Amherst Middle School

Dear AMS Families,

The busy winter season has begun! Basketball teams started their seasons this week and the gym was filled with students, players, coaches, and parents. Our first 5th grade social is happening this afternoon from 3:30-4:30PM. There will be music, games, food, and fun! Today was also our first Festive Friday. Staff and students are invited to wear winter and holiday clothing and accessories to celebrate the season.

In other news, our 8th grade chorus students were spotted around the building performing selections from their winter concert this morning. The 5th grade band held its first combined rehearsal (with 91 students!) on Thursday afternoon. We hope you'll join us for the concerts on Monday and Tuesday, December 11th and 12 from 6-8PM.

Monday December 11 5th Grade Band 6:00 PM

Monday December 11 5th Chorus/6th Chorus/6th Band 7:00 PM

Tuesday December 12 7th and 8th Grade Chorus 6:00 PM

Tuesday December 12 7th/8th/Jazz Band 7:00 PM

Be well,

Kristen Gauthier

Principal, Amherst Middle School

John Schuttinger

Assistant Principal (Grades 7/8)

Carol Scionti

Assistant Principal (Grades 5/6)

December 1 (Fri): 5th Grade Fall Social

December 6 & 7 (Wed & Thurs): Author Visit - Adi Rule

December 11 (Mon): 5th Grade Band Concert 6:00 PM

December 11 (Mon): 5th & 6th Grade Chorus & 6th Grade Band Concert 7:00 PM

December 12 (Tues): 7th & 8th Grade Chorus Concert 6:00 PM

December 12 (Tues): 7th & 8th Grade Jazz Band Concert 7:00 PM

December 13 (Wed): Early Release 12:50 PM

December 22 - January 1: Holiday Break (NO SCHOOL)

January 15 (Mon.): MLK Jr. Day (NO SCHOOL)

January 24 (Wed): Early Release 12:50 PM

When to Keep Your Child Home from School

Nursing is Available 8:05-3:39 every school day, if you aren’t sure on when to send your child to school, please call 603-673-8922 dial 2 for nursing to discuss

Colds

~If the cough is interferes with ability to complete tasks, stay home

~Stay home for a fever greater than 100.0 in the last 24 hours or fever reducing medication in the last 24 hours

~Encourage student to bring a water bottle and refill as needed, cough drops, or tissues

GI Concerns

~If student has had diarrhea or vomiting in the past 24 hours without a known medical

cause- stay home

~If the student cannot eat or drink enough to stay hydrated-stay home

~Student’s with known dietary discrepancies such as lactose intolerance who develop symptoms can come to school

~Students with known indigestion can bring Tums to school to keep in the health office with a parent/guardian permission note for the nurse to administer

~Students with known GI issues can come to school and are welcome to utilize the nurse’s restroom if/when needed

Sore Throat

~If it’s part of a cold, we can support at school with cough drops, Tylenol, Motrin, or water

~If it’s strep, the student must stay home for the first 24 hours on Antibiotics then may come to school with cough drops, water, or Tylenol/Motrin

Headache

~Can take Motrin or IBU profen and come to school as long as no fever

~Encourage water, adequate sleep, and eating a healthy diet

Mental Health

~Counselors and nursing are available to support any mental health related symptoms

On Wednesday, December 6th and Thursday, December 7th, Amherst Middle School Library has the honor of hosting NH Author, Adi Rule! She will present to all grades, as well as speak with small groups about the art and craft of writing!

If you are interested in purchasing her book(s) before the event, please submit this order form, as well as check or cash by Monday, November 27th. This will ensure the book is here in time for Adi Rule's presentation, and offering of individualized book signing!

Checks should be made out to AMS Library with the student's name in the memo line, cash is also acceptable. Please include payment in a sealed envelope with the student's full name, grade level, and "Attn. Tiffany Maher," and have them deliver to me in the library.

If you have any questions or wonders, email Ms. Maher at tmaher@sau39.org.

We look forward to this opportunity for our AMS community of learners to meet a local author!

This year, we are recognizing students with the Best of the Nest Award. Staff members nominate students each week who demonstrate a commitment to upholding the Courage to CARE model and the values of Amherst Middle School.

This week, we are celebrating two students who went above and beyond in the AMS community.

Josh D. (Grade 6)

Josh was so kind and caring to a fellow classmate who had been absent for a number of days. Josh asked his substitute teacher if he could help him with the math work and then suggested that student join Josh's team to complete a science poster. When she told Josh how I really appreciated him taking that student under his wing and looking out for him, he replied, "I know he's been having a tough time." So genuinely kind! Thank you for showing Effort and Compassion to your classmate!

Madeline H. (Grade 7)

Madeline is an incredibly compassionate individual. She is one of the first to say hello to staff and students when she enters the room, which creates an incredibly welcoming environment. She also goes out of her way to make sure her peers are in a good space. Last week, for example, she alerted staff on two separate occasions when she noticed a peer having a difficult time, which resulted in the student getting immediate assistance from a counselor. She even checked-in later in the day to see if the student was doing better. This is the type of Compassion that made our school a bwtter place.

The holiday season is here and along with it is the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, family/friend gatherings, and stress. During this time, it’s important to take the time to care for ourselves. Self-care has an important role in maintaining our mental well-being. Below is a bingo board with some ideas to help guide us through this month. Which ones are you willing to try?

A Message from Ms. Rogers…

Last week, all Wellness classes were introduced to the Open Floor Discussion as our classes are discussion based so I prefer they don't have to raise hands in large or small groups, but it does seem as if most have needed some explicit instruction in listening and speaking! We use hand signals to accompany the words as well. Check out the link because maybe it will help you at home!

All grades worked on the importance of stress management.

Starting this 6 day rotation on 11/30.

Grade 5 and 6-working on I-Statements to express emotions and practice empowerment. I am also using the zones of regulation to help with this in grade 5. There is an unofficial homework assignment to share how they used an I-statement to help them better handle their emotions in a situation in the coming week! Be on the lookout for a 5th grade anger journal to help manage their emotions.

Grade 7 and 8-learning about the evolution of the human brain and the dopamine effect as well as why their brain affects their decision-making as teens.

Grade 8-working on a mental disorder project for which they will present in a jigsaw after the new year, so they will learn about several once they all present. This project is also a conduit for talking about what empathy is and why it is so important.

It’s the time of year when many people do good things for others and appreciate what they have. Did you know that Gratitude has been found to be beneficially associated with social wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, and psychological wellbeing (Jans-Beken et al., 2020). It is no surprise that the trait of gratitude is an important “predictor of wellbeing and other desirable life outcomes” (Portocarrero et al., 2020, p. 6). Gratitude appears to have a domino effect. If a person experiences gratitude, they are more likely to recognize the help and then later reciprocate that help (Wood et al., 2010). People who are thanked are presumably more apt to extend help to others in the future. Let’s start a gratefulness revolution!!!

Got Sneakers? In January, the AMS Health and Wellness teachers, Mr. White, Ms. Hurd, and Ms. Rogers will be collecting used sneakers to donate to Got Sneakers. This organization recycles and reuses sneakers which keeps sneakers out of landfills, reduces the need for manufacturing new shoes and sneakers, and supports a growing circular economy. So if you get new kicks over vacation, send in your old ones in January!

SHS/AMS Athletic Director, Kelli Braley, will be sending out weekly schedules directly to families and we will also share the weekly schedule in our Friday updates.

Full season schedules can be found here.

You can find the latest schedule here.

Monthly Newsletter

The PTA November Newsletter is live! Click here.

Join the PTA

For more information about the PTA and to join this year, please visit their website, http://www.amherstnhpta.org/index.html.

Matilda the Musical

The Amherst PTA Play is BACK in 2024 with Matilda! You can get information about auditioning here: https://sites.google.com/view/amherstptamatilda/home

Since 1987, the Holiday Toy Store has been committed to assisting local families in need by providing them with holiday gifts (free of charge) for their children (ages newborn through 15). This year, the Holiday Toy Store will provide gifts for over 500 children. We are financially supported through the generosity of local businesses and individuals. We know there are many incredible organizations that have similar efforts during the holiday season. What makes us different? We provide services to families in Amherst, Brookline, Milford, Mont Vernon, and Wilton only. Those who benefit from the Holiday Toy Store could be your neighbors, your friends, your children’s classmates. As you begin to think about your charitable donations this season, we ask that you consider the Holiday Toy Store. We are a 501(c)3, so your donation would be tax deductible.

Ways to donate: Donation boxes for new, unwrapped toys will be at several locations in towns starting November 9th - December 13th. Amherst: Black Forest, Spinal Corrective Center (SCC), Library, Wilkins, AMS, Ponemah Crossing Dental Milford: Black Forest, Spinal Corrective Center (SCC), Library, Wilkins, AMS, Ponemah Crossing Dental Mont Vernon: Library and school Wilton: Library

Online monetary donations can be made at: https://givebutter.com/HolidayToyStore

Checks can be made payable to Holiday Toy Store and mailed to Holiday Toy Store, PO Box 6, Amherst, NH 03031.

If your student will be late to school or absent, please call us directly at 603.673.8944 and leave a message on the attendance line or email ams@sau39.org. While it is helpful for teachers to also know about tardies and absences, contacting the front office is the best way to ensure your student is accounted for in our daily attendance process. Automatic notification calls go to families at 11:00am for absent students that we have not received an absence notification for.

Make sure you check back frequently as the calendar can (and likely will) still be modified.