Mustang News

Happy Halloween Mustang Families-

I am sure everyone is looking forward to a litte break. We will enjoy our fall break starting on Friday, November 1st. Students will return to school on Wednesday, November 6th. We even have an extra hour of sleep built in this weekend when we roll our clocks back one hour!

Review:

What a fun week we had at AMS!

Golden Ticket Day was a raging success on Tuesday! Students were selected by a staff member for representing the HERD values. Each staff member chose one student to recognize on Golden Ticket day. Golden Ticket Winners had a pancake breakfast in the morning, ice cream floats at lunch, and a movie with popcorn for 5th and 6th hours.

We hosted middle school boys basketball tryouts this week. A valiant effort was put forth by all.

We also had our first after-school party of the year. We had an awesome turnout and fun games and prizes. Students participated in a limbo contest and a costume contest.

This week Project Healthy Schools sponsored an apple tasting event during lunches on Wednesday. Students were able to try three different varieties of fresh Michigan apples! This was a healthy treat during Halloween candy season.

On Wednesday evening, we hosted the district Halls of Halloween. Families from all over the district came to trick-or-treat at our decorated tables hosted by students, families, and staff. We saw so many adorable future middle schoolers!

Finally, on Thursday we had our first Free Your Phone Fun Day fundraiser

Preview

Next week our fall break continues with No School on Monday and Teacher Professional Development on Election Day. Please make sure you take time to Vote!

Our 8th graders will be travelling to Washington DC. This is always a highlight of our year. Dr. Gomez will be travelling with the group so please reach out to Mrs. Schneider if you need support next week.

We will host 5th grade Career Day at AMS on Thursday, November 7th. Fifth grade students from around the district will come to AMS and listen to guest speakers about a variety of different careers.

On Friday, November 8th, 8th grade students who are not attending the Washington DC trip will be going to Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford museum. This trip is fully sponsored and it is our hope that all students who did not go to Washington DC attend.

The Best Things:

This week it is impossible to choose The Best Things. There were so many examples of HERD values. We saw students offer to pay for other students to attend the after-school party or to participate in Free Your Phone day. We had about 50 kids stay after school on Wednesday night to help get ready for Halls of Halloween. They saved the day by setting up tables and moving chairs. I will say that the best thing this week was the awesome sense of community! Thank you for sending us your children!

November

• Nov. 1-5 Diwali & Fall Break
• Nov 3: Roll Clocks Back One Hour
• Nov. 5 No school for Students-Staff Professional Learning day
• Nov. 11 Gifted & Talented Program Tour (see flier below)
• Nov. 18 Gifted & Talented Program Tour (see flier below)

• Nov. 20: Parent Teacher Conference (Date Change)
• Nov. 25-29 No School- Fall Break

6th Grade:

Avianna Arnold

Jackson Pero

Abigail Ferguson

Kaylee Stokes

Joey Ludwig

Skye Smith

Bryanna Rivera-Ortiz

Waylon Her

Grayson Sheldon

Jazmin Rodriguez-Robles

Sophia Rochat

Tyler Parker

Piper Gillenwater

Gavin Davis

Kairav Rathi

JayJay MacMillan

Myles Wilson

Nevaeh Terry

Francesca Tremonti

Isiah Cheng

Chase Newman

Dakota Womack

Shontel Phillips

Rayven Clark

7th Grade:

Adamina Moua

Sharon Moreno Rosales

Kaylee Taylor

Roscoe Harvey

Daniel Kelly

Demetrius Roguemore

Esther Figueroa Cabezas

Monserrat Suarez

Emily Luu

Khayden Ratcliff

Columbus Ward Jr.

Malya Van

Jordyn Hillie

Abel Anthony

Jovonye White

Ghazal Askar

Avah Shumpert

Jayden Braga

Kaylin Parish

Princess Grant

Jacksom Sharp

Michael (Mikey) Quinn

Hailey Rahn

Nova McFadden

8th Grade:

Reagan Petras

Dhivya Ahilan

Amarilis Aguilar Copin

Madison Thornton

Jesus Cazares

Karidee Fishbeck

Lucilia Blitz

Keniyah Stanley

Andrew Qin

Quinton Miller

Jacob Lafnear

Paxton Majka

Jason Taylor

Samantha Schultz

Aaliyah Garcia-Cardens

Olivia Gubala

Larry Gibbs

Adrian Vera

Fahkir Scott

Maria Cruz

Progress Reports for Quarter One will be viewable at the end of next week. Please check out the guide linked below to see how to check grades!

Please see the video below, demonstrating how you can view your child's assignments and grades in PowerSchool.

Next week marks the beginning of Quarter 2. All students will have a fresh start on our daily expectations. Students are expected to have their ID/Lanyards and Yondr pouches (if they have a phone) every morning when they come in the door. Students who forget these items three times will be assigned a detention. Consequences will increase each time they forget after that. The same discipline progression is in place for tardies. Students who have three tardies to class will be assigned a lunch detention. Parents will be contacted via email for lunch detentions and via phone for additional consequences. Students will also lose their GO cards when they earn consequences.

The discipline progression is as follows:

3rd offense (ID/Lanyard, Yondr Pouch, or Tardy) = lunch detention

4th offense: 60 minute after school detention

5th offense: Parent meeting

6th offense: 90 minute after school detention

7th offense: In-school suspension

Students who continue to struggle with being responsible for bringing their required items each day will be referred for additional support and check-ins.

To help your student be successful, they should make it a habit to put their Yondr Pouch and lanyard with ID, and Go Cards in their backpack everyday after school. This can help so they are not left at home or in the car and to avoid added replacement fees, miss out on special events or even possible detention.

The fee to replace IDs is $5. The fee to replace GO cards is $5. Students may only replace a lost GO card once per quarter. Students may only replace LOST GO cards, they may not purchase a replacement GO card if their GO card was taken for disciplinary reasons. The fee to replace lanyards is $1. The fee to replace Yondr pouches is $30.

In person conferences will be November 20th from 4:30-7:30pm. Conference Sign-ups will be sent out the week of November 11th. We will also have opportunities the week of November 19-22 for virtual or phone conferences.

AMS is thrilled to be offering a variety of clubs this year! We have some favorites from years past and some new ones. There is a student activities fee to join a club. This is a one time fee that allows you to participate in as many clubs as you'd like. The cost is $50 ($25 if your family qualifies for reduced lunch or $10 if you family qualifies for free lunch). Even though all lunches are free currently in Michigan, families must complete the Free and Reduced Lunch. This form can be found here (Apply for benefits).

Students need to register for clubs prior to attending to ensure there is space in the club or get put on a waiting list. If your student is interested, s/he may get a form in the cafeteria or by speaking to the sponsoring teacher. Flyers are also published closer to the bottom of the newsletter.

Monday

Art Club (3-4)

Rainbow Club (Ms. Vishnubhotla 3-4)--Newly added

Tuesday

Random Acts of Kindness (Mrs. Childers 3-4)

No Place for Hate (Dr. Spinks 3-4)

Wednesday

Anime & Gaming Club (Ms. Vishnubhotla 3-4)

Green Team (Mrs. Kochajda 2:50-4)

Spanish Club (Mrs. Valle 3-4:30)

Student Council (Mrs. Gilbert during lunch)

NJHS by invitation (Mrs. Nofs & Mr. Masen

Ski Club (see below)*Additional costs for lift tickets

Thursday

Pickleball (Fall)

Tennis (Spring)

Youth in Government (Mr. Masen 3-4)

Social Media Club (Mrs. Wyatt 3-4:30)

Science Club (Dr. Spinks 3-4)

Friday

Diamond Painting Club (Ms. McGee 3-4)

Girl Talk is Tuesday-Friday from 7:15-7:45 am and every other Friday from 3-4:30

Coming soon...Jazz Band (Day and time to be determined)

The Avondale Theatre Company has been working hard on the upcoming production of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit on Nov 7, 8, & 9th at 7:05pm and Nov 10th at 2:05.

• Performances will all take place at the Avondale Performing Arts Center at 2800 Waukegan St. Auburn Hills, MI.
• Tickets available at avondaletheatrecompany.ludus.com
• General Admission $10
• Students $5
• Avondale staff is Free!

The 2024-2025 yearbook is for sale! The theme this year is "Let Your Light Shine". Make sure to get your student's yearbook before the price increases! Please follow this LINK to order, call or scan the QR code below.

Students worked on logging in to PowerSchool this week in their Social Studies classes. Directions are linked below if you would like them to practice logging in at home.

Oakland University's SEHS Counseling Center will be offering FREE study and coping skills groups for grades 3-5, middle school, and high school students this fall. Please see the attached flyer

The attendance line phone number is (248)537-6310.

You may call this number at any time. Leave a message with your student's first and last name, the date of the absence, and reason for absence.

“Blessings in a Backpack” is a program designed to provide students with food for three meals a day during the weekends. If you agree to take part in this program, during the school year, your child will receive a bag filled with purchased food for the weekend. Bags will be dispensed in a discreet and caring manner. The simple meals may include food like macaroni and cheese cups, beef ravioli cups, tuna, granola bars, fruit cups and cheese and crackers among other items. For you there is no cost associated with this program.

To ensure, as to the best of our ability, to provide for a safe packing environment all volunteers will follow the guidelines established by the Avondale School District. All food will be sent home in disposable plastic bags. If you would like to have your child participate in this program, fill out the form below and return it to your child’s school AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If you have more than one child attending the school, list the names of all children in this school.

Please be sure to indicate on the form if your child has any food allergies.

Lanyards and IDs: Students are expected to wear their lanyards on their necks every day. Please help your student come up with a helpful routine to remember their lanyard every day. Students who forget their lanyards will sign in and be given a name sticker for the day. Students who forget their lanyard three times will earn a lunch detention. Please communicate with us if there is an issue with a lost lanyard. We did provide temporary IDs for students who did not attend orientation. We will print replacements after picture retakes. We are still working on getting our office team access to print IDs. Once that happens, replacement IDs and lanyards will be $5.

Yondr Pouches: Students who bring a phone to school must use a Yondr pouch. Please make sure they have their pouch every day, if they are bringing a phone. If a student loses their Yondr pouch, they can purchase a replacement in the office for $30.

Clear Backpacks: Now that students have their lockers, any non-clear backpack must be stored in their locker during the day. We have clear backpacks for sale and in the office. See below.

Snacks: Students may bring a snack to eat during Roundup. Please do not send full sized bags of candy or chips. Students may only have water.

THIS WEEKS BIRTHDAY'S:

11/1 Lorena R

11/1 Penny G

11/1 Rhyan J

11/2 Rayden B

11/3 Walter M

11/4 Rae'Niyah H

11/5 Elena B

11/6 Layla L

11/7 Mateo D

11/7 Avianna A

11/7 Kazh'Mar F

In an effort to create continuity between elementary and high school in Avondale, the middle school will move to a standards based grading model this fall. Here is what you need to know:

• Students will earn two grades for each class.
• Academic proficiency - this grade will communicate progress toward state standards for learning.
• Skills for successful learners - this grade will communicate development of key habits of learning needed for continued school and life success.
• All grades in the gradebook and on report cards will be on a 1-4 scale. If there is no evidence for the standard, an NE will be in the gradebook.
• 1 = Beginning (Student is able to demonstrate minimal knowledge of the standard with significant support and scaffolding)
• 2 = Developing (Student is able to demonstrate some knowledge of the standard with support and scaffolding)
• 3 = Approaching (Student is able to demonstrate knowledge of the standard independently with minimal support and scaffolding most of the time)
• 4 = Proficient (Student is able to demonstrate knowledge of the standard independently and consistently)
• Students will have multiple opportunities to demonstrate knowledge of the standard through different activities.
• Grades will be entered in Powerschool throughout the semester to communicate regular progress to parents.

Our goal is that all students get to school safely and on time. As Dr. Gomez has shared, students should be dropped off by 7:40 to allow time to get to their locker and get breakfast. Below is a reminder of our parking lot directions and expectations.

1. Car Drop Off Line

• All drop-offs and pickups are in this first (North) loop in the drop-off/pick up zone only. Cars are NOT allowed in the bus loop.
• Pull all the way forward to the drop-off/pick-up zone to drop students off. Do NOT drop-off/pick-up students outside of the zone marked identified by the yellow and orange safety cones .
• Students should be ready to get out of the car. Give kisses and hugs in the waiting line before reaching the drop-off/pick-up zone.

• Please do not pass other drivers or buses.

• All students must exit the vehicle from the curb side.

• Please pull into a parking space if you need to exit your vehicle or come into the building.

• Please be safe and courteous by driving slowly and refraining from listening to loud or profane music. Please remember that AMS is a drug-free/smoke-free campus.

• Watch for students walking to a car.

2. Bus Loop

• The Bus Loop is directly in front of the building around our staff parking lot.
• Only students riding a school bus may be dropped off in this loop.
• Do not drop students off in this loop from 7:15-8:00.

3. Walkers

• Walkers need to cross at the light or at the crosswalks along Mustang Drive.
• Walkers should walk on the school sidewalk and not in the parking lot.

Do NOT drop-off or pick-up students in the neighborhood along Cone Avenue or in the parking lot by the football field.

Additionally, please do not park or wait in the GATE entrance to pick up students at the end of the day.

AVONDALE DISTRICT UPDATES

FREE Meals for All Students!

Website: https://www.avondaleschools.org/food-services

Menu Link: https://avondale.nutrislice.com

Menu Notes

Supply chain issues may affect our online menus. We will do our best to communicate any changes to keep you informed of our menu choices.

Menu Prices

Every student is able to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch daily. Extra items such as drinks, extra entrees, and snacks are available for purchase.

Adding Funds

Funds can be added to your child’s account through our serving lines via cash or check made out to Avondale School District Nutrition. Elementary buildings will not have the ability to provide change so any additional funds will be added to that student’s account. You may also add funds online by clicking https://a

For Avondale School District, it is important to note that families should still complete the CEP Education Benefits application at https://avondale.familyportal.cloud, which helps ensure ongoing state funding and can qualify your child’s school or community for other special programs. CEP offers a great opportunity for everyone to eat together in the cafeteria and hopefully make it easier for students and families to confidently check breakfast and lunch off their list. We’re excited to serve even more students in the Avondale community this year, helping to fuel busy days with favorite menu items and a variety of delicious new recipes!

Breakfast is available every school day this year (including half days) and will be served before and up to the first bell. Breakfast will include grab and go items, fresh fruits, milk, and a variety of other sides.

Lunch is available each full day of school. Each building level has a unique menu which is available on https://avondale.nutrislice.com. Nutrislice delivers all ASD menus through smartphones, email, and the web. You can also download Nutrislice from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and search Avondale to start viewing menus.

Please contact our office with any questions and we look forward to serving your students this school year!

Director of Dining Services: Megan Haase
Assistant Director of Dining Services: Kyle Cooper
Administrative Assistant: Amanda Paul

Complete Application Here

If you missed purchasing items at parent orientation, we have the following items for sale in the main office. At this time, we are only able to accept cash. We will also be selling replacement ID's with lanyards in the office when school begins. The cost for a replacement ID and lanyard is $5.

Please take a moment to review our AMS Student Handbook. The revised Code of Conduct is coming soon!

Middle School Cheer - Cheer began on September 3rd. if your student made the Cheer team, here is the calendar of events. Middle School Cheer Calendar

Middle School Cross Country has begun! Here is a copy of the calendar for those who may still be interested in joining. Middle School Cross Country Calendar

Middle School is a tumultuous time for students and parents. This may lead to a classroom or building concern. We ask that you please follow the protocol outlined in the document below. We want to partner with families to create a postitive learning environment. Please make sure you are respectful in your communications and allow time to investigate and follow-up with you. We hope that having a system in place provides more clarity and allows us to help you resolve any concerns you may have.

If you're unable to connect with your child's teacher directly, we've provided a convenient link below to submit a parent concern form. Our main office will review these forms daily and reach out to you with next steps within 72 hours, initiating an investigation and ensuring resolution.

Thank you!

Email: kathryn.gomez@avondaleschools.org
Website: https://www.avondaleschools.org/avondale-middle-school
Location: 1445 West Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, MI, USA
Phone: (248)537-6300