The Cougar News
March 8, 2024
A Message from Principal Bame
Dear AMS Families,
Happy long weekend to all of your families. As a reminder, Monday, March 11th is a teacher workday for traditional calendar schools. Over the next few weeks and months we will have many important updates and events to socialize with our community.
If you know of a family that does not receive our weekly newsletters, please advise them to reach out to our front office. We want to ensure everyone is connected! (main line: 919.387.2181)
PTA Wellness Event for Parents
Please consider attending our upcoming parent education session next Thursday, March 14th in our Media Center from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Dinner will be provided if you join us in person! RSVP here!
Culture Night Reminder
On April 25, 2024, we will be having a culture night to give families the opportunity to share their culture with the AMS community. If your family or a cultural organization that you're apart of is interested in participating in any of the following ways, please indicate your interest in participating HERE. We will contact you with more information soon. Thank you and we look forward to seeing lots of different expressions of culture from within our community!
Lost and Found
Our Lost and Found will be emptied soon! Lost and Found Trackers of AMS needs some help from our students and parents. We are at full capacity with lost items located in the elective building! Because there are little to no claimed items, we are going to have to donate items before the quarter is over. We not only have items lost during the school day but also left behind from after school events, little siblings and parents of students of AMS should consider taking a peek. Please encourage students to drop by and claim their belongings before 3/8/24. We have jackets, sweatshirts, water bottles, sneakers, lunch boxes and more! Please help add the "and found" to "the lost"!
From our Single Subject Acceleration Coordinator, Mrs. Pilkington
Students who meet qualifying criteria in grades K-7 can take advanced academic content in mathematics or English Language Arts through Single Subject Acceleration (SSA). This ensures opportunities for appropriate levels of academic challenge. Parents can learn more about the Single Subject Acceleration process with this SSA Parent Information Session as well as accessing the FAQ document for SSA. (FAQ document in Spanish)
Test requests for SSA must be submitted in the SSA Test Request Google Form.
The SSA Test Request form for Traditional will open April 1, 2024 at 8:00 am. Please check the form at that time. It will close at 5:00 pm on April 12, 2024.
Events for the Week:
Monday, 3/11: No School
Tuesday, 3/12: Softball and Soccer Games @ Davis Drive
Wednesday, 3/13:
Thursday, 3/14: 8th Grade Field Trip, Softball game vs. Holly Grove, PTA Wellness Event for Parents (7:00 pm in Media Center)
Friday, 3/15: 8th Grade Field Trip
Thank you for supporting Apex Middle School!
Kind regards,
Mrs. Raleigh Bame
AMS Book Fair Information
It's a Book Fair Fiesta at AMS from March 18-22. Use this link to set up an eWallet account. Students will be attending the fair with their language arts teachers.
SAVE THE DATE!
From the Desk of Ms. Roche (Career Development Coordinator)
📢 ATTENTION CLASS OF 2028
AOIT ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE INFO SESSION: (Click on link to find out more)
Tuesday, March 12 at Apex High School
Visit our Career Development Website to find out more about the Pathways and Academies at our local high schools.
Grade Level Updates
6th Grade Message
Conferences: Parent-teacher conferences are essential for building a strong partnership between parents and teachers, ensuring the best possible educational experience and outcomes for the child. The collaboration between home and school creates a supportive environment that contributes to the child's academic success and personal development. By now some parents have received a Talking Points or email with information about signing up for a Parent Teacher conference. If you got this message, please respond and sign up for a spot. We look forward to seeing you to discuss your child’s academics.
ELA: Please use the FLUSH Reading Calendar to guide your child through reading our current novel.
6th Grade Wish List: Tissues and Pencils. Please and thank you!
Upcoming Dates:
Monday, March 11th: Teacher Workday: Conferences
Friday, March 15th: All Missing Work Due!
Thursday, March 21st: 6th Grade Work Completion Celebration
7th Grade Message
The 7th-grade teachers have created an Amazon wishlist for the hallway. While you are always welcome to send donations for your student’s teachers, the items purchased from this list will be dispersed as needed among the 7th-grade hall. All donations will be shipped directly to AMS. No obligation; all donations are greatly appreciated. Click HERE to see our wishlist! Thank you for your support!
Students should check PowerSchool and Canvas daily. Please keep up with your student’s schoolwork by looking at the checklist and asking to see your student’s planner.
Fun dinner conversation topic featuring ELA: Who was Frederick Douglass and what was his impact on society?
8th Grade Message
This week marks the highly anticipated field trip for our students. Participants will journey to Washington DC to enrich their understanding of this year's class topics.
Meanwhile, students who remain behind will engage in extension activities designed to further enhance their knowledge.
We eagerly anticipate these learning opportunities for all our 8th grade students. Please reach out to your student's teacher with any questions or concerns. We are excited for a fantastic week ahead!
High School Registration Update
Ms. Mueller visited 8th grade math classes this week to assist students with registration. All students practiced completing registration in PowerSchool, and some even completed their course requests!
The final due date for high school registration is Monday, March 18th. I have encouraged our students attending the D.C. trip next week to complete their registration prior to the trip.
Thank you for your support in helping your students register! If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Mueller via Talking Points or at kmueller@wcpss.net.
Update for the Week (3/1/24)
Don't forget your GREEN AMS Field Trip Hoodie! If your student does not have a green hoodie, please have them bring an Apex green shirt. 😁
The Washington, D.C. trip is quickly approaching, and we are all so excited to offer this experience to your student! Please review this information carefully. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Ruppert (mruppert@wcpss.net) or Mrs. Beavers (abeavers2@wcpss.net).
Some friendly reminders:
Drop off students in the carpool lot on Thursday, March 14th, between 5:30am and 5:45am.
All students need to be checked in with their chaperone by 5:45 am in the school cafeteria.
Students need to bring lunch and snacks with them for Thursday’s lunch on the bus.
Students should wear the green DC hoodie.
If you opted to get a Till card, students need to bring it with them. (If not, they will receive a temporary card).
Door dash or any other kind of deliveries are not allowed on the trip.
Pick up will be in the carpool lot and is expected to be 10pm on Friday night. Students will call parents when we’re about 30-45 minutes out.
Helpful links:
2023-2024 Yearbook Information - Updated 1/19/24
2024 AMS YEARBOOK ORDERS: Guarantee your child's copy of the 2024 yearbook by purchasing online by March 29, 2024! Order your child's copy through the Herff Jones Online Yearbook Center (www.yearbookordercenter.com) and use school code: 10708. Ordering online is the only way to guarantee your child's copy of the yearbook!
**8TH GRADE DEDICATION ADS FOR YEARBOOK: DEADLINE FOR 8th GRADE AD/MEMORY PAGES IS MARCH 22, 2024! The online design center is open! Start creating your dedication ad for your 8th Grade child. The personal ads/dedication pages are devoted to our 8th Grade students and are featured at the end of the 2024 Yearbook. Advertisements must be designed through the Herff Jones Online Yearbook Center (www.yearbookordercenter.com and enter school code 10708). 1/4 page and 1/8-page advertisement sizes are available with many font and image layouts. If you have questions, please email Mrs. Jones (rjones14@wcpss.net).
Community News
PTA Updates
I am the proud principal of Apex Middle School, home of the Cougars!