: Coaches & Athletes - If an athlete plans to split their time between HW Club and Sports Practice, this must be communicated in writing to HW Club Sponsor and Coaches. Thanks!
HW Club Sponsor: rachel.hamer@dodea.edu
Hey Future Innovators! 👋 Ever wondered if you could actually make a difference with your brilliant ideas? Or maybe you've got a burning question about the world, and you want to be the one to find the answer?
Get ready to level up your brainpower with the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)! ✨
What is JSHS? It's an amazing opportunity for high school students (that's YOU, freshmen to seniors!) to dive deep into a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) research project of your very own. Think of it as your chance to be a real scientist, engineer, or mathematician and present your discoveries!
Why is it so cool?
- Be a Pioneer: You get to explore a topic you're passionate about and conduct original research – no boring textbook reports here!
- Showcase Your Smarts: Present your findings to judges and peers who are just as excited about STEM as you are.
- Meet Awesome People: Connect with other bright students and leading scientists from all over the globe!
The Perks? Oh, they're HUGE! JSHS isn't just about the experience (though that's epic!). It's also about some serious rewards:
- Scholarships & Cash Prizes: Win big money for college – we're talking thousands of dollars in scholarships!
- Major Prestige: Add a nationally recognized research competition to your resume that will make your college applications shine!
- Travel & Adventure: Top finalists can even get to travel to national and international symposia!
Ready to turn your curiosity into a groundbreaking project? Learn more and get started at: https://www.jshseurope.org/
Your next big discovery awaits! 🔬💻🚀
Contact Chris Swift if you have any questions.
Click icons below for sports physical form and sports packet!
To participate in any after-school sport during the 2025–2026 school year, students are required to have a current sports physical and sports packet on file or they will not be allowed to practice. Please ensure your child’s completed physical form and packet is submitted to the school nurse/athletic director, Ms. Milligan, before the start of the season.
Thank you for helping us keep our student athletes healthy and ready to play!
Reminder: Athletes need 10 practices before they are eligible to compete!
REMINDER!
Complete the 26-27 FAFSA online at StudentAid.gov
Application Opens: October 1
Priority Deadline: April 1
Class of 2026
It’s time to get ready for graduation!
Order your cap, gown, tassel, stole, graduation announcements and much more at Jostens.com
DEADLINE: 01 DECEMBER, 2025
AFNORTH EASY ORDER LINKS!
Announcement Packages: Jostens.com/Enter AFNORTH In the school finder/GRADUATION
Cap/Gown/Tassel/Stole Set: Jostens.com/Enter AFNORTH In the school finder/GRADUATION/ Scroll to the bottom/SHOP ALL GRADUATION PRODUCTS/scroll to CAP & GOWN
Senior Rings: Jostens.com/Enter AFNORTH In the school finder/CLASS RINGS
Letter Jackets: Jostens.com/Enter AFNORTH In the school finder/LETTER JACKETS
Order Details:
Order online at Jostens.com and
- Class of 2026 apparel will ship to you in 2-3 weeks!
- Cap/Gown Sets, tassels and announcement orders will ship to the school in the spring.
- Rings will ship to your home address in 6-8 weeks.
- Jackets will ship to your home address in 8-10 weeks.
Questions? Karen.Burbach-Barker@jostens.com
PTA
Member Meetings |
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13 November |
12 March |
FUEL OUR AFNORTH LIONS!
Sign up to donate & deliver fresh fruit to the AFNORTH Middle High School offices to give our students & staff a healthy snack during the school day.
Volunteers will purchase easy, handheld fruits and deliver them on Monday mornings to the US, Canadian, and German middle high school offices.
We recommend buying:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Oranges
Sign up HERE!
Questions for the PTA? Email: afnorth.pta@gmail.com
Fall COLLEGE Fair - Brunssum CYS/AFNORTH
Thursday, November 6, 2025 | AFNORTH Cafeteria 13:00-16:00
Join us at the College Fair for future opportunities to connect with educational institutions and gain insights for your academic journey.
Free Entry - No registration required
For more info:
COMM: +31455340280
DSN: 597-4280
Mystery at Benelux CYS Manor - A Halloween Lock-In
Middle School & Teen ONLY
Sign up at Brunnsum, Brussels or Shape YC
(Permission Slip Required)
Unmask the culprit before time runs out!
October 24 | Bus Departs 4:30pm
Pick up: Brunssum MST 8am Sat Oct 25
Location: Brussels Youth Center
Must be Registered with CYS to participate
Questions? Call +31(0)45-534-0280
The Youth Center offers a wide range of programs for youth in grades 6-12:
- Activity Room
- Homework Center
- Teen Lounge (13-18)
- Camps
- Boys and Girls Club Keystone Club
Enroll your children with Child & Youth Services (CYS) to register for:
- Childcare: Child Development Center (CDC) and School-Age Center (SAC)
- Youth Program (Middle School and Teens)
- SKIES Instructional Classes (ages 18 months-18 years)
- Parent Education
- Sports and Fitness, Team Sports and Classes
Save the Date - October 29th 2025
Open to US and NATO ID Card Holders
- US Pediatric Flu Line (US ID Card Holders Only Event)
- Bouncy Houses
- 3k Costume Run
- Trunk or Treat
- Food and more!
Brunssum Spooktacular Trunk or Treat
Oct 31 | Food & Beverage Sales Start 5pm, Trunk or Treat Trail Open at 6-8pm | 2 Euro/person *cash only
Trunk Registration - Want to host a trunk and be part of the trunk trail? Click HERE! Registration closes October 24.
Event is open to all US & NATO ID Cardholders & their escorted guests.
ASGK Presents
2025 Foggy Fields Winter Market
NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen Hangar 2
Friday, Nov. 14 12:00 - 19:00
Saturday, Nov. 15 10:00-18:00
Sunday, Nov. 16 10:00-15:00
Delightful holiday shopping open to all NATO ID cardholders.
Special this year:
Kids Corner - Bounce houses, coloring, and more for 5 euro!
Sign up to Volunteer HERE!
Sign up to Donate Food HERE!
Click flyer for link!
Visit the Morale & Welfare Brunssum page to learn more about what's happening in the community!
The International Club is open to all NATO ID holders and spouses. Visit the page to learn more!
The Allied Spouses of Geilenkirchen (ASGK) is a private, volunteer-driven organization founded in 1997 by a group of American spouses stationed at Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base in Germany.
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We’re excited to share that DoDEA has won the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Publications and Digital Media Excellence Award – Website Award of Merit for our School Newsletters Project! This NSPRA award honors outstanding school communication efforts that help connect schools with their communities. This wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our amazing school webmasters. Thank you for keeping families connected with your hard work and heart!
