2023-2024 AMP Happenings

The following are the events and happenings for the week of February 5th.

Congratulations to the James Madison FFA Tractor Tech team. They competed at the Area 7 FFA competition on Tuesday, January 30th, and came home with a 1st place finish and qualified for the State Competition!

Team members include:

Alex Guerrero - 2nd High Individual

Westin Smith - 3rd High Individual

Cooper Reed - 5th High Individual

Myron Byles - 7th High Individual

The State Competition will be held on March 3rd and 4th at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and you can watch the livestream of the competition at:

https://www.rodeohouston.com/live-stream/

The Tractor Tech CDE team is coached by Mr. Rode.

• Tuesday, February 6, 2024 - JM FFA Chapter Meeting; 4:30PM; AMP Commons
• Tuesday, February 6, 2024 - JM FFA Chili Cook-Off; 6:00PM; AMP Commons
• Tuesday, February 6, 2024 - JM FFA Booster Club General Meeting; 6:30PM; AMP Commons
• Thursday, February 8, 2024 - Beginning of the 2024 San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo
• Friday, February 9, 2024 - Deadline for North East Ag Fair Premium Auction "Thank You's" to the AMP Administration office

Students and families can access the daily announcements that are shared in our AMP courses by clicking the following link:

AMP Daily Announcements

The following measures are in place to provide safety to the JMHS campus and AMP Complex:

• NEISD has a closed campus policy. Students cannot leave campus during school hours, including lunchtime, without authorization from a parent/guardian, school administration, and obtaining a pass from the attendance office.
• Parents/guardians needing to make deliveries to AMP students during school hours must bring the items (school supplies, clothing, payments, food, etc.) into the AMP Administration office for delivery to students. We will not be allowing students to go into the parking lot to pick up deliveries.

• Use the following link to submit a request to see Mrs. Purcell: 2023-2024 Request to See Counselor Form
• Mrs. Purcell, AMP Counselor, is located in the AMP Administration Office.
  
• Contact information for Mrs. Purcell:
  Email - jpurce@neisd.net
  Phone - (210) 356-1493
  
  

2024 - 2025 Course Selection Process
It is that time of the year to begin entering 2024-2025 course selections. Mrs. Purcell will be meeting with each AMP student to help select and properly enter courses for next school year.

• Mrs. Purcell will meet individually with 9th grade AMP students during their Principles of AFNR course the week of February 5th - 9th.
• Current 10th grade AMP students will meet with Mrs. Purcell during their Geometry/Algebra II course the week of February 12th - 16th.
• Current 11th grade AMP students will have an individual conference with Mrs. Purcell to make sure that all courses are correct and graduation requirements have been met. Those conferences will be held February 20th - 29th through the students AMP courses.
  
  In preparing to select AMP courses, students can access a description of all AMP courses and the courses by AMP Pathway on our website by using the following links:
  

• AMP Course Descriptions
• Agribusiness Pathway
• Animal Science Pathway
• Applied Agricultural Engineering Pathway
• Environmental & Natural Resources Pathway
• Food Science Pathway
• Plant Science Pathway

Interested in learning more about earning college credit for the 2024-2025 school year?
Click HERE to watch a short, but informative, video about the AP, dual credit, OnRamps, and TSI testing opportunities available to JMHS students next school year.

The following are helpful resources for Seniors:

• JMHS Scholarship Listings
• College, Career, and Military Readiness Information

AgDiscovery is a summer outreach program designed to help teenagers explore careers in plant and animal science, wildlife management, agribusiness, and much more! The program allows students to live on a college campus and learn about agriculture from university professors, scientists, and administrative professionals who work for the U.S. Government in a variety of fields.

They study the life cycles and habits of insects (entomologists); research micro-organisms, such as bacteria and viruses (biotechnologists); examine cells and tissues under a microscope to identify diseases (plant pathologists); work to conserve and manage wild animals and their habitats (wildlife biologists); carry out animal health programs (veterinarians); provide education on the humane care and treatment of animals (veterinarians and animal care inspectors); and manage the business aspects of protecting plants and animals (agribusiness).

This 2- to 4-week summer outreach program for 2024 targets middle and high school students who are interested in learning more about plants, animals, and agribusiness. Students chosen to participate in AgDiscovery will gain experience through hands-on labs, workshops, and field trips. Students will also participate in charac­ter- and team-building activities and a variety of other events.

There is no cost to attend the AgDiscovery 2024 summer program. Tuition, room and board, lab supplies, meals, and activity fees will be covered by APHIS. Students selected for the program are only responsible for costs that may be associated with traveling to the university campus on opening day and returning home at the conclusion of the program on closing day.

Click HERE to learn more about this amazing opportunity and how to apply. You may also download an information brochure attached to this post below. The deadline to apply is April 5, 2024.

Texas Farm Bureau Scholarship

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Annually, we award over $235,000 in scholarships in a variety of packages designed to meet different student needs.

The 2024 scholarship applications close March 1, 2024.

Details and requirements for each scholarship can be found online at https://texasfarmbureau.org/youth/scholarship-apps/.

For questions related to scholarships, contact youthactivities@txfb.org or call 254.751.2258.

The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program
Deadline: March 1, 2024
The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program offers scholarships to U.S. citizens who are seeking a bachelor's degree at one of the nineteen 1890 Land-Grant Universities in the field of agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or other related disciplines.

High school and current college students are eligible to apply for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program which provides full tuition, fees, books, room and board, and a summer internship which may convert to full-time employment with USDA after graduation.

Click the following link for details about this scholarship opportunity: https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/1890NationalScholars

Las Lomas Lions Alumni Scholarship

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Las Lomas Elementary PTA is now accepting applications for the Lions Alumni 2023-2024 Scholarship. The scholarship committee will award two (2) $1,000 one time scholarships. Applicants must:

(1) Be graduating NEISD seniors,

(2) Have completed the fifth (5th) grade at Las Lomas Elementary, and

(3) Demonstrate outstanding academic records, extracurricular achievement, and community involvement.

Applications will be accepted through March 1st, 2024. Finalists will be interviewed the week of March 18th. Recipients of the scholarships will be announced the week of April 8th.

If you have any question please contact the Las Lomas PTA Scholarship Committee Chair, Michelle Miguez-Garcia at michelle.mgarcia@hotmail.com. Please include in the subject line: 2024 Scholarship.

Click here to begin your application: 2023-2024 Lions Alumni Scholarship Application

San Antonio A&M Club Foundation Scholarship Program

Deadline: March 11, 2024

The San Antonio A&M Club would like to share that our scholarship application is now open and will stay open until March 11. This application is open to any Senior residing in Bexar County or attending a Bexar County High School and heading to Texas A&M University College Station or a College Station branch in the Fall of 2024. Last year we awarded 8-four year scholarships ($12,000 each) and 3-one year scholarships ($2,000 each).

AMP students that received donations through the North East Ag Fair Premium Auction have received their list of donors and instructions for writing "Thank You" notes, cards, or letters to their donors.

"Thank You's" are due in the AMP Administration office no later than Friday, February 9th.

The 2024 James Madison FFA Chili Cook-Off will be held in conjunction with the monthly meeting for the James Madison FFA Booster Club on Tuesday, February 6th. We will have an adult and student divisions to the cook-off. So FFA members and their parents/guardians are both encouraged to participate by entering their favorite chili recipe to compete for the title of "Chili Cook-Off Champion"!

For more information about the Chili Cook-Off and to enter, click HERE.

The next general meeting of the James Madison FFA Booster Club will be held on Tuesday, February 6th at 6:30PM in the AMP Commons.

Agenda items to be covered include a wrap up of the 2024 North East Ag Fair and Premium Auction and plans for the upcoming "Down Home in San Antone" Gala.

All parents/guardians of AMP students are encouraged to attend this meeting.

The James Madison FFA Booster Club is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a membership of parents/guardians whose student(s) are actively attending the NEISD Agriscience Magnet Program (AMP). Membership for families is FREE.

The FFA Booster Club exists to organize and conduct fundraising activities to provide financial support to all students of the AMP in order to enhance the educational and agricultural experiences of the students. Parents/guardians can support the James Madison FFA Booster Club by making the AMP a family experience. This can be done through a variety of means such as volunteering of your time and talents, introducing the FFA Booster Club to corporate sponsors, or financially supporting the FFA Booster Club with donations or purchasing merchandise.

The next general meeting of the James Madison FFA Booster Club will be held on Tuesday, February 6th at 6:30PM at the AMP Complex.

All parents/guardians are highly encouraged to sign up for the FFA Booster Club email distribution list by clicking HERE. (Please note, the James Madison FFA Booster Club does NOT share contact information and will communicate with its members only in regards to matters pertaining to the James Madison FFA Booster Club, the James Madison FFA Chapter, and the Agriscience Magnet Program.)

The AMP office will be open from 8:15AM to 4:30PM daily with Mrs. Cooper being on lunch break from 12:00 noon to 12:45PM. If you wish to make an appointment, we can be reached at (210) 356-1517.

Find us online at www.JamesMadisonFFA.com or follow us on
YouTube (Agriscience Magnet Program),
Facebook (www.facebook.com/MadisonFFA),
and on Instagram (www.instagram.com/jamesmadisonffa)

Email: dstewa1@neisd.net
Website: www.JamesMadisonFFA.com
Location: 5005 Stahl Road, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: (210) 356-1517