New Student Information

Welcome! We are delighted by your decision to join the AHN family! Below are some helpful links and explanations of what to expect in the coming year.

Please feel free to contact the Admissions Office if you have further questions. We will be happy to help you with more information and connect you with the division or department representative that may be able to provide you greater insight. And please, let us know if we should add something to this list!

This event takes place in September of every year. Parents have the opportunity to follow their daughter’s school schedule and learn about teacher expectations and course of study.

School lunches are provided by Marcesco Foods, Inc. They offer two ways to pay for student lunches, a full-year pre-pay and an online service that will allow you to set up a student debit account. The account allows you to make deposits, transfer funds between students, and have an email reminder sent to you when an account balance gets low. Student debit account deposits can be made through ACH payments or by credit card.
To take advantage of this convenient service, you will need to create a parent account. This requires you to request your student’s lunchroom ID number by sending an email request to Marcescofoods@gmail.com

Full year payment option:

If you choose this option, we will divide your payment into 9 equal installments of $135.00 billed automatically to your credit card on file on the 1st of each of the next 9 months.

When you sign up for this option, your student will be put on a list in the cafeteria and will conveniently go through the lunch line as pre-pay. This option adds speed and convenience for lunch staff and student. Plus, you know your child is eating a full lunch every day!

With the goals of increasing social connection, decreasing emotional distractions, and optimizing academic performance we have an “Away Every Day” phone policy. 

Middle School students may not use their phones or smartwatches during the school day. Phones and smartwatches should be turned off and placed in lockers or backpacks for safekeeping from 8:00 a.m. until 3:05 p.m.  

High School students, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:05 p.m., may not use their phones except during free periods. Otherwise, all phones and smartwatches should be turned off and stowed in the student’s backpack.  

Phones are permitted only in study rooms and the library and only during a student’s free period. Phones are not permitted in classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, The Commons, The Riley Auditorium, the gym or locker rooms.   

All class supply lists are available on the Parent Portal. Access to the Parent Portal is granted upon student enrollment and payment of tuition deposit.

New school and gym uniforms are ordered through Student Styles, 15 Cobbee Road, Latham. Order online or visit the store. Students may avail themselves of the uniform exchange; interested students may see the school secretaries for details.

MIDDLE SCHOOL UNIFORMS (6-8)

  • Navy plaid skirt, not more than 2-3 inches above the knee or uniform pants with the AHN logo. Please note that a skirt will be required for formal occasions.
  • White short-sleeved or long-sleeved uniform polo shirt with the AHN monogram
  • White or navy blue knee socks or tights (ankle socks or crew socks may not be worn)
  • Flat heeled penny loafers with backs up
  • Navy blue sweater with the AHN monogram/logo or 1/4 zip pullover
  • Navy leggings may be worn for additional warmth under the uniform skirt at the student’s discretion. Sweatpants/ pajama pants may not be worn on cold days

HIGH SCHOOL UNIFORMS (9-12)

  • Navy blue uniform blazer with emblem
  • Plaid uniform kilt not more than 2-3 inches above the knee or uniform pants with the AHN logo. Please note that a skirt will be required for formal occasions.
  • Gray uniform sweater vest
  • White short-sleeved or long-sleeved uniform polo shirt with the AHN monogram
  • Gray or navy blue knee socks or tights (ankle socks or crew socks may not be worn)
  • Navy blue sweater with the AHN logo or 1/4 zip pullover
  • Brown tie oxford shoe or saddle shoe
  • Navy leggings may be worn for additional warmth under the uniform skirt at the student’s discretion. Sweatpants/ pajama pants may not be worn on cold days

ABOUT UNIFORMS

We believe that the conduct of each student at Holy Names must be motivated by a basic self-respect, a respect for others, and a respect for the school. A student’s care with regard to her personal appearance and with regard to the proper wearing of the school uniform is indeed a sign of respect and of her cooperation as a member of the school community. The school reserves the right to exercise appropriate disciplinary action in response to any student whose appearance continually indicates a lack of respect for herself or others.

Uniforms are worn from the first full day of classes until the final day of examinations.

Students are in uniform from 8:00am until 3:05pm unless they must change for an after-school sport or another activity which would result in the soiling of clothes.

If a student is missing any part of the uniform, the student must have a note from home explaining the reason for the situation.

A student who must wear alternative footwear due to injury must present to the Dean of Student Life or her delegate a medical excuse which clearly indicates the length of time that the alternative footwear will be required. It is expected the alternative footwear during this time period will be approved athletic footwear.

Students who are “out of uniform” will be assigned to detention. Repeated violations will result in suspension. “Out of uniform” means that the student is

    • Missing part of her uniform
    • Wearing an item of clothing that is not part of the uniform
    • Changing into or out of her uniform on school grounds without permission
    • Wearing a uniform item that has been defaced
    • Wearing a uniform item improperly
    • Dressed inappropriately on a non-uniform day

NOTES ON THE TERM “OUT OF UNIFORM”

  1. “Missing part of her uniform” means arriving without a necessary uniform piece, for example socks, polo shirt, turtleneck.
  2. “Wearing an item of clothing that is not part of the uniform” means wearing additional non-uniform clothing, such as tee shirts under the uniform shirt or sweatshirts over the uniform shirt, or substituting non-uniform clothing for the uniform, for example, running shoes for the school shoe.
  3. “Wearing a uniform item that has been defaced” refers to wearing uniform items that have been, for example, written on, torn, ripped, painted on.
  4. “Wearing a uniform item improperly” means wearing uniform items in unusual ways, for example, sweaters worn inside out, socks worn halfway inside of shoes, shoes with the backs bent down.

AHN SWEATPANTS are available at Student Styles, our uniform provider, and may be worn on Pep Rally Days.

Health and medical forms are available on the Parent Portal. Access to the Parent Portal is granted upon student enrollment and payment of tuition deposit.

Holy Names provides every student a laptop to help maximize her academic experience. Laptop and technology policies and distribution information are available on the Parent Portal. Access to the Parent Portal is granted upon student enrollment and payment of tuition deposit.

In collaboration with Christian Brothers Academy, Holy Names offers Northway transportation services.
Each morning, the CBA school bus will travel down the Northway with stops at Exits 15, 12, and 9 to pick up students from CBA and Holy Names and then drop them off at their schools. After school, the bus will follow the reverse path for return.

In addition, for families who wish to drive their daughters to CBA in the morning and pick them up there in the afternoon by 3:30 p.m., we offer an option for transportation from CBA to Holy Names in the morning and from Holy Names to CBA in the afternoon.

There are three parent organizations at Holy Names. New parents are always welcome to join.

Friends of the Arts supports students in the visual and performing arts.

Booster Club supports sports and athletics at AHN.

Parent Association plans and supports a wide range of activities for our students.

For more information or to join any of these organizations, see details in the Parent Portal (login to ahns.org required) or email Dean of Student Life Kathy Witherspoon at kwitherspoon@ahns.org.

Once a student is enrolled, Holy Names provides parents access to a Parent Portal. The Parent Portal provides parents and guardians access to their student’s classroom pages, assignments, attendance, schedules, and grading information. You’ll also find The Resource Board that offers clickable tiles such as the “Parent Place” (the principal’s parent information center), handbooks, forms, and the “Cafeteria Corner” where you can create an account for your student.

By providing parents and guardians access to this information, we are encouraging active participation by parents and guardians in their child’s education and progress.

If you need help with your Portal account or need to sign up for a Portal account, please email your request to dperritano@ahns.org or cinsero@ahns.org

There are many factors that contribute to a student’s success. Maintaining an open line of communication between the home and the school is one of them.

Each November there is a face-face meeting that includes the student, her parents/guardian, and her adviser. At this meeting, the first quarter report card is reviewed. It provides an opportunity to discuss areas in which the student has been successful and areas in need of improvement. Goals are established and available resources are put in place to contribute to the student’s success. Similarly, each April the third-quarter report card is reviewed and the student’s courses for the next school year are approved. It is not uncommon to review the course of study for the student for the remainder of her high school journey at this meeting.

The school building is open from 7:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.  Students are expected to arrive by 8:00 am for the Homeroom Period. The school day ends at 3:05 p.m.

The Student Handbook is available on the Parent Portal. Access to the Parent Portal is granted upon student enrollment and payment of tuition deposit.

Student drivers at Holy Names are expected to observe all standard motor vehicle and traffic rules and regulations. Each student who drives to school and uses the school’s parking lot is required to register her vehicle(s) with the school and to have a permit issued by the school. Student drivers are asked to observe the following guidelines and safety procedures.

  • At the beginning of each school year, seniors are assigned parking spaces.
  • Dangerous and/or careless actions with a motor vehicle will not be tolerated. These actions include, but are not limited to the following: transporting students on the hood of a car, excessive or inappropriate speed, passing school buses, allowing non-licensed drivers to operate your vehicle, allowing unauthorized individuals or other students to drive your car, discourteous actions toward other drivers.
  • Going to cars during school hours is prohibited (except for seniors who are leaving or entering the lot).
  • Seniors may not give “permission” to other students to park on campus and use their parking spaces.
  • Any student who willfully violates these guidelines will have her driving privileges taken away.
  • Parents will be notified if a student loses the privilege of driving her car to school.
  • Driving to school is a privilege accorded to seniors.
  • Since the parking lot is considered to be “on campus,” all rules and regulations governing activity inside the school apply as well to activity in cars or in the parking lot.

All student travel under the auspices of the school requires written permission from the parents/guardians, proper supervision and adequate insurance coverage. Behavior in accord with the guidelines in the handbook is expected on all school-sponsored trips.

All summer assignments and reading lists are available on the Parent Portal. Access to the Parent Portal is granted upon student enrollment and payment of tuition deposit.

The Weekly Watch newsletter is published every Friday and emailed to all parents. Sign up at Join Our Mailing List. If you have signed up for our email list but are not receiving the Weekly Watch, please check your junk mail or contact Cathy Insero at cinsero@ahns.org.