My name is Barb Gillian and as the principal, I welcome you to Alton High School.  While I have been at AHS for over 20 years and have served you in many different capacities, this will be my first year as principal.  Additionally, I have the distinct honor of being the first female principal of Alton High School.  This is a privilege and a responsibility that I do not take lightly and am excited to accept. 

Your high school years are some of the most important years of your life.  Here is where your dreams begin to take shape.  Here is where you will begin to plan and prepare for your future.  The classes you take, the friends you make, and the memories you create will remain with you for the rest of your life. 

There are many ways to make your high school years outstanding.  Most importantly, you must apply yourself academically.  There are an extraordinary number of educational opportunities available to you at Alton High School.  I encourage you to take advantage of as many different courses as possible.  It is as important to determine what you do not want to do as it is to discover what you do want to do with your life.

Next, seek out those activities which will enrich your high school experience such as sports teams, clubs, and organizations.  You will find that your high school experience will be much more rewarding if you become an active participant in what goes on around you.  By becoming involved in extracurricular activities, you will meet new people, expand your horizons, and open your mind to different concepts. 

One of the vital keys to student success is the active participation of parents/guardians in school-sponsored organizations.  By supporting your child through our Community Conversations, parents/guardians will learn more about AHS and I will be better able to respond to the needs of parents/guardians.  It is my hope that you will attend our meetings and become part of the AHS family.   

We begin each year with the promise of hope and success.  It is my goal that each student, in collaboration with the AHS staff and their parents/guardians, will work to realize their full potential.   
This is where your journey begins.