AMS Parent Peek
October, 21st 2023
Happy Saturday from all of us at AMS!
Dear AMS community,
Sometimes, the Peek is short and sweet; then there is this one, which is a little wordy. We hope you are enjoying your rainy weekend. Here is a little evening read about what is happening at AMS.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent-teacher conferences were this past week. Thanks to the 58% of families who came out to meet our staff face-to-face. Seeing the faces connected to those emails and phone calls was great. Many families took a school tour, viewing student work, artwork, and our CORE posters, including the winners of our CORE poster competition. Having a positive family-school connection is so powerful in a student's life. Our goal here at AMS is 100% parent involvement. Teachers will call you in the next few weeks if you still need to have a conference about your student.
NWEA AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING
We are supporting students with the completion of the NWEA assessments this week. So far, 90% of our students have completed the math and reading assessments. Our goal is to get 96% of our students tested. We will continue calling students to the office conference room for make-up. The NWEA data is used to determine your student's academic progress and to identify appropriate academic placements. We are meeting as staff on November 1st to discuss our data and create data walls as we strive to progress our students to be the best they can be in our content areas.
BAND CHORUS AND ADVANCED ART AT AMS
AMS has over 48 band members and 27 chorus members. These numbers are up from the last few years. There have been some questions about how the band and chorus are run this year with our new schedule. In the past, FLEX time was utilized as a study hall. Chorus and band held practice during these 55-minute periods twice a week, but students behind in a class would have to miss practice. With transition times, band and students only received about 90 minutes of beneficial practice time each week.
With our new schedule, band and chorus students practice for 140 minutes a week. There are two 35-minute periods at the end of the day, which the chorus and band use for practice on alternating maroon and white days. Most content teachers use these short blocks to support lessons already taught or use the time as flex. Some use this time for new learning. As our schedule rotates to match Edward Little, students only miss one 35-minute weekly content period.
We are watching to see how this affects our Band and Chorus numbers. We fully support these programs with ample weekly practice time. Please reach out if your student is excited to learn an instrument or participate in our chorus. If your student needs support in a class, please contact their teacher(s) and ask how they can help.
ASPIRATIONS CLUB
We welcome back our relationship with Bates College. We had an ice cream social recently, connecting some of our students to their Aspirations mentors from Bates. We have 27 students who have a weekly visit with a Bates Mentor. We utilize the 35-minute periods in the afternoon to allow students who need a deeper relationship within the community to work one-on-one with a college student. Bates staff from the Harward Center have vetted and trained these students. This is year two of this highly successful program.
AMS STUDENT HANDBOOK REMINDERS
We want to thank you for supporting us this year as we strengthened a few of our practices, which can be viewed in their entirety in our AMS Handbook.
Reminders for a few of our policies at AMS
Electronic Devices: Students are to leave personal personal electronic devices at home.
- Students will be asked to put their electronics in the office.
- Dress Code: Students are not to show their undergarments. Students may be asked to cover up, or parents may be called for a change of clothes.
- Misuse of School Technology: Students may receive limited use of their school technology if it is misused.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS
We hope your conference time with your students' teachers was productive. We want your student to fully engage with their classes, athletics, and fine arts. If you have any questions for us, please reach out.
Ben Wilson
Principal of AMS
AMS By the Numbers
(Enrollment: 490 Students)
ATTENDANCE
This Weeks Average Daily Attendance
96.01%
BEHAVIORS
This Weeks Minor Incidents Reported
(Managed by Staff)
17
This Weeks Major Incidents Reported
(Managed by the Office)
21
All Referrals this Week by LOCATION
All reported referrals this week by where they took place.
All Referrals this Week by TIME
All reported referrals this week by when they took place.
All Referrals this Week by BEHAVIOR
All reported referrals this week by what they are.
Pumpkin Run on Thursday October 26th
Last Day to Sign Up: Tuesday, Oct 24
Preliminary Race: Thursday, Oct 26
Time: 12:20pm
Finals: Tuesday, October 31st
Odyssey of the Mind Team at AMS
Odyssey of the Mind Information Night
Thursday, October 26th
5:30-6:30 PM
AMS Technology Lab with Mr. Rowe
Notice: We cannot add new students without parent volunteers for coaching
Watch this video for an overview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWHP64kUhWc
Teams are formed of up to seven students and a coach. Each problem solution requires an 8-minute performance, with specific requirements and limitations unique to each problem type. From writing scripts and acting, to building structures and designing vehicles – there is a problem that appeals to all types of interests.
There are 3 scoring elements for each team. The Longterm Problem can earn the team up to 200 points. The spontaneous Problem can earn up to 100 points. The Style category can earn up to 50 points. A perfect score, therefore , is 350 points.
Once your team knows the problem limitations, it’s time to create a solution! This can be done any way the team wishes, but usually takes place over a few months during team practices and work sessions.
Ideas become reality as the team builds sets, creates props, makes costumes, writes scripts, and more. Then it’s all about practice, practice, practice!
There are two levels of competition – State Finals, and World Finals.
To learn more about OM:
National Association:
https://www.odysseyofthemind.com
Maine Association:
AUBURN MIDDLE SCHOOL WEEKLY ATHLETIC UPDATE
Week 8: October 23rd -October 29th
Monday, October 23rd:
GIRLS SOCCER AWAY @ LYMAN MOORE MIDDLE SCHOOL 3:45 PM- 2:15PM BUS
BOYS SOCCER HOME VS LYMAN MOORE 3:45
FIELD HOCKEY HOME VS. LEWISTON 4:00PM ELHS STADIUM FIELD
Tuesday, October 24th:
FIELD HOCKEY AWAY @ OXFORD HILLS 3:30 PM-2:15PM BUS
Thursday, October 26th:
BOYS SOCCER HOME VS. WINDHAM 3:45
CROSS COUNTRY FESTIVAL AWAY @ BONNY EAGLE-4:00PM
Saturday, October 28th:
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS TBD
IMPORTANT DATES
- Pumpkin Run: Friday, October 26th.
Last Day to Sign Up: Tuesday, Oct 24
Preliminary Race: Thursday, Oct 26
Time: 12:20pm
Finals: Tuesday, October 31st
- AMS picture make-up day is on Wed., November 1. Students who have not yet had their photo taken can have it done AND students who do not like their first photo can have it redone as long as they return their original picture proof.
- Thanksgiving Turkey Trot: Friday, November 17th. Raises funds to send students to summer camp and we collect Food to support out families for Thanksgiving.
- Please remember to call or email the main office at AMS when your child/student is going to be out of school or tardy to school. Email us at: AMSattendance@auburnschl.edu or call 207-333-6655
AMS Parent Teacher Organization
This year, we are:
- Organizing Dances: 11/3 - 1/19/24 - 3/29 - and the 8th Grade Semi Formal near 6/9/24
- Pumpkin Run: Friday, October 20th. A fun Costumed run (Awarded Competition for AMS staff and students)
- Thanksgiving Turkey Trop: Friday, November 13th. Raises funds to send students to summer camp.
- Teacher Appreciation each Month but focusing on May 8th - 12th.
- Various CORE competitions
Senior Organizer Steve Robertson organizing the Pumpkin Run 2022
25th Anniversary of the Turkey Trot. Over $1000 raised by students for students.
Core attendance Awarded for perfect attendance of an entire core
Communication
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amsfalcons