Update from the Middle
October 27, 2023
Dear AMS Families,
First and foremost, we wanted to touch base with all of you and thank you for a wonderful start to the school year. Overall, our students seem happy, and positive, and are making good choices. It seems like some of the challenges Covid-19 brought on for our children are beginning to slowly fade away and students seem generally more upbeat and focused on learning this year.
Secondly, we wanted to touch base about an important change we made to our lunch procedures this year. To have proper supervision and ensure a safe environment for our students, they are expected to sit down at a table to eat and socialize with their table group for 13 minutes. After they have cleaned up and checked in with staff, students have the remaining 32 minutes of lunch to go any of the many other supervised areas on campus including the Library, Gym, Field, and Courtyard. We have found that more students are eating, socializing, and developing responsible clean up habits as a result of this focused, uninterrupted eating time and students have been able to better regulate themselves during the afternoon. If a student is having a difficult time meeting the expectations at lunch (sitting at a table during the eating time, cleaning up their space, and waiting for staff to dismiss them), you may receive an email from us, and we would appreciate it if you followed up at home about these important expectations during the 13-minute eating time during lunch. Thank you!
Lastly, we wanted to let you know that we sent out chronic attendance letters recently. At this point in the year, it only takes 5 absences or more to be considered chronically absent by the state of Oregon. We understand a quick family trip, or a few days ill can lead to families getting a letter with reminders of the importance of regular attendance. These letters are not meant to upset you or cause alarm, merely to communicate the importance of regular attendance and ensure that families understand the impact of absences during the school year. We have seen many students who were chronically absent in the first 6 weeks of school transition into regular attendees as the term has progressed. We appreciate families that keep students home when they are showing signs of illness. Please remember that we are expected to send regular notifications to families of students who are chronically absent and that our goal is to partner with you to address any barriers there may be for a student to attend regularly. We will be providing information and handouts during conferences so our families can understand more about the importance of regular attendance and the practices and policies that our district follows.
Happy Autumn!
Steve Retzlaff-Principal
Rebecca Gyarmathy-Assistant Principal
Come shop at the AMS Book Fair when you are here for your child's conference!
The Scholastic Book Fair offers a small, personal environment for your family to shop. It’s like a bookstore, but better! Every book at the Book Fair has been reviewed and approved by reading specialists. The Fair also carries special, more affordable versions of books.
When: Conference Days October 30th - November 1st
Mon-Tues: 8AM-3PM
Wed: 11AM-6PM
Where: AMS Library
A percentage of all sales benefit the AMS Library.
Fall Wrap-Up
Please look around for any cross country, football, or volleyball uniforms your student still might have. They can be dropped off at the main office during conferences.
Now is also the time to register for the remaining AMS sport. Below are the season start dates for the following AMS sports:
- Wrestling & Girls Basketball (January 2nd)
- Track & Field (March 4th)
Students must be registered on FamilyID, and have a current sports physical on file.
At Cubs Corner the students do crafts and play games during lunch time. We are in need of any crafts that you might have at home: pipe Cleaners, pom-poms, popsicle sticks, ribbon, felt pieces, bead materials for making bracelets, etc. Great time to clean out your craft supplies.
We are also in need of any games (in good condition ) and playing cards.
Please drop off donations at the front desk with Karin.
The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple-choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development of problem-solving skills. The AMC 8 provides an opportunity for middle school students to develop positive attitudes towards analytical thinking and mathematics that can assist in future careers. Students apply classroom skills to unique problem-solving challenges in a low-stress and friendly environment.
The material covered on the AMC 8 includes topics from a typical middle school mathematics curriculum. Possible topics include but are not limited to counting and probability, estimation, proportional reasoning, elementary geometry including the Pythagorean Theorem, spatial visualization, everyday applications, and reading and interpreting graphs and tables. In addition, some of the later questions may involve linear or quadratic functions and equations, coordinate geometry, and other topics traditionally covered in a beginning algebra course.
We have 10 spots open. After completing the survey and expressing your desire to take the examination, please submit $10 to Mr. Lambert. I'm sorry, there are no refunds due to absences, etc.
ASF 2023 Monster Dash Race
15TH ANNUAL MONSTER DASH
RUN FOR EDUCATION
Saturday, October 28, 2023
PRESENTED BY LITHIA4KIDS
AHS KEY CLUB, ASHLAND KIWANIS CLUB & ASHLAND SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
A BENEFIT FOR ASHLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
GET READY FOR THIS YEAR’S MONSTER DASH RUN FOR EDUCATION
We’re planning an in-person race in Lithia Park race on Saturday, October 28, 2023, with an option to run virtually, too!
The Monster Dash supports grants in the Ashland Public Schools, and YOU (and your family, friends, and neighbors…) can help us make this year’s Monster Dash bigger than ever. Get ready for a ghastly good time!
The Gothic Manor Haunted House
Ashland School District Calendar and Schedule Research Survey
To be completed by High School Students, Staff, Parents/Caregivers, Community Members
The purpose of this survey is to gather feedback and views from the Ashland School District (ASD) community on our current calendar and schedule. The Ashland School Board's Calendar and Schedule Research committee will utilize the feedback to inform the Board as to whether or not the current ASD calendars and schedules are working for students, staff, families, and the Ashland community - keeping in mind our diverse family population and their individual needs. The Board welcomes the opportunity for out-of-the-box thinking. As such, this survey is the first step in eliciting community feedback for this extensive, collaborative, on-going, and comprehensive process. To learn more about this process and the committees, visit https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/o/schoolboard/page/innovation-committee. Please complete only one survey per person. Thanks for your time!
Ashland Volleyball Club Try Outs
Tryouts for BOYS AND GIRLS 10U, 12U, 13U, 14U will be Sunday November 19th at Ashland High School gym 10u 9am-10:30am & 12u-14u 9am-11:00am. Tryouts for Girls 16U and 17U will be Sunday November 19th at Ashland High School gym from 11:15 am-12:45pm.
There is a $20 tryout fee and all players MUST be registered with an AAU Membership to try out. The club code is W3BYBY. Please come to tryouts with your AAU membership number
Practices will be Tuesdays and Thursdays starting January 2nd until March 7th. The 10/12u, 12u, and 13u teams will be from 5:30-7pm and 14u, 16u and 17u will be 7-8:30pm. Practice will be at Ashland Middle School.
Safe Sitter Essentials
Designed to prepare students to be safe when they're home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting.
November 18, January 26, February 19, March 16, April 13
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Forget Me Not
Free Community Viewing
Thursday 11/9 @ 3:00 p.m.
Stevenson Union
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Rogue River Room
Ashland OR 97520
In partnership with Douglas ESD, SOELS, FACT, Bridging Communities, and SOU, we are offering a free viewing of the film Forget Me Not, a documentary on inclusion.
Ashland Learning Difference Parent Support Group
October 19 & November 16
Ashland Public Library
Guantanamo Room
6:00-7:00 PM
Child care is available.
More info at: kellyawdale.wixsite.com
The Family Connection
Active Parenting of Teens© (8 sessions)
For parents of children ages 11-18
Oct 3 – Nov 28, 2023 *no class 10/31/23
Every Tuesday 6:30-8:00pm PT on ZOOM
RSVP: tinyurl.com/TFCparentingyourteen
Strengthening Families Program© (10 sessions) IN-PERSON
For parents of children ages 11-18
Oct 17- Dec 20, 2023
Tuesdays, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Creekside Community Church Fellowship Hall
623 Pine Street, Rogue River
*Dinner, attendance gifts, and childcare available.
RSVP: tinyurl.com/LegacyParentingClasses
Parenting the Positive Discipline Way© (6 sessions)
For parents of children of various ages
Oct 25 – Nov 29, 2023
Every Wednesday 6pm – 8:00pm PST on ZOOM
RSVP: tinyurl.com/mjm2r3st
Ashland Middle School
Email: kerri.mallory@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: http://ashland.k12.or.us/ams/
Location: 100 Walker Avenue, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: 541-482-1611
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ashland-Middle-School-143374639027500/