AJH Comets Comments
January
Whats coming up at AJH?
Advanced Placement Rubric
Scheduling is upon us here at AJH and we're working hard to create options for students that allow them to explore various disciplines while here at AJH. One of the things that always comes up with scheduling here is the use of our Advanced Placement Rubric(APR). The APR uses scores from each student's fall and winter maps, AIR test scores from the previous year and placement test scores from tests created by our teaching staff. We also include in the process if a student has been recognized as a cognitive or subject specific gifted student. We assign points for each category and enter scores which are then totaled. That totaled score is then used to determine which students would be most successful in honors course and which would find more success in our traditional courses.
While we understand that many parents want their students to be challenged in the classroom, honors classes are not the right place for all students. The rubric allows us to determine who is ready for that extra lift. Since the same teachers in the honors courses also teach our traditional courses, when students in those classes need to be challenged, we're prepared to continue to grow them in a setting more conducive to where they currently are in their learning journey.
We know that no process is perfect, but this rubric has served us well in placing students in the appropriate environment. We do still continue to monitor students, review spring OST scores and even follow them into their first quarters of school. If you child shows an aptitude to be successful (or is really struggling in) an honors class, we do everything we can to move them into the appropriate placement in the fall.
If you have any additional questions about the APR or where your student landed after students schedule, please don't hesitate to email me or your child's school counselor with questions. Thank you.
Issues with ME attendance
We wanted to offer some clarification on an email to students last week referencing attendance to recess. We appreciate the 4 parents that did reach out to us with questions and took the time to have a conversation to better understand our motives.
First, each quarter, students are given one "freebie" to be late. We didn't communicate this to students as we don't want at some point all 800+ students being tardy to class. Secondly, tardy to class would now require a student taking more than 5 minutes to get to their ME classroom for indoor recess. We feel that is more than adequate for students to transition. During a normal class change students are only given 3 minutes and tardiness is not an issue. We also allow for students to be late if they were in the office or with another teacher. Our staff when allowing students out of class late does an excellent job of communicating that to the whole building.
There was no change in policy, there was a change in how we delivered consequences. Students have always had to be on time to class. What we have found is that a consequence of lunch or after school detention is not deterring students from being late to ME. Parents worried about the occasionally tardiness needn't worry as the freebie should keep them out of harms way. If they are late multiple times without a pass, then hopefully this new strategy will help keep them on time.
Reminder about Body Sprays (cologne) & Perfume
Please remind your students that they are not to have body sprays and perfume in school or on the bus. Our hallways are becoming inundated with a variety of smells and multiple students have gone home and reported headaches. Good bathing habits and one spray at home should suffice for school. See to the right for this rule in the handbook on page 21.
Support the Amherst QB Club at their Casino Night!
Amherst Junior High PTO Information
PTO Meeting
Monday, Feb 12, 2024, 09:15 AM
548 Milan Avenue, Amherst, OH, USA
PTO Meeting and Information
The next AJH PTO meeting will be held on Monday February 12th at 9:15am. If you can't make it in person but would like to attend via zoom, please register at this link.
For information about joining PTO for only $5 click here and to pay through Cheddar Up, please click here.
Also, PTO is working to help us out with our PBIS store for students. An Amazon wish list has been created. To purchase something from the Wish List to be donated to AJH, please check out the items here.
The CAVS fundraiser is for the entire Amherst Exempted Village School District
PLEASE COMPLETE THE PBIS COMMUNITY SURVEY
QUARTER 3 REWARD: DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT!
On March 14th students can participate in a dodgeball tournament. Students with zero referrals get in for FREE! Students can also purchase a ticket for 250 PBIS points.
PBIS COMET TREASURES STORE
Our school store has been a huge success! Thank you all so much for the donations! It has been great to see students manage the store and also purchase items using their points!
Below is our Amazon wish list set up by PTO if you would like to help add items to our store! We'd really appreciate it.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/19OU5R404HHVS?ref_=wl_share
STEELE ECO-LEAGUE ANNUAL FEBRUARY FOOD DRIVE
Important Upcoming Dates
2/15 - Conferences 2:40 - 7:40 pm
2/16 - No School
2/19 - No School / Presidents Day
3/4-3/8 - Say Something Week
3/14 - End of Third Grading Period
3/14- PBIS dodgeball tournament
3/14 - Conferences 2:40 - 6:40 pm
3/15 - No School Professional Development Day
3/20 - FAMILY FIRST NIGHT
3/22 - Talent Show
OST Testing Dates:
ELA - 4/16 & 4/17
Math - 4/23 & 4/24
Sci 8 - 4/30 & 5/1
Counselor Update
Mrs. Hannah Johnson (6th Grade Last Names A-K, 8th Grade School Counselor) - 440-988-1648, hannah_johnson@amherstk12.org
Mr. Bob Harcula (6th Grade Last Names L-Z, 7th Grade School Counselor) - 440-988-1624, bob_harcula@amherstk12.org
ROX Has Begun!
The ROX Program is well underway. As trained and certified ROX facilitators, Mrs. Johnson (AJH school counselor) and Mrs. Krichbaum (AJH social worker) are co-facilitating the ROX Program with 8th graders.
This month we will be exploring collaboration, team work, communication styles, building confidence and leadership.
Best Buddies Update
Best Buddies Friendship Walk will take place on Sunday, April 28 at Crocker Park. The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading event in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Join 45,000 participants across the globe to support the Best Buddies programs in your schools, workplaces, and communities. You’ll be making the world more welcoming to people with IDD — one friendship, one job, and one life-changing connection at a time. If you would like to join our team at AJH or you would like to donate to our team please see info below:
1. Visit my team fundraising page at https://www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/cleveland/supporting/#AmherstBestBuddies
2. Register for the Best Buddies Friendship Walk under my team name 'Amherst Best Buddies'
If you are interested in learning more about Best Buddies please contact Mrs. Johnson.
JVS Applications
JVS applications for the 9th grade 2024-2025 school year are due on February 9, 2024. Students can apply using the following link: https://www.lcjvs.com/ApplyNow.aspx
8th Grade Scheduling
The high school counselors will be at AJH on February 13 and February 14 giving presentations on scheduling for high school. They will be back on February 20 and 21 to meet indivudally with all 8th graders to help students create their high school schedules. If you have questions regarding high school scheduling please contact your child's high school counselor.
Mrs. Christine Diaz (last names A-K) christine_diaz@amherstk12.org
Ms. Sarah Rigda (last names L-Z) sarah_rigda@amherstk12.org
6th & 7th Grade Scheduling
Mr. Harcula and Mrs. Johnson will be in ELA classrooms at the end of the month to go over scheduling with current 6th and 7th graders. The presentation will be available in next month's newsletter. If you have scheduling questions for next year please see Mr. Harcula or Mrs. Johnson
Camp Invention Leaders in Training for current 6th & 7th Graders!
Be a Camp Invention Counselor - current 8th Graders
Social Worker Update
Social Media Reminder
We just wanted to send a reminder that our use of social media (facebook, twitter, and instagram) is one way communication. We receive comments on posts and instant messages from time to time but we don't reply. If you have a question about something you see on social media, please email us or call us at AJH. Thank you for understanding. We're looking forward to a great school year
2023 - 24 School Year Calendar
Reach out to us!
Contact Us!
Ms. Chudakoff, Assistant Principal - brittany_chudakoff@amherstk12.org
Mr. Gibson, Principal - andrew_gibson@amherstk12.org