AMS Principal's Weekly Update

Dear AMS Students and Families,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with good food, laughter, and lasting memories with those close to them. With our return on Monday, we now head into a 3 week stretch until winter break to close out 2024. You may or may not have noticed that this week's update was sent via email and text using a new messaging platform that our district recently adopted. If you or someone you know encountered any errors, please let me know so I can make sure any issues get resolved.

On Saturday, November 23, the AMS First Robotics Team traveled to Rochester High School for the First Robotics Team competition. The team had put a lot of time and hard work preparing for the competition. The Vikings Robotic team, led by the captain Ben Strobel, had an outstanding performance and had many firsts in the teams history. There were five scheduled events for the team. Overall they finished with four wins and one loss, however for the one loss, the Vikings scored all 30 points in that event which was a first in Viking history. While finishing in first place is the ultimate goal, last year in the qualifying round our team finished 25th out of 36 teams and this year the team finished in 10th place of the 35 teams! In my book, this represents huge growth for our team and for that, we are extremely proud of their accomplishments. This was a total team effort with the following individuals making contributions to the team's success:

• The Build Team who made the Robots - Niko Wekerle, Otis Rhodes, Nathan Shelby, Mac Sanborn, Grayson Garman, Charlie Bateman, Artem Zhukovskyi, Alex Calvano, Adele Barry (who also performed the final Engineering and Safety Checklist that allowed the Robot to Pass the inspection so the robot can compete).
• The Course Build Team so the Robot can be tested and the drive team to practice - Alex Burnham, Andre Harris Jr., Henry Thomas, Kristopher Trice.
• The Team Board, Awards, Photographers During the Competition - Hope Trelfa, Allison Collar
• Team Shirts and Banners - Hayden McClure
• The Powerpoint Presentation and Engineering Portfolio - Ben Strobel, Cole Thompson, and all the Viking team members contributing.

Over the last couple of weeks, AMS students have collected gloves and made holiday cards for local veterans and first responders in their Advisory class. In addition to giving gloves to the families being helped through Caring and Sharing, extra gloves will be delivered to Detroit Rescue Mission shelters, Mittens for Detroit, and Ronald McDonald House. Cards will be delivered to senior citizens at Oxford Park Towers, veterans at American Legion Post 374, and children receiving care at local hospitals. Anderson students have truly made a positive impact on the Berkley community and beyond! Next Thursday, December 12, the winning Advisory classrooms will get their breakfast party earned from the Advisory class competition. Special thanks goes out to AMS parent, Charley Eaton, for all of her efforts in coordinating this initiative along with AMS NJHS students for helping to gather up and sort gloves and cards.

Monday - December 9

Dungeons and Dragons Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 111

Eco Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 210

Homework Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 115

Boys Basketball Home v. Farmington East at 4:15 pm (7th Grade) / 5:15 pm (8th Grade)

Board of Education Meeting 7:00 pm at Tyndall

Tuesday - December 10

Art Club Bake Sale at Lunch

Drama Club 3:20-4:15 pm in the Media Center

Wednesday - December 11

Art Club Bake Sale at Lunch

Chess Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 100

Homework Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 115

Rainbow Room Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 109

Yoga 3:30-4:30 pm in Room 114

Boys Basketball at Oak Park at 4:30 pm (7th Grade) / 5:30 pm (8th Grade)

7th and 8th Grade Open Gym for Girls Volleyball

Thursday - December 12

NJHS Meeting 12:55 in the Media Center

Art Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 110

Girls Swim Meet at Berkshire at 4:30 pm

AMS Winter Orchestra Concert 7:00 pm in the BHS Auditorium

Friday - December 13

NJHS Visit to The Judson Center

Auditions for this year's middle school musical, "Crazy For You: Youth Edition" by George and Ira Gershwin adapted by Ken Ludwig will take place this Saturday, December 7, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm in the BHS Auditorium. Below you will find the audition form, audition sides and music, accompaniment tracks (with and without guide vocals) and a video of the choreography audition.

Audition Form

Audition sides and music

Accompaniment Tracks (with and without guide vocals)

Choreography Video

For those attending auditions, here is some additional information:

• Please be sure when you arrive between 9:45am and 9:55am to use the doors by the band room hallway (entrance #11) to enter the building. Students will then proceed to the backstage hallway for entrance to the auditorium for auditions.
• Please bring a lunch to eat (and be prepared to clean up after yourself) midday to keep you energized throughout the day. We recommend sealed water bottles (with water, not anything sticky) to stay hydrated. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER THE DOORS TO THE AUDITORIUM LOBBY AND SHOULDN'T KNOCK OR DISTRACT FROM EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN THAT AREA.
• Parents can pick students up at the North East end of the High School building by entrance 11. You can wait at the end of the circle drive for your students.

For questions, please contact Berkley Drama Coordinator, John Hopkins.

Currently, we are about 18 registrations short of meeting the minimum number of registrations for the 8th Grade end of year Day in the D trip. This trip is open to all AMS 8th Graders and any parents who would like to attend. If you have been waiting to register, please consider registering ASAP so that we can ensure we have the necessary minimum number of participants for this trip. For more information, including itinerary and registration information, please click on AMS Day in the D Trip Information and Registration.

There are currently 4 remaining spots open for the Washington DC- Gettysburg trip. Registration is now open to all 8th grade students and parents. For more information including the itinerary and registration link, please click on Washington DC 2025

Please consider joining the AMS PTSA to help support initiatives like Teacher Classroom Stipends, BHWYA, March Miracles, Assemblies, Social Emotional Initiatives, Staff Appreciation and much more! To join, simply click on the AMS PTSA Membership Page.

2024-25 Officers:

President - Dawn Banks
Vice President - Kary Pasanen
Treasurer - Melissa Foreman-Lovell

Secretary - Nicole Hollman

2024-25 Remaining Meeting Dates: All Meetings will be held in the Media Center and via Zoom

February 11 @ 8:30 am and via Zoom

April 8 @ 7:00 pm and Via Zoom

May 13 @ 8:30 am and via Zoom

To access meetings via Zoom, please use the following Zoom Link

Follow the AMS PTSA on Social Media

For all athletic related questions, please contact
AMS Assistant Principal / Athletic Coordinator, Carman Smith

Berkley District Middle School Athletic Coordinator, Lori Stone

Berkley High School Athletic Director, Matt Rawlik

SPORTS OFFERED AT AMS

Fall Season (September - October)

Football (Grades 7-8 Only)

Girls Basketball (Grades 7-8 Only) *

Co-Ed Cross Country (Grades 6-8)

Girls Tennis (Grades 6-8)

Winter 1 Season (November - Mid January)

Girls Swimming (Grades 6-8)

Boys Basketball (Grades 7-8 Only) *

Winter 2 Season (Mid January - March)

Wrestling (Grades 6-8)

Girls Volleyball (Grades 7-8 Only) *

Boys Swimming (Grades 6-8)

Spring Season (April - May)

Co-Ed Track (Grades 6-8)

Boys Tennis (Grades 6-8)

Baseball (Grades 7-8 Only) *

Softball (Grades 7-8 Only) *

* These sports are intended for 7th and 8th grade only, however if there are not enough 7th and 8th grade students to field a team, spots will be opened up for 6th Graders to tryout.

AMS has athletic eligibility guidelines and expectations. To view the guidelines and expectations for student-athletes, please click on Middle School Athletic Eligibility

The first step in participating in any sport is registering on Final Forms! Final Forms is the registration platform used for athletics where families must submit student physicals, as well as sign all the necessary forms required to be eligible to play a school sport. For directions on how to navigate Final Forms, please click on Final Forms Registration Information. All documents must be signed and submitted before the first day of tryouts. Failure to do so results in your child not being able to try out for any sport.

TEAM INFORMATION

There will be a parent information meeting on December 18 at 6:00 pm in the Norup Media Center for boys interested in participating on the middle school swim team. For questions about boys swimming, please contact Coach Teri Falcon.

For questions about the Girls Middle School Swim Team, please contact Coach Derek Samuelson. Below is the remaining schedule for the season with home meets starting at 5:00 pm and away meets starting at 4:30 pm. Home games are in bold below.

12/12/24 Away v. Birmingham Berkshire (Black)

12/19/24 Away v. Birmingham Berkshire (Silver)

1/6/25 Home v. South Hills

1/10/25 League Meet at Birmingham Covington

For questions about basketball, please contact 7th Grade Coach Andre Price or 8th Grade Coach Joel Lewis. Below is the remaining schedule for the season with home games starting at 4:15 (7th Grade) and 5:15 (8th Grade) and away games starting at 4:30 (7th Grade) and 5:30 (8th Grade). Home games are in bold below.

12/9/24 Home v. Farmington East

12/11/24 Away v. Oak Park

12/16/24 Away v. Norup (4:15 start)

12/18/24 Home v. West Bloomfield

1/8/25 Away v. Detroit Country Day

1/9/25 Home v. Royal Oak

1/13/25 Home v. West Bloomfield

1/15/25 Away v. Clarenceville

1/16/25 Home v. Cranbrook

Below are club and extra-curricular opportunities offered to students throughout the year. Check back each week for additional club information and updates.

Students are eligible to be inducted into NJHS in the spring of 7th Grade by earning a cumulative GPA of 3.7 through 6 terms (Terms 1-4 from 6th Grade and terms 1 and 2 of 7th Grade) and earning citizenship marks no less than a 2. For questions about NJHS, please contact NJHS sponsor, Ms. Ng. Meeting dates for current 8th Grade NJHS members take place once a month during 8th grade lunch and will take place on the following dates:

REMAINING MEETING DATES

12/12/24

1/23/25

2/27/25

3/13/25

4/17/25

5/22/25

The AMS Peer to Peer Program is a school-wide program designed to increase academic, independence, and social engagement opportunities for students with autism and other disabilities. This is achieved by inviting multiple peers without disabilities to pair up with students with disabilities during a variety of school activities. Peers model typical academic and social behavior while students with disabilities can practice and use skills in natural settings by learning from peers in a positive and dignified manner. Authentic relationships form as students actively participate in activities together.

To learn more about Peer2Peer, please watch this Peer2Peer Informational Video. Students interested in becoming a peer for the 2024-2025 school year should reach out to any of the following staff members: Mrs. Gershonowicz (Room 112), Mrs. Roesner (Room 103), or Mrs. Black (Room 223).

AMS is offering a free 10 session Yoga/Mindfulness class after school for students taught by certified Yoga instructor Natalie Fons-Welke. The free classes will take place on Wednesdays in room 114 from 3:30-4:30 pm on the following dates: November 6, 13, and 20, December 4, 11, and 18, January 8, 15, 22, and 29. Participation is free, however participants will need to purchase a yoga mat. If your child is interested in participating, they may simply show up on any of the dates offered. To learn more about the after school yoga class, click on the Yoga Mindfulness Overview.

Ski Club is available to Berkley School District students in grades 6-12 who ski or snowboard or are interested in learning. Starting on January 10 through the end of February, students in Ski Club will go to Mt. Holly, leaving AMS around 3:30 pm and getting back around 10:00 pm. For more information, please click on Ski Club 2025 and to access the registration form, please click on Ski Club Registration Form 2025. For questions about Ski Club, please contact Ski Club sponsor, Jim Cowdrey.

First Robotics Club has completed the FIRST Tech Challenge for this year. Meetings have paused until January 13 and will take place on Mondays at 4:00 pm in Room 114. If you have any questions about the First Robotics Club, please contact AMS parents and team sponsors, Martin Wekerle and Rob Calvano.

Drama Club is open to any students interested in learning more about acting and drama productions. Meetings will take place every Tuesday from 3:20-4:15 pm in the Media Center. For questions about Drama Club, please contact Zach Guerra

Chess Club is open to students with previous experience and those wishing to learn the game of Chess. Meetings will take place on Wednesdays from 3:20-4:15 in Room 100. For questions about Chess Club, please contact Mr. Mustonen.

The Dungeons and Dragons Club is for students who have previous experience playing Dungeons and Dragons and those who wish to learn. Meetings will take place every Monday from 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 111. For questions about the D&D Club, please contact Mr. Stoia.

The Eco Club is offered to students who have an interest preserving the environment and being part of environmentally friendly activities. Meetings will take place every Monday from 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 210. For questions about Eco Club, please contact Ms. Maimes.

Art Club will have a focus on drawing. All skill levels are welcome. Students should bring a sketchbook and their own drawing materials. Special papers and advanced drawing mediums will be available for those that want to explore. Meetings will take place every Thursday from 3:20-4:15 pm in the Art room (Room 110). For questions about Art Club, please contact Ms. Reid.

The Rainbow Room is Club is an inclusive after school club offering for LGBTQ+ students and LGTBQ+ allies. Meetings will take place every Wednesday from 3:20-4:15 pm in room 109. For questions about Rainbow Room, please contact Ms. Reid.

Homework Club provides students the opportunity to work independently or receive extra help with homework. Students who choose to attend homework club must be working on school work or school related work. Homework Club will take place every Monday and Wednesday from 3:20-4:15 in Room 115. For questions about Homework Club, please contact Mrs. McChesney or Mr. Stoia.

For the 2024-25 school year, school breakfast and lunch will be free for ALL students. The cafeteria will be open from 7:30-8:05 a.m. for breakfast and early drop-off (entry cut off at 7:55) and students must enter through the cafeteria door off the parking lot.

Please click to access the

December Lunch Menu

To view nutritional and food ingredient information for school breakfast and lunches served at AMS, please click on the Nutrislice Informational Page for AMS

PLEASE NOTE: AMS does not allow food delivery services such as GrubHub or DoorDash. Any order that is attempted to be delivered to AMS will be refused.

Please take the time to review the designated pick up and drop-off zones below. Some things to highlight include:

• CATALPA: No stopping, standing, parking, drop-off or pickup
• ROBINA: Drop-off and pickup zone; no parking on the street
• BUS PARKING ONLY: Buses may drop students in the designated bus parking
• AMS PARKING LOT: Drop-off and pickup zone; parking in parking lot spaces only
• Berkley Public Safety will be enforcing the traffic rules

When there are inclement weather conditions such as temperatures below 20 degrees, rain, or falling snow, students may enter the building upon their arrival through their designated grade level door and wait in the hallway until 8:05. As a reminder, our cafeteria is open everyday from 7:30-8:05 (entry cutoff at 7:55) for any students who wish to get breakfast or need to be dropped off early.

The Berkley African American Parent Network (BAAPN) is a parent run organization that works in partnership with the Berkley School District and Oakland County Schools. The BAAPN network is a way for parents with African American children in Berkley Schools to connect with each other. BAAPN is committed to supporting student engagement, high academic achievement, and increased parental involvement. For more information, please visit the BAAPN Facebook Page. Click to access the BAAPN membership form. Below are the remaining meeting dates for the 2024-25 school year with meetings taking place in the Norup Media Center at 7:00 pm:

February 27

March 13

May 15

Did you know that students from the BHS National Honor Society offer free peer tutoring? If you child is in need of tutoring, please click on NHS Middle School Tutors for the list of available tutors. It is as simple as looking through the list, identifying a tutor that meets your child's needs, and contacting them to arrange tutoring.

Berkley Schools has partnered with Varsity Tutors for Schools, an online platform with access to free learning tools. The Varsity Tutors Platform gives students more opportunities to learn at their own pace, to get support on subjects they might be struggling with, to explore subjects they are learning in class and to support their curiosities.

The platform includes the following:

• 24/7 on-demand chat tutoring and on-demand essay review to help students with any questions about homework, classwork or test prep.
• Live group classes, recorded classes and celebrity-led StarCourses allow students to learn more about the subjects they’re interested in and add a touch of fun.
• Assessments and self study practice problems provide opportunities to drill skills towards mastery.
• College prep & admissions resources ensure that students have the best resources available.

How to Access Varsity Tutors

Sign into the Varsity Tutors platform through the student Clever portal. To learn how to log into Clever with your child’s Berkley Schools Google account, follow these directions.

Learn More & Get Started!

• Varsity Tutors Berkley Schools Launchpad
• Frequently Asked Questions

All parents, guardians, or family members interested in volunteering, chaperoning, and/or driving other students for school-sponsored functions or field trips must complete the following forms prior to the event or activity:

Parent Volunteer Form (Includes Chaperone form)

*The Volunteer Form must be accompanied with a copy of your valid driver's license or state-issued ID.

Parent Driver Form (To be turned into the AMS Office)

For both MISTAR and Schoology, there is a specific site for the Berkley School District. To ensure that you are logging into the correct sites, please use the following links below:

Schoology

MISTAR Parent Portal

For any tech related issues, parents and students should put in a tech ticket and it will be routed to the appropriate department to get resolved ASAP.

Order your AMS Yearbook (prices starting at $40.00). To order your yearbook, click on the AMS 2024-25 Online Ordering Link

To view the AMS event calendar for 2024-25, please click on AMS Event Calendar 2024-25. Please keep in mind that due to various circumstances, event times and dates are subject to change and events may be added or removed.

Anytime is a great time to purchase AMS spirit wear. Ordering is simple through our online store with many options to choose from. To shop for AMS spirit wear, please visit the AMS Online Spirit Wear Store. There will be a Holiday sale taking place November 4 - mid-December with 25% off all merchandise and guaranteed delivery for the holidays. There will be new product lines and designs that will make great gifts for the entire family.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Michael Ross

AMS Principal

Email: michael.ross@berkleyschools.org
Website: https://www.berkleyschools.org/schools/anderson/
Location: 3205 Catalpa Drive, Berkley, MI, USA
Phone: 248-837-8200