2023-2024 AMP Happenings

The faculty and staff of the NEISD Agriscience Magnet Program want to say we are deeply thankful for the opportunity to work with your students and we extend to you our best wishes. May you enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving!

Howdy AMP families and students,

The North East ISD will be closed the week of November 20th. Classes will resume on Monday, November 27th.

The following are the important events and happenings for the week of November 20th and 27th.

• Monday, November 20, 2023 - Bexar County Swine Validation; 4:00PM to 6:00PM; AMP Complex
• November 20 - 24, 2023 - NEISD Campuses Closed
• Friday, December 1, 2023 - Entry Deadline for North East Ag Fair (entry forms can be found online at https://northeastagfair.weebly.com/)
• December 1 - 2, 2022 - Texas FFA Leadership Development Events - Sam Houston State University
• Monday, December 4, 2023 - NEISD Magnet Night Information Session @ Garner MS from 5:30PM to 7:00PM
• December 5 - 7, 2023 - 1st Semester Exam Exemption Request Window through Skyward Student Access
• Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - James Madison FFA Greenhand Degree Ceremony @ 6:30PM in AMP Commons
• Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - James Madison FFA Booster Club General Meeting @ 6:30PM in AMP Commons

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

AMP Daily Announcements

• 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
  

The following are helpful resources for Seniors:

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

The 1st Semester Exam Exemption window opens at 7:00am on December 5th and closes December 7th at 4:30pm through Skyward Student Access.

Please see the 2023-2024 NEISD Exam Exemptions Guidelines and FAQs for more details, along with frequently asked questions!

On Wednesday, November 15th, AMP students competed in the next level of competition at the Area 7 FFA LDEs. We had 18 AMP students that competed in 6 different LDEs. We are excited to announce that Senior FFA Quiz and Agricultural Issues Forum teams are advancing to the Texas FFA LDEs that will take place on December 1st and 2nd at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX.

Results are as follows for the Area 7 FFA LDEs:

• Agriculture Advocacy - 6th place
• Agricultural Issues Forum - 2nd place
• Sr. Creed Speaking - 5th place
• Sr. Quiz - 1st place
• Public Relations - 3rd place
• Sr. Spanish Creed Speaking - 6th place

AMP senior, Isabella Gonzalez, was the proud recipient of a $1,000 Colton Tatsch Memorial Scholarship which was announced at the 2023 Colton Tatsch Memorial Jackpot Show held on Saturday, November 11th. Congratulations Isabella!

Ag Champs: $1,000 to 19 students + $1,000 to their chapter or club

Each Texas Farm Credit branch location will select one local student who will be awarded a $1,000 academic grant and the title of Ag Champ. In addition, each Ag Champ will also have a $1,000 contribution made in their honor to their FFA chapter or 4-H club.

https://texasfarmcredit.com/our-story/community/scholarship-programs/

Marsha Martin Scholarship: $5,000 to 10 students

Texas Farm Credit will present $5,000 postsecondary scholarships to ten future ag leaders. Winners will be announced in May. The annual scholarship program is named in honor of Paris, Texas native Marsha Pyle Martin, a strong advocate for youths and agriculture who passed away in 2000 following a 30-year Farm Credit career.

https://texasfarmcredit.com/our-story/community/scholarship-programs/

Due Date

All applications are due by 11:59 pm on January 15, 2024. All winners will be announced by May 2024.

Eligibility

To qualify, an applicant must:

• Be a high school senior scheduled to graduate in 2024 (Children of employees or directors are not eligible)
• Be a member of FFA or 4-H
• Reside in Texas Farm Credit's 100-county territory
• Submit a current high school transcript (official or unofficial)
• Submit a 2024 application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Submit a resume
• Submit an essay (see application for essay topic)
• Completed applications must be received by January 15, 2024

The website and resources have been updated for the 2024 North East Ag Fair scheduled to be held January 12-13, 2024. The website address is https://northeastagfair.weebly.com/.

Besides the opportunity for students that are raising livestock for the major livestock shows to participate, we will be hosting the other competitions to include the Creative Arts competition, BBQ Cook-Off, Ag Mechanics Build-Off, and Fastest Torch in the West. In addition, we are having an online Premium Auction to benefit eligible exhibitors of the North East Ag Fair.

Students wishing to compete in the 2024 North East Ag Fair can find the Premium Booklet and entry forms online at: https://northeastagfair.weebly.com/exhibitors.html. The deadline to enter all competitions at the 2024 North East Ag Fair is Friday, December 1, 2023.

The FFA Booster Club is seeking business and family sponsors for the North East Ag Fair. Sponsorship levels are available from $500 to $2500. Potential sponsors can find out more information about the sponsorship opportunities by going to: https://northeastagfair.weebly.com/sponsors.html.

Belt Buckle Sponsorships - The FFA Booster Club is in need of individual and business sponsorships for the custom trophy belt buckles that will be awarded this year at the North East Ag Fair. Twenty-six (26) belt buckles will be awarded at the North East Ag Fair. The sponsorship cost is $200 per buckle. Sponsorships can be done online by going to: https://james-madison-ffa-booster.square.site/.

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 Monday, December 5th 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