2023-2024 AMP Happenings

Howdy AMP families and students,

The following are the important events and happenings for the week of October 9th.

• Monday, October 9, 2023 - School Holiday
• Friday, October 13, 2023 - End of 1st Nine weeks
• Friday, October 13, 2023 - Entry Deadline for BCJLS (checks made payable to JM FFA)
• Saturday, October 14, 2023 - JM FFA Booster Club Fall Challenge Goat & Lamb Prospect Show; AMP Arena
• Tuesday, October 17, 2023 - PSAT School Day for 9th - 11th grade (12th grade late arrival)
• Saturday, October 21, 2023 - AMP Livestock Expo; AMP Arena

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

Completion of your FAFSA is a graduation requirement for seniors and you will need to take one of the following steps to be cleared for graduation:

• Please note, the 2024–25 FAFSA form will be available in December 2023
• Complete the FAFSA or TAFSA (FAFSA is meant for students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, while the TASFA is for non-citizens and certain international students who are classified as Texas residents.)- To get started with your FAFSA application, click on this link at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and see FAFSA® Application Deadlines | Federal Student Aid

• You can schedule an appointment with Café College https://cafecollege.org/, if you need help with your FAFSA or TAFSA
• Alamo Community Colleges has events scheduled to assist with FAFSA and TAFSA (please see attached flyer)

• If you are not applying for scholarships or financial aid, you will need to fill out an opt-out form instead of the FAFSA, per graduation requirement. Please print and fill out an opt-out form and turn in to your school counselor no later than May 17, 2024.

• Opt-out Form (English): https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/opt-out_revised_10.2021_final_english.pdf
• Opt-out Form (Spanish): https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/opt-out_revised_10.2021_final_spanish.pdf

Palo Alto College is pleased to host their upcoming CTE Information Session on October 24, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the Rio Grande Building. This event is free and open to all high school CTE students, parents, and staff.

During the information session, attendees will learn about their wide range of CTE programs, including:

• Advanced Manufacturing Technology
• Business Management
• Cosmetology
• Computer Sciences & Technology
• Healthcare Administration
• Horticultural Sciences
• Logistics & Supply Chain Management
• Office Management
• Veterinary Technology
• Viticulture & Enology
  
  

Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with their faculty and staff and ask general admission questions. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend this event so they can learn more about the exciting opportunities available at Palo Alto College.

One of the expectations for every AMP student is to be an active participant in the AMP. Active participation can be achieved by becoming a member of the James Madison FFA (the student leadership organization for AMP students) and participating in any of the literally 100+ FFA activities that will be offered this school year.

FFA dues are $20.00 for the entire school year, and we will begin accepting dues payments (cash or check) the before or after school in the AMP Administration office.

With membership in the FFA, AMP students will have access to outstanding leadership and career development opportunities, supervised agricultural experiences, degrees, awards, and scholarships. FFA members will also receive a James Madison FFA commemorative t-shirt which will be available in October.

James Madison FFA Booster Club SAE Grant Program
Deadline: November 1, 2023
The James Madison FFA Booster Club is pleased to announce that the 2023 SAE Grant Program is now available for James Madison FFA members to make application for funding.

The purpose of the SAE Grant program is to provide FFA members with an opportunity to establish, improve, and/or maintain their SAE program through financial assistance.

The James Madison FFA Booster Club is responsible for reviewing, awarding and administering the SAE Grant program. The FFA Booster Club will determine the final amount of funds awarded to a James Madison FFA member not to exceed $500 per awarded grant.

The application period for the 2023-2024 school year is now through November 1, 2023.

For more information and qualifications and to download an application, please visit the following page on the AMP website: http://agrisciencemagnetprogram.weebly.com/sae-grant-fund.html.

National FFA Association SAE Grant Program
Deadline: November 15, 2023

The National FFA Association has opened the application window for the 2023 Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) Grant Program from now until November 15, 2023.

This year, the National FFA will award a limited number of $1000 grants to current FFA members. Information about this grant opportunity can be found online by clicking HERE.

• North East Ag Fair Sponsorship Opportunity - sponsorships are now available for the 2024 North East Ag Fair to be held on January 12 - 13, 2024 at the AMP Complex. Multiple sponsorship levels are available for businesses and families to consider and all information is available below and at: www.NorthEastAgFair.com.
  
  
• 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 AMP Livestock Expo, the Fall Challenge Lamb and Goat Prospect Show, the North East Ag Fair, and the AMP Awards Gala. In all, 39 belt buckles will be awarded this year and the sponsorship cost is $200 per buckle.
  
  Sponsorships can be done online by going to: https://james-madison-ffa-booster.square.site/.
  

Just a quick reminder that the deadline to apply is October 15, 2023. Apply online here: Land Stewardship Ambassadors - The Witte Museum

About the program

The principles of land stewardship can be applied in both urban and rural settings.

Students from diverse backgrounds can learn from and inspire one another to think critically about how we care for the land.

The goal of this program is to increase awareness of land stewardship principles, promote civic engagement in today’s youth and inspire students to obtain careers that support land stewardship.

A cohort of 15 students will be selected in each of the following locations: Bexar, Webb and Cameron Counties. Students from outside of these counties may apply but should know the meetings will take place in person and in a central location. The three cohorts will meet separately except for the two dates noted below. Meeting locations will be: Bexar County cohort meets @ the Witte Museum in San Antonio; the Cameron County cohort meets @ Camp Rio at Historic Lula Sams in Brownsville; and Webb County cohort will meet @ Falcon Bank in Laredo.

Students who successfully complete the 10-session program will earn a $400 stipend.

The Land Stewardship Ambassadors program is generously supported by SWBC, the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation, the Wheeler Foundation and San Antonio Livestock Exposition.

Leadership Development Events (LDE) and Career Development Events (CDE) are excellent opportunities for students to engage in competitive contests through the FFA. See the AMP Daily Announcements for the most up-to-date information on meeting times.

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 first general meeting of the James Madison FFA Booster Club will be held on Monday, November 6th 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