ABMS Weekly News
August 19, 2022
NEW - Back to School Night
Our school year is underway and we are proud of our students for the positive energy and focus they have demonstrated as we have started school.
Our staff is excited about working with your child(ren) to help create an outstanding school year and middle school experience. We strive to make meaningful connections with our students and will partner with you to keep you informed and involved in your child’s education.
An important part of our school year is our Back to School Night. For ABMS, our Back to School Night is on August 22. Here are some key reminders about the event:
Families will have an option on which format they would like to participate in:
- Virtual Back to School: Meet the teacher virtual videos will be sent home in a separate email in the evening on Aug 22 for those parents and guardians who cannot join us in-person at ABMS. Those videos will give each parent or guardian a chance to watch a video from their student’s teachers to get to know them and their classroom expectations.
- In-Person Back to School: Our in-person Back to School Night will go from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. starting in the commons with a brief session with our Administration. This will include sharing some of our school wide information that pertains to all students and families. Then our Parents/Guardians will visit each of your student’s classes to meet the teacher except the lunch period. Instead of the lunch period, we will have parents/guardians spend additional time in 1 class period for building wide informational sharing. Please note that you must know your child’s class schedule as you will be going throughout the building to various classrooms to meet your child’s teachers. We encourage you to either write the schedule down or save a screenshot to your phone as our wifi at times may be inconsistent to access ParentVue. We will use the attached schedule that does allow parents/guardians to attend the entire event or as much as their calendar allows.
Please note that parking will be limited. Parents can park in the front ABMS lot. If the lots are full, families can park in the BVSW south lot and we will provide bus shuttles to/from ABMS for this event. Attached is a diagram of the BVSW south lot for reference. Please only park in designated parking areas.
After our event, we will send all families information about our school clubs, the “virtual meet the teacher videos” and additional information about ABMS. We appreciate your support of ABMS and your child’s middle school experience. Please reach out to our front desk at 913-624-2300 if you have any questions.
NEW - Musical Information
Aubry Bend's Fall Musical will be Shrek the Musical Jr.! We are so excited to get started. Mrs. Vail (director) will come to all lunches on Monday, August 22 to explain how auditions will work and answer any questions about signing up for crew. Here is a timeline:
Auditions for singing/acting:
Acting and Singing Auditions will be on Monday, August 29 and Wednesday, August 31. Students will sign up for a time slot between 3-6pm on either day. Auditions will be done in a group setting in the choir room. All will audition by singing as a group. Students who want to be selected as a lead role will need to sing solo during that audition timeslot. All students will prepare a monologue from the audition packet. Memorization is preferred, but they can also be read, if needed.
Audition packets will be handed out at lunch on Monday, Aug. 22 and will include all monologue and music options for auditions. There is also a contract to go over at home and be signed by the student and a parent/guardian.
ALL students who audition will be in the cast.
After those auditions, the directors will post a call-back list for students we needed to hear again before making the final cast list. Callbacks will be held on Thursday, Sept. 1 from 3-4pm in the choir room.
Cast list will be posted on Friday, Sept. 2 to our musical website (see the audition packet for the link)
Auditions for featured dancers:
Dance auditions will be held from 3-4pm on Tuesday, August 30 in the commons. Dancers should wear dance shoes or tennis shoes and clothing they can move well in.
All who audition to be a featured dancer will be placed either in the feature dance group or the chorus in the cast.
Crew:
Mrs. Vail (director) will come to all lunches on Monday, August 22 to explain all of the different crews to sign up for. Each crew member must fill out an interest form and rank the 8 crews in their order of preference. Mrs. Vail will do her best to assign each student to one of their preferred crews. Forms are due by Wednesday, August 31 to Mrs. Vail or the front office.
8th Grade Student Directors and Stage Managers
Mrs. Vail (director) will come to all lunches on Monday, August 22 to explain these roles for 8th graders only. Forms are due by Wednesday, August 31 to Mrs. Vail or the front office.
All questions - please contact Kim Vail at KSVail@bluevalleyk12.org
NEW - From Choir
All Choir Students: Bring a pencil and a black, three-ring, 1/2 inch, view front binder to choir on Monday.
NEW - From 6th Grade
NEW - From 7th Grade
Science:
Wow! We have had an AWESOME 3 days with students! This week, we focused on the power of positive thinking and growth mindset. Ask your middle schooler about our “Super Stacks” activity. This is something you can even try at home! Next week, we will continue getting to know one another with some engaging lessons/activities before jumping into CER (claim, evidence, reasoning) the following week!
If your child has Mrs. Molde, consider following her class Instagram: Mrs.Molde_ Please send a DM to the private account letting her know which student you are the legal guardian of!
NEW - From 8th Grade
Math 8: Begin our first unit regarding linear equations.
Algebra: Our class will be examining mathematical mindset and completing unit zero. We will be reviewing some foundational skills.
Science: We will be investigating the universe by exploring the types of energy and specific energy transformations.
Social Studies: Begin "We The People" and American Ideals unit.
ELA: Students will be discovering and utilizing active and passive voice. There will be a quiz on Friday over these topics.
NEW - PTO Wolverine Yard Signs for Sale
REVIEW - Information on Start of the School Year Specifics
August 22
Volleyball will begin on Monday August 22nd at 3:15 PM.
August 23
Fall Sports Parent/Guardian meetings at 4:45 p.m. There will be “Meet the Coach Night” in our gym. Parents/Guardians will hear from Assistant Principal Ryan Colburn and then from individual sport coaches. This meeting has the purpose to inform parents of our expectations for our ABMS athletes and information regarding games/schedules.
August 29
Cheer/Dance will begin on August 29.
Activities
Students participating in activities including band, choir, orchestra must also create a school account and fill out the pre-participation packet. You do not need a physical - just answer the online questions. A link to the RSchool Website is below:
https://bluevalleysd-ar.rschooltoday.com/
School clubs are open to any ABMS student and will begin after school starts. Specific club information will be shared in the near future at Back to School Night and on the bulletin board in our main hallway.
REVIEW - Launching Canvas for Families
Attn BV families! Do you need a refresher on Canvas, (our learning management system for grades K-12), or are you looking to set up a new account? We’ve got you covered! Check out how to access or set up your Canvas Observer account as a parent, or review this Canvas Parent/Guardian Orientation. Remember, Canvas courses won’t appear until teachers publish them after the school year has started.
INFO ABOUT PAIR CODES
Parents/Guardians can sign up as an observer in Canvas. Observers can link their Canvas account to their student's accounts so they can see assignment dues dates, announcements, and other course content. An observer account can be created either through the web or on the Canvas Parent App.
If a parent/guardian has already been paired with their student, there is no need to pair again. There is a simple process for adding additional students or families new to the district. The process requires that the student (or admin/teachers/TIS/IDC) generate a special “pair code” for each student’s parent. The code lasts for 7 days and can only be used once. Here are some options on how to generate a pair code listed by preference:
Students may also generate their own pair code, click here for student instructions.
Things to Note about Pair Codes:
a. Pair codes are only needed to set up and link to an observer account.
b. Parent/Guardian will use a pair code when creating a new account, click here to learn how to create a new account.
c. If a parent/guardian already has an account, they use the new pair code to link to the new student, click here to view this process.
d. Pair codes are one-time use only. If you need two observer accounts, have them use one code, then you can generate the second code.
e. Pair codes expire after 7 days from when they were generated.
REVIEW - Safety and Security for the 2022-23 School Year
As we look forward to another school year, we know that safety and security is top of mind for students, staff and families. Making sure our school is as safe as possible during the school day is a responsibility we take seriously.
We want to remind families of the layered security measures and practices we have in place at ABMS to protect what we value most - our students and staff.
- Secured school schools: All schools all secured throughout the school day with buzz-in entry systems and pinch-points at the front entrance.
- Visitors: All visitors are required to utilize the buzz-in system during the school day. Visitors are asked to show a government issued ID and state the purpose of their visit.
- Campus officers: Blue Valley’s campus police officers and SROs focus on building relationships within school communities to provide safe environments for students at school and at school-sponsored events.
- Physical safety measures: Blue Valley has implemented a system of safety measures in our schools that include but are not limited to security cameras, controlled access systems and intruder resistant glass.
- Classroom thumb-turn door locks: Bond 2020 provided funding to outfit all classroom doors with interior thumb-turn locks with visual “locked” and “unlocked” indicators.
- Emergency drills: Throughout the year, students and staff participate in a variety of emergency and lockdown drills.
- Paid food delivery services: We do not accept food arriving from paid delivery services during the school day. Food delivery services must be signed for which creates a disruption to the learning environment and poses potential security concerns. Orders arriving from food delivery services will be refused this school year.
Providing a safe and secure school is a conversation that has no end. Our safety and security team is always researching, exploring and collaborating with local jurisdictions and national experts on how to keep everyone safe and secure during the school day.
At ABMS safety is a shared responsibility and each member of our school community plays an important role in being attentive and reporting concerning behaviors. If you see something, say something.
As always, thank you for partnering with us and supporting our commitment to safety and security beginning with the first day of school. More information about safety and security in Blue Valley is available on the district’s website.
Families have through this Sunday (August 14) to order the ABMS PE shirt from the BVSW Den. The BVSW Den anticipates it will take 2 weeks to get these shirts to ABMS to distribute. If students have PE first semester, they will need to wear another gray shirt for PE until the PE shirt arrives.
REVIEW - Fall MAP Testing Dates
ABMS has their Fall MAP Testing dates. This includes August 30 and August 31. We would ask families to try to avoid scheduling appointments on these specific days so students can take our Fall MAP Testing Dates.
REVIEW - Information on School Lunch Program
Blue Valley Families,
The USDA ended the nationwide free meals that were available for all students at the conclusion of the 2021-22 school year. This means that meals will be charged at full price unless your family has been approved for the Free & Reduced Meal Program after July 1 of the current school year.
APPLY FOR THE FREE & REDUCED MEAL PROGRAM
Blue Valley Food and Nutrition Services is again participating in the Child Nutrition Program which offers Free and Reduced meal benefits to qualifying families. This is an annual program, and a new application is required each school year to qualify for benefits.
- Verify your family meets the Free & Reduced Meal income guidelines.
- Apply online using the Chrome browser. If your default browser is not Chrome, please copy and paste this URL https://family.titank12.com/application/new?identifier=TGY6RJ into a Chrome browser to begin the application process.
- Remember to complete the Consent for Disclosure section if you wish to obtain additional discounts for school fees or bus transportation fees based on your application status.
- If a member of your household receives Food Assistance (FA), or Temporary Assistance to Families (TAF) from the State of Kansas, or you have a Foster student you may not need to apply. Contact Bobbi Valverde at bvalverde@bluevalleyk12.org if you need to verify your status.
- Need a paper application? Paper applications are available on the district website, at all Blue Valley schools or by contacting Bobbi Valverde at bvalverde@bluevalleyk12.org or (913) 239-4106.
- Submit the completed application before August 17 for full meal benefits upon qualifying. All families that apply will receive a letter notifying the determination. Please allow at least 10 days before inquiring about your submission.
Thank you for your support as we work together to meet the nutritional needs of all Blue Valley students. More information about the Free & Reduced meal program is available online. If you have questions please contact bvalverde@bluevalleyk12.org.
We look forward to a happy, healthy, and successful 2022-23 school year.
REVIEW - Importance of School Attendance
As a school, our focus is on student learning. Regular school attendance is important for academic learning and creating positive school connections. As a reminder, if your child is sick and cannot attend school, parents should contact ABMS AttendanceABM@bluevalleyk12.org or call 624-2305. It is also important that our students are on time for school to maximize their class time and create positive learning habits. We recognize that there are times families may be running late, and a student may be tardy. Students who are late need to check into the front office for a pass prior to going to 1st hour. A student is considered tardy to 1st hour when they are not in their assigned seat at 7:51 a.m. ready to learn. Our focus is on consistently having students in class on time ready to learn. Listed below is how ABMS will address tardies:
Once a student has more than 5 tardies to 1st hour, administration will visit with the student.
On the next tardy to 1st hour, the student will have an assigned consequence during lunch.
Progressive discipline will occur for any further tardies.
Tardies for 1st hour reset each quarter.
Parents/Guardians can monitor their child’s attendance so they are aware of the number of tardies. Teachers will develop a tardy policy for hours 2-9 and will share their expectations with students.
REVIEW - PTO Para Educator
Now that you have a middle schooler, do you have some time on your hands? Do you want to feel valued? Would you like to have the feeling of really affecting another’s life in a positive way? Have you been wanting to find a job that is very rewarding? If you answered “yes” to any of these then being a para might be just the thing for you! You have the same schedule as your own children. You get full health benefits, discounts at area retailers, AND a staff activity pass (your family gets in free to games). The PTO at your school is 2nd to none and look forward to spoiling you! Not to mention, you get to be part of an amazing school with the best staff around.
“I have been both a Special Education teacher and a para and I can honestly say that one cannot exist without the other. Both jobs are equally rewarding and so important.”
~Aimee Strobl.
If you are interested in hearing more, reach out to the ABMS office and they will be happy to talk with you further! Thank you for your consideration!
REVIEW - PTO Meeting Dates
The PTO Meets typically on the first Friday of the month. Due to the Labor Day holiday, our September meeting will be Friday, September 9th at noon. We will be in person as well as on zoom for this meeting only. Lunch will be provided. Future dates are as follows with the zoom link to follow:
September 9th 12 noon IN PERSON and ZOOM
October 7th 12 noon ZOOM
November 4th 12 noon ZOOM
December 2nd 12 noon ZOOM
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
January 6th 2023 12 noon ZOOM
February 3rd 12 noon ZOOM
March 3rd 12 noon ZOOM
April 7th 12 noon ZOOM
May 5th 12 noon IN PERSON and ZOOM
REVIEW - PTO Website
Be in the KNOW with ABMS PTO! Check out our UPDATED PTO website for more information about meetings, events, and PTO Board and Committees.
While you are there, you can sign up to for a PTO position. We have lots of different options available!
Remember to INVEST IN ABMS (you can use the square above).
REVIEW - PTO Social Media
Please follow ABMS PTO on:
ABMS PTO FACEBOOK PAGE - @AubryBendMSPTO
ABMS PTO INSTAGRAM PAGE. @ABMSPTO
ABMS PTO TWITTER PAGE @AbmsPto