AMS Parent Update

We are already in week six of the 2023-24 school year, and we have been off and running with rigorous instruction and engaged student learning. We have several exciting events on the horizon, including our homecoming pep rally and school-wide spirit week! Our students and staff have been spreading positivity through our Positivity Project assemblies and lessons, and we have been amped up and charged with excitement as we celebrate crushing our Fun Run fundraising goals!

Thank you to all parents, families, business, and community members who generously pledged to support our school this year! We are looking forward to an awesome FUN RUN on Friday, October 18th (volunteer sign-up link below).

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2ND IS COUNT DAY! We will hold a special Count Day photo challenge in the morning! Your child will NOT want to miss it! Thank you in advance for your support in having your child in school on this very important day.

Spring MStep reports were sent home with students last week for those students who tested in Almont in Spring 2024. AMS students have recently completed NWEA Map Growth testing, and our wonderful team will be printing and sending them home with your student within the next few weeks so you can continue to track your child's progress and prepare for enriching discussions with your child's teachers during upcoming conferences in November. We will send you a message alert to notify you of the date they will be sent home.

We are looking forward to another exciting month! Thank you, parents, for doing your part to support and encourage your child(ren) to come to school every day ready to ROCK! I sincerely appreciate your support and partnership to ensure EVERY AMS student has an amazing and successful school year. GO RAIDERS!

With warmest regards,

Barb Lewis

Principal

Bi-weekly P2 family letters are sent to you on Mondays outlining the character strength we are learning about and practicing in school and ways you can support your child at home. We held our kick-off assemblies in September, students are participating in enriching team- and relationship-building activities, and students and staff continue to wear and share positivity in our schoolwide mission to "KEEP IT POSITIVE!"

For the 2024-25 school year, Mr. Steve Shifflett has been assigned as our K-12 Director of Student Success (grant-funded position). His main focus/responsibility is to assist struggling students. The staff and students have expressed their appreciation for his willingness to "dive in" and assist whenever and wherever necessary. You may see Mr. Shifflett at OP, AMS, and AHS on the same day!

Your vote counts! PLEASE don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 5th (or before)! Almont Community Schools is proposing two mills for the next five years generating over $5.5M to address safety and maintenance repairs and/or upgrades throughout our district's facilities. Please visit our district's website at https://www.almontschools.org/sinking_fund to learn more about the Sinking Fund Proposal. In addition, please consider attending the next Sinking Fund Community Forum on Wednesday, October 23rd at 6:00 PM in the AHS Auditorium to learn more about specific Sinking Fund projects. A district tour will be offered after this forum. Please bring a friend!

A letter was sent to all families on 9-18-24 to remind our parents to supervise their children during high school athletic events. To clarify, we thank you in advance for supervising your children at all extracurricular/athletic events outside of normal school hours (whether it is at OP, AMS, or AHS). We would like to thank all of our families for their concerted efforts to help with supervision at last Friday's football game. As always, SAFETY is the #1 priority!

Free and reduced forms (to be completed by ALL families) were sent home with students the first week of school. Please complete your form and return it to school as soon as possible. Thank you in advance!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2nd: COUNT DAY

Monday, October 7th: NO SCHOOL

Friday, October 11th: Homecoming Pep Assembly and Parade

Saturday, October 11th: Homecoming Game ~ Kickoff @7:00 p.m.

Friday, October 18th: FUN RUN

*Volunteers needed (sign up above)

Monday, October 21st & Thursday, October 24: Field Trips to Chatfield

Monday, October 21st & Wednesday, October 23rd: Vision Testing for 5th & 7th Graders

Tuesday, October 22nd: Picture Re-Take Day!

Friday, October 25th: 4th Grade Hearing Test Re-Checks

Wednesday, October 30th: Boo Bash Dance

4th & 5th graders 5:00-6:30 p.m.

6th through 8th graders 6:45 - 8:15 p.m.

Friday, November 1st: NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, November 6th: Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 7th: HALF DAY OF SCHOOL

Thursday, November 7th: Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences 1:00-3:00 p.m.

AND 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Friday, November 8th: NO SCHOOL

• Regular school hours at AMS are 7:36 a.m. - 2:24 p.m. Doors open at 7:21 a.m. The office is open from 6:45 - 3:15 p.m.

• To receive the most updated AMS information/scheduled events, please check your PowerSchool Daily Bulletin OR check your child's daily email/announcements sent from Mrs. Kuhn. An email is sent to your child every day!

• If you have not received your child's login information for PowerSchool by the first day of school, please call the office at your earliest convenience at 810-798-3578.

• If you drive your child to school and/or pick up, please remember to drive slowly and safely on our service drive and through the parking lot. Mr. Zieglowsky and/or our School Resource Officer will be in the parking lot to assist/direct you with this routine. Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.

• If you are concerned about your child's schedule, please email me at blewis@almontschools.org or call the office at 810-798-3578.

• If you have a concern about your child's social and/or behavioral needs, please email Mr. Jay Zieglowsky (Dean of Students) at jzieglowsky@almontschools.org or call him at 810-673-9404.

• If you would like to reach our Behavior Specialist, please contact Mrs. Danielle Murdock at dmurdock@almontschools.org or call her at 810-673-9405.

• If you have any other concerns about your child's school year, please email me, Ms. Barb Lewis (Principal), at blewis@almontschools.org or call me at 810-798-3578.

We are looking forward to a successful school year with your children! GO RAIDERS!!!

Nurture, prepare and empower our students to reach their full potential