AMS Principal's Weekly Update

Dear AMS Students and Families,

This week, I want to highlight some professional learning that several of our teachers recently engaged in. For the last two and half years, Berkley secondary teachers have been focusing on Disciplinary Literacy, which refers to the specifics of reading, writing, and communicating in a discipline. It focuses on the ways of thinking, along with the skills and the tools that are used by experts in the disciplines. As part of this initiative, over the last few weeks, AMS teachers have had the opportunity to engage in teacher labs, which entailed a teacher allowing a group of their peers (teachers from AMS and Norup, instructional coaches, and administrators) observing a portion of a lesson to see examples of disciplinary literacy practices in classrooms that, in some cases, might be outside of their content area. After the observation, the teacher observed debriefed with the observers to share their perception of the lesson, while also receiving constructive feedback from the observers.

I want to commend AMS teachers Melissa Britten, Erin Burke, Abby Combs, Julie Maimes, Kathy Milia, Ari Alderman, Laura Russell, and Diana Post for providing this opportunity to others while making themselves vulnerable to constructive feedback from their peers. I firmly believe that some of the best professional development comes from in house and our teachers can learn a lot from each other. This process also highlights that our teachers are willing to try new approaches and take risks, even if it is out of their comfort zone, to improve their instructional practices and the learning experience for their students.

Monday - December 16

Candy Grams Sold During Lunch for $1.00

Dungeons and Dragons Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 111

Eco Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 210

Homework Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 115

Boys Basketball v. Norup in the BHS West Gym at 4:15 pm (7th Grade) / 5:15 pm (8th Grade)

Tuesday - December 17

6th Grade Field Trip to Meadowbrook to see A Christmas Carol

Religious Diversity Journey Visit to Mata Tripta Ji Gurdwara Sahib

Candy Grams Sold During Lunch for $1.00

Art Club Bake Sale at Lunch

Drama Club After School at BHS

Wednesday - December 18

Vision Screening for 7th Grade

Chess Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 100

Homework Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 115

Rainbow Room Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 109

Yoga 3:30-4:30 pm in Room 114

Boys Basketball Home v. West Bloomfield at 4:15 pm (7th Grade) / 5:15 pm (8th Grade)

Middle School Boys Swim Team Parent Information meeting 6:00 pm in the Norup Media Center

Thursday - December 19

Vision Screening for 7th Grade

Art Club 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 110

Girls Swim Meet at Berkshire at 4:30 pm

Friday - December 20

Vision Screening for 7th Grade

Please see the informational flyer below regarding the AMS Winter Book Club, hosted by Mrs. Aytes and sponsored by Berkley Huntington Woods Youth Assistance.

Congratulations to the following AMS Orchestra students who receive top ratings at MSBOA Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday, December 7th in Clarkston. AMS had 13 students participate and 10 events total: 5 soloists, 4 duets and 1 trio. 8 events received a Division I rating (which is predominantly A’s) and 2 events received a Division II rating. We are so proud of the hard work and dedication that these students demonstrated in their preparation and performance:

Jacob Adam

Garrett Blackburn

Maddy Gordon

Claire Green

Brice Heger

Shilo Hurst

Jaden Mitchell

Izzy Pavach

Aprilia Pickering

Isabella Samoluk

Maggie Shimmel

Lucy Showler

Niko Wekerle

Currently, we are about 18 registrations short of meeting the minimum number of registrations for the 8th Grade end of year Day in the D trip. This trip is open to all AMS 8th Graders and any parents who would like to attend. If you have been waiting to register, please consider registering ASAP so that we can ensure we have the necessary minimum number of participants for this trip. For more information, including itinerary and registration information, please click on AMS Day in the D Trip Information and Registration.

There are currently 4 remaining spots open for the Washington DC- Gettysburg trip. Registration is now open to all 8th grade students and parents. For more information including the itinerary and registration link, please click on Washington DC 2025

Please consider joining the AMS PTSA to help support initiatives like Teacher Classroom Stipends, BHWYA, March Miracles, Assemblies, Social Emotional Initiatives, Staff Appreciation and much more! To join, simply click on the AMS PTSA Membership Page.

2024-25 Officers:

President - Dawn Banks
Vice President - Kary Pasanen
Treasurer - Melissa Foreman-Lovell

Secretary - Nicole Hollman

2024-25 Remaining Meeting Dates: All Meetings will be held in the Media Center and via Zoom

February 11 @ 8:30 am and via Zoom

April 8 @ 7:00 pm and Via Zoom

May 13 @ 8:30 am and via Zoom

To access meetings via Zoom, please use the following Zoom Link

Follow the AMS PTSA on Social Media

For all athletic related questions, please contact
AMS Assistant Principal / Athletic Coordinator, Carman Smith

Berkley District Middle School Athletic Coordinator, Lori Stone

Berkley High School Athletic Director, Matt Rawlik

SPORTS OFFERED AT AMS

Fall Season (September - October)

Football (Grades 7-8 Only)

Girls Basketball (Grades 7-8 Only) *

Co-Ed Cross Country (Grades 6-8)

Girls Tennis (Grades 6-8)

Winter 1 Season (November - Mid January)

Girls Swimming (Grades 6-8)

Boys Basketball (Grades 7-8 Only) *

Winter 2 Season (Mid January - March)

Wrestling (Grades 6-8)

Girls Volleyball (Grades 7-8 Only) *

Boys Swimming (Grades 6-8)

Spring Season (April - May)

Co-Ed Track (Grades 6-8)

Boys Tennis (Grades 6-8)

Baseball (Grades 7-8 Only) *

Softball (Grades 7-8 Only) *

* These sports are intended for 7th and 8th grade only, however if there are not enough 7th and 8th grade students to field a team, spots will be opened up for 6th Graders to tryout.

AMS has athletic eligibility guidelines and expectations. To view the guidelines and expectations for student-athletes, please click on Middle School Athletic Eligibility

The first step in participating in any sport is registering on Final Forms! Final Forms is the registration platform used for athletics where families must submit student physicals, as well as sign all the necessary forms required to be eligible to play a school sport. For directions on how to navigate Final Forms, please click on Final Forms Registration Information. All documents must be signed and submitted before the first day of tryouts. Failure to do so results in your child not being able to try out for any sport.

TEAM INFORMATION

There will be a parent information meeting on December 18 at 6:00 pm in the Norup Media Center for boys interested in participating on the middle school swim team. For questions about boys swimming, please contact Coach Teri Falcon.

For questions about the Girls Middle School Swim Team, please contact Coach Derek Samuelson. Below is the remaining schedule for the season with home meets starting at 5:00 pm and away meets starting at 4:30 pm. Home games are in bold below.

12/19/24 Away v. Birmingham Berkshire (Silver)

1/6/25 Home v. South Hills

1/10/25 League Meet at Birmingham Covington

For questions about basketball, please contact 7th Grade Coach Andre Price or 8th Grade Coach Joel Lewis. Below is the remaining schedule for the season with home games starting at 4:15 (7th Grade) and 5:15 (8th Grade) and away games starting at 4:30 (7th Grade) and 5:30 (8th Grade). Home games are in bold below.

12/16/24 v. Norup at Berkley High School West Gym (4:15 start)

12/18/24 Home v. West Bloomfield

1/8/25 Away v. Detroit Country Day

1/9/25 Home v. Royal Oak

1/13/25 Home v. West Bloomfield

1/15/25 Away v. Clarenceville

1/16/25 Home v. Cranbrook

Below are club and extra-curricular opportunities offered to students throughout the year. Check back each week for additional club information and updates.

Students are eligible to be inducted into NJHS in the spring of 7th Grade by earning a cumulative GPA of 3.7 through 6 terms (Terms 1-4 from 6th Grade and terms 1 and 2 of 7th Grade) and earning citizenship marks no less than a 2. For questions about NJHS, please contact NJHS sponsor, Ms. Ng. Meeting dates for current 8th Grade NJHS members take place once a month during 8th grade lunch and will take place on the following dates:

REMAINING MEETING DATES

1/23/25

2/27/25

3/13/25

4/17/25

5/22/25

The AMS Peer to Peer Program is a school-wide program designed to increase academic, independence, and social engagement opportunities for students with autism and other disabilities. This is achieved by inviting multiple peers without disabilities to pair up with students with disabilities during a variety of school activities. Peers model typical academic and social behavior while students with disabilities can practice and use skills in natural settings by learning from peers in a positive and dignified manner. Authentic relationships form as students actively participate in activities together.

To learn more about Peer2Peer, please watch this Peer2Peer Informational Video. Students interested in becoming a peer for the 2024-2025 school year should reach out to any of the following staff members: Mrs. Gershonowicz (Room 112), Mrs. Roesner (Room 103), or Mrs. Black (Room 223).

AMS is offering a free 10 session Yoga/Mindfulness class after school for students taught by certified Yoga instructor Natalie Fons-Welke. The free classes will take place on Wednesdays in room 114 from 3:30-4:30 pm on the following dates: November 6, 13, and 20, December 4, 11, and 18, January 8, 15, 22, and 29. Participation is free, however participants will need to purchase a yoga mat. If your child is interested in participating, they may simply show up on any of the dates offered. To learn more about the after school yoga class, click on the Yoga Mindfulness Overview.

Ski Club is available to Berkley School District students in grades 6-12 who ski or snowboard or are interested in learning. Starting on January 10 through the end of February, students in Ski Club will go to Mt. Holly, leaving AMS around 3:30 pm and getting back around 10:00 pm. For more information, please click on Ski Club 2025 and to access the registration form, please click on Ski Club Registration Form 2025. For questions about Ski Club, please contact Ski Club sponsor, Jim Cowdrey.

First Robotics Club has completed the FIRST Tech Challenge for this year. Meetings have temporarily paused and will resume on Monday, January 13. Meetings will continue on Mondays at 4:00 pm in Room 114 through 2nd semester. If you have any questions about the First Robotics Club, please contact AMS parents and team sponsors, Martin Wekerle and Rob Calvano.

Drama Club is open to any students interested in learning more about acting and drama productions. Meetings will take place every Tuesday from 3:20-4:15 pm in the Media Center. For questions about Drama Club, please contact Zach Guerra

Chess Club is open to students with previous experience and those wishing to learn the game of Chess. Meetings will take place on Wednesdays from 3:20-4:15 in Room 100. For questions about Chess Club, please contact Mr. Mustonen.

The Dungeons and Dragons Club is for students who have previous experience playing Dungeons and Dragons and those who wish to learn. Meetings will take place every Monday from 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 111. For questions about the D&D Club, please contact Mr. Stoia.

The Eco Club is offered to students who have an interest preserving the environment and being part of environmentally friendly activities. Meetings will take place every Monday from 3:20-4:15 pm in Room 210. For questions about Eco Club, please contact Ms. Maimes.

Art Club will have a focus on drawing. All skill levels are welcome. Students should bring a sketchbook and their own drawing materials. Special papers and advanced drawing mediums will be available for those that want to explore. Meetings will take place every Thursday from 3:20-4:15 pm in the Art room (Room 110). For questions about Art Club, please contact Ms. Reid.

The Rainbow Room is Club is an inclusive after school club offering for LGBTQ+ students and LGTBQ+ allies. Meetings will take place every Wednesday from 3:20-4:15 pm in room 109. For questions about Rainbow Room, please contact Ms. Reid.

Homework Club provides students the opportunity to work independently or receive extra help with homework. Students who choose to attend homework club must be working on school work or school related work. Homework Club will take place every Monday and Wednesday from 3:20-4:15 in Room 115. For questions about Homework Club, please contact Mrs. McChesney or Mr. Stoia.

For the 2024-25 school year, school breakfast and lunch will be free for ALL students. The cafeteria will be open from 7:30-8:05 a.m. for breakfast and early drop-off (entry cut off at 7:55) and students must enter through the cafeteria door off the parking lot.

Please click to access the

December Lunch Menu

January Lunch Menu

To view nutritional and food ingredient information for school breakfast and lunches served at AMS, please click on the Nutrislice Informational Page for AMS

PLEASE NOTE: AMS does not allow food delivery services such as GrubHub or DoorDash. Any order that is attempted to be delivered to AMS will be refused.

Please take the time to review the designated pick up and drop-off zones below. Some things to highlight include:

• CATALPA: No stopping, standing, parking, drop-off or pickup
• ROBINA: Drop-off and pickup zone; no parking on the street
• BUS PARKING ONLY: Buses may drop students in the designated bus parking
• AMS PARKING LOT: Drop-off and pickup zone; parking in parking lot spaces only
• Berkley Public Safety will be enforcing the traffic rules

When there are inclement weather conditions such as temperatures below 20 degrees, rain, or falling snow, students may enter the building upon their arrival through their designated grade level door and wait in the hallway until 8:05. As a reminder, our cafeteria is open everyday from 7:30-8:05 (entry cutoff at 7:55) for any students who wish to get breakfast or need to be dropped off early.

The Berkley African American Parent Network (BAAPN) is a parent run organization that works in partnership with the Berkley School District and Oakland County Schools. The BAAPN network is a way for parents with African American children in Berkley Schools to connect with each other. BAAPN is committed to supporting student engagement, high academic achievement, and increased parental involvement. For more information, please visit the BAAPN Facebook Page. Click to access the BAAPN membership form. Below are the remaining meeting dates for the 2024-25 school year with meetings taking place in the Norup Media Center at 7:00 pm:

February 27

March 13

May 15

Did you know that students from the BHS National Honor Society offer free peer tutoring? If you child is in need of tutoring, please click on NHS Middle School Tutors for the list of available tutors. It is as simple as looking through the list, identifying a tutor that meets your child's needs, and contacting them to arrange tutoring.

Berkley Schools has partnered with Varsity Tutors for Schools, an online platform with access to free learning tools. The Varsity Tutors Platform gives students more opportunities to learn at their own pace, to get support on subjects they might be struggling with, to explore subjects they are learning in class and to support their curiosities.

The platform includes the following:

• 24/7 on-demand chat tutoring and on-demand essay review to help students with any questions about homework, classwork or test prep.
• Live group classes, recorded classes and celebrity-led StarCourses allow students to learn more about the subjects they’re interested in and add a touch of fun.
• Assessments and self study practice problems provide opportunities to drill skills towards mastery.
• College prep & admissions resources ensure that students have the best resources available.

How to Access Varsity Tutors

Sign into the Varsity Tutors platform through the student Clever portal. To learn how to log into Clever with your child’s Berkley Schools Google account, follow these directions.

Learn More & Get Started!

• Varsity Tutors Berkley Schools Launchpad
• Frequently Asked Questions

All parents, guardians, or family members interested in volunteering, chaperoning, and/or driving other students for school-sponsored functions or field trips must complete the following forms prior to the event or activity:

Parent Volunteer Form (Includes Chaperone form)

*The Volunteer Form must be accompanied with a copy of your valid driver's license or state-issued ID.

Parent Driver Form (To be turned into the AMS Office)

For both MISTAR and Schoology, there is a specific site for the Berkley School District. To ensure that you are logging into the correct sites, please use the following links below:

Schoology

MISTAR Parent Portal

For any tech related issues, parents and students should put in a tech ticket and it will be routed to the appropriate department to get resolved ASAP.

Order your AMS Yearbook (prices starting at $40.00). To order your yearbook, click on the AMS 2024-25 Online Ordering Link

To view the AMS event calendar for 2024-25, please click on AMS Event Calendar 2024-25. Please keep in mind that due to various circumstances, event times and dates are subject to change and events may be added or removed.

Anytime is a great time to purchase AMS spirit wear. Ordering is simple through our online store with many options to choose from. To shop for AMS spirit wear, please visit the AMS Online Spirit Wear Store. There will be a Holiday sale taking place November 4 - mid-December with 25% off all merchandise and guaranteed delivery for the holidays. There will be new product lines and designs that will make great gifts for the entire family.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Michael Ross

AMS Principal

Email: michael.ross@berkleyschools.org
Website: https://www.berkleyschools.org/schools/anderson/
Location: 3205 Catalpa Drive, Berkley, MI, USA
Phone: 248-837-8200