School News

AMS Parent Update

Friday, April 12, 2024
From:  Mrs. Amy Champlin, Principal & Mrs. Azure Henwood, Assistant Principal

---

Important Dates
April 19 - Informational Meeting - AMS Cheer - 7:30am - Gym A - More info below
April 22 - Professional Learning Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

April 30 - Rescheduled 6th Grade Field Trip to Zoo
May 3 - AMSPO Meeting - 1:30 pm - AMS
May 7 - Incoming 6th Grade Orientation Night - 6:00-7:30 - NOT COME & GO -  More info below

May 10 - Steppin’ Up Day - Please no appts., late arrivals, early pickups - More info below

May 22 - 8th Grade Promotion - 8:45am - Letter to parents coming soon!
We Have Positions Open at AMS!
We are currently looking for teaching and non-teaching positions at AMS. If you are interested, please visit the USD385 website (LINK) to learn more and to apply.
Current AMS Students - Registering for 2024-25
If your current middle school student is planning to attend AMS next year, you will NOT need to do the “Intent to Register for 2024-2025. The counseling office will automatically roll them up to the next grade level.
The USD385 District Office will send an email to all parents in July to let you know when you can complete the online registration process. This process includes updating student and family information, completing permissions, uploading address information, and paying fees.

Incoming 6th Grade Orientation Night

Leaving District at the end of this School Year?
Please notify Jolene Rose, registrar as soon as you can if your student will be leaving the district at the end of this school year.  rosej@usd385.org

AMSPO Announcement
AMSPO would love to celebrate our teachers and staff for Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10th.  On Friday we would like to give each staff member a $25 Amazon gift card.  Please use the link to sign up to donate money or cards. LINK to SignUp.

Thank you so much!

Angie Muether

Charges for Chargers
Each student was assigned a numbered charger at the beginning of the year.  That same charger will be required to be turned in at the end of the year.  It is not uncommon for students to get chargers mixed up and we are doing our best to help them get the correct one in their hands; however, if a student does not turn in their charger in May, they will be assessed a $30 fine.  If the charger is later found, the fee will be refunded.  Some students have purchased chargers on their own; while this is getting them by, this charger cannot be turned in to the district to avoid the fine.

Please check with your student NOW to make sure they know they have their appropriate charger. If they are unsure of their number they can double check in the library.

Steppin’ Up Day - Friday, May 10th
Parents, Our second annual AMS Steppin Up Day will be taking place on May 10, 2024.  Each grade level will be participating in different activities throughout the day that will include community service initiatives, physical activity, and art/mindfulness and collaborative activities.

We hope through Steppin’ Up that it will inspire all of our students to want to volunteer, try new things, and be motivated for their future endeavors.

To pull off our day we have compiled a list of items that kids will use as teachers host a wide variety of activities. Please see the Amazon link for items needed. Please note that they do not need to be purchased from any particular retailer, but we request that they be dropped off by Friday April 12th to allow us time to purchase any items still needed. Thank you for your support in making Steppin Up a great day for all of AMS!

Please click here to visit our Amazon List: https://a.co/i4WThfK

Student Fee Statements

Parents, student fee statements were emailed and mailed this month. There are a number of very large outstanding balances that are accumulating. If you are unable to pay your balance in full, please reach out to the office to set up a payment plan. 

Payments can be made online with credit card on Revtrak or through the AMS Office with cash or check. Revtrak Link: Pay Online

If you believe you may qualify for Free or Reduced Meals, this could waive or halve the District Fees (Enrollment, 1:1 Chromebook, Transportation, & Pay to Play) but not school activity fees (PE Uniform, Field Trips, ect). Please be sure to also complete the Consent to Disclosure to waive the District fees as well. 

Link to application: Free/Reduced Application

If you happen to receive a statement but paid online please note that it may not have been pulled out before statements were mailed. Please reach out to pfeifers@usd385.org with any questions.

Recycling Solar Eclipse Glasses

If you have Solar Eclipse Glasses at your house that you would like to recycle, please send them to AMS by Wednesday, April 17. We will be taking them to a drop off location for Astronomers Without Borders.

AMS Cheer Tryouts

Dress Code - It’s Getting Warmer!

Please review the dress code from the AMS Handbook found on the AMS Website and in the student agendas with your student. Students in violation will be given the option of wearing their PE Uniform, wearing a shirt or shorts from the office or calling home to have appropriate clothing brought to them. Administration will also issue conduct card marks and/or detentions for those continually disregarding the dress code.

DRESS CODE

We expect our students to dress and groom themselves as individuals with a sense of responsibility and self-respect. The Dress Code is designed to help students recognize choices regarding attire that would be appropriate in their future workplace, as well as in an educational setting. Students are expected to dress, groom, and attire themselves in a manner that is not potentially dangerous, does not distract others, or disrupt the educational learning environment. The decision of the building administration will be final in all disputes concerning student dress.

1. All clothing/accessories including tattoos that display or promote products referring to alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, suggestive or obscene language, or that display inappropriate words, phrases, or pictures are not allowed.

2. Shirts must have straps that are at least 2” wide (the width of an ID). Plunging necklines, tops that are see-through, ect.. are not considered appropriate attire for school.

3. Bare midriffs (half-shirts) are not allowed. Shirts must overlap the waistband by at least one inch.

4. Hooded sweatshirts must be worn with the hood down at all times.

5. Clothing or items that give the impression of gang affiliation or promote gang affiliation are not acceptable.

6. Footwear is to be worn at all times.

7. Make-up and hairstyles considered excessive and extreme by the administration will not be allowed.

8. Hats, visors, and sunglasses are not to be worn in the school building and should be removed when entering the building.

9. Sagging pants is not allowed.

10. Shorts, skirts, and dresses must be mid-thigh length.

11. Ripped jeans can be worn, but rips above mid-thigh must be worn with leggings underneath.

12. Students must have a school issued I.D. with them each day.

IMPORTANT - Student Drop Offs and Pickups
Morning buses are having issues with drivers in the front parking lot as buses are trying to negotiate the drive and drop off students.  Please do NOT drop off students in the front of the building during  morning arrival.  Car riders should be dropped off behind the school.  Please adhere to the plan we have sent out many times to everyone, so that we can have a safe start to our school day!  Thank you for your cooperation! 

Only Water Allowed at School
Just a reminder...the only drink that should be coming to school for consumption throughout the day is water.  Many students are bringing coffee, Monster drinks, and other energy drinks to have in their locker to drink throughout the day.  This is causing some issues and students with these types of drinks in their lockers will be asked to throw them away.  Thank you for your cooperation with addressing this issue.

Family Talk
April Family Talk

 

The final FastBridge Assessment window for the 2023-2024 school year will run from April 15 to May 10. Encourage your child to give their best effort and show what they’ve learned this year in reading and math!

As we prepare for the end of the year, I would love your help! Our May Family Talk will highlight some ways you can think about and plan for summer and I want to know exactly what you want to know. Please complete this Google Form to answer a couple of quick questions and leave feedback about what would be helpful to your family. Thank you in advance for taking the time to do this!

Family Support for Success

We are nearing the end of the semester and the VERY LAST opportunity to connect with one-on-one support! Sign up now to make sure you don’t miss your chance.

Have you ever had questions about how to support your children or their learning and been unsure who to ask? Take advantage of our program that will connect you with our district’s Family Engagement Consultant, Alysia Rich, for a one-on-one conversation to discuss your specific questions. Some ideas about topics to discuss are:

• understanding grades or assessments

• how to establish routines and habits at home

• how to best support your child’s learning 

• behavior and responsibility

To sign up for a one-on-one session please complete this form and Alysia will contact you.