In the Middle LETTER FROM ADMINISTRATION

Transcription

1 A M H E R S T M I D D L E S C H O O L March 2015 In the Middle LETTER FROM ADMINISTRATION It is once again that time of year when we begin the task of gathering information for the purpose of scheduling students in classes for the next school year. We use several resources in the placement process: guidance counselors, classroom teachers, administrators, and parents. I ask that you read this information carefully to better understand the process and avoid misconceptions. Inside this issue: Dates to Remember 2 Project Safeguard 4 Food Services 5 Health News 6-7 SBAC Testing 8 Some Reminders 9 Community News Many factors are considered for student placement. When determining the student composition of our classes, we strive to create a well-balanced environment. This is an important aspect of scheduling and one that we consider carefully. It is our goal to create a positive and challenging educational climate for all students. To this end, we work to balance classrooms by gender, personality traits, and abilities. We also consider the potential impact of relationships that may interfere with learning. The responsibility for creating this positive learning environment rests with us. Our scheduling effort begins with a review of our teaching teams. Being a school with an excellent staff and wonderful students, our goal is to balance teaching teams by considering individual diversity of skills, teaching styles, and experience. Wellbalanced teams provide the best opportunity for any student to succeed regardless of where they are placed. In recent years, there have been many team reconfigurations due to declining enrollment and staff reductions, and I anticipate some changes for next year as well. The next step in the process is a review of students with potential placement considerations such as learning disabilities, behavioral concerns, and identified peer-relationship issues. The guidance counselors here at AMS, at Wilkins, and at Mont Vernon provide valuable placement input based on their experience with students and information provided by parents and teachers. (cont. page 3)

2 P a g e 2 I n t h e M i d d l e Dates to Remember March 30 Spring Sports begin Theatre Banquet 6:30 / Cafeteria April 8 April 10 April April 13 April 14 April April 20 April 22 April 23 April 26-May 1 Grade 7 Curriculum Enrichment / Living Voice Anne Frank 10:10-11:15am Dance Grades 6,7&8 7-9:30pm Scholastic Book Fair Grade 8-Curriculum Enrichment / SHS Theatre;; 8:15-10:30am Late Start PTA Play Cats SHS Theatre PPT Meeting 6:30pm Progress Reports Grade 7 GSI Expo Science Wing - details TBD Spring Recess PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE REGULARLY FOR INFORMATION AND UPDATES Check out the AMS Facebook page for pictures and news!

3 M a r c h P a g e 3 (cont. from page 1) Class lists are then created and reviewed for gender balance and class chemistry. Teachers consider the overall abilities and composition of the students on teams. This teacher feedback constitutes the final tweaking of the class lists and teams. It is a long and careful process. I must stress one very important point about parent input in the placement process. It is not necessary to write me a letter to ensure a good placement. If you feel it is necessary to write a letter, I ask that you only focus on the unique educational needs of which we may not already be aware. I read and give due consideration to every letter submitted, however, please do not request a particular teacher or team, or that your child be placed with friends or a group of friends! Friendships often change, and a valuable part of the Middle School experience is making new ones. Parents never pick teachers or teams. If there are substantial friendship issues, they should be discussed with the guidance counselors right away since they have major input into the placement process. Letters regarding your child s placement issues must be received at the Middle School no later than Friday, April 10, If you have concerns, they must be put in writing. As children grow and change, peer-relationship and educational issues often change as well; for this reason, I can only address the current concerns and letters submitted. If you feel the need to address a potential issue should a teacher be moved to your child s grade level, this would be the time to let us know. In certain cases, if a sibling or parent has experienced a prior issue with a particular teacher, it may make sense to consider scheduling the student on one of the other teams. If this is the case, it is important that you be specific regarding your concerns. They must be based on firsthand experiences and not on hearsay. Granting parental input for anything other than sound educational reasons would undermine the integrity of our process and cannot be honored. Any move once the students are placed creates an imbalance between team numbers, and may be impossible because of a student s reading or math level. Rarely does any move occur; only in cases where there is specific educational justification is a child moved to another team after placement. Remember, in order for any information to be considered, it must be submitted prior to the April 10 th deadline. We continue to work very hard to earn and keep your trust and our integrity in the placement process. I hope this helps demystify the complex placement process, and I thank you in advance for your support. Porter Dodge, Principal, AMS

4 P a g e 4 I n t h e M i d d l e Project Safeguard Grade 7 Attention 7 th Grade Parents: Project Safeguard: Friday, May 15. Registration information should be arriving in the mail by the beginning of April. Many of you, especially those with older children, are familiar with our Project Safeguard program. For those of you who are experiencing 7 th grade at the Amherst Middle School for the first time, Project Safeguard is a full-school-day conference for 7 th graders and their parents and guardians. We believe the presentations are valuable for both parents and students, and we hope you will be able to join us. Many parents have told us after past programs that the presentations not only provided them with useful information, but also a starting point for meaningful conversations with their children. The day begins and ends with everyone gathered in the high school theater to hear our keynote presenter, who will be Rick Labell, Raymond, NH, police detective and inspirational speaker. In between the opening and closing, there will be four breakout sessions and lunch. Students and adults must register ahead of time for their choice of breakout sessions, which can be for just students, just adults, or both. These sessions cover a range of topics related to drug abuse prevention, bullying prevention, communication, self-image, academic success, and other topics related to wellness for young adolescents. All of these presentations will be held in classrooms at the middle school, except for one presentation per session, which will be held in the high school theater. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and come prepared to do some walking between the high school and middle school. Lunch will be held at the middle school, and both students and adults have the option of bringing their own lunches or pre-purchasing the catered lunch offered on the registration form. Regular school lunches will not be available to 7 th graders on that day. Registration forms, along with presentation descriptions will be mailed home in early April, and everyone will receive their assigned schedule of sessions on the morning of the program. We certainly understand that it may not be possible to get the day off from work or make childcare arrangements for younger siblings, and your child will benefit from the day even if you are not able to attend. All 7 th graders who are in school on Project Safeguard day, will be expected to participate in the program. If you are able to join us, we hope you find the day worthwhile, and we look forward to your feedback.

5 M a r c h P a g e 5 Food Services A note from the AMS Food Service The end of the school year is rapidly approaching. As a result it is necessary to limit charges on student lunch accounts. As of April 1st there will be a one lunch limit. A student will be permitted to charge/borrow one lunch only, (- $3.00 balance). There is no borrowing for snacks. As of May 1 st there will be no negative charging allowed. We ask that you keep your child s account current. Any money left in their account at the end of the year will carry to the next school year and between schools. Balances may be viewed online through the district website, and using the Food Service and MySchoolBucks links. Payments may also be made on this site but is not required to view balances. Balances may also be obtained by contacting Janice Bock, the AMS food service manager. If you have any questions please contact Janice Bock at ext or at jbock@sprise.com. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

6 P a g e 6 I n t h e M i d d l e Health News Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Other Poisonous Plants First comes the itching, then a red rash, and then blisters. These symptoms of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac can start from a few hours to several days after exposure to the plant oil found in the sap of these poisonous plants. Recognizing Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac Poison Ivy: Found throughout the United States except Alaska, Hawaii, and parts of the West Coast. Can grow as a vine or small shrub trailing along the ground or climbing on low plants, trees and poles. Each leaf has three glossy leaflets, with smooth or toothed edges. Leaves are reddish in spring, green in summer, and yellow, orange, or red in fall. May have greenish-white flowers and whitish-yellow berries. Poison Oak: Grows as a low shrub in the eastern and southern United States, and in tall clumps or long vines on the Pacific Coast. Fuzzy green leaves in clusters of three are lobed or deeply toothed with rounded tips. May have yellow-white berries. Poison Sumac: Grows as a tall shrub or small tree in bogs or swamps in Northeast, Midwest, and parts of the Southeast. Each leaf has clusters of seven to 13 smooth-edged leaflets. Leaves are orange in spring, green in summer, and yellow, orange, or red in fall. May have yellow-greenish flowers and whitish green fruits hang in loose clusters. Is It Contagious? Poison ivy and other poison plant rashes can't be spread from person to person. But it is possible to pick up the rash from plant oil that may have stuck to clothing, pets, garden tools, and other items that have come in contact with these plants. The plant oil lingers (sometimes for years) on virtually any surface until it's washed off with water or rubbing alcohol. The rash will only occur where the plant oil has touched the skin, so a person with poison ivy can't spread it on the body by scratching. It may seem like the rash is spreading if it appears over time instead of all at once. But this is either because the plant oil is absorbed at different rates on different parts of the body or because of repeated exposure to contaminated objects or plant oil trapped under the fingernails. Even if blisters break, the fluid in the blisters is not plant oil and cannot further spread the rash.

7 M a r c h P a g e 7 Tips for Prevention Learn what poison ivy, oak, and sumac plants look like so you can avoid them (open PDF to enlarge images). Wash your garden tools and gloves regularly. If you think you may be working around poison ivy, wear long sleeves, long pants tucked into boots, and impermeable gloves. Wash your pet if it may have brushed up against poison ivy, oak, or sumac. Use pet shampoo and water while wearing rubber gloves, such as dishwashing gloves. Most pets are not sensitive to poison ivy, but the oil can stick to their fur and cause a reaction in someone who pets them. Wash your skin in soap and cool water as soon as possible if you come in contact with a poisonous plant. The sooner you cleanse the skin, the greater the chances that you can remove the plant oil or help prevent further spread. Use the topical product "Ivy Block" of "Armor" if you know you will come into contact with the poisonous plants. This FDA-approved product is available over the counter (OTC). Tips for Treatment Don't scratch the blisters. Bacteria from under your fingernails can get into the blisters and cause an infection. The rash, blisters, and itch normally disappear in several weeks without any treatment. But you can relieve the itch by using wet compresses or soaking in cool water applying OTC topical corticosteroid preparations or taking prescription oral corticosteroids applying topical OTC skin protectants, such as zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, and calamine dry the oozing and weeping of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Protectants such as baking soda or colloidal oatmeal relieve minor irritation and itching. Aluminum acetate is an astringent that relieves rash. See a Doctor if you have a temperature over 100 F if there is pus, soft yellow scabs, or tenderness on the rash if the itching gets worse or keeps you awake at night if the rash spreads to your eyes, mouth, genital area, or covers more than one-fourth of your skin area if the rash is not improving within a few weeks

8 P a g e 8 I n t h e M i d d l e SBAC Testing As you are aware, the annual NECAP assessment which New Hampshire students have taken each fall for many years has been replaced. Please see the letter from SAU 39 Director of Curriculum Nicole Heimarck on our new state assessment program, SBAC. We ask for your support in helping your child understand the importance of these tests and of giving his or her best effort. We would greatly appreciate your assistance in seeing to it that your child arrives to school on time and has had the proper rest and nutrition. Testing logistics: Testing begins between 7:45 and 8am (except for May 12/late start day) Breaks are scheduled into each day s testing Testing ends by lunch time Students will keep their regularly scheduled lunch periods The schedule for testing at Amherst Middle School is as follows: Grade 5: March 30-April 3 Grade 6: April 6-10 April 13-17: Make up sessions Grade 8: May 4-8 Grade 7: May 11-14, 18 May 19-22: Make up sessions

9 M a r c h P a g e 9 Some Reminders Please see the Student Handbook for specific information We ve noticed an increase in the number of phone calls we need to make to confirm attendance for students who are absent from school. Please remember to phone or before 8am if your student will be absent or late to school. You can leave a message on our attendance line, , ext.1 or send an to us at ams@sprise.com. Thank you for helping us to be sure your students are safe!. The th Grade Yearbooks are now on sale To guarantee yourself a copy of this color, soft-bound yearbook please order it NOW! We have to tell the publisher how many yearbooks we need by April 3rd. To receive a yearbook you must pre-order as we only order yearbooks for those students who have purchased ahead of time. Forms are available on the school website. Extra yearbooks are typically not available on the last day of school. Geography Bee AMS Geography Bee winner Abby Kirk will advance to the next round of the NH Geography Bee on Friday March 27 at Keene State College.

10 "Remembering Josh" For his ninth birthday, Joshua Savyon collected donations for the Animal Rescue League instead of presents for himself. We would like to honor Josh s life by carrying on this tradition for his birthday, which is in April. Josh was a student at Clark-Wilkins. Josh was tragically taken from this world on Aug. 11, He was the cherished son of Becky (Kendall) and Benjamin Ranes. He was the pride and joy of his parents and a delight to those around him. He always had a smile on his face, was eager to try and learn new things and was always available to lend others a helping hand. We will have collection boxes in all of the schools for students to put items. We will also have a jar in the offices for any monetary donations. There will also be a box at the Town Library. For a list of needed items, please go to the ARL website at Donations will be accepted through April 9th.

11 The Amherst Town Library 3D Printing Initiative Presents: 3D Printing Overview and Printing Demonstration Come see the Amherst Town Library s new 3D printers in action! The library will be officially kicking off its 3D Printing Initiative on Thursday, April 9 th, at 7:00 PM in the Johnson Room. There will be an overview of the exciting applications of 3D printers, demonstrations of how the computers work, examples of what the library printers can do, and displays of three different 3D printer models. Training mentors will be available to discuss hands-on workshops which the library will be offering. Sign-ups for Level I workshops will begin that evening. Open print times will be available by summer. 3D printers are being used in manufacturing, medicine, toy creation, fashion, jewelry, and even food! The applications are increasing and the costs are decreasing; small printers will soon be available for under $500. It won t be long before they will be found in many homes! If you have been curious as to how these printers work and what they can do, plan to attend this introductory session. Add your input as to how the 3D Printing Initiative might proceed; be part of the 3D revolution! This program is free and open to the public. Registration is REQUIRED, however, due to space limitations. You can register for this event by calling , ing library@amherstlibrary.org, or by visiting our website at and selecting the "Community Services"tab, then click on drop down "Sign-Up for Programs."