Week 7
September 21 - September 25, 2026

Cougar Kiosk
Our students had a great time spending or saving their hard earned Cougar Cash at the first-ever Cougar Kiosk opening on our 25th day of school! Check out the shopping happening below!
We plan to open the Cougar Kiosk every 25 school days. If you know of a company that would like to donate, or if you would personally like to contribute items, we are always happy to accept donations of brand-new items that students would enjoy.
Some of the suggestions we’ve been getting directly from our students include Hot Wheels, baseball cards, squishies, hair ties, and board games.
Donations can be dropped off in the main office and labeled “Cougar Kiosk,” or you can order items directly from our Amazon Wish List.
Every donation goes directly to the Cougar Kiosk and back to our students, helping make earning and saving their Cougar Cash even more exciting!
Happy Yom Kippur
To our families who celebrate, Happy Yom Kippur
To all of our families who celebrate, we wish you a meaningful and peaceful Yom Kippur. May this special day be a time for reflection, forgiveness, and renewal, surrounded by family, loved ones, and community. Wishing you a meaningful Yom Kippur filled with peace and blessings.
ISSP
During Coffee with the Principal, we reviewed parts of our ISSP (Integrated Safe School Plan).
This module focused on the importance of practicing emergency drills. Practicing with drills helps us to understand what to do in case of a real emergency. We will cover fire, shelter in place, lockdown, and earthquake emergency drills, and the reunification process if it is needed afterward. In addition, we will define the types of heat stress, and what the risks are for students.
During our Faculty Meeting, we discuss the importance of having multiple reunion sites since our campus is very special. During the course of the next few months, we will practice evacuating to different locations on campus to see if 1. it's feasible and 2. may be effective in particular emergencies.
Current evacuation area is on the yard on PE Hill. We'll also practice an evacuation on the lower campus in front of the library, and well as on the secondary campus by the edible garden.
This Thursday we are going to practice our Lockdown Drill.
Lockdown practice are required once per semester. During a lockdown drill, students and staff will:
Remain inside the classroom or designated safe area.
Lock or secure the classroom door, making sure adjoining doors are also locked.
Move away from doors and windows and remain quiet.
Follow the directions of teachers and school staff.
Remain in place until school personnel give the official all-clear.
Avoid using phones or leaving the classroom unless directed to do so.
A lockdown drill is a practice exercise, not an indication that there is an actual emergency.
If you receive information that your child's school is conducting a lockdown or responding to an emergency:
Please do not come to the school or attempt to pick up your child during the lockdown. This can interfere with emergency responders and school personnel.
Keep phone lines available for important school or emergency communications.
Monitor official school and LAUSD communications for updates.
Wait for instructions about when and where students can safely be released.
After a drill, teachers and staff may review the procedures with students and answer age-appropriate questions. Families are also encouraged to talk with children in a reassuring way, emphasizing that drills are designed to help everyone know what to do in an emergency.
Our goal is to ensure that students and staff are prepared while maintaining a calm, supportive school environment. Thank you for helping us keep our school community safe.
Elementary VIDEO
Here is the version shared with elementary school students.
Middle School VIDEO
Here is the version shared with middle school students.
Masked Singers
I will not be sending this flyer home because I want it to be a surprise for the students. We are asking parents to join us and be our "masked singers." You will need a costume and a song. Both must be school appropriate.
If interested, you must complete the Google Form entry by November 1st. Log in with an email address to complete the survey so that it can send you a receipt of your entry form. Please join me at the Coffee with the Principal for details about this show on October 5th. Your Masked Singer Performance will be on November 17th at 8:30 am. If we do not get enough performers, we will not be able to have the assembly.
- Fill out Google Form.
- Get a school appropriate inflatable costume.
- Pick a song to sing. You will be singing about 1-minute in your costume. You do not have to be a good singer but you need to sing. Bring your showmanship and energy. Dancing is a bonus!
- Don't tell your kids! (We want them to be surprised!)
25 Days of School
Picture Day
9/23/26
Please check your child's backpacks. Picture Day will be Wednesday, September 23rd.
PTA Corner
Next PTA Association Meeting
Our next PTA Association meeting will be on Wednesday, September 23 at 4:30 PM over Zoom. Please join us to help plan our annual Fall Festival. Everyone is invited!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81912298163?pwd=t3HTMih1wsW4beZrYV0VWxeVPLhXhu.1
Meeting ID: 819 1229 8163
Passcode: 4805
Save the Date
We’re partnering with Las Cazuelas for our first fundraiser of the year on September 30! Save the date and stay tuned for more information!
Many thanks,
the ASMSM PTA Executive Board
ESSA
Every Student Succeeds Act
Your child is attending a school that is expected to comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Under this law, teachers of all academic subjects are required to hold an authorization in the content area of instruction. These requirements have been established to ensure that students are taught by appropriately authorized teachers.
If a teacher who does not currently hold the appropriate subject specific authorization(s) needed to meet the California State Standards for ESSA has taught your child for four or more consecutive weeks, you will receive a letter in an envelope on Tuesday. Please ask your child if they were given a letter to confirm.
Though your child’s teacher may be eligible to meet the requirements, s/he may not have yet provided the appropriate documentation. Your child’s teacher is being provided guidance on how to become compliant. You may contact the school in order to request the qualifications of your child’s teacher.
Grades 7 and 8
Calling all 7th and 8th grade parents! If you are interested in learning about signing up your 7th and/or 8th grade for a Spanish language course afterschool taught by a college professor from LACC, please join our zoom on Thursday the 24th to get more information.
8th Grade Only
From Ms. Gilbreath
Thank you for your interest in our 2027 Washington, D.C. and New York City tour. I’m reaching out as there are still a few spaces left on the tour and our price will be increasing on October 1st. If you are still interested, this is your last chance to reserve your spot before the price goes up.
You can enroll online at https://www.efexploreamerica.com/tour-website/3000606DH
Or call 888-333-9756 and reference our trip number 3000606DH.
If you have any questions, please let me know!
Monday, September 21, 2026
- No School: Unassigned Day
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
- First Day of Fall
- Wear Fall Coloros
- Library Time (Cabral, Almos)
- Early Dismissal
- Elementary @ 1:23 pm
- Middle School @ 1:28 pm
- Safety Team Meeting
- Topic 26-27 ISSP
- 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
- Parents Welcome
- @ Library
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
- Field Trip
- Ms. Cabral/Ms. Taylor
- Huntington Library
- Picture Day!
- Dress to Impress
- Check your child's backpack for flyer
- Scanned flyer above
- Library Time (Lopez, Ramirez, Bañuelos)
- Parent Volunteer Orientation
- Zoom
- 8:30 am
- Afterschool Tutoring
- Elementary 2:30-3:15
- Middle School 3:20-4:05
- Robotics and Technology Club (Mr. Shamel)
- 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
- PTA Meeting
- 4:30 pm via zoom
- See information above for link
Thursday, September 24, 2026
- Art Class (Banuelos, Guerrero, Koneazy, Rosas)
- Theater Class (Monico, Diaz, Lopez, Ramirez)
- Library Time (Diaz, Guerrero)
- Lockdown Drill
- Spanish Language Parent Meeting
- 7th and 8th grade parents only
- 9:00 am (virtual only)
- See flyer above
- Zoom Link Here
- Afterschool Tutoring
- Elementary 2:30-3:15
- Middle School 3:20-4:05
- Robotics and Technology Club (Mr. Shamel)
- 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
Friday, September 25, 2026
- Dolly Parton Day 9/2/5
- Dressed bedazzled or Dolly-Style
- Parent Volunteer Orientation
- In Parent Center @ 8:30
- Please see flyer above
- Library Time (Koneazy, Rosas, Gonzalez, Monico)
Mark Your Calendars!
FALL FUNDRAISER (Popcorn Sale)
- September 28th - October 5th
- Cougars will need to download the app to sign up
- Then share the link with all your friends and family to start selling
- ASMSM will receive 50% of all profits for our student body
- See green box above
Monday, September 28, 2026
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- Wear traditional attire of colors of Hispanic cultures
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
- PTA Fundraiser: Las Cazuelas
Thursday, October 1, 2026
- Magnet Application Opens
- Fire Drill
Monday, October 5, 2026
- Coffee with the Principal
- Masked Singers 101 Meeting
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- Clean Air Day! Walk/Roll to School
Thursday, October 8, 2026
- Middle School: Midterm Report Card
Friday-Sunday, October 9, 10, 11, 2026
- Point Fermin Field Trip (Ms. Griffith/Mr. Shamel)
- October 9, Magnet Tour
Thursday, October 15, 2026
- Great American Shake-Out
Thursday, October 22, 2026
- MS Parent Conferences
Friday, October 23, 2026
- Shortened Day for MS @ 2:03 pm
- Magnet Tours at 8:30 am
- 50 Days of School Celebration!
Monday, October 26, 2026
- Red Ribbon Week Begins
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
- PTA Meeting
Friday, October 30, 2026
- Halloween Parade
- Fall Festival



