AMS Weekly Update

Good Afternoon,

Despite it being a 4-day week, it was a busy one here at AMS! I had the pleasure of observing several student presentations and was impressed with the excitement I saw as students shared information with their peers. On Wednesday, our 8th-graders had a visit from Keefe Tech, where they learned about the programs offered and selected the shops they'd like to tour during their visit on November 15th. While we’re still in the midst of Term 1, it was great for them to hear about one of the options they have for high school, as well as hear from former AMS students—now juniors at Keefe Tech—about why they chose to attend and what they like about their school.

Additionally, after conducting a survey, our 8th-grade students have overwhelmingly voted to visit Kimball Farms for their end-of-year field trip on June 17th, choosing it over a day trip to Boston. Though the end of the year may seem far away, planning for their end-of-middle-school celebrations is already underway. 8th-grade parents, please save the date: the 8th-grade semi-formal will take place on June 13th.

As part of my transition into the role of principal, I met with parents over the summer and heard many requests for adding fun social events to the middle school calendar. I’m excited to share that, in partnership with the PTO, we are planning a 7th & 8th Grade Social—a Glow Party—on December 6th! Stay tuned for a PTO sign-up, which I will share as we get closer to the event. We are also working on an event for 6th-graders, and I will announce the date once it’s finalized. In addition, we’re close to confirming the first Clocker Store date, where students can spend the “Clocker Cash” they’ve earned for positive behavior.

As a PBIS school, we strive to reinforce positive behaviors through rewards and incentives. However, it’s important to note that students who do not follow classroom and school expectations may not be allowed to attend social events held outside of school hours. We are working to reinforce our core values of respect and responsibility in all the choices students make at school.

It’s expected to be a beautiful weekend, and I hope you’re able to enjoy the weather before the colder air returns.

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Erin

AMS Principal

Information from School Nurses-7th Grade

Starting on October 21st, we will be conducting our annual height/weight, vision and hearing screenings for 7th graders. Please click the link below for more information and to opt your student out of some of the screenings.

Screening Opt-Out Link

Red Ribbon Spirit Week!

Our annual Red Ribbon Spirit Week is 10/28-10/31! Red Ribbon is a week dedicated to prevent youth substance abuse. Here at AMS, we participate in a clothing themed spirit week and ask students to sign a pledge to abstain from substance use.

Themes:

Monday 10/28 - Pajama Day - Dream Big/stay cozy with who you are

Tuesday 10/29 - Decades Day - Drugs are never in style

Wednesday 10/30- Ashland Day - Team up against drugs

Thursday 10/31- Anything but a backpack day - anything but drugs / don't follow the crowd, stay drug free!

Unified Bocce Tournament

Come cheer on our unified athletes at their first bocce tournament on October 29th in the AMS large gym from 3-6pm!

Monday, October 21st-E Day

Tuesday, October 22nd- F Day

Wednesday, October 23rd-A Day

Thursday, October 24th-B Day

Friday, October 25th-C Day

Friday, November 1st-NO SCHOOL (Diwali)

Tuesday, November 5th-NO SCHOOL (Election Day) Professional Development for Staff

Monday, November 11th-NO SCHOOL (Veterans' Day)

Wednesday, November 27th-Early Release

Thursday, November 28th & Friday, November 29th-NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

I will provide an opportunity in every weekly update for parents and guardians to recognize the amazing work of our faculty and staff. If your student comes home and shares an incredible learning experience or stories about their teachers, please take a moment to fill out the google form linked here. This will allow me to recognize the faculty and staff members and share the positive experiences that students are having with the community.

"Team Orange has been absolutely wonderful so far, proving not only to be a great team of kind, caring, and passionate educators, but also to be a great team of collaborators and communicators. I reached out to Ms. Stanton, Mr. Sweeney, Mr. Prior, and Ms. Sadana early on in the year regarding some concerns I had about my daughter, and I have been so impressed with and comforted by the level of feedback with which they have provided me thus-far. It means a lot to me that they are taking time out of their busy schedules to pay special attention to my daughter, communicate amongst themselves regarding her progress, and keep me informed of their observations."

GIRL POWERED

Girl Powered is a program designed specifically towards females in Ashland Middle School. The focus within this program is to create positive mental awareness utilizing fitness techniques. During this 8 week program, females will be educated, trained, and assisted on basic strength training using free weights, plate weights with bars, body weight activities, cardiovascular activities, along with injury prevention and safety awareness within a fitness facility. They will associate mood and mental health awareness within fitness activities and develop self assessments to regulate mood management. A pre and post assessment will be utilized to determine students mental and physical health during this program. Assessments will be utilized to provide students with individually designed goals related to their mental and physical needs.

Keep a lookout for sign ups!

Please reach out to Dee Mastromatteo, AMS Wellness Teacher or Kelly Roy, AMS Adjustment Counselor with any questions.

Dmastromatteo@ashland.k12.ma.us

Kroy@ashland.k12.ma.us

Unified Sports

AMS is proud to be recognized by Special Olympics Massachusetts as a Unified Champion School. If your child is interested in participating in unified sports please reach out to Kelly Romano at kromano@ashland.k12.ma.us

Best Buddies

Best Buddies is a social club created to foster one-to-one friendships between middle school students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Through their participation, students with and without IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, share interests, experiences and activities. Best Buddies helps to create an inclusive middle school culture for all students early on in their educational development. We meet the first Wednesday of every month from 2:45-3:45 in room 119. Please join by filling out this online form: www.bestbuddies.org/join and contact KellyAnn Romano with any questions at kromano@ashland.k12.ma.us.

AMS Student Council

Student Leaders is now officially AMS Student Council! Meetings will be held Wednesday mornings, at 7:15am in Mrs. Steinbrick’s room. If students are unable to make it, please let Mrs.Steinbrick know. This meeting is for current student leaders. Interested in joining but not a student leader? Stay tuned for more details! "

Math Counts

Club meets on Monday afternoons in Room 222. Please reach out to Karen Bernier with any questions kbernier@ashland.k12.ma.us

Chess Club

The AMS Chess Club meets every Monday after school from 2:45 pm- 3:45 pm in rooms 208, 210, & 211. Please email Mrs. Sadana gsadana@ashland.k12.ma.us or Mr. Van Wyhe rvanwyhe@ashland.k12.ma.us with any questions.

Art Club

Please reach out to Mrs. Micucci with any questions. rmicucci@ashland.k12.ma.us

Diversity Club:

Diversity Club will have its first meeting on October 17th in the Art room. All are welcome! Please reach out to Mrs. Micucci with any questions rmicucci@ashland.k12.ma.us

Drama Club

Drama Club has started !!! AMS Theater Company will be producing

The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet ! It is a comedy.

Email any questions to : elangmeyer@ashland.k12.ma.us

Yearbook:

Open to all grades. Yearbook will meet on Wednesdays after school in room 142. If you have questions please reach out to Ms. Collins mcollins@ashland.k12.ma.us

Don’t forget to visit ashland.k12.ma.us/Flyers where we feature announcements and events offered by organizations, clubs and teams throughout our community that serve to enrich the lives of our students, families, faculty and staff.