What's Happening this Week at AMS?

AMS Kindness Week happens annually during the final week of October, which is National Bullying Prevention Month. We work throughout the year to educate middle schoolers on the differences between true bullying and people being rude and mean. We work to reteach expectations in all of those situations and improve students' behavior. During Kindness Week, we focus on reaching out to others in a kind way and live up to the "Golden Rule" of treating others the way you would like to be treated - all in an effort to prevent the unkind actions some adolescents tend to fall back on.

Throughout the week, students and staff will participate in the following activities:

Kindness Chain: All week at lunch will be pieces of paper on which students can write acts of kindness they’ve done/observed that we will turn into a paper chain to see how far our kindness can go!

--Kindness Scavenger Hunt: Mrs. Wilkins will hide 10 kindness quotes around AMS—students who find them and turn them into Mrs. Wilkins will get $5 LH Bucks!

--Kindness videos in STAR class

--STAR class acts of kindness:

--Write kind notes for others

--Make a classroom card to deliver to another STAR class

--Make a poster to put up in another STAR class that says you think they’re awesome!

--STAR students make or bring snacks/cookies/etc. to deliver to other STAR classes

--Post kind notes on each other's lockers

In addition to these activities, we will host Spirit Dress Up days all week:

Oct. 26th—Monday: Country vs. Country Club Day—Boot Scoot into KINDNESS WEEK!

--Kindness is sweet! Longhorn Leaders will hand out candy at the front and back doors before school.

Oct. 27th—Tuesday: Younger Self Day—Grow and Be a Better You, Be KIND!

Oct. 28th—Wednesday: Rhyme without Reason Day—Rhyme Together, KIND Together!

Oct. 29th—Thursday: Student/Teacher Swap Day—Teach and Learn how to Be KIND!

Oct. 30th—Friday: Adam Sandler Day—Don’t Have to Look Nice to BE NICE!

--Kindness in the Community: 1-3pm - this is when each STAR class goes somewhere in the Abilene community to perform acts of service for our neighbors

This week is an excellent opportunity for you to talk with your student about kindness and how they treat others. Working as a team, we can make an impact on our students' lives.

We are still figuring the final percentage of participation in parent/teacher conferences, but I can tell you it is for sure above 95%, and we are very grateful for that! Your students are working hard each day to learn and grow, and it is important to them to be able to share that with you (even if they don't always show it!). We hope that the conversations between you and your student about their learning and their grades continue throughout the year and we want you to always feel comfortable contacting us along the way as well - it doesn't have to wait for the next conference time frame.

Speaking of spring conferences, I wanted to give you a heads up on how we schedule those here at AMS. The first day of spring conferences is reserved for scheduled conferences with students and families our grade level teams request to meet with. These requests could be based on academic, behavior, or social concerns, and it gives the whole team the time to meet with the student and parents/guardians to work together on solutions. The second day of spring conferences is open for drop-in conferences, and families can meet with either an individual teacher or the grade level team, depending on preference. We look forward to seeing you again in the spring and along the way :)

1. Reset and Clean Out Organization Systems

• Purge the backpack and binders: Empty out old papers, crumpled worksheets, and trash from the previous quarter.
• Restock supplies: Replace lost pencils, highlighters, loose-leaf paper, and notebooks.
• Re-establish a subject-by-subject system: Use color-coded folders or dedicated binders for each class so new handouts do not get lost.
• Clear out the digital clutter: Have them archive old class folders in Notability and start fresh with new folder for the quarter.

2. Update the Planner and Time-Management Tools

• Review upcoming assignments on Canvas: Look at each class hompage daily to log major tests, projects, and deadlines into a physical planner or digital calendar.
• Build a weekly audit: Sit down together on Sunday evening to map out quizzes, sports practices, and free time.
• Keep study blocks short: Break homework and review sessions into manageable 20-to-30-minute blocks to prevent burnout.

3. Reset Daily Routines and Sleep

• Adjust bedtimes: Shift sleep schedules back on track if late nights or weekends disrupted rest over the long weekend.
• Designate a distraction-free study space: Ensure they have a clean desk or table away from the TV or bedroom bed to do homework.
• Prep the night before: Have them pack the backpack, lay out clothes, and charge their iPad before going to sleep.

4. Encourage Self-Advocacy and Proactive Communication

• Reflect on the previous quarter: Talk about what worked well and what caused stress (such as missing assignments or hard test topics).
• Set 1–2 small, realistic goals: Aim for achievable steps, like turning in math homework on time or asking a teacher a question once a week.
• Check in early with teachers: Instead of waiting for a failing grade mid-quarter, encourage your student to send a quick email or talk to their teacher if they feel confused by a new unit.