Amherst Middle School
June 6, 2025
Message From the Leadership Team
Message From the Leadership Team
Dear AMS Families,
As we enter the final days of the school year, there is so much to celebrate here at AMS! Earlier this week, students wowed us with their creativity, confidence, and courage during the AMS Talent Show. From musical performances to comedy and dance, our students put on an unforgettable show that highlighted the amazing talents within our school community. Bravo to all of our performers!
Weβre also incredibly proud of our spring sports teamsβour baseball and softball athletes continue to compete in the playoffs, and some of our track and field athletes are headed to the state championship! Our boys' and girls' lacrosse teams gave it their all during playoffs as well. Their dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship are something to be celebrated.
With the weather heating up, please make sure your child dresses appropriately for warm conditions, as some areas of the building can get quite hot. Itβs also important that students bring a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Students will begin cleaning out their lockers and bringing home school supplies in the coming daysβso donβt be surprised if backpacks come home a little heavier than usual!
A reminder that Thursday, June 12 is the last day of school for students in grades 5, 6, and 7. Itβs also our Step Up Day, when students will visit their next grade-level teachers and classrooms to get excited for the year ahead. This is an early release day, with dismissal at 12:50 PM. Please plan transportation accordingly.
Letβs finish strong, AMS!
Be well,
Kristen Gauthier
Principal
Mike Cuddyer
Assistant Principal, 7/8
Matt Lane
Assistant Principal, 5/6
Upcoming Events
June 9 - Mon - 7th Grade Crotched Mountain Field Trip
June 11 - Wed - 8th Grade Graduation 6:00PM - (AMS -3 Softball outfield)
June 11 - Wed - 8th Grade Dance 7:00PM
June 12 - Thurs - Last Day of School (12:50 Dismissal)
New News
Summer Office Hours
Starting June 15 through August 23, the AMS main office will be open to the public Tuesday through Thursday, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
If you need assistance outside of those hours, feel free to call us at (603) 673-8944 or email us at ams@sau39.orgβweβre here to help!
9th Grade Summer Activities (for current 8th Grade Students)
Souhegan will offer two programs for rising 9th grade students to orient them to our school. More details will be sent by mid June directly to families, but we wanted to get the dates out for families to be aware:
Saber Start Up - Aug. 12, 13, 14th Optional small group orientation program that emphasizes building connections
9th Grade & Transfer Student Orientation - Fri. August 22nd (half day) - All new 9th grade and transfer students encouraged to attend. Student will engage in activities and will have an opportunity to take care of some required logistic items (technology, key cards, schedule walk through, etc).
Weekly Athletics Schedule
π Final Season Schedule Announcement! π
As we head into the final stretch of an incredible season, weβre excited to share the official final schedules for our Baseball, Softball, and Track & Field teams. Come out and support our athletes as they finish strong!
Reminders
Donations Wanted: 8th Grade Grad Dance, June 11
Our 8th graders are graduating on Wednesday, June 11th! We are looking for volunteers to donate snacks, baked goods, water bottles, plates, and napkins for the 8th Grade Graduation Dance (immediately following graduation). Please include a list of ingredients for any home-baked goods.
You can drop off items at AMS on Tuesday, June 10th and Wednesday, June 11th.
Thank you for your support!
Amherst PTA
8th Grade Families - Graduation Reminders
As you may have read in a recent email from SAU 39, Thursday, June 12th is the last day of school for students at Amherst Middle School. Traditionally, we have held a graduation ceremony for 8th-grade students the evening before, scheduled for Wednesday, June 11th. This is also the last day of school for 8th-grade students.
I am writing to share details regarding the event with you so that you can plan with your family. We will share additional information as the date approaches.
On June 11th, 8th graders will participate in transition activities, including graduation rehearsal, pizza lunch, and yearbook signing. Regular dismissal takes place at 3:24 pm.
Students and families are invited to join us later that evening from 6:00-7:00 pm for a graduation ceremony on the back lawn behind the school. Students should be in their seats no later than 5:45 pm.
We have plenty of space and outdoor seating in this area, and we warmly welcome family members to join us. There is no limit on the number of guests each student may bring. In case of inclement weather, we will hold the ceremony in the gym. We ask that no more than two guests attend per student. We will NOT issue tickets; we simply ask that all comply with this limit. If the weather is questionable on the day of graduation, we will send an email and post the location of the ceremony on our Facebook page as soon as possible.
There is an 8th-grade dance immediately following the graduation ceremony in the AMS cafΓ© until 9:00 pm. This dance is for our 8th-grade students only. Students who do not attend the graduation ceremony will not be permitted to attend the dance.
Thank you for your patience as we confirmed the date of this special event. Please reach out to ams@sau39.org with any questions.
Copper Cannon Camp Registration Day at the Nashua Elks Lodge
π Summer Camp Info Session & Registration Event π
Come learn about a tuition-free, traditional summer camp for kids ages 9β16!
π Location: Nashua Elks Lodge
π Date: Saturday, May 31st
β° Time: 12:00 PM β 3:00 PM
π Address: 12 Murphy Drive, Nashua, NH 03062
π Venue Phone: (603) 888-9804
β
Eligibility: Campers must qualify for the free or reduced school meal program
π² Camp Location: Bethlehem, NH
π¬ For camp info or to pre-register, contact Katie at (603) 823-8107 or kgadapee@coppercannon.org
Give your child an experience of a lifetime!
This opportunity is not affiliated with any school or district event or activity.
Summer Notes from the Health Office
Summer is almost here and that signifies the end of my first year here at AMS. I want to thank you all for your support and answering the call when the health office and the students needed you. I am proud to be a part of this AMS community.
A couple housekeeping notes. Please be sure to arrange for pick up of ANY medication that was stored in the health office this year. I will not be available after June 12th and all medications left will be discarded. If your student is attending any of the summer programs, you still need to pick up the medication and deliver it to the medical professional for the summer programs. NO medications left behind will be used for the summer or next school year.
To ensure a safe and smooth start to the 25/26 school year, please have all medication and doctor's orders ready for the first day of school. These medications and doctorβs orders include; daily medication to be given at school, medications to be given if they are missed at home, as needed medication for chronic conditions, and rescue medication with emergency plans (seizure, asthma, anaphylactic allergies, diabetes). You can submit these orders and plans as well as updated physicals and immunizations to the email address amshealthoffice@sau39.org. The following are links to the forms that your healthcare provider can use to complete the orders.
Daily Medication Authorization Form.pdf
All medication orders and emergency plans need to be updated for next school year and dated on or after Jul 1, 2025. Orders from this school year will not be valid for next school year.
Lastly, if your student is entering 7th grade they will need the TDaP vaccination to be compliant with State laws and permitted to attend school. If they have received the vaccination already please make sure an updated immunization record has been submitted to the health office. If you have a religious exemption, please submit a religious exemption form found at
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt476/files/documents2/imm-cert-religious-exemption.pdf
Thank you so much for your cooperation and support this year.
Anna Short BSN, RN & Maddie Charest LNA
YMCA Before the Bell Registration Open for 2025-2026
Registration is now open for the 2025-2026 Y Academy program, please go to HERE to register your student(s) for the upcoming school year.
Book Buzz
π Summer Reading Is On! π
Presented by Amherst Middle School Library & Amherst Town Library
Get ready for a summer full of stories, adventures, and rewards!
β¨ Whatβs in store:
Awesome book recommendations to keep you reading all summer
Fun challenges with chances to win cool prizes
Events & activities for all ages, starting June 16th at ATL
π Level Up Your Summer!
Read often, stay sharp, and make this your most memorable summer yet.
π Visit either library or check online for full details!
πSchool yourself this Summer with NH Great Stone Face Nominee Myth of Monsters: Medusa by Katherine Marsh and attend a mysterious boarding school for descendants of Greek monsters with 12-year-old Ava Baldwin where youβll uncover hidden truths about history and mythology!
πOr Get in the Game with NH Isinglass Nominee Rez Ball by Byron Graves by cheering on Tre Brun, a 15-year-old Ojibwe basketball player from the Red Lake Reservation in Minnesota as he leads his high school team to their first state championship!
From thrilling adventures to heartwarming tales, thereβs something for everyone in the links below.
π Great Stone Face
πIsinglass Award
Happy reading!
Parent Partnership
Summer break is almost upon us. Students will likely have increased time on their hands and be more apt to use screens more. Here is an article to consider on limiting screen time for kids in the summer.
Nurse Notes
PTA Corner
Becoming a member of the PTA doesn't mean signing your life away volunteering, although we can always use more volunteers. If you are interested in chairing an event/committee, are looking to get more involved or you want to meet some new people, log on to https://amherstnhpta.membershiptoolkit.com/ to complete your registration today!
You can also reach out to the PTA via email if you have any questions or concerns that need to be addressed before our first meeting, amherstptanh@gmail.com.
As you complete the PowerSchool Registration forms for school this year, please make sure to opt into the PTA Directory (it is the last form)! This will allow Clark Wilkins and AMS to share contact info directly with the PTA, making it easier for you to stay up-to-date with all PTA communications, including room parent emails.
Amherst Town Library Line Up
πThe library is cool! Come in & check out our new selection!πListening is reading too!
Are you familiar with our Playaway Collection? The holiday weekend is here and summer is coming. It is a great time to connect your child with these audiobook devices.
Community News
Sabers Football 4th Annual Golf Tournament
Register today for the 4th Annual Saber Football Golf Tournament and support our 2024 NH State Champions! Your participation helps fund new uniforms, equipment upgrades, summer training, and senior scholarships. Tee off for tomorrow's champions!
When: June 27, 2025
Where: Crotched Mountain Golf Club.
Email sabergolftourney@gmail.com with questions
Register: https://bit.ly/4hgLOhn
Registration for Camp Souhegan at Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley is open!
The 10-week program runs from June 16 through August 22, 2025 at the Club in Milford, NH. The Camp will be closed on Friday, July 4th. Sign up by the week or by the day. Early Bird rates ($225 a week) are available until March 31, 2025. After that, the rates are $275 a week. The daily rate is $65 a day. See svbgc.org for information about available financial aid or to register.
Each week of Camp Souhegan has a special theme, and a wide variety of field trips are offered, including a Fisher Cats game, Cheshire Children's Museum, Stone Zoo, Boston Museum of Science, Squam Lake, Wallis Sands State Park and more! Drop off begins at 7:00 am, structured camp programming runs from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm and pick up time is 6:00 pm. Campers have lots of nature-inspired, outdoor play opportunities, and free swim and swim lessons are available through our partnership with Keyes Pool.
Camp Souhegan is designed for youth in K-10th grades. All rising kindergarteners who wish to attend Camp Souhegan must be at least 4 years and 8 months old at their start date.
To learn more, drop by an Open House on Saturday, March 15, 2025 or Saturday, May 3rd, from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm, at 56 Mont Vernon Street, Milford, NH.
For specific questions, please reach out to Alex Craven, Program Director at acraven@svbgc.org.
SAU 39 School Calendars
2025-2026: Check out this link for the 2025-2026 approved Amherst School District calendar.