Amherst Middle School

Dear AMS Families,

We’ve successfully completed our first full five-day week of school, and it’s been a wonderful start to the year! Our students are settling in, making connections, and embracing new learning opportunities. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and enthusiasm.

A big thank you to all of our 5th and 6th-grade families who joined us for Open House this week. It was a pleasure meeting you and sharing what your student will experience this year.

For our 7th and 8th-grade families, a reminder that your Open House will be held next Wednesday, September 18th, at 6:00 PM. We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you for your continued support, and we’re excited for all that’s ahead this year.

Be well,

Kristen Gauthier

Principal

Mike Cuddyer

Assistant Principal, 7/8

Matt Lane

Assistant Principal, 5/6

September 16 (Mon): PTA Meeting @ Wilkins School 7:00-8:00PM

September 18 (Wed): Open House (Upper School, Grades 7 & 8) 6:00-8:00PM

September 24 (Tues) - September 27 (Fri): 8th Grade Ecology School (Team Volcano)

October 1 (Tues) - October 4 (Fri): 8th Grade Ecology School (Team Hurricane)

October 9 (Wed): Early Release 12:50PM

October 14 (Mon): NO SCHOOL - Columbus Day

October 29 (Tues): Picture Retake Day

Dear AMS Families,

I hope this letter finds you well and that your family has started the school year smoothly. I am excited to share an important update about a new approach to grading and reporting we are implementing this year at Amherst Middle School. As we strive to enhance the educational experience for all students, we are shifting to Competency-Based Grading and Reporting, which will provide clearer and more meaningful feedback on your child’s progress.

This shift aims to clarify for students, staff, and families and strengthen the home-school connection, which we know is vital for success at the middle level.

Throughout most of your student’s career in SAU39, you have likely seen printed or digital reports from our software, Empower. Teachers have used this software to update academic achievement grades at the standards level, but by the time you see these grades on a progress report, they have been combined into bigger “buckets” or competencies for each course or subject. Additionally, teachers will often input grades for Work Study Practices – such as self-direction, communication, collaboration, and creativity.

As part of this pilot, there are some key features and changes we would like to share with you:

• New Online Platform: We are using software (PowerTeacherPro) that allows students and families to monitor student progress through the Power School Parent Portal. This means one less website for everyone to keep track of. You can access this website through our website or download the mobile application and use district code XRQN. Student progress will be opened for your viewing on September 23rd.

• Reporting at the Competency Level: Teachers will use standards to plan, instruct, and assess students. However, evidence of student progress will only be shared at the competency level. This means fewer categories with more clarity about what student success looks like on each assignment.

• Overall Grade: The academic competency scores will be combined into one overall grade for a course, which includes a number on a 1-4 scale and an associated letter grade. You will have a clear overview of your student’s current performance level based on evidence collected during the course.

• New Work Study Practices: Students will be assessed regularly in three new areas: Work Completion, Engagement/Accountability, and Self-Management. These new work study practices These scores are not included in the overall grade (see above) but can help families, students, and teachers better understand the patterns of habits and behaviors that are important for supporting learning.

• Regularly Updated Scores: We will use a timeline of 1-2 weeks for grading and regular score updates. You can expect to get more regular updates by checking the Parent Portal and communicating with teachers.

• Multiple Opportunities for Mastery: Students will have multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery of competencies. The focus is on growth over time, and students are encouraged to improve their performance by revisiting and reassessing their work.

How You Can Support Your Student

• Engage in Conversations: Ask your child about the competencies they are working on and the feedback they’ve received. Our goal is for middle school students to take more ownership and accountability for their learning, and by asking them first about specific topics, assignments, or scores, they can grow these independent skills.

• Communicate With the School: After having the conversations above, if you have questions or concerns about your student’s progress, please contact their school counselor and/or teacher.

• Review Progress Reports: Regularly check the Parent Portal and progress reports (when they are issued). Look closely at the progress indicators and the feedback your student’s teachers provide. These reports will offer specific insights into your student’s learning process.

• Encourage a Growth Mindset: Celebrate your student’s progress and reinforce the idea that learning is an ongoing process that involves effort and persistence.

We understand that this shift may take some time to get used to, and we are here to support you. We are working to carry out a communication plan for this work so that everyone can feel informed about student achievement and progress toward competencies. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact your grade-level administrator with any questions or concerns.

We are confident that this new system will provide a richer, more meaningful picture of your student’s learning and help set them up for success both now and in the future.

Warm regards,

Kristen, Mike, and Matt

Be on the lookout for an email from your student's teachers containing the Course Overview for their individual classes. This is a great way for all families to get a general idea of the topics, competencies and expectations for each of their student's classes. This is an important early step in establishing the home-family connection and develop a multi-pronged approach to supporting students this year.

On September 18th, we will welcome 7th and 8th grade families to join us from 6:00 - 8:00PM. We will start with an assembly in the Cafeteria before heading to classrooms to meet teachers.

The 7th, and 8th grade programs are more geared for adults.

You may have noticed your student has recently been issued a device (either to use at school, bring home, or both -- depending on grade level). As part of our efforts to ensure that students understand what productive and safe use of technology looks like, and to protect the investment in our devices, we are asking students to commit to a Student Technology Agreement. You will notice that this document is in student-friendly language and aligns with the district policies and procedures that were agreed to during the annual student registration process. We met with students this week to go over these expectations and the consequences that result from misuse.

To see a copy of the agreement, please click HERE. You can help us at home by going over this document with your student, monitoring technology use, and giving reminders as needed about expectations outlined in this document.

Thank you in advance for your support in helping us to protect students and devices at Amherst Middle School.

Dear Families,

As we move into the 2024-25 school year, we would like to inform you that SAU 39 schools have several pilots happening in both math and literacy at a variety of grade levels. All of these pilots are designed to make informed decisions about the instructional programs we invest in moving forward. These pilots both support the SAU Framework for Progress and allow us to be in compliance with state regulations. We look forward to supporting teachers and students this year as they participate in the pilots.

This year, grades K-6 in SAU 39 will be piloting two knowledge-building ELA programs with the intention to select the best fit for our students for full implementation over the 2025-26 school year. These programs allow us to align with evidence-based, research-backed instruction in reading and writing. For the first half of the year we will be implementing Wit and Wisdom. For the second half of the year we will be implementing Amplify CKLA in grades K-5 and Amplify ELA in grade 6. Teachers will receive training in both of these programs. This is one part of students’ literacy block. Fundations and Heggerty will continue to be used in the primary grades, while upper elementary students will continue to work on advanced spelling skills as well as science and social studies units typically taught.

Our other pilot this fall is in grades 6 - 8 where we will be piloting a new math resource Carnegie Learning. The teachers have been trained in implementing this program and it builds on the K - 5 Bridges Math Program. An additional pilot is planned for the spring and an update will be provided.

The evaluation process for both pilots will include data analysis, classroom observations, and interviews with teachers and students. We are excited about the resources provided and their potential for our students.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Sincerely,

Steve Chamberlin, Assistant Superintendent

Liz Cannon, Director of Curriculum and Accountability

School nutrition information can be found at https://www.sau39.org/administration/school_nutrition. This includes breakfast and lunch menus, and also information about applying for Free & Reduced Lunch.

Welcome back to school! The SEL (Social Emotional Learning) team features a section in the parent newsletter each week, with a variety of resources or helpful tools. The transition back to school can be tough for some. This article provides some tips for how to help support your child through it. Let us know how we can help!

September is Suicide Prevention Month - an important time to raise awareness, education, and provide resources to discuss prevention and to seek help. Check out this resource for risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs to be aware of.

Log on to https://amherstnhpta.membershiptoolkit.com/ to complete your registration today!

Becoming a member of the PTA doesn't mean signing your life away volunteering, although we can always use more volunteers. If you are interested in chairing an event/committee, are looking to get more involved or you want to meet some new people, join us at our first meeting of the year on September 17 at 7pm in the Wilkins Library. You can also reach out to the PTA via email if you have any questions or concerns that need to be addressed before our first meeting, amherstptanh@gmail.com.

As you complete the Powerschool Registration forms for school this year, please make sure to Opt into the PTA Directory (it is the last form)! This will allow Clark Wilkins and AMS to share contact info directly with the PTA, making it easier for you to stay up-to-date with all PTA communications, including room parent emails.

PTA's September Newsletter

Please check out this great opportunity with Amherst Recreational Department!

Please join the Amherst Lions Club for their 13th Annual Antique Car Show.

Where: 85 Route 101, Amherst, NH 03031

When: Saturday, September 21st

Time: 9AM - 3PM

2024-2025: Check out this link for the 2024-2025 approved Amherst School District calendar.